3-21-09

[Mr. IWS]

::moneybag::

Brandon Lang

30 Dime Villanova

Burns
Under Memphis
Under Duke

wayne root

CH--Memphis -
MILL--Michigan +.............Mill Club Game of the Year
Moneymaker--Purdue +
No LIMIT--UCLA +
Insiders--Texas A &M +
Billionaire--Gonzaga -

Ness
Perfect Storm
Oklahoma

ness perfect storm

okl

goodfella

villanova

Larry Ness' Las Vegas Insider-CBB (7-3 run in tourney games s/Mar 10)
My Las Vegas Insider is on Washington at 5:40 ET. Matt Painter has led the Boilermakers to three straight NCAA tourneys. The previous two seasons, he's won his opener and then lost in the second round. Is Purdue destined for a similar fate this year? I believe so. The Boilermakers got no favors being sent to Portland, where they'll have to face a Washington Husky team with a strong regional following. Purdue started strong vs Northern Iowa on Thursday but struggled down the stretch, holding on for a five-point win. Last year's star freshman have all responded well as sophomores, as the trio of guard Moore (14.0-4.7), the 6-10 Johnson (13.2-5.5) and the 6-8 Hummel (12.1-6.8) are again the team's top players (Hummel was the Big 10 tourney map). Junior guard Kramer (5.1-2.5 APG) was named the Big 10's defensive p-o-y and 5-9 freshman Jackson (5.6-3.5 APG) rounds out the starting lineup. The 6-9 Calasan (6.5-3.0) provides frontcourt depth, with Grant (7.9) and Green (4.1) contributing in the backcourt. Purdue is also an excellent defensive team and when "hitting on all cylinders," may actually be almost as good as its press clippings. I like this Purdue team but it has shown a tendency to underachieve. I DON'T like them here, vs an underrated Washington team. The Huskies went 14-4 and won the Pac 10 title outright, for the first time since 1953. The 6-7 Brockman (14.7-11.3) has "stuck it out" for all four years in Seattle (last two seasons were NO fun) and it's time this tireless worker gets rewarded. He's joined in the frontcourt by the 6-6 Pondexter (11.8-5.8), who had a season-high 23 points in the win over Miss St (Brockman had 10-15) and 6-8 freshman Gant (3.1-3.4). The starting guards are freshman Thomas (15.2-3.1-2.6) and senior Dentmon (14.7-2.5 APG). The versatile 6-8 Amaning (6.2-4.12) is the first player of fthe bench, while sophomore Overton (5.9) and freshman Turner (3.6) add depth in the backcourt. Washington was in a good spot vs Miss St on Thursday, as the Bulldogs were forced to make a long trip after needing four wins in four days to capture the SEC tourney. What I find really impressive by Washington's 13-point win, is that BOTH Thomas and Dentmon were AWFUL (combined 4-of-19 on FGs, including 0-for-7 on threes), yet the Huskies won comfortably. Washington is fourth in the nation in rebounding margin (plus-8.3) and Brockman and Co. really never "stop working." As for Thomas and Dentmon, expect this backcourt duo to "return to form" in this one. Washington got a great break in playing this weekend's games in Portland and the Huskies won't let this great opportunity get away. Las Vegas Insider on Washington.

Big Al

3* Cavs
3* Lakers
3* UCLA
3* Memphis
3* OKLA
3* Gonzaga
3* Conn

PPP
4 gonzaga
4 uconn
3 north carolina
3 oklahoma
2 ucla
2 memphis
2 texas