Editor's Note: Marc Lawrence has dominated March with an impressive 16-1 (94%) run, including 13 straight winners. Don't miss out on his Daily Winners or even better his Championship Week Package!
THE WAY WE SEE IT: The $90M renovated Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City plays host to this event unlike in years past when it was held at the Palestra. And for the first time since 1977 there is a real chance that no team from the Big Five in Philadelphia will land a berth into the NCAA Tournament! That's because...
XAVIER stands head and shoulders over all other entrants in this year's event. Despite last year's loss to Rhode Island as 11.5 favorites, the Musketeers are 10-2 SU and ATS in this tourney since 2004. And the better the opposition the better they performed this season, going 14-2 SU and 11-4 ATS against .666 or better opposition.
TEMPLE has excelled in first round games in this tourney (17-2 SU) but is just 2-7 ATS when taking points. After a 6-8 start to begin the campaign, the Owls closed up well and are playing their best ball of the season.
Their brethren, ST. JOSEPH'S, stumbled down the stretch but must still be considered dangerous here. They are 6-3 SU and ATS in their last nine games in this tourney. Interestingly, the Hawks would certainly be labeled a good favorite (15-6-1 ATS) but they're a bad dog (3-9-1 ATS).
Another team playing with character is MASSACHUSETTS. The Minutemen recently concluded consecutive 20-win seasons and were 10-4 ATS in games away from Amherst this season.
THE SLEEPER: RHODE ISLAND The Rams were a major surprise early on when they opened the year at 14-1. They hit a mid-season wall, going 0-5 SU and ATS in mid-February, before getting their act back together again. Should they revert to the team that began the year with a bang, they could fi nish the same.
KEY TOURNAMENT BEST BET: PLAY ON MASSACHUSETTS over Temple. UMass tripped up in a 10-point loss to the Owls this season. They relish facing the wide-eyed birds of prey in this event, though, as evidenced by their 7-1 ATS tourney mark in this series. Look for the '40-Minutemen' to continue their mastery.
TOURNEY TRENDS & NOTES:
CHARLOTTE: 8-2 ATS vs opp off BB SUATS wins, 1-7 ATS L8 games, 1-6 ATS off a loss, 1-6 ATS with revenge…
DAYTON: 5-0 ATS DD favorite, 7-1-1 ATS 1st game, 1-11 ATS as a dog…
DUQUESNE: 0-6 SU 2nd game, 2-8 ATS w/ revenge, 6-2 ATS L8 as favorite, 1-6 ATS off a SU win...
FORDHAM: 2-10 SU 1st game, 0-6 dog > 3 pts, 1-5 as #5 or higher seed...
GEORGE WASHINGTON: 13-2 ATS off DD win, 5-1 SUATS as a #1 seed, 10-2 ATS as a favorite, 12-3 ATS overall L4Y, 8-3 ATS 1st game...
LA SALLE: 4-1 ATS vs revenge, 1-6-1 ATS as a dog 5 > points, 2-10 SUATS vs #1-4 seeds…
MASSACHUSETTS: 6-1 ATS vs a foe off BB SUATS wins, 6-1 ATS vs Temple in L7 games, 5-1 ATS vs opp off SU dog win, 12-6 ATS as a dog...
RHODE ISLAND: 6-2 ATS as a favorite, 3-8 ATS L11 games, 2-8 ATS off a SU dog win, 1-5 ATS off BB SUATS wins...
RICHMOND: 4-2 ATS 1st game, 1-8-1 ATS as a dog 2 > points…
ST. BONAVENTURE: 5-1 ATS off a loss of 8 > points, 0-4 ATS vs opp off SU dog win, 1-7 ATS as 2nd Round dog < 10 points, 2-7 ATS as a dog < 7 points...
ST. JOSEPH'S: 5-1 ATS vs opp off BB losses, 17-6-1 ATS vs opp off a loss or win of 13 < points, 3-9-1 ATS as a dog, 2-9-1 ATS 2nd game...
SAINT LOUIS: 7-2 ATS off a loss, 11-5 ATS 1st game...
TEMPLE: 17-2 SU 1st game, 2-9 ATS off BB SUATS wins, 6-12 SUATS as a favorite < 4 points, 2-7 SUATS as a dog, 0-4 w/ same-season double revenge, 6-2 vs opp off SU dog win...
XAVIER: 10-2 ATS L12 games, 2-7 ATS w/ 3 + days rest vs opp off DD win, 1-6 ATS vs opp with revenge off DD SU win.
TECH NOTES:
Dogs off a SU dog win are 3-34 SU & 10-27 ATS...favs of < 13 points are 100-50-3 ATS (48-17-2 ATS vs opp off BB wins, including 24-6 ATS vs opp off a SUATS loss - 13-2 ATS if opp off BB SUATS losses)...#2 seeds are 8-1 ATS L9 as favorite but 0-4 SUATS L4 as dog)...#5 seeds are 5-18 ATS L23 as dog.
