No. 4 West Virginia vs. No. 13 Bucknell Preview
Where: KeyBank Center, Buffalo
When: March, March 16, 2:45 PM ET
Line: West Virginia Mountaineers (-14) vs. Bucknell Bison (+14); total: 148.0– view all NCAAB lines
TV Broadcast: CBS
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Betting on the West Virginia Mountaineers (24-7, 12-6 Big 12)
The NCAA Tournament brings pressure to participating teams but Bucknell will soon find out there’s nothing like the Mountaineers’ full-court press when it comes to testing a team’s poise.
Just like in previous seasons, Bob Huggins’ Mountaineers play a high-pressure defense from all over the court, the type that forces opponents to turn the ball over numerous times. In fact, WVU is No. 1 in that department with opponents committing 20.4 errors per game. The Mountaineers are allowing just 66.3 PPG and ranks fifth in KenPom’s adjusted defensive efficiency.
With their opponents fumbling the ball often, the Mountaineers are able to rank first in the nation with 11.7 extra-scoring chances per contest, more than four times than any team in Division I ball.
The tandem of Jevon Carter and Esa Ahmad takes most of the scoring load for West Virginia that averages 82.0 points per game, 21st nationally. Carter, who put up 18 points in WVU’s 80-74 loss to Iowa State in the Big 12 Tournament finals, leads the team with 13.1 PPG, while Ahmad is second with 11.2.
The under is 5-2 in WVU’s last seven games overall.
Betting on the Bucknell Bison (23-8, 15-3 Patriot League)
Bucknell must be busy plotting a way to break down “Press Virginia” but that’s something we shouldn’t be expecting the Bison to effectively against the Mountaineers. After all, they are averaging 13.9 turnovers per game.
Still, Bucknell should give West Virginia some form of challenge with the pair of Zach Thomas and Nana Foulland leading the charge. Thomas is a do-it-all forward, who averages 16.0 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 3.5 assists on the season. Foulland gives Bucknell a solid presence in the shaded area, as he shoots 62.8 percent from the floor and averages 14.9 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. He is surrounded by decent outside shooters including Kimbal Mackenzie, who had 59 made threes this season.
Thoma shoots 41.5% from deep while Stephen Brown knocks down 40% of his three-point attempts. As a team, Bucknell is draining 8.1 three-pointers per contest on 37.7% clip.
Bucknell, which gives up 67.4 PPG, is 7-1 ATS in all of its games this season in which a point spread was available.
Writer’s Prediction
West Virginia (-14) destroys Bucknell, 85-60.
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