Steve Merril’s School Fullcourt Report (Mar. 14)

The NIT and the NCAA Match the two begin tonight as 14 groups begin participate in in the National Invitation Tournement, though Hampton and Monmouth formally start the NCAA Match by participating in the perform-in video game.

Below is a glance at the two higher education basketball online games on ESPN nationwide tv for Tuesday night time.

NCAA Tournament

HAMPTON vs. MONMOUTH (-4, 124) (at Dayton, OH) (ESPN)

It is no surprise that Hampton is assembly Monmouth in the enjoy-in recreation as these two clubs have the two weakest RPI’s in this year’s tournament. Hampton is the worst group in the Industry of 65 with a RPI of 284 and the Pirates required to gain 4 online games in four times previous week in the Mid-Jap Meeting event. The Pirates won outright in the finals, 60-56, as a 5-place underdog versus the major workforce in the convention, Delaware Point out, who had a sound RPI of 123.

Hampton started off the period just 1-7 SU as they were lacking some important players in November and December however the Pirates finished with a good 15-8 SU operate in excess of their earlier 20-a few online games. Hampton played an amazingly weak routine as they faced only seven groups rated in the RPI leading 200 and they went just 2-5 SU in all those seven game titles.

Monmouth also pulled an upset in their meeting match and defeat the top rated two groups, Central Connecticut Point out and Fairleigh Dickinson, to assure a bid. Monmouth has the 2nd worst RPI in the Discipline of 65 this calendar year. Monmouth’s RPI is 144 and they had been 7-8 SU versus the leading 200 opponents they faced.

Each groups have solid defenses as each individual club direct their conferences in industry goal share allowed. Hampton permitted just 39.1 per cent and Monmouth permitted only 40.8 percent in conference game titles this year.

NIT

VIRGINIA at STANFORD (-4 ½, 129 ½) (ESPN)

Both Virginia and Stanford have struggled down the stretch as Cavaliers were 1-4 SU (1-3-1 ATS) about the past five video games though Stanford was 2-4 SU (1-5 ATS) around their last 6 video games.

There have been no latest head-to-head meetings amongst these squads having said that they did have 3 common opponents this year (Gonzaga, Virginia Tech, and Arizona). Virginia dropped equally game titles versus Arizona and Gonzaga and was 3- SU/ATS in 3 conferences vs . in-condition rival Virginia Tech, such as a recent acquire in the ACC Tournament past Thursday.

Stanford misplaced both of those game titles vs . Gonzaga and Virginia Tech and also went -3 SU (1-2 ATS) in 3 meetings versus conference rival Arizona, including a loss past Thursday in the PAC 10 Tournament.

Total, Virginia was 3-2 SU (4-1 ATS) against frequent opponents this period, although Stanford was -5 SU (2-3 ATS) in people same game titles. Virginia was outscored by an normal rating of 63-69 for each activity and outshot 43-45 percent from the field, while Stanford missing by average rating of 70-76, but outshot their opponents 46-45 per cent total.

Stanford has the edge of enjoying this activity on their house court, in which the Cardinal were 10-3 SU this season. Virginia was just 4-11 SU away from dwelling, but the Cavaliers do have a a bit larger RPI of 80, whilst Stanford concluded with a RPI of 86. Virginia also fared much better against quality teams, likely 5-12 SU vs . the RPI Top rated 100, whilst Stanford was just 2-9 SU as opposed to that identical degree of level of competition.