Multiple times each week, The Gaming Juice’s resident action seeker, Brad Evans, will attempt to blast the ‘books with his favorite selections on sides, totals, props, teasers or parlays. As always, fade or follow Brad’s picks — fading is encouraged — but that’s up to you.
Sledgehammer Special — SGP: UConn -2.5, Game OVER 136.5 (+105, MGM)
The Mecca.
With its unique concave ceiling, suspension bridges, unusual locker room rituals (Don’t you DARE step on the team logos!) and insanely rich basketball history (I’m fairly certain Syracuse and UConn are still logging overtimes within it), Madison Square Garden, for hoop heads, has earned the nickname for many reasons.
On Selection Sunday Eve, two storied programs — Marquette and Connecticut — will throw repeated uppercuts in a must-see prizefight for all the Big East marbles.
As many New Yorkers would say, “It’s a deadass fact.”
[ Bracket Big Board: Brad Evans’ NCAA Tournament projections ]
The reigning national champs are a front-runner to take home the hardware again. It’s entirely understandable.
Ranking inside the top-20 in the country in both offensive and defensive efficiency (one of only five teams that can make that claim), the Huskies have scored a blistering 1.269 points per possession while surrendering a lowly 0.952 points per possession. Equally consistent in effective field-goal percentage offense (No. 24) and effective field-goal percentage defense (No. 31) over their past eight games, they own few weaknesses.
Danny Hurley’s team construct is stellar. Similar to Zach Edey at Purdue, Donovan Clingan, at 7-foot-2 and 280 pounds, is a “Lord of the Rings” Ent who cleans up around the tin on both ends. He’s flanked by arc assassins Cam Spencer (45.4 3PT%) and Alex Karaban (40.1 3PT%), ultra-talented wing Stephon Castle and premier point man Tristen Newton (No. 4 in KenPom’s Player of the Year ratings). Throw in key glue guy Hasaan Diarra, and it would be stunning if UConn didn’t return to the Final Four.
As for Marquette, even without arguably the best collegiate point guard in Tyler Kolek, it has weathered the storm beautifully. Kam Jones has cranked up his game, scoring on brilliant dribble drives and splashing consistently from three. With Oso Ighodaro tearing it up inside and David Joplin and Stevie Mitchell chipping in admirable production, the Golden Eagles have tallied a sensational 1.229 points per possession this month (No. 20 in the nation).
Despite its team-wide respectability, Shaka Smart’s squad isn’t without noticeable flaws. Without Kolek, Marquette ranks just No. 208 in effective field-goal percentage D, yielding 51.7% from two and 34.8% from three. Marginal in the paint outside of Ighodaro, the Golden Eagles also are 260-plus in offensive and defensive rebounding over that stretch. If Clingan avoids pine time due to excessive whistles, he will be a significant problem.
It’s difficult conquering any team three times in a season. However, UConn, 2-0 in the prior meetings, has a distinct interior advantage. In those victories, it combined for 34 offensive rebounds. That edge and their overall well-roundedness say the Huskies will MUSH inside what will surely be a partisan MSG.
Season record: 18-15, +3.53 units
BONUS TIME — New Mexico +2 vs. San Diego State (-110, DK)