East Carolina Pirates (14-14) vs Tulane Green Wave (17-9)
Game Info: Wednesday, March 1, 2023 at 9:00 pm (Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum)
Betting Odds: East Carolina Pirates +5 -- Over/Under: 153 Click Here for the Latest Odds
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The Tulane Green Wave will travel to Greenville to face the East Carolina Pirates in AAC play from the Williams Arena on ESPNU. ECU holds a slim series lead of, 17-16, but Tulane did win the most previous meeting by twenty points two weeks ago.
Tulane dropped to 17-9 after losing to Wichita State in New Orleans. The Green Wave trailed the Shockers at the break, and after failing to recover in the second half they’d be handed a seven-point loss, 83-76. Tulane is scoring 81.2 points per game, while allowing 76.1 ppg and shooting 46.7% from the floor.
Tulane has dropped their last two games, and they’ll need to stop the bleeding if they want to go dancing. The Green Wave are 10-5 in AAC play, with a 5-3 road record. The Green Wave are led by the backcourt of Jared Cook and Jaylen Forbes. Cook has been on a tear down the stretch, and after going for 30 points against Wichita last time out, he’s posting team-leads of 20.7 ppg and 5.0 apg. Forbes has been strong alongside him, scoring 18.5 ppg and grabbing 4.9 rpg. Junior forward Kevin Cross leads the team in rebounding (6.2), while scoring 14.8 ppg.
East Carolina dropped to 14-14 after losing to Houston at home. The Pirates fell victim to a slow start, and ended up losing to Cougars by nineteen points, 76-57. ECU is scoring 69.0 points per game, while allowing 70.6 ppg, and shooting 40.8% from the field.
East Carolina has traded their last four games, and for the moment, they’ll look to keep that trend going by taking down Tulane. The Pirates are 5-10 in AAC play, with a 9-6 home record. The Pirates have been without their top player in Javon Small and RJ Felton has grown over the second half of the season. The sophomore guard scored a season high 27 points against SMU last week, and he’s averaging 13.6 ppg and 4.4 rpg. Sophomore forward Brandon Johnson is scoring an identical 12.7 ppg, while grabbing a team-leading 8.1 rpg. Freshman forward Ezra Ausar (9.0 ppg, 4.9 rpg) double-doubled in the recent win over Cincy, and he’s scored 14 points or more in five of the last six games.
Tulane is 12-12 against the spread this season, with a 14-9-1 over/under record. ECU is 15-11 ATS this year, with a 15-11 o/u record.
Tulane and East Carolina will face off in a home-and-home this week, and for the first contest I think we’ll see a fast paced game that could see some points. ECU’s in a semi-generous spot as home underdogs, but they’ve been far more pedestrian offensively in comparison to the Green Wave. Jalen Cook and Jaylen Forbes will represent the two best players on the court, and I like rolling with Tulane to cover in this AAC contest.
Corey’s Pick Tulane -6.5
AUTHOR: Corey Ghee
Mitch's Take...
