Sometimes you want to make a quick pitstop, empty the bladder, grab a bag of salty snacks and limber up the limbs before hitting the open road again. For the fast-minded who enjoy simple $2 scratchers hoping to uncover the jackpot winning image, here’s a quick thought and lean on a NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 game.
Quick Pick — SGP: Purdue -2.5, OVER 144.5 (+105, MGM)
Zach Edey was born in the Year of the Horse. With his size-20 shoe, workman efforts under both baskets and bulky 7-foot-4 frame, he is a Shire horse in human form. The gentle giant is an intimidating challenge for any opponent, especially one with inadequate interior bodies.
Condolences, Gonzaga.
To be fair, Mark Few’s crew is peaking at the right time. This month, the Bulldogs are top-25 in effective field-goal percentage offense and effective field-goal defense. Also, Graham Ike, Ryan Nembhard, Nolan Hickman and Ben Gregg have really elevated their games at the most opportune time. It explains why Gonzaga ranks No. 11 overall in March contests, according to BartTorvik.
The season-to-season consistency of the Zags, who are appearing in their ninth-straight Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament, is nothing short of extraordinary. Purdue, however, has advantages everywhere in Friday’s Midwest Region matchup in Detroit.
[ Sweet 16 futures: Purdue still looms large in Midwest Region ]
A top-three team per BartTorvik this month, the Boilermakers are No. 11 in eFG offense and No. 34 in eFG defense. Edey flat-out dominates the post, but sharpshooters Mason Gillis, Fletcher Loyer, Braden Smith and Lance Jones have complemented the space-eater brilliantly. In its last seven games, Matt Painter’s group is netting 44.3% from distance.
Gonzaga is outclassed on the glass. At No. 314 in defensive rebounding over their last five games, the Bulldogs simply have no answer for the inevitable Wooden Award winner. Yes, they have shot over 47% from three in March, but unless an absurd number of triples fall, Purdue will beat the Zags for the second time this season. The Boilers won the first matchup 73-53 at the Maui Invitational last November.
Saddle up the Shire.
Season record: 29-31, +3.45 units