Day One of many 2006 males’s event featured somewhat of every little thing. There have been blowouts, shut requires some excessive seeds, some pointspread ‘nightmares’ and as all the time, upsets. The NCAA defines a significant upset because the winner being seeded 5 or extra locations beneath the loser.
Utilizing that definition, Montana and Texas A&M’s wins (each 12-seeds) over Nevada and Syracuse (each five-seeds) match the invoice, as does Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s (11-seed) win over sixth-seed Oklahoma. Alabama’s (10) win over Marquette (7), falls quick.
My free play for Friday is on Southern Illinois over West Va at 2:45 ET. I simply missed a 3-1 NCAA Thursday, as Wilmington blew an 18-point second half lead vs George Washington. I do have an enormous Friday in retailer, together with my 20* NCAA 1st Spherical Sport of the 12 months. Test the acquisition picks web page for all my BKB performs in each CBB and the NBA for Friday.
So far as pointspread upsets go, solely Montana’s win over Nevada is of word. The Wolf Pack opened a seven-point favourite in that sport and have been wager down to five 1/2. Oklahoma was a 3 or 3 1/2 level favourite over Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Marquette a two-point alternative over Alabama, so neither of these outcomes ought to be thought-about a lot of a shock. Within the case of the Texas A&M/Syracuse sport, Syracuse opened a one-point alternative however A&M closed a one or 1 /2-point favourite.
Texas A&M and Montana’s upsets got here within the now-famous (or notorious) 5/12 matchups. Washington (additionally a five-seed), averted the curse by beating Twelfth-seeded Utah State, 75-61. The final of the 4 5/12 matchups will likely be performed tonight at 7:10 ET, when Pittsburgh takes on Kent State. Pitt, the five-seed, is favored by 6 1/2 factors.
Duke was the one one of many 4 No. 1 seeds in motion on Thursday and the Blue Devils did little to dispel the notion that they’re not more than a two-man crew. Redick and Williams every scored 29 factors, accounting for all however 12 of Duke’s factors in an uninspiring 70-54 win over Southern. The remaining three No. 1 seeds (U Conn, Villanova and Memphis) all play Friday.
Three excessive seeds, No. 2 Tennessee. No. 3 Gonzaga and No. 4 Boston Faculty, have been fortunate to win on Thursday. Tennessee wanted an off-balance jumper by Lofton with 2.9 seconds left to get by Fifteenth-seeded Winthrop. Gonzaga, a three-seed, wanted a late comeback and a 35-point effort from Adam Morrison to get previous Xavier (14), 79-75. The win prolonged the Bulldogs’ profitable streak to a nation-best 19 video games nevertheless it ought to be famous that the crew is simply 7-12 ATS in these wins.
As for BC, the Eagles trailed Pacific (13) 71-65 with slightly below three minutes to go however in some way compelled OT. Pacific additionally took a six-point lead within the first OT however once more BC tied it. Within the second OT, the Eagles outscored the Tigers 14-2, leaving Pacific bettors (at plus-eight) shaking their heads.
It was not enjoyable to have had NC-Wilmington, both. The Seahawks have been 2 1/2 or three-point underdogs versus George Washington however led 64-46 with 11:11 left in regulation. GW used a 19-0 run to assist ship the sport into OT after which Wilmington blew an 85-81 lead with 2:06 left, earlier than dropping 88-85!
Day One additionally had its share of blowouts as Wichita State started the day with a simple 86-66 win over Seton Corridor, Florida had little hassle with South Alabama (76-50) and UCLA posted the day’s largest margin of victory, beating Belmont by 34 factors (78-44).
The Large East set a document on Sunday when it obtained eight bids however yesterday was hardly a great day for its colleges. In addition to Seton Corridor and Syracuse dropping, Marquette misplaced to Alabama (90-85), giving the Large East an 0-3 Thursday. Alabama’s win gave the SEC an ideal 4-0 day (Fla, LSU and Tenn additionally received), whereas the ACC (Duke and BC), the Large-10 (Illinois and Indiana) and the Pac-10 (UCLA and Washington) all went 2-0.
There are 32 extra first spherical video games Friday (all on CBS), starting with Davidson vs Ohio State (12:15 ET) and ending with the newest scheduled tip-off, UAB versus Kentucky at about 9:45 ET.
The NIT can be taking part in, though it is hardly getting a lot ink. After residence groups went simply 4-4 SU (3-5 ATS) within the tourney’s eight opening spherical video games on Tuesday, residence groups have dominated the day within the first spherical. Wednesday, residence groups went 6-1 SU and 5-2 ATS and final night time, have been an ideal 4-0 SU and ATS! Of word, all 4 visiting groups final night time have been taking part in their second sport in three days, whereas the house crew was taking part in for the primary time.
The NIT’s first of 4 No. 1 seeds performed final night time, as Michigan beat UTEP, 82-67. Two extra No. 1 seeds play tonight, Louisville internet hosting Delaware State at 7:00 ET (Playing cards are favored by 16 factors) and Cincinnati internet hosting NC-Charlotte at 8:00 ET (Bearcats are favored by 6 1/2 factors.)
Once more in tonight’s motion, all 4 visiting groups will likely be taking part in their second video games whereas the house groups are taking part in for the primary time. Tonight nevertheless, the guests do have an additional day of relaxation. The NIT’s closing No. 1 seed (Maryland) performs tomorrow for the primary time, 4 days after the event started!
Miami got here again from a 25-point deficit final night time in opposition to the Celtics (trailed 59-34 within the second quarter) to win, 107-104. It matched the league’s largest comeback win this yr. Miami has now received 13 of 14 video games and is a season-high 22 video games above .500 at 43-21. Nonetheless, the Warmth are in no hazard of catching the Pistons, as they path Detroit by 8 1/2 video games within the Jap Convention.
Seattle beat Philly final night time (anybody care?) and regardless of Kevin Garnett’s twenty second consecutive double-double (he owns a league-best 51 on the yr!), the T-wolves misplaced to the Warriors, 105-97. It marks Minnesota’s seventh straight loss (tying New Orleans for the longest present dropping streak), its eighth straight highway loss and its twenty first loss in its final 24 highway video games!
Tonight’s NBA schedule accommodates 11 video games, highlighted by Ron Artest’s return to Indianapolis (Kings at Pacers) and an enormous Western Convention showdown, the Suns on the Spurs. The Kings misplaced their first two video games with Artest however have since gone a outstanding 15-5 SU and 16-3-1 ATS! At 33-31, the Kings at the moment are within the seventh playoff spot out West, simply two video games behind Memphis. As for the Pacers, they occupy the East’s sixth playoff spot, 4 1/2 video games contained in the “reduce line.” The sport ideas at 7:05 ET and the Kings are favored by 1 1/2 factors with a complete of 194.
The Spurs lately beat the Suns in Phoenix 117-93, however Nash missed that sport, as did Barbosa. Phoenix comes into this sport winners of 14 of their 16 and with a document of 19-10 (19-9-1 ATS) on the highway. The Spurs have gone 23-5 since dropping to Detroit again on Jan 12 and are 28-4 at residence this yr, though simply 17-15 ATS. San Antonio is favored by 5 1/2 factors (205 1/2).
Ness Notes is out there by 1:00 ET Monday by way of Friday. Larry’s function story, “32-to-16” will run Saturday and Sunday.
