BrianL's Conference Tourney Picks....

Question

I&#x27;m gonna do one thread for all the conference tournament picks... no point in doing one everyday....All bets will be between 1 and 3 units...First play:- Gardner Webb &#x2B;11 vs Coastal Carolina (2 Units- Medium Play)I&#x27;ve seen alot of people on it, but it doesn&#x27;t worry me one bit... Coastal Carolina is in a very bad spot coming into the tourney and at this point, I&#x27;d  be making UNC Asheville the favorite to win it.Coastal Carolina is a complete mess right now.... They have just 8 players available for tonights game, and just 7 scholarship players.   Between injuries, suspensions and inegibilities, CCU is missing close to 30 ppg of production, not to mention the loss of Holmes earlier in the season.  Holloway is the absolute biggest loss, and its unclear when his 18ppg will be able to play again.  While they still hve a formidable lineup, they are not deep at all and if any of the top 3 players get in foul trouble (Gray, Gradnigo and Raffa), then it&#x27;ll be lights out early once again for Coastal Carolina.Gardner Webb is in a much better position then CCU... They come into the tournament playing there best ball of the season.  After starting the season off 7-17, they finished winning 4 out of there last 7., including a surprising win AT Coastal Carolina just two weeks ago from today.   The biggest improvement has been on the defensive end by far... They held there opponents to under 1 point per possession in 6 of the final 8 games.  Gardner Webb should have won both of the two meetings between the teams this year, but blew a lead in the first one.  The Chandeliers had 30 TOs and hit just 6-23 from 3 in the two meetings..  As long as GWU is able to keep the score in the 50s or 60s, it should be an easy cover for them.. and the &#x2B;475 ML is definitely worth a shot.Coastal Carolina 65, Gardner Webb 61

BrianLaverty · Answer

I&#x27;m gonna do one thread for all the conference tournament picks... no point in doing one everyday....All bets will be between 1 and 3 units...First play:- Gardner Webb &#x2B;11 vs Coastal Carolina (2 Units- Medium Play)I&#x27;ve seen alot of people on it, but it doesn&#x27;t worry me one bit... Coastal Carolina is in a very bad spot coming into the tourney and at this point, I&#x27;d  be making UNC Asheville the favorite to win it.Coastal Carolina is a complete mess right now.... They have just 8 players available for tonights game, and just 7 scholarship players.   Between injuries, suspensions and inegibilities, CCU is missing close to 30 ppg of production, not to mention the loss of Holmes earlier in the season.  Holloway is the absolute biggest loss, and its unclear when his 18ppg will be able to play again.  While they still hve a formidable lineup, they are not deep at all and if any of the top 3 players get in foul trouble (Gray, Gradnigo and Raffa), then it&#x27;ll be lights out early once again for Coastal Carolina.Gardner Webb is in a much better position then CCU... They come into the tournament playing there best ball of the season.  After starting the season off 7-17, they finished winning 4 out of there last 7., including a surprising win AT Coastal Carolina just two weeks ago from today.   The biggest improvement has been on the defensive end by far... They held there opponents to under 1 point per possession in 6 of the final 8 games.  Gardner Webb should have won both of the two meetings between the teams this year, but blew a lead in the first one.  The Chandeliers had 30 TOs and hit just 6-23 from 3 in the two meetings..  As long as GWU is able to keep the score in the 50s or 60s, it should be an easy cover for them.. and the &#x2B;475 ML is definitely worth a shot.Coastal Carolina 65, Gardner Webb 61

wmi799 · Answer

Good luck on the play.

PurduePride2206 · Answer

GL laverty

BrianLaverty · Answer

Wisconsin-Green Bay &#x2B;5.5 vs Wright State (2 Units)Good spot here for Wisc GB to pull off an upset against a team that they played very well against in both meetings this year.  Both teams had difficult records over the last few weeks.  Green Bay finished the year going 2-6, but 3 of the losses were lost in the last 15 seconds...  They finished the year 5-0 ATS in the last 5 games.Wright State on the other hand limp into the tourney going 1-4 the last 5 games, with two of the losses being two point losses.In the two meetings this year, both games were tied with 10 seconds left.... In the first one, WSU hit a 3 in the closing seconds to win by 3 as 9 point favorites.  In the last meeting, they won by 2 in overtime at Green Bay, after GB led by as many as 9 in the 2nd half.  To say the teams were evenly matched would be an understatement.Green Bay has been very good with holding on to the ball all year, but in the two matchups, they committed a combined 35 turnovers.  As long as they can hold on to the ball more charcterstically, they should easily cover, and have a real oppurtunity at pulling the upset.  GB will definitely have revenge on there minds from the two last second losses, and I expect them to pull out the upset in what should be another close one.Green Bay 64, Wright State 63

BrianLaverty · Answer

I think thats it for now.. be back later with 2nd half picks if applicable.

BrianLaverty · Answer

Adding:&#xD;&#xA;&#xD;&#xA;- High Point &#x2B;7.5 2nd Half (1 Unit) vs. Liberty&#xD;&#xA;&#xD;&#xA;That was about as even a 1st half as you will ever see.... Nothing &#xD;&#xA;seperated the two, and I don&#x27;t see anything changing in the 2nd half.  &#xD;&#xA;Liberty came into this game losing 4 in a row, and it doesn&#x27;t look like &#xD;&#xA;anything has changed.  Should be a close game til the end.

BrianLaverty · Answer

High Point

Green Bay

GWU

1-1-1 (-1.20 Units)

What a fuckin night.... GW and GB both had the cover for about 38 minutes and blow it in the end.....

High Point wins SU... Wish I woulda taken it for the game.

BrianLaverty · Answer

No time for writeups for the early plays:- Colgate &#x2B;14 (2 Units) vs. American- Navy vs. Lehigh  OVER 144 (2 Units)Be back for 2nd half plays/9pm PlaysGL EVERYONE

str8cash · Answer

GL Brian

BrianLaverty · Answer

Adding:- Colgate &#x2B;7 2H at American (2 Units)Nothing has showed me that American can pull away from this team.... Colgate will keep this game in single digits.

Louis_IV · Answer

gl

BrianLaverty · Answer

Navy over Colgate Colgate 2H Ouch...1-2 (-2.4 Units)Colgate was down 6 with less then 6 minutes left but couldn&#x27;t cover 14 for the game.... Hopefully i see something i like at the 2nd half of 9pm games.

rogers12 · Answer

those tourneys aren&#x27;t going the way i thought. once again providence with a no-show. i wanted to bet louisville but their big win took me off. gl rest of the night.

BrianLaverty · Answer

PC? PC who?lolGod.. such bad effort.. they need a change in coach BAD.

BrianLaverty · Answer

VMI &#x2B;8 vs. Coastal Carolina  (3 Units- BIG PLAY)VMI &#x2B;300 (1 Unit)Been waiting for this game since Tuesday night when both these teams advanced fairly easily.  I feel like its a perfect situation for VMI to get revenge and the matchup is perfect for them.In the previous two matches, CCU dominated VMI.  They won the games by 13 and 22, and neither was close after the first 10 minutes.  The reason is that VMI&#x27;s style fit Coastal Carolina&#x27;s deep team perfectly.... they had the players to run with the Cadets, and wouldn&#x27;t run of gas because of there depth.Whats changed now?  EVERYTHING.  These teams are going in opposite directions and its the perfect oppurtunity for VMI to pull off the huge upset over the #1 seed in the Big South.  VMI is playing its best basketball of the year.... They are one of the youngest teams in the country and are finally putting it all together... After starting off the year a very mediocre 12-11, they have turned it around...  They are 6-1 in there last 7, with there only loss being to Morgan State by 5.  They are playing much defensively and they are finally perfecting the uptempo style of play.Coastal Carolina on the other hand is at its low point.  While they can still score, as evidenced by 80&#x2B; the last two games, playing VMI&#x27;s style of play is going to be a huge challenge for a team with no depth now.   They struggled for the first 35 minutes against Gardner Webb, before pulling away late.... But with the lack of depth they have due to suspensions and injuries, they will only be playing 7 scholarship players....5 players played 34&#x2B; minutes just two nights ago, and you just can&#x27;t be successful playing up and down with VMI with just 6 players playing significant minutes.While CCU might jump out to a quick lead, I feel that VMI&#x27;s constant pressure will wear down a very thin CCU bench.  The 2nd half should be dominated by the Cadets and they have a very good chance at pulling off the big upset.VMI 85, Coastal Carolina 84

HotRoute · Answer

like the play, gl

Professional1 · Answer

like VMI as well gl

BrianLaverty · Answer

Illinois State/Southern Illinois Under 118.5 (2 Units)
Bradley/Drake Under 133.5 (2 Units)

"Arch Madness" has traditionally been a huge under tournament. For some reason, most teams have huge problems shooting in St.Louis. The under numbers have been amazing over the years.... On opening day, when there are 2 games, the under is 5-1 the last 3 years.... It normally takesa game or so for teams to get accustomed, and I expect that to be the case tonight.

ISU/SIU figures to be a very slow game anyway... Add on to the fact that they should have trouble scoring in a neutral court, and this game might not end up hitting 100 total.

Even though Bradley scored 90 last time out agaisnt Drake, I expect a much lower scoring game similar to the one in January. These teams have traditionally played lower scoring games then expected, as the under is 3-1 last 4 and 5-3 last 8 between the two teams. Drake scored 26 points in the first half of both games, and I expect BOTH teams to come out to very slow starts again today.

GWarner27 · Answer

very soon my friend

play2winthagame · Answer

I also have been waiting for this matchup for all the reasons you stated, well done and good luck  &#xD;&#xA;VMI  &#x2B; 8

jrhdgolf9 · Answer

Like the 3 today, would love to see VMI pull off the upset at &#x2B;320

zamigo6 · Answer

any thoughts on UNC Asheville vs. High Point?I&#x27;m leaning asheville myself you seem to have some insight on this conference would like to hear your thoughts...

BrianLaverty · Answer

10 is alot of points... High Point looked great on Tuesday night against Liberty for spurts.... My lean would be that they stay within the number.

BrianLaverty · Answer

I have some info from sources very close to the top of the program about whos job its gonna be next year...I&#x27;ll tell you on PM.. so I added you as a friend.

MRFP24 · Answer

Not sure if I&#x27;m bold enough to take VMI straight up (they&#x27;ve dropped to &#x2B;250 for me)...but I definitely think they&#x27;ll cover.GL.

BrianL's Conference Tourney Picks....

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