Multiple times each week, The Gaming Juice’s resident action seeker, Brad Evans, will attempt to blast the ‘books with his favorite selections on sides, totals, props, teasers or parlays. As always, fade or follow Brad’s picks — fading is encouraged — but that’s up to you.
Sledgehammer Special — Colorado State -2.5 (-110, MGM)
Jobbed. Screwed, and royally. Just outright slapped in the face.
That, my fellow bracketeers, is what the Selection Committee did to a highly competitive conference with glowing metrics — measurements that NCAA Tournament decision makers implore aspiring at-large teams to have.
As stated repeatedly this week across various airwaves, this year’s group of appointed bracket seeders failed miserably. Honestly, at best, the grade earned was a flaccid D.
From the over-seeded (Texas A&M, Michigan State, Florida Atlantic, Virginia and Gonzaga) to the not even seeded (St. John’s and other deserving Big East squads) to UConn’s outrageous awarded path as the No. 1 overall seed, the Selection Committee piled up the injustices. (A quick aside: It’s time for an overhaul. Give actual bracketologists and national beat writers at least one seat at the table. It’s long overdue.)
But of all the punchlines issued by the committee on Sunday, the one most inexcusable was the unprovoked slighting of the Mountain West Conference. San Diego State, a No. 5 in the East, was the only team appropriately placed.
[ More NCAA Tournament: Brad Evans' "gut" bracket picks ]
It’s time to exact your revenge, MWC. Do it for Danny Granger, Tony Snell, Jimmer Fredette, Kawhi Leonard and all the former impactful players the league has churned out.
Alongside Boise State, Colorado State getting shipped to Dayton is a travesty. The Rams are a wonderfully balanced team featuring one of the nation’s best point guards in Isaiah Stevens.
Offensively, Niko Medved’s club pounds the paint effectively. Over the last month, CSU has tallied an exceptional 55.8% shooting from two. Its strong cutting action in the lane and soft off-the-glass kisses lead to many easy conversions. That explains why the Rams rank No. 6 nationally in near-proximity field-goal percentage, according to Haslameterics. Nique Clifford, Josiah Strong, Joel Scott and Patrick Cartier typically get it done around the rim, largely thanks to Stevens’ wizardry.
Defensively, Colorado State sports an above average profile. In its last eight games, it’s a laudable No. 87 in effective field-goal percentage D, surrendering just 45.7% inside the arc. The Rams have been burned occasionally by 3-pointers, but if the competition’s equalizers aren’t falling, they can cause long nights.
As for the Cavaliers, even the most casual college hoops fans already know the “Virginia way.” Under Tony Bennett, it’s all about root canals. Slow, methodical and calculated, the Cavs limit possessions, lean on their back-line defense and amplify frustration.
Extremely fortunate to be in the field, UVA is a horrendous No. 339 in effective field-goal percentage offense over its last seven games, shooting an upchuck-worthy 41.2% from two and 32.2% from three. It did allow only 0.960 points per possession during the stretch, but its accompanying No. 149 overall BartTorvik ranking is one spot behind No. 16 seed Montana State. Again, why, Selection Committee? WHY?!
In a contest that will surely resemble a belly-dragging Basset Hound pace, onlookers will be appalled by the lack of points. Colorado State, at No. 270 in adjusted tempo, is also deliberate in its style. Still, despite Virginia’s stonewalling defense, the pathetic offense greatly hinders cover potential. And it’s important to remember CSU knocked off fellow tourney teams Colorado and Creighton in non-conference action.
Final buzzer: This time of year is all about guard play, and the Rams have a dandy in Stevens.
Kick off the Mountain West revenge tour with a bang, CSU.
Season record: 19-17, +4.58 units
BONUS NIT TIME — UC Irvine +7.5 at Utah (-110, MGM)
DOUBLE BONUS TIME — Wagner-Howard OVER 127.5 (-110, MGM)