TSR 3/10/20 CBB Picks

Auto-Bids Clinched

Atlantic Sun: Liberty

Big South: Winthrop

Missouri Valley: Bradley

Mountain West: Utah State

Ohio Valley: Belmont Southern: East Tennessee State

TODAY’S GAMES

1. Horizon League Championship: Illinois-Chicago vs Northern Kentucky (7:00, ESPN)

Nick: Illinois-Chicago: The Flames last made the NCAA Tournament in 2004. On the day before that defeat against Kansas, our youngest writer was celebrating his first birthday. He is now completing his junior year of high school. Their tournament drought can have its drivers license... This league is always unpredictable since they went to the neutral site format, and for that reason I’ll take UIC.

Sam: Northern Kentucky-- Those semifinal games were that much better last night thanks to having Dakich and Bennetti on the call. Green Bay would bring it close but the Norse always had an answer. They’ll go dancing for the second straight year.

Zach: Northern Kentucky- I said it yesterday, if it’s not Wright State, it’s going to be Northern Kentucky. UIC absolutely obliterated NKU the last time they played, but I don’t see them winning today

2. CAA Championship: Hofstra vs Northeastern (7:00, CBSSN)

Nick: Northeastern- Speaking of teams that lost to Kansas in their most recent tournament bid, the 2019 CAA Tournament Champs are back in the title game. Jordan Roland is an elite scorer who will carry N’Eastern to the title.

Sam: Hofstra

Zach: Hofstra- The Pride won both matchups in the season series against Jordan Roland’s Huskies team. Northeastern’s magical run stops tonight

3. Summit League Championship: North Dakota vs North Dakota State (9:00, ESPN2)

Nick: ND State- The battle of the great state of North Dakota will determine who reaches the NCAA Tournament from the Summit League. The Bison are looking for their fourth title since 2014, and I think they get it on Tuesday night. Perhaps it’s karma for North Dakota changing their nickname from the Fighting Sioux?

Sam: ND State-- Dakota power!

Zach: North Dakota State- North Dakota plays North Dakota State in South Dakota. Wild. 

4. WCC Championship: Gonzaga vs Saint Mary’s (9:00, ESPN)

Nick: Gonzaga- Jordan Ford has been an absolute monster for the Gaels in the WCC Tournament, playing 50 minutes in the quarterfinals and then hitting the game-winner in last night’s semifinals. That being said, this Gonzaga team is extremely deep. They have far superior talent that goes beyond just one particular player. This is the 9th matchup of SMC vs the Zags since 2009, and the Zags have made 22 straight finals (16-5 record), which is a truly remarkable feat.

Sam: Gonzaga-- Man am I pissed I didn’t stay up for BYU Saint Mary’s. Last year in this exact spot, the Zags were locked into the 1 seed in the West, and Saint Mary’s would not get in without a victory. Now that they’ll get in regardless this season, I doubt they play that much harder than the Zags. I really like Gonzaga’s froncourt.

Zach: Gonzaga- Saint Mary’s got ran by Gonzaga both times this season, and I expect a better game because it is a bigger game, but still the same team prevailing

5. NEC Championship Game: Robert Morris vs St Francis PA (7:00, ESPN2)

Nick: Robert Morris- Ol’ Bobby Mo is at home, and they are trying to get back to the tournament for the first time since 2015. The Red Flash have a drought that extends back to 1991, but I like the Colonials at home. Robert Morris played well against major conference foes such as Marquette this year, and I’ll take them at home. 

Sam: Robert Morris-- MSU’s national title game run in 2009 started with a win over the Colonials.

Zach: Robert Morris- Remember when the Colonials beat Kentucky?

6.  ACC Rd1: Pittsburgh vs Wake Forest (4:30, ACC)

Nick: Wake Forest- Danny Manning should be on the hot seat, but I don’t think it’s all that warm. With that being said, the Demon Deacons have the talent to win this game, and it’d be a shame if they don’t.

Sam: Pittsburgh-- I actually really like where Jeff Capel is taking this Pitt program. They’ll win a ACC tourney game for a second straight year. 

Zach: Wake Forest- This game is basically a toss up, and should be a closely played game. Brandon Childress for WF and Justin Champagnie for Pitt will be a great matchup to watch in this game

7. ACC Rd1: North Carolina vs Virginia Tech (7:00, ACC)

Nick: North Carolina- The Tar Heels are going to win the ACC Tournament. Or maybe they’ll get dominated by the Hokies in the first round. This team has all of the talent to make a deep run in this tournament, but they have played so inconsistently all season, so who knows what version of Roy Williams’ team shows up.

Sam: North Carolina-- 5 games, 5 days. C'mon, Heels.

Zach: North Carolina- I am not really sure about this UNC team still, and that is not a good thing this late in the season

8. AE Semis: Vermont vs UMBC (7:00, ESPN+)

Nick: Vermont- The Catamounts are at home against UMBC, the exact same scenario as 2017’s finals when the Retrievers upset Vermont before taking down Virginia in the NCAA Tournament. I don’t think that will happen this year, as Anthony Lamb and company have been clicking all season long.

Sam: Vermont-- UMBC already won a game at Vermont this season, but it’s hard to see Anthony Lamb going out by not maing the tournament.

Zach: Vermont- The Catamounts are by far the best team in this conference, and I expect that to show in full in this game. Will Vermont cover the -15.5 is the real question.

9. AE Semis: Stony Brook vs Hartford (7:00, ESPN+)

Nick: Stony Brook- The Hawks have never made the NCAA Tournament. Perhaps that’s for a reason? It’s not going to happen in 2020 if the Seawolves have anything to say about it. Fun fact, DeShaun Thrower, the 2014 Michigan Mr. Basketball winner, played at Stony Brook before transferring to Ferris State to play both basketball and football.

Sam: Stony Brook-- Steve Pikkel!

Zach: Stony Brook

10. CAA Rd1: Iona vs Canisius (7:00, ESPN3)

Nick: Iona- The Gaels have won four straight conference tournaments, having won as the #1, #2, #3 and #4 seed. This year, Iona is #7, so it that too far of a reach? We will see, but I like them to get off to a solid start against Canisius, as the Golden Griffins no longer have John Belien at the helm.

Sam: Iona-- The Gaels will mess around and win this whole thing

Zach: Iona- I don’t know if there are many better nicknames than the Golden Griffins. Unfortunately, the name doesn’t carry much weight when it comes to the game. I hope Canisius wins, but am not holding my breath