It's been a fun run for NC State - but this ain't 1983. The Wolfpack's vulnerabilities will be exposed here. Purdue was No. 1 in the Big Ten in scoring (83.5 points per game) and shooting (.491), plus second in rebounding behind 7-foot-4 senior Zach Edey (25 ppg, 12.2 rpg). They also have three guards scoring in double figures and were No. 1 in the conference from 3-point land (.406) and third in assist-to-turnover ratio. The Boilermakers have faced seven Top 20 teams this season and won them all. That included a 73-63 win over Gonzaga and a 92-84 victory over No. 1 Arizona. NC State was ninth in the 15-team ACC in shooting and 10th from long range, while the defense was 10th in field goal shooting allowed and at defending the 3-pointer, eighth in rebounding, and ninth from the free throw line (.733). NC State has faced six Top 20 teams and lost four of them.
Alabama was 14-2 at home during the regular season but 5-5 on the road. They upset North Carolina during this tournament run, 89-87, but got favorable matchups against teams seeded No. 6, 12, and 13. The Crimson Tide faced nine Top 20 teams during the regular season and went 2-7 straight up. Connecticut had a dominant regular season, won the Big East tournament by an average of 16 points, and has won four Big Dance games by a 27.25 average. That included a 30-point rout of No. 5 seed San Diego State and a 25 blowout of No. 3 seed Illinois. Play Purdue moneyline + UConn moneyline together in a parlay at -226 odds
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