Mercer vs. BYU March 25 Free Pick
BYU takes on Mercer in a game that determines who will advance to the regional finals in the NIT. The 7-seeded Bears come off of a surprise win over Tennessee and the 3-seed Cougars are listed as seven-point favorites in this one.
Free Pick
In the midst of Florida Gulf Coast’s historic NCAA Tournament run people are apt to forget the team that
finished on top of the Eagles in the
Atlantic Sun conference standings this year. The Mercer Bears finished first in the Atlantic Sun and fell to
FGCU on their own home floor in the conference championship. They did not fade quietly, however, knocking off
Tennessee on the Vols’ home floor in a seven over two upset in the first round of the NIT. Mercer is lead
by a dynamic backcourt with experience. Senior Travis Smith is the team’s leading scorer and Junior
Langston Hall also averages in double-figures. Daniel Coursey is a 6’10” center that will have the
responsibility of guarding BYU big man and star Brandon Davies. The Bears don’t turn the ball over very
much with only 13 turnovers a game and are a pretty good three-point shooting team with over a 35 percent mark
from beyond the arch as a team.
BYU has two elite scorers who have been carrying this Cougar squad all year. Brandon Davies is a forward with superior skills and a lanky frame that allows him to be tough to stay in front of in the post. He has the ability to step back to about 18-20 feet and consistently knock down open jumpers. Guard Tyler Haws has had a 40 point game this year and is a deadly shooter and natural-born scorer. Haws averages over 21 points per game out of the West Coast Conference, where BYU finished only behind tournament teams Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s. The Cougars took care of a pretty tough Washington team in the first round of the NIT and will be back at home for this game against the lower-seeded Bears. The Cougs lost only three games at home all year – including a one-point loss to St. Mary’s and a loss to Gonzaga who finished the year as the number one ranked team in the nation. BYU is very tough at home and should prove to be a tough matchup for the Bears.
BYU will look to make this a track meet on their home floor where they are deadly efficient on the offensive end. The Bears have had a very nice season but the road should end here. BYU by double-digits.
Free Pick: BYU -7