TCU (20-12) vs Seton Hall (21-10)
When: Friday, March 18th 2022
Where: Viejas Arena,
San Diego, CA
Time: 9:57 ET | TV: truTV
Opening Odds: Seton Hall -1/130
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The final game scheduled in the first round of the NCAA Tournament takes place Friday night in San Diego as the eighth-seeded Seton Hall Pirates take on the No. 9 TCU Horned Frogs at Viejas Arena. The Pirates are back in the Big Dance for the first time since 2019 despite a poor showing in last week’s Big East Tournament. Seton Hall scratched their way to a close win over lowly Georgetown before falling 62-52 to Connecticut in the quarterfinals. After a 3-6 start in the Big East, the Pirates slowly worked their way back and won eight of its last 10 games in the regular season. It’s the program’s fifth trip to the NCAA Tournament under coach Kevin Willard, who is 1-4 in that stretch. Seton Hall is just 2-5 ATS in their last seven games, but have only allowed 61.9 points a game over that span.
The Horned Frogs played above expectations in the rugged Big 12 Conference this season. TCU gained an at-large bid thanks to upsets down the stretch over Texas Tech, Kansas and Texas. They finished the season 1-3 including a 75-62 loss to Kansas in the Big 12 Tournament semi-final. The Horned Frogs haven’t won a game in the Big Dance since head coach Jamie Dixon was a player in 1987. Eight of TCU’s last 11 games have come against nationally ranked opponents. The defense allowed just 67.8 points per game over their past six contests and are No. 24 in adjusted defensive efficiency at Kenpom. The winner is likely going to face Arizona, the top seed in the South Region. The Wildcats face Wright State earlier in the day.
Slow starts have been an issue recently for the Horned Frogs, who mustered just 22 points in the first half before their 65-60 comeback win over Texas last week. In the loss to Kansas the next day, TCU trailed by as many as 19 points in the first-half. At least three TCU players have recorded double-digit point totals in six of their past seven games. The team is led by second-team All-Big 12 guard Mike Miles Jr., who averages 15 points, 3.9 assists and 1.3 steals per game. Damion Baugh adds 10.7 points and 4.4 assists, while Emanuel Miller averages 10.3 points and a team-high 6.3 rebounds. TCU is 7-2-1 against the spread in its last 10 games after a loss.
Despite losing in the Big East Tournament, the Pirates have some momentum, going 6-1 straight up in their last seven games. That includes a win over Creighton, who made it to the Big East Tournament finals, and the Big Dance. First-team All-Big East guard Jared Rhoden leads the team in scoring (15.9) and is the second-leading rebounder (6.8). Point guard Kadary Richmond averages team highs of 4.1 assists and 1.6 steals on top of nine points per game. The Pirates have a solid defense, ranking 26th in adjusted defensive efficiency and 17th nationally in effective field goal percentage defense. The Under is 15-3 in Seton Hall’s last 18 games after a loss.
Seton Hall did well in a tough Big East, but I was really impressed with the way TCU handled the rugged Big 12. They are battle-tested and have some big wins under their belt. That should help in this tournament.
Pick: TCU PK
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