PREMIUM
**12 PM ET** Rogers' EARLY Afternoon ANNIHILATION >> Had Davidson Yday!
(NCAAB) East Carolina vs. Southern Methodist,
Point Spread: 18.00 | -110.00 East Carolina (Away)
Result: Win
Point Spread: 18.00 | -110.00 East Carolina (Away)
Result: Win
The set-up: The SMU Mustangs went 4-3 in November but then won 23 of their final 24 games, with their only loss coming by two points at Cincinnati. SMU won its final 13 regular season games to go 17-1 in the AAC and claim the No. 1 seed in this tourney The Mustangs get set to host 15-17 East Carolina, which was in 6-12 league play (No. 9 seed) and opened this tourney with an 80-69 victory over eighth-seeded Temple on Thursday.
East Carolina: The Pirates headed into the tournament ranked 337th in Division I in scoring (62.3 points) and 336th in field-goal shooting percentage (39.4 percent) but shot 50.9 percent against the Owls and reached 80 points for the first time this season in conference play. 6-5 small forward Kentrell Barkley is leading the team in scoring (12.8 points) and rebounding (7.7) and comes off a career high in both points (26) and rebounds (16) in the victory over Temple. 6-7 swingman Caleb White (11.6 points) is the only other Pirate averaging in double figures but guards Tyson (9.6), Sheppard (9.2 & 3.5 APG) and Hughes (7.5) are are all contributors. Then there is the interior play of 7-1 graduate student Andre Washington, (7.0-7.0 rebounds), who entered Thursday fifth in the nation in blocked shots per game (2.97) and had two more rejections against the Owls. ECU thrives on defense, allowing just 64.6 PPG (30th) on 38.6% shooting (10th).
SMU: Redshirt junior forward Semi Ojeleye (a Duke transfer) was named the AAC player of the year earlier this week, after averaging 18.5 & 6.5. Three others join him in double figures and all average 32 MPG or more. PG Milton (13.3-4.1-4.5) and SG Brown (12.8 & 6.8) plus 6-8 forward Moore (11.8 & 8.2). Guard Foster (9.9 & 5.1) is the fifth starter and just misses double digits in playing about 29 minutes. ECU plays excellent defense but has nothing on SMU, which ranks 3rd in the nation in scoring D (59.4 PPG) and 8th in opponents' FG percentage (38.5%).
The pick: SMU 'toyed' with ECU in two regular season meetings, winning by 31 and 40 points. The Mustangs have won by an average of 18.2 PPG during their current 13-game run but as the line indicates, an 18-point win may not be enough to earn the ATS win (where will the final number close?). ECU is 4-3 SU in its last seven, going 5-2 ATS. I'm taking the YUGE points and making ECU an 8* play.
East Carolina: The Pirates headed into the tournament ranked 337th in Division I in scoring (62.3 points) and 336th in field-goal shooting percentage (39.4 percent) but shot 50.9 percent against the Owls and reached 80 points for the first time this season in conference play. 6-5 small forward Kentrell Barkley is leading the team in scoring (12.8 points) and rebounding (7.7) and comes off a career high in both points (26) and rebounds (16) in the victory over Temple. 6-7 swingman Caleb White (11.6 points) is the only other Pirate averaging in double figures but guards Tyson (9.6), Sheppard (9.2 & 3.5 APG) and Hughes (7.5) are are all contributors. Then there is the interior play of 7-1 graduate student Andre Washington, (7.0-7.0 rebounds), who entered Thursday fifth in the nation in blocked shots per game (2.97) and had two more rejections against the Owls. ECU thrives on defense, allowing just 64.6 PPG (30th) on 38.6% shooting (10th).
SMU: Redshirt junior forward Semi Ojeleye (a Duke transfer) was named the AAC player of the year earlier this week, after averaging 18.5 & 6.5. Three others join him in double figures and all average 32 MPG or more. PG Milton (13.3-4.1-4.5) and SG Brown (12.8 & 6.8) plus 6-8 forward Moore (11.8 & 8.2). Guard Foster (9.9 & 5.1) is the fifth starter and just misses double digits in playing about 29 minutes. ECU plays excellent defense but has nothing on SMU, which ranks 3rd in the nation in scoring D (59.4 PPG) and 8th in opponents' FG percentage (38.5%).
The pick: SMU 'toyed' with ECU in two regular season meetings, winning by 31 and 40 points. The Mustangs have won by an average of 18.2 PPG during their current 13-game run but as the line indicates, an 18-point win may not be enough to earn the ATS win (where will the final number close?). ECU is 4-3 SU in its last seven, going 5-2 ATS. I'm taking the YUGE points and making ECU an 8* play.
