Hardest thing about these tournaments is judging the motivation. Is a team like St Marys or San Diego St going to come out pissed that they got snubbed and try to show people how good they are and that they deserve in the real tournament, or are they going to just not give a fuck about this as they aspired for more. St Mary is especially disappointed I think because they're not just a team that wanted to go there, they are a team that had a legit shot of making a deep run with a healthy Mills. Mills doesn't get hurt and they might have been as high as a 5 seed.
Then there is the CBI and CIT tournaments. These tournaments are really for shitty teams that are just looking for a fun tournament to end the year with and hopefully at least bring in a trophy for the school. It gives them at least something to build on for the next year.
With all that said I usually stay away from these games because you really can't always judge the teams motivation. I see some lines I like though and will be looking for any motivational edges I find.
3 units Oakland -3.5 (CIT)
I think both teams are disappointed to be in the CIT. These are teams that did not even make the top 113 in the nation (65 in ncaa, 32 in nit, 16 in cbi), and both had realistic goals of being in the NCAA Tournament. Kent St is probably the most talented team in their conference, but just had a disappointing season the whole way. Oakland has a 10 point lead at HT vs ND State, but blew it and ended up lossing by 2, costing them a trip to the Big Dance. Both these teams are disappointed in being here, so which has more to play for? IMO, it's Oakland. Oakland is still a program trying to build itself into a premier Summit team, and it has had some good teams in the past few years. This is a home game where they have been very good this year and I think they have more to gain by beating a team like Kent St, then they do by beating a team from the Summit conference. Oakland is better than people think, get a home game here, and IMO they should win here.
3 units New Mexico -8 (NIT)
New Mexico is a team that is easily good enough to be in the tournament. This team is better than some 9, 10 seeds. Their resume isn't good enough to get in though and I understand that. They will be a major player in the NIT though. I think they have the toughest bracket, but they can make a run in it. They have the easiest 6 seed in the tournament and they should roll Nebraska.
Have a couple more for tomorrow, this is all that is in right now though.
Then there is the CBI and CIT tournaments. These tournaments are really for shitty teams that are just looking for a fun tournament to end the year with and hopefully at least bring in a trophy for the school. It gives them at least something to build on for the next year.
With all that said I usually stay away from these games because you really can't always judge the teams motivation. I see some lines I like though and will be looking for any motivational edges I find.
3 units Oakland -3.5 (CIT)
I think both teams are disappointed to be in the CIT. These are teams that did not even make the top 113 in the nation (65 in ncaa, 32 in nit, 16 in cbi), and both had realistic goals of being in the NCAA Tournament. Kent St is probably the most talented team in their conference, but just had a disappointing season the whole way. Oakland has a 10 point lead at HT vs ND State, but blew it and ended up lossing by 2, costing them a trip to the Big Dance. Both these teams are disappointed in being here, so which has more to play for? IMO, it's Oakland. Oakland is still a program trying to build itself into a premier Summit team, and it has had some good teams in the past few years. This is a home game where they have been very good this year and I think they have more to gain by beating a team like Kent St, then they do by beating a team from the Summit conference. Oakland is better than people think, get a home game here, and IMO they should win here.
3 units New Mexico -8 (NIT)
New Mexico is a team that is easily good enough to be in the tournament. This team is better than some 9, 10 seeds. Their resume isn't good enough to get in though and I understand that. They will be a major player in the NIT though. I think they have the toughest bracket, but they can make a run in it. They have the easiest 6 seed in the tournament and they should roll Nebraska.
Have a couple more for tomorrow, this is all that is in right now though.