Duke, Oklahoma Get Big Wins, Iowa Looks to Set Record Against MSU

With both teams seeking much-needed wins, No. 17 Duke (17-4, 6-2) defeated No. 18 Pitt (18-3, 6-2) 80-65 on Monday.

In their first game as ACC rivals, Duke played like Duke and won its fifth straight game. This came as Jabari Parker, who played in front of numerous scouts, scored 21 points with 11 rebounds and set a school freshman record with double-double No. 12 for the season.

Jabari Parker

His teammate Andre Dawkins added 20 points, tying a season-high. This came from 6 of 7 3-point shooting with three straight coming in a 15-3 second-half run, giving Duke its final lead. Amile Jefferson contributed 14 points–a season-high.

As for Pitt, Monday’s game was a reality check after the team enjoyed a good first month in their new conference, defeating N.C. State, Georgia Tech and Maryland while on the road and suffering its only loss to No. 2 Syracuse. Lamar Patterson had 14 points for the night (4-for-14 shooting), one assist and five turnovers against Duke and now his team finishes the month without a win against a NCAA tournament-caliber team, opined NBC Sports.

Patterson said of the loss via the Associated Press, “We wanted to win, we knew the hype was there … we (saw) the crowd. The good thing was it wasn’t the end of the season.”

The Panthers will look to regroup with a Sunday game against an improving Virginia team. Pitt sits at 40/1 to win the 2014 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship.

As for Duke, they’ll enter Saturday’s big game against new conference foe, Syracuse, with a lot of confidence. The Blue Devils sit at 12/1 to win this year’s Championship.

Other Monday Games…

No. 9 Villanova (18-2, 7-1) held off Georgetown (11-9, 3-6) with a 65-60 victory. A win is a win but it was an ugly one with its 34 turnovers, 39 fouls and 41 field goals. Villanova’s James Bell scored 16 points (4-for-11 shooting) with Daniel Ochefu adding 12 points (5-for-5 shooting). The Wildcats team forced 18 turnovers but committed 16. The difference maker came on free-throw shooting: Villanova went 22 for 28 while Georgetown was 8 for 9.

The Wildcats are now tied for first place in the conference while Georgetown has lost five straight games. Villanova is 25/1 to win the Big Dance.

No. 23 Oklahoma (17-4, 6-2) defeated No. 8 Oklahoma State (16-4, 4-3), 88-76. The Sooners sit at No. 12 nationally for scoring (83-8 points per game) and on Monday their offense shot 46 percent from the field and hit 8 of their 17 3-pointers.

Ryan Spangler

Sophomore transfer Ryan Spangler had 15 points with 17 rebounds–a career high–while freshman Jordan Woodard added 18 points and Tyler Neal contributed a season-high 15 points. The Sooners have now won four consecutive games.

They sit at 100/1 to win the Big Dance while Oklahoma State has 18/1 odds.

Tuesday’s Game of the Night

In the arctic Midwest, No. 7 Michigan State (18-2, 7-1) will travel to play No.15 Iowa (16-4, 5-2).

On Saturday, the Spartans saw their 11-game win streak end with its loss against rival No. 10 Michigan. They’re also dealing with the loss of two key players due to injury and it may be catching up to them:  Branden Dawson (out for four more weeks) and Adrian Payne, who coach Tom Izzo said on Monday that he is “very doubtful” for Tuesday’s game.

The Hawkeyes, who also lost to a surging Michigan team last week, quickly rebounded with 76-50 road win over Northwestern on Saturday. Iowa outrebounded its opponent, 44-20, and saw nine players score. This has been one of the team’s strengths all season: its depth.

Besides seeking another marquee win, Iowa is also looking for a 21st win–a school record–in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. They’ll hit the record with a Tuesday win (-6, 150 o/u) and will look ahead to win the Big Dance with 33/1 odds.

Michigan State is 8/1 to win it all in April.

Other Tuesday Top 25 Games

Loyola (IL) at No. 4 Wichita State (-19.5)

No. 11 Kentucky (-4, 144 o/u) at LSU

St. John’s at No. 20 Creighton (-12.5, 145 o/u)