Saturday, March 11, 2023 Pennsylvania vs. Princeton (NCAAB) - 1:30 PM EDT Premium Pick Pick: Point Spread: -2/-110 Princeton Rating: 9* Mike's 1st Leg/Parlay Saturday CBB Selections (WIN) Even the Ivy League got into the act back in 2017 (Princeton won the 1st & have revenge for a 66-64 loss to Yale in the finals last season). For this one, we have a hungry Tigers' squad under HC Mitch Henderson (11th season, 204-115 overall, 19-8 this year) that's a strong road team turning in a 9-5 record @ true away & neutral sites. Princeton will have the best player on the floor with last year's Ivy League Player of the Year Tosan Evbuomwan, a 6'8" senior forward from England averaging 18 PPG. I guess you have to thank Assistant HC Brett MacConnell for recruiting him from across the pond. While Evbuomwan is ruling the boards, excellent floor general & G Ryan Langborg (12 PPG) is a 3-point specialist (nails about 3 to 4 a game) from San Diego who knows how to dictate tempo. These 2 met twice during the regular season with Princeton winning @ The Palestra in Philadelphia 72-60 before their last Saturday hook-up that saw the Orange & Black go an extra stanza in beating these 17-12 Penn Quakers 77-69 @ Jadwin Gym in Princeton, NJ. The Tigers are a solid 4-1 ATS versus teams with a SU winning record. HC Steve Donahue (an Ursinus grad in his 7th season, 312-306 overall as a HC) does have a senior-laden squad this season but are way too dependent on G Jordan Dingle (23.9 PPG) carrying the bulk of the load. I chose to side with the 9-man deep boys from New Jersey whose won the last 8 decisions of this series. Let's go to the homecourt of Jadwin Gym to play the Princeton Tigers (buying to + 7) as my 1st Leg/Parlay in my Saturday CBB Selections. Marist vs. Iona (NCAAB) - 7:30 PM EDT Premium Pick Pick: Point Spread: -15/-110 Iona Rating: 9* Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Ticket-Puncher (WIN) I feel this Gaels' team is focused & eager to erase that bad taste in their mouths from their early quarter-finals exit in this tournament @ Atlantic City last season when they lost 61-60 to Rider. I have to give the nod to Iona's excellent backcourt duo of Walter Clayton, Jr. (21.5 PPG in playoffs) & 3-point specialist who came over from Odessa College, Daniss Jenkins (14.5 PPG). Having 6'9" F Nelly Junior Joseph (13 PPG) with excellent rebounding, blocks & steal numbers only solidifies a very strong lineup. They have a seasoned squad that takes on Ithaca grad & HC John Dunne (5th season with a 58-86 overall record) whose Marist squad is in a rebuilding year with no starters back from last season. These 2 met twice earlier with Iona winning 84-57 @ McCann Arena in Poughkeepsie, NY while also claiming a 93-74 decision @ the Hynes Athletic Center in New Rochelle, NY. The 13-19 Red Foxes are just 2-5 ATS their past 7 Saturdays. Other numbers show the Gaels have gone a superb 4-0 ATS versus SU losing teams while going a very strong 21-8-1 versus the number in neutral site games. We're ready to go to Boardwalk Arena in Atlantic City to play the IONA GAELS on the ML to complete the 3 -teamer for 9 Stars as my Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Ticket Puncher! Utah State vs. San Diego State (NCAAB) - 6:00 PM EDT Premium Pick Pick: Point Spread: -2/-105 San Diego State Rating: 9* Mountain West March Madness Ticket Puncher (WIN) Both of these teams come in with some serious momentum as 26-7 Utah State come in winning 7 in a row while 26-6 San Diego State has won 9 of their last 10. The Aztecs won the 1st meeting between these 2 by a 85-75 score @ Viejas Arena in San Diego. The last meeting was a real donnybrook with San Diego State winning a squeaker 63-61 over HC Ryan Odom's squad @ the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum in Logan. I'm higher on HC Brian Dutcher's team (a Steve Fisher protege' in his 6th season overall with a 145-46 career mark) who return 4 starters from last season that includes a solid trio. They'll have the length, athleticism & solid "D" of the 6'7" F Keyshad Johnson (11.5 PPG), PG & anchor Lamont Butler (11.5 PPG) & the Wasatch Academy HS in Mt. Pleasant, UT grad/California U. transfer G & 5th year senior Matt Bradley (10.5 PPG & has a career 2,200+ points) who was the Mountain West Newcomer of the Year last season. Numbers show SD State carries a 4-0-1 ATS their last 5 Saturday games as well as an excellent 8-2-1 record against the number versus teams with a SU winning record. I feel the Aztecs are eager to erase a tough 53-52 loss to Boise State in this tournament in 2021-22. Let's roll with the senior-laden squad, the SAN DIEGO STATE AZTECS (buying to + 7) as my 2nd Leg/Parlay of my Saturday CBB Selections @ the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. NOTES: The afternoon play saw the Quakers outplay Princeton the first 10 minutes with sharp shooting of Jordan Dingle & Clark Slajchert. The Tigers heated up in the 2nd half feeding their big man Tosan Evbuomwan (game-high 21 points) as they pulled one out of the fire 77-70. In the first night play, Utah State ruled most of the 1st half riding the heels of Steven Ashworth & Trevin Dorius. San Diego State made some key halftime adjustments (held the Aggies to 7 points in the first 10 minutes of the 2nd half) & held on 62-57 despite a horrible shooting night (41% FG% & just 17% from 3-pt land). Jaedon LeDee was game MVP (13 PTS) in an off the bench role. The last play saw Iona struggle for the 1st 30 minutes (were tied @ 46). However, HC Rick Pitino used his wizardry holding Marist to 9 pts the last 10 minutes & cruised to a 76-55 win & punch their ticket to March Madness. Daniss Jenkins carried the Gaels with 27 points. Let's get ready for the NCAA's which start with the play-in games Tuesday & Wednesday. Thanks to all my loyal subscribers who believed in my unique process as its paid everyone dividends. Mike Handzelek's 2022-23 CBB Overall Record: 26-0 for a surreal 100%
 

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