Miners open C-USA Tournament play against Knights

NCAA Basketball Betting Lines

03/11/2010 - Tulsa, OK (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Winners of 14th straight games, the top-seeded and 25th-ranked Texas El Paso Miners set their sites on a C-USA Tournament championship, starting with tonight's quarterfinal-round matchup against the ninth-seeded UCF Knights at the BOK Center. The survivor of this contest advances to the semifinals versus the winner of the Marshall/Tulsa clash.

The current winning streak ranks third in the nation and helped UTEP set a school-record for conference wins (15) on its way to the C-USA title. This is the program's first outright regular-season championship in 23 years, as the Miners suffered just one conference loss. UTEP is making its fifth appearance in the C-USA Tournament, first as a No.1 seed, and they are 3-4 in the event. The team has made it as far as the semifinals, including a recent 2008 showing.

As for the Knights, they were in action just last night, when they captured a 69-53 victory over eighth-seeded SMU. It was the second straight victory on a the heels of a four-game slide for UCF, which won for just the second time in this tourney.

The all-time series between UTEP and UCF is tied 3-3 after the Miners thrashed the Knights, 96-59, in the lone meeting during the regular season.

The Knights dropped in 54.2 percent of their attempts from the floor and 10- of-13 at the foul line, as they outlasted SMU last night. UCF controlled the boards, 27-19, as well as forcing 16 turnovers in the game. Taylor Young led the way with 15 points and four assists, while Isaac Sosa and A.J. Tyler scored 14 and 12 points, respectively. Tyler is the team's leading scorer at 10.4 ppg and he also pulls down 5.1 rpg for the season. Sosa nips at his heels with 10.2 ppg and he is the team's top three-point threat, hitting at a 42.5 percent clip.

UTEP has been effective at both ends of the court this season, as they are netting 75.9 ppg and shooting 47.3 percent from the floor, while holding foes to 64.1 ppg behind 38.8 percent shooting. Randy Culpepper leads the charge and the reigning C-USA Player of the Year heads the squad with 18.1 ppg and 52 seals. A 38.3 percent shooter, Culpepper topped the 30-point mark on three occasions on his way to All-Conference USA first-team honors. Derrick Caracter, a second-team all-league choice, is also a big part of this club and he produces 14.3 ppg, to go with a team-high 8.4 rpg. Jeremy Williams brings 10.3 ppg to the court, and Arnett Moultrie tacks on 9.9 ppg and 6.9 rpg.

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Pacific-10 Conference odds

Teams that should be in: Stanford

Oregon and USC get their tickets punched after taking care of business this weekend. Yes, the Trojans' computer numbers aren't great, but there's no way the third-place team in this league is getting nixed. Grudgingly, I added Arizona after consultation with our Bracketologist. I don't know that Arizona will lose its last three (including a Pac-10 quarterfinal game), and even if the Cats do, I still can't see how they'd be left out, given the overall profile. That said, it bears watching, as three more L's would leave them at 18-12 (9-9) and on a 6-11 skid entering the Dance. It would be nice to see the Wildcats get at least one W in the Bay Area next week, as Cincinnati (albeit without Armein Kirkland and with a worse profile) was axed after a similar slide last season. I just couldn't rationalize having some of the other teams as locks and not having Arizona in that category -- there just aren't enough good teams behind the Cats to threaten their spot, it seems. Stanford has its fate in its own hands with the Arizona schools coming to the Farm to close out the regular season next weekend.

Should be in:

Stanford [17-10 (9-7), RPI: 40, SOS: 21] No shame in not getting a win in L.A., but that makes the home game against Arizona State a must-win ahead of what could be an intriguing meeting with Arizona should the Cats lose at Cal. Getting to 11 Pac-10 wins would make Selection Sunday much more comfortable, but 10's probably more than enough this season. The Cardinal have nonconference wins over Texas Tech and at Virginia to lean on, although they also lost badly to Air Force and Santa Clara at home.

Southeastern Conference odds
Work left to do: Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Mississippi State

It looks more and more possible that no one from the SEC West will make the NCAAs. How weird is that? Tennessee and Vandy move into the locks category after more good work this weekend. Kentucky stays there, although it would be smart for the Cats to handle Georgia at home Wednesday ahead of a trip to the Swamp. Could a disaster scenario (two more L's and a first-round SEC tourney exit) somehow dislodge the Cats despite their incredible computer numbers? Still unlikely, but not worth chancing it.

Work left to do:

Alabama [19-9 (6-8), RPI: 43, SOS: 47] The tough L at Tennessee was understandable, and even created some hope. Unfortunately, that hope was dashed by a home loss to Auburn, which leaves the Tide in some real trouble. There's still no signature win on the profile (no, Kentucky doesn't count), and the computer profile is weakening rapidly. The Tide conceivably could beat Ole Miss and win at Miss. State to get to 8-8 and clinch at least a share of the West crown, but that's probably not enough right now. The Tide will need to do some work in the SEC tourney.

Georgia [16-10 (8-6), RPI: 52, SOS: 23] This is the team with the best chance to make it from this section right now. The Bulldogs rebounded from a terrible performance at Ole Miss to beat down Miss. State. Now they are at Kentucky (king of the RPI 51-100 win) and home to Tennessee. That would be worth a lot of computer points to get both (which is doable), as both teams are in the top 11 in RPI. Finishing at least 9-7 is an absolute must, and I would feel much better about the Dawgs' chances if they got both to get to 10 SEC wins. They also beat Gonzaga, but lost to ACC bubblers Georgia Tech and Clemson.

Mississippi [18-10 (7-7), RPI: 63, SOS: 79] Like everyone else in this division, Ole Miss gacked up a chance to stake a claim, losing by double figures at South Carolina. Even 9-7 likely is not nearly enough with a nonconference profile devoid of anything notable.

Mississippi State [16-11 (7-7), RPI: 66, SOS: 37] With a chance to get in the mix, these Bulldogs were leashed by their Georgia counterparts. Could they get to 9-7? I guess -- although winning at Arkansas, then beating Alabama is no lock -- but would that mean all that much for a team with this overall profile? Probably not. There's nothing of note (on the good side) in the nonconference profile.

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