SUNDAY, MARCH 28, 2010 – SOUTH REGION – Elite 8 AT HOUSTON, TX – Duke vs Baylor
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Team records:
No. 1 Duke Blue Devils (32-5,13-3,ACC)
No. 3 Baylor Bears (28-7, 11-5, Big 12)
Baylor vs Duke Betting Odds:
The odds makers have the Blue Devils as –4 ½ -point favorites.
Baylor +4.5
Over/Under: 139
Moneyline: Baylor +180, Duke -220
The No.1 Duke Blue Devils will tip off against the No. 3 Baylor Bears in the South Region Elite 8 round of the 2010 NCAA Tournament on Sunday at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas.
Baylor hasn’t made a Final Four appearance since 1950 and went 60 years between wins in the NCAA Tournament. Now they are just one victory away from making their fourth trip to the Elite Eight in the history of the program after thrashing St. Mary’s 72-49 in the South Regional semifinal on Friday night.
Baylor jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, taking a 46-17 lead into the halftime. The charge was led by the guard duo of LaceDarius Dunn (23 points) and Tweety Carter (14 points).
The two hit the Gaels from just about everywhere from the outside while center Ekpe Udoh, a junior transfer from Michigan, hit them inside grabbing 11 rebounds to go with eight points in the win.
Meanwhile, the number one-seeded Blue Devils blew passed a Purdue team that has been struggling since the loss of their star player Robbie Hummel with a 70-57 victory in the South Regional semifinals Friday night.
The win advances Duke to the Elite Eight for the first time since 2004. Kyle Singler recorded 24 points and eight rebounds, while Jon Scheyer and Nolan Smith finished with 18 and 15 points, respectively. Despite playing against a battered Boilermakers squad, you’ve got to give credit to Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski’s good defensive strategy.
The Devils held Purdue to just 37 percent shooting from the field and just 4-15 from behind the three-point line. Duke dominated the glass, out-rebounding the Boilermakers 45-22 and grabbing eleven more offensive rebounds (15-4) than Purdue.
Now they will face their toughest opponent yet. Baylor has an athletic edge on the perimeter, but few team have the kind of on-ball defenders Duke will send at the Bears. Duke isn’t a flashy team offensively, scoring less than 71 points in four of its last six games.
They have been under fire from the fans and media in regards to their potential offensive shortcomings, but will now get their chance to that their patented suffocating defense can lift them over Baylor and into the Final Four.
However, Baylor will have one advantage—the crowd in Houston.
The Bears’ fans played a sizeable factor in their win over the Gaels on Friday night.
Betting Trends:
Baylor is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games
Duke is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
Blue Devils vs Bears Free CBB Pick
With a talented backcourt and a solid interior presence, Baylor will be a tough out. What the team lacks in experience, it makes up for with intensity.
I expect the Bears to do a good job both the inside and outside on the offensive end of the floor as well as being big, athletic and physical on the defensive end, sneaking out a four-point upset to advance to the Final Four.
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Matt Martz is a freelance writer located in Central California. Blessed is the gambler who expects nothing, for ye shall not be disappointed.
