College Confidential

Fans face May 31 deadline to apply for tickets to 2014 Final Four in Arlington #NCAAtournament, #CowboysStadium

The application process has started for fans interested in purchasing tickets to the 2014 Final Four at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, with a May 31 deadline for submitting an order.

Fans are encouraged to apply for tickets online at www.NCAA.com/mbbtickets. All tickets for the 2014 Final Four in North Texas are sold in “books” for $190. Each book includes tickets to the national semifinals on Saturday, April 5, 2014 and to the national championship game on Monday, April 7, 2014.

Applicants’ credit cards will be charged upon submission of the application, including a $20 application fee that includes an NCAA Final Four game program along with shipping and handling fees. Fans will be allowed to apply to purchase up to four books of tickets. Only one application per individual/household will be accepted in the NCAA’s ticket selection process.

The NCAA will use a random selection process to determine ticket recipients. Individuals selected to purchase tickets will be notified by the end of September, 2013. Individuals not selected will receive a full refund, less the $20 application fee, by September, 2013.

For more information, visit www.ncaa.com/mbbtickets.

_ Jimmy Burch

Louisville gets nod as NCAA favorite; oddsmaker likes Florida over Kansas in South despite seeds #NCAA

Louisville is the top overall seed in the 2013 NCAA Tournament, based on the findings of basketball selection committee members, but ranks as only a slight favorite over other teams – including No. 3 seed Florida, the favorite in the South Regional – based on odds released today by Bovada Sports Book (www.Bovada.lv).

Although the four top seeds in the various regionals rank among the website’s five teams with the best chance to win the tournament, Louisville (19/4) is given only slightly better odds than fellow No. 1 seeds Indiana (5/1), Gonzaga (10/1) or Kansas (10/1). Florida (7/1) actually received more favorable odds than Kansas, the Big 12 champion, to win the South Regional that will be decided March 29-31 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington.

With no Texas teams in this year’s event, schools from neighboring states given the best odds to cut down the nets in Atlanta on April 8 include New Mexico (25/1), Oklahoma State (75/1), Oklahoma (250/1), New Mexico State (500/1) and Northwestern (La.) State (500/1).

Below is a look at the odds for all 68 teams in the tournament field, released today:

 

Odds to win the 2013 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship 

Louisville #1                              19/4

Indiana #1                                 5/1

Florida #3                                 7/1

Gonzaga #1                              10/1

Kansas #1                                 10/1

Duke #2                                   12/1

Miami, Fla. #2                           14/1

Ohio State #2                            16/1

Michigan State #3                      18/1

Georgetown #2                          20/1

Syracuse #4                              22/1

New Mexico #3                          25/1

St. Louis #4                              25/1

Michigan #4                              25/1

Wisconsin #5                            25/1

Pittsburgh #8                            33/1

VCU #5                                     40/1

UNLV #5                                   60/1

Arizona #6                                 60/1

NC State #8                              60/1

North Carolina #8                       60/1

Marquette #3                             66/1

Memphis #6                              75/1

Butler #6                                   75/1

UCLA #6                                   75/1

Minnesota #11                           75/1

Oklahoma State #5                    75/1

Kansas State #4                        75/1

Missouri #9                               75/1

San Diego State #7                   100/1

Creighton #7                             100/1

Notre Dame #7                          100/1

California #12                            150/1

Illinois #7                                  200/1

Colorado State #8                     200/1

Wichita State #9                        200/1

Villanova #9                              200/1

Temple #9                                 200/1

Iowa State #10                          200/1

Colorado #10                            200/1

Ole Miss #12                            200/1

Oklahoma #10                           250/1

Cincinnati #10                            250/1

Oregon #12                               300/1

St. Mary's #11                           300/1

Bucknell #11                             300/1

Belmont #11                              300/1

Middle Tennessee #11               500/1

Akron #12                                 500/1

Boise State #13                         500/1

LaSalle #13                               500/1

New Mexico State #13               500/1

South Dakota State #13             500/1

Montana #13                             500/1

Davidson #14                            500/1

Valparaiso #14                          500/1

Harvard #14                              500/1

Northwestern State #14              500/1

Iona #15                                    500/1

Pacific #15                                500/1

Florida Gulf Coast #15               500/1

Albany #15                                500/1

Western Kentucky #16               500/1

Southern #16                             500/1

James Madison #16                  1000/1

LIU Brooklyn #16                       1000/1

NC A&T #16                              1000/1

Liberty #16                                1000/1

 

Odds to win the 2013 NCAA Midwest Region  

Louisville #1                              11/10

Duke #2                                    15/4

Michigan State #3                      11/2

St. Louis #4                              15/2

Oklahoma State #5                    20/1

Creighton #7                             20/1

Missouri #9                               20/1

Memphis #6                              25/1

Cincinnati #10                            50/1

Saint Mary's #11                        50/1

Oregon #12                              66/1

Colorado State #8                     75/1

New Mexico State #13               75/1

Valparaiso #14                          100/1

Albany #15                                100/1

NC A&T #16                              200/1

Liberty #16                                200/1

 

Odds to win the 2013 NCAA West Region       

Gonzaga #1                              5/2

Ohio State #2                            11/4

New Mexico #3                          5/1

Wisconsin #5                            8/1

Pittsburgh #8                            8/1

Arizona #6                                 12/1

Kansas Sate #4                         16/1

Notre Dame #7                          33/1

Iowa State #10                          35/1

Ole Miss #12                             40/1

Belmont #11                              50/1

Boise State #13                         66/1

Wichita State #9                        66/1

LaSalle #13                               100/1

Harvard #14                              100/1

Iona #15                                    100/1

Southern #16                             100/1

 

Odds to win the 2013 NCAA South Region      

Florida #3                                 3/2

Kansas #1                                 7/2

Georgetown #2                          5/1

Michigan #4                              7/1

VCU #5                                     14/1

North Carolina #8                       16/1

Minnesota #11                           18/1

San Diego State #7                   25/1

UCLA #6                                   30/1

Villanova #9                              40/1

Oklahoma #10                           40/1

Akron #12                                 75/1

South Dakota State #13             75/1

Northwestern State #14              100/1

Florida Gulf Coast #15               100/1

Western Kentucky #16               100/1

 

Odds to win the 2013 NCAA East Region         

Indiana #1                                 5/4

Miami Florida #2                        7/2

Syracuse #4                              5/1

Marquette #3                             12/1

UNLV #5                                   15/1

Butler #6                                   20/1

NC State #8                              20/1

Illinois #7                                  25/1

California #12                            40/1

Davidson #14                            40/1

Colorado #10                            40/1

Temple #9                                 50/1

Bucknell #11                            50/1

Montana #13                             75/1

Pacific #15                                100/1

LIU Brooklyn #16                       200/1

James Madison #16                  200/1

 

 _ Jimmy Burch

 

 

UTA to play for berth in NCAA tournament tonight in WAC championship game #UTA, #NCAATournament

UTA will play for a berth in the NCAA Tournament tonight in Las Vegas (10 p.m., ESPNU) when the Mavericks meet New Mexico State in the finals of the WAC men’s basketball tournament.

UTA, the No. 4 seed heading into the conference tournament, earned its second victory in as many nights Friday by knocking off UTSA, 69-53, behind the double-digit scoring efforts of Karol Gruszecki (19), Jamel Outler (13) and Kevin Butler (10). The Mavericks (19-12) will meet New Mexico State, the No. 3 seed, in tonight’s winner-take-all game in Orleans Arena to determine the WAC representative in the NCAA field.

Each school benefitted from a first-round loss by the WAC’s top two seeds. Top-seeded Louisiana Tech fell to UTSA, 73-67, in its opening game before the Mavs ousted the Roadrunners (10-22) with Friday night’s second-round victory. New Mexico State managed to avoid Denver, the No. 2 seed, because the Pioneers feel to Texas State, the No. 7 seed, by a 72-68 margin in that opening matchup.

A victory tonight by UTA would mean the second NCAA tournament berth in school history and the first since 2008, when the Mavs reached the tournament by winning the Southland conference tournament.
The two teams split their regular-season meetings, with UTA winning 68-47 in Arlington and New Mexico State prevailing, 69-66, in Las Cruces, N.M.

_ Jimmy Burch

Below is a look at Saturday night’s box score from the victory over UTSA:

 

                               Box Score (Final)
                          Western Athletic Conference
                         UTSA vs UT Arlington (3/15/13)

VISITORS: UTSA (10-22)
                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS
## Player                 FG FGA FG FGA FT FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12 Hill, Jeromie....... f  5 10   3  5   4  7   2  4  6   4  17  2  4  0  2  33
32 Sims, Jordan........ f  4  9   4  9   0  0   0  1  1   1  12  1  0  0  0  37
03 Wilkins, Larry...... c  1  2   0  0   1  2   2  2  4   1   3  0  3  0  0  22
11 Hale III, Michael... g  2 10   1  6   1  2   1  3  4   2   6  4  1  0  1  39
22 Burrage, Kannon..... g  3 12   1  5   2  3   3  3  6   1   9  0  1  0  0  37
02 Thomas, Hyjii.......    0  3   0  3   0  0   0  0  0   0   0  1  2  0  0  13
20 McGregor, Edrico....    3  4   0  0   0  1   5  4  9   1   6  0  1  2  0  18
42 Wood, Tyler.........    0  1   0  1   0  0   0  0  0   0   0  0  0  0  0   1
TM TEAM................                            1  1
   Totals..............   18 51   9 29   8 15  13 18 31  10  53  8 12  2  3 200

             1st Half       2nd Half     Game Totals
TOTAL FG%:  7-25  .280    11-26  .423    18-51  .353
3-Pt. FG%:  3-14  .214     6-15  .400     9-29  .310
F Throw %:  3-6   .500     5-9   .556     8-15  .533
Deadball rebounds: 1

HOME TEAM: UT Arlington (19-12)
                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS
## Player                 FG FGA FG FGA FT FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
24 Butler, Kevin....... f  4  8   1  4   1  2   0  7  7   1  10  1  2  0  2  30
33 Gruszecki, Karol.... f  7 16   5 10   0  0   1  4  5   2  19  1  0  0  0  29
55 Reves, Jordan....... f  3  6   0  0   0  0   2  4  6   3   6  1  2  1  0  18
12 White-Miller, Shaqui g  0  1   0  0   0  0   0  1  1   1   0  7  2  0  0  26
25 Catlett, Cameron.... g  3  3   0  0   1  1   3  1  4   1   7  5  1  0  1  27
02 Davis, Luke.........    0  0   0  0   0  0   0  0  0   0   0  0  0  0  0   1
03 Outler, Jamel.......    4  8   3  6   2  2   0  2  2   1  13  0  0  0  0  15
04 Charles, Drew.......    1  4   0  1   2  2   0  4  4   3   4  2  1  0  1  21
15 McElvain, Kyle......    0  0   0  0   0  0   0  0  0   0   0  0  0  0  0   1
21 Gainey, Greg........    1  1   0  0   0  0   0  0  0   1   2  0  0  0  2   9
35 Edwards, Brandon....    3  5   0  0   0  0   1  3  4   3   6  0  0  0  1  17
42 Rodger, Deon........    1  1   0  0   0  2   0  0  0   1   2  0  0  0  1   6
TM TEAM................                         2     2
   Totals..............   27 53   9 21   6  9   9 26 35  17  69 17  8  1  8 200

             1st Half       2nd Half     Game Totals
TOTAL FG%: 12-27  .444    15-26  .577    27-53  .509
3-Pt. FG%:  5-11  .455     4-10  .400     9-21  .429
F Throw %:  4-6   .667     2-3   .667     6-9   .667
Deadball rebounds: 2

Date: 3/15/13       Site: Orleans Arena (Las Vegas, NV)  Attendance: 949
Officials: Larry Spaulding; Shawn Lehigh; Rick Batsell;
Technical fouls: UTSA-None. UT Arlington-None.
Score by Periods      1  2   Total
UTSA................ 20 33  - 53
UT Arlington........ 33 36  - 69

________________________________________

                          Newspaper Box Score (Final)
                         UTSA vs UT Arlington (3/15/13)

At Orleans Arena (Las
UT ARLINGTON 69, UTSA 53
UTSA (10-22)
Hill, Jeromie 5-10 4-7 17; Sims, Jordan 4-9 0-0 12; Burrage, Kannon 3-12 2-3
9; Hale III, Michael 2-10 1-2 6; McGregor, Edrico 3-4 0-1 6; Wilkins, Larry
1-2 1-2 3; Wood, Tyler 0-1 0-0 0; Thomas, Hyjii 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 18-51 8-15
53.
UT ARLINGTON (19-12)
Gruszecki, Karol 7-16 0-0 19; Outler, Jamel 4-8 2-2 13; Butler, Kevin 4-8
1-2 10; Catlett, Cameron 3-3 1-1 7; Edwards, Brandon 3-5 0-0 6; Reves,
Jordan 3-6 0-0 6; Charles, Drew 1-4 2-2 4; Gainey, Greg 1-1 0-0 2; Rodger,
Deon 1-1 0-2 2; White-Miller, Shaqui 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 27-53 6-9 69.
UTSA................ 20 33  - 53
UT Arlington........ 33 36  - 69
3-point goals-UTSA 9-29 (Sims, Jordan 4-9; Hill, Jeromie 3-5;
Burrage, Kannon 1-5; Hale III, Michael 1-6; Wood, Tyler 0-1; Thomas, Hyjii
0-3), UT Arlington 9-21 (Gruszecki, Karol 5-10; Outler, Jamel 3-6; Butler,
Kevin 1-4; Charles, Drew 0-1). Fouled out--UTSA-None, UT
Arlington-None. Rebounds-UTSA 31 (McGregor, Edrico 9), UT Arlington
35 (Butler, Kevin 7). Assists-UTSA 8 (Hale III, Michael 4), UT
Arlington 17 (White-Miller, Shaqui 7). Total fouls-UTSA 10, UT
Arlington 17. A-949

 

No. 5 Florida installed as slight favorite to win 2013 NCAA Tournament by oddsmaker

Florida, the No. 5 team in this week’s Associated Press poll of men’s college basketball teams, did not earn a single first-place vote from participating panelists. But the Gators (21-3, 11-1 in SEC) have been installed as the favorite to win the 2013 NCAA Tournament, based on odds released today by Bovada Sports Book (www.Bovada.lv).

Florida, which plays tonight at Missouri (18-7, 7-5) received 5/1 odds to win the national title among a very balanced group of favorites. Other teams given the best odds of cutting down the nets in Atlanta, listed with this week’s AP poll ranking, include No. 1 Indiana (11/2), No. 2 Miami (11/2), No. 7 Michigan (15/2), No. 6 Duke (9/1), No. 4 Michigan State (10/1), No. 3 Gonzaga (12/1), No. 10 Louisville (12/1) and No. 9 Kansas (14/1). All other teams received odds of at least 20/1.

Odds given to other Big 12 schools include No. 14 Oklahoma State (50/1), No. 13Kansas State (60/1), Baylor (150/1), Oklahoma (200/1) and Iowa State (200/1).

Below is a breakdown of schools that received individual odds to win the 2013 NCAA Tournament:

Odds to win the 2012-2013 Men's NCAA Basketball Championship    
Florida                             5/1
Indiana                             11/2
Miami FL                              11/2
Michigan                              15/2
Duke                             9/1
Michigan State              10/1
Gonzaga                       12/1
Louisville                              12/1
Kansas                            14/1
Arizona                            20/1
Syracuse                              20/1
Ohio State                    30/1
North Carolina State      40/1
Butler                                40/1
Pittsburgh                            40/1
Cincinnati                             50/1
New Mexico                        50/1
Oklahoma State            50/1
UCLA                            50/1
VCU                             50/1
Wisconsin                            50/1
Georgetown                        60/1
Kansas State                60/1
Marquette                            60/1
Minnesota                            60/1
Creighton                      66/1
UNLV                            66/1
Colorado State              75/1
Missouri                               75/1
North Carolina                    75/1
Notre Dame                  75/1
Oregon                             75/1
Illinois                               100/1
Kentucky                              100/1
Memphis                              100/1
San Diego State            100/1
St. Louis                              100/1
Baylor                           150/1
California                             150/1
Colorado                              150/1
Virginia                            150/1
Wichita State                 150/1
Iowa State                     200/1
Oklahoma                            200/1
Mississippi                          200/1
St. Mary's                     200/1
Villanova                       250/1
Alabama                               300/1
Arkansas                              300/1
Arizona State                500/1
Davidson                      500/1
Iowa                                  500/1
LSU                              500/1
Maryland                              500/1
Stanford                       500/1
Harvard                         1000/1
St. John's                     1000/1
Temple                             1000/1

_ Jimmy Burch

NCAA committee chairman expects smooth run in Cowboys Stadium debut as tourney site

Although the chairman of the NCAA men’s basketball committee anticipates “more madness than we’re used to in March” in a parity-filled season, he stressed today that officials anticipate a smooth logistical run during Cowboys Stadium’s debut as an NCAA venue when it hosts the South Regional, March 29-31.

The key, said tournament chair Mike Bobinski, rests with the experience of the administrative staff from the Big 12, which will oversee the regional site.

“We feel like Cowboys Stadium will be a tremendous regional host and an equally tremendous Final Four host,” Bobinski said. “The Big 12 has hosted a number of regionals before ... For teams to play in one of the iconic venues in the country is great. We’re excited about being there.”

Bobinski said the setup of Cowboys Stadium at the South Regional will be used “as a dress rehearsal” for the 2014 Final Four, which also is coming to the facility.

_ Jimmy Burch

The Frogs land in SoCal

LOS ANGELES -- TCU arrived in Los Angeles Thursday afternoon and practiced at Jackie Robinson Stadium after a quick stop at the team hotel. UCLA practiced first while the Horned Frogs sat in the stands and watched. After hitting in the cages, TCU took to the field. TCU (40-20) and No. 2 national seed UCLA (45-14) begin the best-of-three super regional at 8 p.m. Friday on ESPN. Game 2 is at 8 p.m. Saturday on ESPN2. If necessary, Game 3 is at 9 p.m. Sunday on ESPN2. 

Here are a few photos I took today. Tried to tweet them earlier but apparently some of them were not viewable. 

Third baseman Jantzen Witte waiting for a room at the hotel.

Statue of the legendary hero Jackie Robinson at the stadium named after him. 

Bruins practice
 

TCU begins practice

Crichton throws complete-game gem as TCU stays alive in NCAA tournament

COLLEGE STATION – TCU’s offense continued to score at a sizzling pace and pitcher Stefan Crichton had his best outing of the season as the Horned Frogs eliminated Texas A&M 10-2 Sunday at Blue Bell Park.

The Frogs (38-20) stay alive to play Ole Miss (37-24) at 6:35 p.m. Sunday night in the College Station Regional championship. If the Frogs win, the two teams play again at 6:35 p.m. Monday.

Stefan Crichton (9-2) pitched his first-career complete game in the biggest start of his life. He held the Aggies to six hits (including two misplayed balls) that led to two runs.

TCU, which scored 28 runs Saturday in an elimination game, scored runs in the first five innings against the Aggies. Kevin Cron’s two-run homer highlighted a three-run fourth to give TCU a 6-2 lead. The Frogs added three more runs in the fifth. Brance Rivera’s two-run double scored Derek Odell and Jerrick Suiter.

The loss is the Aggies' (43-18) last game as a member of the Big 12 Conference. Texas A&M moves to the Southeastern Conference this summer.

-- Stefan Stevenson
@FollowtheFrogs

 

 

Horned Frogs and Flyers try to hold off elimination day in College Station

COLLEGE STATION – TCU tries to stay alive in the NCAA tournament at 12:35 p.m. Saturday against Dayton at Blue Bell Park. The Flyers (31-29) lost 4-1 to Texas A&M Friday; the Horned Frogs fell to Ole Miss 6-2. The No. 7 Aggies meet the Rebels in the winners' bracket game at 6:35 p.m.

The Frogs (36-20) turn to right-hander Andrew Mitchell (5-3), who is coming off a disappointing performance at the Mountain West tournament. He started the season as TCU’s Friday night ace but has struggled at times this season. Flyers’ right-hander Tim Bury (8-2) didn’t make his first start until March 3, but the senior leads Dayton with a 3.14 ERA in 103 1/3 innings.

Dayton (31-29) likes to run, and run a lot. The Flyers lead the nation with 163 stolen bases and 849 total bases. Five players have more than 15 stolen bases, including shortstop Bryan Blasik who has 36 steals in 39 attempts.

The Frogs’ offense managed just five hits Friday against Ole Miss hurler Bobby Wahl. The bottom six hitters were a combined 1 for 20 with 10 strikeouts and reached base just twice. Both of those were by freshman Jerrick Suiter who had a single and was hit by a pitch.

But an offensive explosion is unlikely to happen. TCU pitchers have become used to an offense batting .266 and providing only a modicum of run support.

That puts the onus on Mitchell, who hasn’t looked sharp in his last two starts. He was roughed up last week against San Diego State at the MWC tournament. He surrendered six runs on eight hits in three innings.  He has lasted seven innings only once this season, April 13 against Air Force. His last strong outing was also against Air Force May 12, when he struck out seven and held the Falcons to two hits. Mitchell’s most impressive recent start was May 6 when he held a great-hitting New Mexico team to three hits and struck out nine in 6 2/3 innings. That performance came two days after his start against the Lobos was stopped after one inning because of rain.

TCU is playing a Dayton team in its first NCAA tournament with few expectations and nothing to lose. The Frogs were ranked No. 15 in Baseball America’s preseason national rankings and were still in the Top 20 last week. Several Frogs, including catcher Josh Elander and outfielder and Kyle Von Tungeln, are trying to extend what could likely be their final seasons. Seniors Brance Rivera, Davy Wright and injured Jason Coats are also staring at the end of their TCU careers.

The Flyers, with 10 seniors, feel a similar urgency.

“We have 10 seniors so every pitch is important for them and the guys behind them will play very hard,” Dayton coach Tony Vittorio said. “We need more quality at bats [Saturday] so we’ll be fighting for quality at bats to get on base and get back to our running game. We’re excited about [Saturday] and putting a little more pressure on TCU.”

Scharf sets record
TCU pitcher Justin Scharf made his 34th appearance this season, breaking Jeff Baker's 1994 record of 33 in a season. Scharf (2-2, 3 saves), a transfer from Paris Junior College, has been excellent in his first year with the Frogs, posting a 2.97 ERA in 39 1/3 innings.   

 -- Stefan Stevenson
@FollowtheFrogs 

 

 

 

TCU sweeps Oklahoma for first time since 2004 thanks to Finnegan's gem

NORMAN, Okla. – The plan was to have Brandon Finnegan pitch a few innings Tuesday against Oklahoma. The freshman from Fort Worth Southwest High School had only thrown three innings since his last start April 24 and his last appearance was nearly two weeks ago.

But Finnegan was too good for an early departure. He struck out seven Sooners and held Oklahoma hitless through seven innings as the No. 20 Horned Frogs held on for a 1-0 win at L. Dale Mitchell Park.

It was TCU’s first win in Norman since 2006 and the first time the Frogs (33-16) have swept Oklahoma (TCU beat the Sooners 4-3 May 1 in Fort Worth) since 2004.

Like much of this season, it didn’t come easy. After burning through the Sooners’ lineup for seven innings when he allowed just three base runners (on a hit batter and two errors), Finnegan had two runners on with no outs in the eighth after his throwing error to first and an infield single by Caleb Bushyhead.

Justin Scharf replaced Finnegan and worked out of the jam. Catcher Josh Elander got the first out by jumping on a bunt and throwing to third base to get the lead runner. Scharf got a strikeout and a fly out to end the inning. In the ninth, Scharf hit leadoff batter Cody Reine, but the TCU defense came through again. Reine was thrown out at third base on Max White’s single to right after a nice throw by right fielder Brance Rivera to shortstop Keaton Jones, who relayed to Jantzen Witte. Scharf corralled a hot shot back to the mound and threw to second base to get White for out No. 2. After an infield single over the mound Kevin Allen came in to face Evan Mistich and struck him out looking on a 3-2 count to end the game.

“This was a nail-biter but we got all the breaks that we haven’t had in the past,” said Jason Coats, whose RBI double in the first inning scored Josh Elander for the only run of the game. “Finnegan was lights out today. He pitched the best I’ve ever seen him pitch. And Scharf and Allen coming in closing the door feels pretty good. We finally came out on top here.”

Finnegan (3-3) struck out Oklahoma’s leadoff batter Erik Ross looking at a 95 mph fastball and faced the minimum through the first six innings, thanks to Elander throwing out White on an attempted steal in the first inning. In the seventh, an error helped the Sooners get a runner to second with one out, but two defensive gems by first baseman Kevin Cron stranded him at third. Cron stayed with a foul ball and made a catch over a wall in foul territory for the second out, and made an acrobatic tag on a slow bouncer down the line to end the inning.

“I pride myself on running after them even if I hear it’s out,” said Cron, who had two of the Frogs’ six hits. “Brance came to me earlier in the game and told me not to give up on those because they’re coming back this way. Most of these guys they haven’t won here at all. To give them a sweep this year was a real good thing for us freshmen to be able to give to the older guys.”

Dillon Overton (5-3) pitched a complete game and struck out five but took the loss for the Sooners (33-20).

Finnegan’s previous longest outing was 5 1/3 in his start against Texas A&M April 24. The rest, he said, helped with his stamina.

“My arm was feeling amazing,” Finnegan said. “That was a fun game.”

-- Stefan Stevenson
@FollowtheFrogs

Baylor, Kansas, Missouri among top 11 favorites to win NCAA Tournament with Kentucky the top choice

Kentucky has been installed as the prohibitive favorite to win the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. But three Big 12 teams rank among the top 11 choices to cut down the nets in New Orleans, according to odds released today by Bovada Sportsbook.

Kansas and Missouri, both No. 2 seeds heading into the tournament, received opening odds of 10-1. Those are the same odds given to Syracuse, the top seed in the East Regional and the No. 1 team in the latest RPI rating.

Baylor, a No. 3 seed, received opening odds of 35-1. Texas, a No. 11 seed, is at 100-1.

Kentucky, the top overall seed in the estimation of the NCAA selection committee, is a 9-4 favorite to take the title, with second-seeded Ohio State at 11-2.

A breakdown of the odds, released today:

Odds to Win the 2012 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship
Kentucky (1)                                          9/4
Ohio State (2)                                        11/2
North Carolina (1)                                   13/2
Michigan State (1)                                  17/2
Missouri (2)                                           10/1
Kansas (2)                                            10/1
Syracuse (1)                                          10/1
Duke (2)                                                20/1
Marquette (3)                                         30/1
Florida State (3)                                     30/1
Baylor (3)                                              35/1
Wisconsin (4)                                        35/1
Louisville (4)                                          35/1
Vanderbilt (5)                                         35/1
Wichita State (5)                                    40/1
Georgetown (3)                                      40/1
New Mexico (5)                                      50/1
Indiana (4)                                             60/1
Florida (7)                                              65/1
Memphis (8)                                          65/1
Cincinnati (6)                                         75/1
Kansas State (8)                                    75/1
Connecticut (9)                                      75/1
Michigan (4)                                          80/1
Belmont (14)                                          100/1
Temple (5)                                             100/1
UNLV (6)                                               100/1
Murray State (6)                                     100/1
Notre Dame (7)                                      100/1
St. Mary's (7)                                         125/1
Gonzaga (7)                                          125/1
West Virginia (10)                                  125/1
San Diego State (6)                                150/1
St. Louis (9)                                          150/1
Alabama (9)                                           150/1
Creighton (8)                                          150/1
Texas (11)                                             100/1
Purdue (10)                                           100/1
NC State (11)                                        100/1
Iowa State (8)                                        200/1
Virginia (10)                                           200/1
VCU (12)                                               250/1
Harvard (12)                                           250/1
California (12)                                        250/1
Southern Miss (9)                                  250/1
Long Beach State (12)                            250/1
Colorado State (11)                                300/1
Colorado (11)                                         300/1
South Florida (12)                                  300/1
Montana (13)                                         300/1
New Mexico state (13)                            300/1
Ohio (13)                                               300/1
Davidson (13)                                         300/1
BYU (14)                                               300/1
Iona (14)                                                300/1
St. Bonaventure (14)                               300/1
South Dakota State (14)                         300/1
Lehigh (15)                                            450/1
Norfolk State (15)                                   450/1
Detroit (15)                                            450/1
Mississippi Valley State (16)                   500/1
Western Kentucky (16)                           500/1
NC-Ashville (16)                                     500/1
Long Island (16)                                     500/1
Lamar (16)                                             500/1
Vermont (16)                                         500/1
Loyola Maryland (15)                              500/1
 
Odds to Win the South Region          
Kentucky (1)                              5/7
Duke (2)                                    5/1
Baylor (3)                                  11/2
Wichita State (5)                        8/1
Indiana (4)                                 12/1
UNLV (6)                                   25/1
Connecticut (9)                          30/1
Notre Dame (7)                          40/1
Iowa State (8)                            60/1
Xavier (10)                                 60/1
VCU (12)                                   100/1
Colorado (11)                             150/1
New Mexico State (13)               200/1
South Dakota State (14)             200/1
Lehigh (15)                                200/1
Western Kentucky (16)               200/1
Mississippi Valley State (16)       225/1
 
Odds to Win the West Region
Michigan State (1)                      11/5
Missouri (2)                               9/4
Marquette (3)                             13/2
Louisville (4)                              13/2
New Mexico (5)                          9/1
Florida (7)                                  14/1
Memphis (8)                              14/1
Murray State (6)                         25/1
St. Louis (9)                              30/1
Virginia (10)                               50/1
Long Beach State (12)                75/1
Davidson (13)                             100/1
BYU (14)                                   100/1
Colorado State (11)                    150/1
Iona (14)                                    150/1
Norfolk State (15)                       200/1
Long Island (16)                         200/1
 
Odds to Win the East Region 
Ohio State (2)                            8/5
Syracuse (1)                              9/4
Vanderbilt (5)                             9/1
Florida State (3)                         10/1
Wisconsin (4)                            10/1
Kansas State (8)                        15/1
Cincinnati (6)                             18/1
Gonzaga (7)                              30/1
West Virginia (10)                      30/1
Texas (11)                                 30/1
Southern Mississippi (9)             60/1
Harvard (12)                               60/1
Montana (13)                             100/1
St. Bonaventure (14)                   150/1
Loyola Maryland (15)                  200/1
NC-Ashville (16)                         200/1
 
Odds to Win the Midwest Region       
North Carolina (1)                       8/5
Kansas (2)                                2/1
Georgetown (3)                          10/1
Michigan (4)                              15/1
Temple (5)                                 18/1
Purdue (10)                               18/1
Belmont (14)                              18/1
NC State (11)                            20/1
St. Mary's (7)                             25/1
San Diego State (6)                    30/1
Creighton (8)                              35/1
Alabama (9)                               40/1
California (12)                            50/1
South Florida (12)                      100/1
Ohio (13)                                   100/1
Detroit (15)                                150/1
Lamar (16)                                 200/1
Vermont (16)                             225/1

_ Jimmy Burch