NCAAB: #13 Iona vs #4 UConn, Predictions and Odds (Mar 17)
- March Madness is finally here.
- UConn and Iona is a popular upset pick in Round 1.
- Could this be Rick Pitino’s final game as Iona’s coach?
The UConn Huskies entered the season as one of the best teams in the country and they have a lot of people rolling with them on a Final Four trip. On the other hand, the Rick Pitino madness has a lot of people backing the Gaels in an upset.
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How to Watch
- Where: MVP Arena, Albany, New York
- When: Friday, March 17, 2023, 1:30 PM ET
- How to Watch: TBS
Odds
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Game Preview
UConn’s run has been fantastic. They began the season with 14 straight wins before losing five of the next six, although they finished the year with nine wins in the final 11 games, with one being a two-point loss to Marquette in the Big East Tournament.
UConn is 33rd in PPG (78.5) and in the top-15 in rebounds, blocked shots and assists.
The talented duo of Adama Sanogo (16.8 PPG) and Jordan Hawkins are a tall task for a ton of teams, and there are numerous reasons why UConn is a popular Final Four pick.
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Iona won the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) as Rick Pitino has the Gaels back in the Big Dance. Iona enters the tourney with 14 straight wins, although questions are swirling with the never-ending Rick Pitino-St. John’s rumors.
Iona sits 3rd in blocked shots and 69th in PPG with 76.3. The trio of Walter Clayton Jr. (16.9 PPG), Daniss Jenkins (15.6 PPG), and Nelly Junior Joseph (15.1 PPG and 9.4 rebounds) make for a difficult task for a lot of teams.
Picks
Iona is a trendy pick, and to be honest if they were playing any other No. 4 seed, I would roll with Iona. However, UConn is a popular Final Four pick, and their path to the Sweet 16 is tough to ignore.
The Huskies are polished, deep, and rolling coming into the Big Dance. UConn wins, but Iona covers the spread and makes the Huskies sweat down the stretch.
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