Expert predictions for NCAA Tournament second round game – The Athletic

When the clock struck zero on Thursday night, the scoreboard hit Saint Peter’s 85, Kentucky 79. Not only was the overtime result shocking as one of the biggest tournament upsets in recent memory, it goes down as the biggest Excitement of the last 15 years financially, too.

No, really.

Saint Peter’s University basketball budget is $ 1.6 million, which is the fourth lowest total among Division I programs. In Kentucky? Well, their basketball budget is $ 18.3 million, which is second only to the Duke. The ratio between the two program expenditures is 11.7, it does biggest upset in tournament history.

Oh, and the tournament win was also the Peacocks’ first in school history.

While possibly first-round pick Oscar Tshiebwe looked the part, posting a Monster 30/16 double-double, he missed some expensive foul shots and overtime that hurt the Wildcats.

Saint Peter’s junior Daryl Banks III, who averaged 11 points per game this season, shot a team-high 27 points on 9-of-19 shooting. Junior Doug Edert delivered the spark that we suggested he should get off the bench for the Peacocks, down 20 points on 5-of-7 shooting.

David beat Goliath here, but can Cinderella’s story continue for the Peacocks?

The word on the street is that they have something to show me, but are they brave enough to put together a repeat performance against Murray State?

The No. 7 ranking racers need overtime to defeat the San Francisco Dons Thursday night. It was a back-and-forth contest until the end, and Murray State had no answer for San Francisco senior Jamaree Boyea, who scored 36 points on 13-of-26 shooting.

In our preview, we said that the racers needed their big three to open up to move on, and that’s exactly what they did.

KJ Williams, Tevin Brown and Justice Hill scored 18, 17 and 15 points respectively, but they also had some help from sophomore guard Trae Hannibal, who shot 18 points of his own.

Both teams destroyed the 137.5 I / O line, and Murray State eventually covered the -2 spread.

The race (heh) on the Sweet 16 just got a lot easier for the racers thanks to Saint Peter’s.

The matchup gave Murray State its 48th-ranked offense based on custom offensive efficiency metrics. In comparison, the Peacocks are in 256th place.

Defensively, the two programs are closer, as Murray State comes in at 43rd and Saint Peter at 34th in the adjusted defensive efficiency ranking.

The opening line for Saturday’s game at BetMGM as racers as heavy favorites at -400. When I place a bet here next to the Murray State Moneyline, I take the bottom of 129.5.

Regardless of who wins, one of the programs will make the Sweet 16 for the first time in its history after Saturday’s game.

What: Eastern Region, Second Round

Typing time: 19:45 ET Saturday

Location: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis

TV: CBS

Chance, Over / Under, Moneyline

Every chance of BetMGM. Click here for live opportunities.

NBA Draft Perspectives

Tevin Brown, Murray State Junior Guard, potentially second round

Check out Sam Vecenie’s complete NBA draft big board

Expert Picks

Model projection: Murray State at 4.7, total 128.2

More NCAA men’s basketball tournament coverage

(Photo by Doug Edert: Dylan Buell / Getty Images; Athletics can get a partner commission if you open a BetMGM account via links in the article above)