TSR 3/9/20 CBB Picks

A thank you to our guest pickers this weekend. The Fans of the Blog did a great job, providing some unique perspectives from our readers across the country. Then on Sunday, Cody Tucker from 7220Sports.com came on and provided some phenomenal stories about his career before picking the ten games. Check out how they fared in the Guest Pick Standings.

Auto-Bids Clinched

Atlantic Sun: Liberty

Big South: Winthrop

Missouri Valley: Bradley

Mountain West: Utah State

Ohio Valley: Belmont TODAY’S GAMES

1. Hofstra vs Delaware (6:00, CBSSN)

Nick: Hofstra- The Pride are led by Desure Buie as an offense weapon, averaging 18.5 points per game. Hofstra advances to the title game with a big win over the Blue Hens. 

Sam: Hofstra-- I really wish they made it last year with Justin Wright Foreman.

Zach: Hofstra

2. Elon vs Northeastern (8:30, CBSSN)

Nick: Northeastern- The Huskies made a great run through the CAA Tournament last year, and I full expect this bunch to be playing in the finals again in 2020. The Phoenix scored a great upset last night, but I cannot see Elon continuing this rally.

Sam: Northeastern-- MSU once played basketball and hockey on the same day at Northeastern

Zach:Northeastern- Jordan Roland is one of the best scorers in the country, and I could see him carrying his team to the NCAA tournament

3. SoCon Championship: ETSU vs Wofford (7:00, ESPN)

Nick: ETSU- The Bucs should be an NCAA Tournament team regardless of the result of this game, they are 29-4. Steve Forbes has been an elite coach that many college basketball fans have not heard of, as the Bucs have won at least 24 games in all five of his seasons at the helm. Before he makes it big time, he will have this team winning the SoCon Tournament and making a run in the NCAAs.

Sam: ETSU-- I would agree they should be in no matter what, but they probably won’t be unless they win. Here’s to hoping

Zach:ETSU- I would be really happy with a Wofford win and for the #SNACKTIMETour to continue into the NCAA tournament, and for both teams to get in. ETSU should be in either way, but they’d probably give away their spot to an undeserving power five team if they lose tonight

4. San Francisco vs Gonzaga (9:00, ESPN)

Nick: Gonzaga- The Zags are one of my picks for the Final Four this year, and that’s my belief in their post players (Petrusev and Tille) as well as Kispert on the wing, as well as Mark Few as a coach. San Francisco has kept this game close for a large part of both regular season meetings, and I expect them to keep it interesting tonight as well, but eventually the Zags pull away.

Sam: Gonzaga-- Really upset Damon Stoudamire’s team lost.

Zach:Gonzaga-This team has the potential to make a serious run in the tournament, but like most Gonzaga teams, they’ll win a few games and then lose. They should win the league tournament easily though

5. Saint Mary’s vs BYU (11:30, ESPN2)

Nick: Saint Mary’s- I think BYU is a sleeper for a deep run in the tournament, but Saint Mary’s has a lot to play for. The Gaels are on the right side of the bubble, but winning this game would solidify their status as an at-large, as well as placing them a single win away from AQ status.

Sam: BYU-- Wish this game was the early one! Can’t wait to see Toolson and Haws against Ford. And man, I love this BYU team… great shooters and a monster down low. All the makings of a team that can make a legit run

Zach:BYU-I think this BYU team is very underrated and being overlooked by how good fellow WCC member Gonzaga is. Hopefully we get another great game between the two in the finals. 

6.  UIC vs Wright State (7:00, ESPNU)

Nick: Wright State- The Horizon League has been wild the past four years, with the #1 seed failing to win any of the championships, and only one one-seed reaching the finals. This Wright State team has proven their value all season, as they have been head and shoulders above the rest of the league. They do this once again on Monday night, advancing to the finals.

Sam: Wright State

Zach:Wright State- This team is clearly the best in the league and should have no problem winning the tournament. Louden Love is averaging almost a double-double on the season.

7. Green Bay vs Northern Kentucky (9:30, ESPN2)

Nick: Green Bay- The Phoenix went on the road to Northern Kentucky and defeated the Norse by 14 in January. In the return trip to Lambeau Land, the Norse scored a nine-point victory. Behind the stellar play of JayQuan McCloud, UWGB advances to the Horizon League finals. Did you know that UWGB’s women’s basketball team made the NCAA Tournament in nine of the past eleven seasons?

Sam: NKY-- John Brannen used to be the NKY coach.

Zach: Northern Kentucky- This is the only team I believe that will win the tournament, other than Wright State, as they seem to win it more often than not. 

8. North Dakota State vs Oral Roberts (7:00, ESPN+)

Nick: North Dakota State- The Bison are a FCS football powerhouse, but their basketball program isn’t too shabby either. Last year, they were defeating Duke at halftime in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, a fact that had my roommates and I in a hopeful bliss (that lasted all of two minutes). This year, they are going to get back to the Big Dance, taking another step against the next best team remaining in the Summit League field.

Sam: North Dakota State

Zach:North Dakota State

9. Purdue Fort Wayne vs North Dakota (9:30, ESPN+)

Nick: Purdue Fort Wayne- In the summer between eighth and ninth grade, I played in the Spartan Showcase AAU Basketball tournament in East Lansing. It was our first big AAU tournament, and as we walked into Michigan State’s IM West gym, a young man blocked a shot, threw down a slam dunk, recorded a steal and buried a 28-footer all in succession. That was Matt Holba, the same player who scored 27 in the Mastadons’ win over South Dakota State on Saturday. He is a senior on a mission to get to the NCAA Tournament, and this journey takes another step.

Sam: North Dakota

Zach:North Dakota- Fighting Sioux forever

10. Toledo vs Western Michigan (7:00, ESPN+)

Nick: Toledo- The Rockets have had an up and down year. They have however, completed the season sweep over the Broncos with wins of 67-59 and 68-59. This time, I will predict a 69-59 victory over WMU. It marks the end of another rocky year for Steve Hawkins’ Broncos, although they are a young bunch that has room to grow going forward.

Sam: Toledo-- Does Hawkins get the boot?

Zach:Toledo- The Rockets haven’t had the success at Savage Arena that they would like to have had this season, but they get a first round win tonight. Western Michigan had another below average season, and it is unfortunate that I was part of one of their wins, but they have a nice young team to look forward to next year.