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2013 Bracket Buster
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Bracket Buster 2012
Friday Bracket Buster Games
Northern Iowa vs. VCU - 7:00 p.m. ET, Feb. 17, ESPN2
Northern Iowa comes into the game at 17-11, but 7-9 in the MVC. James and Koch lead the Panthers in scoring and rebounding. They will have to try to slow down the Rams attack led by G-F Bradford Burgess. Burgess was one of the leaders on last year's final four squad. Both teams average fewer than 70 pts per game. A pretty good match-up of two will known mid major teams. I'm going to give the edge to VCU. Prediction: VCU W
Return Game Value: A
Valparaiso vs. LMU - 9:00 p.m. ET, Feb. 17, ESPN2
Both teams are averaging over 70 points per contest. This should be an exciting high scoring game. Valpo is sitting in 1st place in the HL. In 8 of their 9 losses the crusaders gave up at least 70 points. LMU has 4 players averaging over 10 points per game. The Lions have a good win over Saint Louis and St. Mary's this year and started off the season by knocking off UCLA. Prediction: Valparaiso L
Return Game Value: A
Northern Iowa comes into the game at 17-11, but 7-9 in the MVC. James and Koch lead the Panthers in scoring and rebounding. They will have to try to slow down the Rams attack led by G-F Bradford Burgess. Burgess was one of the leaders on last year's final four squad. Both teams average fewer than 70 pts per game. A pretty good match-up of two will known mid major teams. I'm going to give the edge to VCU. Prediction: VCU W
Return Game Value: A
Valparaiso vs. LMU - 9:00 p.m. ET, Feb. 17, ESPN2
Both teams are averaging over 70 points per contest. This should be an exciting high scoring game. Valpo is sitting in 1st place in the HL. In 8 of their 9 losses the crusaders gave up at least 70 points. LMU has 4 players averaging over 10 points per game. The Lions have a good win over Saint Louis and St. Mary's this year and started off the season by knocking off UCLA. Prediction: Valparaiso L
Return Game Value: A
Saturday Bracket Buster Games
Drexel vs. Cleveland State - 11:00 a.m. ET, Feb. 18, ESPNU
Cleveland State started of the season with a win at Vanderbilt, since that game they've reeled of 19 more wins. Currently sitting in second place in the HL. Drexel defense is what makes them tough to play in 19 of their 23 games they have held their opponents under 60 points. The Dragons aren't a big team, they have only two players in their rotation over 6'7. The Vikings also have a small rotation. This match-up will be a defensive battle. If Brown plays for the Vikings I would take them, but without him I like the Dragons. Prediction: Drexel W
Return Game Value: B
Wichita State vs. Davidson - 12:00 p.m. ET, Feb. 18, ESPN or ESPN2
Wichita has to make the long trip to Davidson. Wichita had an RPI in the 30s when the matchups were made. Davidson was in the 60s. This matchup benefits Davidson a lot more then Wichita. Davidson already has a win over Kansas, but a recent loss to Samford dropped their RPI. Both teams are high scoring averaging over 75 points per game. Bench play could be the key to the game. Prediction: Wichita St W
Return Game Value: C
Buffalo vs. South Dakota State - 1:00 p.m. ET, Feb. 18, ESPNU
Another matchup of two high scoring teams. Buffalo hasn't played well on the road this season. South Dakota St. has yet to lose at home. Junior Nate Wolters leads the Jackrabbits with 20 ppg, 5 reb, and 6 ast a game. If South Dakota St. can contain McCrea and Watt the Jackrabbits should handle the Bulls. Prediction: South Dakota State W
Return Game Value: C
Akron vs. Oral Roberts - 2:00 p.m. ET, Feb. 18, ESPN or ESPN2
Oral Roberts is hot as of the matchup announcement having won 13 in a row. Dominque Morrison is averaging over 20 points a game, Akron will need to contain him and not let him alone beat them. Where Akron has the advantage is their size. Zeke Marshall is a 7ft center and pretty athletic. Cventinovic is also a pretty good big man for the Zips. Prediction: Oral Roberts W
Return Game Value: C+
Drake vs. New Mexico State - 3:00 p.m. ET, Feb. 18, ESPNU
New Mexico St. plays at a faster pace than Drake. Tempo could be a key to this game. NMST is averaging over 40 boards a game. Drake will need to keep them of the boards to stay in the game. Wendell McKines is the go to guy for the Aggies. Drakes duo Rayvonte Rice and Ben Simmons will have to pace the Bulldogs. Both players are averaging over 16 points per game. Prediction: New Mexico State W
Return Game Value: B
Nevada vs. Iona - 4:00 p.m. ET, Feb. 18. ESPN or ESPN2
Some fans seemed to be disappointed with this matchup. I'm not disappointed at all. The guard play is off the charts. Nevada has Burton and Story. Iona has Jones, Machado and Armand. An interesting battle will be Glover and Hunt, both players avg. over 9 rebounds a game. Nevada will have to keep up with Iona's pace. One of the tougher games to predict. Prediction: Iona W
Return Game Value: B
Old Dominion vs. Missouri State - 5:00 p.m. ET, Feb. 18, ESPNU
Who is going to be the star of the game? Missouri St. Kyle Weems or Old Dominion Kent Bazemore. The better question is other than those two players who are going to step up? Battle of the two big men Caleb Patterson and Chris Cooper. Cooper will need to take some away some of Patersons 10 rebounds a game. Prediction: Missouri State
Return Game Value: C L
No. 21 Saint Mary's vs. No. 16 Murray State - 6:00 p.m. ET, Feb. 18, ESPN or ESPN2
The best matchup of Bracketbuster 2012. The Racers are currently undefeated and have two great players in their backcourt, Canaan and Poole. Saint Mary's Dellavedova will have has hands full trying to stop Canaan and Poole. If Saint Mary's as a whole can contain those two. Saint Mary's Rob Jones will pose a tough challenge for the Racers. He is a game changer averaging a double-double. Prediction: Murray State W
Return Game Value: C+
UNC-Asheville vs. Ohio - 7:00 p.m. ET, Feb. 18, ESPN3
Another great back court matchup. UNC-Asheville has a high scoring attack led by J.P. Primm and Matt Dickey. On the other side you have D.J. Cooper you may remember him in the first round of the tournament vs. Gtown.The Bobcats will have to try to slow down the Bulldogs attack. Prediction: UNC-Asheville L
Return Game Value: C+
UT-Arlington vs. Weber State - 8:00 p.m., Feb. 18, ESPN3
Weber State has one of the top guards in the country, Damian Lillard whose averaging over 25 points a game. UT-Arlington will spread the scoring around going 9 deep in their rotation. This will be a good test for both teams. Prediction: Weber State W
Return Game Value:C (if Lillard returns I'd say it's a B)
Long Beach State vs. Creighton - 10:00 p.m. ET, Feb. 18, ESPN2
The second best matchup of the Bracketbusters. This will be another tough test for LBST who have already played 6 teams in the top 50. Casper Ware and Larry Anderson lead the offense attack. For the Bluejays Doug McDermott will lead the charge averaging over 23 points a game. Prediction: Long Beach State L
Return game Value: C+
Cleveland State started of the season with a win at Vanderbilt, since that game they've reeled of 19 more wins. Currently sitting in second place in the HL. Drexel defense is what makes them tough to play in 19 of their 23 games they have held their opponents under 60 points. The Dragons aren't a big team, they have only two players in their rotation over 6'7. The Vikings also have a small rotation. This match-up will be a defensive battle. If Brown plays for the Vikings I would take them, but without him I like the Dragons. Prediction: Drexel W
Return Game Value: B
Wichita State vs. Davidson - 12:00 p.m. ET, Feb. 18, ESPN or ESPN2
Wichita has to make the long trip to Davidson. Wichita had an RPI in the 30s when the matchups were made. Davidson was in the 60s. This matchup benefits Davidson a lot more then Wichita. Davidson already has a win over Kansas, but a recent loss to Samford dropped their RPI. Both teams are high scoring averaging over 75 points per game. Bench play could be the key to the game. Prediction: Wichita St W
Return Game Value: C
Buffalo vs. South Dakota State - 1:00 p.m. ET, Feb. 18, ESPNU
Another matchup of two high scoring teams. Buffalo hasn't played well on the road this season. South Dakota St. has yet to lose at home. Junior Nate Wolters leads the Jackrabbits with 20 ppg, 5 reb, and 6 ast a game. If South Dakota St. can contain McCrea and Watt the Jackrabbits should handle the Bulls. Prediction: South Dakota State W
Return Game Value: C
Akron vs. Oral Roberts - 2:00 p.m. ET, Feb. 18, ESPN or ESPN2
Oral Roberts is hot as of the matchup announcement having won 13 in a row. Dominque Morrison is averaging over 20 points a game, Akron will need to contain him and not let him alone beat them. Where Akron has the advantage is their size. Zeke Marshall is a 7ft center and pretty athletic. Cventinovic is also a pretty good big man for the Zips. Prediction: Oral Roberts W
Return Game Value: C+
Drake vs. New Mexico State - 3:00 p.m. ET, Feb. 18, ESPNU
New Mexico St. plays at a faster pace than Drake. Tempo could be a key to this game. NMST is averaging over 40 boards a game. Drake will need to keep them of the boards to stay in the game. Wendell McKines is the go to guy for the Aggies. Drakes duo Rayvonte Rice and Ben Simmons will have to pace the Bulldogs. Both players are averaging over 16 points per game. Prediction: New Mexico State W
Return Game Value: B
Nevada vs. Iona - 4:00 p.m. ET, Feb. 18. ESPN or ESPN2
Some fans seemed to be disappointed with this matchup. I'm not disappointed at all. The guard play is off the charts. Nevada has Burton and Story. Iona has Jones, Machado and Armand. An interesting battle will be Glover and Hunt, both players avg. over 9 rebounds a game. Nevada will have to keep up with Iona's pace. One of the tougher games to predict. Prediction: Iona W
Return Game Value: B
Old Dominion vs. Missouri State - 5:00 p.m. ET, Feb. 18, ESPNU
Who is going to be the star of the game? Missouri St. Kyle Weems or Old Dominion Kent Bazemore. The better question is other than those two players who are going to step up? Battle of the two big men Caleb Patterson and Chris Cooper. Cooper will need to take some away some of Patersons 10 rebounds a game. Prediction: Missouri State
Return Game Value: C L
No. 21 Saint Mary's vs. No. 16 Murray State - 6:00 p.m. ET, Feb. 18, ESPN or ESPN2
The best matchup of Bracketbuster 2012. The Racers are currently undefeated and have two great players in their backcourt, Canaan and Poole. Saint Mary's Dellavedova will have has hands full trying to stop Canaan and Poole. If Saint Mary's as a whole can contain those two. Saint Mary's Rob Jones will pose a tough challenge for the Racers. He is a game changer averaging a double-double. Prediction: Murray State W
Return Game Value: C+
UNC-Asheville vs. Ohio - 7:00 p.m. ET, Feb. 18, ESPN3
Another great back court matchup. UNC-Asheville has a high scoring attack led by J.P. Primm and Matt Dickey. On the other side you have D.J. Cooper you may remember him in the first round of the tournament vs. Gtown.The Bobcats will have to try to slow down the Bulldogs attack. Prediction: UNC-Asheville L
Return Game Value: C+
UT-Arlington vs. Weber State - 8:00 p.m., Feb. 18, ESPN3
Weber State has one of the top guards in the country, Damian Lillard whose averaging over 25 points a game. UT-Arlington will spread the scoring around going 9 deep in their rotation. This will be a good test for both teams. Prediction: Weber State W
Return Game Value:C (if Lillard returns I'd say it's a B)
Long Beach State vs. Creighton - 10:00 p.m. ET, Feb. 18, ESPN2
The second best matchup of the Bracketbusters. This will be another tough test for LBST who have already played 6 teams in the top 50. Casper Ware and Larry Anderson lead the offense attack. For the Bluejays Doug McDermott will lead the charge averaging over 23 points a game. Prediction: Long Beach State L
Return game Value: C+
Check out the my College Basketball Stadium Rankings
Non TV Bracket Buster Matchups
Top Non TV GamesCampbell (Big South) @ Northwestern State (Southland)
College of Charleston (SoCon) @ Kent State (MAC) Fairfield (MAAC) @ UW-Milwaukee (Horizon) Georgia State (CAA) @ UT-San Antontio (Southland) Hawaii (WAC) @ Montana (Big Sky) Indiana State (MVC) @ Butler (Horizon) Lamar (Southland)@ George Mason (CAA) Oakland (Summit) @ Illinois State (MVC) Stony Brook (A-East) @ Northeastern (CAA) Tennessee Tech (OVC) @ Coastal Carolina (Big South) UC-Santa Barbara (Big West) @ Utah State (WAC) UNC-Wilmington (CAA) @ Manhattan (MAAC) Western Michigan (MAC) @ North Dakota State (Summit) Wofford (SoCon) @ Charleston Southern (Big South) |
PredictionsCampbell
Kent State UW-Milwaukee Georgia State Montana Butler George Mason Oakland Stony Brook Tennessee Tech UC-Santa Barbara Manhattan North Dakota State Wofford |