Whatever happens to the Oregon State Beavers on Monday against the Houston Cougars, it’s far to say that they have already overachieved. But why stop at an Elite Eight appearance? As for the Cougars, they are a huge obstacle for the Beavers, who will soon find out why Houston is seeded No. 2. Check out our preview of this game below.
Oregon State continues its magical run in the NCAA Tournament. For a team that once lost to the Portland Pilots back in the regular season, the Beavers have certainly come a long way from that, as they booked a spot in the Elite Eight after beating the Loyola Chicago Ramblers on Saturday, 65-58. The Pac-12 tournament champions will meet Houston looking to use their stingy defense to get them to the Final Four. Oregon State has allowed its past three opponents to shoot just 31.3 percent from the floor. Oregon State will not be pressured to keep up with Houston’s offense as both teams play slow, so the key for the Beavers here will be their efficiency with their own shots, given the projected scarcity of offensive possessions, relatively speaking. Oregon State has been one of the most profitable teams in college basketball of late. The Beavers are 9-1 straight up and 9-1 against the spread over their last 10 games, dating back to the regular season
Houston looked more like a 2-seed team on Sunday in their 62-46 demolition of the Syracuse Orange in the Sweet Sixteen round than in the nail-biter 63-60 win over the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in the second round. Houston suffocated the Orange’s offense, holding Jim Boeheim’s boys to only 28.0 percent shooting from the field. Houston has done that all season long. The Cougars are second in the nation with just 57.5 points allowed per game and first in opponents’ field goal percentage (37.0). Oregon State is not a very good offensive team, to begin with, and with the Cougars’ defense expected to be all over the Beavers, this game could be blown open in Houston’s favor early. The trio of Quentin Grimes, Marcus Sasser, and Dejon Jarreau will lead a balanced attack for Houston. Each player is averaging at least 10 points per game.
Houston is 7-3 against the spread in its last 10 games overall.
