2016 NCAA Tournament
West Region – First Round
#15 Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners vs #2 Oklahoma Sooners
Chesapeake Energy Arena – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Friday, March 18, 2016, 4:00 pm Eastern, TV: TNT
Opening Line: Oklahoma -13 1/2
Current Line: Oklahoma -14 1/2 (-115)
Opening Total: 140
Current Total: 140
Opening Money Line: Oklahoma -1250 / CSUB +800
Current Money Line: Oklahoma -1450 / CSUB +950
The 25-7 Oklahoma Sooners are the #2 seed in the West Region as they take on the #15 seed Cal State-Bakersfield Roadrunners in the first round Friday in Oklahoma City. T winner will face either #7 Oregon State or #10 VCU in the second round Sunday. Oklahoma won the only previous meeting against CSU-Bakersfield in 1978.
CSU-Bakersfield is coached by Rod Barnes. The Roadrunners have only been in Division 1 since 2008 and are making their first trip to the tournament. Bakersfield won three Division II national titles in the 90’s. The Roadrunners went 24-8 and were tied for second in the WAC at 11-3 with Grand Canyon behind 13-1 New Mexico State. CSU-Bakersfield beat Chicago State, in the quarterfinals of the WAC Tournament in Las Vegas and then beat Seattle in the semifinals. The Roadrunners upset New Mexico State 57-54 in the championship game. Dedrick Basile hit the game winning three point shot with two tenths of a second left.
The Roadrunners have road losses at Wyoming, St. Mary’s, Idaho, Fresno State, Arizona State, Grand Canyon and New Mexico State, plus a home loss against New Mexico State. CSU-Bakersfield has home wins over Idaho, Northern Arizona, Dartmouth, Portland State, Morgan State, and Grand Canyon. The Roadrunners have road wins at South Dakota and UC-Riverside. Grand Canyon and New Mexico State were the only other teams with winning records in the WAC. The Roadrunners are 3-0 ATS and the total is 1-2 this season. Bakersfield was a 2 point favorite against New Mexico State and the total was 128.5.
Oklahoma is coached by Lon Kruger. The Sooners are making their 30th trip to the tournament including four straight seasons. Oklahoma finished third in the Big 12 with a 12-6 record. The Sooners beat Iowa State in the Big 12 quarterfinals in Kansas City but lost to West Virginia 69-67 in the semifinals. Oklahoma trailed by 11 with seven minutes to go against West Virginia but rallied to take a three point lead. West Virginia regained the lead. Oklahoma guard Buddy Hield appeared to hit the game winning three pointer from beyond half court at the buzzer but officials waved it off after review because it was a split second too late.
Oklahoma is coached by Lon Kruger. The Sooners have road losses at Kansas in triple overtime, Iowa State, Kansas State, Texas Tech and Texas, plus a home loss to Kansas. The Sooners have neutral site wins over Villanova, Washington State, Hawaii and Harvard all in Hawaii. Oklahoma has road wins at Memphis, Oklahoma State, Baylor, LSU, West Virginia and TCU, along with home wins over Wisconsin, Oral Roberts, Creighton, Iowa State, Kansas State, West Virginia, Texas Tech, TCU, Texas, Oklahoma State and Baylor. Oklahoma is 12-18 ATS and the total is 13-17 this season. The Sooners were 1 point underdogs against West Virginia and the total was 147.
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CSU-Bakersfield is outscoring teams 73-63 this season. The Roadrunners are #14 nationally in points allowed. CSUB is shooting 45.1% from the field and 34.4% from three point range. The Roadrunners make 65.3% of their free throws. Opponents are shooting 39.1% from the field and 32% from three point range. The Roadrunners are #12 nationally in field goal defense. CSUB averages 38.4 rebounds per game and opponents average 30.4 per game. The Roadrunners average 15.7 assists, 12.2 turnovers, 8 steals and 5.1 blocks per game. Opponents average 10.1 assists, 15.3 turnovers, 5.3 steals and 3.2 blocks per game.
Aly Ahmed averages 12.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1 assist and 1.1 blocks per game. Kevin Mays averages 12.5 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal per game. Dedrick Basile averages 12 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.8 steals per game. Damiyne Durham averages 11.8 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. Jaylin Airington averages 10.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game. Four other players will see time in the rotation.
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Oklahoma is outscoring teams 81-70 this season. The Sooners are #22 in scoring nationally. Oklahoma is shooting 45.8% from the field and 43% from three point range. The Sooners are #2 in three point shooting nationally. Oklahoma makes 72.7% of their free throws. Opponents are shooting 40.3% from the field and 33.4% from three point range. The Sooners are #39 nationally in field goal defense. Oklahoma averages 39.3 rebounds per game and opponents average 32.7 per game. The Sooners average 14.9 assists, 12.7 turnovers, 6.9 steals and 5.2 blocks per game. Opponents average 10.6 assists, 12.5 turnovers, 7 steals and 3.3 blocks per game.
Guard Buddy Hield is one of the favorites for national player of the year. He averages 25.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.2 steals per game. Isaiah Cousins averages 13 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.4 steals per game. Jordan Woodard averages 12.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.6 steals per game. Ryan Spangler averages 10.8 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game. Khadeem Lattin averages 5.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game. He suffered a cut in practice this week and had to have six stitches, but is expected to play. Dinjiyl Walker and Dante Buford will also get minutes.
CSUB is 7-0 ATS after a cover, 6-0 after a straight up win, 5-0 in Friday games and against teams with winning records, 4-0 in non-conference games, 10-1 in neutral site games, and 13-3 overall.
Oklahoma is 5-16 ATS against teams with winning records, 2-7 after a straight up loss, 1-4 in non-conference games, 1-5 in NCAA Tournament games, 0-5 in Friday games, overall and against WAC teams and 0-4 after failing to cover.
Bakersfield thrives on defense but they haven’t faced a team as talented as Oklahoma yet this season. Oklahoma has been inconsistent down the stretch but they should have enough to beat this team. I think CSUB keeps this close but Oklahoma wins in the end.
