(2) Iowa vs (7) Oregon – 12:10 PM ET
Iowa (22-8) opened the tournament with a 12-point victory over Grand Canyon University, 86-74. Luka Garza scored 24 points and added six rebounds to lead the Hawkeyes to victory. He was nine of 16 from the field, including four of five from three-point range. Joe Weiskamp scored 16 points and added five assists and eight rebounds. Keegan Murray came off the bench to score 13.
Iowa is averaging 85.0 ppg, fourth overall in the country, while allowing 72.1 points per game. They are shooting 47.4% from the field, 42nd overall, and 39.6% from three-point range, third in the nation. They are an outstanding rebounding team, 49th in offensive rebounds at 10.2 per game and sixth overall at 38.2 p rebounds per contest. Garza is having an outstanding season at 23.8 points and 8.7 rebounds per contest. Garza is shooting 55.0% from the field.
Senior @LukaG_55 surpassed 700 points this season in last night’s win over Grand Canyon.
Garza is the only player in school history with two 700-point seasons. 💪 pic.twitter.com/dbmizEPArz
— Iowa Basketball (@IowaHoops) March 21, 2021
Oregon (21-6) advanced to the next round after VCU opted not to play due to Covid-19 concerns. That gives the Ducks an extra couple of days to prepare for Iowa and rest their team.
Oregon averaged 74.1 ppg during the regular season, while allowing 66.9 points per contest, 91st in the nation. The team’s shooting 46.9% from the field, 49th in the country, and 38.0% from three-point range, 27th overall. Chris Duarte leads the Ducks in scoring, averaging 17.3 points per contest while 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.
March Madness Pick – Iowa (-175)
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(1) Gonzaga vs (8) Oklahoma – 2:40 PM ET
Gonzaga (27-0) continued their undefeated run with a 98-55 victory over Norfolk State in the opening round. The Bulldogs were led by Corey Kispert with 23 points. Kispert shot eight of 12 from the field, including six of nine from three-point range. Joel Ayayi came within one rebound of a double-double, scoring 15 points and adding nine boards. Anton Watson came off the bench to score 17 points.
There is a clear reason why Gonzaga are undefeated and were the number one team all season, ranking first for points per game at 92.9 per contest while allowing just 69.3 per game. The +23.6 point differential is the best in the country. They are shooting 55.3% from the field, first in the nation, and are 69th in three-point shooting at 36.1% and have been excellent from the free-throw line as well, hitting 73.2% of their free-throw attempts, 93rd overall. The Bulldogs are 44th in rebounding at 35.5 per game. 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 dominating inside, averaging 18.9 points and 7.1 rebounds per game.
Oklahoma (16-10) defeated Missouri in their first-round matchup, 72-68. The Sooners were led by Austin Reeves with 23 points and six assists. Reeves shot just six of 16 from the field, but hit 10 of 12 free throws. Brady Manek finished with 19 points and Elijah Harkless recorded a double-double, scoring 16 points and adding 10 rebounds.
Oklahoma is averaging 75.1 points per game, 79th in the country, while allowing 69.1 ppg. They are shooting 43.8% from the field, but have been a solid free-throw shooting team, connecting on 74.2% of their attempts, 64th overall. Reaves leads the Sooners in scoring at 17.5 points per game and he is averaging 5.7 boards 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.
March Madness Pick – Gonzaga (-1500)
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(5) Creighton vs (13) Ohio – 6:10 PM ET
Creighton (21-8) opened with a 63-62 victory over UC-Santa Barbara. The Bluejays held a four-point lead heading into the half, but had to stave off a late rally by the Gauchos to earn the victory. Marcus Zegarowski scored 17 points and added eight rebounds to lead Creighton. He hit 7 of 11 shots, including three of six from three-point range. Denzel Mahoney finished with 13 points, but hit only five of 14 shots, including three of nine from three-point range. Christian Bishop recorded a double-double with 11 rebounds and 15 points.
Creighton is 42nd in the nation at 78.4 points per game while allowing 69.1 points per contest. The Bluejays are shooting 48.2% from the field, 29th overall, and 36.8% from three-point range, 52nd in the country. This is not a very good free-throw shooting team, hitting 65.1% of their attempts. They were four of seven in the victory over UCSB. Creighton is led in scoring by 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.
On Monday it’ll be Creighton vs. Ohio with a trip to the Sweet 16 on the line.
PREVIEW: https://t.co/2AIMSPPNPb pic.twitter.com/ooKNodp74a
— Creighton Men’s Basketball (@BluejayMBB) March 21, 2021
Ohio (17-7) pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the first round, defeating Virginia, 62-58. Ben Vamder Plas led the team with 17 points, hitting seven of 15 shots. Jason Preston recorded a double-double with 13 rebounds and 11 points and came two assists away from a triple-double. Ben Roderick scored 15 points.
The Bobcats are 25th in the country, averaging 80.2 ppg, while allowing 73.7 points per game. They are 24th in the nation at 48.4% shooting from the field. 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 – Creighton (-240)
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(3) Kansas vs (6) USC – 9:40 PM ET
Kansas (21-8) defeated Eastern Washington to open the tournament, 93-64. Kansas trailed by eight entering the half, but came alive in the second half, outscoring the Hawks by 17. David McCormack came off the bench to have a huge game, scoring 22 points and adding nine rebounds. Ochai Agbaji added 21 points and seven boards and Marcus Garrett recorded 20 points and eight rebounds.
Kansas is averaging 73.3 ppg and have been a solid defensive team, allowing 65.9 points per contest, 70th overall. The Jayhawks are shooting 43.9% from the field and 34.3% from three-point range. They are a very good rebounding team, averaging 35.9 boards per contest. 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. The Jayhawks are also getting 12.2 points and 8.2 rebounds per game from Jalen Wilson, however he has also been a poor free-throw shooter at 61.1%.
USC (23-7) defeated Drake in the opening-round, 72-56. They held the Bulldogs to just 19 points in the second half. Evan Mobley led the Trojans in scoring with 17 points and completed the double-double with 11 rebounds. Tahj Eaddy came one point away from a double-double, recording 10 assists and nine points.
USC is averaging 74.3 ppg and are 46th in the nation allowing 64.1 points per contest. The Trojans are shooting 46.5% from the field, 62nd overall, but have been a poor free-throw shooting team as well, hitting 64.4% of their attempts. USC has been outstanding on the glass, averaging 36.5 rebounds per game, 24th overall. The Trojans are led by Mobley at 16.1 points and 8.6 rebounds per game. Mobley is connecting on 58.2% of his shots, but is just 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.
March Madness Pick – Kansas (-102)
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*Odds and spreads correct at time of publication, courtesy of Bet365.
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