2013 NCAA Tournament – East Region Third Round
#1 Indiana Hoosiers vs #9 Temple Owls
Sunday, March 24, 2013, 2:45 pm Eastern, TV: CBS
University of Dayton Arena – Dayton, Ohio
Opening Line: Indiana -12
Current Line: Indiana -11 1/2
Opening Total: 147
Current Total: 147 1/2
Opening Money Line: Indiana -825 / Temple +625
Current Money Line: Indiana -800 / Temple +600
Many thought the 27-6 Indiana Hoosiers would be the #1 overall seed in the NCAA tournament, and play in the Midwest regional in Indianapolis. However, some late losses in the season bumped the Hoosiers to the #3 overall seed, and sent them to the East Region in Washington, DC. Indiana won the Big Ten title outright with a 14-4 record, but were upset by Wisconsin 68-56 in the Big Ten semifinals last Saturday. The Hoosiers beat #16 seed James Madison 83-62 in the second round Friday.
Next up for Indiana is a game with #9 Temple in the third round. The winner will play #4 Syracuse in the regional semifinals next week in Washington. Temple is 23-9 this season and finished tied for third in the Atlantic 10 with Butler and LaSalle. All three had 11-5 records. Temple lost to UMass in the A-10 quarterfinals last Friday 79-74. Temple upset #8 seed North Carolina St 76-72 in the second round Friday. Temple took a 38-22 lead at halftime. The Wolfpack fought back. Temple guard Khalif Wyatt left the game with an injured thumb, but returned late in the game to make 6 decisive free throws in the final 32 seconds, despite the fact that his thumb was wrapped in support tape. He scored 31 points. He is probable against Indiana with the thumb injury on his non-shooting hand.
Temple leads the series 5-4 against Indiana. The Owls have beaten the Hoosiers three straight times, including the last meeting in 2004. This is the second time the two schools have played each other in the NCAA tournament. Indiana beat Temple in the round of 32 in 1994.
Indiana is coached by Tom Crean. The only losses came to Butler by 2 points in overtime in Indianapolis and at home to Wisconsin and Ohio State, and on the road at Illinois and Minnesota. Indiana has key wins over Georgia & Georgetown in a tournament in Brooklyn, Ball St, North Carolina, Minnesota, Penn St, Michigan St, Michigan twice, Nebraska and Purdue, along with road wins at Iowa twice, Penn St, Northwestern, Purdue, Ohio St and Michigan St, and Illinois. The Hoosiers are 17-14-1 ATS and the total is 15-15 this season.
Indiana is outscoring teams 80-63 this season. The Hoosiers are third in the nation in scoring. Indiana shoots 48.6% from the field and 41.1% from 3 point range. The Hoosiers are 6th or better in the country in both categories. Indiana makes 74.5% of their free throws and is #30 nationally in that category. The Hoosiers average 38.6 rebounds per game and give up 26.5 per game. Indiana is #23 in rebounding, and #14 in rebounds allowed. Hoosier opponents are shooting 39% from the field and 30.6% from 3 point range. Indiana is in the top 40 in both categories. The Hoosiers average 15 assists, 7 steals, 4 blocks, and 13 turnovers.
Forward Cody Zeller averages 16.9 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.3 blocks, 1.2 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. Forward Victor Oladipo averages 13.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.1 steals, and 2.2 assists. Forward Christian Watford averages 12.5 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. Guard Jordan Hulls averages 10.1 points, 3.1 assists, 2.4 rebounds, and 1 steal per game. Forward Will Sheehey averages 9.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1 steal per game. Kevin Ferrell, Remy Abell, and Jeremy Hollowell also get significant minutes. Forward Austin Etherington (knee) is out indefinitely. Forward Derek Elston is questionable with a knee injury.
Temple is coached by Fran Dunphy. The Owls have losses to Duke, Canisius, at Kansas, at Xavier, St. Bonaventure, at Butler, at St. Joseph’s, and Duquesne. The UMass loss snapped a 7 game losing streak for Temple. The Owls have key wins over Kent St, Rice, Delaware, at Villanova, Towson, Syracuse, Saint Louis, George Washington, Penn, Richmond, Charlotte twice, Dayton, UMass, LaSalle, Detroit, Rhode Island, Fordham, and Virginia Commonwealth. Temple is 15-16 ATS and the total is 16-9 this season.
Temple is outscoring teams 73-68 this season. The Owls are shooting 43% from the field and 33.4% from 3 point range. Temple makes 72.5% of their free throws. The Owls average 34.5 rebounds per game and give up 32.8 per game. Temple opponents are shooting 43.5% from the field and 35.5% from 3 point range. The Owls average 15 assists, 7 steals, 4 blocks and 12 turnovers.
Guard Khalif Wyatt averages 19.8 points, 2.9 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.7 steals per game. Guard/forward Scootie Randall averages 11.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and a steal. Anthony Lee averages 10 points and 7 rebounds per game. He is probable with a concussion. Jake O’Brien averages 9.3 points, and 3.2 rebounds per game. Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson averages 8.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.8 steals, and 1 block per game. Will Cummings, T.J. DiLeo and Dalton Pepper also get significant minutes.
The Owls are 6-2 ATS against teams with winning records, 17-6-1 in Sunday games, 2-8 against Big Ten teams, and 1-6-1 in NCAA Tournament games. The underdog is 4-0 ATS in this series in the last 4 games.
The Hoosiers are 16-5-1 ATS in non-conference games, 5-2 in Sunday games, 2-5-1 in neutral site games, and 1-3-1 in NCAA tournament games.
Until Temple lost to UMass in the Atlantic 10 semifinals, they had won 7 straight games. Indiana struggled a little down the stretch. Both teams are comfortable playing in the 70’s, so this should be an up-tempo affair. Keep an eye on the Wyatt injury. He gutted through the pain in his thumb in the win over NC State, but he said it is still sore. I like Indiana to win, but Temple will hang around and make it interesting.
Our college basketball handicappers are red hot in March. We are releasing winners and key plays every day.
