Steve Merril – Sports Handicapper

-Ohio State was a surprise to make the tournament; win over Iowa State was an upset; run ends 
-offense is shooting 39.7% from the field on the road vs. defenses that give up 42.5% shooting
-Buckeyes defense held a negative efficiency rating in conference play this season; bad sign

-Houston quietly went 31-3 during the regular season; easy win over Georgia State; momentum 
-offense is shooting 37% from 3 on the road vs. defenses that allow just 33.6% shooting from 3
-Cougars defense allows 60.9 points per game on the road vs. defenses that average 72.2 ppg

10* Play HOUSTON (-).

-Oklahoma took advantage of an easy matchup on Friday; stepping way up in class for this game
-offense needs to play at a fast pace; not happening here; 3-8 SU when held to less than 70 points
-Sooners defense allows 34.8% shooting from 3 on the road vs. offenses that shoot 34.6% from 3 

-Virginia was terrible in the first half on Friday; they dominated the second half; blowout here
-offense is shooting 40.5% from three vs. defenses that allow just 33.1% shooting from three
-Cavaliers allowing just 55.1 points per game vs. offenses that average 72.9 points per game  

9* Play VIRGINIA (-).

-Texas Tech has the goods to make a deep run in this tournament; great pace matchup here 
-offense is shooting 47.3% from the field vs. defenses that give up 42.9% shooting from the field
-Red Raiders allow just 59.2 points per game vs. offenses that average 72.3 points per game

-Buffalo needs to play as fast as possible to be their best; not going to happen here; bad matchup
-offense has faced a terrible collection of defenses that allow 71.3 points per game; class jump
-Bulls allow 74.3 points per game on the road vs. offenses that average 72.5 points per game

9* Play TEXAS TECH (-).

-Iowa rallied in the second half to beat Cincinnati on Friday; unlikely they can repeat that effort
-offense shot 54.7% (29-53) from the field and 50% from three (11-22) in that game; regression
-Hawkeyes allow 46.1% shooting from the field on the road vs. offenses that shoot 43.8%

-Tennessee struggled a bit with Colgate; that wasn’t unexpected; better matchup for a big win
-offense is shooting 49.6% from the field vs. defenses that give up 43.1% shooting from the field
-Vols defense allowing 40% shooting from the field vs. offenses that shoot 43.8% from the field

9* Play TENNESSEE (-).