Bleacher Report - Articles by Shaun Hart

NCAA Tournament Sweet 16: Place Your Bets For Friday

Shaun Hart — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 20:53:50 -0400

NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 Preview

Friday, March 27

As you read in my Thursday Sweet 16 Preview, this weekend is bound to provide more drama and better finishes than the opening rounds. Friday's four games feature five coaches with National Championship rings in Rick Pitino, Jim Boeheim, Roy Williams, Bill Self, and Tom Izzo. They will be crucial in their team's Sweet 16 success.

An astonishing 14 of the tournament's 16 top seeds advanced to the second weekend and Friday's games will feature seven of those 14 teams. The other being the only double-digit seed remaining, the Arizona Wildcats. Arizona was perhaps the last team chosen for the tournament field and, although publicly scrutinized, they have shown up to play in a big way. Will they keep their unlikely run going or will the top seeds continue their stranglehold on the underdogs?

On to the picks...

No. 1 Louisville vs. No. 12 Arizona

Friday, March 27 at 7:07 p.m. ET

Spread: Louisville -9.0

Backcourt Advantage: Louisville—The Cardinals have more speed and depth in the backcourt than Arizona and will put pressure the Wildcats with their full-court press. Arizona junior Nic Wise has been lights out in the tournament thus far, scoring 50 points in the first two rounds on 15-for-26 shooting, including a perfect 17-for-17 from the foul line. The Cardinals will work to limit Wise's touches and force the ball elsewhere.

Frontcourt Advantage: Even—Senior Terrence Williams, Louisville's All-American point forward, will be the best player on the court in this game. The offense will run through Williams and he will undoubtedly fill the stat sheet, averaging 18.5 points, 11 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in the tournament. Arizona will have a size advantage inside, which should lead to a rebounding edge. Chase Budinger will spread the defense with his outside shooting, while Jordan Hill will pound the glass and score inside.

Momentum: Louisville—Despite a close second-round win over Siena, Louisville has been arguably the best team in the nation in March. They have won 12 games in a row and Coach Pitino knows how to win deep in the tournament. Arizona stumbled into the tournament, but has been playing to its potential so far in the tourney, beating Utah and Cleveland State in the first two rounds. Interim coach Russ Pennell will have his work cut out for him though against a Louisville team that is by far the best team Arizona will have faced this season.

Bottom Line: It's been a nice run for Arizona, who hushed the naysayers about their inclusion in the Big Dance, but the Cardinals should roll through the inconsistent Wildcats. After surviving a scare against Siena, Pitino will have his team ready and focused to play Arizona. They will not take the Wildcats lightly.

Shaun's Pick: Louisville -9.0

No. 2 Oklahoma vs. No. 3 Syracuse

Friday, March 27 at 7:27 p.m. ET

Spread: Oklahoma -1.0

Backcourt Advantage: Syracuse—The Orange feature a very talented backcourt led by point guard Jonny Flynn, the fiery Eric Devendorf, and sharp-shooting Andy Rautins. Syracuse has yet to be really challenged in the tournament, but they can expect a grueling effort from the Sooners. Freshman guard Willie Warren and senior Austin Johnson will be the primary ball-handlers for Oklahoma against the Syracuse 2-3 zone. The x-factor will be junior Tony Crocker, who has the ability to catch fire from behind the arc, but he has been cold as of late, going 1-for-15 from three-point range in his last five games, including 0-for-6 in the first two rounds of the tournament. Oklahoma will need his hot hand to help stretch the zone.

Frontcourt Advantage: Oklahoma—There is no doubt that Blake Griffin has been the best player in college basketball this year. If there was, Griffin has proved otherwise with his play in the tournament thus far, averaging 30.5 points and 15 rebounds in his first two games. Syracuse's 2-3 zone could cause problems for Griffin though. However, Syracuse's defensive success will rely on forwards Arinze Onuaku, Paul Harris, and Rick Jackson staying out of foul trouble against Griffin, who will be very physical inside. Harris fouled out, while Jackson had four fouls, against Pittsburgh's DeJuan Blair, a similar player to Griffin, earlier this season in a 78-60 loss to the Panthers. Coach Boeheim is hoping his team can learn from that experience and pull off a minor upset against the two-seeded Sooners.

Momentum: Syracuse—The Orange have been one of the hottest teams in the country this month, clawing their way to the Big East final and then rolling through the opening weekend of the tournament. Jim Boeheim is as good a coach as any in the country and he will give his team a distinct advantage over Oklahoma coach Jeff Capel. The Sooners were dominant in the mid-season, but stumbled down the stretch and into the tournament. Oklahoma even struggled against Michigan a little bit before putting them away in the second round.

Bottom Line: In what could be the best game of the Sweet 16, Syracuse should have the late-game advantage in a close contest as Boeheim out-coaches Capel down the stretch.

Shaun's Pick: Syracuse +1.0

No. 2 Michigan State vs. No. 3 Kansas

Friday, March 27 at 9:37 p.m. ET

Spread: Michigan State -2.0

Backcourt Advantage: Even—Senior Travis Walton picked a great night to have his best game of the season, scoring 18 points on 8-for-13 shooting in the Spartans' 74-69 second-round win over USC. Walton is MSU's defensive stopper on the perimeter, but if he continues to score like that, the Spartans will be tough to stop. He will be helped in the backcourt by their leading-scorer, sophomore Kalin Lucas. The defending champion Kansas Jayhawks will be led by their scoring leader, junior Sherron Collins. Collins has been sensational this year in leading his young team, unranked in the preseason, to a number three seed in the tournament and into the Sweet 16 for the third straight season. Collins will be the heart and soul of the Jayhawks' attack and he will have the ability to take over this game.

Frontcourt Advantage: Even—This game will be a slugfest inside. Michigan State will be led inside by senior center Goran Suton and a pair of talented forwards, junior Raymar Morgan and freshman Delvon Roe. The Jayhawks' frontcourt attack starts and ends with 6'11" sophomore Cole Aldrich. Aldrich recorded the sixth official triple-double in NCAA tournament history by scoring 13 points with 20 rebounds and 10 blocks in his team's 60-43 win over Dayton in the second round. Michigan State will clamp down on Aldrich and force his young supporting cast to make shots, but Aldrich's biggest impact will be made on the defensive end.

Momentum: Michigan State—These two teams met in January, where Michigan State prevailed 75-62. The Jayhawks raced out to an early lead before a Kalin Lucas three-pointer triggered a 19-1 Spartan run. Michigan State led 37-18 at halftime and held off a late Kansas surge to win by 13. The young Jayhawks are prone to long scoring droughts, which have plagued them this season. They score in bunches, so a comeback is never out of the question, but a mid-game lapse could put this game out of reach. Michigan State is a disciplined team that will make their opponents pay for their mistakes.

Bottom Line: Tom Izzo and Bill Self are outstanding coaches who have both won national championships. The young Jayhawks are much-improved since their regular season loss to the Spartans, but Michigan State should still win the rematch. Their depth and balanced-scoring attack will be the difference.

Shaun's Pick: Michigan State -2.0

No. 1 North Carolina vs. No. 4 Gonzaga

Friday, March 27 at 9:57 p.m. ET

Spread: North Carolina -8.5

Backcourt Advantage: North Carolina—Carolina's star point guard Ty Lawson returned to the court in a big way in their 84-70 second-round win over LSU. Lawson exploded for 21 of his 23 points in the second half as he sparked a decisive run to clinch the victory for the Tar Heels. Wayne Ellington also had 23 points after scoring 25 points in their first-round opener. Ellington is leading the Tar Heels in scoring with 24 points per game in the tournament on 20-for-32 shooting, including 6-for-11 from behind the arc. Gonzaga senior Jeremy Pargo has been just as hot for the Bulldogs. Pargo is only scoring 13.5 points per game, but has done so while shooting 11-for-16 from the floor, including 4-for-5 from three-point range. Pargo, along with Matt Bouldin, Steven Gray, and Kansas transfer Micah Downs, will be able to score with the Tar Heels, so this game should stay close throughout.

Frontcourt Advantage: Even—All-American Tyler Hansbrough will be the best frontcourt player on the floor without a doubt, but the Bulldogs will be able to bang around with him inside. 6'11" senior Josh Heytvelt and 6'11" sophomore Austin Daye will be a handful in the paint for Hansbrough and the Tar Heels. Carolina freshman Ed Davis has really stepped up for the Heels in the tournament, especially on the defensive end. Davis and Deon Thompson will work around Hansbrough to give the Tar Heels good balance inside against the Gonzaga big men. This will be a great battle inside.

Momentum: North Carolina—Coach Roy Williams and these Tar Heels have been here before. This is UNC's third straight Sweet 16 appearance, while Gonzaga is back in the Sweet 16 after being eliminated early in the past two years. Coach Mark Few knows how to pull off the big upset though and this is perhaps his most talented team ever. The Bulldogs will not be afraid of the mighty Tar Heels.

Bottom Line: With Ty Lawson healthy, North Carolina is perhaps the best team in the country. While no one doubts his ability to take over a game, his toe injury is still a concern. Gonzaga will keep this game dangerously close, but the Tar Heels should still find a way to win.

Shaun's Pick: Gonzaga +8.5

Check out my picks for Thursday's games.

For more in-depth college basketball analysis, go to CBBplace.com, part of SportsChatPlace.com.

NCAA Tournament Sweet 16: Place Your Bets For Thursday

Shaun Hart — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 21:34:41 -0400

NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 Preview

Thursday, March 26

Whether you correctly picked the first two rounds in your bracket or not, one thing is certain: there was very little drama. For every Gonzaga-Western Kentucky thriller, there seemed to be four or five UConn-Texas A&M clunkers.

As if that wasn't enough, the Sweet 16 is full of chalk, as the favorites set a record again this year. Last year, all four No. 1 seeds made it to the Final Four for the first time ever. This year, all 12 No. 1, 2, and 3 seeds made it to the Sweet 16 for the first time ever.

The Sweet 16 has arrived and the top teams are still playing. We all know this is a dream scenario for CBS and the sponsors, but it's also a dream come true for fans as well. Whether they admit it yet or not, they'll come to this conclusion by the weekend.

Like T.O. would say while wearing a Snuggie on his couch in Buffalo: Get your popcorn ready!

No. 1 Connecticut vs. No. 5 Purdue

Thursday, March 26 at 7:07 p.m. ET

Spread: Connecticut -6.5

Backcourt Advantage: Connecticut—A.J. Price will be the difference-maker on the perimeter. UConn's senior point guard is averaging 23.5 points per game through the first two rounds, while shooting 15-for-31 from the floor, including a scorching 9-for-18 from behind the arc. Boilermaker guards E'Twaun Moore, Keaton Grant, and Chris Kramer will have their hands full containing him, but it can be done with a team effort.

Frontcourt Advantage: Connecticut—Hasheem Thabeet and Jeff Adrien will be able to muscle their way inside against Robbie Hummel and JaJuan Johnson. Stanley Robinson will also look to continue his hot streak for the Huskies.

Momentum: Even—Purdue has won five straight tournament games now, including three en route to the Big Ten tournament title. The Boilermakers got off to great starts in both NCAA tournament games, only to see their leads evaporate late before holding on to beat Northern Iowa and Washington. UConn lost two in a row entering the tournament, but has been dominant in the first two rounds, winning by a combined 82 points.

Bottom Line: All signs point to another blow-out win for UConn, but Purdue has a way of dictating tempo and forcing its opponent to play its style. The Boilermakers will keep it close and might even take down the top-seeded Huskies.

Shaun's Pick: Purdue +6.5

No. 1 Pittsburgh vs. No. 4 Xavier

Thursday, March 26 at 7:27 p.m. ET

Spread: Pittsburgh -7.0

Backcourt Advantage: Pittsburgh—Levance Fields is methodically leading his Panthers one game at a time. With Fields at the point, look for Pittsburgh to control the tempo against B.J. Raymond and the Musketeers.

Frontcourt Advantage: Pittsburgh—DeJuan Blair and Sam Young won't be able to dominate down low against Xavier forwards Derrick Brown and Jason Love, but they should still be able to efficiently score on offense and pace Pittsburgh's inside attack. Brown and Love were both in foul trouble against Wisconsin in the second round, so they need to stay on the court and attack Blair, who is very prone to foul trouble of his own.

Momentum: Pittsburgh—Pitt has not advanced past the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament yet and the team is well aware of this. The Panthers will treat this game as its most important of the season. They may have been tested in the first two rounds, but this will be their coming-out party.

Bottom Line: Pitt finally gets the Sweet 16 monkey off its back—in a big way.

Shaun's Pick: Pittsburgh -7.0

No. 2 Memphis vs. No. 3 Missouri

Thursday, March 26 at 9:37 p.m. ET

Spread: Memphis -4.5

Backcourt Advantage: Memphis—Tyreke Evans and Antonio Anderson will look to slow things down against Missouri's Zaire Taylor and J.T. Tiller. Both teams like to play high-energy pressure defense, but Memphis has shown it can be more successful in half-court sets than Missouri, who looks to get most of its points in transition.

Frontcourt Advantage: Even—This game will feature a terrific matchup inside, pitting Robert Dozier and Shawn Taggert against DeMarre Carroll and Leo Lyons. While Carroll and Lyons are relied on as Missouri's 1-2 scoring punch, Dozier and Taggart will have a slight edge in rebounding. It will be very important for these four to stay out of foul trouble, as the game could be lost if one of these stars finds himself on the bench early.

Momentum: Even—Missouri has been on a roll, winning its last five games, including its three Big 12 tournament wins. Memphis turned things with a dominating win over Maryland after its first-round scare from Cal St. Northridge. It was the Tigers' 27th straight win.

Bottom Line: In a battle of up-tempo high-pressure teams, Memphis will slow things down to make Missouri play in the half court. Their backcourt advantage should prove to be the difference in what should be a very exciting game.

Shaun's Pick: Memphis -4.5

No. 2 Duke vs. No. 3 Villanova

Thursday, March 26 at 9:57 p.m. ET

Spread: Duke -2.0

Backcourt Advantage: Even—Both teams feature deep, talented backcourts. Coach K has Duke playing a swarming, international style with Jon Scheyer and Gerald Henderson leading the way. Freshman Elliot Williams is inexperienced at the point, but will be helped by Scheyer and senior Greg Paulus. Villanova is led by point guard Scottie Reynolds, who will be flanked by Reggie Redding, Corey Fisher, and Corey Stokes. Reynolds has yet to take his game to the next level in the tournament, scoring only 19 points in the team's first two games.

Frontcourt Advantage: Even—Dante Cunningham will be the best frontcourt player on the court, but the Blue Devils have a bit more depth. Kyle Singler leads Duke inside, along with Lance Thomas, David McClure, and Brian Zoubek. Cunningham will be helped inside by Shane Clark and Dwayne Anderson, whose 25 points helped Villanova survive its first-round scare from American. Cunningham also had 25 points in that game and followed it up with 18 in their 89-69 route of UCLA in the second round.

Momentum: Even—Villanova survived a scare to beat American and then blew through UCLA in the first two rounds. Duke had two similar games, but in reverse order, blowing out Binghamton before being taken to the brink of elimination by Texas. Gerald Henderson led the Blue Devils with 24 points against the Longhorns.

Bottom Line: Villanova will give Duke its best shot, but Coach K will lead his team into the Elite Eight for the first time since 2004.

Shaun's Pick: Duke -2.0

Check out my picks for Friday's games.

For more in-depth college basketball analysis, go to CBBplace.com, part of SportsChatPlace.com.

NCAA Tournament Second Round: Place Your Bets for Saturday

Shaun Hart — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 17:48:38 -0400

NCAA Tournament Second Round Preview

Saturday, March 21

After a rather predictable Thursday with little drama, the winners will return the court on Saturday to punch their ticket to the Sweet 16.

Here's a quick rundown of the lines and my insider take on each game.

No. 3 Villanova vs. No. 6 UCLA

Approximate Tip—1:05 p.m. EST

Spread: Villanova -2.0

Backcourt Advantage: Even. Darren Collison versus Scottie Reynolds will be a fantastic matchup between two of the best point guards in the nation.

Frontcourt Advantage: Villanova. The Wildcats will have a slight edge inside with Dante Cunningham against Nikola Dragovic and Alfred Aboya.

Momentum: Villanova. Both teams were given a scare in the first round, but Villanova has to be feeling better after coming back from as many as 14 points to beat American by 13. On the other hand, UCLA led VCU for most of the game but had trouble putting them away. Eric Maynor's jumper fell short at the buzzer, and that late-night breeze out of Los Angeles was a big sigh of relief from Bruins fans.

Bottom Line: Home-court advantage will once again help the Wildcats, who very possibly would have lost their opening round game had they not received so much support from the crowd. An opponent's size is the one disadvantage for Villanova, but UCLA doesn't have a whole lot of it either. Look for Cunningham and Reynolds to lead their team to the Sweet 16.

Shaun's Pick: Villanova -2.0

No. 2 Memphis vs. No. 10 Maryland

Approximate Tip—3:20 p.m. EST

Spread: Memphis -9.0

Backcourt Advantage: Memphis. Tyreke Evans, Antonio Anderson, and Doneal Mack will frustrate Greivis Vasquez and the Terps.

Frontcourt Advantage: Memphis. Maryland won't have an answer for Dozier and Taggart inside.

Momentum: Even. Memphis was tested by Cal State-Northridge in the first round, while Maryland rode Vasquez's hot hand to a decisive victory over California.

Bottom Line: Memphis will respond to its tough first-round win with a dominant defensive and offensive effort against an inconsistent Maryland team. It's hard to see Vasquez leading them without being frustrated, and once he starts becoming frustrated, the Terps are a mediocre team at best.

Shaun's Pick: Memphis -9.0

No. 1 Connecticut vs. No. 9 Texas A&M

Approximate Tip—3:35 p.m. EST

Spread: Connecticut -10.5

Backcourt Advantage: Connecticut. A.J. Price, along with Craig Austrie and Kemba Walker, will give the Huskies the advantage on the perimeter against Donald Sloan and Josh Carter.

Frontcourt Advantage: Connecticut. Hasheem Thabeet will be the dominant force inside for UConn, but don't sleep on the Aggies' Bryan Davis and Chinemelu Elonu. They have been a solid defensive duo for Texas A&M.

Momentum: Even. Connecticut is coming off the third largest win in NCAA tournament history, a 103-47 beat-down of Chattanooga, but they entered the tournament having lost their last two games. Texas A&M looked very impressive in its first round win over BYU and closed the regular season with six wins in a row before losing in the Big 12 tournament.

Bottom Line: Texas A&M has shown the ability to play with top teams this year, and UConn is no longer a dominant team due to Jerome Dyson's injury. The Huskies should be able to win, but it should be a fairly close game.

Shaun's Pick: Texas A&M +10.5

No. 4 Washington vs. No. 5 Purdue

Approx. Tip—5:40 p.m. EST

Spread: Washington -1.0

Backcourt Advantage: Washington. Isaiah Thomas and Justin Dentmon give the Huskies a slight advantage on the perimeter against E'Twaun Moore and Chris Kramer. However, to maintain this advantage, Thomas and Dentmon need to find their shots. They went a combined 4-for-19 in the first round, including 0-for-7 from three-point range.

Frontcourt Advantage: Even. Jon Brockman is a force inside for the Huskies, but he must stay out of foul trouble. Quincy Pondexter has the ability to step up if he needs to, as he led Washington in the first round with 23 points. Robbie Hummel and JaJuan Johnson will fuel the Boilermakers' attack and give Brockman and Pondexter all they can handle and more.

Momentum: Even. The Boilermakers received a late scare from Northern Iowa in the first round, while Washington cruised past Mississippi State.

Bottom Line: The Huskies will have the crowd on their side, which could prove to be the tipping point between two fairly even teams. The winner of this game will have the potential to go all the way to the Final Four.

Shaun's Pick: Washington -1.0

No. 1 North Carolina vs. No. 8 LSU

Approximate Tip—5:45 p.m. EST

Spread: North Carolina -11.5

Backcourt Advantage: North Carolina. With or without Lawson, the Tar Heels will have the advantage outside against Marcus Thornton and the Tigers.

Frontcourt Advantage: North Carolina. Tyler Hansbrough should be the difference-maker inside for the Tar Heels. Still, LSU has a strong front line with Tasmin Mitchell and Chris Johnson.

Momentum: Even. The Tar Heels are playing good enough without Lawson, but it'll be interesting to see if they can keep this momentum going. It'll also be interesting to see how Lawson slides back into the offense if he returns. Marcus Thornton has been on fire, scoring 30 points on 10-for-15 shooting against Butler in the first round.

Bottom Line: LSU will be able to battle against North Carolina. With three senior starters, including leading-scorer Thornton, the Tigers have the experience as well. North Carolina will be tested in this one, but will prevail. I'll take the points though.

Shaun's Pick: LSU +11.5

No. 2 Oklahoma vs. No. 10 Michigan

Approximate Tip—5:50 p.m. EST

Spread: Oklahoma -7.0

Backcourt Advantage: Oklahoma. Austin Johnson, Willie Warren, and Tony Crocker are more talented than Michigan's backcourt, but they can't get into a shooting contest with the Wolverines.

Frontcourt Advantage: Oklahoma. Blake Griffin will dominate inside against DeShawn Sims and the Wolverines, who don't have enough frontcourt depth to help Sims.

Momentum: Even. It remains to be seen if the Sooners are back on track after faltering down the stretch of the regular season and in the Big 12 tournament. Michigan hung on to beat Clemson in the first round, but has been inconsistent all year.

Bottom Line: Oklahoma should dominate the Wolverines, who will be relying too much on outside shooting.

Shaun's Pick: Oklahoma -7.0

No. 4 Gonzaga vs. No. 12 Western Kentucky

Approximate Tip—8:10 p.m. EST

Spread: Gonzaga -10.5

Backcourt Advantage: Even. A.J. Slaughter and Orlando Mendez-Valdez will keep the Hilltoppers in this one against Jeremy Pargo and Matt Bouldin.

Frontcourt Advantage: Gonzaga. Josh Heytvelt and Austin Daye will be too much for Western Kentucky to handle inside.

Momentum: Even. Gonzaga pulled away from Akron late in the first round, while Western Kentucky pulled off Thursday's only major upset, knocking off Illinois. The Hilltoppers led the Illini comfortably for most of the game and then held on to win by four.

Bottom Line: Gonzaga will be able to wear down the Hilltoppers in the paint, but Western Kentucky has shown it can hang with the top teams and is looking to make its second straight Sweet 16. Gonzaga will win, but not by double-digits.

Shaun's Pick: Western Kentucky +10.5

No. 2 Duke vs. No. 7 Texas

Approximate Tip—8:15 p.m. EST

Spread: Duke -7.0

Backcourt Advantage: Even. Duke has more depth, but Texas will be led by senior A.J. Abrams, who caught fire in the first round, scoring 26 points while shooting 8-for-15 from behind the arc.

Frontcourt Advantage: Texas. The Longhorns' center Dexter Pittman will create matchup problems inside for Duke. The 6'10" 298-pound Pittman put up 17 points and 11 rebounds in the opening-round win over Minnesota. Kyle Singler, Lance Thomas, and David McClure will need to play good team defense to slow down Pittman.

Momentum: Duke. The Blue Devils have been on a roll, winning nine of their last 10 games, including a sound victory over Binghamton in the first round. The Longhorns have been up and down all year, but they have been playing great basketball lately. However, it remains to be seen if they can put it all together against a top team.

Bottom Line: Texas has been up and down all year, but if the offense is flowing through Abrams, Pittman, and swingman Damion James, the Longhorns have the potential to take down Duke. The Blue Devils will probably win this game, but it should be close. I'll take the points.

Shaun's Pick: Texas +7.0

For more in-depth college basketball analysis, go to CBBplace.com, part of SportsChatPlace.com.

NCAA Tournament Midwest Region First Round: Place Your Bets

Shaun Hart — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 12:28:31 -0400

NCAA Tournament Midwest Region Preview

First Round—Mar. 19-20

Clean yourself up from your St. Patty's Day hangover and get your bookie on the phone. It's time to place your bets for the NCAA Tournament. Here's a quick rundown of the lines and my insider take on each game. Let the Madness begin!

No. 1 Louisville vs. No. 16 Morehead State

Spread: Louisville -22.0

Backcourt Advantage: Louisville

Frontcourt Advantage: Louisville

Momentum: Louisville

Bottom Line: Louisville is the hottest team coming into this tournament and they were rewarded for that by being given the overall top seed. They will keep their momentum going in this first round game, where historically No. 1 seeds have been beating the play-in game winner by an average of 27 points per game.

There's no reason to think this game will be any different.

Shaun's Pick: Louisville -22.0

No. 8 Ohio State vs. No. 9 Siena

Spread: Ohio State -3.0

Backcourt Advantage: Even

Frontcourt Advantage: Ohio State

Momentum: Even

Bottom Line: If this wasn't essentially a home game for OSU, I'd be more confident with this pick, but Siena should at least keep this within a bucket. Almost the entire core is back from last year's team that blew out Vandy in the first round.

Shaun's Pick: Siena +3.0

No. 5 Utah vs. No. 12 Arizona

Spread: Arizona -1.0

Backcourt Advantage: Utah

Frontcourt Advantage: Even

Momentum: Utah

Bottom Line: Utah is the better team and should beat the underachieving Wildcats. The Utes are a senior-heavy group that will run their offense through seven-footer Luke Nevill, but if Arizona collapses on him, they can bury outside shots as well.

Shaun's Pick: Utah +1.0

No. 4 Wake Forest vs. No. 13 Cleveland State

Spread: Wake Forest -8.5

Backcourt Advantage: Wake Forest

Frontcourt Advantage: Wake Forest

Momentum: Wake Forest

Bottom Line: Wake could get a scare here, but they should still be able to win by double-digits. Cleveland State will try to force half-court action, while the Demon Deacons will want to run and score in transition.

This could be too close for comfort early, but Wake should find a way to break the game open late.

Shaun's Pick: Wake Forest -8.5

No. 6 West Virginia vs. No. 11 Dayton

Spread: West Virginia -8.5

Backcourt Advantage: West Virginia

Frontcourt Advantage: West Virginia

Momentum: West Virginia

Bottom Line: I like West Virginia to win the game, but Dayton should keep it close. The Mountaineers are the better team and they're tournament-tested, but I'll take the points on a hunch.

Shaun's Pick: Dayton +8.5

No. 3 Kansas vs. No. 14 North Dakota State

Spread: Kansas -10.0

Backcourt Advantage: Kansas

Frontcourt Advantage: Kansas

Momentum: Kansas

Bottom Line: Bill Self will have his young team ready and Kansas will not take this team lightly. The Bison feature four senior starters, led by guard Ben Woodside and forward Brett Winkelman.

The problem is they aren't good defenders, so Kansas should have no trouble scoring in this one. The Bison have the talent to hang with the Jayhawks for a while, but Cole Aldrich will be too much for them to handle inside.

Shaun's Pick: Kansas -10.0

No. 7 Boston College vs. No. 10 USC

Spread: USC -2.5

Backcourt Advantage: Boston College

Frontcourt Advantage: USC

Momentum: USC

Bottom Line: USC's on a roll, but they haven't shown they can beat a quality team yet, and Boston College is a quality team. Led by senior Tyrese Rice, the Eagles should be able to wear down the bench-less Trojans.

Shaun's Pick: Boston College +2.5

No. 2 Michigan State vs. No. 15 Robert Morris

Spread: Michigan State -17.0

Backcourt Advantage: Michigan State

Frontcourt Advantage: Michigan State

Momentum: Michigan State

Bottom Line: Finally healthy at the right time, Sparty rolls in this one. Michigan State is the best rebounding team in the country and will dominate Robert Morris inside.

Shaun's Pick: Michigan State -17.0

Shaun's West Region First Round Preview

Shaun's East Region First Round Preview

Shaun's South Region First Round Preview

Get all of your College Basketball picks against the spread at CBBplace.com

NCAA Tournament West Region First Round: Place Your Bets

Shaun Hart — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 21:06:04 -0400

NCAA Tournament West Region Preview

First Round—March 19-20

Pour yourself another Guinness and get your bookie on the phone. It's time to place your bets for the NCAA Tournament. Here's a quick rundown of the lines and my insider take on each game. Let the Madness begin!

No. 1 Connecticut vs. No. 16 UT-Chattanooga

Spread: Connecticut -20.5

Backcourt Advantage: Connecticut

Frontcourt Advantage: Connecticut

Momentum: Connecticut

Bottom Line: The Huskies have gotten their share of tournament scares recently, but the Mocs won't be able to keep this close. Hasheem Thabeet will anchor a UConn defense that will be dominant early, but they'll run into trouble before reaching the Final Four.

Shaun's Pick: Connecticut -20.5

No. 8 BYU vs. No. 9 Texas A&M

Spread: BYU -2.0

Backcourt Advantage: Even

Frontcourt Advantage: Texas A&M

Momentum: BYU

Bottom Line: The Aggies match up well with BYU, but I like the Cougars to win in a close one. Both teams bowed out early in their conference tournaments after ending the regular season with nice winning streaks. Although Josh Carter (26 points vs. BYU in a first round win last year) is back for an encore for Texas A&M, BYU will win the rematch.

Shaun's Pick: BYU -2.0

No. 5 Purdue vs. No. 12 Northern Iowa

Spread: Purdue -8.5

Backcourt Advantage: Even

Frontcourt Advantage: Purdue

Momentum: Purdue

Bottom Line: Northern Iowa is going to scare the pants off the Boilermakers in what has the potential to be the upset that no one really sees coming after Purdue won the Big 10 tourney. Robbie Hummel's back seems to be fine and Purdue has been playing its best basketball of the season recently, but the Panthers can shoot the ball well and should keep this game dangerously close.

Shaun's Pick: Northern Iowa +8.5

No. 4 Washington vs. No. 13 Mississippi State

Spread: Washington -5.0

Backcourt Advantage: Washington

Frontcourt Advantage: Washington

Momentum: Even

Bottom Line: Don't let the Bulldogs' SEC run fool you. They're not nearly as good as Washington. Jon Brockman will give Jarvis Varnado fits inside and UW's backcourt duo of Isaiah Thomas and Justin Dentmon will be too much for Mississippi State to handle. The Huskies are poised for a deep tournament run.

Shaun's Pick: Washington -5.0

No. 6 Marquette vs. No. 11 Utah State

Spread: Marquette -4.5

Backcourt Advantage: Marquette

Frontcourt Advantage: Even

Momentum: Utah State

Bottom Line: Marquette should win this game, but Utah State will keep it dangerously close. This is a tough draw for Utah State, who is definitely a team that can pull off a tourney upset. The Golden Eagles, despite their slide without Dominic James, will find a way to win and advance, but it won't be easy.

Shaun's Pick: Utah State +4.5

No. 3 Missouri vs. No. 14 Cornell

Spread: Missouri -13.0

Backcourt Advantage: Missouri

Frontcourt Advantage: Missouri

Momentum: Missouri

Bottom Line: Missouri is on a roll after winning the Big 12, so look for them to keep it going. The Tigers will overwhelm Cornell with their swarming defense and up-tempo, high-scoring offense.

Shaun's Pick: Missouri -13.0

No. 7 California vs. No. 10 Maryland

Spread: California -1.0

Backcourt Advantage: Even

Frontcourt Advantage: California

Momentum: Even

Bottom Line: This will be a backcourt battle, so whoever's shooting better from the outside will win this one. Cal's been more consistent and leads the nation in 3-point shooting. Jerome Randle vs. Greivis Vasquez will be one of the more entertaining individual match-ups of the first round.

Shaun's Pick: California -1.0

No. 2 Memphis vs. No. 15 Cal St-Northridge

Spread: Memphis -20.0

Backcourt Advantage: Memphis

Frontcourt Advantage: Memphis

Momentum: Memphis

Bottom Line: Memphis should win soundly, but this game probably won't get out of control. The Matadors are actually better than most of the Tigers' Conference USA opponents, so while the game will never be in doubt, I'll take the points.

Shaun's Pick: CS-Northridge +20.0

Shaun's Midwest Region First Round Preview

Shaun's East Region First Round Preview

Shaun's South Region First Round Preview

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NCAA Tournament South Region First Round: Place Your Bets

Shaun Hart — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 20:28:47 -0400

NCAA Tournament South Region Preview

First Round - March 19-20

No. 1 North Carolina vs. No. 16 Radford

Spread: North Carolina -26.5

Backcourt Advantage: North Carolina

Frontcourt Advantage: North Carolina

Momentum: North Carolina

Bottom Line: The Tar Heels will roll into the second round. The only concern for them to cover is how long their starters will play. Lawson will probably play very sparingly in this one as the Coach Roy Williams will get him as much rest as he can.

Shaun's Pick: Radford +26.5

No. 8 LSU vs. No. 9 Butler

Spread: LSU -2.5

Backcourt Advantage: LSU

Frontcourt Advantage: Even

Momentum: Even

Bottom Line: Butler will give the Tigers fits and will probably even win this game. It will take a special effort from LSU senior Marcus Thornton for the Tigers to beat the Bulldogs. Butler is young, but they know the recipe for tourney success. They're patient, they play strong defense, and they shoot the three well.

Shaun's Pick: Butler +2.5

No. 5 Illinois vs. No. 12 Western Kentucky

Spread: Illinois -4.5

Backcourt Advantage: Even

Frontcourt Advantage: Illinois

Momentum: Western Kentucky

Bottom Line: The Hilltoppers will take this game to the buzzer and may even pull off this year's trendy 5-12 upset. With senior point guard Chester Frazier's injury, the inconsistent Illinois offense will sputter even more than usual. This game will be close to the end.

Shaun's Pick: Western Kentucky +4.5

No. 4 Gonzaga vs. No. 13 Akron

Spread: -12.0

Backcourt Advantage: Gonzaga

Frontcourt Advantage: Gonzaga

Momentum: Gonzaga

Bottom Line: This is one of Gonzaga's strongest teams in the past few years. They play solid defense and they can knock down three's. They should cruise into the Sweet 16 where they'll run into the buzzsaw that is UNC.

Shaun's Pick: Gonzaga -12.0

No. 6 Arizona State vs. No. 11 Temple

Spread: Arizona State -4.5

Backcourt Advantage: Arizona State

Frontcourt Advantage: Arizona State

Momentum: Even

Bottom Line: Temple always makes noise in this tournament, but James Harden will prove to be too much. With Pendergraph and Kuksiks controlling the interior, Harden should have no trouble scoring against the Owls, who need someone else to step up to help Dionte Christmas on offense. Christmas will be matching Harden shot-for-shot, but Harden has the better supporting cast.

Shaun's Pick: Arizona State -4.5

No. 3 Syracuse vs. No. 14 Stephen F. Austin

Spread: Syracuse -12.0

Backcourt Advantage: Syracuse

Frontcourt Advantage: Syracuse

Momentum: Syracuse

Bottom Line: Syracuse will be ready and rested for this one. Jonny Flynn leads a balanced scoring attack for the Orange, who will also be in their famous 2-3 zone on defense. The Orange will have no trouble advancing.

Shaun's Pick: Syracuse -12.0

No. 7 Clemson vs. No. 10 Michigan

Spread: Clemson -5.0

Backcourt Advantage: Michigan

Frontcourt Advantage: Clemson

Momentum: Michigan

Bottom Line: The Tigers' front line should be able to dominate the Wolverines, who will rely too much on outside shooting. Michigan has the potential to light it up from behind the arc, but only their forward Sims is shooting over 42 percent from the floor this season. Clemson is vulnerable against teams that can bully them inside, but Michigan is not that kind of team.

Shaun's Pick: Clemson -5.0

No. 2 Oklahoma vs. No. 15 Morgan State

Spread: Oklahoma -16.5

Backcourt Advantage: Oklahoma

Frontcourt Advantage: Oklahoma

Momentum: Morgan State

Bottom Line: The Sooners have a lot to prove to themselves and will come out in a blaze. Morgan State has won 13 of its last 14, but went 0-3 versus the RPI Top 50. They simply can't hang with Blake Griffin and the Sooners, who are looking to get back on track and on a roll after losing four of its last six.

Shaun's Pick: Oklahoma -16.5

Shaun's Midwest Region First Round Preview

Shaun's West Region First Round Preview

Shaun's East Region First Round Preview

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NCAA Tournament East Region First Round: Place Your Bets

Shaun Hart — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 18:37:34 -0400

NCAA Tournament East Region Preview

First Round - March 19-20

No. 1 Pittsburgh vs. No. 16 East Tennessee State

Spread: Pittsburgh -20.0

Backcourt Advantage: Pittsburgh

Frontcourt Advantage: Pittsburgh

Momentum: Pittsburgh

Bottom Line: The Panthers will be on a mission after bowing out of the Big East tourney early. This game will get out of hand like most 1 vs. 16 games do and it won't help that ETSU likes to play at a fast tempo. Enough points will be scored in this game that Pittsburgh will cover.

Shaun's Pick: Pittsburgh -20.0

No. 8 Oklahoma State vs. No. 9 Tennessee

Spread: Tennessee -2.0

Backcourt Advantage: Oklahoma State

Frontcourt Advantage: Tennessee

Momentum: Even

Bottom Line: The Cowboys are lethal from long range and Tennessee does a poor job guarding the perimeter. The Vols' Tyler Smith and Wayne Chism will probably be the two most talented players on the court, but Tennessee has been erratic this season. If Bruce Pearl can keep the Vols focused, especially on defense, they could win this game, but Oklahoma State is too dangerous.

Shaun's Pick: Oklahoma State +2.0

No. 5 Florida State vs. No. 12 Wisconsin

Spread: Florida State -2.5

Backcourt Advantage: Florida State

Frontcourt Advantage: Florida State

Momentum: Florida State

Bottom Line: This will be a slugfest, but Douglas and the Seminoles will find a way to win. Wisconsin is a very disciplined team who will grind games out with anyone, but they lack a go-to scorer on offense. Florida State should take care of business.

Shaun's Pick: Florida State -2.5

No. 4 Xavier vs. No. 13 Portland State

Spread: Xavier -11.0

Backcourt Advantage: Xavier

Frontcourt Advantage: Xavier

Momentum: Portland State

Bottom Line: Xavier won't be challenged in this one, unless it becomes a 3-point shooting contest. As long as the Musketeers stay patient on offense and limit their mistakes, they should move on to the second round rather easily.

Shaun's Pick: Xavier -11.0

No. 6 UCLA vs. No. 11 VCU

Spread: UCLA -7.0

Backcourt Advantage: UCLA

Frontcourt Advantage: UCLA

Momentum: Even

Bottom Line: VCU will give UCLA all it can handle, and could even win this game outright. UCLA is the better team and probably deserved a better seed, but if they don't put that behind them, they're going to struggle with a VCU team that is no stranger to tournament upsets (first-round upset win over No. 6 Duke in 2007).

Shaun's Pick: VCU +7.0

No. 3 Villanova vs. No. 14 American

Spread: Villanova -17.5

Backcourt Advantage: Villanova

Frontcourt Advantage: Villanova

Momentum: Villanova

Bottom Line: Nova will cruise in what is essentially a home game against a weak opponent. This will be a good warm-up for the Wildcats who will be poised to make a run to the Elite 8 or beyond.

Shaun's Pick: Villanova -17.5

No. 7 Texas vs. No. 10 Minnesota

Spread: Texas -4.0

Backcourt Advantage: Texas

Frontcourt Advantage: Texas

Momentum: Texas

Bottom Line: The inconsistent Longhorns are better than the Gophers, but which Texas team will show up? They beat UCLA and Villanova early in the season, but were like Jekyll and Hyde in Big 12 conference play. With the emergence of Dexter Pittman inside, the Longhorns should beat the pesky Gophers.

Shaun's Pick: Texas -4.0

No. 2 Duke vs. No. 15 Binghamton

Spread: Duke -22.5

Backcourt Advantage: Duke

Frontcourt Advantage: Duke

Momentum: Duke

Bottom Line: The Blue Devils will have this game locked up before halftime. Duke has been eliminated early in the past four tournaments, so Coach K will have his team ready and focused to avoid another tournament letdown, which could come in the second round vs. Texas. Binghamton will not be a factor though.

Shaun's Pick: Duke -22.5

Shaun's Midwest Region First Round Preview

Shaun's West Region First Round Preview

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Missouri-Baylor: Big 12 Final, March 14

Shaun Hart — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 11:01:25 -0400

No. 3 Missouri (27-6, 12-4) vs. No. 9 Baylor (20-13, 5-11)

Saturday, March 14 at 6:00 p.m. EST

Spread: Missouri -5.0

Backcourt Advantage: Even

The Baylor Bears are bubble teams' worst nightmare. The Bears' improbable run through the Big 12 tournament continued Friday as they knocked off the Texas Longhorns 76-70.

Now the ninth-seeded Bears find themselves playing for an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. They are the lowest seeded team to make the Big 12 final since Missouri did it in the conference's inaugural 1996-97 season as a 10-seed.

Baylor has been led by its talented backcourt trio of Curtis Jerrells (16.1 PPG), LaceDarius Dunn (15.4 PPG), and Henry Dugat (10.1 PPG). Dunn has been on fire in the tournament, averaging 19.3 points per game in their three wins.

Dunn hit six three-pointers in their second round win over Kansas and then followed that up by hitting the go-ahead three-pointer in their semifinal win over Texas.

Dugat also stepped up in the semifinals, leading Baylor's backcourt in scoring with 17 points. It was his first game with double-digit points since Feb 2. Dugat, who had been a starter all season, has been asked to come off the bench in their three tournament games.

It was a rough transition for Dugat as he was only able to score nine points combined in the first two rounds, but he found his groove against Texas, knocking down 6-of-9 from the field while going a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line.

Missouri overcame a poor shooting night to beat Oklahoma State 67-59 in the semifinals. Missouri only shot 37.5 percent, but its swarming defense held the conference's highest-scoring offense to just 35.6 percent and a season-low 59 points.

Junior guard Zaire Taylor (6.1 PPG, 3.6 APG) led the Tigers with a season-high 19 points. He and fellow junior J.T. Tiller (8.0 PPG, 3.6 APG) applied constant pressure on defense and kept pushing the tempo on offense.

Despite what the score implies, it was a fast-paced game, but it wasn't pretty. Missouri's offense wasn't clicking, but its defense sure was, and that proved to be enough for the Tigers to move on to the Big 12 final.

The Tigers will attack the Bears with their up-tempo style and high-pressure defense. Baylor has the backcourt experience to handle this pressure, but Missouri's relentless pressure has its way of wearing on teams in the second half.

Baylor will have a slight edge in the backcourt with Dunn and Jerrells leading the way, but in the second half, that advantage could shift to the Tigers.

Frontcourt Advantage: Missouri

Senior forwards DeMarre Carroll (16.7 PPG) and Leo Lyons (14.3 PPG) are hoping to get Missouri's offense back on track. The duo went on a scoring binge against Baylor in their regular season meeting on Jan. 31 in Columbia.

Carroll and Lyons scored 25 and 30 points, respectively, as Missouri won easily 89-72. After only holding a one-point halftime lead, the Tigers outscored the Bears 49-33 in the second half.

Baylor advanced to the final with talent and a little bit of luck, as Texas big man Dexter Pittman was confined to the bench because of foul trouble. Pittman had been averaging 17.5 points and 15 rebounds in the Big 12 tournament, but finished with only seven points and three rebounds.

Pittman's absence opened things up inside for Baylor forward Kevin Rogers (12.3 PPG, 7.6 RPG). Rogers led the Bears with 20 points, his highest total since scoring a season-high 21 points back in December.

Rogers will need some help inside to slow down both Carroll and Lyons in this game though.

The Bears will mostly be attacking from the perimeter, but against Missouri's aggressive defensive pressure, the guards will need to find a way to get the ball to Rogers behind the defense for some easy buckets.

Rogers led the Bears with 18 points in their loss to the Tigers in January, but he won't be able to keep Baylor in this game alone.

Momentum: Even

Baylor has everything to gain in this game as they are playing for an automatic berth into the NCAA tournament. It would be their second consecutive trip to the Big Dance after a 19-year drought. A loss would send them to the NIT.

This is Baylor's first trip to the Big 12 tournament final.

Missouri is 10-2 in its last 12 games and is hoping the third time's the charm for them in the Big 12 final. The Tigers are making their third appearance in the title game, but a win would give them their first Big 12 tourney championship.

Like their regular season meeting, I expect this to be a close game until the second half, where the Tigers' pressure will start to break down the Bears. Look for Missouri to pull away late and end Baylor's Cinderella run.

The Tigers will be cutting down the nets in Oklahoma City.

Shaun's Pick: Missouri -5.0

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Missouri-Oklahoma State: Big 12 Tournament Semifinals, March 13

Shaun Hart — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 12:47:49 -0400

No. 3 Missouri (26-6, 12-4) vs. No. 7 Oklahoma State (22-10, 9-7)

Friday, March 13 at 9:30 p.m. EST

Spread: Missouri -4.0

Backcourt Advantage: Oklahoma State

The run-and-gun Cowboys are coming in fresh off their upset of second-seeded Oklahoma. Senior guard Byron Eaton (14.4 PPG) leads a high-energy, well-balanced backcourt that also features leading scorer James Anderson (18.8 PPG), Terrel Harris (14.1 PPG), and Obi Muonelo (12.6 PPG).

Eaton led the Cowboys with 16 points and dished out seven assists in their second round upset win over the Sooners. All four guards, along with freshman guard Keiton Page (9.0 PPG), scored in double figures. Sometimes playing with a five-guard lineup, Oklahoma State's backcourt combined for 67 points in its 71-70 win.

No shots were more crucial than the two free throws James Anderson made with 2.3 seconds left. Anderson went to the line following a questionable foul call on Oklahoma All-American Blake Griffin. He calmly sank both to give Oklahoma State the one-point win.

Missouri rolled through Texas Tech in the second round, pulling away in the second half to win 81-60. The Tigers' aggressive high-pressure defense has been really wearing teams down in the second halves of games this season, and this game was no exception.

The Tigers fell behind by double digits early before coming back to tie it up at halftime. Then Missouri's second half advantage kicked in, and they outscored Texas Tech 50-29 in the second half to advance to the semifinals.

Guards Zaire Taylor (6.0 PPG, 3.5 APG) and J.T. Tiller (7.8 PPG, 3.6 APG) lead the backcourt attack for the Tigers, who are mainly a frontcourt scoring team, but lead the nation in assists per game, averaging 18.8. Taylor had a tremendous game against Texas Tech, scoring eight points while recording seven rebounds and seven assists.

Frontcourt Advantage: Missouri

Missouri senior forwards DeMarre Carroll (17.1 PPG) and Leo Lyons (14.4 PPG) will be licking their chops to step onto the court against Oklahoma State. They are the leading scorers for the Tigers, who are averaging 81.8 points per game this season. That ranks second in the Big 12 to the Cowboys' 82.2 points per game.

As good as Missouri's offense is, its defense has been solid all year as well. The Tigers rank second in the nation with 10.8 steals per game. They will try to overwhelm the Cowboys with their high-intensity, high-pressure defense. With its size, strength, and quickness in the frontcourt, Missouri's pressure could prove to be the difference in the game.

Momentum: Even

If you like scoring, this is a must-watch game. Unlike the thrilling UConn-Syracuse game late Thursday night, these teams won't need six overtimes to score triple digits. The winning team may just be the first team to 100 in this one, as Missouri and Oklahoma State rank fifth and sixth, respectively, in the nation in scoring offense.

Missouri is back on track after losing two of its last three regular season games. They gave up 90 and 96 points in those two losses, but then held Texas Tech to just 60 points on Thursday.

The Tigers are the only team with a first round bye to avoid the upset and win their second round game. Now they are the favorites to win the Big 12 tournament. But first they will have to cool off the Cowboys, who are one of the most dangerous teams in the nation right now.

Oklahoma State has won eight of its last nine games, including two Big 12 tournament victories over Iowa State and tournament favorite Oklahoma.

This is one of those games where the winner will likely be the team that has the ball last. Both of these teams can score at will, but it's the Tigers' defense that should prove to be the difference in this game. Look for Missouri to outlast Oklahoma State to move on to the Big 12 finals.

It's also worth noting that the over/under cannot be set high enough for this game. If the over/under stays at 158, this game may be over that with 10 minutes left to play.

Shaun's Pick: Missouri -4.0

* Read this article and more like it at CBBplace.com

Texas-Baylor: Big 12 Tournament Semifinals, March 13

Shaun Hart — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 20:30:20 -0400

No. 5 Texas (22-10, 9-7) vs. No. 9 Baylor (19-13, 5-11)

Friday, March 13 at 7:00 p.m. EST

Spread: Texas -3.0

Backcourt Advantage: Even

Sophomore guard LaceDarius Dunn (15.2 PPG) stepped up huge against top-seeded Kansas in the second round. Dunn scored a game-high 24 points, shooting 9-for-16 from the field including 6-for-11 from behind the arc as the Bears won 71-64.

Baylor raced out to a 30-13 lead in the first half after senior guard Curtis Jerrells (16.3 PPG) knocked down a 3-pointer from the wing. Dunn already had 11 points and three 3-pointers at this time when Kansas called the timeout. Kansas then went on a 9-0 run to cut the lead to just 37-33 at halftime.

The Jayhawks took the lead in the second half before Dunn fueled a decisive 12-0 run that put Baylor in the lead for good with three and a half minutes left to play.

Jerrells and Dunn will need to keep their hot hands against the Longhorns, who were 2-0 against the Bears in conference play and have a 24-game head-to-head winning streak.

Senior A.J. Abrams (16.5 PPG) has been quiet in the Big 12 tournament thus far, scoring only 10 points against Colorado in the first round and then only six points in the second round against Kansas State. Abrams torched the Bears in their two regular season meetings though, scoring 19 and 14 points, respectively.

Frontcourt Advantage: Texas

Texas big man Dexter Pittman (9.8 PPG) is becoming a star. The junior center is averaging 17.5 points and 15 rebounds in the Big 12 tournament. He is shooting a scorching 17-for-25 (68 percent) from the floor as well.

Junior swingman Damion James (15.8 PPG, 9.4 RPG) scored only seven points before fouling out in the second round against Kansas State. Normally that would prove to be detrimental to have your second leading scorer foul out while playing only 24 minutes, but Pittman was able to do more than just fill the void.

Baylor senior forward Kevin Rogers (12.0 PPG, 7.8 RPG) will have his hands full with Pittman and James inside. He won't have much help inside as Baylor does not have much frontcourt depth.

Look for Pittman to have another strong effort against Baylor. He should be able to record his third straight double-double for the Longhorns.

Momentum: Even

Both teams are playing arguably their best basketball of the season.

Coach Rick Barnes and Texas got off to a slow start. Senior center Connor Atchley (4.9 PPG) did not step up to be the inside presence Texas needed him to be, especially on the offensive end, and Abrams and James were trying to do too much by themselves. The Longhorns looked like a team of individuals instead of as a balanced unit.

With the emergence of Pittman, Texas has found its balance. Pittman has this team rolling at the right time as they look to get back to the conference finals for the fourth straight year, where they have been runner-ups to Kansas each time.

Luckily for Texas, who had lost to Kansas in the Big 12 final for the past three years, Baylor knocked off the top-seeded Jayhawks in the second round. The Bears got off to a very promising 3-1 start in conference play and were 15-3 overall. Then they went 2-10 down the stretch to finish the regular season in ninth place in the conference.

Things are looking up for the Bears now though after beating Nebraska convincingly 65-49 in the first round and then upsetting the Jayhawks in the second round, marking only the second time that the top seed lost in its first game in the Big 12 tournament. Baylor was responsible for the other upset, beating Iowa State in 2001.

That was the Bears' only other trip to the tournament semifinals.

This game should feature a great backcourt battle between Abrams and the Baylor duo of Jerrells and Dunn. But the game will be won in the paint, where Pittman and James will dominate over the smaller Bears.

Shaun's Pick: Texas -3.0

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Missouri-Texas Tech: Big 12 Tournament Second Round, March 12

Shaun Hart — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 16:30:52 -0400

No. 3 Missouri (25-6, 12-4) vs. No. 11 Texas Tech (14-18, 3-13)

When: Thursday, March 12 at 9:30 p.m. EST

Spread: Missouri -10.5

Backcourt Advantage: Even

Thanks to a first-round bye, Missouri is in the second round of the Big 12 tournament for the first time in four years. Until late last night, the Tigers probably did not expect their opponent to be Texas Tech, who shocked sixth-seeded Texas A&M with an 88-83 comeback win in the first round.

To say the Red Raiders have been a disappointment this season is an understatement. Texas Tech only managed to win three games in conference play, while going 2-10 versus the RPI top 50. Senior guard Alan Voskuil (14.1 PPG) and sophomore John Roberson (14.4 PPG) are the leading scorers of coach Pat Knight's inconsistent Texas Tech team.

Frontcourt Advantage: Missouri

Coming off the biggest comeback in Big 12 tournament history, Texas Tech is hoping forward Mike Singletary (12.1 PPG) stays red-hot. Singletary came off the bench and scored 29 consecutive points in the second half for the Red Raiders to seal the victory in a game in which they trailed by as many as 21 points early in the second half.

Missouri senior forwards DeMarre Carroll (17.1 PPG) and Leo Lyons (14.4 PPG) will be ready and waiting for Singletary and the Red Raiders. The Tigers are averaging 81.8 points per game this season, good for sixth in the nation and second in the Big 12. While scoring at such a high rate, they lead the nation with 18.8 assists per game.

As good as Missouri's offense is, its defense has been solid all year as well. The Tigers rank second in the nation with 10.8 steals per game. They will try to overwhelm the Red Raiders with their high-intensity, high-pressure defense.

Momentum: Even

Texas Tech is riding high after last night's comeback upset win, while Missouri is seeking its first Big 12 tournament win since 2005. The Tigers beat the Red Raiders 97-86 at home on Jan. 24. In that game, Texas Tech had no answer for DeMarre Carroll, who scored 27 points, while grabbing six rebounds and dishing out four assists.

While Texas Tech winning would be a nice Cinderella story, the Tigers are on a mission and they will be determined to get the early-exit monkey off their back. A win over Texas Tech won't come easy, but they have the fire power to get it done.

Shaun's Pick: Missouri -10.5

Oklahoma-Oklahoma State: Big 12 Tournament Second Round (Mar. 12)

Shaun Hart — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 13:59:30 -0400

No. 2 Oklahoma (27-4, 13-3) vs. No. 7 Oklahoma State (22-10, 9-7)

Thursday, March 12 at 7:00 p.m. EST

Spread: Oklahoma -4.5

Backcourt Advantage: Even

Oklahoma State comes into this game red-hot, while Oklahoma is trying to establish itself as a No. 1 seed for the NCAA tournament.

This will be a phenomenal game to watch, as both backcourts like to push the tempo and shoot the trifecta, which should make for a high-scoring, high-energy contest. Oklahoma State is the Big 12's highest scoring team this season, averaging 82.2 points per game, which is also fourth-best in the nation.

Willie Warren (14.7 PPG,) Austin Johnson (8.6 PPG, 3.9 APG,) and Tony Crocker (9.6 PPG) will be handling the rock for the Sooners against a highly talented and well-balanced Oklahoma State backcourt, featuring James Anderson (18.8 PPG,) Byron Eaton (14.4 PPG,) Terrel Harris (14.1 PPG,) and Obi Muonelo (12.6 PPG.)

The Cowboys' four guards combined for 55 points in their 81-67 first-round win over Iowa State.

Frontcourt Advantage: Oklahoma

Look for Blake Griffin (22.1 PPG, 10.6 RPG) to dominate inside against the Cowboys, who will have no match for him inside. Griffin put up 33 points and 14 boards in their regular season finale against OSU, an 82-78 win.

He was dominant in their first meeting as well, scoring 26 points and pulling down 19 rebounds in their 89-81 win in Stillwater. Griffin alone had more rebounds than OSU as the Sooners outrebounded the Cowboys 38-18 in that game.

As long as the Sooners feed Griffin early and often in this game, they should have no trouble disposing of the smaller, pesky Cowboys.

Momentum: Even

Oklahoma State has won seven of its last eight, including back-to-back wins over Texas and Kansas State until losing to the Sooners in the regular season finale.

The Cowboys should be a lock for the NCAA tournament, but coach Travis Ford won't let his team know that. The Cowboys want this game badly and would love nothing more than to seal their bid for the big dance by beating their in-state rival.

Oklahoma has won two of its last three after dropping back-to-back games while Griffin was out with a concussion. Griffin is back to full health and it showed in his dominant performance against Oklahoma State in their last game.

The Sooners are the stronger and more balanced team, but the Cowboys won't go down without a fight. Oklahoma was able to beat Oklahoma State in both regular season meetings, but only by eight and four points.

With a No. 1 seed on the line, look for the Sooners to prevail and win this game rather comfortably.

Shaun's Pick: Oklahoma -4.5

Kansas State-Texas: Big 12 Tournament Second Round (Mar. 12)

Shaun Hart — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 12:19:33 -0400

No. 4 Kansas State (21-10, 9-7) vs. No. 5 Texas (21-10, 9-7)

Thursday, Mar. 12 at 3:00 PM EST

Spread: Texas -2.5

Backcourt Advantage: Even

The Wildcats needed overtime to beat Texas 85-81 in Austin on Jan. 31. In that game, K-State guard Denis Clemente (15.6 PPG) scored a career-high 44 points, tying the Wildcats' single-game record set by Michael Beasley last year.

Clemente was red-hot from the field, knocking down all six of his three-point attempts.

Texas senior A.J. Abrams (16.5 PPG) will lead the Longhorns into the second round of the Big 12 tournament. He had a quiet 10 points in the 67-56 first round win over Colorado, but chipped in on the defensive end with five steals.

Abrams had a poor performance in his first meeting with Kansas State, scoring only 15 points on 5-for-21 shooting. For the game, the Wildcats went an astonishing 10-for-15 from long range, while Texas was just 4-for-17. That proved to be the major difference in an otherwise even game.

As long as Clemente or fellow guard Jacob Pullen (13.4 PPG) doesn't catch fire again, the Longhorns should be able to keep pace with them on the perimeter.

Frontcourt Advantage: Texas

The quickness of junior swingman Damion James (15.8 PPG, 9.4 RPG) and the size and toughness of junior center Dexter Pittman (9.8 PPG) will give the Longhorns an advantage over the Wildcats inside.

James led the Longhorns with 19 points and 12 rebounds in his first meeting against Kansas State. Pittman is emerging as a star for Texas. He is coming off his best game of the season, a 26-point, 10-rebound performance against Colorado in the first round.

Kansas State has some decent depth in the frontcourt, but will be overmatched by Pittman. It will take a group effort from Darren Kent, Jamar Samuels, Luis Colon, and Ron Anderson to slow him down inside.

Momentum: Even

Both teams need a win here to cement their qualification into the NCAA tournament. Texas has the better regular season resume, so a loss here may not keep them out, but Kansas State is definitely in a must-win situation.

This should be a very tight game throughout, but I expect the experience of Abrams, James, Pittman, and senior center Connor Atchley to be the difference in this game as the Longhorns find a way to win in the end.

Shaun's Pick: Texas -2.5

Kansas-Baylor: Big 12 Tournament Second Round (Mar. 12)

Shaun Hart — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 23:21:47 -0400

No. 1 Kansas (25-6, 14-2) vs. No. 9 Baylor (18-13, 5-11)

Thursday, March 12 at 12:30 p.m. EST

Spread: Kansas -9.0

Backcourt Advantage: Even

As coach Bill Self tries to lead his Kansas Jayhawks to their fourth straight Big 12 title, leading scorer Sherron Collins (18.3 PPG, 5.0 APG) is the only member of this team who played a major role in last year's championship. Collins will lead his top-seeded Jayhawks into tournament action against Curtis Jerrells (16.2 PPG) and the Bears.

In their regular season meeting, Kansas prevailed 75-65 behind a game-high 17 points from Collins. Collins will be helped in the backcourt by consistent sophomore Brady Morningstar (6.9 PPG) and emerging freshman Tyshawn Taylor (10 PPG). Taylor has scored in double-digits in each of his past four games, averaging 15.8 points per contest.

Baylor's offense will be paced by its four guards, each of whom average double-figures. Jerrells is their leading scorer, but he'll get solid help from LaceDarius Dunn (15.1 PPG), Tweety Carter (11.4 PPG), and Henry Dugat (10.4 PPG). The Bears won't be gun-shy either. They are averaging 8.1 three-pointers made per game.

Frontcourt Advantage: Kansas

Sophomore Cole Aldrich (14.8 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 2.5 BPG) has been dominant inside this season for the Jayhawks. He has been the perfect compliment to Collins, both offensively and defensively. With the Morris twins, Marcus and Markieff, helping on the glass, Kansas should have a decisive edge inside.

Baylor's inside presence revolves around senior forward Kevin Rogers (12.1 PPG, 7.4 RPG), but they don't have much depth behind him. Rogers pulled down a career-high 20 rebounds against Nebraska in the first round, but don't expect him to come close to that many against the bigger, stronger Jayhawks.

Momentum: Kansas

In what was supposed to be a rebuilding year for Kansas after last year's National Championship, the Jayhawks finished 14-2 in the Big 12 to earn the regular season crown and the top seed.

Kansas was actually picked to finish tied for third in the conference with Baylor in the preseason coaches' poll, behind Texas and Oklahoma. After a promising start, Baylor faded down the stretch, however, losing 10 of its last 12 regular season games.

The Bears have not had much luck historically against the Jayhawks. Baylor is just 1-12 in school history against Kansas and have dropped eight straight, including their 75-65 loss on Feb. 2.

Baylor will be playing for their tournament lives in this game, but the Jayhawks should prevail. Look for Kansas to win a game that may be closer than expected.

Shaun's Pick: Baylor +9.0

* This article is also featured on CBBplace.com

Texas A&M-Texas Tech: Big 12 Tournament First Round (Mar. 11)

Shaun Hart — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 16:58:26 -0400

No. 6 Texas A&M (23-8, 9-7) vs. No. 11 Texas Tech (13-18, 3-13)

Sat. March 11 at 9:30 p.m. EST

Spread: Texas A&M -6.5

Backcourt Advantage: Even

Senior guard Josh Carter (14.0 PPG) leads the Aggies into the Big 12 tournament. By winning its last six games, Texas A&M has all but punched its ticket to the NCAA tournament, but the Aggies aren't satisfied yet. Carter and junior Donald Sloan (11.4 PPG) are poised to make another run in the Big 12 tournament. Last year they made it to the semi-finals before losing to the eventual national champions Kansas Jayhawks.

Standing in their way is a disappointing Texas Tech team who has had its worst season since before 2001 when Bob Knight arrived. Senior guard Alan Voskuil (14.1 PPG) and sophomore John Roberson (14.4 PPG) have been very streaky this season. While they have the potential to keep the Red Raiders in this game, it's more likely that their team will self-destruct around them.

Frontcourt Advantage: Texas A&M

The Aggies outrebounded the Red Raiders 40-29 and 45-28 in their two meetings this season. Juniors Bryan Davis (10.4 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 1.2 BPG) and Chinemelu Elonu (10.1 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 1.6 BPG) have been dominant inside for the Aggies this season. They should have their way again inside against a young Texas Tech frontcourt, led by sophomore D'Walyn Roberts and freshman Robert Lewandowski.

Momentum: Texas A&M

The Aggies, winners of six straight overall, won both regular season meetings against the Red Raiders this season. They won 79-70 in College Station on Jan. 28 and then 79-73 in Lubbock on Feb. 21. Texas A&M's size advantage against Texas Tech played a large role in both wins, as the Red Raiders were unable to match up inside against the bigger, more athletic Aggies.

The third time won't be the charm for Texas Tech against A&M.

Shaun's Pick: Texas A&M -6.5

Oklahoma State-Iowa State: Big 12 Tournament First Round (Mar. 11)

Shaun Hart — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 16:32:11 -0400

No. 7 Oklahoma State (20-10, 9-7) at Iowa State (15-16, 4-12)

Wed. Mar. 11 at 7:00 p.m. EST

Spread: Oklahoma State -10.0

Backcourt Advantage: Oklahoma State

The Cowboys are led by four talented, high-scoring guards in James Anderson (18.9 PPG), Byron Eaton (14.5 PPG), Terrel Harris (14.2 PPG), and Obi Muonelo (12.5 PPG). They lead the Big 12 in scoring and rank fourth in the nation with 82.2 points per game, while making 9.5 three-pointers per game, also tops in the Big 12.

OSU will be able to dictate tempo and control the perimeter against the less talented Iowa State backcourt.

Frontcourt Advantage: Iowa State

Led by sophomore phenom Craig Brackins (20.1 PPG, 9.4 RPG), the Cyclones will have a considerable advantage inside. Brackins recorded 14 double-doubles in the regular season and should have no trouble getting his 15th against the smaller Cowboys.

Brackins won't be able to win this game for the Cyclones on his own though. The Cowboys are too talented on the perimeter to let that happen.

Momentum: Oklahoma State

OSU finished the regular season winning six of its last seven games. Its only loss was at Oklahoma on Saturday. The Cowboys should be able to regroup from that loss and make a serious run in the Big 12 tournament. They will also be a dangerous team to face in the NCAA tournament.

Shaun's Pick: Oklahoma State -10.0

Texas-Colorado: Big 12 Tournament First Round (Mar. 11)

Shaun Hart — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 16:13:57 -0400

No. 5 Texas (20-10, 9-7) at No. 12 Colorado (9-21, 1-15)

Wed. March 11 at 3:00 p.m. EST

Spread: Texas -15.0

Backcourt Advantage: Texas

Senior A.J. Abrams (16.7 PPG) leads the Longhorns into the Big 12 Tournament against conference-doormat Colorado.

Texas needed overtime to beat the Buffaloes in February. Colorado sophomore Cory Higgins scored a game-high 34 points, while Abrams scored 29 points including five three-pointers.

Colorado will need another brilliant effort from Higgins to keep this game close against a superior Texas team.

Frontcourt Advantage: Texas

Junior swingman Damion James (15.9 PPG, 9.4 RPG) had a chance to win the game in their first meeting, but missed a pair of free throws with 1.6 seconds left and the game tied, 72-72. He redeemed himself in overtime though, scoring six of his 21 points as the Longhorns cruised to an 85-76 win.

Momentum: Texas

The Longhorns have struggled to play consistently this season, but have shown flashes of greatness. It's now or never for them to put everything together to make a postseason run in the Big 12 or even the NCAA tournament. Whether they are able to do that or not, Colorado will not be the team that ends their season.

Look for Texas to cruise to an easy victory.

Shaun's Pick: Texas -15.0

Nebraska-Baylor: Big 12 Tournament First Round (Mar. 11)

Shaun Hart — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 15:55:11 -0400

No. 8 Nebraska (18-11, 8-8) vs. No. 9 Baylor (17-13, 5-11)

Wed. Mar. 11 at 12:30 p.m. EST

Spread: Nebraska -1.0

Backcourt Advantage: Baylor

Senior guard Curtis Jerrells (16.2 PPG) leads a deep and experienced backcourt, which includes senior Henry Dugat (10.4 PPG), junior Tweety Carter (11.4 PPG), and sophomore LaceDarius Dunn (15.1 PPG).

Led by seniors Ade Dagunduro (12.7 PPG) and Steve Harley (10.1 PPG), Nebraska is a guard-heavy team that likes to play at a slow, methodical pace. They did just that on Saturday, slowing the Bears down and holding them to just 62 points, which was 16 points under their season average of 77.9 points per game.

Freshman Toney McCray (5.9 PPG) came off the bench to lead the Huskers with 18 points in their win on Saturday.

The Bears, who are averaging just over eight three-pointers made per game, knocked down 8-of-24 on Saturday. The Huskers weren't hesitant to hoist up the long-range bombs either, making 7-of-21 attempts. Expect it to be raining threes again in this one.

If Baylor can pick up the pace and get up and down the court, they will be able to win this game. Nebraska is 0-5 when giving up 70 points or more.

Frontcourt Advantage: Baylor

Senior forward Kevin Rogers (12.1 PPG, 7.4 RPG) should be able to dominate inside for the Bears. The 6'9" forward will have a size advantage inside against a Nebraska team that is usually playing with five guards, the tallest being 6'5" Ade Dagunduro, who leads the Huskers in rebounds, averaging only 4.3 per game.

Rogers scored 10 points and brought down six rebounds in Baylor's loss on Saturday, while the Bears outrebounded the Huskers 31-25.

Momentum: Even

Nebraska just defeated Baylor 66-62 in Waco, TX, on Saturday. Now just three days later, they must do it again to advance into the second round of the Big 12 tournament and keep their NCAA tournament hopes alive.

Both teams are experienced, while the Bears have a more well-balanced attack. Look for Baylor to find a way to win this one.

Shaun's Pick: Baylor +1.0

Place Your Bets: Nebraska at Baylor (Mar. 7)

Shaun Hart — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 09:34:13 -0500

Nebraska (17-11, 7-8) at Baylor (17-12, 5-10)

Sat. Mar. 7 at 4:00 PM EST

Spread: Baylor -6.0

Backcourt Advantage: Baylor

Senior guards Curtis Jerrells (16.3 PPG) and Henry Dugat (10.6 PPG) had high hopes this year of making the NCAA tournament, especially after getting off to such a great start (15-3, 3-1). Now the seniors are just hoping to get a win in their final home game.

Jerrells leads a deep and experienced backcourt, which includes junior Tweety Carter (11.5 PPG) and sophomore LaceDarius Dunn (15.0 PPG). The Bears are knocking down just over eight threes per game, so expect the long-range bombs to be flying in this one.

Nebraska is a guard-heavy team that likes to play at a slow, methodical pace. But typically the home team is better able to dictate tempo. The Huskers could find themselves playing out of their comfort zone in this one if Baylor is pushing the ball up and down the court.

Nebraska is 0-5 when giving up 70 points or more. Baylor is averaging 77.9 points per game this season and certainly won't be looking to slow things down in its home finale.

Frontcourt Advantage: Baylor

Senior forward Kevin Rogers (12.1 PPG, 7.4 RPG) should be able to dominate inside for the Bears on senior night. The 6'9" forward will have a size advantage inside against a Nebraska team that is usually playing with five guards, the tallest being 6'5" Ade Dagunduro, who leads the Huskers in rebounds, averaging only 4.4 per game.

Momentum: Even

Nebraska comes in fresh of a 16-point win in its final home game over lowly Iowa State. The Huskers are 3-7 on the road this season, but have lost their last three by an average of 15 points per contest.

Baylor will be pumped for its final home game and will be looking to get back to mid-season form. The Bears could be a dangerous team in the Big 12 tournament with their well-balanced attack of Jerrells and company outside and Kevin Rogers inside.

Look for the Bears to win this game and gain the momentum they need for next week's conference tournament.

Shaun's Pick: Baylor -6.0

Place Your Bets: Texas at Kansas (Mar. 7)

Shaun Hart — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 19:09:14 -0500

Texas (20-9, 9-6) at No. 9 Kansas (24-6, 13-2)

Sat. Mar. 7 at 4:00 p.m. EST

Spread: Kansas -8.0

Backcourt Advantage: Even

This will be a great showdown between A.J. Abrams (16.9 PPG) of Texas and Sherron Collins (18.2 PPG, 4.9 APG) of Kansas. These teams matchup very well and both are in need of the win.

Kansas has already locked up a share of the Big 12 regular season title, but will need to beat Texas for sole possession of first place, a remarkable feat for a team that was supposed to be in rebuilding mode this season.

Texas, on the other hand, was a preseason favorite to win the Big 12, but their season has been a disappointment. They are hoping to put it all together to make a run in the Big 12 tournament and earn a better seed in the big dance. They are currently tied for fourth in the Big 12 with Oklahoma State, but are in danger of falling as low as seventh with a loss.

Frontcourt Advantage: Kansas

Sophomore Center Cole Aldrich (14.9 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 2.5 BPG) will have his hands full inside against Dexter Pittman (9.0 PPG, 4.7 RPG). Pittman has been improving all season and should be able to slow down Aldrich, who has been dominant this year for the Jayhawks, but Aldrich should still be able to make a bigger impact with his defense.

Look for the Jayhawks to do most of their scoring from the outside, while Aldrich will force the Longhorns away from the basket on the defensive end.

Momentum: Even

The Longhorns are 0-8 all-time in Allen Fieldhouse and could have a hard time pulling off an upset against a team that's coming off its worst loss of the season, an 84-65 debacle against Texas Tech.

The Jayhawks were sloppy, and Coach Bill Self will use it as a reminder that they must continue to play hard no matter who their opponent is, a crucial lesson for the young Jayhawks as they head into the Big 12 and NCAA tournaments.

Perhaps the Jayhawks, who were unranked earlier in the season, let their highest ranking of the season get to their heads.

Kansas should keep their 19-game conference home winning streak going, but Texas should be able to stay close. I'll take the points in this one.

Shaun's Pick: Texas +8.0

Place Your Bets: Oklahoma State at Oklahoma (Mar. 7)

Shaun Hart — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 18:38:05 -0500

Oklahoma State (20-9, 9-6) at No. 4 Oklahoma (26-4, 12-3)

Sat. Mar. 7 at 3:30 p.m. EST

Spread: Oklahoma -11.0

Backcourt Advantage: Even

Whether you are a fan of these teams or not, this will be a phenomenal game to watch. Both backcourts like to push the tempo and shoot the trifecta, which should make for a high-scoring, high-energy contest.

Willie Warren (14.8 PPG), Austin Johnson (8.6 PPG, 4.1 APG) and Tony Crocker (9.8 PPG) will be handling the rock for the Sooners against a highly talented and well-balanced Oklahoma State backcourt, featuring James Anderson (18.3 PPG), Byron Eaton (14.5 PPG), Terrel Harris (14.3 PPG) and Obi Muonelo (12.8 PPG).

Frontcourt Advantage: Oklahoma

It's time for Blake Griffin (21.7 PPG, 14.2 RPG) and the Sooners to figure things out and get back on track. The Sooners were cruising to a Big 12 title and a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament until Griffin suffered a concussion Feb. 21 against Texas. Oklahoma has dropped three of four since then.

Look for Griffin to dominate the Cowboys, who will have no match for him inside. Griffin put up 26 points and 19 boards against OSU in their first meeting, an 89-81 OU win on the road in Stillwater. Griffin alone had more rebounds than OSU as the Sooners outrebounded the Cowboys 38-18.

Momentum: Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State has won six straight, including back-to-back wins over Texas and Kansas State. The Cowboys should be a lock for the NCAA tournament, but Coach Travis Ford won't let his team know that. The Cowboys want this game badly and would love nothing more than to seal their bid for the big dance by beating their in-state rival.

Oklahoma has absolutely no momentum right now. They need a win here to finish their regular season on a high note and keep themselves in place for a No. 1 seed.

I think the Sooners will figure this out and get a much-needed win, but the Cowboys won't go down without a fight.

Shaun's Pick: Oklahoma State +11.0

Place Your Bets: Missouri at Texas A&M (Mar. 7)

Shaun Hart — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 18:18:01 -0500

No. 15 Missouri (25-5, 12-3) at Texas A&M (22-8, 8-7)

Sat. Mar. 7 at 2:00 p.m. EST

Spread: Pick 'Em

Backcourt Advantage: Even

Senior Josh Carter (14.1 PPG) will be determined to win his final home game for Texas A&M. More importantly, the Aggies are jockeying for position for next week's conference playoffs and trying to put a stamp on their NCAA tournament bid with a signature win against a ranked team.

A&M is currently tied for sixth with Kansas State and only one game behind Texas and Oklahoma State for fourth. A loss here and a loss in the first round of the Big 12 tournament could put the Aggies on the proverbial bubble.

Missouri, coming off a 73-64 win over Oklahoma, will try to push the tempo and force turnovers with its pressure defense.

Frontcourt Advantage: Missouri

While juniors Bryan Davis (10.3 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 1.2 BPG) and Chinemelu Elonu (10.2 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 1.6 BPG) have been dominant inside for the Aggies, especially on the defensive end, it will be the speed and quickness of the Missouri frontcourt that will give the Tigers the advantage here.

Seniors DeMarre Carroll (17.0 PPG, 7.4 RPG) and Leo Lyons (14.6 PPG, 5.9 RPG) will be able to dictate the action against a slower Texas A&M front line.

Momentum: Missouri

With a win, the Tigers have a chance to earn a share of the Big 12 regular season title after finishing 6-10 and in 10th place just a season ago. They will need Kansas to lose to Texas to force a tie for first at 13-3. Oklahoma would be able to make it a three-way tie with a win over Oklahoma State.

It's been a remarkable season for coach Mike Anderson and his Tigers. They are a better team than Texas A&M, but can not take them lightly. The Aggies will come to play as they are not yet a lock for the NCAA tournament and still have something to prove to the selection committee.

This could be a trap game for Missouri, but I think they will find a way to win.

Shaun's Pick: Missouri

Place Your Bets: Texas Tech at Iowa State (March 7)

Shaun Hart — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 17:53:03 -0500

Texas Tech (13-17, 3-12) at Iowa State (14-16, 3-12)

Date: Sat., March 7, at 1:45 p.m. EST

Spread: Iowa State -3.0

Backcourt Advantage: Texas Tech

Senior Alan Voskuil (14.5 PPG) exploded for 35 points in his final home game against the defending national champion Kansas Jayhawks on Wednesday night. The Red Raiders shocked the Jayhawks in Lubbock and won decisively, 84-65.

Voskuil and sophomore guard John Roberson (14.1 PPG) will be looking to push the tempo against a Cyclones team that likes to slow things down. If they can speed up the pace of the game, the Red Raiders could win back-to-back conference games for the first time this season.

Frontcourt Advantage: Iowa State

Sophomore forward Craig Brackins (20.0 PPG, 9.2 RPG) has been impressing NBA scouts this season so much that he is now being talked about as a possible lottery pick this year if he decides to leave early.

In what could be his final home game, Brackins should be able to put up a monster game against a smaller Texas Tech front line. But as we've seen time and time again this season, that probably won't be enough.

Momentum: Texas Tech

While both teams are 3-12 in conference this season, Texas Tech is coming off its biggest win of the season against Kansas. Expect the Red Raiders to keep it going on the road against a one-man Iowa State team.

Shaun's Pick: Texas Tech +3.0

Place Your Bets: Colorado at Kansas State (Mar. 7)

Shaun Hart — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 17:38:50 -0500

Colorado (9-20, 1-14) at Kansas State (20-10, 8-7)

Sat. Mar. 7 at 1:30 p.m. EST

Spread: Kansas State - 16.5

Backcourt Advantage: Kansas State

Denis Clemente (15.3 PPG) and Jacob Pullen (13.5) have been a consistent source of scoring for the Wildcats this season. When one player is having an off-night, the other is usually able to pick up the slack.

Both players should be able to score in bunches in their conference finale against a Colorado team that is winless on the road.

Frontcourt Advantage: Kansas State

The advantage for Kansas State inside is more a reflection on how mediocre the Buffaloes are than how strong the Wildcats are. K-State has been out-rebounding its opponents by 6.5 rebounds per game, while Colorado is getting beat by 5.4 boards per game. No reason to think anything should change in that department in this game.

Momentum: Kansas State

Kansas State is still working to impress the selection committee for a spot in the NCAA tournament. After a slow start in conference play, the Wildcats have built a solid resume, highlighted by their last 12 games in which they are 9-3.

Colorado is only playing for pride at this point. Expect the Wildcats to win in a romp.

Shaun's Pick: Kansas State -16.5

Place Your Bets: Oklahoma Sooners at Missouri Tigers (Mar. 4)

Shaun Hart — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 17:59:18 -0500

No. 4 Oklahoma (26-3, 12-2) at No. 15 Missouri (24-5, 11-3)

Wed. Mar. 4 at 9:00 p.m. EST

Spread: Missouri -2.0

Backcourt Advantage: Oklahoma

Senior Austin Johnson (8.5 PPG, 4.2 APG) and Freshman Willie Warren (15.1 PPG) will give the Sooners a distinct advantage on the outside against the Missouri Tigers. Now that Blake Griffin is back in the lineup, his injury proved to be a blessing in disguise for his supporting cast. Johnson and Warren have learned to lead this team whether Griffin's on the court or not.

Despite Missouri's 17-0 record at home this season, Oklahoma will be unfazed. Playing without Griffin for two games last week has taught the Sooners how to play through adversity. A big road test like this will be seen as a welcome challenge for this team, as opposed to an overwhelming one.

Johnson and Warren will be ready for the challenge.

Frontcourt Advantage: Even

This will be the second game back for All-American center Blake Griffin (21.9 PPG, 13.9 RPG). The Sooners are 26-1 with him healthy and in the lineup.

DeMarre Carroll (17.1 PPG, 7.3 RPG) and Leo Lyons (14.5 PPG, 6.0 RPG) are hoping that Griffin is still a step slow, as they will look to push the tempo and turn this game into a high-scoring affair.

Momentum: Oklahoma

Missouri was arguably the hottest team in the nation until Sunday when it ran into the Jayhawks, who dealt the Tigers a 90-65 defeat. They must now regroup at home where they are undefeated this season, but haven't hosted a top 10 team yet.

The Sooners crushed Texas Tech in Lubbock, 78-63, in Blake Griffin's return from injury. They will be determined to win this game to separate themselves from Missouri for second place in the Big 12 to keep themselves in place to catch the conference-leading Jayhawks.

Shaun's Pick: Oklahoma +2.0

Place Your Bets: Kansas State at Oklahoma State (Mar. 3)

Shaun Hart — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 17:33:44 -0500

Kansas State (20-9, 8-6) at Oklahoma State (19-9, 8-6)

Tue. Mar. 3 at 7:30 p.m. EST

Spread: Oklahoma State -5.5

Backcourt Advantage: Oklahoma State

Senior guards Terrel Harris (14.5 PPG) and Byron Eaton (14.1 PPG) will play their final home game on Tuesday as Oklahoma State squares off against Kansas State in a crucial Big 12 contest. The two teams currently sit in a three-way tie for fourth in the conference with Texas at 8-6.

Sophomore James Anderson (18.4 PPG) has been on fire lately, averaging 25.3 points per game in the Cowboys' last six games, which they are 5-1. OSU will need his hot streak to continue against the Wildcats, who are capable of keeping up with the high-scoring Cowboys.

Junior guard Denis Clemente (15.2 PPG) has his two highest scoring games on the road for the Wildcats, scoring 44 points in their 85-81 win at Texas and 33 points in a loss at Missouri last week. Sophomore Jacob Pullen (13.5 PPG) is the other player that Oklahoma State will have to contain. Pullen is coming off of an 18-point effort in their win over Nebraska on Saturday.

Frontcourt Advantage: Kansas State

The Wildcats will have the edge inside, led by senior Darren Kent (9.0 PPG). Kansas State is outrebounding its opponents by 6.7 rebounds per game, while Oklahoma State is typically being outrebounded by its opponents on a nightly basis. The Cowboys have very little presence inside and will look to keep this game at a quick tempo to increase their transition scoring chances.

Momentum: Even

Kansas State has won eight of its last 10 overall, while Oklahoma State is currently on a five-game winning streak. The Cowboys will have the slight edge being at home though, where they are 13-2 this season. Their only losses were to conference heavyweights Oklahoma and Missouri.

Kansas State is 5-4 on the road, but lost its last road contest to Missouri by 20 points. Prior to that game, they had won their last four games on the road.

I like the Cowboys to win an emotional game at home, but look for the Wildcats to keep this game close. I'll take the points in this one.

Shaun's Pick: Kansas State +5.5

Place Your Bets: Baylor at Texas (Mar. 2)

Shaun Hart — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 20:45:47 -0500

Baylor (17-11, 5-9) at Texas (19-9, 8-6)

Mon. Mar. 2 at 9:00 p.m. EST

Spread: Texas -8.0

Backcourt Advantage: Even

This will be the final home game for Texas senior guard A.J. Abrams (17.0 PPG). Abrams and the Longhorns have struggled at times this season, but he has had no problem scoring at home, averaging 22.3 PPG in his last three home games.

Abrams scored a game high of 19 points on 7-for-12 shooting in the Longhorns' 78-72 win over Baylor in their first meeting on Jan. 27.

Led by senior Curtis Jerrells (16.4 PPG), Baylor is hoping to break its 23-game losing streak to Texas. Jerrells and fellow guards LaceDarius Dunn (15.0 PPG), Henry Dugat (10.7 PPG) and Tweety Carter (11.8 PPG) will be launching three-pointers early and often.

So if their long-range shots are falling, the Bears will have a real shot to shock the Longhorns.

Frontcourt Advantage: Texas

Led by junior swingman Damion James (15.8 PPG, 9.4 RPG), Texas will have a slight edge inside over Kevin Rogers (12.3 PPG, 7.5 RPG) and the Bears. In their first meeting in Waco, James and Rogers each led their teams with 12 rebounds and both teams finished the game with 42 rebounds.

In Austin, the Longhorns will have the advantage.

Momentum: Texas

The Longhorns and their fans will create a very intimidating environment for Baylor. The Bears will have to get off to a fast start to give themselves the confidence they will need to end their streak of futility against the mighty Longhorns.

The Bears will be relying heavily on their outside shooting, while the Longhorns will rely on the leadership of Abrams.

I expect Abrams to deliver a special performance in his final home game, but the Bears will make it a close game.

Shaun's Pick: Baylor +8.0

Place Your Bets: Missouri at Kansas (Mar. 1)

Shaun Hart — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 12:24:06 -0500

No. 11 Missouri (24-4, 11-2) at No. 15 Kansas (23-5, 12-1)

Sun. Mar. 1 at 2:00 p.m. EST

Spread: Kansas -4.5

Backcourt Advantage: Kansas

This is a showdown between two of the nation's hottest teams, who also happen to be archrivals. Furthermore, it's for first place in the Big 12.

Sherron Collins (18.3 PPG) is the fearless leader of a Jayhawks team that is surpassing all expectations that this was supposed to be a rebuilding year for the defending national champions.

Collins and the Jayhawks will be looking for revenge against rival Missouri, to whom they lost 62-60 on Feb. 9. Kansas blew a 30-16 halftime lead in the second half as the Tigers finally settled down and turned up the pressure on defense. Missouri held the Jayhawks to one field goal in the final eight minutes of the game to seal the comeback.

Missouri juniors Zaire Taylor (5.3 PPG) and J.T. Tiller (7.8 PPG) will have a harder time pressuring the Jayhawks and forcing turnovers in Allen Fieldhouse than they did at home last month. In that game, Missouri forced an amazing 27 Kansas turnovers, a season high, which proved to be the difference in a low-scoring game between the two usually dynamic offenses.

Frontcourt Advantage: Even

Senior forwards DeMarre Carroll (17.1 PPG) and Leo Lyons (14.3 PPG) will look to out-hustle and outscore the Jayhawks inside. They are the leading scorers for Missouri, who ranks fourth in the nation in scoring with 82.6 points per game.

Carroll led the Tigers with 22 points and seven rebounds in their win against Kansas in their first meeting, while Lyons added 13 points.

Sophomore Cole Aldrich (15.0 PPG, 10.7 RPG, 2.5 BPG) needs to stay out of foul trouble in this game. He was timid on offense because of foul trouble and was held to just eight points on 3-for-8 shooting.

However, Aldrich was dominant on the defensive end, grabbing 13 defensive rebounds and blocking five shots. He finished the game with 15 rebounds overall, as Kansas outrebounded Missouri 48-28.

Aldrich, who has 16 double-doubles this season, is coming off a 15 point, 20 rebound game against Oklahoma, who was playing without Blake Griffin. He will need to be dominant inside for the Jayhawks to win this game and take some pressure off of Sherron Collins and the backcourt.

Momentum: Even

Missouri comes in winners of seven straight, including its win over Kansas on Feb. 9, while the Jayhawks have won 12 of its 13 conference games, their only loss coming to the Tigers.

Look for the Jayhawks and their fans to return the favor and overwhelm the Tigers in Allen Fieldhouse, where Kansas has defeated Missouri nine consecutive games.

Like in their first meeting, this game will come down to the final minute, so I will take the points in this one, although I like Kansas to win the game.

Shaun's Pick: Missouri +4.5

Place Your Bets: Oklahoma State at Colorado (Feb. 25)

Shaun Hart — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 21:03:01 -0500

Oklahoma State (17-9, 6-6) at Colorado (9-17, 1-11)

Wed. Feb. 25 at 10:00 p.m. EST

Spread: Oklahoma State -5.5

Backcourt Advantage: Oklahoma State

Unless Colorado shrinks the rims, the Cowboys are going to shoot the lights out. James Anderson (18.0 PPG) leads the Big 12's highest-scoring offense into Boulder against the hapless Buffaloes. Oklahoma State is scoring 83.3 points per game, fourth-best in the nation, and there's no reason to believe that Colorado will be able to slow them down.

Sophomore Cory Higgins (17.5 PPG) won't be able to keep up with the depth of Oklahoma State's backcourt. He will have his hands full in this one.

Frontcourt Advantage: Even

Neither team has much of a frontcourt, so it won't matter much who has the advantage inside. I wouldn't be surprised to see 10 guards on the floor at once in this one. Regardless, Colorado is being out-rebounded on a nightly basis, so the Cowboys' lack of size won't hinder them in this game.

Momentum: Oklahoma State

The Cowboys have won their last three contests, scoring 87.7 points per game. The Buffaloes, on the other hand, have now dropped seven straight.

The only way Oklahoma State will lose this game is if they beat themselves by not knocking down their shots. Colorado won't present much resistance for OSU's high-octane offense.

Shaun's Pick: Oklahoma State -5.5

Place Your Bets: Texas Tech at Texas (Feb. 25)

Shaun Hart — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 20:46:53 -0500

Texas Tech (12-15, 2-10) at No. 25 Texas (18-8, 7-5)

Wed. Feb. 25 at 9:30 p.m. EST

Spread: Texas -14.5

Backcourt Advantage: Texas

The Longhorns are back in the Top 25 after their 73-68 victory over Oklahoma last Saturday. Senior guard A.J. Abrams (17.1 PPG) scored 16 consecutive points for Texas in the second half and finished the game with 23 points, including a season-high five three-pointers.

Texas fans have been waiting for a breakout game from Abrams, who hasn't stepped up his game to the level they were expecting for his senior year. His field goal percentage, assists, rebounds and steals are all down this year compared to last year and his scoring is only slightly higher (16.5 PPG last year). Saturday was his breakout game.

Texas Tech leading scorers John Roberson (14.1 PPG) and Alan Voskuil (14.0 PPG) will need to lead the Red Raiders on the road without Coach Pat Knight. Knight received a one-game suspension after being critical about the officiating in their 79-73 loss to Texas A&M on Saturday.

Frontcourt Advantage: Texas

Texas dismantled Texas Tech 71-49 in their first meeting this season in Lubbock. The Longhorns were dominant, particularly in the second half, outscoring the Red Raiders 41-25.

Forward Damion James (15.6 PPG) scored 14 of his game-high 18 points in the second half. He should be the difference-maker again for the more athletic Longhorns.

Momentum: Texas

The Longhorns have won three of four since dropping three straight to fall out of the rankings on Feb. 7. They are hoping that this time they can stay in the rankings for the rest of the season.

Texas Tech is winless on the road this season, 0-9. Meanwhile, Texas has won its last 13 home games against the Red Raiders. Look for that to continue.

Shaun's Pick: Texas -14.5