The 16 team NIT Tournament is now down to its Final Four with each team advancing on Thursday night. So before you sit back to enjoy what the NCAA Tournament offers up in the first installment of Saturday’s Sweet Sixteen, you might want to take a gander to see what’s going down in Texas first. Top seeded CSU and Memphis will kick things off before fourth seeded Mississippi State collides with Louisiana Tech in a battle of Bulldogs. Both games will be held at the Comerica Center in Frisco, TX. We made out nicely in the quarterfinals cashing three of four tickets at online sportsbooks with the Rams coming back to defeat the Wolfpack, the Broncos staying within the number and La Tech taking care of the Hilltoppers. The following are my selections for both semifinal bouts with a trip to the title game on the line.
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Colorado State +4
If you read my breakdown of the Rams heading into Thursday’s tilt against NC State, you know I’m very bullish on Nico Medved’s squad. Not just right now, but moving forward. He’s got a young up and coming roster that never backs down to anyone and always brings its “A” game to the hardwood. That was very much apparent in the comeback win against the Wolfpack after trailing by three and scoring only 25 points in the first half to drop 40 over the final 20 minutes and put the squeeze on to log the 65-61 outright win and cover. The team shot 44 percent from the field with the trio of Isaiah Stevens (18), David Roddy (16/11) and Kendle Moore (16) doing their thing. Had Adam Thistlewood not missed all seven of his 3-point shots and go scoreless, they would’ve been even more efficient offensively. Most impressive was the team knocking 10 of its 11 attempted free throws down and forcing 17 NCST turnovers.
While Memphis was never in a position to lose the game to Boise State in the second half, it sure let the Broncos believe it could pull off the feat. Reason being, free throw shooting. Memphis flat out sucks from the charity stripe! Just ask those that laid the four points if they agree with that statement or not. Had they converted late, Memphis would’ve covered with ease. They didn’t. As great the Tigers defense is with the unit ranked No. 1 overall per the current Pomeroy Ratings, the offense simply just doesn’t pass the eye test for me. It’s way too streaky and reliant upon excellent shooting. CSU is much better at that end of the floor, and it will show in this one as they win outright for the second straight time to punch a ticket to the title game.
Mississippi State -2.5
According to KenPom, Mississippi State and Louisiana Tech rate out almost identically with the former ranked No. 77 overall while the latter chimes in at No. 76. With that, it comes with little surprise to see linemakers expecting a close one when these teams close out Saturday’s festivities. But should the Dawgs be the favored side? It opening up the possession chalk even though it ranks out lower than its opponent is telling in my book. So too is the fact that Hail State needed a closing seconds 3-ball to ring true just to get by a Richmond team lacking in personnel. Even so, Ben Howland’s squad was able to survive and advance. As for the other Bulldogs, they had no issues winning the season rivalry from Western Kentucky after taking a 39-31 lead with it into halftime before going on to win by a 72-65 final count as short 1-point favorites.
Though the Bulldogs from Ruston hooked me up in the last round, I’ll be looking to fade them in this spot. As great the nation’s No. 28 ranked efficiency defense has been to this point of the season, it’s about to get a second taste of what SEC hoops is all about with Iverson Molinar representing one of the best athletes it will have run up against to date. The first go round against LSU didn’t go too well with Trendon Watford and company dropping 86 points on their heads in a 31 point defeat. Familiarity has aided La Tech to this point, but that won’t be the case on Saturday afternoon. Miss State has taken on a much tougher cast of opponents and that should help propel it past this CUSA opponent and into the finals.
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