March Madness Day 2 - Full Slate Preview

Short and sweet today - after a full 16-game slate on Thursday, there's no need for an introduction to Day 2. You get it, you're locked in. All those bets you lost yesterday? They're in the past. All that's in front of you are the bets you lose today. So let's dive in.

9 Baylor vs 8 Mississippi State

11:15 am

Raleigh, NC

MST -1.5

Starting the day with another 8/9 match-up, this one out of the East region between Baylor and Miss State. Scott Drew's Bears are not the defensive juggernaut we've become used to seeing - in fact they were middle of the pack in the Big 12 in most meaningful defensive categories - but they have offensive firepower. 2025 Lottery pick VJ Edgecombe is an electric freshman that is a human highlight reel. Miami transfer Norchad Omier is a double-double machine, but is under-sized, leading to a decline in rim protection #'s for the Bears. Rob Wright, Jeremy Roach, Jayden Nunn, and Langston Love can get hot any given night in the backcourt. Miss State has a backcourt star of their own in Josh Hubbard. He's good for 19 ppg, and the 5'11 point is the straw that stirs the drink for the Bulldogs. They are not a very efficient offensive and are dependent on turning their opponent over to score in transition. They need a spark from RJ Melendez or Riley Kugel - their portal additions - to step up offensively to lighten the load on Hubbard is they want to outpace the Baylor Bears.

15 Robert Morris vs 2 Alabama

11:40 am

Cleveland, OH

Bama -22.5

The Regular-season and conference tourney champs of the Horizon League - Robert Morris has had a terrific season entering the tournament. They have more size than your typical 15-seed, especially on the wings, and they're a well-balanced group with 4 double-figure scorers per game. That's the end of the nice things I'm going to say about them - the Crimson Tide is going to murder Robert Morris as a touching tribute to their former players' favorite activity.

14 Lipscomb vs 3 Iowa State

12:30 pm

Milwaukee, WI

ISU -14.5

The Cyclones of ISU were a popular pick for the Final Four back in December/January, but a tumultuous back half of the season and injury concerns leaves more doubt surrounding this team. TJ Otzelberger is a terrific coach, but he'll be without his star player Keshon Gilbert in the tournament. They will have Curtis Jones (17 ppg) who has taken his game to another level lately, most recently in a losing effort to BYU in the Big 12 tourney scoring 31. Knockdown shooter who takes and makes tough shots. They also have a strong inside presence in Joshua Jefferson alongside their big centers. Momcilovic making three's and Tamin Lipsey shutting down the opposition's best player will be key to a deep run. Lipscomb can score the rock, and they do so efficiently. They were the best defensive team in the ASUN by a mile (Joe Anderson - 2.3 spg and shoots the 3 at better than 40%) and have a true go-to scorer in Jacob Ognacevic. 20 ppg, 8 rpg, 40% from 3, over 57% from the field - he can fill it up. Had more 30+ point games (4) than single-digit scoring games (2). They played quality competition in non-con and will not shy away from the Cyclones, but I fear the Cyclones defense is going to shellshock the Bisons early.

12 Colorado State vs 5 Memphis

1:00 pm

Seattle, WA

CSU -1.5

If you thought the UCSD/Michigan spread of -2.5 points yesterday was wild, get a load of this. The 12-seeded Rams are favorites over the American Conference Champions Memphis. Penny Hardaway's team will likely be without talented guard Tyrese Hunter, but in his absence, Tulsa transfer PJ Haggerty has emerged as one of the best scorers in the country. He's been great all year - nearly 22 ppg, 6 rpg, 4 apg on excellent efficiency - but recently has really heated up. 42 points against Wichita State last week without making a 3. Illinois transfer Dain Dainja is playing well too, averaging 20 ppg in his last 5. Colby Rogers has to step up as the 3rd option and knock down triples if the Tigers want to go on a deep run. The battle between PJ Haggerty and CSU's Nique Clifford is going to be cinema. Clifford - a 6'6 guard averaging 19/10/4.5 on the year - has arguably been the best player in the country over the last week (28 ppg over last 4 games). The Rams are peaking at the right time, and if their under-sized frontcourt can contain Dainja, they're favored for good reason over 5th seeded Memphis.

16 Mount St. Mary's vs 1 Duke

1:50 pm

Raleigh, NC

Duke -32.5

Instead of previewing this game - because let's face it, Flagg or no Flagg this is no contest - I'm instead going to list my favorite names on Mount St. Mary's roster.

Xavier Lipscomb - 2 teams in the tournament in one name (shoutout Pardon My Take)

Carmelo Pacheco - NBA player in the front, NFL player in the back. Elite name

Dola Adebayo - leading scorer and shared last name with Bam

Jedy Cordilia - cat from the Netherlands that'll give you 10/7 inside the arc

Arlandus Keyes - shoutout Florissant Missouri, his hometown

Abdou Khadre Kebe - not even gonna attempt to pronounce it out loud

10 Vanderbilt vs 7 Saint Mary's

2:15 pm

Cleveland, OH

SM -4.5

This is an on-paper matchup that doesn't really fire me up to be honest - Vandy is etched into my mind as the SEC's doormat and Saint Mary's is the slow-pace, defensive-minded team I love to fade come tourney time. But this is no typical Vandy team - they have a fun, mix-and-matched roster of transfers that play shockingly well together. They got wins against teams like Kentucky, Tennessee, Mizzou, Texas A&M, and Ole Miss in SEC play and dominated their (weak) non-con schedule. Jason Edwards is their go-to scorer, but they have a number guys that can get a bucket or knock down a triple. Tyler Nickel knocks down 41% of his 3's, Devin McGlockton is an under-sized hound on the glass, AJ Hoggard makes plays off the bench. Saint Mary's is still the defensive stalwart we're used to seeing (5th in the nation opponent ppg), but they have some guys that can score as well. Augustas Marciulionis leads the way with 14+ ppg, Arizona transfer Paulius Murauskas can muscle around for buckets, and C Mitchell Saxen has been an interior force for the Gaels for 3 seasons. This team will pound you on the glass - top 10 in the country in offensive boards, top 20 overall boards - but can struggle offensively, especially if the 3's aren't falling. If they use their size advantage in the paint and on the glass, they should take care of business. But if Vandy can spread them out, knock down some 3's, and turn them over - they'll advance.

11 North Carolina vs 6 Ole Miss

3:05 pm

Milwaukee, WI

UNC -1.5

5 days ago I was curled up in a ball on my bedroom floor watching Jaelyn Withers step in the paint early on a game-tying free throw against Duke in the ACC Tournament. After their 3rd loss to Duke, I was justifiably concerned that I had watched UNC play their final game of the 24-25 season. Enter Bubba Cunningham - who not only saved my hopes and dreams this season, but will hopefully organize the NIL well enough to put a team together that can do better than 1-13 vs Quad 1's next year. (If you're a West Va fan that's angry you didn't make it - stop kissing your sibling and listen to me for a sec. Be mad at Texas and Xavier, they had no business being in either). Back to the task at hand - UNC obliterated SDSU in the First Four, leading to Vegas labeling them the favorite in this game. Seems disrespectful to an Ole Miss team with wins over BYU, Louisville, Alabama, Kentucky, and Tennessee this season. Chris Beard is a candidate for lots of job openings, which may be a factor, but he's gotten this Rebels team in position to make a run. Sean Pedulla is a Virginia Tech transfer that gave UNC fits in past years, and he's having a career-best season from an efficiency POV. They have 5 other players averaging between 10.4-10.8 ppg - aka they're as balanced as it gets. Jaylen Murray specifically frightens me in that bunch as a quick 38% 3pt shooter, but I'll be interested to see how Malik Dia and Jaemyn Brakefield are able to exploit the not-awesome defensive frontcourt of UNC. The Tar Heels need RJ Davis (6-6 from 3 in First Four) to stay hot, for Withers and Allen-Lubin to stay productive, and for Ian Jackson, Seth Trimble, and Elliot Cadeau to step up if RJ's shot isn't falling.

13 Grand Canyon vs 4 Maryland

3:35 pm

Seattle, WA

MD -10.5

The Lopes of Grand Canyon and the Terps of Maryland is my winner for mascot-matchup of the tourney. Many will remember GCU from last year's tournament, where they took down St. Mary's and gave Alabama all they could handle in the Round of 32. Tyon Grant-Foster emerged as a star as the world heard his story (former Kansas recruit, had heart complications, collapsed in the locker room at halftime while at Depaul and was resuscitated in 21', returned to basketball in 23-24 for GCU averaging 20 ppg). He's taken a step back this year, especially in efficiency, but still possesses an NBA skillset with a 6'7 frame. Jakobe Coles actually leads the Lopes in scoring at about 15 per game. The Lopes were 2nd in the WAC but took down Utah Valley in the conference tourney to earn a berth. Maryland is a team that relies on their starting lineup more than any team in the country. The "Crab Five": Derik Queen (potential lottery pick big-man, 16/9/2), Ja'Kobi Gillespie (15 ppg, 5 apg, 42% 3-pt), Julian Reese (13/9 with nearly 1.6 blocks per), Rodney Rice (14 ppg, 38% 3-pt), and Selton Miguel (12 ppg, 42% 3-pt). They do not have much depth, but that's not always a negative in March. I remember the Caleb Love/Armando Bacot UNC team that went on a run to the Final 4 only going 6-deep, so if Kevin Willard can keep his guys out of foul trouble, I can 100% see the Terps going deep.

16 Norfolk State vs 1 Florida

5:50 pm

Raleigh, NC

UF -28.5

The moment has finally arrived, readers. The moment you've been waiting for. The final 16 vs 1 seed match-up where I'll finally make my big upset prediction. Because Robert Jones' Norfolk State Spartans are forreal. Brian Moore Jr. is a dynamic 18 ppg scorer, Christian Ings shoots the lights out, and don't get me started on Forward Kuluel Mading and... okay I kept it going as long as I could. Florida is going to make fuck out of Norfolk. Walter Clayton, Alijah Martin, Alex Condon, Will Richard, Thomas Haugh - they're deep, they shoot it well, defend, turn you over, score inside, have 3 dynamic guards, tons of size. Florida's as legit as any team in the country.

14 Troy vs 3 Kentucky

6:10 pm

Milwaukee, WI

UK -11.5

Unfortunately for the Troy Trojans, John Calipari no longer coaches the Kentucky Wildcats. Otherwise their odds at a Round of 32 game would be looking sensational. However, Mark Pope has taken the reigns and has the Island of Misfits Wildcats back in position to make a deep postseason run. He put his roster together like a transfer portal puzzle, plucking players from schools across the country -- Oklahoma, San Diego State, Dayton, Drexel, West Virginia, Wake Forest to name a handful -- and they've fared well in a brutal SEC. Otega Oweh is their leading scorer, but this is a team with 6 guys averaging double-figures and are more than capable of going for 20+. Lamont Butler's health is paramount - his shoulder's been an issue but they need his playmaking from the backcourt because they have none without him. I think I and a lot of other people are probably too down on Troy. They tied for the Regular Season title in a pretty solid Sun Belt, beat a good Ark State team to get here, tested themself in the non-con, and are playing their best ball in the last 2 months. Troy also turns the ball over quite a bit - like as often as they get assists, 14 a game - and they are fucking horrendous from 3-pt range (29%). So maybe we're all right after all!

10 New Mexico vs 7 Marquette

6:25 pm

Cleveland, OH

MARQ -3.5

Did someone say best game of the Round of 64? I did I'm someone. This game is going to rock, I'm calling it now (I reserve the right to be wrong per usual). But it has all the makings of an instant classic in my eyes. Two bona fide College Basketball Super-Stars in Donovan Dent vs Kam Jones, both force a lot of turnovers/score in transition off them, and have chips on their shoulders from disappointing finishes last March. Marquette has the edge in the backcourt - between Kam Jones, Stevie Mitchell, and Chase Ross I think they have more guys that can go get a bucket or make a play, and they're qualities defenders averaging 5.5 steals between them. New Mexico has a decided edge in the frontcourt - Nelly Junior Joseph is a man amongst boys, especially against a weak Marquette post presence, and I foresee a heavy dose of that here. But what the game will truly come down to - or at least what I as a fan want it to come down to - is Donovan Dent for the Pack and Kam Jones for the Golden Eagles going head-to-head in a scorer's duel. They're 20 ppg scorers on the biggest stage in the sport, I want to see some shot-making and play-making in a game that comes right down to the wire (and that New Mexico wins, preferably).

13 Akron vs 4 Arizona

6:35 pm

Seattle, WA

AZ -14.5

If I told you I had 2 Teams for a Round of 64 matchup that: 1) Are top 20 in the country in scoring. 2) don't play a lick of defense despite their best efforts. 3) Are great offensive rebounders, but are simultaneously terrible at keeping their opponent off the offensive boards. Is that something you might be interested in? (See Entourage for some culture if you don't know the reference) ((On second thought, The culture actually doesn't age particularly well in that show - scratch that from the record)).

Anywho -- Coach John Grocer led the Akron Zips to a dominant 15-1 MAC record en route to The Tournament. 9th in the nation in scoring (84.6 ppg) and Top 10 in in Assists, this is a squad that wants to move fast and hoist shots. They're well-balanced, but are led by Nate Johnson (14/5/3 apg) and Tavari Johnson (13 ppg, 4 pg, 40% 3-pt), guards that lead a quick-moving offense. Arizona wants to go fast too - led the Big 12 in scoring - but they prefer to go inside the arc and to the free throw line for their points. Caleb Love is Caleb Love, I certainly won't bet against him in March or April per his UNC days. Their 3 leading scorers (Love, Jaden Bradley, KJ Lewis) are low efficiency 3-point shooters, but they bring shooters off the bench to help space. They will have a decided height advantage, and I Imagine rebounding advantage over Akron - but with the way Akron shoots 3's and rebounds their misses, I think it could go either way. Another game I'm very excited to watch.

9 Oklahoma vs 8 UCONN

8:25 pm

Raleigh, NC

UConn -5.5

The 2x defending National Champions - The UConn Huskies - begin their Tournament Title defense as the 8-seed taking on the 9th seeded Oklahoma Sooners. Dan Hurley's squad has taken some lumps this season - as has Dan Hurley in the media - but they still won 23 games playing one of the most grueling schedules in the country. The 3-headed monster of Karaban-McNeeley-Solo Ball has been their best source of offense, and when they're making 3's they're very dynamic. We've several stretches where those shots aren't falling however, so Tarris Reed Jr.'s emergence and Hassan Diarra's defensive/play-making prowess have been important for the Huskies. Oklahoma kicked off the season a perfect 13-0 in non-conference play, beating Q1's like Michigan, Louisville, and Arizona in the process. They proceeded to go 6-12 in SEC play -- not awesome -- but won enough important games to make it safely in. Freshman Jeremiah Fears is electric, 17/4/4 leading this Sooners team is more than impressive. With Jalon Moore (16/6, 39% 3-pt) they form a great 1-2 punch for a team that's very efficient from all three levels (7th in nation from the FT line). They're small, and if Sam Goodwin is playing through an injury, I think UConn could do damage on the glass and scoring in the paint. But if Fears and Moore can beat this beatable Huskies' defense, this is anyone's game.

11 Xavier vs 6 Illinois

8:45 pm

Milwaukee, WI

ILL -3.5

As I dive further into the night slate the more excited I get because this has been a sick stretch of games. I love this 11/6 match-up too - featuring Illinois and Xavier, who just played their way in against Texas in a thrilling come-from-behind win. There are some historical things to like about Xavier as a First Four 11-seed, especially considering their level of play over the last month (winners of 8 straight before loss to Marquette in Big East semis). There's also a lot to like offensively - a 17 ppg scoring combo in Forward Zach Freemantle, and Guard Ryan Conwell. But they have guys all over the lineup with different skillsets that have stepped up throughout the year. Marcus Foster dropped 22 against Texas - he had scored 14 total in the 3 games prior. Dayvion McKnight, Dailyn Swain, Dante Maddox are all guys that have had their moments this season. Illinois has its work cut out for it. But Illinois fans should know that it didn't matter where they end up from a seeding standpoint this season. Nor who they play against. Illinois plays against their ability to make 3-point shots every night they take the floor. They're 4th in the nation in 3-point attempts per game. Problem with that: they're 322nd in 3-point makes per game. They have a lottery pick in Kas Jakucionis, Tomislav Ivisic has been good, Will Riley has NBA potential, Tre White and Kylan Boswell are double-digit scoring guards. On their best day they can beat just about anyone, on their worst day they lose to Duke by 50. Very intriguing team, would love to see them against Kentucky in the R32.

15 Bryant vs 2 Michigan State

9:00 pm

Cleveland, OH

MSU -18.5

I think if any of the 15's out there have a true chance to beat a 2 seed in this tournament, it would be Bryant. Bryant is a rare low-major team that actually has incredible size - 6'5, 6'6, 6'8, 6'8, 6'11 in their starting lineup. Earl Timberlake is a guy to keep an eye on as Bryant's best do-it-all option, leading the team in rebounds, assists, and blocks, while being 2nd on the team in scoring (15.5 ppg). Rafael Pinzon leads the way scoring at 18.5 ppg on 38% shooting from 3. They're 4th in the country in rebounds per game as a team, and with their size could legitimately pose problems for Michigan State. Tom Izzo's Spartans are a well-balanced team, but their strengths lie in their defense. Top 2 in all defensive efficiency metrics in the Big Ten, they also rebound the ball very well in comparison to their conference, but will have their hands full here. The guard trio of Freshman Jase Richardson, Jaden Akins, and Tre Holloman have shouldered the offensive load most of the year. Jaxon Kohler, Coen Carr, Frankie Fidler, Symon Zapala, and Xavier Booker piece together an interesting frontcourt that has size, athleticism, scoring prowess and defensive gifts scattered amongst them. I still think Izzo will have his team ready, but if any 15 is going to take down a 2, I think Bryant would have the best shot.

12 Liberty vs 5 Oregon

9:10 pm

Seattle, WA

ORE -6.5

Last game of the night! And boy is it a good one. The Liberty Flames held control of the C-USA regular season and conference tournament. They've played in a ton of close games this year and appear to be better for it. The Flames are Top 15 nationally in 3-point makes per game, Top 7 in 3-pt efficiency, 6th in FG%, and a Top 20 assist team. They are a lethal combination of efficient from 2 and 3 point range, while also controlling pace and ranking as the best defensive efficiency team in CUSA. In fact, Liberty is #9 in the country in opponent points per game and top 20 in opponent FG%. Watch out for Kaden Metheny - a 5'10 guard who went on a tear in the CUSA tourney and can shoot the crap out of the ball. Taelon Peter leads the team in scoring, while Zach Cleveland is both their best rebounder and assist man. Oregon has been to the tournament so many times under Dana Altman, it's become expected at this point. In their first year in the B1G, they went 12-8 in conference and 24-9 overall earning a bid. Nate Bittle - a 7-foot center down low can score at all 3-levels and is also a quality shot-blocker (2.2 a game). Jackson Shelstad was expected to be the offensive catalyst for this team, and despite some early struggles has become a strong lead guard wit TJ Bamba and Keeshawn Barthelemy contributing 10+ ppg from the backcourt as well. I like Oregon's construction and coach, but I love Liberty's efficiency and defensive metrics. I'll be interested to see how that defense in particular carries over against a Power 5 team in the Ducks.

FINALLY. There you have it. Enjoy another great day in the March Madness Tournament and we'll see you next time.