BRACKET BUSTER INSIGHT

I originally put this out February 1st

Their will be 11 nationally televised games.They were just announced on ESPNU. Of the 22 teams, 19 are ranked in the top 100 of the RPI.

Records as of Febuary 1st, 2010.

Friday, Feb. 19

Old Dominion 17-6 7-12 ATS at Northern Iowa 19-2 14-6 ATS (ESPN2, 7 ET)

Old Dominion Top Players - Gerald Lee 14ppg 5reb Ben Finney 9ppg 6reb Frank Hassell 8ppg 6 reb

Northern Iowa Top Players - Adam Koch 13ppg Jordan Eglseder 12ppg 8reb Kwadzo Ahelegbe 11ppg

As my followers can atest, we have made a pretty penny with the Panthers of Northern Iowa. Having cashed with them, and against them, I know this team. I told everyone that this team would be everyones Cinderella come March. They are a tough team, disciplined team. Looking at this game now, points will be at a premium. Old Dom brings a tough defense to the match-up.

William & Mary 15-6 10-6-1 ATS at Iona 16-6 10-6 ATS (ESPNU, 9 ET)

Wiliam & Mary Top Players - David Schneider 16ppg 6 reb Quinn McDowell 15ppg 4 reb

Iona Gaels Top Players - Scott Machado 12ppg Alejo Rodrigues 8ppg 7 reb

Iona hasn't had any real signature wins this year. They did beat Providence. They got trounced by UConn and lost in OT against Baylor. William & Mary has non-conference wins at Wake and Maryland. The CAA is a very tough, under-rated conference. Would not suprise me to see the The Pride get another road win here.

Saturday, Feb. 20

Siena 19-4 12-8-1 ATS at Butler 18-4 9-13 ATS (ESPN2, 11 a.m. ET)

Siena Top Players - Alex Franklin 16ppg 8 reb Edwin Ubiles 16ppg 4 reb Ryan Rossiter 14ppg 10 reb Clarence Jackson 13ppg

Butler Top Players - Gordon Hayward 16ppg 8 reb Shelvin Mack 15ppg Matt Howard 11ppg Willie Veasley 10ppg 5 reb

For starters, how is the 15th ranked team here? I Butler has gone the way of Gonzaga. A mid-major who is no longer, and is on level with power conference schools. Not much to say about the 15th ranked Bulldogs. Siena is interesting. They do bring a tough tema with them. Siena did beat Northeastern, but lost to Georgia Tech, St John's and Temple. Saints have won 13 in a row, and have taken care of business. A huge game for them.

Morgan State 15-7 2-3 ATS at Murray State 20-3 10-7-1 ATS(ESPNU, Noon)

Morgan State Top Players - Reggie Holmes 23ppg Kevin Thompson 13ppg 12 reb DeWayne Jackson 10.5ppg

Murray State Top Players - Ivan Aska, Isaac Miles, Tony Easley, Isaiah Canaan, BJ Jenkins and Danero Thomas all average 10ppg

Morgan State should win the MEAC automatic bid. The Bears won at Arkansas earlier this season. The Racers have won 11 in a row. Personally, I wouldn't have matched these two teams up. They are really bracket-busters. You could have take Akron or Charleston and flipped one one of these into one of those match-ups.

Louisiana Tech 18-4 10-7 ATS at Northeastern 14-8 14-6-1 ATS (ESPN2, 1 ET)

Louisina Tech Top Players - Kyle Gibson 21.5ppg 4reb 3 ast Magnum Rolle 14ppg 10 reb Jamel Guyton 12ppg Olu Ashaolu 11.5ppg 8.5 reb DeAndre Brown 11ppg

Northeastern Top Players - Matt Janning 15ppg Chaisson Allen 14ppg Manny Adako 10ppg Nkem Ojougboh 10ppg 8 reb

I really like this match-up. Just keep the Deuce on all day. Bulldogs v Huskies should be a thrilla. L-Tech has a nice balance, with an emphisis on scoring and the Huskies bring a tough defense.

Nevada 13-8 9-9 ATS at Missouri State 15-7 11-11 ATS(ESPN2, 3 ET)

Nevada Top Players - Luke Babbitt 21ppg 10 boards Armon Johnson and Brandon Fields both at 15ppg

Missouri State Top Players - Kyle Weems 14ppg 6reb Adam Leonard 12ppg

Is this an NIT Bracket Buster? Unless one of these 2 teams wins their respected conferences, they won't be dancing. Luke Babbitt should be watched to see how he performs against the defense of the Bears.

Akron 15-6 9-8-1 ATS at Virginia Commonwealth 15-5 8-9-1 ATS(ESPNU, 4 ET)

Akron Top Players - 7 players averaging more than 7 ppg.

VCU Top Players - Larry Sanders 16ppg 9 boards

Akron brings the total team approach to this game. VCU has a bit more scoring. The Zips will bring a D with them to slow down VCU.

College of Charleston 14-8 11-5-1 ATS at George Mason 15-7 9-7-3 ATS(ESPN2, 8 ET)

Charleston Top Players - Andrew Goudelock 20ppg 4reb Donavon Monroe and Jeremy Simmons 12ppg each

George Mason Top Players - Cam Long 13ppg Ryan Pearson 12ppg

A pair of schools no strangers to the Buster Schedule. Charleston beat North Carolina. G-Mase made a Final Four run a couple years back. Don't be surprised if both teams Dance.

Western Carolina 17-5 10-7 ATSat Kent State 8-9 ATS(ESPNU, 8 ET)

Western Carolina Top Players - Jake Robinson 12ppg Brandon Giles and Mike Williams 11ppg each

Kent State Top Players - Justin Greene 13ppg Tyree Evens, Chris Singletary and Rodriguez Sherman score 11ppg

Interested in seeing the balance of the Catamounts here. Kent is a pereniall bracket team. They should benefit from playing this game at home. Just can't sleep on WCU though. The may win the Southern Conference over Charleston.

New Mexico State 13-8 8-7-1 ATS at Pacific 14-6 10-9 ATS (ESPNU, 10 ET)

NM ST Top Players - Jahmar Young 21ppg Jonathan Gibson 19ppg Wendell McKines 12ppg 10boards Hamindu Rahman 11ppg 10boards

Pacific Top Players -6 players averaging 7.5ppg or more. Sam Willard 10ppg 8boards is the top dog

Should be an intriguing match-up. New Mexico State brings some high-flying offesive players to the show. Pacific is a more balanced attack. Aggies have a lot of talent.

Wichita State 19-4 9-6-1 ATS at Utah State 16-6 11-7 ATS (ESPN2, 11:59 ET)

Wichita State Top players - Clevin Hannah 12ppg Toure' Murry 12ppg

Utah State Top Players - Tai Wesley 13ppg 7 reb Jared Quayle 12ppg 6reb

The Shockers are right up with Northern Iowa as favorites in the Missouri Valley. The Aggies of Utah State are normally a very strong play at home. This is a very nice mid-major Buster game.