2012 NCAA Tournament Midwest Region Second Round
#12 South Florida Bulls vs #5 Temple Owls
Bridgestone Arena – Nashville, Tennessee
Friday, March 16, 2012, 9:50 pm Eastern, TV: TNT
Opening Line: pick
Current Line: Temple -3
Opening Total: 122
Current Total: 121 1/2
Opening Money Line: Temple -115 / South Florida -105
Current Money Line: Temple -155 / South Florida +135
The 21-12 South Florida Bulls of the Big East beat California Wednesday night in Dayton in the first round of the Midwest Region. After holding California to 13 points in the first half, South Florida ended up winning 65-54. It was the first ever NCAA tournament win for the Bulls, coached by Stan Heath. South Florida was tied with Georgetown and Cincinnati for 4th place in the Big East
USF will take on the #5 seed Temple Owls in the second round Friday in Nashville. The winner will take on either Michigan or Ohio in the third round Sunday. Temple won the Atlantic 10 regular season title with a 24-7 record but lost in the A-10 quarterfinals to UMass 77-71. The Owls are coached by Fran Dunphy, and are making their 5th straihgt trip to the NCAA tournament. Temple and South Florida have never played each other before.
South Florida has wins over Vermont, Cleveland St, Rutgers, Villanova three times, Seton Hall, St. John’s, DePaul, Providence twice, Pitt twice, Cincinnati, and Louisville. South Florida has losses to Old Dominion, Penn St, VCU, Kansas, Auburn, Southern Miss, UConn, Notre Dame twice, Marquette, Georgetown, Syracuse, and West Virginia.
Temple has wins over Penn, Western Michigan, Wichita St, Central Michigan, Toledo, Villanova, Rice, Buffalo, Duke, St. Louis, LaSalle twice, Maryland, Charlotte, St, Joseph’s, Fordham twice, Rhode Island, George Washington, Xavier, St. Bonaventure, Duquesne, and UMass. The Owls have losses to Purdue, Bowling Green, Texas, Dayton, Richmond, and St. Joseph’s.
South Florida is outscoring opponents 59-57 this season. The Bulls are #7 in points allowed in the country. USF opponents are shooting 38.8% from the field and 29.7% from 3 point range. The Bulls are in the top 14 nationally in both categories. USF is shooting 43.6% from the field and 31.6% from 3 point range. The Bulls make 70.5% of their free throws. South Florida averages 34.3 rebounds a game with a rebounding margin of +3.7. The Bulls average 11.8 assists, 13.7 turnovers, 5.5 steals, and 3.8 blocks a game. USF forces 11.2 turnovers a game.
USF forward Augustus Gilchrist averages 9.6 points to lead the team, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks a game to lead the team Victor Rudd, Jr. averages 8.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.3 assists a game. Guard Anthony Collins averages 8.5 points, 2 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.7 steals a game. He leads the Bulls in assists and steals. He is probable with a finger injury. Jawanza Poland averages 8.5 points, and 3.5 rebounds a game. Toarlyn Fitzpatrick averages 8 points, 6.6 rebounds to lead the team, and 1 block a game. Ron Anderson, Jr. and Hugh Robertson also contribute significantly both in scoring and rebounding. Anderson is probable with a knee injury.
Temple is outscoring opponents 76-70 this season. The Owls are shooting 47.2% from the field and 40.2% from 3 point range. The Owls are #7 nationally in 3 point percentage. Temple makes 71.8% of their free throws. The Owls average 35 rebounds a game with a rebounding average of +1.1. Temple averages 15.6 assists, 12.5 turnovers, 7.2 steals and 4.2 blocks a game. Owl opponents are shooting 43.7% from the field and 33.6% from 3 point range. Temple forces 13.4 turnovers a game.
Temple guard Ramone Moore averages 17.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.1 steals a game. He makes 38.6% from 3 point range. Khalif Wyatt averages 17.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2.2 steals a game to lead the team. He makes 38.8% of his three point shots. Juan Fernandez averages 11.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists to lead the team, and 1 steal a game. He makes 43.4%of his three pointers. Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson averages 9.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.5 steals a game. Michael Eric averages 9.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 2 blocks a game to lead the team in the latter two categories. Guard Scootie Randall missed the entire season with a knee injury.
Temple is 17-14-1 this season and the total is 18-12-1 this season. South Florida is 17-14 ATS and the total is 9-22 this season. The Bulls are 9-1-1 ATS in Friday games, 8-3 overall, and after a straight up win, and 2-5 in neutral site games. The Owls are 6-0 ATS against Big East teams, 5-2 after failing to cover, 12-5 after a straight up loss, 2-5 in neutral site games, 1-4 overall, 0-5-1 in NCAA tournament games, and 0-4 against teams with winning records.
Temple wants to play this game in the 70’s or even the 60’s. However, South Florida is one of the best defensive teams in the country and wants to slow down the quick and speedy Owls. I think South Florida can control the tempo, and has a good shot of pulling off the upset.
Our college basketball handicappers are red hot this NCAA tournament. Don’t miss out on any more winners from now until they cut down the nets in New Orleans next month.
