#5 San Diego State Aztecs vs. #1 Alabama Crimson Tide
Pick: Alabama -7.5
The fifth seeded San Diego State took down the College of Charleston in their first game 63-57. Thanks largely to the efforts of Matt Bradley who scored 17 points and Jameson LeDee who grabbed 10 rebounds. As a whole they shot 42.9% from the field and 25% from three, to go along with 40 rebounds. In their second matchup they faced Furman, who pulled off a first round upset, by a score of 75-52. The Aztecs shot 50% from the field and 30% from long range with 41 boards as a team.
Alabama as the top seed in the region took down Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 96-75, in the first round. Nick Pringle was the Tide Crimson stand out in that one with 19 points and 15 rebounds. The entire team shot 47.1% from the field to go along with a whopping 45.5% from three-point land. They managed to limit themselves to only 8 turnovers while snagging 48 boards. The round of 32 gave them a tougher test with Maryland, who they defeated 73-51. Jahvon Quinerly put up 22 points in that matchup. Alabama went only went 39.7% from the field and 28.6% from deep, however they did total 48 rebounds. The size, speed and athleticism of the Crimson Tide should absolutely overwhelm the Aztecs, I love them to cover the seven and a half points.
#5 Miami Hurricanes vs. #1 Houston Cougars
Pick: Houston -5.5
The University of Miami had to go through Drake in the first round, who they took down 63-56. They were led by Nijel Pack with 21 points and Norchad Omier who had 14 rebounds. As a team the Hurricanes went 30.4% from the field and 33.3% from beyond the arch. Miami only turned the ball over nine times and grabbed 41 boards. In the next game Miami took down Indiana 85-69. They stepped up from the field shooting 48.6% and 39.1% from three. The team posted 48 rebounds, 17 of which were grabbed by Norchad Omier, Isaiah Wong also scored 27 points.
Number one seed Houston was unsure if Marcus Sasser was going to play in the first round of the tournament, and play he did. Sasser is a leader of this Cougar squad even if he isn’t 100% healthy his presence is seen when he is out there. Houston first took down Northern Kentucky 63-52. Jarace Walker lead the way with 16 points. Overall they went 49% from the field, going 25% form long range. The cougars did have some turnover trouble with 17 of them. In the second round they faced off against Auburn, who they took down 81-67. Against Auburn they were lead by Tramon Mark with 26 points. The went 41.7% from the field, 31.8% from three. They corrected themselves in the turnover department only giving the ball up seven times. The cougars are just way too deep for the Hurricanes to handle. Houston will cover the five and a half points.
#15 Princeton Tigers vs. #6 Creighton Bluejays
Pick: Creighton -9.5
The Princeton Tigers have mad a fantastic Cinderella run in this years dance. As a 15-seed they took the two seeded Arizona 59-55. They shot 40.6% from the field, while only going 16% from three-point territory. Limiting themselves to only 11 turnovers but only grabbing 38 rebounds. In their second matchup they took on the Missouri Tigers, who they handled rather easily 78-63. In that game Princeton was led by Ryan Langborg with 22 points and Caden Pierce with 16 rebounds. The team shot 43.5% from the field, while stepping up their three point percentage at 36.4%. Again they limited their turnovers only have nine this go around, and grabbing 44 boards.
Creighton first went through North Carolina State 72-63, lead by Ryan Kalkbrenner with 31 points. the Bluejays shot 46.4% from the field, going 15% from deep. They also had minimal turnovers with only eight. Next up for Creighton was Baylor who they took down 85-76. This game was taken over by their very Ryan Nembhard who scored 30 points. As a team they shot 47.3% from the field, and with a much improved three point game this time around they shot 45.8% from deep. The only was Princeton stands a chance is if they play the absolute perfect game on their end and hope Creighton messes up big time on their end as well. Take the Bluejays giving the nine and a half points.
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#3 Xavier Musketeers vs #2 Texas Longhorns
Pick: Texas -4.5
Xavier first had to go through Kennesaw State in the first round which they did, 72-67. Jerome Hunter with 24 points and Jack Nunge with 11 rebounds led the way. Xavier went 46.2% from the field, 16.7% from three. All while grabbing 36 rebounds. Pittsburgh was the next hurdle the Musketeers had to go over, which they successfully took down 84-73. Nunge against was one the top performers for them as who scored 18 points, this time it was Colby who stepped up getting himself 14 rebounds to go along with seven assists. The team shot 47.6% from the field, a making a third of their three point attempts. They upped their rebounding game this time with 44 and only turned the ball over eight times.
On the other side of the court you have the Texas Longhorns who took down the feisty Colgate Raiders 81-61. Texas was led by Sir’Jabari Rice with 23 points. The Longhorns went 53.4% from the field, while shooting 56.5% from deep. They also grabbed 36 rebounds as a team. Next up was Penn State, Texas took them down with a score of 71-66. Dylan Diso went for 28 points in that matchup. Again Texas shot better than 50% with 50.8% from the field, only a lowly 7.7% from three. While they only grabbed 37 rebounds they also only had five turnovers. Texas is too big and strong for Xavier they will cover the four and half points.
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