2015 NIT Semifinals Betting Odds: Miami vs. Temple
Carrie Stroup here with your 2015 NIT Semifinals betting odds for Miami vs. Temple courtesy of our friends at Sportsbook.ag.
Sportsbook.ag Line: Temple -1.5, Total: 138.5
Miami and Temple will battle at Madison Square Garden Tuesday for a spot in the NIT Championship.
Miami faced Richmond last round and won 63-61 as a 3-point road underdog. The Hurricanes have won three straight games SU and have covered in their past two as well. This team has played excellent defensively over the past two games, allowing just 63.5 PPG. It will need to lock in defensively on Tuesday.
Temple, meanwhile, defeated Louisiana Tech 77-59 as a 4-point home favorite last round. The Owls have also won three straight games SU and have covered in their past two. This team has been on a tear offensively, averaging 80.0 PPG over the course of the tournament. It will need to find a way to score against a Miami defense that has been stellar.
These teams have met just twice since 1997 and have split wins both SU and ATS. Miami is 126-85 ATS when playing as a road underdog since 1997. Temple is 10-3 ATS after a win by 10 points or more this season. Temple comes into this game healthy, but G Angel Rodriguez (Wrist) is questionable for the Hurricanes.
Miami has been a very good defensive team all season, allowing just 63.4 PPG (87th in NCAA). It hasn’t been as good offensively though, as the Hurricanes are scoring just 68.4 PPG (149th in NCAA) on 43.4% shooting (187th in NCAA). G Angel Rodriguez (11.9 PPG, 3.9 APG, 1.8 SPG) is questionable for this game, but he is the leader of this Miami team and can score in a number of ways or find his teammates for open looks. If he is unable to play then it’d be extremely tough for them to advance.
G Sheldon McClellan (14.4 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 2.0 APG) is going to really need to be on his game if Rodriguez is either off the court or not playing to his best ability. McClellan had 16 points and six boards in 34 minutes against Richmond last game, but just two points in 27 minutes against Alabama in the second round of the tournament. The better McClellan will need to show up in this game or the Hurricanes will not be advancing to the finals.
C Tonye Jekiri (8.7 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 1.4 BPG) has done his part for Miami in the tournament. He’s averaging 8.5 PPG and 11.0 RPG over the past two games and will need to continue to rebound the ball effectively moving forward. Jekiri is also a good shot-blocker but he has blocked only three shots in his past four games. He’ll need to do better in that department on Tuesday.
Like Miami, the Owls struggle on offense but know how to lock their opponents down on defense. Temple is averaging just 64.8 PPG (238th in NCAA) on 38.4% shooting (341st in NCAA) but allowing just 61.2 PPG (45th in NCAA).
G Will Cummings (14.9 PPG, 4.2 APG, 4.1 RPG, 1.9 SPG) is this team’s most reliable scorer. Cummings relentlessly attacks the rim and is averaging 22.0 PPG in the NIT so far. He has gotten hot from the outside in this tournament as well; going 7-for-12 from three over the past three games. If he is knocking down his outside shots then it’ll be tough for Miami to beat Temple on Tuesday.
G Quenton DeCosey (12.4 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 2.2 APG) was unbelievable in the win over Louisiana Tech last game, finishing with 21 points and 11 rebounds in 33 minutes of action. He’ll see a lot of time matched up with McClellan in this game and must hold his own in that matchup.
G Jesse Morgan (12.1 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 1.1 SPG) is another talented scorer in this backcourt and is averaging 18.5 PPG and 4.5 RPG in 23.5 MPG over the past two contests. He is a solid outside shooter (36% 3PT) and will need to get hot in order to help his team score on the tough Miami defense Tuesday.
F Jaylen Bond (7.7 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 1.4 SPG) will be crucial in this game for Temple. He is one of the few players on this team that likes to get physical inside and he must rebound the ball well Tuesday. He had just three rebounds against Louisiana Tech after grabbing 15 against George Washington in the second round.
