Welcome to CBB DFS for the Sunday portion of Round 2 of the NCAA Tournament! A couple of notes before we get into the playbook. DraftKings and FanDuel both have all-day slates spanning from the first 12:15 pm ET tip to the final evening game. Keep in mind that some of the game times on DraftKings or FanDuel are earlier than the game itself may start in this tournament setup. So, pay attention to when those games lock if making late lineup changes or pivots. Without further ado, let’s dive in! 

THE SLATE

12:10p Houston (-4.5) @ Illinois 133.5 O/U

2:40p Ohio State @ Villanova (-5.0) 132 O/U

5:15p Michigan State @ Duke (-6.5) 144.5 O/U

6:10p Iowa State @ Wisconsin (-4.5) 125.5 O/U

7:10p Notre Dame @ Texas Tech (-7.5) 132,5 O/U

7:45p Miami-FL @ Auburn (-7.5) 144 O/U

8:40p Texas @ Purdue (-3.5) 133.5 O/U

9:40p TCU @ Arizona (-9.5) 144 O/U

TOP TEAM IMPLIED SCORES (KenPom)

Auburn 78

Duke 77

Arizona 76

Michigan State 70

Miami-FL 70

Houston 70

Villanova 70

TCU 69

Texas Tech 69

Purdue 69

Texas 68

Ohio State 66

Illinois 65

Wisconsin 64

Iowa State 63

 

TOP GUARDS

 

 

 

 

Kameron McGusty/Charlie Moore (Miami-FL) Opp @AUB ($6.9K/6.7K DK/$6.5K FD/6.9K FD)

Charlie Moore and McGusty rescued Miami in the opening round after leading scorer Isaiah Wong had fouled out of a one-point game with just more than two minutes left. McGusty scored five straight points before Moore's winning foul shots. Moore was brought in this year to run the transition offense necessary to compete with opponents loaded with taller players- teams like Auburn and McGusty is the go-to with a 25.8% usage and 26.8% shot rate. McGusty is a top cash play today at only $6.9K running in this up-tempo game with Auburn while Moore is an excellent pivot to use in GPPs.

Collin Gillespie/Justin Moore (Villanova) Opp OSU ($7.4K/6.9K DK/$6.2K/6.0K FD)

It’s a known fact that Ohio State doesn’t have the biggest backcourt in the nation. Even guys who do have the proper size lack the physical development that needs to come with it. Villanova doesn’t have that problem with Gillespie and Moore, the Wildcats leading scorers averaging a combined 31.1 points per game. Moore stands at 6-4 and 210 pounds, relentlessly attacking the basket and throwing his weight around against smaller defenders and should have his way with 6’1” Jamari Wheeler covering him. Gillespie is a bit lighter than Moore but can be a physical offensive player as well and he’s most dangerous from three-point range, shooting 42.3% on the season and coming off Friday’s win over Delaware, where he made 5-of-11 from beyond the arc. With Ohio State being small and slight look for both to smash today with a lean to Moore for cash games due to price and Gillespie as a GPP pivot.

 

 

Izaiah Brockington (Iowa State) Opp @WISC ($7.6K DK/6.3K FD)

The Cyclones leading scorer and the #2 scorer in the Big 12 (17.3), Brockington cooked up again on the court finishing with 19 points and four rebounds in their upset over #6 seed LSU. He iced the game with a minute left to play knocking down two free throws and continues to be the leader and alpha of this Iowa State offense. With a 26% usage and 29.8% shot rate Brock is the 4th leading rebounder in the entire Big-12 (7.1) so don’t expect him to slow down today against Wisconsin. 

Other Top Guards

Johnny Davis (WISC) $8.8K DK/6.8K FD 31.5% usage and 31.7% shot rates are elite; 40 FP every time he steps on the floor; top FD guard

Damion Baugh (TCU) $6.9K DK/6.1K FD gets pace up and playing well

Wendell Green (AUB) $6.6K DK/5.6K FD 26.3% usage and 26.2% shot rates plus 35.5% assist (19th in the nation)

Mike Miles Jr (TCU) $6.4K DK/6.0K FD 26.6% usage and 28.6% shot rate are near elite with a depressed price

Dalen Terry (ARIZ) $6.3K DK/6.3K FD Playing almost 40 mins and smashing lately

Andrew Jones (Texas) $5K FD  FD value only due to price

 

TOP VALUE GUARD

 

 

Andre Curbelo (Illinois) Opp UH ($4.8K DK/4.9K FD)

There is no doubt that Illinois has been better on the court with Curbelo recently, including during Friday’s 54-53 victory over No. 13 seed Chattanooga. Illinois is a plus-35 with Curbelo on the court during the last five games. In Friday’s win, the Illini were plus-18 when Curbelo was on the court, and he helped ignite the Illini offense that scored just eight points during the first 12 minutes with five points and four assists during the first half to help shave a 14-point deficit to four during the first half. Every game Curbelo gets stronger and as the tournament goes deeper, he will become more and more vital in DFS contests.

Other Value Guards

Justin Kier (ARIZ) $5.3K DK/4.9K FD Solid floor and can be a main team cash if Krissa still out

Courtney Ramey (UT) $5.2K DK/5.4K FD Will get there with his mins but low floor- value is not great today

 

TOP FORWARDS

 

 

Walker Kessler (Auburn) Opp MIA ($9.0K DK/8.8K FD)

We have picked on this small Miami interior all season putting Kessler in a smash spot. The North Carolina transfer and former five-star recruit has made such a smooth transition to a new program and is likely to be named the national defensive player of the year. Kessler did, however, win the first SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors in program history. He leads college basketball in blocks per game (4.6) and block rate, sending back nearly one-fifth of opponents' shot attempts (19.3%) during defensive possessions when he's on the floor. Kessler nearly notched his third triple-double of the season Friday night against Jacksonville State, finishing with 13 points, 10 rebounds, and nine blocks, and has just as good of a chance today against Miami’s interior that is one of the worst in the nation in 2-pt percentage allowed (53.8%- 322nd).

 

 

Paolo Banchero (Duke) Opp @DUKE ($9.1K DK/8.3K FD)

The Duke freshman star showed why he's going to be one of the first—if not the first player off the board in this year's NBA draft.  Inside moves? The ability to finish off lobs? Easy. Perimeter shooting and the ability to create his own offense? No problem. Banchero is special and he beat CSU Fullerton with his scoring, rebounding, and playmaking Friday. He seems to be lower projected on every slate compared to the other star big men, but this kid can ball and should eat against the Michigan State defense that has struggled in the interior all season long. Banchero is the #8 ranked KenPom Player of the Year with a 27% usage/shot; 19.4% defensive rebounding and 2.7% block rate and s in play in all formats.

 

 

Timmy Allen G/F (Texas) Opp @PUR ($7.1K DK/6.6K FD)

As Texas’ leading scorer and rebounder Allen has finally become the offensive alpha that we all were looking for in the winter. With a 24.6% usage and 22.5% shot rate Allen is coming off a big game against Virginia Tech (30 DKFP) where he stuffed the stat sheet with 14 points, six rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Today he gets a major pace-up game with Purdue and Allen will be playing every minute possible so a $7.1K price tag is one of the top point per dollar plays and giving him one of the safest floors on the slate. 

Other Top Forwards

Kofi Cockburn (ILL) $9.3K DK/8.6K FD matchup-proof but UH interior is no joke

EJ Liddell (OSU) $9.2K DK/8.4K FD Sneaky play against a small Villanova interior – may smash here

Jabari Smith (AUB) $8.7K DK/8.2K FD We have been picking on Miami interior all season- why stop now- they are too small

Mark Williams (DUKE) $8.4K DK/6.7K FD GPP pivot off Paolo- MSU interior is weak; great FD price

Christian Koloko (ARIZ) $7.9K DK/7.2K FD Smashed Friday but TCU interior is solid

Azuolas Tubelis (ARIZ) $7.3K DK/5.8K FD Foul trouble Friday may keep him low owned

Fabian White (UH) $6.7K DK/6.1K FD $6.7K for Fabian White? Sign me up 

 

TOP FORWARD VALUE

 

 

Coleman Hawkins (Illinois) Opp UH ($5.0K DK/5.9K FD)

A month ago, no one would have believed that Coleman Hawkins would be so important to Illinois’ season. In eight games from Jan. 17 to Feb. 13, the sophomore forward averaged just 1.1 points and 1.3 rebounds in 8.4 minutes. Lately, Hawkins has been as indispensable as any Illini not named Kofi- over the last six games, he is averaging 9.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.7 assists. The 6-foot-10, 215-pound post can play inside and out offensively and has been a difference-maker at the four- a position that has been a huge Illini weakness.  Over the last three games, he has played just as good as anyone on the floor- against Iowa, Hawkins played a season-high 37 minutes, scoring nine points, grabbing 11 rebounds, and blocking two shots (29 DKFP); he scored 18 points against Indiana, including a three to give Illinois the lead with five minutes left (32 DKFP) and in Friday night’s win, Hawkins was again the most active Illini and ended up with 25 DKFP. 

Other Forward Values

Josh Carlton (UH) $5.8K DK/5.2K FD Like the price but foul trouble worries due to Kofi assignment

Sam Waardenburg (MIA) $5.7K DK/5.4K FD 4X value over last three games; can hit the 3

Kyle Young (OSU) $5.0K DK/4.4K FD Nothing spectacular but on a slate lacking value can get 4X off a few rebounds

 

DRAFTKINGS CORE

Kameron McGusty (Miami-FL)

Walker Kessler (Auburn)

Andre Curbelo (Illinois)

 

FANDUEL CORE

Johnny Davis (Wisconsin)

Walker Kessler (Auburn)

Andrew Jones (Texas)