The finals of the Big East Tournament takes place tonight and we will see the Syracuse Orangemen take on the Louisville Cardinals. The game is scheduled for an 8:30 pm (Eastern) start time and will be televised on ESPN. Currently the Odds for the game have Louisville favored by 5.5 points while the total sits at 124.
Analysis: As a founding member of the Big East, Syracuse’s consistent excellence has contributed greatly to the conference’s rise as an elite league since its formation in 1980. In a brutal slugfest with top-seed Georgetown on Friday, Syracuse outlasted the Hoyas in overtime, 58-55 to advance to the tournament final. This run has been a bit of a surprise for Syracuse which didn't come into the postseason with much momentum losing three of its last four games of the regular season. The Orange are in search of their sixth tournament title and first since 2006 when current assistant coach Gerry McNamara carried the ninth-seeded Orange to a stunning title run. James Southerland hit four 3-pointers and is 16-for-25 beyond the arc in three tournament games. The 16 3-pointers moved him into a tie with Orange assistant coach Gerry McNamara - a former Syracuse star - for the tournament record. C.J. Fair also achieved a bit of history, passing the 1,000-point mark with an emphatic dunk in overtime. Little-used Trevor Cooney contributed 10 points off the bench Friday – one point more than he had scored in the previous seven games combined. Fellow reserve Baye Keita scored 13 points and went 7-for-7 from the foul line despite entering the game as a 48.6 percent foul shooter.
Louisville has saved its best basketball for the stretch run as its 69-57 win over Notre Dame in the semifinals was its 12th win in the last 13 games. Nine of those wins have come by at least 14 points for Louisville which is trying to defend its tournament title from a year ago. Rick Pitino's Cardinals own the best overall mark in the league (28-5) and are likely a lock for a No. 1 seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament should they close out strong. Peyton Siva, last year’s tournament MVP, put on a dazzling defensive display Friday. His seven steals tied a career high, matched a tournament record held by 10 other players and allowed him to break Darrell Griffith’s school record for career steals. Following the game, coach Rick Pitino said, “Siva kept bailing us out one rotation after another. He’s just an incredible player.” The Cardinals recorded 11 steals against the Irish – their 24th game with at least 10. Leading scorer Russ Smith went 3-for-4 from the foul line and has made 179 foul shots, breaking Wes Unseld’s single-season school record of 177 from the 1967-68 season. Louisville has won six straight games in the Big East tournament, which is the fifth-longest winning streak in the event’s history.
Pick: I am looking at the Cuse in this one. hey have Gotten their offense straightened out and their defense has been playing very good of late as well. Syracuse will also get a solid home crowd edge for this one and they always seem to play good in this building. Should be a tough defense battle and I will take the points in what should be a one possession game either way.
NBA and College Basketball Betting Tips: 2nd Half Wagering
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