#5 Commodores (25-10) vs #4 Badgers (25-9)
The Vanderbilt Commodores breathed a sigh of relief after beating Harvard in the round of 64.
#5 Vanderbilt Commodores (25-10) vs #4 Wisconsin Badgers (25-9)
Saturday March 17
East Region – Pittsburgh, PA
6:10PM
Moneyline: No line currently posted
Spread: Vanderbilt -1
O/U: 120
Vanderbilt
It wasn’t the most complete or impressive effort but it got the job done – something they haven’t done in the past.
To me the East Region is wide open and Vanderbilt could certainly walk through. Facing Wisconsin will be a tough test because Vandy loves to be in flow and the Badgers make you scratch and claw.
Against Harvard, the Commodores got contributions from all the usual suspects.
John Jenkins bombed away and was money at the stripe; Festus Ezeli controlled the paint with 11 boards and 4 blocks and Jeffery did a little bit of everything. It was nice to see more of a contribution from senior point guard Brad Tinsley.
He was second with 16 points and softened up the defense with a couple of three balls. If he plays well this team is even tougher because he is the weakest link in the starting lineup. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is the only team that could set their own record for walloping an opponent in the NCAA Tournament and have nobody hardly mention it. The Badgers beat Montanta by 24 points holding the Grizzlies to just 49 – below their leading 52ppg allowed.
They do it their own way as they caused just 8 turnovers. They don’t gamble they just force you to take and make tough shots to win.
From their end the Badgers were enjoying a great shooting night. They made greater than 50% of their threes with 4 players cracking double digits in scoring.
It was a nice tuneup game for a much stronger Vandy team. Against the Commodores the defense should be just as tight or else John Jenkins will destroy them.
They will have to continue their scoring as well as no matter how well the D plays they are going to give up at least 60 points.
Spread Pick: Wisconsin +1
O/U Pick: Over
Score Prediction: Wisconsin 67 – Vanderbilt 62
