2012 NCAA Tournament Midwest Region Second Round
#14 Belmont Bruins vs #3 Georgetown Hoyas
Nationwide Arena – Columbus, Ohio
Friday, March 16, 2012, 3:10 pm Eastern, TV: truTV
Opening Line: Georgetown -4
Current Line: Georgetown -4
Opening Total: 133 1/2
Current Total: 133 1/2
Opening Money Line: Georgetown -175 / Belmont +155
Current Money Line: Georgetown -180 / Belmont +160
The 27-7 Belmont Bruins won their second straight Atlantic Sun title with an 83-69 win over Florida Gulf Coast in the championship game. The Bruins also won the regular season title and have won 14 straight games. Belmont will leave the Atlantic Sun next season for the Ohio Valley Conference. Belmont is making their 5th trip to the tournament in the last 7 seasons, but has never won a tournament game before. Belmont is coached by Rick Byrd
The Bruins will face the Georgetown Hoyas in the second round of the Midwest Region in Columbus. The winner will face the winner of the San Diego St-NC State in the third round. The 23-8 Hoyas finished tied for fourth in the Big East with Cincinnati and South Florida. The Hoyas lost to Cincinnati in the Big East quarterfinals 72-70 in double overtime. The Hoyas are playing in their sixth NCAA tournament in seven seasons. However, after Georgetown played in the 2007 Final Four, the Hoyas haven’t advanced past the second round since. Georgetown has been upset in the first round the last two seasons by VCU last season and Ohio in 2010. Georgetown is coached by John Thompson III.
Georgetown and Belmont have played only once in history. The Hoyas beat the Bruins 80-55 in the first round of the NCAA tournament in 2007, en route to the Final Four that year.
Belmont has wins over Middle Tennessee St, Troy, Austin Peay, Marshall, Mercer twice, South Carolina Upstate, and East Tennessee St three times. The Bruins have losses to Duke, Memphis, Middle Tennessee St, Miami-Ohio, Marshall, Lipscomb, and SC Upstate.
Georgetown has wins over Savannah St, Memphis twice, Alabama, Louisville, Providence twice, Marquette, St. John’s twice, DePaul, Rutgers, UConn, South Florida, Villanova, Notre Dame, and Pittsburgh. The Hoyas have losses to Kansas, West Virginia, Cincinnati twice, Pitt, Syracuse, Seton Hall, and Marquette.
Belmont is outscoring teams 82-67 this season. The Bruins are #4 in the country in scoring. Belmont shoots 48.4% from the field and 37.8% from 3 point range. The Bruins make 73.7% of their free throws. Belmont averages 36.3 rebounds a game with a rebounding margin of +3.1. The Bruins average 17.4 assists, 12.4 turnovers, 7.4 steals, and 2.3 blocks a game. Belmont opponents are shooting 42.4% from the field, and 33.8% from 3 point range. The Bruins force 14.5 turnovers a game.
Belmont guard Kerron Johnson averages 14.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 1.4 steals a game. He leads the Bruins in scoring, assists, and steals. Ian Clark averages 12.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1 steal a game. he makes 40.7% of his three pointers. Drew Hanlen averages 10.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.1 steals a game. He makes 48.1% of his three pointers. Scott Saunders averages 10.2 points, 5 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks a game to lead the team. Mick Hedgeworth averages 9.8 points and 5.8 rebounds a game to lead the team. J.J. Mann averages 8.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.1 steals a game.
Georgetown is outscoring opponents 69-59 this season. The Hoyas are shooting 46.3% from the field, including 34.7% from 3 point range. Georgetown makes 69.7% of their free throws. The Hoyas average 36.4 rebounds a game and have a rebounding margin of +5.7. Georgetown averages 13.7 assists, 12.7 turnovers, 6.2 steals, and 4.8 blocks a game. Hoya opponents are shooting 38.7% from the field, including 27% from 3 point range. The Hoyas are in the top 20 nationally in defensive scoring, and opponent’s field goal and 3 point percentages. Georgetown leads the nation in opponents’ 3 point Georgetown forces 14.5 turnovers a game.
Georgetown guard Jason Clark averages 13.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.7 steals a game. He leads the team in scoring and steals, and shoots 31.9% from 3 point range. Hollis Thompson averages 12.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game. He makes 44.4% of his three point attempts. Henry Sims averages 1179 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.4 blocks a game. He leads the team in assists and blocks. Otto Porter averages 9.5 points, 6.7 rebounds to lead the team, 1.6 assists, and 1.1 steals a game. Markel Starks averages 7.4 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 1.6 assists a game. He is shooting 37.2% from 3 point range. Reserve center Tyler Adams is out indefinitely with a heart condition. Center Moses Ayegba is also out for the season with a torn ACL but he hasn’t played at all this season.
Georgetown is 14-11 ATS and the total is 12-13 this season. Belmont is 2-5 ATS and the total is 4-3 this season. The Bruins are 7-3 ATS in non-conference games, 1-4 as an underdog of 6.5 points or less, 0-5 after a straight up win, and in neutral site games, and 0-4 overall. The Hoyas are 4-0 ATS after a cover, 4-1 after a straight up loss, in Friday games, and in neutral site games, 10-3 as a neutral site favorite, 35-16-1 in non-conference games, 1-4 in NCAA tournament games, and 1-6 as an NCAA tourney favorite.
Georgetown has lost to a double digit seed in their last 3 trips to the NCAA tournament. Belmont is a very dangerous #14 seed that lost by one point at Duke to open the season. I think the Bruins have a good shot of pulling off the upset. The college hoops odds makers agree as Belmont is only a 3.5 point underdog. Take the Bruins plus the points, and if you are feeling really frisky take a chance on the money line.
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