SIU Edwardsville vs. Houston March Madness Preview and Prediction
In the No. 16 vs. No. 1 matchup in the NCAA Tournament Midwest Region, the SIU Edwardsville Cougars face the Houston Cougars in first-round action.
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How to Watch SIU Edwardsville vs. Houston
When: 2:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 20th
Where: INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas
Watch: TBS
Odds for SIU Edwardsville vs. Houston
(odds current at time of publish)
Spread: Houston -28.5 (-110), SIU Edwardsville +28.5 (-110)
Total: Over 127.5 (-110), Under 127.5 (-110)
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SIU Edwardsville vs. Houston Preview & Prediction
SIU Edwardsville makes its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance as a Division I program, but the celebration could be short-lived as the Cougars face a massive challenge against No. 1 seed Houston. Head coach Brian Barone’s squad earned its bid with a strong defensive identity, ranking in the top 40 in effective field goal percentage (eFG%) defense and boasting a top-25 mark in 2-point defense.
However, SIUE struggled offensively and wasn’t even the best defensive team in the Ohio Valley Conference, ranking third in eFG% defense and just sixth in offensive efficiency. With a résumé that includes only two Quadrant 3 wins and blowout losses to Indiana and Illinois in their only Quadrant 1 matchups, SIUE will need an extraordinary performance—particularly from leading scorer Ray’Sean Taylor (19.2 PPG)—to keep things competitive.
Houston, on the other hand, enters the tournament with championship aspirations. The Cougars have been an elite defensive team for years under Kelvin Sampson, ranking in the top 10 in 2-point defense for the fifth straight season. But what makes this year’s Houston team different is its perimeter offense. The Cougars have spent much of the season ranked in the top five in 3-point shooting, with L.J. Cryer, Emanuel Sharp, and Milos Uzan all shooting over 40% from deep.
Houston’s offensive rebounding and turnover margin remain elite, but their past tournament struggles have stemmed from inefficient half-court offense. This year, with an improved outside attack, the Cougars are looking to make a deeper run and finally break through to the title game. SIUE, despite its defensive toughness, is one of the weakest teams in the field and is a heavy underdog. Barring a historic upset, Houston should cruise into the second round, where a potential blockbuster matchup with Gonzaga could await.
Estimated Score: Houston 78, SIUE 50
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