Irish will keep the Panthers in Pitts
YOU could have done better coaching Pitt this season. Correction: You have done better.
I’m assuming Isiah Thomas isn’t reading this.
Notre Dame (-16½) over Pittsburgh: Perhaps the Panthers’ — in the midst of an 18game losing streak — unrivaled embarrassment is punishment for leaving the Big East. It’s remarkable Pitt is only two years removed from making 13 NCAA Tournaments in 15 years, but Kevin Stallings might have set the school back a decade.
Notre Dame won the teams’ only matchup, 73-56, just six days ago, despite uncharacteristically struggling from deep, and having star senior forward Bonzie Colson limited to just 21 minutes in his first game back from a broken left foot. With the Irish on the bubble, expect Colson to dominate in Brooklyn like last year.
And if you’re looking for value in the ACC Tournament winner, the Irish (25-1), and the winningest senior class in school history, are a legit sleeper.
Boston College (-2) over Georgia Tech: The Eagles have struggled of late, losing four of their past five games, but each came against an NCAA Tournament team. Boston College defeated the Yellow Jackets in overtime last month, and hold the edge again, with Jerome Robinson and Ky Bowman providing the scoring pop Georgia Tech won’t be able to match.
Wake Forest (+4) over Syracuse: The Demon Deacons knocked off Syracuse, 73-67, two months ago, and will make Jim Boeheim sweat again, stretching his zone with deadly outside shooting. The Orange should squeak by, with a significant advantage in the crowd, but will need to defeat North Carolina in the second round to get into the Big Dance. This season: 4-4 2011-17 record: 199-155-8