The NCAA women’s tournament delivered a fantastic title game.
Here’s hoping the men can do the same tonight. We also have thoughts on John Calipari and a big ticket MLB pitcher’s debut.
UConn, Purdue Battle For Title
What Happened: One champ crowned, one to go. South Carolina capped off its perfect 39-0 season yesterday by downing Caitlin Clark and Iowa in the national title game.
Tonight, Purdue looks to thwart UConn’s attempt at claiming back-to-back championships for the first time since Billy Donovan’s Florida teams in 2006 and 2007.
Why It Matters: The Huskies have won 11 straight tournament games, and covered each of those wins, including four times as a favorite of 10+ points.
The line tonight is tighter, with Dan Hurley’s team giving as few as six points. Can Boilermakers big man Zach Edey push his team over the edge tonight? His points line is set at 24.5, a mark he’s failed to reach twice in five tourney games.
But if Purdue has any shot to topple the Huskies, it’s going to require the two-time National Player of the Year to dominate the proceedings.
How We’re Feeling Today
Respecting someone who knows when to push the eject button, and that someone today is new Arkansas Razorbacks coach John Calipari.
It was just a few weeks ago that Kentucky AD Mitch Barnhart vowed that Calipari would be back as the coach of the Wildcats.
Apparently that was news to Coach Cal.
When the athletic director has to reassure the fanbase that your job as a coach is safe, it’s a pretty good sign that your job is not, in fact, safe.
Calipari has been in the college game a long time, and he knows how to operate in the space better than most. The second he felt that seat warming up underneath him, he hopped for a fresh start. Hard to argue that wasn’t the right move.
The Look Ahead
Blake Snell STRIKEOUTS – Snell makes his Giants debut today, and we expect the defending Cy Young winner to show out for the home crowd. While Snell doesn’t typically last deep into games, he does rack up the Ks; in his 32 starts last season, he recorded 7+ strikeouts 21 times, which would register as a win over his line of 6.5 today.
Quinn Hughes SOG – The Vancouver defenseman has registered three or more shots in five straight games, and shot suppression is not exactly Vegas’ strength as a team. Last Tuesday, Hughes fired three shots on net against the Golden Knights in a 6-3 Canucks loss. With a line of 2.5, Hughes has a good chance to cash this one in.
