The Round of 16 in the NCAA Tournament begins on Thursday, March 26, tipping off with No. 11 Texas (21-14) vs. No. 2 Purdue (29-8) at 7:10 p.m. ET on CBS.
According to PrizePicks Team Picks, Texas-Purdue features one of the largest point spreads of Thursday, with the Boilermakers favored by 7.5 points. A key injury in the Longhorns' lineup could be impacting NCAA Tournament picks on Thursday.
Below, we’ll look at the latest Texas G Jordan Pope injury update for tonight. How could the injury shift Texas vs. Purdue picks for PrizePicks?
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Jordan Pope Injury Update vs. Purdue in NCAA Tournament
Following a mediocre 18-13 finish to the regular season, Texas snuck into the 68-team NCAA Tournament field. The Longhorns have ignited at the right time, winning three consecutive games in the NCAA Tournament.
As a No. 11 seed, the play-in team is the largest remaining seed in the field. After defeating No. 3 Gonzaga as 6.5-point underdogs in the second round of play, Texas could have an even greater challenge awaiting on Thursday.
The Longhorns feature a 3.84x payout if they win tonight, per PrizePicks Team Picks. Plus, Texas G Jordan Pope, who ranks fourth on the team with 13.1 points per game (PPG), suffered an ankle injury late in the second half vs. Gonzaga.
On Wednesday, Longhorn fans received encouraging news, as Pope was a limited participant at practice, while head coach Sean Miller stated, “We’re hopeful that he can (play),” via Inside Texas.
The senior guard was officially listed as questionable on Thursday morning for tonight’s duel with Purdue. Pope provided a spark vs. Gonzaga with 17 points, following his 11-point performance in the first round.
If the Oakley native cannot suit up in San Jose, California, tonight, who could step up on the Texas offense?
Jordan Pope Injury Impact: Which Texas Players to Target?
Over his last nine full appearances, Pope posted 16.1 PPG — surpassing his 13.1 season-long average. He also shot 37.3% on 3-pointers in the split, slightly ahead of 36.9% for the season.
According to Bart Torvik, Purdue allows a 44.3% 3-point shot distribution (10th percentile) and 8.6 made triples per game (21st percentile). Replacing Pope’s 3-point production could be the Longhorns’ biggest challenge.
Second to Pope’s 6.3 attempted treys per game, Texas G Tramon Mark (13.5 PPG) records 4.1 3-point shots per contest. While he shoots only 32.6% from beyond the arc, Mark’s increased that to 35.7% over three NCAA Tournament games.
Furthermore, the senior 6’5” wing racked up 1.9 made triples per game in his last nine appearances, elevated from 1.3 for the season.
Mark could be Texas’ angle for potentially replacing Pope’s strong 3-point shooting against a suspect perimeter defense. He’s reached 17 points in two of three NCAA Tournament contests.
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Texas G Tramon Mark Projections, Picks vs. Purdue
Check out a few of Tramon Mark’s projections on PrizePicks for Texas vs. Purdue on Thursday, March 26.
- 15 Points
- 20.5 Pts+Rebs+Asts
- 4 Rebounds
- 1.5 3-pointers Made (Demon)
- 24 Fantasy Score
Make Texas vs. Purdue Picks on PrizePicks
Keep a close eye on the injury report, as Jordan Pope will likely be a game-time decision for Texas vs. Purdue. The Longhorns’ offense could lack its usual balance if he’s out. Will Texas still find a way to stay hot as underdogs vs. the Boilermakers?
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