PointsBet will feature two guest experts on a panel providing analysis for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Final Four, the decisive leg of the famous ‘March Madness’.
Michele Kerulis, professor of sports psychology at Northwestern University of Illinois, and body language expert Scott Rouse, along with former NCAA and NBA star Carlos Boozer and PointsBet chief odds Jay Croucher, will participate in a discussion from PointsBet’s Live Insights for LIVE Bettors series.
The teams participating in this year’s March Madness semifinals are Kansas, Duke, Villanova and the University of North Carolina (UNC), with the first two considered outright favorites to win their matches with their respective opponents.
Panel structure assembled by PointsBet
During games, the panel will, according to PointsBet, “explore how a team’s state of mind on the court can affect player performance and overall team dynamics.” Kerulis’ role in the conversation will be to examine on-court dynamics between players, including managing stress, anxiety and team cohesion.
“For these college athletes, participating in the Final Four is an important occasion and the culmination of the hard work they have put in during the regular season to get here. However, many of these players have never been in such a high pressure situation.”
“Everyone reacts to stress differently, and our goal is to highlight how skill alone does not influence the outcome of a game. Emotion plays a key role, and through this discussion, sports fans will gain a new perspective and help inform how to bet in the future.”
Rouse, meanwhile, will offer commentary on players’ body language on the court, interpreting athletes’ behavior to help “punters make informed decisions,” according to a statement from PointsBet. Boozer, who played for Duke during his college career, will also comment on the players’ mindset.
Carlos Boozer stated, “This heightened pressure can motivate or break you, and I’m excited to shed some light on how skill can get you close to victory, but it’s the heart and grit that gives you the championship title.”
