As mentioned all season, Vegas for some reason loves us. I feel like we have been favored by more points than we should be all season.

Here are the tournament odds…

Marshall favored at 2/1
JMU 3/1
Louisiana 4/1
Southern Miss 5.5/1
South Alabama 10/1
Troy 18/1
ODU 25/1
App State 45/1
GA Southern 55/1
The others are 250/1 or higher. Arkansas State is 2000/1.

Drop $500 on Ark St, and if lightening strikes, be a millionaire

Don't wager much personally, but the odds look about right to me. Surprised USM isn't given better odds, but otherwise seems correct.

Any of the top 7 could win it, below that its unlikely. The top 4 have a big advantage over the others with a double bye.

There won't be any easy games, hoping to see JMU make the finals and give a good fight there. Optimistic me wants to looks at this as JMU makes the finals and has a 50/50 shot at winning, but 3/1 odds seems realistic.

I think a big factor in JMU's favor is the team's experience (4 Seniors/Grad Students) and depth. If one guy has an off night, the others can pick up the slack, which I would think is quite important for a tournament. That said, we've all seen a collective let down by this team, which stems from defense. If JMU plays defense to its capacity, then they are in a strong position to win it all. Marshall is the team that worries me most - the balance between the guards and big guys is the best in the conference.

Hard to remember a JMU quarterfinal tourney game where we come in with 20 wins and so does our opponent.

Yeah, it’s a little tainted though. Troy has 17 D-1 wins and JMU has 18.
Both have 3 DIII/NAIA/lower level wins propping up their record books, but are not part of the official NCAA NET wins.

Should be a good #4 Vs #5 game with full contact basketball as tourney refs eat their whistle.
A few players have already been body slammed on rebounds in the tournament.
Perhaps the Sun Belt tourney tourney gets nasty like the OVC did last night. One guy threw a punch to the face because he had enough of the physicality.

I wish we just had one bruiser on the team with a bad attitude. An enforcer if you will.

JMU opens up as a 3 point favorite over Troy, total is 143

(03-03-2023 11:27 AM)Hart Foundation Wrote:  Yeah, it’s a little tainted though. Troy has 17 D-1 wins and JMU has 18.
Both have 3 DIII/NAIA/lower level wins propping up their record books, but are not part of the official NCAA NET wins.

Should be a good #4 Vs #5 game with full contact basketball as tourney refs eat their whistle.
A few players have already been body slammed on rebounds in the tournament.
Perhaps the Sun Belt tourney tourney gets nasty like the OVC did last night. One guy threw a punch to the face because he had enough of the physicality.

I wish we just had one bruiser on the team with a bad attitude. An enforcer if you will.

Mezie fits the physical description, but not the temperament.

Just hope the team hits on all cylinders…Vado, Edwards, Freidel, Mezie, Molson…if they’re all hitting their shots, plus playing great D the team advances to the next round. Heck, if they put 3 games in a row like that, JMU makes the NCAAT.

Go Dukes!

(03-03-2023 11:27 AM)Hart Foundation Wrote:  I wish we just had one bruiser on the team with a bad attitude. An enforcer if you will.

Marty McSorley in the lane, if you will.