TOM STRYKER’S FREE BASKETBALL SELECTION SATURDAY, MARCH 22ND
#818 ST. JOHN’S (-6′) over Arkansas at 2:40 PM EST
With plenty of confidence off a 30-point win in the First Round over Omaha, St. John’s will have no trouble rocking this overachieving Arkansas squad. The Razorbacks enter this Second Round matchup off an upset win over the Jayhawks in their Big Dance opener and this will prove to be a difficult encore for head coach John Calipari and his kids.
Dating back to February 21st, 2024, the Red Storm have been one of college basketball’s best inking a proud 37-5 SU and 28-12-2 ATS record in their last 42 games. In this run battling a foe that arrives with steam off a straight up win, the Johnnies improve to an elite 18-4 SU and 17-4-1 ATS including a spotless 14-0 ATS provided they are battling a foe that owns a team won/loss percentage of .616 or higher. Additionally, since 1990, NCAA Tournament Round Two favorites priced at -5.5 or more hold a lucrative 110-71-1 ATS record provided they are running the floor against an opponent that arrives off a straight up underdog win. If our “play on” side storms the court off two or more straight up victories, this technical situation improves to a sensational 49-27 ATS. Head coach Rick Pitino and his boys fit both parts of that strong postseason angle perfectly.
Kudos to Arkansas for knocking off Kansas. Off that emotional upset victory, this is going to be a difficult spot for Coach Cal and his players. As a team, the Razorbacks have been historically bad when coming off a straight up underdog win posting a pathetic 32-62-1 ATS record in their next game. In this setting fighting a non-conference foe, the Pigs fall to a woeful 7-18 ATS. Also, in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament, teams that arrive off two or more pointspread victories own a rough 16-56 SU and 25-46-1 ATS record provided they were priced as an underdog in their last battle and smashed the pointspread by double digits. That spells trouble for Arkansas.
The Johnnies blitzed the Mavericks for 14 three-pointers in their 83-53 victory in the First Round and they will punch their ticket to the Sweet 16 with another solid shooting performance from behind the arc here. Take St. John’s. Thanks and best of luck, Tom.
LEE’S $1,000 HRC NCAA TOURNAMENT ROUND 2 WHALE PLAY OF THE YEAR
The TSPC enjoyed a nice 2-1 ATS Saturday cashing with Mick’s 4* on Michigan State and Tom’s 4* on Kentucky (Trey slipped with Alabama) and returns with a strong selection from Lee that will break the bank. This High Roller Club release sets up perfectly and it has the support of one outstanding 62-28 ATS postseason system. Grab Lee’s $1,000 HRC NCAA Tournament Round 2 Whale Play of the Year for $30.