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NCAA Basketball Betting – St. John’s Without Big Man Against San Diego State

  • Updated: March 20, 2015
    • NCAA Basketball Betting – St. Johns Without Big Man Against San Diego State

    By Charles Jay

    It is a rather unusual occurrence that again between the eighth and ninth seed of the regional would not be an extremely competitive matchup going in. The game between the San Diego State Aztecs and the St. John’s Red Storm is no exception. There is a twist or two, is there often is, and in this case is the absence of a key player on the St. John’s side that might force a shift in defensive strategy. Basketball betting action between these representatives of the Mountain West and Big East conferences is scheduled to get underway at 9:40 PM ET from the Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte. Of course, after the tipoff, there is plenty of action to be had while the game is in progress, with props available from Live Betting Extra at BetAnySports.

    NCAA Basketball Betting – St. Johns Without Big Man Against San Diego State

    San Diego state comes into this game with a record of 26-8 straight-up, and they are 14-18 against the spread. St. John’s was 21-11 straight-up and 13-14 ATS.

    As most people are aware San Diego State is the team that likes to play a more deliberate, defensive style, and they are led by coach Steve Fisher, who has won a national championship before at the University of Michigan. St. John’s will likely try to drive the tempo a little bit more.

    In the basketball betting odds that are posted on this game by the people at BetAnySports, San Diego State is the favorite:

    San Diego State Aztecs -3.5
    St. John’s Red Storm +3.5

    Over 120.5 points -110
    Under 120.5 points -110

    San Diego State allowed just 53.1 points per game, which was the second lowest in the nation. They use as much of the shot clock as possible on most possessions. But this is a team that has often been found wanting when it comes to being able to score points. No member of the roster averaged more than 11.1 per game, and the three-point threats generally are not there. However, the Aztecs have a team that knows how to funnel the opposition into the middle, where big man Skyler Spencer is waiting. Spencer is not someone who generates a lot of offense, but blocked 2.5 shots per game this season.

    Speaking of blocking shots, BetAnySports customers may have heard that Chris Obepka, the man in the middle for St. John’s, was suspended for two weeks for violation of team rules. This was announced right after the tournament brackets came out, so it was a serious downer for St. John’s players. Obepka was a genuine force down low, blocking 3.1 shots per game and averaging seven rebounds. So the Red Storm, coached by Steve Lavin, will have to rely on the senior leadership provided by D’Angelo Harrison (17.5 PPG) and Sir’ Dominic Pointer, the team leader in rebounds and 7.6 per game, who also blocked 2.4 shots per contest. Also Rysheed Jordan, a junior who has supplied some offensive spark, whether he is starting or coming off the bench, will be a key player here.

    Another twist in the storyline involves Dwayne Polee, who has found success as San Diego State’s sixth man, but had previously been a highly-recruited arrival at St. John’s under Lavin.

    San Diego State had some pretty decent non-conference wins, coming over Utah, BYU and Pittsburgh. Last season this team got to the Sweet 16, losing to Arizona. St. John’s has not appeared in the Big Dance since 2011, and that was their only appearance in the last dozen years. The general consensus is that this highly-touted freshman class of three years ago may have under-achieved, but naturally they hope to surprise before us all is said and done.

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