2013 College Basketball Insider Tournament
Championship Series Game #2 (SC leads best of three series 1-0)
Santa Clara Broncos at George Mason Patriots
Wednesday, April 3, 2013, 7:00 pm Eastern, TV: AXS TV
Patriot Center – Fairfax, Virginia
Opening Line: pick
Current Line: George Mason -1
Opening Total: 148
Current Total: 147 1/2
Opening Money Line: George Mason -110 / Santa Clara -110
Current Money Line: George Mason -115 / Santa Clara -105
Though it isn’t exactly the Miami Heat winning 27 straight games recently, the Santa Clara Broncos have an impressive streak of their own. The Broncos have won 9 straight postseason games. Santa Clara won the CIT tournament in 2011, missed the post-season last year, and have advanced to the Finals of the College Basketball Insider Tournament in 2013. The 25-11 Broncos won game one of the best of 3 championship series Monday night in California against 21-15 George Mason 81-73. Santa Clara guard Kevin Foster scored 28 points in the win. The Broncos shot 10/24 from 3 point range. The two teams now travel across country to Virginia for game #2 Wednesday night. If George Mason wins, then game #3 will also be in Fairfax Friday night.
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 the semifinals. Santa Clara is 3-1 all-time against George Mason but the two teams hadn’t played since 2000 before Monday’s game.
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. George Mason will join the Atlantic 10 next season.
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 15-16 ATS and the total is 12-10 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 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 17-16 ATS and the total is 19-12 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 6-0 ATS in non-conference games, 4-0 overall, 4-1 after a win and a cover, 10-4 against teams with winning home records, and 8-20 in Wednesday games.
George Mason is 17-5 ATS after a straight up loss, 10-3 after failing to cover, 9-4 in Wednesday games, 2-5 against teams with winning records, and winning road records, and 2-7 at home.
George Mason has struggled at home recently, while Santa Clara had to win at Purdue and Wright St to get to the finals. The Broncos won’t be intimidated, even having to travel across the country. Fatigue shouldn’t be a problem as both teams were on the same travel schedule. The Patriots had no answer for Foster in game #1 and they need to make some adjustments. I like Santa Clara to win on the road.
