Point-Spreads.com readers have been asking for the 2009 Final Four Predictions of resident College Basketball Handicapper Matt Foust but he has been very busy covering the entire slate of first round match ups for the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament tipping off later today. I was able to pry Foust away from his research to get his 2009 Final Four Predictions and here is what he had to say to us on the eve of the 2009 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.
“My 2009 Final Four Picks are Louisville, Pitt, Syracuse, Missouri,” stated Point-Spreads.com College Basketball Handicapper Matt Foust. “And I will take Pitt to win it all. You should bet on Pitt +600 odds to win the 2009 NCAA Tournament now while you can!”
Why did you take No. 3 seed Missouri as one of your 2009 Final Four Predictions considering they will potentially battle a healthy No. 1 seed UConn or a healthy No. 2 seed Memphis in the Western Regional?
“I like Missouri in the early rounds because their style of play is hard to prepare for,” stated Point-Spreads.com College Basketball Handicapper Matt Foust. “They always wear teams down in the second half with their constant full court pressure. I like them to get by Cornell and I think they would work Marquette or Utah State. If they hit their shots they are a load to handle.”
Foust had this to say about the potential match up between Missouri vs. Memphis: “Memphis is not a dynamic offensive team if they did end up with them, they make their bones on defense but Missouri runs teams to death, they average almost 82 points per game, and I think their offensive full court style would wear down Memphis a little bit and that would effect how well they are able to defend in the second half.”
“UConn would be a tougher match-up for the Tigers with Thabeet inside but Missouri does not have a huge post presence anyway. They can score in a variety of ways and Missouri forwards Carroll and Lyons are just as capable of hitting jumpers as they are of controlling the paint. This would neutralize Thabeet to some extent as would Missouri’s defensive style. It disrupts the flow of a team's offense.”
Why did you take No. 3 seed Syracuse as one of your 2009 Final Four Predictions over No. 1 seed UNC or No. 2 seed Oklahoma in the South Regional?
“I like North Carolina if Lawson plays but Syracuse can keep up with them and they have a lot of guys that can score the ball. Syracuse is tough, good front and back court. I think the Big East tournament gave the Orange some confidence too.”
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