Wednesday 3-14-18 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 03-14-2018, 09:53 AM

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Orlando Magic Preview and Predictions 03-14-2018

14th March 2018 by Gracenote
The Milwaukee Bucks have emerged from a porous stretch with back-to-back victories and look to tack on another triumph when they visit the Orlando Magic on Wednesday. The Bucks dropped six of seven games over an 11-day stretch before reversing course with wins over the New York Knicks and Memphis Grizzlies.

All-Star small forward Giannis Antetokounmpo continues to lead Milwaukee's pursuit of a playoff spot as he has posted 33 double-doubles and 20 30-point outings, the latter tying for eighth most in franchise history. "My goal is to make the Bucks a championship level team," Antetokounmpo told reporters. "Playing late into the playoffs helps me as a player and helps us as a team. We have to keep doing that." Orlando has dropped 12 of its last 14 games and registered a season low for points in Tuesday's 108-72 road loss against the San Antonio Spurs. "It's hard with this many games left and having nothing to play for," center Nikola Vucevic told reporters afterward. "It's not easy year after year after year for me. The frustration has really grown on me, especially the last two years. I felt like at some point we were going in the right direction, but then we took a turn downhill."

TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), FS Florida (Orlando)

ABOUT THE BUCKS (36-31): Guard Brandon Jennings was a big hit in his first game since signing a 10-day contract with the club by producing 16 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds in Monday's victory over the Grizzlies. Jennings played his four seasons with the Bucks (2009-13) and was once the team's top player, and that stint included his career-best 19.1 scoring average in 2011-12. The 28-year-old who played in China and for Milwaukee's G League franchise this season was beaming afterward saying, "I felt like it was my first rookie game again. Just to put on that jersey was a blessing, and I was just grateful."

ABOUT THE MAGIC (20-48): Orlando leading scorer Aaron Gordon is counting on making his return after a three-game absence due to his second concussion of the season. Gordon, who averages 18.3 points, didn't clear the concussion protocol for Tuesday's game against the Spurs after an independent NBA-appointed physician examined him, and Gordon told reporters he still needs to pass a memorization and recognition test. "Of course, you want to be safe. Better safe than sorry," Gordon told the assembled media. "I feel OK, but protocol is protocol for a reason."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Bucks have lost 20 of their last 23 visits to Orlando but one of the wins was a 111-104 decision on Feb. 10.

2. Milwaukee swingman Khris Middleton is averaging 27 points on 20-of-30 shooting over the past two games.

3. The Magic committed 21 turnovers and shot just 34.1 percent from the field in the loss to the Spurs.

PREDICTION: Bucks 107, Magic 103

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 03-14-2018, 09:56 AM

Washington Wizards vs. Boston Celtics Preview and Predictions 03-14-2018

14th March 2018 by Gracenote
The Boston Celtics will be severely shorthanded on Wednesday when they host the Washington Wizards. Star guard Kyrie Irving is among the four players who will miss the contest while power forward Al Horford is questionable due to illness.

Irving continues to deal with left knee soreness that will cause him to sit out for the second time in four games while point guard Marcus Smart (thumb), shooting guard Jaylen Brown (concussion) and forward Daniel Theis (knee) will also be in street clothes for a team that has dealt with injuries since losing small forward Gordon Hayward to a broken ankle in the season opener. "We are equipped and we will battle on, I think is the way you got to look at it," Boston coach Brad Stevens told reporters. "I've never been in a season that's been like this. Obviously it started right out of the gate this way with Gordon." Washington is struggling with five losses in its past seven games after losing 116-111 to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday and coach Scott Brooks was dismayed over his club's interior defense after allowing 64 points in the paint. "You can't expect your bigs to protect you every time. You got to guard, you got to guard the ball," Brooks told reporters. "You can't keep saying the same things every game. It's been four games now, and we've given up over 60 points in the paint. It's a personal pride."

TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN, NBCS Boston

ABOUT THE WIZARDS (38-30): All-Star shooting guard Bradley Beal is aware of Boston's injury issues and feels there is no excuse for not winning Wednesday's contest. "We need it, we need to win," Beal told reporters after Tuesday's setback. "It's plain and simple. It's not anything we need to pinpoint on doing, we know who we're playing, we know what environment we're going to be in, so there should be nothing new for us. Just go out there and get a win, whatever it takes." Beal scored 19 points against the Timberwolves on a night in which power forward Markieff Morris stood out with a season-high 27 points.

ABOUT THE CELTICS (46-21): Theis was ruled out for the season with a torn meniscus in his left knee, an injury that occurred during the final minute of Sunday's loss to the Indiana Pacers. The 25-year-old rookie from Germany has been a key member of the rotation with averages of 5.3 points and 4.3 rebounds while recording 48 blocked shots and 30 steals. "I appreciate the way that he approached every day, and he'll approach the rehab the same way," Stevens told reporters. "But you really feel for him. He was a guy that came in knowing he could play, but maybe not even expecting to have the type of season he had."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The squads have split two meetings this season with the visiting team prevailing on both occasions.

2. Washington PG Tomas Satoransky continues to play well in place of injured All-Star John Wall (knee) and recorded 15 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and three steals against Minnesota.

3. Boston rookie SF Jayson Tatum scored 19 points versus Indiana for his best scoring effort since a 27-point performance against the Atlanta Hawks on Feb. 2.

PREDICTION: Wizards 109, Celtics 107

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 03-14-2018, 09:56 AM

Miami Heat vs. Sacramento Kings Preview and Predictions 03-14-2018

13th March 2018 by Gracenote
The Miami Heat dropped the opener of an important three-game road trip while missing two key players. They hope to have either Hassan Whiteside or Dwyane Wade back in the lineup when they try to snap an eight-game road losing streak at the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday.

Playing without Whiteside (hip) and Wade (hamstring), Miami's two-game winning streak came to an end with a 115-99 loss at Portland on Monday, dropping it back into eighth place in the Eastern Conference - a half-game behind seventh-place Milwaukee. "It's going to be important [to win Wednesday] because we didn't start the road trip well, but this [next] game we must have," guard Goran Dragic told reporters after scoring a team-high 23 points in the loss. "You know, [the Kings] are going to play with basically nothing to lose. They're already out. We need to take care of business and try to approach this game like its a playoff game, make sure everybody is on the same page and win." Sacramento dropped both ends of a two-game road trip - including Monday's 106-101 setback at Oklahoma City - but it recently had a 3-2 homestand and is a respectable 11-14 against the East. The Kings also won at Miami 89-88 on Jan. 25 and have a chance to sweep the season series for the first time since 2001-02.

TV: 10 p.m. ET, FS Sun (Miami), NBCS California (Sacramento)

ABOUT THE HEAT (36-32): Dragic was a bright spot Monday, making 10-of-17 shots, and so was reserve forward Justise Winslow, who finished with 15 points, 13 rebounds, four assists and two blocks to continue his recent surge. "He was facilitating, getting us organized into offense and then when it was time to be aggressive, he dropped his shoulder and got to the rim a few times," coach Erik Spoelstra said of Winslow. "He probably could have drawn a couple of fouls - a lot of contact on those drives. But he's been doing that, he's been trending that way recently. The 13 rebounds were notable and defensively he was in the right spots in the second half." After averaging no more than 7.3 points in any month October through February, Winslow is posting 13 points per game while shooting 52.9 percent from the floor and 55 percent from 3-point range in seven games this month.

ABOUT THE KINGS (21-47): Rookie De'Aaron Fox has exhibited some solid point guard play in two games since returning from a back ailment, collecting 19 assists against only two turnovers while averaging 11.5 points against the quality backcourts of Denver and Oklahoma City. Fellow rookie Bogdan Bogdanovic snapped out of a three-game funk in which he shot 5-for-28 to make 6-of-11 shots versus the Thunder. Skal Labissiere (hip), who averaged 12.8 points in six contests prior to Friday's win over Orlando in which he injured his hip, missed both games on the road trip and is day-to-day.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Kings SG Buddy Hield scored 24 points on 10-of-15 shooting in the earlier win at Miami.

2. Heat C Bam Adebayo started in place of Whiteside at Portland and finished 1-for-10 from the floor with a season high-tying three turnovers.

3. Miami is 10-11 without Whiteside this season.

PREDICTION: Heat 104, Kings 102

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 03-14-2018, 09:57 AM

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Golden State Warriors Preview and Predictions 03-14-2018

14th March 2018 by Gracenote
The Golden State Warriors lost their first two games without All-Star point guard Stephen Curry and look to overcome his absence Wednesday when they host the Los Angeles Lakers. Curry sprained his right ankle Thursday and will miss at least six contests in total with a re-evaluation slated for March 20.

The Warriors were routed by the Portland Trail Blazers and lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the games without Curry but All-Star small forward Kevin Durant was quick to point out there is a bigger picture in play. "The season's always a tune-up for the playoffs," Durant told reporters. "And if we had won this game (against Minnesota), we wasn't going to spray champagne in the locker room and be excited on the way back to the Bay (Area). So in a loss we can't hang our heads. We just got to keep playing, keep working, keep figuring things out, and we'll be fine." The Lakers are soaring with eight victories in their past 10 games after posting a 112-103 home victory over the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday. Second-year small forward Brandon Ingram, who scored a career-best 32 against the Warriors earlier this season, will miss his seventh straight game because of a groin injury.

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN, Spectrum Sports Net (Los Angeles), NBCS Bay Area (Golden State)

ABOUT THE LAKERS (31-36): Rookie forward Kyle Kuzma injured his right ankle in the first half and later exploded by scoring 24 of his 26 points in the second half while also collecting 13 rebounds. "I thought his competitive spirit was great," Los Angeles coach Luke Walton said after the contest. "He gave everything he had to the game. Kept telling me 'Coach, I'm ready to go' after he hurt the ankle." Power forward Julius Randle also had 26 points and 13 rebounds and guard Isaiah Thomas scored 23 points as the Lakers reached at least 100 points for the 22nd consecutive game.

ABOUT THE WARRIORS (51-16): Curry isn't the only ailing player as small forward Andre Iguodala (three games with a wrist injury), power forward David West (four due to a cyst on his right arm) and rookie power forward Jordan Bell (three, ankle) also have been sidelined. Coach Steve Kerr is pleased with his club's effort despite what he terms "a little bit of a tough stretch" and All-Star power forward Draymond Green believes the discouragement will be overcome with a victory or two. "It's tough when you're missing that many key guys," Green told reporters, "but I think those guys will get back in time enough for us to find a rhythm that we need."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Warriors are averaging 118.7 points in three wins over the Lakers this season and have won the last six meetings.

2. Los Angeles rookie PG Lonzo Ball is averaging five points on 4-of-22 shooting over the past two contests.

3. Golden State All-Star SG Klay Thompson was only 3-of-12 from 3-point range during Sunday's loss while dealing with a sprained right thumb but is probable to play against the Lakers.

PREDICTION: Warriors 124, Lakers 121

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 03-14-2018, 09:58 AM

Dallas Stars vs. Toronto Maple Leafs Preview and Predictions 03-14-2018

14th March 2018 by Gracenote
The Toronto Maple Leafs took to extend their franchise-record home winning streak to 11 games when they host the struggling Dallas Stars on Wednesday night. The Maple Leafs snapped a four-game slide overall (0-2-2) with a 5-2 victory over visiting Pittsburgh on Saturday at the Air Canada Centre to continue their run and keep hopes alive for home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

"You want to be known around the league as a tough building to come into," Toronto center Nazem Kadri told reporters after notching his third goal in three games. "We've done a good job here and hopefully that continues." The Maple Leafs will need a big finish to catch Boston or Tampa Bay in the Atlantic Division and it starts with a tough matchup against the Stars, who own only two wins in their last seven games (2-3-2) after a 4-2 loss at Montreal on Tuesday. Dallas put up 38 shots on net Tuesday, but gave up three power-play tallies in the loss to drop into a virtual tie with Colorado for the first wild-card spot in the Western Conference with only a two-point cushion on ninth place. The Stars, who are 0-2 on a six-game trip, have scored only seven goals over the last five contests and could be without No. 1 goalie Ben Bishop (lower-body) for a sixth straight contest - although he has been skating.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, TVA, Sportsnet (Toronto), FS Southwest (Dallas)

ABOUT THE STARS (38-26-6): Center Tyler Seguin was kept off the scoresheet Tuesday despite registering seven shots, but has recorded seven of his team-best 36 goals and seven assists in the last 10 games to lead Dallas with 65 points. Captain Jamie Benn scored his 24th goal and fellow forward Alexander Radulov added an assist in his 300th NHL contest to remain tied for second on the team with 61 points. John Klingberg has managed only three points - all on assists - in the last 11 games, but still leads all defensemen in the league with 57 points.

ABOUT THE MAPLE LEAFS (40-22-7): All-Star Auston Matthews (upper-body) is closing in on a return after missing the last six games, while defensemen Nikita Zaitsev and Travis Dermott are questionable because of illness. Forward Mitch Marner continues to carry a lot of the offensive load and leads the team with 56 points after notching a goal in each of the last two games to match his rookie total (19). Toronto recalled forward Andreas Johnsson from the AHL and could make his NHL debut on a line with Kasperi Kapanen along with Tomas Plekanec.

OVERTIME

1. Dallas C Radek Faksa snapped a 19-game goal drought Tuesday with his career-high 13th of the season.

2. Toronto F William Nylander has gone 11 games without a goal, but registered five assists in that span.

3. The Maple Leafs won the only other matchup 4-1 on Jan. 25 as Kadri scored twice and D Jake Gardiner notched three assists.

PREDICTION: Maple Leafs 4, Stars 2

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 03-14-2018, 09:58 AM

Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New York Rangers Preview and Predictions 03-14-2018

13th March 2018 by Gracenote
Evgeni Malkin remains in hot pursuit of the Hart (MVP), Maurice "Rocket" Richard (NHL's leading goal scorer) and Art Ross (most points) trophies, and his consistent production has the Pittsburgh Penguins gearing up for another postseason run. Malkin looks to extend his point streak to a season-high seven contests on Wednesday as the Penguins open a three-game road trip versus the New York Rangers.

Malkin netted his team-leading 39th goal in Sunday's 3-1 win over Dallas, giving him three tallies and eight assists during his current point streak and boosting his point total to 24 (nine goals, 15 assists) in his last 13 games. The 2012 Hart Trophy recipient rocked the Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 17, notching three assists before scoring 58 seconds into overtime of a 5-4 triumph. While Pittsburgh has won four of five to reside one point behind first-place Washington in the Metropolitan, New York is languishing in the division's cellar with losses in 10 of 14 (4-8-2) despite Jimmy Vesey netting his first career hat trick in Monday's 6-3 victory over Carolina. "I think just in general the mood is always better when you win. Everyone is in higher spirits," the former Hobey Baker Award recipient said. "No one is going to take it easy on us just because we have a young lineup or anything like that."

TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBC Sports

ABOUT THE PENGUINS (40-26-4): Matt Murray was a full participant in practice on Tuesday for the first time since sustaining a concussion Feb. 26, when he took a puck off his mask from defenseman Olli Maatta. "He's making progress," coach Mike Sullivan said. "We're encouraged with his progress. We take each day as it comes with the nature of those injuries." Bryan Rust changed jerseys from gray (no-contact) to yellow (regular) during Tuesday's practice and aims to return from a two-game absence after receiving a concussion following a hit from Philadelphia defenseman Robert Hagg last Wednesday.

ABOUT THE RANGERS (31-32-7): Mats Zuccarello tallied twice on Monday to extend his goal-scoring streak to three games and reach the 100-goal plateau. The 30-year-old Norwegian has 15 points (four goals, 11 assists) in his last 20 encounters versus Pittsburgh and is tied with David Desharnais with a team-best three points against the Penguins this season. Fellow forward Pavel Buchnevich set a career high with three assists against the Hurricanes to push his team-leading point total at home to 28 (nine goals, 19 assists).

OVERTIME

1. Captain Sidney Crosby has 16 points (six goals, 10 assists) in his past 14 games heading into Wednesday's tilt versus New York, against which he has two goals and an assist this season.

2. Rangers C Mika Zibanejad matched a personal best by setting up three goals on Monday, giving him six points (two goals, four assists) in his last four outings after mustering just two in his previous 10.

3. Pittsburgh RWs Phil Kessel (three goals, three assists) and Patric Hornqvist (three goals, two assists) have scored a goal in each contest versus New York this season.

PREDICTION: Penguins 5, Rangers 3

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 03-14-2018, 09:58 AM

San Jose Sharks vs. Edmonton Oilers Preview and Predictions 03-14-2018

14th March 2018 by Gracenote
The San Jose Sharks look to continue solidifying their playoff position in the crowded Western Conference race when they start a three-game road trip against the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday night. The Sharks have recorded at least a point in five of their last seven games after knocking off Detroit 5-3 on Monday and lead Los Angeles by one point for second place in the Pacific Division.

"We've got to keep trying to build that (lead in the standings)," San Jose captain Joe Pavelski told reporters. "You know how hard you've worked to get a couple points ahead. You can't expect to let that go and then climb back." The Sharks scored 11 goals in beating Edmonton twice during February and hope to make it three out of four this season against the Oilers, who are out of the playoff race. Edmonton had won three straight games before being shut out by Calgary 1-0 on Tuesday night as captain Connor McDavid saw his seven-game point streak come to an end despite registering five shots. McDavid has accumulated six goals and seven assists in the past eight games and leads the team with 84 points.

TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, NBCS California (San Jose), Sportsnet One, Sportsnet West (Edmonton)

ABOUT THE SHARKS (37-23-9): Pavelski has led the offense of late with three goals and six assists in his last six games to push his team-leading total to 55 points - two better than defenseman Brent Burns, who has three in the last 11 games. Former ninth-overall pick Timo Meier has emerged as an offensive force this season with 18 goals after notching a goal and an assist against Detroit. Logan Couture (49 points) leads the team with 27 goals, but has been left off the scoresheet in four consecutive contests, while goalie Martin Jones allowed four goals in his last three starts.

ABOUT THE OILERS (30-35-4): McDavid boasts 33 goals, already three more than in his total from 2016-17 when he won the Hart and Art Ross Trophies and only five of them have come on the power play. Fellow center Leon Draisaitl owns five goals in his last 10 games along with 61 points overall. Forward Ryan Strome has gone seven games without a goal after accumulating five over the previous five contests while veteran power forward Milan Lucic managed one point in his past seven games.

OVERTIME

1. Edmonton LW Michael Cammalleri, who has gone six games without a point, played his 900th NHL contest Tuesday.

2. San Jose D Dylan DeMelo has registered seven assists and a plus-four rating in five games during March.

3. The Sharks are 13-for-13 on the penalty kill over the last eight games and the Oilers 17-for-18 in the past seven.

PREDICTION: Sharks 3, Oilers 2

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 03-14-2018, 09:58 AM

Vancouver Canucks vs. Anaheim Ducks Preview and Predictions 03-14-2018

13th March 2018 by Gracenote
The Anaheim Ducks have picked the wrong time to hit a lull, dropping out of the playoff picture in the Western Conference in the wake of a three-game losing streak. Anaheim faces a welcome opponent to get back on track against when it resumes a four-game homestand against the skidding Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday night.

The Ducks were on a nine-game point streak at home prior to Monday's 4-2 loss to St. Louis, which dropped them below the top eight teams in the West and behind third-place Los Angeles in the Pacific Division. "Everything we're doing is mental mistakes," captain Ryan Getzlaf said. "It's not anything to do with physical fatigue. We're working and doing things. We're skating. It's the mental errors that aren't allowing us to continue our success." Anaheim has won its last three meetings by a combined 13-2 margin over Vancouver, which has lost all four games since rookie sensation Brock Boeser suffered a back injury. The Canucks have been shut out in back-to-back contests and managed only three goals during the four-game slide since Boeser was lost for at least a month.

TV: 10 p.m. ET, Sportsnet Pacific (Vancouver), Prime Ticket (Anaheim)

ABOUT THE CANUCKS (25-36-9): The absence of 29-goal scorer Boeser has stalled the offense and coach Travis Green acknowledged the team's psyche has been dented by the lack of scoring. "It's going to weigh on them," Green said. "Wasn't too long ago where we were scoring and sprinkling them around a little bit. Again, you play a game, you reset and you get back at it." Daniel Sedin has cooled off with one assist in the last five games and has failed to notch a point in eight straight versus Anaheim.

ABOUT THE DUCKS (34-24-12): Anaheim has scored five times during the three-game slide and one of the players mired in a deep freeze is forward Ondrej Kase, who has been held off the scoresheet in 10 straight contests following a stretch in which he pumped in six goals in seven games. "The season is long so it's going up and down," said Kase, who has 17 goals in his second season. "We need to go up again." Getzlaf is riding a six-game point streak, collecting a pair of goals and 11 assists in that span.

OVERTIME

1. Ducks leading goal scorer Rickard Rakell has a goal and four assists in two meetings versus Vancouver this season.

2. The Canucks are 0-for-7 with the man advantage over the last five games.

3. Anaheim has not allowed a power-play goal in 10 of the last 11 games.

PREDICTION: Ducks 4, Canucks 1

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 03-14-2018, 09:58 AM

New Jersey Devils vs. Vegas Golden Knights Preview and Predictions 03-14-2018

13th March 2018 by Gracenote
Coming off a successful five-game road trip, the Vegas Golden Knights are inching closer to a Pacific Division title in their first year of existence. The first-place Golden Knights own a 12-point lead over San Jose with 13 games to play as they prepare to open a four-game homestand against the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday night.

Vegas has won three in a row to cap off a 4-1-0 road trip that kicked off with a 3-2 win at New Jersey, which snapped a three-game slide. Marc-Andre Fleury allowed two goals or fewer in each of the four victories on the trek and reached a milestone by becoming the 13th goaltender in history with 400 wins in Monday's 3-2 triumph at Philadelphia. New Jersey had lost four of five before opening a six-game road trip with a 3-2 shootout victory at Nashville on Saturday, snapping the Predators' 10-game winning streak. The Devils are holding down the final playoff slot in the Eastern Conference, one point behind Columbus and three ahead of the Florida Panthers.

TV: 10 p.m. ET, MSG Plus (New Jersey), AT&T Sportsnet-Rocky Mountain (Vegas)

ABOUT THE DEVILS (35-26-8): New Jersey has scored more than two goals in regulation only twice in the past 11 games and is scraping to find offense from someone other than Taylor Hall, who has 31 points more than anyone else on the team. Defenseman Sami Vatanen is doing his part at both ends of the ice, collecting 12 points over the past 12 games and playing at least 23 minutes 11 times in that span. Forward Travis Zajac, who sat out Saturday after injuring his back in the previous game, returned to practice Tuesday.

ABOUT THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS (45-19-5): Fleury, who missed two months earlier in the season after suffering a concussion, joined Roberto Luongo and Henrik Lundqvist as the only active goaltenders to amass 400 victories. "He's been playing phenomenal and making huge saves when we need it," Vegas defenseman Deryk Engelland said. "He's been doing that all season." Forward Ryan Carpenter, a waiver-wire pickup in December, netted the game-winning tally against Philadelphia and has scored all eight of his goals in the past 18 games.

OVERTIME

1. Fleury needs one win to tie Chris Osgood for 12th place on the all-time list.

2. Hall has been held off the scoresheet in back-to-back games after collecting at least one point in each of his previous 26 contests.

3. Golden Knights F Erik Haula scored his ninth power-play tally Monday after scoring twice with the man advantage in his first four seasons.

PREDICTION: Golden Knights 4, Devils 2

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 03-14-2018, 09:59 AM

Texas Southern Tigers vs. North Carolina Central Eagles Preview and Predictions 03-14-2018

11th March 2018 by Gracenote
Texas Southern has embraced taking on college basketball's heavyweights early in recent seasons in hopes it pays off in March, but this year the program took that philosophy to the extreme. Making their fourth NCAA Tournament appearance in the last five seasons, the Tigers attempt to snag their first ever victory in the Big Dance on Wednesday in a First Four matchup in Dayton, Ohio, against fellow West Region No. 16 seed North Carolina Central.

Taking on six eventual NCAA Tournament teams over the course of playing its first 13 games on the road while facing the country's most difficult non-conference schedule according to KenPom.com, Texas Southern did not win its first game until opening up Southwestern Athletic Conference play on New Year's Day. The Tigers found their groove late, however, ending the regular season with four straight wins before registering double-digit victories in each of their three games during the conference tournament. The Eagles took a polar opposite approach to their third NCAA tournament appearance in the past five years, facing only one major-conference school (Illinois) before posting a 9-7 mark and finishing sixth in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. North Carolina Central marched into the Big Dance for the second straight season Saturday, upsetting top-seeded Hampton to secure the league's automatic berth.

TV: 6:40 p.m. ET, truTV

ABOUT TEXAS SOUTHERN (15-19): SWAC Tournament MVP Demontrae Jefferson (team-high marks of 23.4 points and 4.5 assists) - a 5-7 sophomore who missed nine games this season for a variety of reasons, including an early suspension and the passing of his father - scored at least 15 points in 24 of 25 games this season. Massachusetts transfer Donte Clark (18.6 points) erupted for 41 points during one of Jefferson's absences and is averaging 23.6 points over the last five contests. Trayvon Reed (9.7 points) ranks second in the conference in rebounds (8.8) and first in blocks (3.0), while part-time starter Marquis Salmon (5.3 points, 6.2 boards) collected 48 rebounds over a three-game span prior to playing a limited role in the SWAC title game.

ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL (19-15): Although the Eagles boast All-MEAC second-team center Raasean Davis (team-high marks of 15.0 points and 8.0 rebounds), nearly 40 percent of their scoring comes from their bench as 12 players average at least 10 minutes per game. Davis, a 6-9, 240-pound Kent State transfer who led the MEAC in field-goal percentage (66.7) and fourth in rebounding, proved to be a terror during the final three games of the conference, averaging 15 points and 13.3 boards. Guards Reggie Gardner Jr. (11.2 points, team-high 74 3-pointers) and Jordan Perkins (8.4 points, team-high 5.4 assists), who tallied 13 points and nine assists in the conference title game and handed out a career-high 14 assists earlier in the season, each landed on the all-conference rookie team.

TIP-INS

1. The winner will meet top-seeded Xavier in the first round in Nashville, Tenn.

2. Texas Southern is the first team since the NCAA Tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985 to make the Big Dance after beginning the season 0-13.

3. The Eagles score only 25.7 percent of their points beyond the arc and did not beat a team with a RPI in the top 150 this season.

PREDICTION: Texas Southern 82, North Carolina Central 68

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 03-14-2018, 09:59 AM

Syracuse Orange vs. Arizona State Sun Devils Preview and Predictions 03-14-2018

11th March 2018 by Gracenote
Arizona State defeated four eventual NCAA Tournament teams en route to a school-record 12-0 start, but Pac-12 play proved to be a different animal. The Sun Devils hope to resume their dominant play in non-conference action when they meet fellow Midwest Region No. 11 seed Syracuse in a First Four matchup Wednesday in Dayton, Ohio.

The last team in the country to suffer its first loss, Arizona State defeated two eventual No. 1 seeds in the Big Dance - Kansas and Xavier - as well as NCAA Tournament teams San Diego State and Kansas State. The Sun Devils dropped their first game at Arizona on Dec. 30 and were unable to recapture their earlier success, never winning more than three in a row before finishing with an 8-10 conference record and losses in five of their last six. The Orange, who were tabbed by NCAA Tournament committee chair Bruce Rasmussen as the last at-large team into the field, endured a similar path with an 8-10 mark in the ACC after rolling to an 11-2 record during the non-league portion of their schedule. Despite finishing in a tie for 10th in its conference, Syracuse proved itself in the eyes of the committee with a top-20 strength of schedule (14th entering Sunday) and four wins against top-50 RPI teams.

TV: 9:10 p.m. ET, truTV

ABOUT SYRACUSE (20-13): The success of the Orange depends greatly on the success of Tyus Battle (19.8 points), Frank Howard (15.0) and Oshae Brissett (14.7), who rank first, second and sixth in the country in minutes per game and account for 73.3 percent of the team's scoring. Battle has reached double figures in all but one game this season but has failed to shoot 40 percent from the floor in seven of the last eight contests, including a 14-for-50 showing over the last three games. Howard is also slumping of late, failing to shoot over 30 percent from the field in four of his last five outings - including a 10-for-38 stretch beyond the arc over that span.

ABOUT ARIZONA STATE (20-11): The Sun Devils averaged 91.8 points on 50.8 percent shooting from the field and 42.4 beyond the arc during their season-opening winning streak before cooling off the tune of 78.3, 43.7 and 32.9, respectively, over the last 19 contests. Part of the falloff can be attributed to the decline of leading scorer Tra Holder (18.4 points), who averaged 21.4 points during their undefeated start - including a career-high 40 points against Xavier and 29 against Kansas - and only 16.6 the rest of the way. Fellow senior guards Shannon Evans II (16.6) knocked down a conference-high 91 3-pointers, while Kodi Justice (12.6) went over 1,000 career points last weekend and has buried multiple triples in six of his last seven outings.

TIP-INS

1. The winner will meet No. 6 seed TCU in the first round in Detroit.

2. Battle is only the fifth player in school history to reach 1,000 career points by the end of his sophomore year, and his 38.9 minutes per game is on pace to break Billy Owens' program record of 38.0.

3. In seven games against NCAA Tournament teams, Holder averaged 25.3 points.

PREDICTION: Syracuse 84, Arizona State 77

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 03-14-2018, 09:59 AM

Harvard Crimson vs. Marquette Golden Eagles Preview and Predictions 03-14-2018

13th March 2018 by Gracenote
Passed over by the NCAA Tournament, No. 2 seed Marquette will try to make the best of playing in the NIT beginning Wednesday against visiting No. 7 Harvard at the Al McGuire Center. The Golden Eagles will be playing in the NIT for the first time since 2005, while the Crimson will be making their second appearance in the tournament.

Steve Wojciechowski's team closed strongly, winning six of their final nine games, but just didn't have enough signature wins to make the big dance for a second straight season. "The goal is always the NCAA Tournament," Wojciechowski told the media. "But, I love my team. The opportunity to be around them more is something I am incredibly excited about." Andrew Rowsey, the team's lone senior, will be playing to prolong his college career and comes in with a streak of four straight 20-point games. The Crimson won the Ivy League regular season title behind Seth Towns and Chris Lewis, earning a place in the NIT in the process but missed a chance to get the automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament by losing to Pennsylvania in the conference tournament final.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN2

ABOUT HARVARD (18-13): Towns had some struggles early in the season, but the sophomore from Columbus, Ohio, who turned down offers Ohio State, Michigan and others, put it in high gear once in the Ivy League and was named the conference's Player of the Year. The 6-7 forward averaged 18.6 points, 5.7 rebounds and two assists in league play for the Crimson, who have shown the can ramp up the offense if they need to, including scoring 98 and 94 points in back-to-back games in early March, but a high-scoring game favors Marquette. "There are times when he gets passive out there and I jump him a little because he is so talented," coach Tommy Amaker told the media of Towns, who shot 44.1 percent from long range this season.

ABOUT MARQUETTE (19-13): If either Rowsey (35 points) or Markus Howard (52) can replicate their top game this season, they can surpass Anthony Pieper's school record for points in a NIT game, which he set with 32 against Penn State in 1995. Rowsey, who has scored 2,258 points in his career between Marquette and UNC Asheville, has been on a tear, averaging 22.8 points and 5.8 assists in the last nine games and finished his career as the Big East's all-time leader in free throw percentage (93.1). Since scoring a combined 89 points in back-to-back games in early January, including the most in a Big East game this season with 52, Howard, a sophomore, has run hot and cold, but if he gets going from beyond the arc, Pieper's mark could be in peril.

TIP-INS

1. Marquette has never faced Harvard, but fashions an 8-2 record against the Ivy League with the latest win coming over Cornell in 1998.

2. The winner plays No. 3 Oregon or No. 6 Rider in the second round on a date to be determined.

3. The Golden Eagles are 21-14 in 15 NIT appearances, winning the title in 1970 under Hall of Fame coach Al McGuire.

PREDICTION: Marquette 79, Harvard 70

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 03-14-2018, 09:59 AM

UL Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns vs. Louisiana State Tigers Preview and Predictions 03-14-2018

14th March 2018 by Gracenote
Louisiana Lafayette has won its last 18 games against in-state opponents dating to December 2015, but none has been bigger than this one. The sixth-seeded Ragin' Cajuns travel to No. 3 seed LSU for a Pelican State showdown Wednesday in the first round of the NIT.

The Tigers have won seven straight meetings with the Ragin' Cajuns, whose last win in the series came in 1944, but this year's Louisiana team is one of the best in the program's history. The Ragin' Cajuns have set a school record for wins and had won 16 of 17 before dropping their regular-season finale to Little Rock and going 1-1 in the Sun Belt Tournament. LSU lost its opener in the SEC Tournament, falling 80-77 to a Mississippi State team the Tigers had thumped 78-57 just five days earlier. The Tigers are 13-4 at home, where they've won six straight.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN3

ABOUT LOUISIANA (27-6): The Ragin' Cajuns like to run - leading the Sun Belt in scoring for the sixth straight season at 83.4 points per game - and they like to shoot from long range. Leading scorer Frank Bartley (17.7 points) has let 214 3-pointers fly, connecting on 38.3 percent. Louisiana doesn't have a lot of size inside as 6-8 forward JaKeenan Gant (13.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.3 blocks), a transfer from Missouri, and 6-6 forward Bryce Washington (10.5 points, 10.6 rebounds) play big, but they will give up several inches against the Tigers.

ABOUT LSU (17-14): Freshman guard Tremont Waters (16 points, 5.9 assists) has carried the Tigers for much of the season, and he is averaging 22.5 points over the past six games. Waters and backcourt mate Skylar Mays (11.2 points) combine for 3.6 steals per game, which LSU counts on for its transition offense. The Tigers have a couple of solid big men in Duop Reath (12.2 points, 5.2 rebounds) and Aaron Epps (9.5 points, 5.6 rebounds), but they don't have much depth in the post if those two get in foul trouble.

TIP-INS

1. LSU coach Will Wade is only the second coach to take the Tigers to the postseason in his first year, joining Trent Johnson in 2009.

2. The Ragin' Cajuns are 23-1 when leading at halftime.

3. The Tigers have made a school-record 256 3-pointers, including 10 or more in three of the past four games.

PREDICTION: Louisiana 84, LSU 81

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 03-14-2018, 09:59 AM

Temple Owls vs. Penn St. Nittany Lions Preview and Predictions 03-14-2018

13th March 2018 by Gracenote
Penn State made headlines by defeating Ohio State -- a No. 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament -- all three times they met this season. However, it wasn't enough to get the Nittany Lions into the Big Dance, so they'll have to settle for a first-round NIT matchup with visiting Temple on Wednesday.

The key to Penn State's success against Ohio State (and the entire season) was sophomore standout Tony Carr, who averages 19.9 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.7 assists while shooting 46 percent from 3-point range. "I've seen Tony play since high school, so not much surprises me out of him," teammate Josh Reaves said earlier this month. "He still just does amazing things on the court." Reaves is one of four other Nittany Lions averaging double-digit points, which certainly will pose a challenge for a Temple team that has lost five of its final seven games. Quinton Rose (15.1 points) is their top scorer and poured in 25 points as the Owls gave Wichita State a run in the quarterfinals of the American Athletic Conference Tournament.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPNU

ABOUT TEMPLE (17-15): The Owls shoot just 42.5 percent as a team - a level of inconsistency epitomized by senior forward Obi Enechionyia, who shot a career-low 38.4 percent this season. Enechionyia was 1-of-3 for three points with four fouls against Wichita State and has failed to reach double-digit points in four of his last six games. Shizz Alston Jr., meanwhile, has had shooting performances of 3-of-13, 5-of-15 and 3-of-15 in the last six games, and Rose has been woeful from 3-point range for more than a month.

ABOUT PENN STATE (21-13): Carr endured one of his worst games of the season against Purdue in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals, shooting 4-of-18 and missing five of his six 3-point attempts in scoring only 12 points -- his first game with less than 15 points since Jan. 20. On the other hand, Shep Garner drained 6-of-8 3-pointers against Purdue -- he has a team-high 101 3s on the year - and recorded a career-high 33 points on 8-of-11 shooting. Reaves went 0-of-9 in that game and is 2-of-21 from the floor in the last two contests as part of a 21 percent shooting stretch over the last four outings.

TIP-INS

1. The winner of this game between fourth-seeded Penn State and fifth-seeded Temple will face either face top-seeded Notre Dame or eighth-seeded Hampton in the second round.

2. Temple has won 60 of the 92 all-time matchups.

3. In his last eight games, Rose is 7-of-37 from 3-point range.

PREDICTION: Penn State 64, Temple 61

Wednesday 3-14-18 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

Wednesday 3-14-18 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

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