TSR 3/2/20 CBB Picks

WEEKEND REVIEW

1-Thank you to Lexi Bush and Jason Hutton for being our guest pickers this weekend. They both provided some tremendous stories on their background, as well as provided some basketball insight! Check out how their picks stack up in the Guest Picker Standings. 2-Conference Tournaments start this week! Brackets are out for 11 conference tournaments, with action set to begin on Tuesday. Check out this link here for all brackets and information. 3-The Big Ten race is going to be exciting. While Maryland could end all of the rush with a pair of wins this week, the race for the double-byes is going to be absurd. It is still possible that we could see a six-way tie for the league championship as well, which may be the most fitting thing for this league. TODAY’S GAMES

1. Duke vs North Carolina State (7:00, ESPN)

Nick: Duke- This Duke team is struggling, but North Carolina State has lost 3 of 5 as well. I will take Coach K’s bunch to avenge an embarrassing loss just a few weeks ago.

Sam: Duke-- NC State just destroyed Duke a couple of weeks ago, but it’s hard to see Duke dropping 3 in a row. Vernon Carey dominates down low.

Zach: Duke- Is Duke playing their best basketball right now losing 3 out of last 4? Absolutely not. The Blue Devils get revenge on the Wolfpack after the 22 point drubbing earlier this season

2. Texas Southern vs Alabama State (8:30, ESPNU)

Nick: Texas Southern- Michael Strahan is an alum here, but perhaps the most distinguished alum is Jim Hines. He had two gold medals at the 1968 Olympics as the first sprinter to break 10 seconds in the 100 meters.

Sam: Texas Southern

Zach: Texas Southern

3. Baylor vs Texas Tech (9:00, ESPN)

Nick: Baylor- The Bears recover from a shocking loss with a great win against Texas Tech. The Red Raiders have really struggled as of late, with an unimpressive week of defeats against Oklahoma and Texas. This team needs some wins to create some momentum into the Big 12 Tournament.

Sam: Baylor-- The Bears are far too reliant on jump shooting, but I can’t see them losing two in a row.

Zach: Baylor- The Bears will surely drop after the loss to TCU but there should be no worry for Baylor fans as they will get right back on track against a slipping Texas Tech team

4. North Carolina Central vs Bethune-Cookman (7:30)

Nick: North Carolina Central- The three-time defending MEAC Tournament Champions are rounding into form as the conference tournament is on the horizon. I think LeVelle Moton’s bunch is going to make it to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth straight year.

Sam: North Carolina Central

Zach: North Carolina Central

5. Howard vs Maryland Eastern-Shore (7:30)

Nick: UMES- KenPom #349 vs KenPom #350? I suppose I will choose the school that was the college home of NFL Hall of Famer Art Shell. And UMES has more than one win against D-1 competition this year...

Sam: Howard

Zach: Howard- I have a pair of Howard shorts

6.  South Carolina State vs North Carolina A&T (7:30)

Nick: North Carolina A&T- Just in case Tarik Cohen is reading the blog, I don’t want him to think I don’t believe in his school. 

Sam: North Carolina A&T

Zach: North Carolina A&T

7. Grambling vs Mississippi Valley State (8:30)

Nick: Grambling State- The Tigers can clinch a winning season with wins in two of their final three games. Good thing they play KenPom’s 351st, 342nd and 329th ranked teams. I will take the Tigers. Sorry Jerry Rice...

Sam: Grambling

Zach: Grambling- This MVSU team is like the Grambling of old

8. Prairie View A&M vs Alabama A&M (8:30)

Nick: Prairie View A&M- Fun fact: The three of us and Eric drove through blizzard-like conditions to Kalamazoo to watch Alabama A&M play against Western Michigan. No, we don’t have a problem, thanks for asking...

Sam: Prairie View A&M-- Thanks to Zach we made it… his impeccable sight in the blizzard helped us.

Zach: Prairie View A&M

9. Jackson State vs Arkansas Pine-Bluff (8:30)

Nick: Jackson State- How can I pick against the alma mater of Oil Can Boyd and Walter Payton?

Sam: Jackson State

Zach: Jackson State

10. Weber State vs Idaho State (9:00)

Nick: Weber State- Sticking to the alma mater theory, Damien Lillard is an elite basketball player that is underrated in terms of the NBA elite.

Sam: Weber State

Zach: Weber State