2013 College Basketball Insider Tournament
Championship Series Game #1 (Best of Three)
George Mason Patriots at Santa Clara Broncos
Monday, April 1, 2013, 10:00 pm Eastern, TV: AXS TV
Leavey Center – Santa Clara, California
Opening Line: Santa Clara -7 1/2
Current Line: Santa Clara -7 1/2
Opening Total: 145
Current Total: 145 1/2
Opening Money Line: Santa Clara -350 / George Mason +290
Current Money Line: Santa Clara -350 / George Mason +290
When most sports fans think of Broncos and Patriots, they think of Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. We don’t have that on the first day of April, but we do have George Mason at Santa Clara in the first game of the College Basketball Insider Tournament best of three series Monday night. The 21-14 George Mason Patriots will take on the 24-11 Santa Clara Broncos. The first game will be in California and then the two teams will travel to Virginia for game #2 and #3 if necessary.
George Mason finished 10-8 in the CAA and tied for 5th with Georgia St. The Patriots lost to conference regular season champion Northeastern in the CAA semifinals. In the CBI tournament, Mason won at College of Charleston 78-77, beat Houston 88-84 in overtime, and beat Western Michigan 62-52 in the semifinals last Wednesday. George Mason will join the Atlantic 10 next season.
Santa Clara was 9-7 in West Coast Conference and finished 4th in the conference. The Broncos were upset by Loyola Marymount in the WCC quarterfinals. In the CBI, Santa Clara beat Vermont 77-67, then won at Purdue 86-83 and at Wright St 81-69 in Wednesday’s semifnals. The Broncos have won 8 straight post-season games after winning the 2011 CIT tournament. Santa Clara is 2-1 all-time against George Mason but the two teams haven’t played since 2000.
George Mason is coached by Paul Hewitt. The Patriots have losses at Bucknell, New Mexico in a tournament in the Virgin Islands, Maryland in Washington, DC, Northern Iowa, at South Florida, Northeastern three times, at UNC-Wilmington, Drexel, Delaware twice, Georgia St, and Towson. Mason has wins over Virginia, Mercer & Quinnipiac in the Virgin islands, at Rhode Island, at Richmond, James Madison twice, at Towson, and Drexel twice. George Mason is 17-15 ATS and the total is 18-12 this season.
George Mason is outscoring teams 68-65 this season. The Patriots are shooting 43.8% from the field and 35.3% from 3 point range. GMU makes 72.6% from the free throw line. The Patriots average 35 rebounds per game and give up 30.3 per game. George Mason opponents are shooting 41.1% from the field and 33.6% from 3 point range. The Patriots are averaging 13 assists, 8 steals, 3 blocks, and 13 turnovers.
Guard Sherrod Wright averages 16.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. Forward Jonathan Arledge averages 8.6 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. Guard Bryon Allen averages 7.9 points, 3 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. Forward Johnny Williams is out indefinitely with a concussion. He averages 7 points and 4.1 assists per game. Forward / center Eric Copes averages 5.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game. Marko Gujanicic averages 5.6 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game. Patrick Holloway, Vertrail Vaughns, and Corey Edwards all average just under 5 points a game. Anali Okoloji and Paris Bennett also get time in the rotation.
Santa Clara is coached by Kerry Keating. The Broncos have losses to Utah St, UC-Santa Barbara, at Duke, Gonzaga twice, Loyola Marymount twice, BYU twice, and St. Mary’s twice. Santa Clara has key wins at St. Louis, at Pacific, at San Jose St, and Cal Poly. Gonzaga, St. Mary’s, BYU and Santa Clara were the only teams above .500 in the WCC. The Broncos are 14-16 ATS and the total is 11-10 this season.
Santa Clara is outscoring teams 74-67 this season. The Broncos are #32 in scoring nationally. Santa Clara is shooting 44.2% from the field and 36.6% from 3 point range. The Broncos make 72.7% of their free throws. Santa Clara averages 34.7 rebounds per game, and gives up 31.3 per game. Bronco opponents are shooting 42.3% from the field and 34.9% from 3 point range. Santa Clara averages 15 assists, 8 steals, 5 blocks and 12 turnovers.
Guard Kevin Foster averages 19 points, 2.7 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 2.4 steals per game. Forward Marc Trasolini averages 15.3 points, 7.5 blocks, and 1.5 blocks per game. Guard Evan Roquemore averages 11.6 points, 3 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. Raymond Cowells III averages 9.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game. Brandon Clark averages 7.5 points, 1.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists. Yannick Atanga and Robert Garrett aslo see time in the rotation.
George Mason is 4-1 ATS in non-conference games, 5-2 in road games, 1-6 after a straight up win. and 0-5 after a cover.
Santa Clara is 5-0 ATS in non-conference games, 5-2 overall, 3-8 against teams with winning records, 7-21 at home, 2-6 at home against teams with winning road records, and 1-4 in Monday games.
George Mason is a better road team than at home. Santa Clara has more balanced scoring while Mason depends on Wright for most of it’s scoring. Whichever team can control the tempo has an excellent shot of winning. I like Santa Clara to win a close game at home.
Our expert college basketball picks will help you crush the books in April. Don’t miss out on any more winners this season.
