We take a trip back down memory lane 40 years to 1985, when the tournament was expanded to 64 teams and Villanova upset Georgetown and prevented a repeat title. Villanova shot nearly 79 percent from the field, something that would never happen in future title games since that was the final NCAA tourney played without a shot clock.

Here are the 10 most shocking moments of the big dance over the last 40 years.

UNLV Fails To Repeat

After the defending champs from Nevada-Las Vegas defeated Arkansas down in Fayetteville in a regular season showdown, the 1990-91 UNLV team looked unbeatable. It ran into a confident Duke team in the national semifinals, however, that it walloped the year before in the 1990 title game. Duke pulled off the biggest upset of the tournament in the modern era of seeding teams, and reinforced the notion anything can happen in a one-game setting. Duke was plenty better than it was the year before and perhaps UNLV was not as good as we thought in real time. The Rebels didn’t have a real back-up point guard to Greg Anthony (who fouled out vs. Duke) and didn’t have great depth without the services of Ed O’Bannon, who didn’t sign a Letter-of-Intent locking him into UNLV and instead went to UCLA, where he didn’t play his freshman season anyway because of an ACL injury.

Anti-Duke Sentiment Reaches A Ferver Pitch

After beating UNLV in 1991 and repeating as champions in 1992 over Michigan’s FAB 5, Duke's Christian Laettner, the first player to appear in four Final Fours, became the most hated player in NCAA history and progressively that hatred for Duke built up after Laettner moved on to the NBA following the 1991-92 season. Basically, many fans didn’t like Duke because of their success and the perceived notion it got the benefit of referee calls. Never was that ani-Duke sentiment stronger than it was in 2000-2001, when Duke defeated Maryland in the semifinals and Arizona in the championship at the Metrodome in Minneapolis. All the neutral crowd there heavily booed calls that went against Maryland. It was very noticeable and almost an embarrassing moment for the NCAA Tournament. Maryland coach Gary Williams was visibly upset, and there was a few non-calls vs. point guard Jason Gardner that really hurt Arizona in the title game. That fever pitch died down after that even though it occasionally flared up, but if it would have got any worse than 2001 it could have been a major turn off for fans of March Madness.

Chris Webber’s Timeout

Michigan’s FAB 5 didn’t play great against Duke as freshmen in the 1992 NCAA title game, but the Wolverines were a much better team in 1992-93. Michigan took on North Carolina in the title game and it came down to the wire at the Louisiana Superdome. Webber, Michigan’s best player, scored on an offensive rebound put back as Michigan trialed by one with under 40 seconds to go. North Carolina’s Pat Sullivan shot free throws with 20 seconds remaining, and missed the second. Michigan didn’t have any timeouts and Webber tried to outlet the rebound, but traveled right in front of the Carolina bench and it wasn't called. Already panicking, he started dribbling towards the Michigan bench and trialing by two, called a timeout his team didn’t have. It was a crushing moment for him, FAB 5 fans and youth basketball players who looked up to the trend-setting team. That Michigan team had ton of influence, even though its back-to-back championship appearances were later vacated by the NCAA. The timeout is also a painful reminder that the FAB 5 failed to win a national title or a Big Ten title.

Tyus Edney’s Mad Dash

Remember when Ed O’Bannon, the nation’s top recruit in 1990, missed his freshman year at UCLA? That meant he was eligible for the 1994-95 season as a redshirt senior and he made the most of it. UCLA was upset by Tulsa in the 1994 tournament and O’Bannon already knew he was coming back to school and on a senior season mission. UCLA was on the ropes in the second round vs. Missouri, trailing by one point when senior point guard Tyus Edney went the length of the court in 4.8 seconds and coverted a running lay-up to give UCLA a 75-74 win over Missouri. It was one of those tourney moments where fans will always remember where they were or what they were doing when it happened. After that game, it seemed UCLA was a team of destiny and one got the feeling the Bruins were likely to win it all. They did over defending champion Arkansas with O’Bannon leading the way, 89-78. Ironically, Edney did not play in the title game because of a wrist injury and it remains UCLA only NCAA title of the past 50 years.

Bill Self Beats The Odds

Kansas winning the 2022 NCAA title over North Carolina, 72-69, was a big moment for Blue Blood basketball and also for Kansas’ head coach. If you recall, Kansas’ program was at the center of the 2017–18 basketball corruption scandal that involved many schools associated with sportswear giant Adidas, plus some other schools. The FBI was involved and announced the arrest of 10 individuals associated with the sport, including four well-known assistant coaches. Self escaped with his job in-tact, as did Arizona’s Sean Miller, and Kansas’ title in 2022 highlighted how no one person is bigger than the sport, how the train continues to roll down the track and how mundane many NCAA regulations are. Much of the public sentiment surrounding these 10 individuals was the group did not deserve federal charges, even though a majority felt there was some punishment due to breaking of NCAA regulations (although not so much law breaking). Kansas’ title highlighted two main things that came out of the curruption scandal. One, the FBI and the media never had the smoking gun that would have made the general public be concerned about what was going on behind closed doors and two, he public really doesn’t care if basketball players get compensated for their abilities or for potential Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) value.

Bo Ryan Knocks Off Big Blue Nation

In the 2014-15, Kentucky entered the Final Four riding a 38-0 record with a star-studded team filled with McDonald’s All-Americans and five-star recruits, including freshman Karl-Anthony-Townes. Wisconsin had a terrific team led by Sam Dekker, but not one expected it to beat the Wildcats. Bo Ryan’s boys pulled off the upset, 71-64, to end the Wildcats’ season at 38-1. The 38 wins is tied with the 2012 Kentucky team for the most wins in men’s DI history. Duke went on to win the fifth and final title of the Mike Krzyzewski era over Wisconsin, but the upset highlighted how having star-studded teams or the best recruiting classes in the one-and-done era didn’t always mean success in the NCAA Tournament. The 2012 title is the only one for Kentucky coach John Calipari despite having recruiting classes over the past 15 years that are unparellel in the history of the sport.

Kris Jenkins’ 3-Pointer Beats Carolina

In a terrific-played title game, Villanova defeated North Carolina, 77-74, in the 2016 final on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by forward Kris Jenkins. Jenkins took the ball out of bounds and trailed the play and made a terrific clutch shot to give coach Jay Wright his first of two NCAA titles as coach of the Wildcats. Jenkins’ shot and the game highlighted two things. One, in the era of social media, coaches decisions are overly-criticized and over analyzed as fans and pundits pondered how the Tar Heels should have defended the play. (They didn’t pressure the inbounder Jenkins). Two, it highlighted that there was terrific basketball still being played despite the lack of star power caused by so many players with college eligibility no longer part of the playing field following Kevin Garnett opening up the prep-to-pro floodgates in 1995. The talent level has never been the same since KG's decision, but the college game remains strong, nonetheless.

Derek Anderson’s Free Throws

During the 1997 Final Four, Kentucky’s Derek Anderson shot two foul shots in the Wildcats’ semifinal victory over Minnesota. Anderson had tore his ACL in January and would be unable to play, unless there was a technical foul shot situation. Kentucky went on to lose the title game to Arizona, 84-79, in overtime. Kentucky’s 1996 team is the best one we’ve seen in the past 40 years, and perhaps if Anderson wasn’t injured Kentucky would have won three straight NCAA titles. Most of the reserves on the 1996 team made up the core of the 1998 title-winning team. The 1996 team was that deep and good, and Anderson’s free throws are a reminder Arizona is the last team in the West Region to win the NCAA title.

Danny and The Miracles

Sometimes a star can carry a team, but it wasn’t probable Kansas would win the 1988 NCAA title. The Jayhawks has the best player in the country in senior forward Danny Manning, but they were playing a juggernaut in Oklahoma, which was heavily favored to win over its Big Eight Conference rival in the title game. After all, the Sooners averaged over 102 points per game and beat Kansas by eight points twice during the regular season. All that didn’t matter in the title game, as Manning capped off a memorable six-game run with 31 points and 18 rebounds. Most fans don’t know Kansas’ other four starters, but it was a reminder that sometimes the best high school recruits eventually make all the difference in the world and recruiting is the bloodline of the sport. Manning was a three-time all-American and led Kansas to the Final Four as a sophomore in 1986. Head coach Larry Brown shrewdly hired his father, Ed Manning, to the Kansas staff while his son was a rising high school senior and it paid off. Manning’s performance is a reminder of what it takes to win at the highest level.

UConn Dominance

It’s not easy to win six games in a row. Many great coaches have never been to a NCAA Final Four, much less win the whole thing. UConn won three NCAA titles under the guidance of Hall of Fame coach Jim Calhoun. The Huskies won their fourth title under first year coach Kevin Ollie in 2014 and are now dominant under coach Danny Hurley. UConn won the 2023 title in dominant fashion, winning every game by double-digits and covering the point spread in each game. Entering this year’s Elite 8 game versus Illinois, the top seeded Huskies are 9-0 vs. the spread in the last two tournaments. How great is this UConn team? It doesn’t matter. It only has to be better than who is in front of them and so far Hurley’s bunch has been much better. Some pundits have been trying to compare this team to some of the all-time great teams or even how it may do against a NBA team. The NBA thing is laughable, as we’re not sure this year’s UConn team or last year’s would last the first weekend of an all-time seeded NCAA Tournament involving any eligible team. Teams from yesteryear just had more older, NBA-bound talent than teams of the past 20 years. As we said, that doesn’t matter as March Madness is as popular as ever. Bottom line is, UConn is that program many NCAA basketball fans think their program is.

Ronnie Flores is the national Grassroots editor of www.ebooksnet.com. He can be reached at?[email protected]. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter:?@RonMFlores

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Betting Odds, Money Line, Spread, Under/Over

*All lines are taken from Draft Kings*

Money Line

Duke: -265
Oral Roberts: +225

Over/Under: 146

Over: -110
Under: -110

Spread:

Duke: -6 (-115)
Oral Roberts: + 6 (-115)

Regular Season Recap

Duke

The Duke Blue Devils are without their head coach of 42 years, Mike Krzyzewski. This season was a big test for the Blue Devils, who played under first year head coach, Jon Scheyer. Scheyer was previously an assistant to Coach K from 2014-2022 and is familiar with the system and school. Duke has FIVE National Championships in school history, and is under pressure to continue the winning tradition with a new head coach. Duke has a similar record last year, and lost to UNC 81-77 in the final four. Before New Years Day, Dukes record was 11-3. Since the start of 2023, the Blue Devils finished with a second half record of 10-2, and won their last 9 games in a row. Duke had loses to high ranked teams, such as Kansas (69-64), Purdue (75-56), Miami (81-59), and Virginia (69-92 in OT). They redeemed themselves in the second half of the season, with wins against Virginia, Miami, and OSU. Lead by Freshman Center Kyle Filipowski, and Junior Guard Jeremy Roach, Duke had the 15th hardest strength in schedule, according to CBS. Duke is 4-4 against Top 25 teams this season. Duke has tournament experience, and this will be their 26th NCAA Tournament appearance in 27th Tournaments. Duke may average only 72 points, however, they are extremely efficient on the defensive end, especially in rebounding. Duke is hot at the right time and could make it far in this year’s tournament.

Oral Roberts

Could Oral Roberts be the Cinderella team we are all waiting for this season? We all remember St. Peters last year, and Oral Roberts could be THAT team. Last season, the Golden Eagles did not make it into the tourney, and this team is proving their NCAA tournament Regional Semifinal loss in 2021 was NOT an upset. According to ESPN, at least one No. 12 seed has won against a No. 5 Seed in 32 of the last 37 tournaments. In this case, it could absolutely be Oral Roberts. This team has far impressed this season, landing in the top 5 in points differential, and Blocks. Although the Golden Eagles were blown out by Houston 83-45 week 3, they did not have a single loss in their conference. To be fair, Oral Roberts had the 179th strength in schedule, and plays in a weak Summit division. Only South Dakota State and North Dakota State were the only other teams in the conference above .500. Oral Roberts doesn’t have as much experience as Duke against top 25 teams, going 0-1 this season. The Golden Eagles are coming off a 17-game win streak, and it is certainly hard to ignore that. This is a team that’s very efficient on both sides of the ball, can shoot well and thanks to their star Max Abmas and Connor Vanover, this team has offensive and defensive talents. Shout out to head coach Paul Mills, who led the Golden Eagles to their FIRST ever 30th win season.

Injury Report

Duke

None
Oral Roberts
None

Key Players

Duke

Freshman Center Kyle Filipowski has been a pleasant surprise this season. Duke has become one of the best rebounding teams, thanks for Kyle. The center is always there for offensive rebounding, especially when Duke misses mid-range and 3-point shots. He provides that interior defense that is often a factor in these tournaments. He’s leading the team in points with 15.4 and rebounds with 9, nearly averaging a double-double. He can occasionally shoot 3’s when necessary. Kyle can also score inside the paint and make quality passes. The 7- footer was elite against Virginia for the ACC Championship. He finished the night with a double-double, which was #15 on the year for the Freshman.

Junior Jeremy Roach has been another staple of this team, averaging 13.3 points per game. He is not the biggest 3-point threat, averaging 34.1 percent from the arc. Roach has a solid free throw percentage, and shot 42 percent from field goal range this year. In the ACC Championship against Duke, Roach contributed 23 points on 7-12, and was 2-2 from the 3-point line.

Oral Roberts

Senior guard Max Abmas has been the star of this team. Not only did he shoot 44 percent from the field goal range this season, he is 7th in the nation in points per game with 22.2. He averages 4-5 rebounds a game, along with 4 assists. His 3-point percentage has been down from previous years, however, he knows how to get to the free throw line, and make quick buckets. In their last game over NDSU, he contributed 26 points on 7-15, and was 9-10 from the line. However, he was cold from beyond the arc, shooting 37.5 %. In their only game against Houston, he did struggle, shooting 1-13, 1-9 from the 3-point, with 3 points.

Senior Center Connor Vanover, has been a solid interior presence for the Golden Eagles. Oral Roberts is top five in blocks overall, and Vanover is the conference defensive player of the year. He has had more than 100 blocked shots at 7 foot 5.

Key Stats

? Duke is averaging 72.5 points per game, while Oral Roberts is averaging 84.2 points per game.

? Duke ranks 33rd in points allowed with 63.9 opponents per game.

? Duke ranks 21st in rebounds per game with 38.7.

? Duke ranks 33rd in point differential at +8.5

? Duke is ranked 39th in blocked shots with 4.5 per game

? Oral Roberts is ranked #5 in Points Differential at +14.1, and Blocks per game at 5.4.

? Oral Roberts ranks third in points per game with 84.2.

? Oral Roberts ranks 24th in field goal % at 47.9 %

? Duke Averages 33.6 % from the 3-point, while Oral Roberts averages 36.9 beyond the arc.

LAST 10 GAMES + GAME PREDICTION

? SPREAD: Oral Roberts +5.5

-Oral Roberts covered the spread in just TWO of their last 10 games.

-Oral Roberts has a 13-16-1 ATS this season

-Oral Roberts covered the spread last against NDSU at -11

-Duke covered the spread in six of their last 10 games. However, the spreads were all close with Virginia at -3.0, and Miami at -2.5

-Duke is a 15-19-0 ATS this season

-Duke is 14-15 as a favorite to cover the spread this season.

? MONEY LINE: Duke

-Duke won the Money Line 9 out of their last 10 games

-Oral Roberts won the Money Line in all 10 of their last games.

-Oral Roberts money line has been over -1000 in 5 out of their last 10 games.

? OVER/UNDER- UNDER

-Duke Avg +/- vs O/U Line: -3.91

-Duke Overall O/U Record: 13-20-1

-Duke 5-5 against O/U last 10 games.

-Oral Roberts hit the UNDER 8 of their last 10 games.

-Oral Roberts O/U Record: 13-17-0

-Oral Roberts Avg +/- vs O/U Line: -1.33

For More Betting Info & Game Predictions, Follow us at @BallislifeBets

Sara Jane is a full-time content creator, focusing on both college basketball, the NBA, NFL, and writer of www.ebooksnet.com. Don’t forget to follow her on Twitter: @GGirlSports

The post Oral Roberts V. Duke: Betting Odds|NCAA Tournament Round of 64 appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

Betting Odds, Money Line, Spread, Under/Over

*All lines are taken from Draft Kings*
Money Line
Alabama: -12500
Texas A&M Corpus Christi: +2500

Over/Under: 155.5
Over: -110
Under: -110

Spread:
Alabama -24 (-110)
Texas A&M Corpus Christi: +24 (-110)

Regular Season Recap

Alabama
The Crimson Tide made a comeback this season, after making a first-round exit against Notre Dame last season. After finishing 19-14 last season, Alabama established themselves as the #1 team in the Nation and SEC. The Crimson Tide finished 29-5 overall and have a shot at making a deep run according to March Madness betting sites. Led by Freshman Brandon Miller, the Crimson Tide ranked #1 in strength of schedule, according to CBS, and are one of the most efficient offensive teams. Alabama had impressive wins over Houston, a top tier team, and UNC, a former #1 overall team in the nation. Alabama had 16 impressive wins in the SEC, only losing to Tennessee and Texas A&M. They also finished 7-4 against Top 25 teams. Alabama will look to win their first National Championship in the next couple of weeks. Nate Oats is an elite coach, and this team excels on both sides of the ball, including attacking the rim with their height advantage. Defensively, they’ve held opponents to under 70 points per game. They’ve had many issues off the court, and it’s only a matter of time how it will affect them in games.

Latest Sportsbook Promos to use on Islanders vs Crimson Tide

Texas A&M Corpus Christi
The Islanders are looking to advance against Alabama after their First Four exist last year. The Islanders found success again this season, finishing 24-10 overall, which is one more win than the previous season. Before January 26th, the Islanders finished just 12-9. Since then, they went on a tear, winning 7 in a row, and winning 11 of their next 12 games. They had 14 wins in the Southland Conference and had key wins against Alcorn State (#1 in SWAC), and twice against Northwestern State. Lead by Trevian Tennyson and Isaac Mushila, the Islanders finished as one of the top teams at the free throw line. Although they were in the bottom 300 in terms of strength of schedule, the Islanders impressed with their 3-point shooting and offense. Jalen Jackson led the Islanders to a gutsy 75-71 First Four win over Southeast Missouri State with 22 points. They struggled against SEMO, shooting less than 30 percent beyond the arc and field goal percentage. However, they went 27-35 from the free throw line, which led them to the First Four win and into the NCAA Tournament. If they are without Senior Guard, Terrion Murdix, it may be very difficult to keep up with Alabama.

Injury Report

Alabama
None
Texas A&M Corpus Christi
Terrion Murdix (G)

Key Players

Alabama
Freshman Forward Brandon Miller has been waiting for this moment his entire career. He is arguably Alabama’s top player and one of the best in the country. He averaged 19.6 points per game, and 8.3 rebounds, nearly averaging a double-double this year. Not only is he 6’9”, but Miller has also shot a solid 45 percent from field goal rang, and 40 percent from beyond the arc. Although Alabama lost to Gonzaga 100-90 on 12/17, Miller had an impressive game. He finished with 36 points, on 12-22. Miller shot 54.5 percent from the three on 6-11. In addition, he finished with 6 rebounds. He is an all-around athlete that can finish at the rim, strike from beyond the three, and could lead this team to the Final Four.

Freshman Noah Clowney has been another staple of this team, averaging 10.1 points per game and 8 rebounds, tied for 88th in the nation. He nearly has a 50-field percentage. In addition, Junior guard Mark Sears has stepped up nicely, also averaging double digits in points with 12.5.

Texas A&M Corpus Christi
Senior guard Trevian Tennyson has proven he can do it all for his team. He’s a threat beyond the arc, hitting 40 percent of his 3-point shots this season. He’s a player that’s improved both in minutes played, field goal, and three-point percentage.

The Islanders have been without Senior Guard, Terrion Murdix, who has an injured Knee. If he is out against the Crimson Tide, they will be missing a player who shoots 54 percent from the field, averaging double digits in points, and over 4 assists.

Key Stats

? Alabama is averaging 82.2 points per game, while Texas A&M CC is averaging 80.4 points per game.

? Alabama led the entire nation in Rebounds per game at 44.4, just above UAB.

? Alabama averages 44.4 rebounds per game, while Texas A&M CC is averaging 36.9 rebounds per game.

? Texas A&M CC averaged 36.8 % from 3-point, while Alabama averaged 33.8 % from 3-point.

? Alabama is ranked # 8th in point differential, at +13.6

? Texas A&M Corpus Christi ranks 17th in the Nation with 80.2 PPG

? Texas A&M Corpus Christi ranks 47th in point differential at +7.6

LAST 10 GAMES + GAME PREDICTION

? SPREAD: Alabama -24

-Alabama covered the spread in three of their last five games. This included a -9.5 and -8.0 spread against Missouri and Mississippi State.

-Alabama is 19-14-1 this season to cover the spread.

-Alabama highest spread point will be against Texas A&M CC at -24.0

-Texas A&M CC covered the spread in three of their last 10 games.

-Texas A&M CC is 18-12-0 ATS

-Texas A&M CC is 7-3 ATS in the last 10 games.

? MONEY LINE: Alabama
-Alabama won the Money line 8 out of their last 10 games

-Adding Alabama money line at -12500 would not add a significant value to any parlay. High risk low reward situation.

-In their last 10 games, Alabama has won the money line very high at -1932 against UGA and -1682 vs. South Carolina

-Texas A&M CC won the money line in 9 out of their last 10 games.

? OVER/UNDER- OVER
Alabama has a record of 15-18-1 versus the over/under. They hit the UNDER in 6 of their last 10 games, and last 4 games straight.

Texas A&M CC has a 18-12 record versus over/under. They hit the under 6 out of their last ten games.

Alabama Avg +/- vs O/U Line: +3.23

Texas A&M CC Avg +/- vs O/U Line: + 0.24

For More Betting Info & Game Predictions, Follow us at @BallislifeBets

Sara Jane is a full-time content creator, focusing on both college basketball, the NBA, NFL, and writer of www.ebooksnet.com. Don’t forget to follow her on Twitter: @GGirlSports

The post Alabama v. Texas A&M Corpus Christi: Betting Odds| NCAA Tournament Round of 64 appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

RELATED: ???| The Future Of Big-Time HS Basketball?| FAB 50 Rankings Criteria?

In this fragmented high school season, we still have some state associations that haven’t conducted a sanctioned game, some student-athletes are playing for club teams while they await the fate of their regular high school season, while others have chosen to play on the Grind Session, a loose conglomerate of independent programs built for multiple D1 level recruits on its rosters.

As heightened during COVID-19, states associations have different rules on whom their member programs can play and how much they can play. When they can play is a decision reserved for state health departments and school districts, but the interpretation of those guidelines have gone in a million different directions so far in 2020-21.

What if the state associations got on the same page to create a true national high school tournament (one that mirrored the NCAA Tourney) to crown a true national champion? It may not seem realistic right now, but it isn’t that far-fetched. It would require some cooperation and sacrifices on part of the state associations, plenty of capital, a healthy relationship between associations, schools administrations, coaches and sponsors, and clear communication on the objectives of the national tournament.

High school national champions have been named dating back to 1952 by popular polls, including the FAB 50 National Team Rankings powered by www.ebooksnet.com since the 1987-88 season. The only national championships decided on the court have been for now defunct all Black high schools during the days of segregation. Yes, Brown vs. Board of Education came down in 1954, but the Negro National Championships continued until 1967.
If independent, academy-type programs want to create their own tournament away from state associations, we’d be fine with that, too. Many of the same principles below could be followed by that group of teams. If that means an expansion of GEICO Nationals, we’d welcome and support it.

What Has To Happen Before A National HS Tournament

Decide Who Is Eligible ?
First and foremost, it has to be clear which programs are eligible to enter the national tournament. We would recommend open division state champions get an automatic bid (see below) and would recommend the normal guidelines recommended by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS). That means no programs with post-graduates, age cutoffs (19 before September 1 of senior year) and only programs that are recognized by a high school athletics governing body.

Declare Intent ?
Programs should declare their intent BEFORE the season starts. If a program, school district or league doesn’t want any part of a national tournament, that’s okay. Just make that intent public as early as possible. It won’t be good PR, and won’t be good for the tourney, if a deserving state champion declines on the eve of the tourney’s start. If also prevents a team who is ranked No. 1 in the nation from protecting that ranking and having leverage to back out.

Be Flexible ?
State associations will have to re-think and get with the times, so to speak, on their playoff formats. State associations will need to develop a division (whatever it is called) where the emerging champion is the auto qualifier into the national tournament. We recommend something similar New Jersey’s Tournament of Champions or California’s open division. Teams not quite good enough for the national tournament will still win state championships in other divisions.

Make Sacrifices
In order for this to work, sectional and regional playoff rounds have to be curtailed, so a national tourney begins early enough to be completed before the heart of the spring sports season. That means no more easy opening round playoff games that mainly exist for revenue reasons. No nationally ranked team should be winning its first two playoff games by 30 and 40 points. We see that all the time. The playoff games involving teams vying for a spot in a national tournament should be competitive from the very start.

Be Inclusive
Many state associations are very cognizant of being inclusive and equitable when it comes to gender. That means a national tournament for girls will need to run concurrent with the boys version. Our hope is that it would continue to popularize the girls game. All 50 states should also be involved. Wait, you say, "no team from Vermont or Montana can possibly win the tournament." Just the experience alone would be well worth it and a Montana team pulling off a first round upset would be huge national news.

How A National HS Tournament Can Be Executed

Make The Format Recognizable
The format wouldn’t be too difficult, and if the tourney committee (see below) would just follow the NCAA tournament, fans would understand how the champion would be crowned. 50 auto bids for the recognized state champion plus the bids for the states that have separate associations for public and privates. The rest of the 64-team field would be reserved for deserving independent teams and/or those that stumbled in their respective state tournament. We think the latter may be a rare occasion, as there will be plenty of independent teams that would confide by the rules in order to be eligible. Like the old March Madness, teams would be confined to their respective region (four regions to create a Final Four) in order to cut down on travel costs and create rivalries.

Create A Competent Tournament Committee ?
This committee should include a mix of people representing the media, national scouts, state associations, referees, sponsors, security, public relations officials, and a treasury to ensure the public’s faith in the event’s financial component. The group would have to decide whom or what group would be most suitable to seed each of the four regions.

Have Reasonable Expectations
As with any event, it would have hiccups and things that need improvement over time. And with those tweaks it would grow in popularity over time, no different from GIECO Nationals or any other now popular basketball tournament. Everybody involved would have to be on board that the event is a long-term deal and not a money-maker for all those involved in its execution.

Share The Wealth
There is a popular term in basketball “share the sugar” that implies unselfish basketball is critical to success. The same would apply here. Like anything else, greed would ruin a national tournament. Small states would have to feel just as involved and important as power states. State associations would feel their best interests would have to be served in order to back an initiative like this and allow their teams to play. Broadcast rights and streaming rights would have to include local distribution for the early rounds and be beneficial to the schools, not necessarily just the state associations. With out progressive thinking, this dream scenario for high school basketball wouldn’t work.

Ronnie Flores is the national Grassroots editor of www.ebooksnet.com. He can be reached at?[email protected]. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter:?@RonMFlores

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The post In the Paint: Mick Cronin to UCLA, Virginia wins first National Title appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

It’s all good, though, because as someone who watches quite a bit of college, NBA and high school hoops, my bracket burst into flames after the second weekend and all the money I confidently wagered in the pools of my own is now buried deep in someone else’s pockets.

But let’s forget about the first four rounds and get into what really matters this weekend: The four teams left in the field - Virginia, Michigan State, Texas Tech and Auburn, Virginia - and how you can redeem yourself to your friends, family and significant others by spitting out some in-game stats and knowledge that will blow them away.

What are there strengths and weaknesses of these four squads? How do they match-up against each other? Who will advance to the National Championship game? The complete guide is below.

Auburn (30-9)

Strengths: The Tigers’ bread and butter is clearly the back-court of Bryce Brown and Jared Harper. The duo is averaging a combined 31.4 points per game, while Brown has connected on 137 3-pointers at a 41 percent clip and Harper has drilled 96 from deep. Auburn features an offensive rating of 120.9 in KenPom.com's system of points per 100 possessions, ranking it sixth in the country in that category with two other Final Four teams (Virginia and Michigan State) among the five teams above it. In addition to being able to hit the 3-point shot a good rate, Auburn defends against the deep ball very well. The Tigers have held opponents to just 34.4 percent from three on the season and 8.1 3-point makes on average per game.

Weaknesses: The Tigers’ front-court play has to be its most glaring deficiencies, especially with the loss of forward Chuma Okeke to a season-ending injury. Okeke was the team’s leading rebounder (6.8 per game) and shot blocker (1.2 per game) with the next closest in those respective statistics being Austin Wiley (4.1 and 1.2) who has played in 10 less games and started only five of his 28 appearances. In Auburn’s four NCAA Tournament games, front-court personnel not named Chuma Okeke have combined for 95 total points on 37-for-80 from the field, respectable numbers, sure, but will those figures translate against Virginia’s vaunted pack-line defense.

Michigan State (32-6)

Strengths: A little bit of everything, really. The Spartans are as solid as they come on both sides of the ball, even with a couple of key injuries. Cassius Winston is an experienced, trustworthy and high IQ point guard who you can count on to make the right basketball decisions more often than not while Matt McQuaid is a knock-down 3-point shooter and the interior combination of Nick Ward and Xavier Tillman has been difficult for opponents to deal with for 40 minutes of game action. Michigan State ranks fifth in KenPom’s rating for points scored per 100 possessions at 121.6, while ranking ninth in the adjusted defense statistic, allowing opponents to score just 90.1 points per 100 possessions. The Spartans are holding teams to 31.4 percent from 3-point range on the season.

Weaknesses: The biggest concern for Michigan State entering Saturday’s match-up with Texas Tech is its lack of depth. We touched on two key injuries above, the first being guard Joshua Langford who was lost for the season after just 13 games to a left foot injury. He was averaging 15 points per game at the time. The second hit came when redshirt junior forward Kyle Ahrens went down in the Big Ten Tournament championship game against Michigan. Ahrens played a solid role off the bench, contributing 4.7 points in 18.8 minutes of action. Michigan State coach Tom Izzo has tightened the screws on how many guys he plays beyond his five starters. In the Sweet 16 win over LSU, Izzo gave seven players 10 minutes of court time and in the Elite Eight win over Duke, Michigan State played only six players more than 10 minutes.

Michigan State defeated Duke, 68-67, in the Elite Eight to advance to the Final Four where it will face third-seeded Texas Tech. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)

Texas Tech (30-6)

Strengths: DEFENSE. Jarret Culver is one of the top perimeter defenders in the nation and Tariq Owens is a shot blocking and rim protecting maniac, which is why the Red Raiders are KenPom’s most stingy defense, ranking No. 1 in the country in points allowed per 100 possessions at 84 and are third in scoring defense, allowing just 59 points per game on the season. Opponents are shooting just 36.9 percent from the field against Texas Tech, while shooting the deep ball at a 29.3 percent clip, good for a top 20 ranking in the country. Texas Tech’s defense has held teams to under 60 points on 19 different occasions this season, including three out of its four NCAA Tournament games.

Weaknesses: Texas Tech isn’t a barn burner when it comes to the offensive end of the floor, but it certainly is not an inept scoring team. The Red Raiders average 73 points per game and rank in the top 30 in KenPom’s adjusted offense for points per 100 possessions at 113.5. One thing to look out for is the lack of second chance opportunities that Texas Tech creates as it ranks 272nd in the country in offensive rebounds per game at around 8.7.

Virginia (33-3)

Strengths: A year after becoming the first No. 1-seed to lose to a 16-seed in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, the Cavaliers find themselves as the lone surviving top-seed in 2019 edition of March Madness. That’s because Virginia is good. Very good. The Cavaliers have very few holes as a team, ranking atop the country in scoring defense, allowing opponents to put up  just 55.4 points per game on the season. The Cavaliers are another team that won’t blow you away with offensive firepower, but rather wear you down with execution and hitting big shots at the right time. Virginia has three players scoring in double figures on the season - Kyle Guy (15.2), De’Andre Hunter (14.9) and Ty Jerome (13.3).

Weaknesses: The most difficult part of picking apart the Cavaliers is finding something that they aren’t good at. Sure, some will point to the pace they play at, which ranks dead last among the 353 Division I basketball programs at 59.2 possessions per 40 minutes, but since that tempo is by design, can it really be considered a weakness? Eh, probably not. A lull in scoring against a fiery Auburn offense, however, could spell some trouble for the Cavaliers. Freshman point guard Kihei Clark has been a big game player all year for Virginia and it will need him to be good again to advance.

Take that information as you will, because in a pressure-packed situation like the Final Four, numbers seemingly go out the window and the team who played best that day usually advance. Which two teams do I think will face-off in Monday’s National Title? I’m taking Virginia and Michigan State, but please don’t reference this when I’m wrong.

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Hosts Devin Ugland and Ronnie Flores give their takes on the Elite Eight games this past weekend and preview the upcoming Final Four featuring Virginia vs. Auburn and Michigan State vs. Texas Tech. With the start of travel, club and AAU basketball seasons, the duo breaks down what they look for when evaluating high school prospects during the spring and summer.

The guys also discuss LaVar Ball's comments about LaMelo Ball playing overseas instead of exploring his options at the college and NBA G League levels. Where will the youngest Ball brother end up playing for the next year until he's eligible for the 2020 NBA Draft? Listen in to Episode 18 of the "In The Paint Show" to hear what Ron and Dev think on the situation.

The post Who Will Advance to the National Title? LaMelo Going Back Overseas? Tune in to the Latest Pod! appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

CLICK HERE for more information on the 2019 BILAAG scheduled for May 4 at the Long Beach Convention Center!

BILAAG Alumni Still Dancing in the 2019 NCAA Tournament

Marques Bolden, Duke

Bolden tallied four points in the 2016 BILAAG and is now a key contributor for one of the favorites to win the National Title. The 6-11 center has appeared in 33 games this season, starting 21, and is 5.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game for the Blue Devils. Duke will play Virginia Tech in the Sweet 16.

Ahmed Hill, Virginia Tech

Hill participated in the 2014 BILAAG and scored 21 points with three 3-pointers. The 6-5 guard has helped lead the Hokies into an All-ACC match-up against Duke in the Sweet 16. Hill has started all 34 games for Virginia Tech this season, averaging 13.1 points while leading the team in minutes played at 35.2 per game. Virginia Tech will play Duke in the Sweet 16.

Nassir Little, North Carolina

Little totaled 17 points in the 2018 BILAAG, helping his team to a 146-143 victory. Now, the 6-6 wing is playing a major role off the bench for a Tarheels’ team many expect to make a run to the Final Four. Little is averaging 10 points and 4.7 rebounds in just 18.4 minutes of action per game. North Carolina faces Auburn in the Sweet 16.

Miles Norris, Oregon

Norris scored four points in the 2018 BILAAG and finished second to Mac McClung in the dunk contest. The 6-foot-10 forward is playing a bench role for the 12th-seeded Ducks, scoring 3.3 points and 1.9 boards per game. Oregon will take on Virginia in the Sweet 16.

Naz Reid, LSU

Reid scored a team-high 23 points in a victory in the 2018 BILAAG. The 6-foot-10 forward is having an impressive freshman season for the Tigers, scoring 13.7 points and 7.1 rebounds per game, while shooting better than 47.3 percent from the field. Reid dropped 14 points with 10 boards in the first round win over Yale and had 13 points in the second round victory over Maryland. LSU will face Michigan State in the Sweet 16.

2018 Ballislife All-American Game standout Naz Reid has had a strong freshman campaign for LSU (Photo by Matt Marriott/NCAA Photos via Getty Images).

Ja’vonte Smart, LSU

Smart dropped 21 points with four rebounds in the 2018 BILAAG. Smart, a freshman for the Tigers, is putting up 11.4 points and 3.4 rebounds per game while shooting nearly 84 percent from the free throw line. The 6-4 guard has scored nine points in each of his first two NCAA Tournament games.

Horace Spencer, Auburn

Spencer participated in the 2015 BILAAG. The 6-8 senior forward has appeared in all 37 games at Auburn this season, averaging 4.4 points and 4.2 rebounds per game.

PJ Washington, Kentucky

Washington filled up the stat sheet in the 2017 BILAAG, scoring 16 points to go along with seven rebounds and four assists in a winning effort. The 6-8 forward has missed the first two games of the tourney due to injury, but had been having a stellar season before getting hurt. Washington is averaging 14.8 points and 7.6 rebounds per game for the Wildcats but it’s still unclear whether he will be back in action against Houston.

Coby White, North Carolina

White had a solid effort in the 2018 BILAAG, scoring five points with four rebounds and four assists. The 6-5 guard is one of the best players in the country regardless of  in the country averaging 16.1 points, 4.1 assists and 3.6 rebounds per game. White had 10 points, six boards and four dimes against Iona and followed up that performance with 17 and six rebounds against Washington. North Carolina faces Auburn in the Sweet 16.

Emmitt Williams, LSU

Williams was the Co-MVP of the 2018 game along with UCLA center Moses Brown as his 31 points ranks as the third-most scored in the 8-year history of the BILAAG. Williams, now a freshman at LSU, is averaging 7.1 points and 5.4 rebounds per game for the Tigers while shooting 61.3 percent from the field.

Cassius Winston, Michigan State

Winston scored eight points with seven assists while leading his team to victory in the 2016 BILAAG. The 6-1 junior is one of the top players in the country, averaging 18.9 points and 7.6 assists per game for the second-seeded Spartans. Winston dropped 26 points in Michigan State’s opening win over Bradley and had 13 points with nine dimes the second round win over Minnesota.

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In episode No. 16 of our  In The Paint Show," Devin Ugland and guest host Matt Kovach break down the NCAA Men's Basketball Championships, AKA March Madness, and go in on the state of junior college basketball.

Dev and Matt (who closely follows the high school hoops scene) pick their upset specials, teams that can make potential Cinderella runs, and talk top players like Duke's Zion Williamson, Tennessee's Admiral Schofield and Grant Williams, and Gonzaga's Josh Perkins and Rui Hachimura.

The fellas also go in on the state of JUCO basketball and talk about why it gets a bad rap, and its benefits and drawbacks. The fellas also break down the California state championships (won by Fullerton College) and bring in regular host Ronnie Flores (who is out on assignment) to talk about some of the great JUCO players of the past and when elites began to look at other options, including extra seasons on the grassroots circuit.

To learn more about our hosts, Ronnie Flores and Devin Ugland, and to get more information about what "In The Paint" is all about, check out our intro below!

Subscribe to our new Podcast on iTunes here

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Last year it was 11th seeded Loyola Chicago which made an unforgettable run to the Final Four. In 2017, another 11-seed, Xavier, won its way to the Elite Eight and 7-seed South Carolina willed its way into the Final Four. In 2016, 10th seeded Syracuse advanced to the Final Four while another 7-seed Michigan State reached the national semifinals in 2015.

But what truly constitutes a Cinderella Run in the NCAA Tournament? Certainly a Low to Mid-Major double-digit seed making the Elite Eight or better is a good barometer, like the above-mentioned Loyola Chicago team. So, which programs have a chance to be this year’s surprise team?

Double-Digit Seed Cinderellas

10. Seton Hall

The 10-7 match-up between the Pirates and Wofford should be a dandy because both teams feature high-powered offenses. Myles Powell has the game takeover ability to carry a team to an NCAA Tournament victory, and sometimes, especially in March, that’s all an upstart club like Seton Hall might need.

The Pirates’ best wins this season came against Kentucky at Madison Square Garden and splits with Villanova, Marquette and St. John’s in Big East Conference regular season play. Seton Hall defeated Georgetown and Marquette before falling to Nova in the Big East Conference Tournament. The Pirates are 7-8 against teams that fall under the “Quadrant 1” category.

11. Saint Mary’s

The Gaels enter the field as the No. 11 seed and, if you put stock into what history says, that seed is known to make some noise in March. But it’s not just about the seed number with St. Mary’s. The Gaels are as well-coached as any team in the country as evidenced by their WCC Conference Tournament championship win over the then-No. 1 team in the country, Gonzaga.

Jordan Ford is as dynamic of a scorer as you’ll find, while wings Malik Fitts and Tanner Krebs are both shooting the three-ball at over 40 percent. Though Villanova isn’t the same team it was last year, getting by the defending national champs will be a tough task.

11. Belmont

The Bruins advanced with a First Four win over Temple on Tuesday and 6-seed Maryland better watch out, because this squad can put points on the board in a hurry. Belmont is led by 6-foot-8 senior Dylan Windler who is putting up a double-double on average this season pouring in 21.4 points and pulling down 10.7 rebounds a game. Windler just missed the elusive 50-40-90 shooting percentage mark with a 54.8 overall field goal percentage, while connecting on three-pointers at a 43 clip and free throws at an 84.6 rate.

Belmont has plenty more options outside of its 6-8 wing, including Kevin McClain (16.3 points per game) and freshman forward Nick Muszynski (14.9 points per game), but keep an eye on point guard Grayson Murphy. The 6-foot-2 freshman scores around 10 points a game, but he orchestrates one of the most potent offensive attacks in the country as Belmont ranks second in scoring offense, producing 87.4 points per game.

12. Murray State

Like Seton Hall, Murray State is paced by one of the fastest-rising stars in all of college basketball this season: The electric Ja Morant. Morant, a 6-foot-3, 175-pound sophomore point guard, is leading the country in assists at 10 per contest and is eighth in the country in scoring average at 24.6 points per game. Morant has shot up the mock draft boards and is projected to go as high as No. 2 in the 2019 NBA Draft.

While Morant alone makes the Racers dangerous, Murray State has three others scoring in double figures this season. Shaq Buchanan (13.0), Tevin Brown (11.7) and Darnell Cowart (10.4) are all capable of supplementing Morant’s high scoring nights with ones of their own. Murray State opens with Marquette which features a high-level guard in its own right in National Player of the Year candidate Markus Howard. This match-up should be one of the most entertaining games of the opening rounds.

UC Irvine is the trendiest upset pick in the 2019 NCAA Tournament field. Can the Anteaters make a deep run in march? (Photo by Kyusung Gong/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

13. UC Irvine

The Anteaters are the No. 13-seed in the South and will take on Kansas State in the first round on Friday. UCI is in the midst of one of its best seasons in program history, winning a school-record 30 games compared to just five losses and the ‘Eaters lost only one game in Big West conference play. Irvine is riding a 16-game winning streak into the NCAA Tournament, including a 92-64 waxing of Cal State Fullerton in the Big West championship game. UCI ranks fourth in the country in field goal percentage defense, holding opponents to 37.9 percent from the field on the season.

The Anteaters have the ideal combination of size and skill in the paint to go along with multiple guards who can knock down open three-point shots. Six-foot-10 senior center Jonathan Galloway is the defensive anchor in the middle, while Tommy Rutherford, Collin Welp and Elston Jones are all capable of getting a basket in isolation on the block. Max Hazzard has had a breakout season at the guard position and is joined in the back-court by another sharpshooter in Evan Leonard. UCI boasts a lot of depth, as well, as head coach Russell Turner has six guys who play big minutes off the bench.

14. Yale

The Bulldogs are the prototypical team that “shocks” people come March. Yale is experienced, well-balanced offensively, paced by senior leadership and have a potential NBA prospect on the roster in Miye Oni, who is just a junior. Oni leads the team in both scoring and assists at 17.6 points and 3.5 dimes per game, while also pulling down 6.3 rebounds per contest. The Bulldogs score at a feature three others who score in double-figures in Alex Copeland (13.8), Blake Reynolds (11.4) and Jordan Bruner (10.2).

Yale ranks in the top 30 in the country in points scored per game at 81.1 and will need to put plenty of buckets on the board to keep pace with the hyper-athletic LSU team they face in the opening round. LSU might be more susceptible to upset seeing that it is without head coach Will Wade who was suspended for his alleged role in the college basketball pay-for-play scandal.

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While those players are bonafide first round picks in the 2019 NBA Draft, the guys you’ll find below are more along the lines of under-appreciated or unheralded based on their skill and production.

Jordan Ford, Saint Mary’s

Ford is the catalyst for the Gaels offense. A First-Team All-West Coast Conference selection, he tied BYU’s Yoel Childs for the conference scoring title at 21.5 points per game. Ford polished off his stellar pre-NCAA tournament campaign with 17 points in St. Mary’s upset of then-No. 1 Gonzaga in the WCC Tournament title game.

We already discussed Ford’s ability to score in bunches, but it’s the variety of ways in which he does it that makes him so fun to watch. The 6-foot-1 point guard has the ball on a string, which allows him to take advantage of his elite speed and stop-and-go ability. Ford is a master space creator both on the perimeter and in the paint, which lends to his ability to create shots in just about any situation. He’s shooting 42.3 percent from distance this season and 80 percent from the free throw line. St. Mary’s is the 11-seed in the South and will begin tournament play against 6-seed Villanova Thursday on TBS.

Wofford senior Fletcher Magee leads NCAA Division I with 151 three-point field goals made this season. (Photo by John Byrum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Fletcher Magee, Wofford

Magee is perhaps the most lethal three-point shooter in all of college hoops. The senior leads the country in trifecta’s made with 151 and is second to Campbell’s Chris Clemons (376) with 353 attempts from deep, those figures are good for just under a 43 percent clip from behind the arc. The senior, who is averaging 20.5 points this season, has made the second-most three-point field goals in NCAA Division I men’s basketball history, recently passing Duke’s J.J. Redick and trials the all-time mark of 504, set by Oakland’s Travis Bader, by two.

What makes Magee such a difficult cover is, as mentioned with another great shooter above, how he sets up and comes off of screens to free himself up. The 6-foot-4, 200 pounder can stop-and-pop off of a dead sprint, square himself to the basket mid-air, and hit those normally tough looks with consistency. Wofford opens the NCAA Tournament as a 7-seed in the Midwest taking on 10-seed Seton Hall Thursday on CBS.

Sam Merrill, Utah State

Merrill is certainly a name making his way into more and more households after he was named the Mountain West Player of the Year after leading the Aggies to a share of the league title (with Nevada) and earned the MVP of the Conference Tournament as Utah State defeated San Diego State in the championship game to seal a berth in the NCAA Tournament behind 24 points from the junior.

At first glance, Merrill’s numbers pop off the screen with averages of 21.2 points and 4.2 assists per game while shooting 45.6 percent from the field and 90.7 percent from the charity stripe. What you’ll notice most about the 6-foot-5 guard is, of course, his smooth 3-point shooting stroke, but also his ability to move without the basketball. Merrill utilizes screens as good as anyone you’ll find in the college game, makes overzealous defenders bite with shot fakes and is a crafty finisher around the cup. Utah State is the 8-seed in the Midwest and will take on 9-seed Washington Friday on TNT.

Utah State junior Sam Merrill was named Mountain West Player of the Year and conference tournament MVP. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)

Myles Powell, Seton Hall

The junior has continued to make steady progress from very reliable role player as a freshman, to solid starter as a sophomore and now one of the breakout stars this season in college basketball. Powell’s 22.9 points per game rank 13th in the country and he’s producing buckets in every way imaginable. Powell is shooting 45 percent from the field, 36.3 from three-point range and 84.6 from the free throw line and has put up 28 or more points on nine different occasions this season, including a 40-point effort against Grand Canyon in a Wooden Legacy quarterfinal win over Grand Canyon.

Powell is not afraid to take and make the big shot with the game on the line and has hit a handful of clutch three-pointers over the course of his Pirates’ career. Many of the clips you’ll see on the 6-foot-2, 195-pounder will show that he isn’t bashful about when and where he pulls from and he gets great lift on his jump shot. Powell has nailed 103 triples so far this season. Seton Hall, a 10-seed, will find itself in a shootout against 7-seed Wofford Thursday on CBS.

Shizz Alston, Jr., Temple

Alston was named a First-Team All-American Athletic Conference performer after tying for the conference scoring title at 19.7 points per game and finishing top five in assists, three-pointers, free throws, assist-to-turnover ratio and minutes played. Alston has scored 20 or more points in each of his last eight games leading up to the NCAA Tournament.

The 6-foot-4 senior boasts a wiry, but strong frame at 180 pounds and creates well for himself and others off the dribble. Alston is a tough shot taker and maker and is also a knock-down free throw shooter, hitting freebies at a 90.6 percent clip this season. One of his best attributes is his willingness to move the ball ahead via the pass in transition. The Owls will take on Belmont Tuesday in a First Four match-up on TRUTV.

Payton Pritchard, Oregon

Pritchard won’t blow the viewer away with freakish athleticism or flashy passes, but the Ducks’ signal caller embodies what a true point guard brings to the table. The junior has started all 35 games for Oregon this season and ranks top 10 in the country in total minutes played at 1,234 (35.3 minutes per game).

Pritchard, who didn’t make either First or Second-Team All Pac-12, is averaging 12.7 points and 4.5 assists on the season, ranks among the top 50 in assist-to-turnover ratio and is hitting free throws at a 84.3 percent clip. Oregon needed to win the Pac-12 Tournament to make the field of 68 and did so with a convincing 20-point victory over top-seeded Washington. Oregon enters the field as a dangerous 12-seed, taking on 12-seed Wisconsin Friday on TBS.

CJ Massinburg, Buffalo

When you talk about a player who fills up the stat sheet, Massinburg fits that mold. The 6-foot-3, 195-pounder is averaging 18.7 points, six rebounds and 3.3 assists while shooting 46.6 percent from the floor and 39.6 from three in leading the Bulls to a 31-3 record on the season. Massinburg’s performance earned him the Mid-American Conference Player of the Year award as Buffalo won both the regular season and conference tournament titles.

The senior was an outstanding player last year as a junior and put his skill on display when the 13th seeded Bulls upset 4th seeded Arizona in opening round. Massinburg scored 19 points in that game and has the game-changing ability to lead Buffalo to a strong 2019 tournament run. The Bulls are a 6-seed and will play the winner of the Arizona State/St. John’s play-in game Friday on TNT.

Justin Simon, St. John’s

Simon was a highly-touted player coming out of high school and spent his first collegiate season at Arizona where he played limited minutes. The 6-foot-5 guard made his way back east to the Red Storm where he’s turned into one of the best perimeter and team defenders in the country.

Simon’s offensive numbers are respectable at 10.4 points and 3.2 assists per game, but it’s what he does as on-ball defender, defensive rebounder, shot blocker and ability to shoot passing lanes for steals that shows his true impact on the game. Those who watch a lot of Big East hoops know Simon well as he was named Defensive Player of the Year in the conference. St. John’s will take on Arizona State in a First Four game Wednesday on TRUTV.

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