PREMIUM
Rogers' TOP TOTALS TICKET >> Won Only Rd 1 TOTAL!
(NCAAB) Syracuse vs. Michigan State,
Total: 130.00 | -105.00 Over
Result: Win
Total: 130.00 | -105.00 Over
Result: Win
The set-up: 30-4 Michigan State is in its 21st consecutive NCAA tourney appearance but a win today vs. Syracuse would allow the Spartans to advance to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time in three seasons. The opponent will be 22-13 Syracuse, which is said to have been the last at-large team to make this year's field. Jim Boeheim's in his 42nd-year at Syracuse and is in te Big Dance for the 33rd time. The Spartans advanced with a victory over Bucknell on Friday, while the Orange won a First Four game over Arizona State and then got past TCU in their first-round game.
Syracuse: Boeheim has three 'iron-man' performers in sophomore guard Tyus Battle, 6-8 freshman Oshae Brisset and PG. Howard (15.0-7.4-5.0). Battle led all Division I players with an average of 38.5 minutes per game prior to the tourney, Howard was second at 38.3 and Brissett was sixth at 38.0. Battle leads Syracuse's offensive attack with an average of 19.3 PPG, Oshae Brissett adds 14.9 & 8.9 plus Howard checks in at 14.7 & 4.8 APG. The 7-2 Chukwu (5.4 & 6.9) and the 6-9 Dulezag (5.6 & 4.8) have contributed on and off this season. However, as has been typical for Boeheim-coached teams, the key has been Boeheim's matchup zone defense that causes teams lots of trouble. ASU led the Pac-12 with an 83.5 PPG scoring average but was held to just 56 points (on 40.4% shooting) and then TCU was held to 52 points (on 39.6 % shooting), 31 points below its season average of 83 per game!
Michigan State: The Spartans have been ranked as high as No. 2 in the AP poll this season (were No. 1 in the Coaches poll for a couple of weeks, as well) but really got a scare from Bucknell in an 82-78 win on Friday. Since the Spartans' first loss of the season to Duke in November, the question of whether or not Miles Bridges (17.3 & 7.0) is aggressive enough offensively in big games has been there for coach Tom Izzo. He has tried to find balance in his offensive game, with Michigan State's deep rotation allowing him not to have to dominate the ball, but against Bucknell, it was Bridges who closed the door by scoring 14 of his 29 points during a nine-minute spurt in the second half that pushed the Spartans' lead from six to 14. Also, expect that the play of PG Cassius Winston (12.6 & 6.9 APG) to be a key for Michigan State, as he must handle the zone and the size of Syracuse's defenders when they extend to apply pressure on the ball.
The pick: The Spartans have five double digit scorers and overall, more depth than Syracuse. However, Boeheim-coached teams know how to control the play and win at this time of year. That said, so do Izzo-coached teams, as teh Spartans are allowing just 65.2 PPG on the season (23rd), while holding opponents to an NCAA-low of 36.7% from the floor. These traditional powers haven't met in the tournament since 2000. The Spartans won in the regional semifinals 75-58 and went on to win the national championship. Deja vu? Maybe but the play is an 8* on the Under.
Syracuse: Boeheim has three 'iron-man' performers in sophomore guard Tyus Battle, 6-8 freshman Oshae Brisset and PG. Howard (15.0-7.4-5.0). Battle led all Division I players with an average of 38.5 minutes per game prior to the tourney, Howard was second at 38.3 and Brissett was sixth at 38.0. Battle leads Syracuse's offensive attack with an average of 19.3 PPG, Oshae Brissett adds 14.9 & 8.9 plus Howard checks in at 14.7 & 4.8 APG. The 7-2 Chukwu (5.4 & 6.9) and the 6-9 Dulezag (5.6 & 4.8) have contributed on and off this season. However, as has been typical for Boeheim-coached teams, the key has been Boeheim's matchup zone defense that causes teams lots of trouble. ASU led the Pac-12 with an 83.5 PPG scoring average but was held to just 56 points (on 40.4% shooting) and then TCU was held to 52 points (on 39.6 % shooting), 31 points below its season average of 83 per game!
Michigan State: The Spartans have been ranked as high as No. 2 in the AP poll this season (were No. 1 in the Coaches poll for a couple of weeks, as well) but really got a scare from Bucknell in an 82-78 win on Friday. Since the Spartans' first loss of the season to Duke in November, the question of whether or not Miles Bridges (17.3 & 7.0) is aggressive enough offensively in big games has been there for coach Tom Izzo. He has tried to find balance in his offensive game, with Michigan State's deep rotation allowing him not to have to dominate the ball, but against Bucknell, it was Bridges who closed the door by scoring 14 of his 29 points during a nine-minute spurt in the second half that pushed the Spartans' lead from six to 14. Also, expect that the play of PG Cassius Winston (12.6 & 6.9 APG) to be a key for Michigan State, as he must handle the zone and the size of Syracuse's defenders when they extend to apply pressure on the ball.
The pick: The Spartans have five double digit scorers and overall, more depth than Syracuse. However, Boeheim-coached teams know how to control the play and win at this time of year. That said, so do Izzo-coached teams, as teh Spartans are allowing just 65.2 PPG on the season (23rd), while holding opponents to an NCAA-low of 36.7% from the floor. These traditional powers haven't met in the tournament since 2000. The Spartans won in the regional semifinals 75-58 and went on to win the national championship. Deja vu? Maybe but the play is an 8* on the Under.
