#1 Seeds: Kansas, Syracuse, Duke, Kentucky Midwest (St. Louis):

Midwest (St. Louis)
 In Oklahoma City, Kansas (32-2) wins the Big 12 tournament and gets a number one seed but in a tough bracket. They do have it all in terms of experience, size and depth. They have two points guards in Sherron Collins and Tyshawn Taylor and a big in junior Cole Aldrich (6-11, 245). They also have a terrific freshman in Xavier Henry (6-6, 220), who averages around 14ppg. They face Lehigh (22-10), a high scoring team from the Patriot League. Lehigh averages 75ppg, but they allow 70ppg. Senior PG Marquis Hall (6-0, 190) will need to control the tempo and slow it down some against Jayhawks, He averages 11ppg and 5.7apg. Their biggest player is freshman Gabe Knutson (6-9, 215), who will need help stopping Aldrich. #8 UNLV (25-8) will face #9 Northern Iowa (28-4), with the winner facing Kansas. Both schools are tough as Northern Iowa tries to spread out the defense and relies on the three-point shot (43%). They have a huge senior center in Jordan Eglseder (7-0, 280), who averages 12ppg and 7.3rpg and he can play. Freshman PG Kwadzo Ahelegbe (10.7ppg) is a quick penetrator and loves to drive and kick. Senior Adam Koch (6-8, 255) provides more muscle inside. UNLV is an excellent defensive team, that allows just 63.6pg. Junior Tre’Von Willis (6-4, 195) leads the team in scoring at 17.7ppg, but shoots just 29.8% from beyond the arc. Senior Darris Santee (6-8, 225) is a little undersized as a center and is just a role player.

#13 New Mexico State (22-11) will face #5 Michigan State (23-8) in Spokane, Washington. New Mexico State could be a sleeper here if they can play defense (77.8ppg allowed). They want to push it up the floor use their 2-3 zone and press to make it a full court game. Sophomore Hamidu Rahman (6-11, 255) gives them size and rebounding (10.5ppg, and 8.1rpg). Junior Jahmar Young (6-5, 180) is an explosive scorer who averages 20.5ppg and 3.2apg. They don’t want to get into a halfcourt game against Michigan State (63.7ppg), a physical team that is usually well-coached. Soph. Delvon Roe (6-8, 230) and senior Raymar Morgan (6-8, 240) provide the muscle inside. Junior Kalin Lucas (14.8ppg, 3.9apg) sets the tempo and has got great quick quickness. This is not a deep MSU team so they may not be in for a long run if they got by NM State, which is not a given. The other game should be a high-scoring one as #4 Maryland (23-8) takes on #13 Houston (19-15). Houston averages 78 ppg but allows 74.6ppg. Tom Pender’s squad did win the C-USA Tournament and his small, but quick team can do some damage. They also have the nation’s leading scorer in Aubrey Coleman (6-4, 200), who averages 26ppg and 7.3rpg. He’ll likely be matched up against Maryland’s Sean Mosley (6-4, 210), the team’s best defender, who also averages 10.8ppg and 5.3rpg. But the biggest edge Maryland has is inside with freshman Jordan Williams (6-10, 260), who averages 9.5ppg and 8.3rpg and has great hands. Senior Greivis Vasquez (19.6ppg, 6.3apg) is a Wooden Award nominee who can take this team far if he’s on his game.

In Providence, #6 Tennessee (25-8) takes on #11 San Diego State (25-8). The Aztecs allow just 61.8ppg led by head coach Steve Fisher, who knows how to win tournament games back from his days at Michigan. They have a balanced team with some decent size led by junior small forward Billy White (6-8, 235), who averages 10.6ppg, while freshman Kawhi Leonard (6-7, 225) adds 12.6pp and 9.6rpg. He has great hands and plays bigger than his size. The Vols could be in trouble here if they don’t rebound. The Vols can beat anybody on a given night (Kansas and Kentucky), but can also lose. Bobby Maze (6-3, 195) is a solid point guard, who averages 9.5ppg. Up front, senior Wayne Chism (6-9, 246) adds 12.4ppg and 6.8rpg, while junior Brian Williams (6-10, 278) adds size. They lack great depth and that could be their undoing. The other game here features #3 Georgetown (23-10) vs. #14 Ohio U. (21-14). Ohio averages 74ppg and shocked everybody by winning the MAC Tournament with a 7-9 conference record. They did win 21 overall games and are led by guard Armon Bassett (16.9ppg, 3.5apg). The Bobcats don’t have a lot of size and that’s not a good sign going up against a big Georgetown team. The Hoyas feature solid guards and two bigs in Julian Vaughn (6-9, 247) and sophomore Greg Monroe (6-11, 247). Monroe averages 16ppg, 9.6rpg and 3.6apg. He’s one of the best passing big men in the country, while junior point guard Chris Wright (6-1, 208) adds 14.2ppg and 4apg. Junior Austin Freeman (6-3, 227) leads the team in scoring at 17.3ppg and just found he had diabetes, which slowed him down earlier, but now is under control.

In Milwaukee, #7 Oklahoma State (22-10) and #10 Georgia Tech (22-12) face off in a very interesting contest. Georgia Tech underachieved most of the season, but got to the ACC Final, which helped them slide in the tournament. Freshman Derrick Favors (6-10, 246) is a developing big man who averages 11.9ppg and 8.4rpg. They have great size and solid depth, but their guard play can be iffy and they are turnover-prone. Sophomore Iman Shumpert (6-5, 209) leads the way with 10ppg and 4apg. They are a pretty good defensive team, that allows just 65.6ppg. They face a smaller Oklahoma State team led by strong guard play. Junior James Anderson (6-6, 210) is one of the best wings in the country, who averages 22.9ppg and 6rpg. But up front, they lack size as junior Matt Pilgrim (6-8, 235), who averages 8.1ppg and 6.9rpg, will need help against Favors. They’ll need to pressure GT into turning the ball over. The other game features #2 Ohio State (27-7) vs. #15 UC Santa Barbara (20-9). The Gauchos want to slow this game down and make it a halfcourt game. They are small up front, with soph. Jamie Serna (6-7, 235) starting at center and averaging 7.9ppg. Soph. Orlando Johnson (6-5, 205) leads in scoring at 17.9, while soph. James Nunnally (6-5, 205) adds 14.9ppg and 5.7rpg from the power forward spot. Johnson was Big West Player of the Year, but can he stop Evan Turner (6-7, 210)? Turner plays the point for Ohio State, averaging 19.5ppg and 9.4rpg with 5.8apg. The only thing Turner doesn’t do is shoot the three well (29%). Junior Jon Diebler (6-6, 210) is a dead-eye three-point shooter (42%), while they have some size up front with junior Dallas Lauderdale (6-8, 260, 7.2ppg, 5.2rpg). The bench is pretty deep but this is not a tall team when junior David Light (6-5, 225) is your power forward, who averages just 4.6prg. But he does get into opponents’ grill with his defense.

West (Salt Lake City):

In Buffalo, #1 Syracuse (28-4) is close to home, playing #16 Vermont (25-9). There is some concern for the Orange, who average 81ppg and allow just 66.9ppg. Senior C Arinze Onuaku (6-9, 261, 10.7ppg) is coming off a left knee strain and may not play the opener. If they don’t have him against Gonzaga or especially a big Florida State team, that could hurt. Fortunately Syracuse is loaded and can move junior Rick Jackson (6-9, 240, 7rpg) to center. They also have a great player in junior Wes Johnson (6-7, 205), who averages 15.7ppg and 8.5rpg, and was Big East Player of the Year. Senior guard Andy Rautins (6-4, 195) runs the show, averaging 11.6ppg and 4.8apg., while shooting 39% from the 3-point arc. Vermont is back in the tournament after winning the America East at home. This is one of the smallest teams in the field, with senior Marqus Blakely (6-5, 225) basically playing center. He’s incredibly effective, averaging 17.2ppg and 9.1rpg and is a great athlete. The rest of the team lacks athleticism, though senior Maurice Joseph (6-4, 190, 14.1ppg), a Michigan State transfer, can flat-out play. The other game features #8 Gonzaga (26-6) against #9 Florida State (22-9). Not many teams can match up with FSU’s size, but Gonzaga can. Soph. Robert Sacre (7-0, 247) is a big defensive presence averaging 10.2ppg and 5.3rpg. They can also bring off freshman Kelly Olynyk (6-11, 215) off the bench. But the key for the Zags is senior guard Matt Bouldin (6-5, 224), who averages 16ppg and is the WCC Player of the Year. Junior guard Steven Gray (6-5, 208) is another quality player, who averages 13.5ppg. FSU is an outstanding defenisve team, that allows just 60.2ppg, yet they are very young and guard play can be a problem. Soph. Soloman Alabi (7-1, 251) blocks everything in his size, averaging 11.6ppg, 6.1rpg and 2.3bpg. Even their backcourt is big, averaging 8.3ppg and 3.9apg. The key is soph. Chris Singleton (6-9, 227), who averages 10.4ppg and 7.2rpg, but needs more consistency.

In San Jose, #5 Butler (28-4) takes on #12 UTEP is another mid-major matchup. They are led by soph. Gordon Hayward (15.4ppg, 8.5rpg), one of the best players in the country. They struggle with athletic teams, especially those who can rebound. Soph. guard Shelvin Mack (6-3, 215) is an athletic defender, who can also score at the rim. UTEP allows just 64.2ppg and has the size to keep up with most high-major teams. But they tend to blow games late. Junior Randy Culpepper (6-0, 165) leads the way in the backcourt with 18ppg and 1.8spg. Up front, junior Derrick Caracter (6-9, 275) is a Louisville transfer who averages 13.8ppg and 8rpg. He should be even more dominant than he is. This is a very dangerous at-large team. The other game features #4 Vanderbilt (24-8) vs. #13 Murray State (30-4). The Racers allow just 60.5ppg and use their quickness to beat teams. However, they are small, led by senior center Tony Easley (6-9, 200), who averages 2.7bpg, along with 10.4ppg. Junior Isaac Miles (6-2, 205) runs the show, averaging 9.5ppg and 3.8apg. They play three guards who can penetrate at any given moment. Vandy has the big size advantage here led by junior center A.J. Oglivy (6-11, 255), who averages 13.9ppg and 6.2rpg. Senior guard Jermaine Beal (6-3, 205) leads the team in scoring at 14.7ppg and is a very heady player. This is a well-balanced team that will have problems against teams that can run and rebound.

In Milwaukee, #11 Minnesota (21-13) faces #6 Xavier (24-8). Minnesota has to be the most dangerous #11 seed. They got tired against Ohio State in the final, but making it there put them in. Up front, sophomores Colten Iveron (6-10, 258) and Ralph Sampson III (6-11, 241) add size and rebounding. However, this team lacks can’t consistently stop people. They want to make it a halfcourt affair. Senior Lawrence Westbrook (6-0, 193) leads the way with 12.9ppg, while shooting 42.5% from beyond the arc. Xavier is a high-scoring team, who averaged 80ppg and shot 37% from beyond the arc. They have an outstanding young player in soph. Jordan Crawford (6-4, 195), who averaged 19.7ppg and once dunked over LeBron in a camp. Senior Jason Love (6-9, 265) is huge, who averages 11.9ppg and 8.6rpg and shoots 58% from the field. This is a good team, but not as deep as in year’s past. #3 Pittsburgh (24-8) takes on #14 Oakland (26-8) in the other matchup. Pitt is another balanced, half-court team led by soph. guard Ashton Gibbs (6-2, 190), who averages 16.2ppg and is the go-to-guy. Up front, junior Gary McGhee (6-10, 250) is a solid role player, who averages 7.2ppg and 7rpg. Their best defender is senior Jermaine Dixon (6-3, 200), who averages 10.7ppg and is the younger brother of Juan. Oakland is out of the Summit League and this is the second trip to the dance. They love to run and will attempt to push it against bigger and slower Pitt team. Junior center Keith Benson (6-11, 221) averages 17ppg and 10.5rpg and is a good shot blocker. Senior guard Jonathan Jones (5-11, 160) is the facilitator who averages 12.4ppg and leads in assists with 6.4apg. The backcourt is outstanding and they could surprise if they make their treys.

In Oklahoma City, #7 BYU (29-5) takes on #10 Florida (21-12), while #2 Kansas State (26-7) faces #15 North Texas (24-8). BYU averages 82ppg and have one of the best guards in the nation in junior Jimmer Fredette (6-2, 195). He leads with 20.6ppg and 4.7apg, while shooting 47% from beyond the arc. He has been battling mono and at one point strep. Up front, senior Chris Miles (6-11, 235) and senior forward Noah Nartsock (6-8, 215) are solid bigs who run the floor and set screens. This is a deeper and more athletic BYU team than in recent years. Florida barely made the tournament, but they do have an exciting team led by soph. guard Erving Walker (5-8, 171), who averages 12.6ppg and 5apg. They have an excellent backcourt and junior Vernon Macklin (6-10, 240), a Georgetown transfer who averages 10.6ppg and 5.6rpg, but doesn’t play as big as his size. Their bench is weak and their three-point shooting is erratic. North Texas had a strong year with 24 wins and this is a talented team that people shouldn’t take for granted. Junior guard Josh White (5-10, 170) is small but quick and has no fear (14.9ppg, 3.6apg). Up front, junior George Odufuwa (6-8, 240) is a great athlete and rebounder (11.5ppg, 10.4rpg), while junior Tristan Thompson (6-4, 190, 14pg) is a deadly shooter. Kansas State could have their hands full here. But they have an excellent guard in senior Denis Clemente (6-1, 175) who averages 16ppg and is very fast in the open court. Up front, senior Luis Colon (6-10, 265) adds size, as does junior Curtis Kelly (6-8, 250, 11.4ppg). This team loves to go to the boards and leads the nation in free throws attempted.

East (Syracuse):

In New Orleans, #1 Kentucky (32-2) faces #16 East Tennessee State, while #8 Texas (24-9) takes on #9 Wake Forest (19-10). ETSU averages just 69ppg and will need their matchup zone to help against Kentucky. Murry Bartow, son of Gene, is a solid coach. Last year, they scare Pitt as #16. They are small, with a 6-8, 210-pound center in Isiah Brown (7.7ppg, 5.6rpg). Junior power forward Tommy Hubbard (6-4, 210) leads in scoring at 14.1ppg and 8.3rpg. Kentucky is loaded with talent and superstars led by freshman PG John Wall (6-4, 195), who averages 16.8ppg and 6.apg. The team plays great defense and has great size, led by freshman DeMarcus Cousins (6-11, 270, 15.6ppg, 10.1rpg). The only thing they lack is experience and they could struggle against zone defenses, because they aren’t a great jumpshooting team. Texas averages 81ppg, but they have struggled with consistency. They lack at the point guard spot where freshman Avery Bradley (11.7ppg) takes over for Dogus Balbay (knee), who is out for the year. Up front, senior Damion James (6-7, 225) is one of the best in the Big 12, averaging 17.7ppg and 10.2rpg. Senior Dexter Pittman (6-10, 290) is a beast in the middle. Speaking of consistency, some felt Wake Forest is better suited to the NIT. Wake has underachieved on league play, yet they are very talented. Senior guard Ishmael Smith (6-0, 175) is the quickest player in the ACC, and averages 13.3ppg and 6apg, but can’t shoot past 15 feet. F Al-Farouq Aminu (6-9, 215) is an NBA lottery pick, who averages 15.9ppg and 10.8rpg, but is a turnover machine. Senior C Chris McFarland (7-0, 245) is a battler, but this team won’t go anywhere if they can’t find some perimeter shooting.

At Jacksonville, #5 Temple (29-5) takes on #12 Cornell (27-4), while #4 Wisconsin (23-8) faces #13 Wofford (26-8). Cornell is a scary team to play because they have four seniors who start and a legit big man in Jeff Foote (7-0, 265), who averages 12.3ppg, 8.2rpg, and 1.9bpg. Senior wing Ryan Wittman (6-7, 215) leads the way with 17.5ppg and makes 42% of his treys. This is a great shooting team from the perimeter, so Temple, who is now a man-to-man team, better get out on the shooters. Fran Dunphy knows about Ivy League basketball, having coached at Penn. His Temple team has won 10 straight and is 12-3 away from Philadelphia. Soph. point guard Juan Fernandez (6-4, 180), is a tremendous player, who averages 12.2ppg who can dish it our drill it from deep (45% 3pt). Up front, soph. Michael Erc (6-11, 240) is improving, while junior Lavoy Allen (6-9, 225) is a rebounding machine (11.7ppg, 10.8rpg). They also have a great bench led by soph. Ramon Moore (6-4, 180, 7.6ppg), the A10’s Sixth Man of the Year. #13 Wofford is out of the Southern Conference and they run a solid halfcourt offense, averaging 69ppg and they allow just 61.2ppg. But they are very small with two 6-6 post players going up against a huge team. They’ll need junior Noah Dahlman (6-6, 215, 16.8ppg) to create matchup problems and outquick his opponents. Wisconsin plays tough defense, allowing just 56.2ppg, but at times, Wisky can’t score (67ppg) and that hurts them in postseason tournaments. When they go into droughts, they can’t get out of it. The key is junior Jon Leuer (6-10, 240), coming back from an injury, who averages 14.9ppg and 5.7rpg. The backcourt is strong, led by senior Trevon Hughes (6-0, 193, 15.4ppg).

In San Jose, #6 Marquette (22-11) takes on #11 Washington (24-9), while #3 New Mexico (29-4) faces #14 Montana (22-9). Washington won the Pac-10 tournament, by playing fast and averaging 79ppg. Soph. Isaiah Thomas (5-8, 185) is a dynamic scorer despite the lack of height, averaging 17.1ppg, but is playing with a broken bone in his left shooting hand. Up front, junior Matthew Bryan-Amaning (6-9, 240) is tough and gives the team physical play, while senior Quincy Poindexter (6-6, 215, 19.8ppg), makes up for his lack of size with great leaping ability. Marquette has great guards as usual and they lack size, with senior Lazar Haywood (6-6, 225, 18ppg), their biggest and best player. Soph guard Darius Johnson-Odom (6-2, 200) adds 12.9ppg and shoots 48% from beyond the arc. This is a difficult team to play, but Washington is one of the few squads that can match their quickness. Montana loves to heave the trey, as they make 40% of them this year. They can hang with big teams because they have two quality big men in junior Brian Ovale (6-11, 265, 9.7ppg, 6.9rpg) and soph. Derek Selvig (7-0, 250, 5.9ppg, 5rpg). Senior guard Anthony Johnson (6-3, 210) leads the Grizz in scoring with 19.6ppg and scored 42 in the Big Sky Championship game. New Mexico, led by head coach Steve Alford, plays an aggressive man-to-man defense. They also play up-tempo led by junior guard Dairese Gary (6-1, 205), who averages 12.4ppg and 4apg. Up front, soph. A.J. Hardeman (6-8, 225) sets good screens and is quick for a big man. Junior Darington Hobson (6-7, 250) leads in scoring with 15.8ppg, assists (4.6apg) and rebounds with 9.1rpg.

#7 Clemson (21-10) faces #10 Missouri (22-10) and #2 West Virginia (27-6) takes on #15 Morgan State (27-9) in Buffalo. Missouri was shocked by Nebraska in the Big 12 Tournament by 16, but did win 10 games in the conference. This team wants to get out and run (77.6ppg) and they have the balanced scoring to do led by Kim English, who averages 13.9ppg. Keith Ramsey (6-9, 217) gives them some size, but they want to outquick their opponents and not stay in a halfcourt game. Clemson is a halfcourt team that wants to dominate people inside. Senior Trevor Booker (6-7, 240) leads the way with 15.3ppg and 8.3rpg. The guard player is average at best. Junior Demontez Stitt (6-2, 175, 11.2ppg) is key. It’s all about defense for Clemson in a battle of Tigers. Morgan State is back in the tournament led by a solid inside-out combination. Reggie Holmes (6-4, 180) is Mr. Outside, who averages 21.8ppg and shoots 37% from 3-point range. Soph. Kevin Thompson (6-9, 240) is a beast inside, who averages 12.8ppg and 11.9rpg and has low post moves. But the Bears will have their hands full against West Virginia. Soph Kevin Jones (6-8, 250, 13.5ppg, 7.4rpg) has the size to counter Thompson, while senior Da’Sean Butler (6-7, 230) is the star, averaging 17.2ppg and 6.3rpg. He’s a tough matchup because of his size for a two-guard.

South (Houston):

#1 Duke (29-5) takes on the winner of Ark-Pine Bluff/Winthrop in Jacksonville. APB averages 64ppg and allows 64.7ppg. Their point guard Terrance Calvin (6-2, 170, 10.4ppg, 4apg) will have his hands full if they get by Winthrop. The Eagles are offensively inept, averaging just 62ppg and they shoot just 38% from the field. They win with defense, allowing just 61.4ppg. They have just one double digit scorer in soph. point guard Reggie Middleton (6-1, 190), who averages 10.3ppg. Duke gets the first seed and the easiest draw. Hard to believe, though Duke did win a watered down ACC (with North Carolina down). Duke defends and rebounds, but they really can stroke it led by senior Jon Scheyer (6-5, 190, 18.9ppg, 5.2apg) and junior guard Nolan Smith (17.6ppg, 3apg). The big issue is lack of athleticism, especially up front where senior Brian Zoubek (7-1, 260, 5.4ppg, 7.3rpg) is very productive, but slow. #8 California (23-10) takes on #9 Louisville (20-12) in the other game in Jacksonville. Cal made it as the only at-large team from the Pac-10. It all starts with senior guard Jerome Randle (5-10, 172), who averages 18.7ppg and 4.5apg. They have decent size, led by senior center Jamal Boykin (6-8, 240), who averages 11.7ppg and 6.7rpg. But they can be overpowered by big teams. Louisville has some size, led by soph. Samardo Samuels (6-9, 260), who averages 15.3ppg and 7rpg. On any given night, they can beat a Syracuse at home and on the road. They can also lose at St. John’s. The big issue for Louisville is a go-to perimeter scorer and if they can’t get teams to turn the ball over with their pressure defense.

In Spokane, Wash., #5 Texas A&M (23-9) takes on #12 Utah State (27-7), while #4 Purdue (27-5) faces #13 Siena (27-6). Utah State allowed just 59.6ppg and has a very efficient offense, that shoots 49% from the floor. Junior Nate Bendall (6-9, 245) is a solid big man, who can face-up and score (10.4ppg). Junior power forward Taj Wesley (6-7, 240) leads in scoring with 13.6ppg and rebounds at 6.6rpg. Their patient offense isn’t built to come back from a big deficit. Texas A&M is another steady halfcourt team, who shoots 44% from the field and allows just 64.9ppg. Senior guard Donald Sloan (6-3, 205, 17.9ppg) leads the way from the backcourt. Up front, senior big man Bryan Davis (6-9, 250) adds 10ppg and 8rpg. They are just one of six teams who have won at least one tournament game the last four years. Siena is a very scary #13 seed, who averages 75ppg and allows 65.3ppg. This isn’t new for the Saints as they’ve made three straight NCAA appearances. They have three seniors in the starting lineup led by Alex Franklin (6-5, 226), who is the MAAC Player of the Year. He averaged 16.3ppg and 8rpg, but the key is junior center Ryan Rossiter (6-9, 234), who averages 13.9pp and 11.1rpg. He’s tough to handle because he can shoot the jumper and face. Purdue comes into this tournament without second-leading scorer Robbie Hummel (15.7ppg, 6.9rpg), who is out with a knee injury. Senior Keaton Grant (6-4, 201) will have to look for his offense in place of Hummel. Junior E’Twaun Moore (6-4, 184) leads the team in scoring with 16.7ppg, but is lacking on the defensive end. In New Orleans, #6 Notre Dame (23-11) faces #11 Old Dominion (26-8), while #3 Baylor (25-7) takes on #14 Sam Houston State (25-7). Notre Dame was awfully feisty in making the Big Dance, when they were on the proverbial bubble. They need to win without Luke Harangody (6-8, 246, 23.3ppg, 9.7rpg), who was out with a knee injury and they did. Harangody is back now, but the team has gone to a very deliberate style of offense. That benefits players like junior Tim Abromaitis (6-8, 235), a great shooter, who makes 45% of his treys. Senior Troy Jackson (5-11, 195) runs the point and has done a nice job slowing the tempo down. Senior Ben Hansbrough (6-3, 206) is a pure shooter (12ppg, 4.5apg) and is nothing like his brother Tyler, the inside bruiser. Old Dominion has the size up front and speedy guards to compete with anybody. They allowed just 57.1ppg and win with defense. Senior F Gerald Lee (6-9, 250) leads the team in scoring with 14.6ppg, though he is more of a face-the basket four. Junior Frank Hassell (6-8, 245, 8.9ppg) might be forced to defend Harangody in a matchup of physical players. Junior Darius James (6-1, 170) runs the show, averaging 7.1ppg and 3.4apg. Soph. Kent Bazemore (6-5, 190) is a powerful two guard and excellent defender. Sam Houston averages 79ppg and they want to turn every game into a track meet. Their lack of size will hurt them against Baylor, who has quickness and size. Senior guard Corey Allmond (6-1, 180) leads the backcourt with 15.9ppg, while junior center Gilberto Clavell (6-6, 210) averaged 16.9ppg and 6.3rpg. They are not a half-court team. Baylor won four of their last five games led by guard LaceDarius Dunn (6-4, 205), who averages 19.4ppg. Senior guard Tweety Carwter (5-11, 185) adds 15.7ppg and 6.1apg. The key is big man Ekpe Udoh (6-10, 240), who averages 13.9ppg, 9.8rpg and 3.9bpg, but will have trouble staying with Clavell. In Providence, #7 Richmond (26-8) takes on #10 St. Mary’s (26-5), while #2 Villanova (24-7) faces #15 Robert Morris (23-11). Richmond is a very scary team because they play a Princeton-style offense and spread the floor. Senior guard David Gonzalvez (6-4, 205, 14.3ppg) is their best defender, while they have size inside with junior Dan Geriot (6-9, 255), 7ppg). Junior guard Kevin Anderson (6-0, 170, 17.8ppg) knows how to get to the line and converts. St. Mary’s wants to run in this game. They allow 66ppg and put up 79. Senior Omar Samhan (6-11, 265) leads the team in scoring at 20.9ppg and rebounds at 11rpg. They have a huge front line as Ben Allen (6-11, 250) plays alongside Samhan. The key is junior Mikey McConnell (6-0, 175) at the point who averages 13.7ppg and 5.3apg. The team does rely on the 3-ball and when that doesn’t fall, they are in trouble. Robert Morris won the Northeast Conference and they rely on a solid defense, which allows 65.7ppg. They definitely want to slow it down against Villanova and hope that freshman point guard Karon Abraham (5-9, 150) can slow the tempo down. He averages 13.4ppg, but will have issues against Nova’s quick guards. Senior Dallas Green (6-8, 210) is a lanky center who defends and rebounds. Villanova averages 82ppg, but they allow 72.9ppg. Their guards are great, but when they don’t defend, they can lose in the early on. Senior guard Scottie Reynolds leads the way with 18.8ppg and 3.4apg. Junior Corey Fisher (6-1, 185, 13.6ppg, 4apg) can drive, dish or score. They need some production from freshman Mouphtaou Yarou (6-10, 250), who averages just 14.3mpg. They do have a great bench, led by Corey Stokes (9ppg) and Duke transfer Taylor King (7.7ppg, 5.8rpg), who could meet up with his old team in the Elite Eight.

Post from: ATS Sports Blog

ATS’ NCAA Tournament Men’s Basketball Preview

Ovechkin, who was suspended for two games on Nov. 30, 2009, now is considered a repeat offender under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Accordingly, he forfeits $232,645.40 in salary, based on the number of games in the season (82). The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

Ovechkin will miss Washington’s next two games — March 16 at Florida and March 18 at Carolina. He will be eligible to return March 20 at Tampa Bay.

Ovechkin was ejected from the nationally televised game for pushing Campbell from behind into the boards in the first period and received a major penalty and a game misconduct. Campbell, according to league sources, suffered a broken clavicle and at least one broken rib, and it’s questionable whether he’ll return this season. The team is calling it an upper-body injury and said Campbell will miss the Blackhawks’ three-game road trip this week out West that starts Wednesday night in Anaheim, Calif.

The Capitals came back from a 3-0 deficit to win 4-3 in overtime.

Campbell consulted with team physicians on Monday, and the team is expected to issue a statement on Tuesday. He has seven goals and 31 assists on the season, and is a key defenseman for the Blackhawks, who are second overall in the Western Conference two points behind San Jose.

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Ovechkin Suspended

“The Masters is where I won my first major and I view this tournament with great respect. After a long and necessary time away from the game, I feel like I’m ready to start my season at Augusta,” Woods said in a statement.

The Masters is scheduled for April 8-11. Since World War II, only one player made his first official event of the year the Masters and gone on to win — Ben Hogan in 1951 and 1953.

Woods last played on Nov. 15, when he won the Australian Masters in Melbourne for his 82nd career victory. His world then unraveled less than two weeks later; he was involved in a one-car crash outside his Florida home that required a hospital visit and let to a series of revelations about his personal life that included a later admission of multiple affairs.

“I have undergone almost two months of inpatient therapy and I am continuing my treatment,” Woods said in his statement. “Although I’m returning to competition, I still have a lot of work to do in my personal life.”

Woods announced an indefinite leave from golf on Dec. 11 and made a public statement on Feb. 19, but speculation about his return has intensified in recent weeks as he began practicing again at Isleworth, near his home.

By choosing the Masters, Woods will skip next week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational, which he has won the last two years and six times overall. He also skipping next week’s Tavistock Cup, an exhibition played at Isleworth.

“When I finally got into a position to think about competitive golf again, it became apparent to me that the Masters would be the earliest I could play,” Woods said. “I called both Joe Lewis and Arnold Palmer and expressed my regrets for not attending the Tavistock Cup and the Arnold Palmer Invitational. I again want to thank them both for their support and their understanding. Those are fantastic tournaments and I look forward to competing in them again.

Woods last played on the PGA Tour in the Tour Championship on Sept. 28, where he finished second. His layoff between the Australian Masters and U.S. Masters will be 144 days — the second-longest of his career. He missed 256 days recovering from knee surgery in 2009.

Post from: ATS Sports Blog

Tiger is Back

The NIT also gets underway tonight, with a few big teams in action. Connecticut hosts Northeastern, the school that Jim Calhoun coached before going to UCONN. William & Mary heads to Chapel Hill to take on defending National champion North Carolina. W&M coach Tony Shaver played for the Tar Heels back in the 70s and returns home.

Expect an entertaining game in Jersey tonight between Texas Tech and Seton Hall. Both of these teams can really get up and down the floor. Good luck and enjoy.

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Here are today’s college basketball odds:

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College Basketball Lines and Odds for March 16, 2010

Tim Duncan and Dwyane Wade are two of the best in the game, and it’s always fun to see these two go at it. Good luck and enjoy.

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NBA Odds and Lines for March 16, 2010

- Tuesday night, the NIT tips off.  UCONN, UNC, UAB, Mississippi State, Arizona State, and Seton Hall will all win as favorites in their opening round game. The one minor upset will be NC State defeating South Florida.

- Wednesday, in the NIT.  The majority of the games will go as expected, as the higher seeded team will win all but two games.  Winners will include Dayton, Virginia Tech, Wichita State, Mississippi, Memphis, Rhode Island, and Cincinnati. The two upsets will be Tulsa winning at Kent State, and Stony Brook shocking top seeded Illinois.

- The Midwest Region will have four games taking place on Thursday. #3 Georgetown will have little difficulty defeating #14 Ohio, as the Hoyas should win by 15 to 17 points. #1 Kansas will dominate Lehigh, as the Morris brothers and Cole Aldrich will be just too much for #16 seed Lehigh to handle.  Kansas wins by 39 points. #8 Northern Iowa will battle #9 UNLV.  Both teams are very strong on the defensive side of the ball, which means this game will be very low scoring. Adam Koch and Jordan Eglseder should control the boards for Northern Iowa, and PG Kwadzo Ahelegbe is so tough penetrating in the lane.  Ahelegbe will have a big scoring game here. #8 Northern Iowa prevails by 4 points. #11 San Diego State has one of the best freshmen in the nation in PF Kawhi Leonard.  Leonard is a monster on the glass, especially the offensive glass. #6 Tennessee is very undisciplined and besides Scotty Hopson, at times, the team has trouble scoring. The Vols can’t possibly stay in this game. The Aztecs win this game easily; San Diego State by 19 points.

- Thursday night the West Region tips off four games as well. #2 Kansas State should have no problems at all with #15 North Texas. Kansas State rolls by 34 points. #4 Vanderbilt should have little trouble with #13 Murray State, as Jermaine Beal should get into the lane on every possession. Vandy rolls by 16 points. #12 UTEP should be too athletic for #5 Butler. UTEP has arguably the best frontline in the nation, and there is little chance that Butler will be able to handle Caracter and Moultrie in the post and on offensive rebounds. UTEP should win this game pretty easily; UTEP by 11 points. #10 Florida has been very inconsistent this season, but Coach Billy Donovan knows how to prepare for tournament play, and the Gators will be ready to go, in fact, the Gators will defeat #7 BYU will a barrage of three-point shots that come from Walker, Boynton, and Parsons. Jimme Fredette will score 30 for BYU, but it won’t be enough.  Florida wins by 7 points.

- The East Region tips off four games on Thursday as well.  #6 Marquette should roll over #11 Washington, Marquette wins by 13 points. #1 Kentucky will dominate #16 East Tennessee State by 32 points.  #3 New Mexico should handle #14 Montana pretty easily as well; New Mexico wins by 17 points.  #8 Texas versus #9 Wake Forest appears to be the only game on paper that could be close. Too bad the games aren’t played on paper, Texas kills Wake Forest. Texas freshman Avery Bradley and Jordan Hamilton go for 53 points combined. Texas rolls by 18 points.  The East Region is nothing but blowout city on Thursday.

- Finally on Thursday, the South Region will kick off with four games. #2 Villanova will have no problems getting by #15 Robert Morris. Villanova wins by 16 points.  #3 Baylor will dominate #14 Sam Houston State; Baylor wins by 27 points.  #6 Notre Dame should handle #11 Old Dominion; Fighting Irish win by 13 points. The #7 Richmond versus #10 St. Mary’s game will be the close one in this region. St. Mary’s is very strong from the perimeter, and Richmond’s Anderson will get to the rim on penetration over and over again. This game should go down to the wire. St. Mary’s pulls off a slight upset here by 2 points.

- On Friday, the Midwest Region has four more games on tap.  #5 Michigan State should take care of business against #12 New Mexico State. Spartans win by 15 points.  #2 Ohio State will win handily over #15 UCSB by 26 points. #7 Oklahoma State will narrowly defeat #10 Georgia Tech by 4 points, SG James Anderson will score 32 points. And #13 Houston will totally dominate #4 Maryland, as the Cougars will prove to be too athletic in the back court for Maryland. Coleman and Lewis will combine for 48 points for Houston, and Maurice McNeal will grab 7 offensive boards, en route to a 12 rebound effort.

- On Friday, the West Region has four games on the slate. #3 Pittsburgh will swarm #14 Oakland, Pittsburgh wins by 23 points. #1 Syracuse holds off a pesky #16 Vermont team, the Orangemen win by 9 points. #6 Xavier win a tight game with #11 Minnesota, despite a 23 point effort from PG Devoe Joseph from the Golden Gophers. Ex-Big Ten player, Jordan Crawford will lead the Musketeers with 18 points.  Xavier wins by 5 points. #9 Florida State will keep #8 Gonzaga unbalanced with their pressure defense, as the Zags will never recover from a big first half deficit. The Seminoles win by 10 points.

- The East Region has four games on the schedule on Friday. #13 Wofford upset #4 Wisconsin in overtime by 4 points. #5 Temple will oust #12 Cornell by 13 points, as Ryan Brooks scores 26 points. #2 West Virginia will hold off a very stubborn #15 Morgan State team, the Mountaineers win by 6 points.  #7 Clemson defeats #10 Missouri, despite a 27 point effort from SG Kim English of Mizzou. Clemson wins by 7 points.

- Finally the South Region tips off four games on Friday. #1 Duke crushes the play-in game winner Winthrop by 28 points. #13 Siena defeats #4 Purdue by 6 points. #9 Louisville handles #8 California will ease, by 11 points. The Aggies of #5 Texas A&M will defeat the Aggies of #12 Utah State by 6 points, as Donald Sloan scores 17 points.

- Saturday, eight teams will reach the Sweet 16. In the Midwest Region:  Kansas will defeat UNLV in overtime by 2 points. Georgetown will defeat San Diego State by 7 points. In West Region, Florida will narrowly defeat Kansas State by 4 points. UTEP will defeat Vanderbilt by 7 points.  In the East Region, Texas will upset Kentucky by 3 points. Marquette will upset New Mexico by 7 points. In the South Region, Villanova will easily defeat St. Mary’s by 14 points. Baylor will easily defeat Notre Dame by 17 points.

- On Sunday, eight more teams will reach the Sweet 16. In the Midwest Region, Ohio State, led by 34 points by Evan Turner, will defeat Oklahoma State by 6 points; the Cowboys will get 24 points from James Anderson in the loss. Michigan State will hold off a very athletic Houston team by 4 points. In the West Region, Syracuse will cruise into the Sweet 16 by defeating Florida State by 12 points. Pittsburgh will also win handily over Xavier by 7 points. In the East Region, Temple will defeat Wofford by 14 points.  West Virginia will beat Clemson by 7 points. In the South Region, Duke will defeat Louisville by 11 points.  Siena will defeat Texas A&M by 3 points to reach the Sweet 16.

- Thus, the Sweet 16 will be as follows:  Kansas, Georgetown, Florida, UTEP, Texas, Marquette, Villanova, Baylor, Ohio State, Michigan State, Syracuse, Pittsburgh, Temple, West Virginia, Duke, and Siena.

- Ryo Ishikawa will win his first PGA tour event this week, with his improbable victory at the Transitions Championship. Ishikawa will hang on in the final round to defeat other top competitors Retief Goosen, Adam Scott, Ian Poulter, and JB Holmes.

- Joey Logano will narrowly defeat Series Points leader Kevin Harvick to capture the Ford City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on Sunday. Jimmie Johnson, Brian Vickers, and Kurt Busch will round out the top 5.

- Radiohead will surprising dominate a strong field of three-year-olds in this Saturday’s Grade I Florida Derby raced at Gulfstream Park. Rule will complete the exacta, and Eskendereya, the race favorite will run third. Radiohead will join Lookin’ At Lucky and Odysseus as the favorites to win the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 1st.

Post from: ATS Sports Blog

Fearless Predictions for the Week of March 15th – March 21st

The following is a preview of the top teams in this year’s tournament along with their current odds to bring home a National Championship.

Kansas       2-1
As one of the best teams in the country all season long it is no wonder that the Jayhawks are the odds-on-favorite to win it all. They ended the regular season ranked #1 in the country in every major poll, compiled an overall record of 32-2, went 15-1 in conference play, and won the Big 12 Tournament in convincing fashion by beating Kansas State 72-64, their third win of the season over the #7 ranked Wildcats. It is hard to find a weakness on this team and the only potential roadblock in their bracket to keep them from the final four is Georgetown.

Kentucky   7-2
Entering this tournament, the Wildcats are clearly the second best team in the country. They are ranked #2 in the country, have an overall record of 32-2, were 14-2 in conference play, and won the SEC Tournament in an exciting 75-74 overtime win over Mississippi State. Led by two dynamic freshmen, John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins, this team plays fearless but because of their overall youth sometimes plays a bit reckless. In looking at the East bracket, they appeared headed for a showdown with West Virginia in the Elite Eight.

Syracuse     7-2
Despite a 68-78 loss to Louisville in their regular season finale and the uncertainty of C Arinze Onuaku, who suffered a quad injury in the Orange’s first round loss (84-91) to Georgetown in the Big East Tournament quarterfinals, Syracuse (28-4) remains a fairly high favorite. No team has ever won a National Championship having lost their final two games before the tournament, but this team still has the talent to buck the trend. Coming out of the West, a potential trap game for them could be Vanderbilt in the Sweet 16.

Duke   8-1
The Blue Devils have already exceeded everyone’s expectations for this season but there is still much work left to be done. They finished the pre-tournament Coaches Poll ranked #3 with an overall record of 29-5, tied Maryland at 13-3 for a share of the conference regular season title, and battled past Georgia Tech 65-61 to win the ACC Tournament. They are led by a couple of tournament seasoned veterans; senior G Jon Scheyer and junior F Kyle Singler, who have what it takes to lead them to another national title. Coming out of the South, a potential stumbling block could be Villanova, who demolished them 77-54 in last year’s Sweet 16.

West Virginia      10-1
The Mountaineers (27-6) are peaking at the right time after their recent march through the conference tournament. They are battle tested and ready to go after surviving three close calls to bring home their first Big East Tournament title in school history. With players like senior F Da’Sean Butler and sophomore F’s Kevin Jones and Devin Ebanks they have a lineup that is built to go deep in this tournament as well. Their shot at playing for national title will most likely hinge of the outcome of an Elite 8 showdown with Kentucky.

Post from: ATS Sports Blog

Hoops Review: NCAA Tournament Edition

The teams announced the trade Sunday and said the deal is pending physicals. Ostensibly, Quinn will compete with Kyle Orton for the Broncos’ starting job, although McDaniels was unavailable Sunday to comment on the trade, according to a team spokesman.

Quinn’s departure comes one day after the Browns agreed to terms with free agent Jake Delhomme on a two-year contract. Quinn went 3-9 in 12 starts for Cleveland, which drafted him with the 22nd pick in the first round in 2007 out of Notre Dame.

The Browns also traded Kamerion Wimbley to the Oakland Raiders on Sunday for a 2010 third round draft pick. The 6-foot-3, 255-pounder was drafted in the first round out of Florida State in 2006. He had 6½ sacks and 48 tackles in 15 games last season and has 26.5 sacks in his career.

Quinn won Cleveland’s starting job last season, but was benched after 2½ games for Derek Anderson. Quinn eventually got his job back when Anderson struggled but he was hindered by inaccuracy. He completed only 53 percent of his passes last season for 1,339 yards with eight touchdowns and seven interceptions. His rating was 67.3.

Quinn’s days in Cleveland appeared numbered when new president Mike Holmgren failed to endorse him as the Browns’ future starter. Last week, the Browns acquired backup Seneca Wallace in a trade with Seattle, released Anderson and hosted Delhomme, recently cut by Carolina.

The Broncos reportedly pursued Quinn last season when they were trying to replace Jay Cutler. Instead, they dealt Cutler to Chicago for a bevy of draft picks and Orton, who beat out Chris Simms for the starting job in June.

The Broncos have insisted they’re happy with Orton, a workmanlike leader who wasn’t allowed to throw downfield much last season, when he led the Broncos to a 6-2 start before a 2-6 finish kept them out of the playoffs for a fourth straight season.

That’s the longest drought in the 26 years Pat Bowlen has owned the team. Bowlen recently said he likes Orton as his quarterback but would like to see the Broncos draft a passer next month.

Those plans may now be on hold. The Broncos lost confidence in Simms last season, so it would appear he’s out of the picture with the acquisition of Quinn.

Last week, the Broncos offered Orton, a restricted free agent, a first-round tender offer that would pay him $2.261 million this season.

Like hundreds of other players caught up in the league’s labor issues, however, Orton is expected to boycott his team’s start of offseason training, which starts Monday for the Broncos.

With the league ripping up the labor deal in hopes of getting a more owner-friendly contract, dozens of players who were set to reach the riches of unrestricted free agency this month are instead bound by their teams, which are offering much less than the players could have made in an unfettered marketplace.

Hillis will also be getting a fresh start. He went from starting tailback under coach Mike Shanahan in 2008 to forgotten fullback under McDaniels, who adamantly refused to use him even though rookie running back Knowshon Moreno frequently came up short in short-yardage situations.

McDaniels insisted that the problems were on the line and not in the backfield and that he’d rather give the ball to his top draft pick. With Spencer Larsen banged up for much of the season, McDaniels said his hands were often tied because he didn’t want to risk running Hillis, who was often his only available fullback.

Hillis had just 13 carries for 53 yards last season. He was inactive for two games, once to attend his grandmother’s funeral in November. He also returned four kicks.

The 240-pound bone-rattler energized the Broncos in 2008 when he emerged during an injury epidemic among the team’s tailbacks and ran for a team-high 343 yards and scored six touchdowns before tearing his right hamstring against Kansas City in December.

The Browns seemed to have found their No. 1 tailback late last season in Jerome Harrison, who finished with a team-high 862 yards rushing. But veteran Jamal Lewis, second on the team in rushing, was released last month, which could provide an opening for Hillis to be the power complement to the small and quick Harrison.

So Hillis gets another chance in Cleveland while Quinn tries to jump-start his career in Denver.

-Associated Press

Post from: ATS Sports Blog

Quinn Sent to Broncos

The 34-year-old former England captain was injured in the closing minutes of AC Milan’s 1-0 win Sunday. A person familiar with the injury has told The Associated Press he will miss the World Cup “for sure.” The person spoke on condition of anonymity because an official announcement had not been made. The person said it was likely Beckham will play again.

A Finnish doctor set to operate on Beckham said there’s a “glimmer of hope” the midfielder will recover in time for the World Cup, which begins in June.

With his hopes of becoming the first English player to appear in four World Cups shattered and his future in international soccer in doubt, Beckham was scheduled for surgery with specialist surgeon Dr. Sakari Orava.

Orava told Finnish broadcaster YLE on Monday that, although it’s not realistic to expect Beckham to be fit for the World Cup just three months after surgery, there remains “a glimmer of hope” he could be back for the June 11-July 11 tournament in South Africa.

With only a few minutes remaining in the Chievo game and the score 0-0, Beckham was by himself in the center circle when he took a pass with his left foot, stepped back awkwardly, then stepped forward and started hopping on his right foot with an expression of pain on his face. He reached a hand down to his left heel, then stood up and gestured as if he was breaking a twig in half to show the AC Milan bench he knew the tendon was broken.

Milan’s medical staff consulted with the Galaxy’s medical team, and Milan organizing director Umberto Gandini spoke with Galaxy owner Timothy J. Leiweke, president and CEO of AEG, but it was Beckham who decided to go to Finland.

Gandini added that no post-surgery plans had been made, but that Beckham’s career is not at risk.

While Beckham has not been a starter for England in recent matches, he was likely to make the World Cup squad. Beckham was still prized for his free kicks and crosses, especially when England needed second-half goals.

The former Manchester United and Real Madrid star was on his second loan stint at AC Milan from the Galaxy as he tried to boost his chances of making Capello’s 23-man World Cup squad. He has scored 17 goals for England and made 115 appearances, second in England history behind only goalkeeper Peter Shilton’s 125 from 1970-90.

Beckham was England’s captain from November 2000 through the 2006 World Cup.

-Associated Press

Post from: ATS Sports Blog

Beckham Tears ACL; In Finland for Surgery

The second game of the doubleheader has the Lakers in Oakland taking on Golden State. Los Angeles is safely leading the Western Standings, and should be the #1 seed throughout the playoffs.

Good luck and enjoy.

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NBA Odds and Lines for March 15, 2010

Lebron James returned to action on Friday night, after missing a week with a minor ankle injury to lead the Cavaliers to a 100-95 win over the 76ers. He ended the night with 23 points, 10 assists, and six rebounds, but the Cavs could not cover the 7 ½ point spread.

The nine point favorite Celtics snapped a two game losing streak with a 122-103 win over the Pacers. The Heat, an 11 ½ point favorite over Chicago at home covered the spread with a 108-95 victory. The reeling Bulls have now lost seven straight games. The Nuggets, a 5 ½ road favorite over New Orleans, won by seven 102-95. Carmelo Anthony scored a game high 32 points to lead Denver.

The LA Clippers were 10 point underdogs on the road against Charlotte. While they did not come away with the win, they did cover the spread in the 98-106 loss to the Bobcats. In two of the best match ups of the night, the Bucks beat the Utah Jazz in Milwaukee 95-87 in a game that was a pick and the LA Lakers beat division foe Phoenix 102-96 in a game they were favored by 2 ½.

Saturday’s action started with the Hawks pounding out a 112-99 win over the Pistons in a game they were favored by 11 ½. The Magic, an 11 ½ point road favorite came away with a 109-95 win over the Wizards.

Dwight Howard led Orlando with 28 points and 15 rebounds. J.R. Smith hit seven out of 10 from three point range to lead the Nuggets to a 125-108 win over the Grizzlies. He ended the night with a game high 30 points. In the biggest shocker of the weekend, the Knicks, an 11 point road dog beat Dallas 128-94, ending the Maverick’s 13 game winning streak. In this game, New York was 16 of 30 from three point range.

The Cavaliers were back in action on Sunday, beating the Celtics 104-93 at home. James scored a game high 30 points in the win. The Bucks squeaked past the Pacers 98-94 in a game they were favored to win by 9 ½. The Suns, a 10 point favorite rolled over the Hornets 120-106.

The Trail Blazers had little trouble with the Raptors, coming away with a 109-98 victory. The Magic, a nine point favorite as home were stunned by the Bobcats 89-96. The loss ended their eight game winning streak. In other games, the Heat beat the 76ers 104-91, the Thunder upended the Jazz 119-111, and the Kings beat the Timberwolves 114-100.

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NBA Rewind for March 15th

Out West, the best game of the day is in Oklahoma City, where the Jazz will be in town to take on the Thunder. Should be a great one as Utah has been terrific of late. Good luck and enjoy.

Good luck and enjoy.

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NBA Odds and Lines for March 14, 2010

The SEC title game features Mississippi State taking on Kentucky.

The ACC game will be Georgia Tech taking on Duke. Minnesota battles Ohio State in the Big Ten, while Richmond challenges Temple in the Atlantic Ten.

Most of these teams will get invites to the Big Dance regardless, though Minnesota and Mississippi State may need to win today.

Good luck and enjoy.

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College Basketball Lines and Odds for March 14, 2010

Georgetown will take on West Virginia in the Big East championship at Madison Square Garden. The Hoyas have rolled through so far, while the Mountaineers have had to work hard to win the last two nights. Expect this one to be another Big East classic.

“Super Saturday” is always one of the most exciting days in College Basketball every year. Good luck and enjoy.

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College Basketball Lines and Odds for March 13, 2010

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NBA Odds and Lines for March 13, 2010

Watson spent the past six seasons with the New England Patriots, where he previously worked with Browns coach Eric Mangini and offensive coordinator Brian Daboll.

The Patriots never seemed overly aggressive when it came to returning Watson to the fold despite their large void at tight end. They have Robbie Agnone and Rob Myers at the position, and neither has played in a regular-season game.

Watson visited with Seattle on Monday and was in Cleveland on Thursday. The Browns didn’t let him get away, as Watson signed the contract before boarding his return flight Friday morning.

Known more for his pass-catching and speed, Watson finished last season with 29 receptions for 404 yards and five touchdowns. Although it was a season in which the tight end was not a big part of the offense from a pass-catching perspective, Watson came up big in the season opener with two touchdown catches in a comeback win over the Buffalo Bills.

Watson was a first-round draft pick of the Patriots in 2004 (32nd overall) and came with plenty of hype. He was touted as an out-of-this-world athlete who could bring a Tony Gonzalez-type element to the offense. That never happened, and the expectations created an uphill battle for him.

Watson’s growth in that area was evident in recent years.

In 2006, Watson had a career-high 49 catches in a season in which the team featured more two tight-end sets with him and Daniel Graham. The past three seasons, he was a nice complement in the team’s three-receiver package, his speed sometimes threatening defenses down the middle.

Without him, the Patriots will have a dramatically different look at the position in 2010.

Post from: ATS Sports Blog

Watson gets $12M from Browns

On Friday, the games start at noon with the ACC Tournament quarterfinals from Greensboro, NC, on ESPN2 with #1 Duke taking on Virginia. ESPN will broadcast the Big 10 Tournament, which features Ohio State vs. Michigan from Indianapolis at 12pmEST.

At 2:30pmEST, Virginia Tech takes on Miami, FL, coming off an upset of Wake Forest in the ACC Tournament on ESPN2.

The Big 10 will feature Wisconsin vs. Illinois on ESPN at 2:30pmEST. At 4:45pmEST, somebody will be dancing and fans will be celebrating at mid-court when Lafayette is at Lehigh for the Patriot League final on ESPN2.

At night, there’s more ACC quarterfinal action on ESPN2 as Maryland faces Georgia Tech at 7pmEST followed by Florida State vs. underdog NC State at 9:30pmEST.

The Big East semifinals from Madison Square Garden on ESPN will be without favorites Syracuse and Villanova. At 7pmEST, Georgetown faces Marquette, followed by Notre Dame vs. West Virginia at 9:30pmEST.

The Pac-10 Conference semifinals from Los Angeles start at 9pmEST with UCLA facing California. At 11:30pmEST, Stanford faces Washington.

Finally, the WAC (Western Athletic Conference) semifinals from Reno start at midnight with New Mexico State taking on Nevada.

In golf, there are two options as the second round of the WGC CA Championship from Doral, FL, starts at 2pmEST on the Golf Channel. Later on, you can catch the second round of the Puerto Rico Open at 6:30pmEST (same-day tape) on the Golf Channel.

In women’s college basketball, FSN will televise the Big 12 quarterfinals from Kansas City, MO. Nebraska takes on Kansas State at noon; Texas A&M faces Texas at 2:30pmEST; Iowa State takes on Oklahoma State at 6pmEST and Baylor meets Oklahoma at 8:30pmEST.

On Saturday, there’s a big fight at night on HBO, as champion Manny Pacquiao takes on Joshua Clottey for the WBO welterweight title from Arlington, Texas at 9pmET (pay-per-view).

College basketball tournament play starts out at 11:30amEST with the Conference USA final from Tulsa on CBS.

At noon, Boston University takes on Vermont in Burlington for the America East Conference final on ESPN2 with the winner going to the dance.

At 1pmEST and at 3pmEST, ABC will televise the SEC semifinals from Nashville. The Big 10 Conference semifinals from Indianapolis will start at 1:40pmEST on CBS and the second game starts at 4pmEST.

At 2pmEST, the MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) final from Winston-Salem, N.C. will be televised on ESPN2.

Night-time action features the Pac-10 Conference final from Los Angeles at 6pmEST on CBS. The Big 12 Conference final from Kansas City, Mo., is also on 6pmEST on ESPN. There’s more mid-major action on ESPN2 at 6pmEST, with the MAC (Mid-American Conference) final taking place from Cleveland. At 6pmEST, Versus will televise the Mountain West Conference final from Las Vegas.

The Big West Conference final will be shown on ESPN2 at 8pmET from Anaheim, CA. To top it all off, there’s the WAC final from Reno at 10pmEST on ESPN2.

Women’s college basketball continues on FSN with the Big 12 Conference semifinals from Kansas City, MO, at 1pmEST and 3:30pmEST.

The Mountain West Conference women’s final takes place from Las Vegas on Versus at 4pmEST. And the Pac-10 women’s semifinals are on FSN at 5:30pmEST and 8:30pmEST from Los Angeles.

Golf continues on NBC with third round of the PGA Tour/WGC, CA Championship at 2pmEST.

On Sunday, men’s basketball coverage starts at 1pmEST with three finals. The SEC final from Nashville takes place on ABC, while the ACC final Greensboro, NC, is on ESPN. The Atlantic Ten final from Atlantic City will be televised on CBS at the same time. The day wraps up as usual, with the Big 10 Conference final at 3:30pmEST from Indianapolis on CBS.

Now, get your brackets ready for what looks like the last year of 65 teams (could go up to 96 next season). The NCAA Division I tournament selection show from Indianapolis will be televised on CBS at 6pmEST, though you can also check out ESPN’s coverage (with Dickie V.) at the same time.

In women’s college basketball, the Big 12 Conference final from Kansas City, MO, will be televised at 1:30pmEST on FSN. At 6pmEST, the Pac-10 final will be shown on FSN at 6pmEST. At 4:30pmEST, ESPN2 will show the Big 10 Championship game from Indianapolis and at 6:30pmEST, they’ll show the SEC Championship game from Duluth, GA.

For those seamheads out there, there’s spring training baseball as the Chicago Cubs take on the LA Dodgers from Tempe, AZ, on WGN at 4pmEST.

In golf, there’s the final round of the PGA Tour/World Golf Championships on NBC at 3pmEST.

In the NBA, Boston is at Cleveland on ABC at 3:30pmEST. Can anybody stop the LeBron James and the Cavs?

On NBC, Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals are at Chicago at 12:30pmEST.

If you bet on hoops, hockey, baseball or Arena Football, ATS Consultants, which has been around for nearly 20 years,  is the place to turn to. ATS is on a 130+ unit run in basketball the last five-and-a-half weeks. This weekend, we offer the College Basketball Tournament Game of the Year (goes on Saturday) and the March Madness Package along with the rest of the Conference Tournament Bash (for just $129). Check it all out on atssportsline.com or call 1-800-772-1287 for more info.

Post from: ATS Sports Blog

A Sports Fan’s Guide to Weekend Television Viewing: March 12-14

Big 12 semifinal action with Kansas in action against Texas A&M and Baylor battling K-State in game 2. Overall, a great day of action in College Hoops.

Good luck and enjoy.

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Here are today’s college basketball odds:

Post from: ATS Sports Blog

College Basketball Lines and Odds for March 12, 2010

Milwaukee has been terrific since the All Star break, and look like a sure fire playoff team. Kobe and the Lakers visit Phoenix to take on the Suns. This rivalry is always amongst the best in the NBA.

Good luck and enjoy.

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Here are today’s NBA odds:

Post from: ATS Sports Blog

NBA Odds and Lines for March 12, 2010

Key Postseason trends

UAB is 2-11 ATS in tournament games.
UAB is 2-10 ATS on a neutral court.

Air Force is 11-24 ATS vs. conference

Baylor is 15-6 ATS in tournament games.

BC is 6-2 ATS in Tournament games.
Boston College is 0-7 UNDER in March

BYU is 43-26 ATS vs. conference.

Charlotte is 8-26 ATS against conference opponents this season.

Cincinnati is 32-55 ATS vs. conference opponents.

Colorado State is 4-10 ATS in March

UConn is 1-11 ATS in first-round tournament games.
Connecticut is 3-14 ATS in all neutral court games.

Florida is 49-29 ATS in tournament games.

Gonzaga is 25-12 ATS as a neutral court dog.

Kansas is 3-9 ATS L12 vs. Big 12 ATS vs. conference.
Kansas is 3-15 ATS L18 Thursday games.

Kansas State is 1-11 ATS in March.

Kent State is 3-14 ATS on a neutral court.
Kent State is 2-9 ATS in tournament games.
Kent State is 6-14 ATS as a dog.

Louisville is 23-40 ATS on a neutral court.

Maryland is 8-14 ATS when playing on a neutral court.
Maryland is 13-3 ATS vs. conference opponents.

Memphis is 7-15 ATS as a favorite.

Miami-Fla. is 20-5 ATS vs. non-conference.
Miami-Fla. is 1-7 ATS on Tuesday.

Miami-Ohio is 13-4 ATS on a neutral court.

Michigan State is 16-6 ATS on a neutral court.
Michigan State is 4-10 ATS vs. non-conference teams.

Minnesota is 11-24 ATS as a dog.
Minnesota is 2-11 ATS in tournament games.
Minnesota is 11-22 ATS L33 vs. Big 10.

Nevada is 2-7 ATS in Tournament games.

North Carolina is 32-16 ATS vs. non-conference foes.

Ohio State is 19-7 ATS in tournament games.

Old Dominion is 7-13 ATS in tournament games.

Pitt is 20-9-1 ATS L30 vs. Big East.

Rhode Island is 16-32 ATS vs. conference.

Richmond is 19-5 ATS as a dog.
Richmond is 9-1-1 ATS vs. Atlantic 10.

South Carolina is 8-3 ATS L10 Thursday games

Syracuse is 9-4 ATS in March.

Temple is 37-16 ATS against conf. opponents.
Temple is 12-2 ATS in March.
Temple is 6-1 ATS in Tournament games.

Tennessee is 17-35 ATS in tournament games

Texas is 3-14 ATS vs. conference (after 3/10/10).
Texas is 8-3 ATS in non-conf. games.

Texas A&M is 13-4 ATS on a neutral court.

Texas A&M is 22-7 ATS L29 vs. Big 12.

Tulsa is 16-7 ATS in postseason tournaments.

UNLV is 20-9 OVER in tournament games.

USC is 8-1 ATS in March.

Villanova is 2-9 ATS L11 Thursday games.

Wake Forest is 6-19 ATS in March.
Wake Forest is 1-10 ATS vs. NCAA Tournament.
Wake Forest is 17-36 ATS in neutral court games.

Western Michigan is 5-12 ATS on a neutral court.
Western Michigan is 9-20 ATS L29 vs. MAC.

West Virginia is 12-3 ATS in NCAA.

Tournament games:

W&M is 13-4 ATS as a dog.

Xavier is 30-12-1 ATS in March.
Xavier is 17-6 ATS as a favorite.
Xavier is 15-7 ATS on a neutral court

Key Injuries for this weekend

California: F Jorge Gutierrez (ankle-3/9) is ? Avg. 5.5ppg and 2.8apg.

Cal Poly SLO: C Will Donahue (eligibility-1/20) is out indef. Avg. 12ppg and 9rpg.

Cincinnati: Check on: F Rashad Bishop (suspension-3/9) was suspended for Big East Tournament. Third in rebounding, fourth in scoring. (8.4ppg, 4.4rpg).

Fairfield: F Yorel Hawkins (knee-2/5) is out for the year. Avg. 14.6ppg and 5.5rpg.

Hawaii: G Jeremy Lay (hernia-2/12) is out for the year. Started last 6 games. Second in assists and three pointers made. G Dwain Williams (personal-1/29) is out indef. Avg. 14ppg.

Idaho: F Kashif Watson (suspension-3/11) will miss WAC Tournament. Avg. 11ppg.

Iowa State: G Lucca Staiger (left the team). Avg 9.4ppg and 43% from beyond the arc. Left to play pro ball in Germany.

La Salle: F Yves Mekongo (finger-2/15) is out 2-4 weeks. Avg. 11.5ppg and 5.5rpg. F Kimmani Barrett (foot-1/26) is out for the season. Avg. 13.3ppg. Loyola (Md.): F Anthony Wimbush (hamstring-3/5) is ? Avg. 7.3ppg and 3.9rpg.

Miami-Fla: F Dwyane Collins (stress fracture-3/11) is out for the ACC Trny. Avg. 12ppg and 7.8rpg.

Michigan State: G Chris Allen (suspension-3/11) is out. Avg. 9ppg.

Minnesota: G Al Nolen (academics) is out for the season. Avg. 6.7ppg and 4.6apg.

North Carolina: F Ed Davis (wrist-2/13) is out for the year. Leading rebounder and shotblocker.

Ohio U: G Steven Coleman (hand) is out indef. Averages 11ppg and 4rpg.

Oklahoma: G Willie Warren (ankle-2/22) is out for season. Led team in scoring at 16.3ppg and 2^ndin assists with 4.1apg.

Oklahoma State: G Ray Penn (knee-2/5) is out for the year. Avg. 7.9ppg and 3.1apg.

Oregon: F Joevan Catron (back) is out indef. Avg. 5.8rpg.

Penn: F Conor Turley (hand-2/19) is out for the year. Avg. 4.5ppg and 3.1rpg. F Mike Howlett (foot) is out indef. Avg 8.4ppg and 8.6rpg. G Tyler Bernardini (foot) is out for the season. Avg. 13.7ppg.

Portland: G Nik Raivio (Achilles-2/17) is out another 2 weeks. Leads in scoring with 14.1ppg and third in rebounding at 6.1rpg.

Purdue: F Robbie Hummel (torn ACL-2/26) is out for the yaer. Avg 15.7ppg and 6.9rpg. All-Big 10 performer.

Rutgers: F/C Greg Echenique (eye/transfer) has left the team. Avg. 12.6ppg, 7.7rpg and 2.3bpg.

San Diego: G DeJon Jackson (knee-2/6) is out for the year. Avg. 12ppg and 3rpg.

SMU: F Derek Williams (ankle-3/5) is ? Leading scorer at 16.9ppg and assists with 3.7apg.

Tennessee: F Tyler Smith (dismissed) is out for the year. Avg 11.7ppg, 4.7rpg and 3.7apg.

Tennessee State: F Josh Sain (dismissed-2/3) is out for the year. Avg. 13.7ppg. F Darius Cox (dismissed-2/3) is out for the year. Avg. 7.5ppg and 5.3rpg.

Texas: G Dogus Balbay (knee-2/22) is out for the year. Avg. 3.8ppg and 3.9apg. Best perimeter defender.

UL Lafayette: G Chris Gradnigo (back-2/26) is doubtful. Avg. 14ppg and 4rpg.

UNLV: G Derrick Jasper (knee-3/11) is ? Avg. 6.7ppg and 4.9rpg.

Utah: F Kim Tillie (ankle-3/11) and C David Foster (ankle-3/11) are ? Tillie Avg 6ppg and 5rpg. Foster averages 4 blocks per game.

Virginia: G Sylven Landesberg (academics-3/8) is out for the season. Avg. 17.3ppg.

Post from: ATS Sports Blog

Key College Basketball Trends and Injuries for Postseason