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This marks the fourth year of the Bracket Buster, designed specifically for mid-majors to showcase their talents before a national TV audience. This concept has grown to be 26 teams representing 18 conferences. This gives each school a chance to make a strong impression in a non-conference feature-type setting before the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee will be asked to do there job next month.
Among the key players to take a look in Bracket Buster action are: Nick Fazekas (Nevada), Steve Burtt (Iona), Nick George (VCU), Chris McNaughton (Bucknell), Paul Miller (Wichita State), Jamaal Tatum (Southern Illinois), Joah Tucker (Wisconsin-Milwaukee), and Anthony Winchester (Western Kentucky). Of course others will shine, which makes this such a fun event.
Here is a preview of all 13 games listed by time and the network they can be viewed on.
Albany at Virginia Commonwealth EST 7:00 Friday ESPNU Albany is in first place in the American East Conference and is one of only two teams over .500 in the league. The Great Danes have won five in a row and are 7-5 on the road. Junior guard Jamar Wilson has been leading the charge during their latest winning streak averaging better then 18 PPG. VCU is a member of the Colonial Athletic Conference that is loaded this season. The Rams are tied for 5th place and are 11-1 at home. As a home favorite Virginia Commonwealth is undefeated, with 4-6 ATS record.
Akron at Nevada 9:00 EST Friday ESPNU
Bucknell at Northern Iowa EST 12:00 Saturday ESPN2
Bucknell upset Kansas in the first round of the NCAA Tournament last year, before falling to Wisconsin. The Bison appear even more formidable now, having reached the Top 25 for the first time in school history. In order to hold onto that ranking they will face an equally impressive Northern Iowa team from the tough Missouri Valley Conference. Bucknell is lead by 6’11 Chris McNaughton and G Charles Lee, who are 11-2 on the road. The Panthers need a quality win after suffering an embarrassing loss at Indiana State. UNI is 12-2 and 5-4-1 ATS at “The Dome”.
Buffalo at Iona 12:00 EST Saturday ESPN360
The Bulls of the MAC narrowly missed the NCAA tourney last year and have been struggling in league play with 6-8 record. Buffalo has dropped five of six and is 6-6 away from home with 5-4 ATS mark. The Gaels of Iona sit atop the Metro Atlantic standings and have another loaded team. Iona has become known this year for slow starts and big finishes, driving former NBA player and current Head Coach Jeff Ruland crazy. On the season, Iona is 7-3 at home with a 4-4 ATS record.
Butler at Kent State 12:30 EST Saturday ESPNU
Kent State is having another fine season and is tied for first place with Akron in the MAC East Division. The Golden Flashes are 12-2 and 11-3 ATS since losing to Syracuse in their final game of 2005. Butler is just a half a game behind UW-Milwaukee in the Horizon Conference. Butler is 8-4 on the road, with a most impressive 4-1-1 ATS record as a road underdog.
Missouri State at UW-Milwaukee 2:00 EST Saturday ESPN2
UWM has to beat Detroit next week to assure itself of no worse then a share of the Horizon Conference crown. Before that they face a troublesome challenge from Missouri State. The Bears were stumbling in January MVC action, and have since found there way in clawing up the league standings. Missouri State has won 5 of 6 covering each time. UW-Milwaukee has had a quirky season with unusual losses in conference play. In fact, this week's loss to UIC snapped the nation's 2nd longest home winning streak at 19 games. In all, the Panthers are 10-1 at home, however, covering the spread in only 3 of 9 attempts.
Northern Arizona at Western Kentucky 2:30 EST Saturday ESPNU The Lumberjacks appear headed to a Big Sky Conference title and travel to the Commonwealth to face an always potent Western Kentucky team. This should be one of the highest scoring Bracket Buster games with Northern Arizona scoring 76.7 PPG and the Hilltoppers averaging 79 PPG. NAU is 5-1 ATS in one day rest, while the Sun Belt East champs are 11-2 at home with a 6-5 ATS mark.
Marist at Old Dominion 4:00 EST Saturday ESPN2 Marist is residing in 3rd place in the MAAC and has been formidable on the road with a 9-4 SU and 6-4 ATS record. The Red Foxes have outscored the opposition by 4.5 PPG as the visiting team. Old Dominion has had to fight there way into the upper echelon of the Colonial standings. Nothing has come easy for the Monarchs as exhibited by the team’s 10-14 ATS record. Despite winning by nearly 13 points a game at home, ODU is 4-8 ATS.
Louisiana Tech at Southern Illinois 6:00 EST Saturday ESPN2 This game will be a sharp contrast to the NAU/WK contest. These are two methodical squads who have offensive limitations and who favor defense. Louisiana Tech has only lost to Utah State and Nevada, the teams ahead of them in the WAC standings. Southern Illinois has had a surprisingly good year despite the heavy losses in talent, in the strenuous Missouri Valley Conference. The Bulldogs have been a real money-maker on the road with an 8-2-1 ATS mark. They will face a stiff challenge at Carbondale, where the Salukis are 10-1 SU and 8-2-1 against the spread.
George Mason at Wichita State 8:00 EST Saturday ESPN2
A very good quality team that astute bettors have followed all year is George Mason. The Patriots lead the CAC and have covered 70% of their games, among the best in the country. George Mason has lost just once in 2006 and will be a pesky foe for Wichita State. The Shockers were thought to be a middle of the road team in the MVC; however behind the stellar play of C Paul Miller, they have climbed to the top spot in the standings.
Samford at Ohio 8:00 EST Saturday ESPN360
Ohio went to the NCAA tournament last year and lost by only 5 points to Florida. To make a repeat visit this season, the Bobcats will need to win the MAC post season tournament. Losers of five of their last seven games, Ohio is in the more challenging East Division, which has lead to a poorer then expected season. Samford is seated in 2nd place in the Ohio Valley Conference having an exception year. The Bulldogs have had plenty of bark as a visiting underdog with a 5-2 ATS record.
Northwestern State at Utah State 10:00 EST Saturday ESPNU
Northwestern State will need their A-game from the defensive end to upend Utah State. The Aggies are the nation’s best 3-point shooting team at 43.4% and second in the country in field goal percentage. The Demons lead the Southland Conference with an 11-1 record. They have had only three lined games, covering all of them. Utah State comes off a most impressive 80-42 win at Idaho on Wednesday night.
Fresno State at Creighton Midnight EST Saturday ESPNU
The final game of Bracket Buster will be a “pajama party” in Nebraska. Creighton lost a heartbreaker on Valentine’s Day, as Wichita State shocked the Blue Jays when Matt Braeuer hit a 3-point basket with 0.5 seconds left in overtime, to win by one. Creighton is 12-1 at the Qwest Center and 7-4 ATS. Fresno State after more off-season controversy never fired this season with a 13-10 record and is in 6th place in the WAC. The Bulldogs have rolled over on the road with a 2-8 record and matching ATS mark.
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