NCAAM Championships Are Here: Stats Show Virginia and Texas Tech Hold Slight Advantages
This is a timeline from The Associated Press of the latest on the NCAA men’s basketball championship match between Texas Tech and Virginia. All times local.
2:30 p.m.
A look at advanced statistics for the NCAA Tournament shows that Virginia’s offense has been more efficient than Texas Tech, but the Red Raiders are locking down on opponents at a tougher rate.
Can Matt Mooney catch fire again for @TexasTechMBB? ?#NationalChampionship | #4To1 pic.twitter.com/6NO7zKXfZA
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) April 8, 2019
The Cavaliers have scored an average of nearly 1.14 points per possession while scoring on a little better than 50% of their possessions in the tournament. That was slightly better than the Red Raiders, who averaged 1.08 points per possession while scoring on about 48% of their tournament possessions.
“A painful gift.”
Tony Bennett tells @TheAndyKatz about the approach to adversity @UVAMensHoops has faced. #NationalChampionship. pic.twitter.com/YhJCSHDQ18
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) April 8, 2019
Virginia continues to play slower-paced games overall by averaging 57.8 possessions per game in the tournament. Texas Tech averages 64.4 possessions.
Yet while Virginia’s offense has been more efficient in the tournament, the Red Raiders’ defense has been tougher statistically. Texas Tech has held all five of its tournament opponents to less than a point per possession.
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2 p.m.
Texas Tech and Virginia are each going for their first national titles backed by hard-nosed defenses that were among the best in the nation.
It’s a #NationalChampionship GAMEDAY in Minneapolis! pic.twitter.com/WTZXSCorG8
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) April 8, 2019
Virginia (34-3) the standard-bearer in lockdown basketball. The Cavaliers are going against the new kids on the defensive block, the Texas Tech Red Raiders (31-6).
The over/under for points is 118. The over/under on bruises may be higher.
The result will give the NCAA Tournament its first first-time champion since coach Billy Donovan won it all with Florida in 2006.
Texas Tech reached the Elite Eight for the first time last season and Virginia lost its previous two trips to the Final Four, in 1981 and 1984.
The last time two teams who had never won a championship played in the title game was Michigan State against Indiana State in 1979. That’s right, Magic Johnson vs. Larry Bird.
The game Monday night tips at 8:20 p.m. Central time (9:20 p.m. Eastern).
The Western Journal has reviewed this Associated Press story and may have altered it prior to publication to ensure that it meets our editorial standards.
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