Community Picks: Oklahoma 0% vs Oregon 0%

Slaying the sportsbook is a monstrous task. Some days bettors take up residence in a penthouse suite. Other times, they curl up in the nearest ditch, shirtless and toothless. In an attempt to avoid complete destitution, I will post my picks, whether profitable or penniless, through the NCAA tourney. Check out Saturday's Elite Eight selections below: Villanova vs. Kansas – Jumping from the top rope against Miami and Maryland, respectively, the Wildcats and Jayhawks punched their regional final tickets in spectacular fashion. Both drained bountiful money-balls. Both were unrelenting defenders. Among the remaining tournament teams, they, and Virginia, are the only ones to rank inside the top-10 nationally in offensive and defensive efficiency.  On paper, there's little separation between the South region titans, but the imperative difference between the two is steeped in perimeter performance. Villanova, which has obliterated the opposition netting over 50 percent from downtown in the tournament, is a relentless three-point shooting team. Ryan Arcidiacono, Josh Hart, Jalen Brunson and meaty marksman, Kris Jenkins, punished UNC-Asheville, Iowa and Miami from beyond the arc. Though outstanding in those efforts, 'Nova has not faced a team the defensive caliber of Kansas. On the season, the Jayhawks have surrendered only 32.7 percent along the perimeter and 0.92 points per possession overall. Further complicating matters for the 'Cats, Perry Ellis is a matchup nightmare. The tenured professor is quick off the bounce, active on the glass and can score in variable ways. His speed, athleticism and deadly 17-foot jumper are bound to cause Daniel Ochefu and Darryl Reynolds fits. Toss in the sensational guard play of Wayne Selden and Frank Mason, and 'Rock Chalk' is sure to reign.   Prediction: Kansas (-3) 74 Villanova 68 (Over/under bonus: UNDER 145) Oklahoma vs. Oregon – Oregon, admonished by novices and pundits alike on Selection Sunday, were a controversial No. 1 seed to some, despite winning the outright Pac-12 regular season championship and following up with a massacre of Utah to take the conference tournament title. With wins against Holy Cross, St. Joe's and Duke, any and all critics, however, are now silenced. The Ducks have earned their wings.  Many have both cheeks firmly planted on the Boomer Sooner bandwagon solely because of Buddy Hield. The Bahamian bomber has detonated often this NCAA tournament. His 29 second-half points against VCU was a performance for the ages. Though he's nearly impossible to defend, Oregon has the length and athleticism to disrupt OU's long-range game, match blow-for-blow in transition and wreck havoc down in the post. Keep in mind, Oklahoma's primary weakness is along the frontline. With limited depth and little rebounding prowess outside of Ryan Spangler and Khadeem Lattin, it should get owned on the boards by Chris Boucher, Jordan Bell and Dillon Brooks. Remember, OU ranks north of No. 175 nationally in two-point percentage D and defensive rebounding percentage.  Oregon's knack for forcing turnovers, an Achilles heel for OK, is another advantage. If it ratchets up pressure, Lon Kruger's club will make mistakes.  The last time Oregon reached the Final Four, in 1939, it was nicknamed the Webfoots. Larry King was also five-years old. That, my friends, was an eternity to go. Extend on D, cleanup inside and match Oklahoma's fast-break production, and its long drought is sure to mercifully end.  Prediction: Oregon 83 Oklahoma 80 (BONUS: OVER 152)  Follow Brad on Twitter @YahooNoise Continue to Article

March 25, 2016 6:03:pm EST

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Instead of letting the shot clock expire with his team ahead by 11 points and only seven seconds remaining, Oregon's Dillon Brooks decided to try to pad the Ducks' margin of victory. He buried a deep 3-pointer, gestured toward the Duke bench and celebrated as the final seconds melted away during the Ducks' 82-68 Sweet 16 victory.  Not to be outdone, Oregon's Dillon Brooks also puts the final touch on his team's win #MarchMadness https://t.co/6cWGpStwcf — Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 25, 2016 TV cameras caught Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski pull Brooks in close and whisper something in his ear as the two shook hands after the game. Exactly what was said is still unclear as Krzyzewski and Brooks offered conflicting versions of the conversation.  Brooks told SI.com that Krzyzewski scolded him for his behavior, telling him he was "too good of a player to be showing off at the end." The Oregon star conceded Krzyzewski was right, adding "I have to learn from those things." In a bizarre turn of events, Krzyzewski insisted that's not the way the conversation went at all. When asked what he said to Brooks after the game, Krzyzewski initially said he congratulated Brooks and told him he's "a terrific player." When later informed how Brooks described the conversation, Krzyzewski became defensive. "I didn't say that," Krzyzewski said. "You can say whatever you want. Dillon Brooks is a hell of a player. I said, 'You're a terrific player.' And you can take whatever he said and then go with it, all right?" The postgame exchange between Brooks and Krzyzewski should not overshadow the performance of the Oregon star. Brooks torched Duke for 22 points, six assists and five rebounds, helping the Ducks advance within one win of their first Final Four since 1939. While Brooks probably didn't have to either attempt that last 3-pointer or celebrate as vociferously after he hit it, he deserves some benefit of the doubt under the circumstances. This was program-boosting victory for an Oregon team that swept the Pac-12 regular season and tournament titles yet somehow flew under the radar nationally. Brooks has been instrumental to Oregon's success all season because of his scoring, passing and ability to defend multiple positions.   Showboating at an opponent's expense may be crossing the line, but the passion with which Brooks plays is a big reason he is so successful. - - - - - - - Jeff Eisenberg is the editor of The Dagger on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at daggerblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @JeffEisenberg Continue to Article

March 25, 2016 5:05:am EST