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Message: [QUOTE="Hey Adrien!, post: 3893050, member: 5787"] [B][SIZE=4]12 PM - Patriot - #9 Loyola (MD) vs #2 Colgate - CBSSN:[/SIZE][/B] [SIZE=4]With Colgate playing all of their games in conference, their 13-1 record is completely throwing off analytics. Case in point, they’re ranked nationally in: 7th in fg%, 5th in preventing turnovers, 1st in 3p defense, 20th in tempo, 33rd at preventing teams from getting to the line. Are they as strong as their NET. Haha, no. Can they win a game in the tourney? Yes. With four double-digit scorers, they’re led by senior lead guard Jordan Burns (17.1p, 4.5r, 5.5a, 1.6s, 41 3p%, 89.2 ft%). Loyola (MD) has been most recently known for their Spain connection, with three players from Spain, most notably skilled 6’11 sophomore big Santi Aldama (21.8p, 10.3r, 2.3a, 1.8b, 37.8 3p%). A recent boon is the return of sophomore sharpshooter Cameron Spencer, who after returning in February as averaged 11.8p, 5.0r, 3.3a on 50 3p%. Colgate is -9.5 favorites, but I’m leaning towards picking Loyola (MD) on the spread. [B]1 PM - A-10 - #1 Saint Bonaventure vs #2 VCU - CBS: [/B] With six teams in the top-100 KenPom, this was been the A-10’s best season since 2014. Despite the competition, the top two teams advance to the finals, both of which will dance regardless of the outcome of this game. Those who have read my previews know I’m a fan of both teams, most notably the Bonnies thanks to their balanced D (20th KenPom, 14th in fg%, 110th in turnover %, 84th in preventing teams to the line) and their offense that combines solid shooting (131st) with very strong offensive rebounding (31st). With three rotation players transferring mid-season, their depth takes a toll, but their all-junior starting lineup is still around, all averaging between 10.3-14.2 ppg. I like their combo of 6’10 double-double threat Osun Osunniyi (10.3p, 9.3r, 2.4a, 2.8b) with their 4-out offense with their good-sized guards all clocking in between 6’3-6’5 and 190-215. With VCU, it’s all about their defense (8th overall, 23th at fg% and 7th at causing turnovers) but Bones Hyland (19.4p, 4.7r, 37.2 3p%) is healthy and is their best offensive player since Eric Maynor. I really like both teams and wish them well, but the Bonnies have more staying power in the dance thanks to their veteran backcourt. [B]1 PM - SEC - #3 LSU vs #1 Alabama - ESPN: [/B] LSU has the 6th most efficient offense in the nation but only the 125th most efficient defense. However, if you look closer, they are 17th in perimeter defense, so if LSU lines up with three-point reliant teams, that can make a nice little run in the tourney. Freshman sharpshooter Cam Thomas has come as advertised (22.8p) but is more volume than efficient (40.8 fg%, 31.6 3p%). To me, the inside/out duo of Trendon Watford and Javonte Smart are the backbone of the team. Alabama isn’t a 3P reliant team, so I expect them to pound the paint between Yale grad transfer Jordan Bruner, Herbert Jones and John Petty driving inside. [B]3:15 - AAC - #5 Cincinnati vs #2 Houston - ESPN: [/B] After a dreadful 2-6 start to the season, Cincy has won 9 of their last 12 thanks to the emergence of sophomore forward Jeremiah Davenport (1.9 ppg last year vs 11.8 ppg this year). It’s fun to crap on the AAC, but Houston is a legit Final Four contender. They’re balanced (9th KenPom O, 16th KenPom D), their slow, old and between Quentin Grimes and Marcus Sasser have two bucket getters who can take over a game. Depending on their draw, they can be a E8/F4 team for my bracket. Despite the -13.5 spread, I may take Houston: they beat Cincy by 38 a few weeks ago. [B]3:30 - B10 - (overall rankings) #9 Ohio State vs #3 Illinois - CBS:[/B] I have no idea what to think about Ohio State: They went from winning seven straight in Jan/Feb to losing four straight in Feb/March to winning three straight in the B10 tourney. Sophomore forward EJ Liddell is a special player but Kyle Young’s nagging injuries makes me wonder about their ability to play bigger teams. On the other hand, Illinois is on fire: 13-1 in their last 14, top-7 in both O and D in KenPom efficiency and between Cockburn, Ayo, Miller, Curbelo and Frazier they have a diverse offering on offense. I’m in the minority here, but I really enjoy watching Illinois and if I had to make a bracket today I’d put Illinois and Gonzaga in the title game. [/SIZE] [/QUOTE]

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