Re: 1st round NCAA/NIT sides and totals
[ QUOTE ]
Also, this is a 12:30 game in New Orleans. Not sure if early start might result in lower scoring.
Also expect a big-time Memphis contingent there whereas I don't expect nearly as much UNT support.
Is UNT used to playing in big arenas in front of large crowds?
I did find one box-score where their home crowd was over 3k.
finally, I think you might be underestimating Memphis' defense. They are athletic, they get after the ball, they block shots...etc etc.
Recent wins for them include 71-49 over Tulane and 71-59 over Houston.
64-61 at SMU, 99-63 over Rice, 69-52 at Tulsa, 95-51 vs. Tulane, 88-52 vs. SMU, 79-54 vs. UAB and 70-56 at UAB.
They are averaging 10 steals and 6 blocks per game.
I really think it's possible that Memphis over-runs UNT right from the start and races out to a 20-4 lead or something.
Granted, most of their blow-out wins are at home.
But they keep teams from scoring and that's the point.
The New Orleans arena is going to be a similar place to play as their home Fed-Ex Forum and a LOT of fans are basically planning on heading down there and turning New Orleans into Memphis-South.
Not quite a home-game for Memphis, but much more so for them than for UNT.
[/ QUOTE ]
Here in NOLA, we have a little football game every year called the New Orleans Bowl. UNT has played in it three of the last four years and I have always been impressed with their turnout.
Memphis brings some folks to Tulane but not a ton. I haven't been to a Memphis TU hoops game in a few years, but I don't think the crowd in favor of Memphis will be a factor in this game. Plus if it is close, everyone not associated with the favorite roots for the dog anyway.
|