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Auburn 62 @ Virginia 63 Final
Posted on 4/1/19 at 2:36 pm
Posted on 4/1/19 at 2:36 pm
No. 5 Auburn vs. No. 1 Virginia
When: Saturday at 6:09 p.m. ET
Where: U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis
TV: CBS
THE ROAD TO THE FINAL FOUR
2019 NCAA MIDWEST REGIONAL CHAMPIONS
2019 SEC TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS
4TH PLACE FINISH IN SEC REG SEASON
First round: vs. No. 12 New Mexico State -- W, 78-77
Second round: vs. No. 4 Kansas -- W, 89-75
Sweet 16: vs. No. 1 North Carolina -- W, 97-80
Elite Eight: vs. No. 2 Kentucky -- W, 77-71 OT
The skinny: Auburn showed in the Elite Eight that it does not have to shoot lights out from 3-point range to win games. The Tigers only made seven 3-pointers against Kentucky, but was able to force 14 turnovers and get to the free throw line 24 times. Auburn is ranked second in the country in turnover margin. Jared Harper and Bryce Brown combined for 50 points against the Wildcats, with Jared Harper scoring 12 of his 26 in overtime. The Tigers are without Chuma Okeke, its third leading scorer, in the Final Four, who tore his ACL in the Sweet 16 win over UNC.
2019 NCAA SOUTH REGIONAL CHAMPIONS
2019 ACC REGULAR SEASON CHAMPIONS (TIED WITH UNC)
First round: vs. No. 16 Gardner-Webb -- W, 71-56
Second round: vs. No. 9 Oklahoma -- W, 63-51
Sweet 16: vs. No. 12 Oregon -- W, 53-49
Elite Eight: vs. No. 3 Purdue -- W, 80-75 OT
The skinny: Virginia may have given up 75 points to Purdue in the Elite Eight, but this is still the best defensive team in the country. The Cavs have only given up 55.4 points per game this season, the lowest in the country. Opponents have struggled to shoot 3-pointers against Virginia, knocking down only 28.7 percent of its looks. On the offensive end, this team has many different weapons. Through four games in the tournament, the Cavs have had a different leading scorer every game. This team also does not turn the ball over too much. Its nine turnovers per game is the least in the country. Virginia has struggled to shoot 3-pointers in the tournament, connecting on only 29.9 percent of its attempts, but this team was one of the most consistent team's from deep this season and has the ability to flip the switch.
(CBS SPORTS)
ESPN Basketball Power Index Matchup Predictor
ESPN's BPI is overwhelmingly in Virginia's corner, giving the Cavaliers a decisive 79.7 percent chance of winning this one.
This post was edited on 4/6/19 at 6:55 am
66
Posted on 4/1/19 at 2:36 pm to MsGarrison
How Virginia has the edge: The Cavaliers are all about pace, using a pack-line defense that leads the nation in opponents points allowed (55) and slowing the game down in an ever-patient offense that often looks like a game of hot potato. While most teams get sped up when the shot clock is winding down, that's when Virginia is at its finest, feeding the post with just enough time or using high pick-and-rolls for penetration to get the guards a high percentage shot.
How Auburn has the edge: Coach Bruce Pearl's team is playing with a fire that no team in this Final Four has matched, and Xs and Os aside, the Tigers are good enough to beat anyone when they're making three-pointers and getting to the rim at will. That's where this game will be interesting — in the lane. The premise of Bennett's pack-line defense is to keep teams out of the paint. And a sagging man-to-man defense will work much different than Kentucky's that saw Jared Harper continually blow by some of John Calipari's best defenders. Virginia's defense is a collaborative effort that was built to contain more athletic ACC teams, so Pearl will have to draw up a game plan that allows his dynamic backcourt to score inside and out, with this group continuing to ride the swagger that's helped them bust brackets this whole tournament.
Key player for Cavaliers: Ty Jerome (13.3 ppg). While sharpshooter Kyle Guy broke out of a shooting slump with 25 points and four huge 3-pointers against Purdue, Jerome has been steady all tournament and has a nice intuition for when to score and when to distribute. He's one of the best ball handlers in the country and is crafty in keeping defenders off-balance, illustrated by him drilling an NBA-range three or getting an and-1 jumper in the lane vs. Purdue. De'Andre Hunter is the team's NBA talent who can get a bucket when the game's on the line. And Diakite was the hero of the Purdue game. But Jerome, who leads the team in assists and steals, is the guy who can ultimately carry this team to a national championship with his all-around prowess.
Key player for Auburn: Jared Harper. Although leading scorer Bryce Brown is the high volume shooter on the roster and can go on an offensive tear from beyond the arc, it was Harper's knack for getting to the paint that helped the Tigers drop Kentucky. The point guard scored 12 of his 26 points in overtime and made several game-changing plays; his assist to Anfernee McLemore with two minutes remaining in overtime was the play that took the air out of Kentucky's Final Four push.
Which team reaches the title game? Virginia's pace will prove to be the difference-maker in this game. While Auburn has gotten the best of blue-bloods by beating them at their own high-tempo game, Virginia is hardly your typical top seed with five-star talent. Bennett's methodical style wears teams down and offsets their rhythm. When high tempo meets slow tempo, expect Virginia to not stray away from what makes them elite.
(USA TODAY)
VEGAS INSIDER
Auburn vs. Virginia (-5.5, via Vegas Insider)
I’m not a college hoops expert, but in the Final Four, you expect a tight game. Plus, the No. 1 seed won by four over Oregon and five in overtime against Purdue. That’s why the spread feels a tad too large for me, so I’d take Auburn to cover in the final seconds.
This post was edited on 4/2/19 at 10:08 am
Posted on 4/1/19 at 2:36 pm to MsGarrison
reserved
Posted on 4/1/19 at 2:36 pm to MsGarrison
No jinx from pioneer!
Stay out!
#unfinished business
Next man up!
Stay out!
#unfinished business
Next man up!
This post was edited on 4/2/19 at 10:10 am
Posted on 4/1/19 at 2:40 pm to MsGarrison
I live an hour down the road from UVA.
Don't frick this up. :p
Don't frick this up. :p
Posted on 4/1/19 at 2:42 pm to MsGarrison
Didn't read anything you wrote Garrison
Posted on 4/1/19 at 2:43 pm to MsGarrison
WAR DAMN EAGLE. 
Posted on 4/1/19 at 2:43 pm to MsGarrison
IN!!!!!
Posted on 4/1/19 at 2:43 pm to thatguy45
Posted on 4/1/19 at 2:43 pm to MsGarrison
Posted on 4/1/19 at 2:51 pm to MsGarrison
Posted on 4/1/19 at 2:54 pm to MsGarrison
Can it just be saturday already?!
Posted on 4/1/19 at 2:56 pm to skrayper
I'm about two hours away, but agree whole heartedly.
Posted on 4/1/19 at 2:58 pm to MsGarrison
Posted on 4/1/19 at 2:59 pm to MsGarrison
Reserved
Posted on 4/1/19 at 3:00 pm to MsGarrison
Posted on 4/1/19 at 3:06 pm to MsGarrison
Nicely played.
Way to get ahead of...
another poster who likes to give the kiss of death with game threads.
Way to get ahead of...
another poster who likes to give the kiss of death with game threads.
Posted on 4/1/19 at 3:33 pm to The Nino
Posted on 4/1/19 at 3:34 pm to MsGarrison
I love Bruce Pearl, I'm glad he got to a final four.
I will say Purdue would have beat every other elite 8 team if they would have played them instead of Virginia. The fact that Virginia withstood that and won, I kind of feel like they escaped their chance to be beat. Virginia does not turn the ball over so the fast break points are gonna be few and far between. Auburn's defense has been excellent the last few weeks so I think you can hang in there but you'll have to shoot way better than you did against Kentucky to have a chance.
I think Auburn's defense keeps it close for a while but Virginia pulls away and wins by 10-13 points.
71-59 Virginia
I will say Purdue would have beat every other elite 8 team if they would have played them instead of Virginia. The fact that Virginia withstood that and won, I kind of feel like they escaped their chance to be beat. Virginia does not turn the ball over so the fast break points are gonna be few and far between. Auburn's defense has been excellent the last few weeks so I think you can hang in there but you'll have to shoot way better than you did against Kentucky to have a chance.
I think Auburn's defense keeps it close for a while but Virginia pulls away and wins by 10-13 points.
71-59 Virginia
Posted on 4/1/19 at 3:36 pm to MsGarrison
Let's ride
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