Winthrop (+9) vs. Washington State: O/U 112.5
After a 28-4 season in ’07, Winthrop was awarded a No.11 seed in the Midwest Regional where they upset Notre Dame before falling in the second round to Oregon. This season the Eagles haven’t been quite as sharp, but they fought their way back into the Big Dance drawing the No.13 seed in the East. Repeating last years success won’t be easy for the Big South champs; the fourth seeded Washington State Cougars figure to be focused after last season’s early exit.
Winthrop was dominant last year in their win over the Fighting Irish, but that team lost three starters as well as their head coach. The Eagles do almost all of their scoring from the perimeter as even their top rebounder, Taj McCullough, spends a decent amount of time away from the basket. Chris Gaynor is a deadly three-point shooter whose hit over 42% of his three’s on the year while managing over four assists and three rebounds a game. Robinson, Jenkins, and Gaynor make up a very athletic back court that really get’s after it on each end. Winthrop finished the season as one of the best scoring defenses in the country and they’ll count on that defense largely if they hope to stay close to the Cougars. The No.13 seed feeds off of turnovers, but those figure to be tough to come by against the methodical offense they’ll see on Thursday.
Washington State wound down the season in the top five in points allowed. WSU’s plan is to limit the possessions of their opposition and use a lot of motion in their offense to get looks for their shooters. This is not a team with overwhelming athletic ability, but they’re coached well, they limit their mistakes, they knock down their three’s, and they hit from the line. The true weakness that plagues this Cougar team is their ability to rebound. They don’t lack in size or effort, they just aren’t a group that’s quick to the ball. Kyle Weaver is the key to this team’s offense and defense; he will be called upon to make a lot of plays and, hopefully for the Cougars, limit his turnovers.
Scoring has been a problem for each of these squads. Winthrop has only scored over 66 points once in its last six contests; WSU only averages 67 a game. Winthrop is athletic enough to chase Low and contain Weaver on the offensive end and they have enough size inside not to be embarrassed on the glass. This game is likely to see some scoring drought’s, but each team hits the three well enough to score 60-plus and push this game over. However, as well as each team performed defensively on the season, it’s tough or me to play the total here. I’ll be fading the public and taking the dog to keep this one close.
My play: Winthrop +9 -102 (matchbook)
After a 28-4 season in ’07, Winthrop was awarded a No.11 seed in the Midwest Regional where they upset Notre Dame before falling in the second round to Oregon. This season the Eagles haven’t been quite as sharp, but they fought their way back into the Big Dance drawing the No.13 seed in the East. Repeating last years success won’t be easy for the Big South champs; the fourth seeded Washington State Cougars figure to be focused after last season’s early exit.
Winthrop was dominant last year in their win over the Fighting Irish, but that team lost three starters as well as their head coach. The Eagles do almost all of their scoring from the perimeter as even their top rebounder, Taj McCullough, spends a decent amount of time away from the basket. Chris Gaynor is a deadly three-point shooter whose hit over 42% of his three’s on the year while managing over four assists and three rebounds a game. Robinson, Jenkins, and Gaynor make up a very athletic back court that really get’s after it on each end. Winthrop finished the season as one of the best scoring defenses in the country and they’ll count on that defense largely if they hope to stay close to the Cougars. The No.13 seed feeds off of turnovers, but those figure to be tough to come by against the methodical offense they’ll see on Thursday.
Washington State wound down the season in the top five in points allowed. WSU’s plan is to limit the possessions of their opposition and use a lot of motion in their offense to get looks for their shooters. This is not a team with overwhelming athletic ability, but they’re coached well, they limit their mistakes, they knock down their three’s, and they hit from the line. The true weakness that plagues this Cougar team is their ability to rebound. They don’t lack in size or effort, they just aren’t a group that’s quick to the ball. Kyle Weaver is the key to this team’s offense and defense; he will be called upon to make a lot of plays and, hopefully for the Cougars, limit his turnovers.
Scoring has been a problem for each of these squads. Winthrop has only scored over 66 points once in its last six contests; WSU only averages 67 a game. Winthrop is athletic enough to chase Low and contain Weaver on the offensive end and they have enough size inside not to be embarrassed on the glass. This game is likely to see some scoring drought’s, but each team hits the three well enough to score 60-plus and push this game over. However, as well as each team performed defensively on the season, it’s tough or me to play the total here. I’ll be fading the public and taking the dog to keep this one close.
My play: Winthrop +9 -102 (matchbook)
