Time: 1:40 PM ET, Mar 21, 2013
Spread: PITT -4
Total: 119
M/L: PIT -190, WIT +160
Betting Odds from Bookmaker
The Pittsburgh Panthers are 24-8 and finished with a 12-6 record in the rugged Big East. Seeded No. 8 in the West region, they’ll face off against a tough No. 9 seed Wichita State, a team which they are rendered four point favorites according to college basketball oddsmakers. Wichita finished 26-8 and 12-6 in the MVC.
Pittsburgh has a fluid offense, one which ranked them seventh in the nation in assists with 16.5 dimes per game. Their crisp passing led to good shots, and they ranked No. 18 in the nation in field goal percentage, too (47.5 percent).
The Panthers had won four straight before dropping their last game in the Big East tournament to Syracuse 62-59. In the game against the No. 19 ranked Orange, four of five starters reached double figures, paced by Lamar Patterson’s 14 points on 5-of-12 shooting. Patterson ranks second on Pitt in scoring with 10 points per game.
Syracuse hit just 6-of-19 (31 percent) from behind the arc, and the team committed 12 turnovers. Center Steven Adams had three turnovers and missed five of his seven shots.
Patterson is joined by Tray Woodall, who averages 11.8 points per game and plays a team high 28.5 minutes per game. The Panthers use a 10-man rotation, which features all players seeing at least 11 minutes per game. The Panthers are 5-0 when Woodall scores at least 15 points, making the involvement of the diminutive senior crucial.
Wichita State is led by the trio of Cleanthony Early, Carl Hall and Malcolm Armstead. The three combine to average 36.8 points per game, which is 55 percent of the Shockers offense. Wichita State closed the season by losing three of their last five, including a three-point loss to Creighton to close MVC play.
Wichita State didn’t play a ranked opponent all year, so this tournament will serve as a tough test for a team that is very good but just isn’t tested against premier opponents.
Betting Trends
WICHITA ST
WIST are 5-2-1 ATS in their last 8 vs. Big East. UNDER is 12-5 in WIST last 17 neutral site games.
PITT
OVER is 20-8 in PITT last 28 non-conf. games. UNDER is 9-4 in PITT last 13 Thursday games.
