(3) Kansas vs (14) Eastern Washington – 1:15 PM ET
Kansas (20-8) had defeated Oklahoma to advance to the semifinals of the Big 12 tournament, but opted to cancel their remaining contests. They enter as an at-large bid. Kansas enters on a three-game winning streak and they have won eight of their last nine games.
The Jayhawks average 73.3 ppg while allowing 65.9 per contest, 70th best in the country. They are shooting 43.9% from the field and 34.3% from three-point range. Kansas is an outstanding rebounding team, averaging 35.9 rebounds per game.
Ochai Agbaji is the leading scorer for Kansas at 13.7 ppg. He is shooting 41.7% from the field, but is only a 68.2% free-throw shooter. Jalen Wilson is averaging 12.2 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. He has also been a poor free-throw shooter at 61.1%.
𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 is what we work for 😤#MarchMadness x #KUbball pic.twitter.com/DMx7rV8b3w
— Kansas Basketball (@KUHoops) March 20, 2021
Eastern Washington (16-7) enters as an automatic bid out of the Big Sky conference. The Eagles won their last four games and have won nine of their last 10 overall. They defeated Montana State in the conference championship, 65-55.
Eastern Washington is averaging 79.3 ppg, 34th in the nation, while allowing 71.6 points per game. They are shooting 46.7% from the field, 52nd in the nation, and 36.1% from three-point range, 71st overall.
These Eagles are outstanding from the free-throw line, connecting on 79.1% of free-throw attempts, ninth overall in the country. Eastern Washington is led in scoring by Tanner Groves at 16.5 ppg.
He is the second leading rebounder on the team at 7.9 per contest. Kim Aiken is second in scoring (12.0) and first at rebounding (8.4). Both are outstanding shooters.
March Madness Pick – Kansas (-670)
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(5) Creighton vs (12) UCSB – 3:30 PM ET
Creighton (20-8) lost to Georgetown in the Big East tournament. They enter as an at-large bid. The Bluejays have won seven of their last 10 games. Creighton is averaging 78.4 ppg, 42nd in the nation, while allowing 69.1 points per game.
The Bluejays are an outstanding shooting team, hitting 48.2% of their shots from the field, 29th overall, and 36.8% of their three-point attempts, 52nd in the nation. However, they have been a terrible free-throw shooting team, hitting 65.1% of their attempts, 26th from the bottom.
Creighton is led in scoring by Marcus Zegarowski at 15.4 ppg. He has been solid shooting from anywhere on the court, hitting 44.2% of its field-goal attempts, 39.5% of three-point attempts, and 77.3% of his free throws. Four other players are averaging in double digits.
UC-Santa Barbara (22-4) earned an automatic bid by winning the Big West conference title. They defeated UCI in the finals, 79-63, their fifth straight victory. The Gauchos are averaging 75.8 ppg, 67th in the nation, while allowing 62.1 points per game, 23rd overall.
UCSB is shooting 48.6% from the field, 20th overall, and 35.4% from three-point range, 96 in the nation. They are a solid free-throw shooting team as well, hitting 74.3% of their attempts, 62nd in the country.
The Gauchos are led in scoring by Jaquon McLaughlin at 15.6 ppg. He is shooting 48.3% from the field and is an outstanding free-throw shooter at 86.8%. Amadou Sow is averaging 13.0 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. He is shooting 56.9% from the field and 79.7% from the free-throw line.
March Madness Pick – Creighton (-320)
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(6) USC vs (11) Drake – 4:30 PM ET
USC (22-7) lost to Colorado in the semifinals of the Pac-12 tournament, 72-70. They enter as an at-large bid. The Trojans are averaging 74.3 ppg while allowing 64.1 points per contest, 46th overall.
USC has been outstanding on the glass, averaging 36.5 rebounds per game, 24th in the nation, and they are 32nd in offensive rebounds per game at 10.7. The team is shooting 46.5% from the field, 62nd overall, but is hitting just 64.4% of their free throws, 325th in the nation.
The Trojans are led by Evan Mobley at 16.1 points and 8.6 rebounds per game. Mobley is hitting 58.2% of his shots, but is a 69.9% free-throw shooter. Tahj Eaddy is the only other player averaging in double digits for USC at 13.8 points per game.
Final prep. #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/4A4OL5YGXt
— USC Men’s Basketball (@USC_Hoops) March 19, 2021
Drake (26-4) earned an at-large bid after losing in the conference tournament to Loyola-Chicago. They already played in the First Four round, beating Wichita State, 53-52. The Bulldogs are averaging 78.1 ppg, 43rd in the nation, while allowing 64.1 points per game, 46th in the country.
Drake is shooting 49.8% from the field, 10th in the nation and 37.3% from three-point range, 39th overall. The Bulldogs are led in scoring by Shanquan Hemphill at 14.1 ppg. He also leads the team in rebounding at 6.3 per contest. Hemphill is an outstanding shooter, hitting 50.7% of its field-goal attempts, but is only hitting 64.9% free throws.
March Madness Pick – USC (-260)
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(2) Iowa vs (15) Grand Canyon University – 6:25 PM ET
Iowa (21-8) lost in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament, entering as an at-large bid. Iowa has won four straight games and has won eight of their last 10 overall. The Hawkeyes are averaging 85.0 points per game, fourth in the nation, while allowing 72.1 ppg.
Iowa is an outstanding rebounding team, sixth in the country at 38.2 rebounds per game. They are 49th in offensive rebounds (10.2) and seventh in defensive rebounds (28.0).
The Hawkeyes are an outstanding shooting team as well, hitting 47.4% of their field-goal attempts, 42nd in the country, and 39.6% of shots from three-point range, third overall.
Iowa is led by Luka Garza, who is having an outstanding season at 23.8 points per game and 8.7 rebounds per contest. Garza is shooting 55.0% from the field.
GCU (17-6) earned an automatic bid by winning the WAC conference tournament. The Antelopes defeated New Mexico State for the title, 74-56. They enter on a three-game winning streak.
Grand Canyon is averaging 75.4 ppg, 77th in the nation, while allowing 62.0 points per game, 22nd overall. The Antelopes are 28th in rebounding at 36.2 per game, including 14th in defensive rebounds at 27.3 per contest.
They are an outstanding shooting team as well, hitting on 49.2% of their field-goal attempts, but only 67.6% free-throw attempts. The Antelopes are led by Asbjorn Midtgaard at 14.3 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. He is shooting 71.5% from the field. Alessandro Lever is second in scoring at 14.0 points per game.
March Madness Pick – Iowa (-1500)
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(4) Virginia vs (13) Ohio – 7:15 PM ET
Virginia (18-6) enters the game as the reigning national champions and they earned an automatic bid by defeating Syracuse in the ACC tournament finals, 72-69. Virginia is a solid shooting team, hitting 48.1% of their field-goal attempts, 31st in the nation, and 38.6% of three-point attempts, 13th overall.
They are third in free-throw percentage at 81.2%. Despite all of this, they are only averaging 68.5 points per game. It is defensively where they are great, allowing 60.1 points per game, 13th overall.
The Cavaliers are led in scoring by Sam Hauser at 15.8 ppg. He is second in rebounding at 6.8 per contest. Jay Huff is first in rebounds at 6.9 per game and is averaging 13.1 points per contest.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗶𝘃𝗲
1️⃣ Derek Culver
2️⃣ Jalen Bridges
4️⃣ Miles McBride
1️⃣1️⃣ Emmitt Matthews Jr.
2️⃣2️⃣ Sean McNeil#HailWV pic.twitter.com/0EDVUnXbqz— WVU Men’s Basketball (@WVUhoops) March 20, 2021
Ohio (16-7) enters as an automatic bid after winning the MAC conference tournament. They defeated Buffalo in the finals, 84-69. The Bobcats are 25th in the nation in scoring 80.2 points per game and are allowing 73.7 points per contest.
Ohio is averaging 48.4% from the field, 24th overall. The Bobcats are led in scoring by Jason Preston at 15.4 ppg. He is second in rebounding at 7.2 per contest and leads the team in assists per game at 7.6. Dwight Wilson is close behind at 15.2 points and 7.3 rebounds per game.
March Madness Pick – Virginia (-370)
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(8) Oklahoma vs (9) Missouri – 7:25 PM ET
Oklahoma (15-10) enters as an at-large bid after losing to Kansas in the Big 12 conference tournament. They have lost five of their last six games overall. The Sooners are averaging 75.1 ppg, 79th in the nation, while allowing 69.1 points per game.
Oklahoma is shooting 43.8% from the field and 74.2% from the free-throw line, 64th overall. The Sooners are led by Austin Reaves at 17.5 points and 5.7 rebounds per contest. He also leads the team at 4.9 assists per game. Reaves has been an outstanding free-throw shooter at 87.1%. DeVion Harmon is second in scoring at 13.0 points per game.
Missouri (16-9) lost to Arkansas in the second round of the SEC tournament, 70-64. They also enter as an at-large bid. The Razorbacks are averaging 74.1 ppg while allowing 72.1 points per game. They are shooting 45.1% from the field but have not been very good from beyond the arc (31.9%) or from the free-throw line (69.7%).
Arkansas is led in scoring by Dru Smith at 14.1pg. He is a 44.7% shooter, hitting on 83.3% of his shots from the free-throw line. Xavier Pinson is second on the team in scoring 14.0 points per game. Jeremiah Tilmon is the leading rebounder at 7.4 boards per game and is averaging 12.5 points per contest.
March Madness Pick – Missouri (+112)
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(1) Gonzaga vs (16) Norfolk State – 9:20 PM ET
Gonzaga (26-0) enters as the only undefeated team in the country, winning the WCC tournament to earn an automatic bid. Gonzaga has won 31 straight games dating back to last season. This is an outstanding shooting team, first in the country in points per game at 92.9, while allowing 69.3 points per contest.
They are shooting 55.3% from the field, first overall, and 36.1% from three-point range, 69th overall. The Bulldogs have been great from the free-throw line as well, hitting on 73.2% of their attempts, 93rd overall. They are 44th in rebounding at 35.5 boards per contest.
Gonzaga is led in scoring by Corey Kispert at 19.5 ppg. He is shooting 55.6% from the field, 46.3% from three-point range, and 88.9% from the free-throw line. Drew Timme is averaging 18.9 points and 7.1 rebounds per game.
Made 𝖎𝖓 March
Made 𝖋𝖔𝖗 March pic.twitter.com/cylaJwC1Lp— Gonzaga Basketball (@ZagMBB) March 20, 2021
Norfolk State (17-7) enters as an automatic bid after winning the MEAC title. They defeated Appalachian State in the finals, 54-53. The Spartans are averaging 74.9 ppg, 87th overall, while allowing 70.0 points per game.
The Spartans are averaging 43.5% from the field and 36.4% from three-point range, 64th overall. Norfolk State is led by DeVante Carter at 15.9 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. He is shooting 43.2% from the field, but only 68.6% from the free-throw line.
Joe Bryant is the only other Spartans player averaging in double digits at 10.2 points per game. He has been outstanding from the line, hitting 86.0% of his free-throw attempts.
March Madness Pick – Gonzaga (-8000)
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(7) Oregon vs (10) VCU – 9:57 PM ET
Oregon (20-6) enters as an at-large bid after losing to arch-rivals Oregon State in the Pac-12 Conference tournament, 75-64. That snapped a six-game winning streak for the Ducks. Oregon is averaging 74.1 ppg while allowing 66.9 points per game, 91st in the nation.
They are shooting 46.9% from the field, 49th overall, and 38.0% from three-point range, 27th in the country. The Ducks are led in scoring by Chris Duarte, averaging 17.3 ppg. Duarte is hitting 53.3% of his shots, including 44.0% from three-point range.
He has been great from the free-throw line as well, connecting on 80.6% of free-throw attempts. Four other Oregon players are averaging in double digits, including Eric Williams who leads the team in rebounds at 6.4 per contest.
VCU (19-7) lost to St. Bonaventure in the Atlantic 10 Conference tournament, earning an at-large bid. The Rams have lost three of their last six games. VCU is averaging 72.3 ppg while allowing 65.2 points per contest, 61st overall.
The Rams are shooting 44.9% from the field and 76.3% from the free-throw line, 32nd overall. VCU is led in scoring by Nay’Shon Hyland at 19.2 ppg. He is averaging 4.4 rebounds as well. Vince Williams is the only other Rams player averaging in double digits at 11.1 points per game and he is tied for the team lead in rebounds at 5.2 per contest.
March Madness Pick – Oregon (-240)
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*Odds and spreads correct at time of publication, courtesy of Bet365.
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