Date | Match Up | Rating | Score | Result | Profit | Lead Time | Analysis |
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02-20-21 | Notre Dame v. Syracuse -2.5 | Top | 67-75 | Win | 100 | 6 h 6 m | Show |
My 9* Daytime Dominator is on Syracuse at 2:00 ET. Syracuse is 12-6 (6-5 ACC) was looking for a third straight on Wednesday but its visit to Louisville was postponed hours before the opening tip. It was the fifth game this season Syracuse had postponed. 9-10 Notre Dame (6-7 in the ACC) will visit Syracuse Saturday and has closed within one game of .500 on the season by winning FOUR of its last five games. |
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02-19-21 | Toledo +2 v. Buffalo | Top | 80-70 | Win | 100 | 13 h 31 m | Show |
My 10* "Best of the Best" Conference Game of the Year (MAC) is on Toledo at 9:00 ET. Tod Kowalczyk (was the head coach at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay from 2002–10, before accepting the head coaching position at Toledo on March 30 2010. This marks his 11th season at Toledo, having won 20 games or more four times (high of 27 in the 2013-14 season) and has captured four MAC-West titles. However, the Rockets have never won the MAC tourney under Kowalczyk, therefore they've never received an NCAA bid. This season, that may just change. Nate Oates came to Buffalo for the 2015-16 season and he led the Bulls to 27 wins and 32 wins in his final two seasons (advanced to the second round of the Big Dance each season) but then left for Alabama. The Tide went 16-15 last season but currently the Tide are 17-5 (SEC-best 12-1) and ranked 8th in the nation. Taking over for Oates was his assistant Jim Whitesell, who was head coach at Loyola-Chicago from 2004-11. The Bulls surprised last season going 20-12 before the shutdown but are just 9-6 (7-4 in the MAC). Toledo is currently 17-6 and 12-3 in MAC play. There are no East/West divisions this season and the MAC tourney (in Cleveland) will feature just EIGHT teams. Toledo has the inside track for the No. 1 seed (Akron is 11-3 and Ken St 10-4) and head to Buffalo Friday night for the lone regular season meeting between the two teams. The Rockets average 80.7 PPG with all five starters in double digits. Toledo starts a trio of guards in Jackson (17.2-5.6-6.0), Littleson (13.6) and Rollins (13.3 & 5.6), while the 6-7 Shumate (12.5 & 4.4) and the 6-6 Millner (12.3 & 6.4) start up front. Guard Saunders (7.40 and the 6-8 Acunzo (6.1 & 3.4) are the top reserves. Buffalo has seen two games canceled and four postponed this season (note: in contrast, Toledo has had just ONE game postponed) but comes in on a three-game winning streak in which the Bulls have won by 20, 24 and 32 points (more in a bit). The Bulls do NOT have Toledo's depth but do have a quality 'Core 4' in forwards Williams (17.9 & 7.4) and Mballo (14.8 & 9.8) plus guards Graves (15.0-5.7-3.7) and Segu (13.9). No other player averages more than 6.5 PPG but Buffalo can score with Toledo, averaging 82.2 PPG. I noted Buffalo's three straight wins by impressive margins but will add here that those victories have come over 7-10 Ball St, 8-9 Miami-Ohio and 4-13 Western Michigan. I see this as Toledo's breakthrough season under Kowalczyk and that fact that this team has avoided the COVID issues that die]disrupted so many schools' seasons, is another "good sign" that I may just be right. Good luck...Larry |
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02-18-21 | Houston v. Wichita State +8 | Top | 63-68 | Win | 100 | 12 h 37 m | Show |
My 10* PERFECT STORM is on Wichita St at 7:00 ET. No one should have been surprised by what Kelvin Sampson has done at Houston, after successful stops at Washington St, Oklahoma and Indiana. His first Houston team went 13-19 (2014-15) but FIVE straight 20-win seasons followed. The Cougars won 27 (2017-18) and 33 (2018-19) games, before going 23-8 in last season's pandemic shortened one. Houston is currently 17-2 (11-2 in the AAC) and ranked 6th in the latest AP poll. No other AAC team is ranked but when the Cougars visit 12-4 Wichita St tonight, they are WELL aware that the Shockers only have two conference losses as well (albeit nine wins). Houston beat Wichita State 70-63 back on Jan 6 at home but never shook the Shockers. Houston guards Grimes (16.9 & 6.5) and Sasser (15.1) are the 'big dogs,' joined on the perimeter by Jarreau (10.0-5.3-4.3) and freshman Mark (8.5 & 3.0). The best frontcourt player is the 6-7 Gorham (8.2 & 10.1). Houston wins with defense, as Sampson's team is allowing only 57.3 PPG, ranking second-best in the nation. The Cougars are holding opponents to 36.5% shooting (1st), including 25.5% on threes (also 1st). Wichita St's season was marred before it got started, as head coach Gregg Marshall resigned as coach of Wichita State after multiple allegations of verbal and physical abuse spanning years on November 17, 2020. Marshall's success started at Winthrop (seven NCAA berths in nine years) and continued at Wichita St, winning the NIT title in 2011 then winning 30-plus games in three straight seasons, including a Final 4 appearance in 2013. Lead assistant Isaac Brown was named interim head coach and has done an excellent job, despite losing center Echenique (11.3 & 7.1) plus guards Stevenson (11.1 & 4.7( and Burton (10.3-3.5-3.4). However, the Shockers are a deep team this season, led by a quartet of guards in Etienne (17.3), UConn transfer Gilbert (10.2-3.1-3.7) and Dennis (8.6 & 3.8) and Council (7.5 & 4.5). The top frontcourt performers are the 6-8 Udeze (9.8 & 3.6), the 6-6 Wade (6.3 & 5.7) and 6-7 JUCO transfer Jackson (5.6 & 4.4). Wichita St was picked seventh in the league in the preseason and as interim coach Isaac Brown noted, "I think the guys took that in a way that we're going to show everyone that we're better than that. I think having nobody on the preseason all-conference list, that stuff motivates those kids. It gets them to play harder. It gets them to buy in and it gets them to want to prove the point to everybody." Wichita St 'hung with the Cougars in Houston (seven-point loss as an 11-point dog) and Getting a 'TD' or more of points here at home makes them a very 'LIVE' home underdog. Good luck...Larry |
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02-17-21 | Marquette v. Butler -2 | Top | 73-57 | Loss | -110 | 9 h 55 m | Show |
My 9* Revenge Rout is on Butler at 6:30 ET. The Marquette Golden Eagles are 9-12 (5-10 Big East) and will visit Butler to take on the Bulldogs, who are struggling and by going 7-11 overall (6-9 in the Big East). Marquette head coach Steve Wojciechowski lost Markus Howard, who led the nation in scoring last season at 27.8 PPG plus fellow senior Scar Anim, who added 13.1 PPG. However, he welcomed an impressive freshman to his roster, the 6-11 Dawson Garcia (31.9 & 9.7 last year in high school) plus has surrounded him with a deep supporting cast (to no avail?). LaVall Jordan is in his fourth season at Butler and last year's team was 22-9 before the shutdown (would have made the NCAAs for a fifth time in six seasons). However, Butler lost key players from that team, including leading scorer Baldwin (16.2) and three-point shooter McDermott. Butler has mostly struggled this season. Garcia (12.6 & 6.7) has been good but not great for Marquette but the Golden Eagles do own a solid Core 6.' Ohio St transfer Carton (12.9-3.6-3.5) is joined by McEwen (12.00 in the backcourt, while the 6-7 Cain (9.9 & 5.8), the 6-9 John (8.3 & 5.8) and 6-7 freshman Lewis (8.1 & 6.0) support Garcia up front. The 6-5 Bo Hodges (transfer from ETSU) just became eligible recently at Butler and in five games has averaged team highs of 11.4 PPG and 8.2 RPG. He joins a trio of guards, all averaging in double digits; Bolden 911.2), Thompson (10.8 & 4.8 APG) and Harris (10.8). Up front, the 6-7 Nze adds 10.7 & 7.7 and the 6-9 Golden 9.1 & 4.4. Both of these teams SHOULD be better than their current records but I'll back Butler, looking to avenge a 70-67 loss at Marquette on Feb 2. That victory was Marquette's ONLY win in its last SEVEN games and now plays its third contest of a SIX-game road trip. Butler takes this one "with room to spare!" Good luck...Larry |
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02-17-21 | Gardner-Webb v. Radford -3 | Top | 69-57 | Loss | -110 | 11 h 50 m | Show |
My 10* "Best of the Best" Conference Game of the Year (Big South) is on Radford at 6:00 ET.
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02-16-21 | Providence v. Connecticut -5.5 | Top | 61-73 | Win | 100 | 9 h 14 m | Show |
My 10* PERFECT STORM is on UConn at 6:30 ET. UConn moved to the AAC for the 2013-14 season and made an improbable run to the Final Four and won a national championship. However, it has spent the last six seasons going just 110-90, with just two seasons of 20-plus wins and one NCAA tourney appearance. The Huskies have fallen out of the national 'picture' but a return to the Big East this season had expectations running high in Storrs. UConn opened 7-1 this season and were ranked 23rd when it lost 74-70 at home to St John's. UConn welcomes Providence to Stoors having lost FOUR of six, to give them a record (in the Big East). Ed Cooley of Providence is in his 10th season at the school. After a slow start to last season, Providence earned FIVE, top-25 wins in February, ending with a 12-6 Big East record. Nothing too surprising there, as the Friars have 10-plus Big East wins in SIX of the last seven seasons. However, this year's team is a modest 11-109 (7-8 in the Big East). Diallo (14.1 & 7.8) led Providence in scoring last season but the big guard graduated, as did fellow guard Pipkins (10.8). The 6-10 Nate Watson was a fan favorite last season (9.0 & 4.6) and is gaining in popularity by averaging 17.2 & 6.8 plus PG Duke (leads the tram in scoring and assists (17.4-6.3-4.9). Fellow guard Reeves adds 9.9 &n 3.9 currently, no other healthy Friar is averaging as much as six PPG. Losing the 6-5 Bouknight (20.3 & 5.3) after six games on Jan 5 due (to an elbow injury), has been HUGE but guards Martin (12.1 & 7.4) and Cole (9.3 & 3.7 APG) have begun to step up. UConn had lost four of five prior to Saturday's 80-72 win at Xavier, as Cole scored a season-high 24 points, making 7 of 14 from the floor and hitting five 3-pointers to go with his season-high seven assists. Up front it's three 6-9 players, Polley (8.7), Whaley (8.3 & 6.4) and freshman Sanogo (6.4 & 4). UConn lost 70-59 at Providence on Feb 10, as the Huskies made just 4 of 20 three-pointers, while getting outscored 18-5 on the Ft line. That should change here at home (fans or no fans). Lay the points. Good luck...Larry |
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02-15-21 | Virginia v. Florida State -1 | Top | 60-81 | Win | 100 | 10 h 13 m | Show |
My 10* PERFECT STORM is on Florida St at 7:00 ET.
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02-14-21 | Norfolk State v. Morgan State -3 | Top | 68-65 | Loss | -110 | 5 h 23 m | Show |
My 10* "Best of the Best" Conference Game of the Year (MEAC) is on Morgan St at 2:00 ET. The Norfolk State head coach Robert Jones is in his eighth season coaching the Spartans and he opened the current season in much better shape than his situation last year. That team featured 10 newcomers and the Spartans finished just 16-15, although they were 12-4 in MEAC play. Norfolk St entered this season with a pair of excellent guards, as both Bishop (15.6 & 3.5) and Whitley (10.1 & 5.2) graduated. PG Devante Carter leads the team in scoring (15.6), rebounding (5.3) and assists (3.8), while fellow guards Bryant (11.2 & 4.1) and Hawkins (9.2 & 5.2) give him solid perimeter support. The Spartans' lone frontcourt performer of note is the 6-9 Mathews (9.2 & 5.2). Morgan St's Kevin Broadus took the job last season and it had been nearly a decade since his previous head coaching gig. His first season saw the team go 15-16 (9-7 in MEAC play) but the good news was, FOUR starters returned. Morgan St has two solid frontcourt players in the 6-9 Baxter (16.6 & 4.7) and the 6-8 Grantsaan (15.5 & 5.2), A four-guard rotation provides excellent depth on the perimeter led by Ware (15.5 & 5.2 off the bench) and starter Miller (13.4) plus a team-high 8.6 RPG. Norfolk St won at Morgan St 74-69 on Saturday, as Carter had 20 points, while Bryant and Hicks (7.9) each had 18. Bryant and Hicks combined to make SEVEN of 13 threes. Meanwhile, Morgan St's two big men were MIA. Grantsaan took just TWO shots (5 points / 4 rebounds), with Baxter scoring 13 points but shooting 3 of 14 from the The loss was Morgan St's first since Jan 17! the team had seen FOUR postponements since that game but was on a 5-0 run entering Saturday's contest. In this "instant payback" situation, expect the Bears to win and win HANDILY, as a win means Morgan St would move to 7-3 in the MEAC North, 1 1/2 games ahead of (including TWO in the loss column) Norfolk St. Double digit win expected! Good luck...Larry |
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02-14-21 | Michigan v. Wisconsin +1 | Top | 67-59 | Loss | -105 | 6 h 39 m | Show |
My 9* Situational Stunner is on Wisconsin at 1:00 ET. Michigan's Juwan Howard's first season as head coach saw his team open 7-0, then go 6-9 over its next 15 games. A six-game win streak followed but Michigan lost three of four before the shutdown (19-11 finish). However, Howard's sophomore year at Michigan has grabbed everyone's attention! 13-1 Michigan rose to No. 4 in the AP poll on Jan 24 but the basketball team (like every sport at Michigan) was put on a COVID-19 pause for two weeks. Idle since a Jan 22 win at Purdue (70-53), the Wolverines get back on the court Sunday at Wisconsin, ranked No. 3. Wisconsin has had a terrific basketball program for decades and Greg Gard is in his sixth season at Madison, having had FOUR 20-win seasons in his first five. The Badgers enter this game 15-6 (9-5 in the Big Ten) and currently ranked 21st in the latest AP poll. Gone from Michigan's team last season are PG Simpson (12.9-4.5-7.9) and the 7-1 Teske (11.6 & 6.7). 6-7 senior Livers led Michigan in scoring last season and is averaging 14.6 & 6.0 this season. The Wolverines have an experienced group but their leading scorer is 7-1 freshman Hunter Dickinson (15.1 & 7.2). Experience comes in guards Wagner (12.0 & 7.1), Brown (8.8), Brooks (8.8) and Smith (8.4). Michigan is averaging 79.7 PPG (35th) on 50.9% shooting (7th), while holding opponents to 65.4 PPG (61st) on 37,4% shooting (3rd). Wisconsin starts FIVE seniors, guards Trice (13.5-3.5-3.8) and Davison (8.9 & 3.3) plus the 6-10 Potter (11.8 & 6.1), the 6-11 Reuvers (9.5 & 3.7) and the 6-8 Ford (9.0 & 4.2). 6-5 freshman Davis (7.0 & 4.3) and 6-9 sophomore Wahl (5.6 & 4.3) both contribute off the bench. Wisconsin is scoring about nine PPG (70.8) less than Michigan but can match the Wolverines on the defensive end, allowing just 62.4 PPG (20th). Juwan Howard confirmed that Michigan's first practice after a mandatory 14-day break looked like the workout of a team that hadn't touched a ball in two weeks. "There were some turnovers being made," he said. "There was some excessive fouling. There were some wobbly legs." Isaiah Livers compared that practice to the start of a new season. One big difference in the start of an actual season and a restart to a pandemic season is that the Wolverines don't get to ease into things but instead are in Madison Sunday, then return home to face No. 25 Rutgers on Wednesday and back on the road to visit No. 4 Ohio State on Feb 21. Wisconsin is 11-2 at home and how CAN'T the Badgers remember getting routed 77-54 at Michigan back on Jan 12, a game that featured a mind-boggling 43-6 run spanning the halves by the Wolverines. Head coach Greg Gard said he is not focused on revenge games but a "W" here for Wisconsin would feel pretty 'sweet!' That's my bet. Good luck...Larry |
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02-13-21 | St. Mary's -0.5 v. Pepperdine | Top | 58-60 | Loss | -113 | 11 h 43 m | Show |
My 9* Bailout Blowout is on St Mary's at 8:00 ET. The Saint Mary’s Gaels and the Pepperdine Waves meet in Malibu on Saturday night. St Mary's was 11-5 after a 67-63 win at San Francisco on Jan 23 but has NOT played since, as FIVE games have been postponed. Pepperdine checks in at 9-8, as the Waves welcome the Gaels to the Firestone Fieldhouse. Randy Bennett has been head coach at St Mary's since the 2001-02 season and entered this season with a 440-1982 (.707) record. The Gaels posted their 13th season of 20-plus wins last year, as they were 26-8 when COVID shut things down. Would the Gaels have gotten an NCAA bid? Bennett and his various teams know all about NCAA snubs, as SIX times in the previous 12 seasons, his team had been denied an NCAA bid despite seasons of 28, 25, 23, 21, 29 and 30 wins. No Kidding! Lorenzo Romar began his coaching career at Pepperdine in the late 90s but left for St Louis and then Washington. He led the Huskies to six NCAA berths in his first nine seasons but then NONE in his final six (was fired after a 9-22 season). He's back at Pepperdine but like in his first stint, has been basically a .500 coach. Is St Mary's too rested (rusty)? We'll see but the Gaels have "all hands on deck." Guards Kushe (14.3-3.6-5.4), Johnson (11.6) and Ducas (10.9) make up an excellent backcourt, plus the 6-10 Tass (10.3 & 5.0) and the 6-7 Fotu (8.7 & 4.4) are solid players. Pepperdine owns a terrific inside/outside duo in the 6-8 Edwards (17.1 & 7.1) and PG Ross (17.2-3.9-7.5) but not much else. St Mary's has been a quality program for the entire tenure on Bennett and ATS history is on the road team's side in this series (road team is 24-8-1 ATS in the last 33 meetings between these two teams).Also note that St Mary's is 14-5 ATS in their last 19 road games against a team with a winning home record. A win means a cover and I'm looking for St Mary's to NOT make me 'sweat' this one down the stretch. Good luck...Larry |
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02-13-21 | Bradley v. Missouri State -2.5 | Top | 58-80 | Win | 100 | 10 h 6 m | Show |
My 10* "Best of the Best" Conference Game of the Year (MVC) is on Missouri St at 6:00 ET. Brain Wardle (currently in his sixth season at Bradley) entered the 2020-21 season off THREE straight 20-win seasons. That included back-to-back MVC tourney titles (2019 and 2020), marking the first time in school history that the Braves had accomplished that feat! With Loyola returning all five starters from last season, Bradley was not expected to be the MVC's top teams this season but Bradley was sure expected to be better than its current record of 11-11, including 5-8 in conference play. Dana Ford is in his third season at Missouri St and the team was expected to contend last year. However, the Bears finished 16-17 (9-9 in MVC play). The Braves 'limp' into Springfield, Mo. for tonight's game having lost SEVEN of eight (the two teams will meet again Sunday at JQH Arena). Bradley has a trio of solid frontcourt players in the 6-7 Childs (14.2 & 8.3), the 6-6 Henry (10.7 & 4.7) and the 6-9 Mast (7.1 & 5.4), The backcourt features Nolan (11.2), Tahvanainen (8.00 and East (8.4 & 4.0 APG). However, Missouri St counters with 6-5 forward Mosley (20.8 & 6.8) and the 6-8 Prim (14.8 & 8.9) plus four more solid contributors. Guard Black (9.7), the 6-8 Ridder (8.1) plus two JC transfers, Sharp (8.0) and Hervey (7.5 & 4.5). The Braves are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 road games and 1-6-2 ATS in their last 9 games overall. Note that Missouri St didn't play its first game until Dec 16 but then opened 9-1. FOUR straight losses followed but those defeats came against 17-3 Loyola and 19-1 Drake! Should that be held against them? The Bears have rebounded with THREE straight wins (2-0-1 ATS) and are 12-5 overall, including 8-5 in MVC play (behind only Loyola and Drake. 'Cheap' price here! Good luck...Larry |
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02-13-21 | Villanova -2.5 v. Creighton | Top | 70-86 | Loss | -110 | 12 h 34 m | Show |
My 9* play is on Villanova at 5:00 ET. Creighton was ranked No. 11 in the AP's preseason poll (the highest in school history) and after a 3-0 start is up to No. 8 as the Bluejays visit No. 7 Kansas, which is 4-1. Greg McDermott is now in his 11th season at Creighton and after tying for the Big East title last season and finishing 24-7, Creighton was picked to finish second behind Villanova in a preseason poll of league coaches. Villanova's Jay Wright lost Saddiq Bey (16.1 & 4.7) to the NBA (was a first-round NBA draft pick) but four double digit scorers from last year's team returned. Villanova's preseason ranking of No. 3 was its highest since the 1995-96 season. The 13-2 Wildcats (8-1 Big East) are currently ranked No. 5 (COVID issues have cost the team numerous games) and will visit 15-5 Creighton (11-4 Big East), which is currently ranked No. 19. Villanova is one of the most dangerous teams in the country for many reasons but offensive balance is at the top of the list. All FIVE starters average in double digits. The 6-9 Robinson-Earl (16.1 & 7.3) leads in scoring and rebounding and is joined up front by the 6-7 Samuels (11.1 & 6.5). That duo is joined by a trio of double-digit scoring guards, PG Gillespie (14.5 & 5.2 APG), Moore (12.9 & 4.7) and Daniels (11.2). The 6-9 Swider comes off the bench to add 6.7 & 3.4. The Bluejays match up well vs 'Nova, with a trio of guards in Mahoney (14.5 & 4.7), PG Zegarowski (14.4-4.0-4.3) and Ballock (10.4). 6-5 SF Jefferson (12.2 & 5.2) and the 6-7 Bishop (11.6 & 5.6) get help up front from 7-0 freshman Ryan Kalkbrenner (6.7 & 3.9). This is a "big time" game and in the end, it's Villanova which will make the deciding plays. My bet says that Creighton is VERY good but not quite in the "same class" as 'Nova! Good luck...Larry |
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02-13-21 | Loyola-Chicago v. Drake +4.5 | Top | 81-54 | Loss | -105 | 6 h 55 m | Show |
My 9* Eye-Opener of the Month is on Drake at 12:00 ET. Bradley has won the last two MVC tourneys (1st time in school history by the way) but Loyola returned all five starters from last year's 23-11 team and Porter Moser's Ramblers were the preseason pick to win the conference in the 2020-21 season. Drake head coach Darian DeVries led the Bulldogs to 24 and 20-win seasons in his first two seasons at Drake but was a middle-of-the-pack preseason pick in the MVC. However, as the two teams get set to meet for the first time this season (and play again on Sunday vs each other), Loyola has met expectations with a 17-2 record (12-1 MVC) but Drake has surprised all by going 19-1 (10-1 MVC). Loyola Chicago's main focus this weekend will be to keep Drake from supplanting it atop the MVC standings, a task made more difficult as BOTH games will be played in Des Moines at Drake's Knapp Center. Loyola will be playing as a ranked regular-season team for the first time in 36 years and riding its longest winning streak in three seasons, the No. 22 Ramblers look for an 11th straight victory on Saturday, with the last time the school has won at least 11 in a row was when it reached the Final Four in 2018. 6-9 senior center Krutwig (15.5 & 6.1) is the lone Loyola player in double digits but the Ramblers are a well-balanced team with SEVEN more players getting 13-plus minutes of playing time, including FIVE getting 21-plus minutes. Loyola is shooting 52.1 percent during its 10-game winning streak (that dates to its 58-48 win at Indiana State on Jan 11), while holding opponents to an average of 51.3 PPG on 38.2-percent shooting. Drake has NINE players that have participated in each of the team's 20 games this season. The top performers are the 6-6 Hemphill (14.1 & 6.3), PG Penn (12.4 & 5.6 APG) and guard Wilkins (10.1). Joining those three in the starting lineup are the 6-6 Murphy (9.4 & 5.1) and the 6-10 Brodie (7.2 & 7.3). While Loyola is currently "The King of the Hill" in the MVC, it was Drake that was 18-0 and ranked 25th in the country before shooting a season-low 36.5 percent during a 74-57 loss at Valparaiso last Sunday. However, Drake bounced back behind 18 points each from Tremell Murphy and Joseph Yesufu (8.8) and a 47.6-percent team-shooting effort in Wednesday's 80-59 home win over Northern Iowa. Drake's a MONEY-MAKING 15-3 ATS on the season and I'm taking them as a home dog in this one. Good luck...Larry |
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02-12-21 | Georgia Tech v. Clemson -3.5 | Top | 72-74 | Loss | -110 | 11 h 57 m | Show |
My 10* Revenge Rout is on Clemson at 8:00 ET. It's an ACC showdown Friday night between the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (9-7 / 5-5 ACC) and the Clemson Tigers (12-5 / 6-5 ACC) at Clemson's Littlejohn Coliseum. Both teams are at or slightly above .500 in league play heading into the season's home stretch. Ga Tech head coach Josh Pastner is in his fifth season with the Yellow Jackets, after SEVEN years at Memphis. His first four seasons have not gone well (just 65-67) and the Yellow Jackets look to be headed for another .500-like season. Brad Brownell came to Clemson for the 2010-11 season, after so-so stints at UNC-Wilmington and Wright St (not a single NCAA bid) and has produced a modest four, 20-win seasons and just two NCAA berths in his tenure. Ga Tech had one game canceled and then three in a row postponed due to COVID before returning to the court Jan 20 at home against Clemson. Ga Tech routed Clemson 83-65 in that one (stood at 7-3) but has since lost FOUR of six, including having its 11-game ACC home winning streak snapped in a 57-49 loss Wednesday night to league-leading Virginia. Ga Tech has a solid five-man rotation but the Yellow Jackets have little depth. Returning PG Alvarado (17.6-3.7-4.3) and SG Devoe (13.4 & 4.7) have been excellent plus returning 6-9 big man Wright (16.1 & 7.2) present an excellent trio. 6-7 USC transfer Usher (11.4 & 4.3) helps out up front plus VMI transfer Parham (7.5 & 3.2) adds to the team's backcourt depth. Clemson returned four starters from last season's team plus Fordham transfer Nick Honor became eligible. The Tigers are led by 6-8 senior forward Aamir Simms (12.6 & 6.2) and senior guard Clyde Trapp (7.3 & 5.6). Simms was a preseason All-ACC first-team and Trapp is surrounded by guards Honor (9.0) and Dawes (8.4). The 6-8 Tyson (6.0 & 3.5) helps Simms up front. Depth is provided by guard Newman plus forwards Baehere and Hall (trio adds 14 PPG). Clemson was 9-1 and ranked 12th when it welcomed Virginia to Littlejohn Coliseum on Jan 16. The Tigers were coming off an extended pause due to a positive COVID-19 test and subsequent contact tracing. The 11-day break clearly did not turn out well, as UVa routed Clemson 85-50. That was the first of three straight losses in which the Tigers averaged 58.7 PPG (included that 83-65 loss at Ga Tech). However, Clemson has won THREE of four since. The Tigers will be seeking to avenge that 18-point loss at Georgia Tech on Jan 20 and why won't the Tigers "do just that?" Clemson is 8-1 SU at home (lone loss to now-No. 9 UVa), while Ga Tech is 1-4 on the road, with that lone win coming at 4-11 Nebraska (Tech is 0-4 on the ACC road). Clemson has stepped up its defensive efforts recently and the Tigers rank second in the league in scoring defense, allowing 62.6 PPG which ranks 20th nationally. Clemson gets the "W" plus the COVER! Good luck...Larry |
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02-11-21 | Troy State v. South Alabama -6 | Top | 70-73 | Loss | -113 | 10 h 53 m | Show |
My 10* "Best of the Best" Conf Game of the Year (Sun Belt) is on South Alabama at 7:00 ET. The Troy Trojans and the South Alabama Jaguars meet in Mobile, Al at the Mitchell Center on Thursday night. Troy is 10-10 overall and South Alabama 12-8. Both schools play in the SBC-East, with the Jaguars sitting at 6-5 (just a half-game back of 6-5 App St) and the Trojans checking in at 4-6 (two games back). These schools will meet again tomorrow tonight. in Troy. The Trojans had their four-game winning streak snapped in a 79-64 home loss to Georgia Southern this past Saturday. 6-6 forward Stampley (11.8 & 7.1) and the 6-9 Zay Williams (11.5 & 8.7) are a solid forward tandem. They are joined in double digits by freshman guard Woods (11.6), while three more players average more than 20 minutes of playing time. Waters chips in 8.2 PPG, Miles 6.7 points and Desmond Williams 6.2 points. South Alabama lost four starters from last season's 20-win team but head coach Richie Riley has proven at Nicholls St and now here at South Alabama, that he weave a large group of newcomers into a unit. 6-1 guard Michael Flowers (22.1-4.1-3.6) came from Western Michigan and leads the team in scoring. Sophomore guard Locure (14.8 & 5.1) and senior guard Pettway (9.4) are two of just THREE returning players but both have been major contributors. The 6-8 Goncalves (9.0 & 6.0) and the 6-7 Iorio (7.9 & 3.4) are two transfers making 'noise,' plus there is 6-5 freshman West (5.2 & 6.3). South Alabama was just 8-8 (2-5 in SBC) through Jan 23 but has won FOUR in a row (also 4-0 ATS) to get within real striking distance in the East. Knowing it's off to Troy tomorrow night for another game with the Trojans should have the Jaguars primed for a big effort here at home, where they are 9-3. Meanwhile, Troy is just 2-8 on the road. Lay the points1 Good luck...Larry |
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02-11-21 | Purdue v. Minnesota -3.5 | Top | 68-71 | Loss | -110 | 10 h 44 m | Show |
My 9* 'Happy Hour' Best Bet is on Minnesota at 5:00 ET. Richard Pitino is in his eighth season at Minnesota. He led the Gophers to the NIT championship in his first season (2013-14) but over the last six seasons, Minnesota has made just two NCAA appearances (2017 and 2019), while going a combined 56-71 (.441) over the other four. The Gophers opened 9-1 in Pitino's 8th season and were 10-2 after 12 games. However, Minnesota has lost FIVE of seven to enter this game at 12-7 (fell out of the top-25 back on Feb 1. Purdue's Matt Painter is in his 16th season with the Boilermakers but his team was just 16-14 last season, coming off a four-year run of averaging 27.3 wins per season. The Boilermaker's opened a modest 7-5 but in winning SIX of their last eight (all in the rugged Big Ten, which has SEVEN top-12 schools), entered the top-25 at No. 24 on Feb 1 (same day Minnesota dropped out). Purdue lost 61-60 at Maryland last week and then beat Northwestern 75-70 and held onto its No. 24 ranking this past Monday. Painter got his 350th career win in the win over Northwestern and welcomed back shooting specialist Sasha Stefanovic (10.6) after three games out due to COVID-19 protocols. Stefanovic scored just four points, but his return is important. Painter's lone loss of note from last season's team was the 7-3 Haarms (8.6 & 4.6), who went to BYU as a graduate transfer. 7-4 freshman Edey (7.7 & 4.3) has been an able replacement for Haarms, accounting for 12 points and 11 rebounds vs Northwestern. 6-10 junior Williams (15.4 & 9.6) has been the team's best player plus senior PG Hunter (9.4-2.6-3.3) has been steady. Freshman guards Newman (9.7) and Ivey (8.8) have also been regular contributors. Minnesota PG Carr (19.9-4.1-5.4) ranks with the best in the nation and has been aided by THREE transfers, 7-0 Liam Robbins (13.2 & 7.2) from Drake, the 6-6 Gach (8.6 & 4.7) from Utah and the 6-8 Johnson (8.6 & 4.7) from Western Michigan. Plus, don't dismiss returning junior guard Kalescheur, who's adding 9.0 PPG, or freshman guard Mashburn (5.7 PPG). Bottom line here is that while Minnesota is 0-6 (1-5 ATS) on the road, the Gophers have been near 'Golden' at Williams Arena, going 12-1! One of those road losses was at Purdue (Jan 30), a game in which Purdue trailed by as much as 14 points but outscored Minnesota 51-27 in the second half of an 81-62 win over the then-No. 21 Golden Gophers. Minnesota gets this rematch 'RIGHT!" Good luck...Larry |
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02-10-21 | Rutgers v. Iowa -6 | Top | 66-79 | Win | 100 | 12 h 31 m | Show |
My 10* Big Ten Game of the Month is on Iowa at 7:30 ET. Fran McCaffrey came to Iowa City from Siena, where he led the Saints to THREE straight NCAA appearances and a 77-26 record. He's been at Iowa since the 2010-11 season. He's led Iowa to SIX 20-win seasons the last eight seasons, getting four NCAA bids (would have been five last year but the NCAA tourney was canceled). Iowa returned all FIVE starters from last year, including the Preseason P-O-Y. (Luka Garza). The Hawkeyes were ranked 5th in the preseason poll and opened 12-2 (ranked No. 4 in the Jan 17th poll). However, the Hawkeyes lost at home to Indiana (81-69 ) on Jan 21, the start of the team's current 1-4 slide. Another second-half lead evaporated for Iowa during a Sunday loss at Indiana, same as it did during a Jan 21 setback against the Hoosiers and two other defeats since. Iowa is now down to No. 15 in the latest AP poll with a 13-6 overall record, including a 7-5 mark in the Big Ten. Visiting Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Wednesday will be Rutgers, a team trending in the opposite direction. Steve Pikiell spent 11 years at Stony Brook, winning 20-plus games in his final five seasons. He led the Seawolves to an NCAA berth in 2015-16 and a 26-7 record. His first three seasons at Rutgers saw the Scarlet Knights go just 15-18, 15-19 and 14-17. However, Rutgers was 20-11 last season before the year was shut down. Rutgers won its first five games by double digits and opened league play with a 74-60 win at Maryland on Dec 14. The Scarlet Knights improved to 6-0 by pulling out a 91-88 win over then-No. 13 Illinois on Dec 20 (rose to No. 11 in the AP poll on Dec 21). Rutgers then lost SIX of seven, including FIVE in a row. However, a four-game winning streak has them back in at No. 25. Rutgers has a STRONG backcourt in Harper (16.8 & 6.0), Young (14.3), Mathis (10.5) and Baker (10.4). Mulcahy has played more recently in the backcourt, adding 5.9-4.1-3.4. The 6-11 Johnson (8.6 & 8.9) has been solid all season inside plus 6-11 freshman Omoruyi (4.2 & 4.1) has returned from a knee injury to play in the last six games. Garza (25.5 & 8.4) is joined in Iowa's starting lineup by senior guards Wieskamp (14.6 & 6.5) and Bohannon (10.1 & 4.5 APG) plus fellow guards Fredrick (8.7) and PG Conor McCaffrey (3.6-3.2-4.1). The 6-11 Nunge (7.5 & 6.5) comes off the bench, as do the 6-8 Murray (6.8 & 4.7) and the 6-9 Patrick McCaffrey (5.2 & 2.9). With time winding down on the regular season, Iowa senses the urgency and realizes the importance of reversing course. "When you're losing four out of five and each one you had a lead, that just sucks, and it's unfortunate," Luka Garza said. "Right here is down the stretch. These next eight games, that's the last stretch. So I think what we do now is going to show the character of this team, and hopefully we'll put some wins together and get on a roll towards the Big Ten tournament." Rutgers enters on a four-game conference winning streak (the longest since the program joined the Big Ten for the 2014-15 season) but NONE of those wins have come over a ranked opponent. Fredrick is likely out for Iowa but I'm still laying the points. Good luck...Larry |
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02-10-21 | East Tennessee State v. The Citadel +7.5 | Top | 71-79 | Win | 100 | 10 h 59 m | Show |
My 10* "Best of the Best" Conference Game of the Year (Southern) is on The Citadel at 7:00 ET. The East Tennessee State Buccaneers and The Citadel Bulldogs meet Wednesday in Southern Conference action at the McAlister Field House in Charleston South Carolina. The Buccaneers have won 24,27, 25 and 30 games the last four seasons but head coach Steve Forbes left to take over at Wake Forest for Danny Manning. His top assistant Jason Shay took over but all FIVE starters from last year's team were gone. The situation at The Citadel was quite different, as the Bulldogs' head coach Duggar Baucom entered his sixth season in Charleston with a 51-106 record the previous five, after last year's team went 6-24, including 0-18 in conference play. However, the Bulldogs returned FOUR starters. This season's ETSU team is loaded with transfers, including the Brewer brothers. Ladarrius is a guard who came from SE Mo St and leads the team by averaging 15.4 PPG. His 6-9 brother Ty (from SE La St) adds 9.0 & 4.1. 6-6 redshirt freshman Monsanto averages 13.3 PPG and his 7.1 RPG is a team-high, while PG Sloan (a graduate transfer from Kansas St) adds 10.6 PPG and a team-high 4.4 APG). 6-5 SF Hayden Brown is averaging 20.6 points and 10.7 rebounds (both team highs), while 6-6 guard Kaiden Rice is averaging 18.5 points and 4.3 rebounds for The Citadel. Guard Fletcher Abee is the third double-digit scorer (11.4 & 3.6) plus fellow guard Moffee just misses double digits at 9.9 PPG. ETSU is the better team (won 112-84 at home back on Jan 30) but while the Buccaneers are averaging 70.9 PPG, the Bulldogs are averaging 85.0 PPG (14 points higher). What's more, The Citadel is 9-3 SU at home this season (remember, this team won just SIX games all of last season), including going 6-2 ATS. In Brown and Rice (see stats above) the Bulldogs will own the two-best players on the court. In East Tennessee's home win over The Citadel, the Buccaneers scored 112 (31 points higher that the team's seasonal average) by shooting 53.6% from the floor (shoot 44.6% on the season), including 52.2% on threes (35.4%) plus made 86.7% of their free throws (make 68.3% on the season). Upset Alert! Good luck...Larry |
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02-09-21 | Penn State v. Michigan State -3 | Top | 58-60 | Loss | -110 | 10 h 41 m | Show |
My 10* Situational Stunner of the Month is on Michigan St at 7:00 ET. Penn St was 21-10 last season but the Nittany Lions went through some turmoil right as practices started when head coach Pat Chambers resigned in late October following an investigation into inappropriate conduct. Penn State is playing this season with interim head coach Jim Ferry and the Nittany Lions arrive in East Lansing just 7-8 (4-7 in the Big Ten) but on an upswing having won FOUR of their last six. Tom Izzo's Michigan St team was ranked 13th in the AP preseason poll but lost its first three Big Ten games for the first time since 2001-02. At 9-7 overall and 3-7 in the Big Ten, Michigan State is in serious jeopardy of seeing its streak of 22 consecutive appearances in the tournament come to an end. The Nittany Lions surely miss All-Big Ten forward Lamar Stevens (17.6 & 6.9) but the Nittany Lions have three players averaging in double figures; the 6-7 Izaiah Brockington (14.6 & 4.8) and the 6-7 Seth Lundy (11.7 & 4.3) plus guard Myreon Jones (14.7). Guard Sam Sessoms comes off the bench to add 9.5 PPG, with the 6-9 Harrar (8.7 & 8.3) and PG Wheeler (5.5-3.9-3.6) starting alongside Jones and the two 6-7 forwards. Michigan St lost its two best players from last season's 22-9 team to the NBA Draft, as PG Winston (18.6 & 5.9 APG) was taken by the Wizards and the 6-8 Tillman (13.7 & 10.3) by the Grizzlies. The team's top-two players so far this season have been 6-6 returning forward Aaron Henry. (14.0-5.8-3.6) and 6-9 junior forward Joey Hauser, a transfer from Marquette, who averages 10.5 PPG and a team-high 7.1 RPG. Sophomore PG Watts (8.7 & 3.1 APG) has stepped in for Winston plus veteran guards Langford (9.9) and Loyer (4.9) join him on the perimeter. Two returning 6-7 forwards, Brown (7.4) and Hall (4.9 & 4.9) give MSU a deep bench. The Spartans snapped a four-game losing streak with a 66-56 home victory over Nebraska but hardly looked very good, committing 22 turnovers and shooting 33.3 percent in the second half. Michigan State has a lot of work to do to get back into the NCAA Tournament picture and that's not a bad thing, according to coach Tom Izzo. "There is a little pressure on us and I kind of like that," Izzo said. "I think this team needs to have a little pressure on them. Maybe I need to have a little pressure on me." I believe Penn St will play the perfect foil in this game, as all of the teams recent wins have come at home. Penn State is 0-6 in Big Ten road games this season. Michigan St doesn't need a blowout win here to cover, just a solid win. Lay the small number. Good luck...Larry |
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02-09-21 | Syracuse v. NC State -2 | Top | 77-68 | Loss | -107 | 10 h 34 m | Show |
My 9* Weekly Wipeout is on NC State at 6:30 ET. It's 10-6 Syracuse (4-5 in the ACC) at 8-7 NC State (4-6 in the ACC) tonight from PNC Arena in Raleigh. The two schools met Jan 31 in Syracuse, with the Orange winning 76-73. Jim Boeheim is in his 45th season at Syracuse, while Kevin Keatts took over at NC State for Mark Gottfried beginning in the 2017-18 season, after leading UNC-Wilmington to 25-8 and 29-6 records in his final two seasons (both teams earned NCAA tourney bids). He's won 21, 24 and 20 games his first three seasons in Raleigh but it's been a tough year so far, losing games to COVID protocols plus recently losing the team's best player (Devon Daniels) for the season. All FIVE Orange starters average in double digits (all average 30-plus MPG too) but Syracuse has little depth. The 6-7 Guerrier leads in scoring (15.8) and rebounding (9.3), SF Griffin checks in at 15.5 & 6.9 plus the 6-10 Dolezag adds 10.9& 5.5. The backcourt is Buddy Boeheim (14.2) and PG Girard (10.8 & 3.8 APG). SF Richmond (6.8 & 3.1) comes off the bench as the team's lone contributing reserve. NC State lost leading scorer Bryce (13.3 & 6.3) plus PG Johnson (12.8-4.4-6.8) from last year's team plus will go the rest of the season without Devon Daniels (16.5-5.1-3.2). "I quickly appreciated the tenacity and relentlessness he brought into the gym every day," Wolfpack coach Kevin Keatts said, recalling when Daniels joined the program after transferring from Utah. "Devon built himself into one of the premier players in the ACC with that tireless work ethic." With the loss of Daniels, the Wolfpack are left with just two double digit scorers, 6-7 wing Hellems (13.3 & 5.3) and the 6-10 Funderburk (11.8 & 5.4), who comes off the bench. Other significant contributors are the 6-11 Bates (9.9 & 5.9) plus guards Allen (7.0), Moore (7.0), Hayes (6.7) and Beverly (6.3). NC St almost won at Syracuse and enters this game 6-2 SU at home. Meanwhile, Syracuse opened its Atlantic Coast Conference road schedule with an impressive 38-point win over Boston College but the team's last four road trips have not gone well. The Orange lost their second road game by six at North Carolina on Jan 12 but in losses to Pittsburgh, Virginia and Clemson, the average margin of defeat has been 20 points! This past Saturday, Syracuse shot a season-worst 30 percent in a 78-61 loss at Clemson. What's more, Saturday's loss came against the ACC's worst offensive team as Syracuse's 'famed' 2-3 zone allowed a season-worst 52.9 percent from the floor. Syracuse made only 5 of 20 attempts from three-point range and are shooting just 19.7 percent (13 of 66) from behind the arc in their last three road games and only 31.3% on the season (277th in the nation). Even without Daniels, NC St wins this "with room to spare!" Good luck...Larry |
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02-08-21 | Oklahoma State v. Kansas -4.5 | Top | 66-78 | Win | 100 | 12 h 21 m | Show |
My 10* Game of the Month is on Kansas at 9:00 ET. Bill Self's Kansas team was ranked No. 1 in the final AP poll after last season's shutdown. Despite losing key players like PG Dotson (18.1-4.1-4.0) and the 6-10 Azubuike (13.7 & 10.5) this years' team opened No. 6 in the preseason poll. Kansas lost its season-opener to No. 1 Gonzaga (Gonzaga has yet to lose) but heading into its Jan 12 game at Oklahoma St, the Jayhawks were 10-2 and still ranked No. 6. However, a 75-70 loss at Stillwater was the beginning of Kansas losing FIVE of its next seven. The Jayhawks are now 12-7 (6-5 in Big 12) and when the new AP poll comes out this afternoon, will almost assuredly fall out of the top-25, ending its run of 231 straight weeks as a ranked team. 12-5 Oklahoma St (5-5 Big 12) is coming off a 75-67 double-OT at home over then-No. 6 Texas on Saturday. Likely "one-and-done" standout Cade Cunningham scored 10 points in the final five minutes of regulation and overtime on Saturday; The 6-8 freshman is averaging 18.3-6.1-3.5 and is one of just two players averaging in double digits for Mike Boynton's Cowboys. He's joined by the 6-9 Boone (9.7 & 5.3) plus guards Likekele (10.1 & 7.1), Anderson (9.6 & 3.9) and Bryce Williams (8.2) in the starting lineup. Two freshmen are making 'noise' off the bench in the 6-7 Moncrieffe (9.7 & 5.5) and guard Walker (9.8 & 2.5). Kansas has FIVE players averaging between 9.9 and 14.1 PPG. Guard Aybaji (14.1 & 3.9) leads the way, followed by the 6-10 McCormack (1.6 & 5.98) and the 6-7 Wilson (12.3 & 7.4) up front, plus guards Garrett (10.2-4.7-3.7) and Braun (9.9 & 5.1). Each of the Jayhawks' starters scored in double figures while the bench contributed just FOUR points on Saturday, but Self offered a mixed review following a 91-79 loss at then-No. 17 West Virginia. We had some starters who had good moments without question," he said, "but I wouldn't say we had starters who played well. The other half to playing good offense is being able to guard your man." Kansas allowed West Va to make 52.4 percent on three-pointers and never led. Oklahoma State is the only team to sweep a Big 12 season series against Kansas with Self as coach, doing so in 2017-18 but the Cowboys are off the double-OT win vs Texas in which FOUR Cowboys played 40-plus minutes. Kansas should be HIGHLY-motivated here and it's 'Rock Chalk, Jayhawk!" Lay the points. Good luck...Larry |
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02-07-21 | Boise State -4.5 v. Nevada | Top | 62-73 | Loss | -110 | 10 h 36 m | Show |
My 10* Revenge Rout is on Boise St at 4:00 ET. Boise's Leon Rice is in his 11th season with the Broncos and has produced EIGHT seasons of 20-plus wins through his first 10 seasons. This year's team looked like one of his best, as the Broncos opened 13-1 (9-0 in MWC). However, Boise lost last week at Colorado St on a Wednesday, before bouncing back to win at Fort Collins on Friday. This week, Boise faced a similar situation, playing in Reno against Nevada on Friday and Sunday. The Broncos lost 74-72 Friday night and now need a similar bounce back or they'll fall to 1-3 in league play (Utah St is 11-2 and CSU 11-3). Nevada's head coach is Steve Alford who is in his second season at Reno. After a terrific playing career, he's had success at Missouri St, Iowa, New Mexico and UCLA, although he fell out of favor abruptly when he was fired on December 31, 2018. It marked the first time the program had ever made a coaching change in the middle of the season. Nevada was 19-12 (12-6) last season and is 13-7 (8-5) entering this game. FOUR of Boise's starters average in double figures, led by 6-9 guard Alston (16.5 & 3.8). Fellows guards Shaver (13.1 & 4,6) and Dennis (10.2-3.3-3.4) plus 6-7 forward Kigab (13.6 & 6.) round out that quartet. The fifth starter is the 6-10 Armus (6.8 & 7.4), while guard Doutrive (9.3), the 6-8 Akot (8 & 3.9) and guard Rice (7.5) contribute off the bench. Nevada is led by the excellent guard duo of Sherfield (18.4-3.8-6.1) and Cambridge (15.2 & 4.4). The Wolf Pack have depth up front in the 6-9 Meeks (9.5 & 5.9), the 7-0 Washington (9.4 & 5.6), the 6-10 Hymes (6.7 & 3.7) and the 6-7 Coleman (4.9 & 2.7). Nevada trailed by five at the half on Friday but scored 46 points in the second half and ended the game a blistering 52.6% from the floor. Even so, the Broncos still had a chance for a buzzer-beater at the end but came up short. These back-to-back games between league opponents (either two straight days or two in three days) have often seen the loser of the first rebound to win the second. Let me note that Boise State is 12-3-1 ATS in their last 16 after an ATS loss. The road favorite gets the win AND cover! Good luck...Larry |
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02-07-21 | Iowa -3 v. Indiana | Top | 65-67 | Loss | -110 | 6 h 44 m | Show |
My 9* Daytime Dominator is on Iowa at 12:00 ET. Fran McCaffrey came to Iowa City from Siena, where he led the Saints to THREE straight NCAA appearances and a 77-26 record. He's been at Iowa since the 2010-11 season. He's led Iowa to SIX 20-win seasons the last eight seasons, getting four NCAA bids (would have been five last year but the NCAA tourney was canceled). Iowa returned all FIVE starters from last year, including the Preseason P-O-Y. (Luka Garza). The Hawkeyes were ranked 5th in the preseason poll and opened 12-2 (ranked No. 4 in the Jan 17th poll). However, the Hawkeyes lost at home to Indiana (81-69 ) on Jan 21, the start of the team's current 1-3 slide. Archie Miller spent six years at Dayton, winning 20-plus games in five seasons. Over his final four at the school, the Flyers averaged 25.5 wins per season and went to four straight NCAA tourneys. He got the Indiana job beginning with the 2017-18 season and was just 16-15 and 19-16. However, last year's team was 20-12 before the season was "called off." However, Indiana has NOT built on last season's improvement (despite that win in Iowa), as the Hoosiers come in 9-8 overall (*4-6 in the Big Ten). Garza (25.9 & 8.7) is joined in Iowa's starting lineup by senior guards Wieskamp (14.4 & 6.4) and Bohannon (10.0 & 4.6 APG) plus fellow guards Fredrick (8.7) and PG Conor McCaffrey (3.7-3.3-4.2). The 6-11 Nunge (7.8 & 5.6) comes off the bench, as do the 6-8 Murray (6.6 & 4.6) and the 6-9 Patrick McCaffrey (5.4 & 3.0). Gone from last year's Indiana team are Devontae Green (13.5 & 8.4) who graduated and the 6-7 Justin Smith (10.4 & 5.2), who transferred to Arkansas. This year's team is led by the 6-9 Jackson-Davis (20.1 & 9.1) and the 6-8 Thompson (9.8 & 6.5) up front plus in the backcourt, it's sophomore Franklin (12.7 & 4.4), senior Durham (10.8-3.6-3.0) and junior Phinisee (7.8). Both teams need a win badly. Indiana comes in off THREE straight home losses and is 1-5 ATS in its last six home games. Meanwhile, not only is Iowa the MUCH better team, the Hawkeyes are 15-3 ATS (83%) in their last 18 after an ATS loss! Road fave is the play! Good luck...Larry |
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02-06-21 | UCLA v. USC -3 | Top | 48-66 | Win | 100 | 15 h 45 m | Show |
My 9* Rivalry Game of the Month is on USC at 10:00 ET. It's the "Battle 4 LA" on Saturday night, as No. 21 UCLA (13-3 / 9-1 Pac 12) visits the Galen Center to take on 14-3 USC (8-2 Pac 12). Mick Cronin made NINE consecutive NCAA Tourney appearances at Cincy, as his Bearcats posted a 235-78 (.751) record in that span. He moved to Westwood last season and his Bruins got better as the year progressed and were playing their best ball when the season was shut down. Andy Enfield led Florida Gulf Coast to a 26-11 season in his second at the school, making a Sweet 16 appearance. That gave him the chance to "move on up" to USC but his first two seasons were HUGE disappointments (11-21 and 12-20). However, the Trojans have won 21-plus games in FOUR of the last five seasons, including a 22-9 mark last season. UCLA's 6-9 guard Chris Smith averaged 12.6 points and 6.4 rebounds in UCLA's first eight games but was lost for the season with a knee injury. However, the Bruins still have FIVE players averaging between 9.3 and 12.6 PPG. PG Campbell (11.5 & 6.1 APG) misses Smith but is still surrounded by "big guards" like the 6-6 Jaquez (12.6 & 5.9), the 6-6 Juzang (11.9) and the 6-6 Bernard (9.3 & 5.0). Up front it's the 6-9 Riley (10.6 & 6.0) and the 6-10 Hill (6.5 & 5.9). USC saw its top-five scorers leave after the 2020 season. Onyeka Okongwu left for the NBA, Elijah Weaver transferred to University of Dayton plus seniors Jonah Mathews, Nick Rakocevic, and Daniel Utomi all graduated. However, Enfield recruited a "super frosh" in 7-0 freshman Evan Mobley plus brought in SIX transfers. Evan Mobley has wasted little time in showing his value for USC, averaging 16.8 & 9.0. He joins his brother Isaiah (a 6-10 sophomore), who has added 9.5 & 7.2. Peterson (10.2-5.1-3.4) is a 6-8 swingman from Rice and joins guards Eaddy (Santa Clara) and White, a grad transfer from Utah Valley St. Eaddy is averaging 12.6 PPG and White 8.0 & 3.5. Guard Goodwin (6.3 & 4.0) comes off the bench to give USC a solid six-man rotation. UCLA's last four games have been three wins by five, four and five points plus a one-point OT loss to Stanford. The Bruins are 0-4 ATS in that stretch and in their 57-52 Jan 30 win over Oregon State, they scored their lowest points of the season. The Trojans captured their third straight victory Tuesday, beating Stanford 72-66 on the road 72-66 (note: UCLA's lone Pac 12 loss this season came against the Cardinal). USC is 9-1 SU at home (lone loss was to Colorado back on Dec 31) and I'm not sure it helps UCLA at all having not played since last Saturday (Monday's game with Oregon was postponed as a result of COVID-19 protocols). USC spoiled UCLA's regular-season Pac-12 title hopes on the final day of competition last season, when Jonah Mathews sank a three-pointer with one second left for a 54-52 victory. My bet says USC beats UCLA again here (1st of two meetings down the stretch), to join them atop the Pac 12 at 9-2. Good luck...Larry |
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02-06-21 | South Dakota v. South Dakota State -5.5 | Top | 78-89 | Win | 100 | 11 h 5 m | Show |
My 10* "Best of the Best" Conference Game of the Year (Summit League) is on South Dakota St at 8:30 ET. The South Dakota Coyotes were 2011 last season but lost FOUR starters from that team. Meanwhile, coming off a 22-10 season, the South Dakota State Jackrabbits returned all FIVE starters and were favored to win the Summit League. South Dakota opened the season just 1-6 but has now won 10 in a row, including the last nine in Summit League action. South Dakota St opened 5-3 (losses were to West Va, St Mary's and to South Dakota in a Dec tourney that didn't count as a league game), but then FIVE in a row (all at home) to reach 10-3 (4-0 in Summit play). However, the Jackrabbits hosted the Coyotes last night and got beat 64-56. Neither team shot well but South Dakota St's effort was embarrassing. The home team shot 31.7% from the floor (25.0% on threes) and made just 11 of 22 free throws. South Dakota's 6-6 guard Umude (the team's only returning starter) had a modest 14 & 7 (averages 20.1 & 7.3 on the season) but PG Plizuweit (16.4-4.4-4.1) had 19 points, four rebounds and five assists. No other guard averages as much as eight PPG plus the lone frontcourt player averaging more than 3 PPG is the 6-8 Kamateros (7.2 & 4.2). In comparison, SD St has a trio of guards averaging in double digits in Freidel (17.7 & 4.3), Scheierman (13.9 PPG & a team-best 9.7 RPG) and Arians (11.1 & 4.5). The 6-7 Wilson (15.2 & 5.6) is the best frontcourt player, joined by the 6-8 Dentlinger (7.4 & 3.9) and the 6-8 Appel (6.8). Sizing up the two teams, I'm not sure why the Coyotes are own the better record. In this quick rematch (something that's become a staple this season), I'm backing the home team to bounce back. SD St had won FIVE straight at home (averaging 89.0 PPG) before scoring 56 points in last night's loss. The team shooting 48.1% from the floor on the season (40.4% on threes) and 70.5% on FTs, shot 31.7, 25.0 and 50.0% in those categories last night. NO deja vu here! Good luck...Larry |
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02-06-21 | UCF v. Tulsa -4.5 | Top | 65-58 | Loss | -111 | 12 h 19 m | Show |
My 9* play is on Tulsa at 6:00 ET. Johnny Dawkins is in his fifth season as UCF's head coach and is coming off a 16-14 season. If only the current season was going as well. The not-so-Golden Knights are 4-9, (2-8 AAC) as they head to Tulsa for another rescheduled game. UCF suffered a 27-point loss at Memphis on Monday and then met the Tigers again Wednesday in a regularly scheduled game. After trailing early by 14 points the Knights got within four in the second half before falling 75-61. This game against Tulsa was originally slated for Jan 9, before the Knights ran into COVID-19 troubles and contact tracing, pushing the game back a month. Frank Haith has had stops at Miami-Fl and Missouri before coming to Tulsa for the 2014-15 season. His teams have averaged 19.3 wins per year in his first six seasons, including going 21-10 before COVID shut down the 2019-20 season. The Golden Hurricane are 9-7 (6-5 ACC), having lost THREE of their last four. Wednesday's 65-63 home defeat to SMU was a heartbreaker. Tulsa was down 64-52 with 3:25 left but a 10-1 run got them to within three. With one second remaining, Austin Richie was fouled on a three-point attempt but made just one of three free throws of a 64-62 loss. UCH has a trio of guards in double digits. Mahan (14.1 & 5.3) leads the way, along with Green (12.4) and Perry (12.3). 6-6 freshman Adams (9.5 & 4.2) is really the lone frontcourt player of note. and the Mustangs grabbed the rebound to notch the win. Tulsa is led by guards Rachal (15.1 & 6.6) and Joiner (10.2-4.5-3.4) plus FOUR more backcourt players combine to chip in about 25 PPG. The 6-9 Idowu (8.8 & 4.4) is the team's best frontcourt player. Tulsa is a strong defensive team, holding opponents to 64.1 PPG (43rd) on 39.5% shooting (23rd). UCF somehow won 86-74 at FSU back on Dec 19 but has lost all SIX road games since, going 1-5 ATS. Lay the points. Good luck...Larry |
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02-06-21 | Wisconsin +4.5 v. Illinois | Top | 60-75 | Loss | -110 | 9 h 9 m | Show |
My 9* play is on Wisconsin at 2:30 ET. Wisconsin has had a terrific basketball program for decades and Greg Gard is in his sixth season at Madison, having had FOUR 20-win seasons in his first five. The Badgers enter this game at Illinois 14-5 (8-4 Big Ten) and ranked 19th, while the Fighting Illini are 12-5 (8-3 in Big Ten) and ranked 12th. Brad Underwood made a big 'splash' at S.F. Austin and then made a one year 'pit stop' at Oklahoma St, before landing in Champaign-Urbana. The Fighting Illini were just 14-18 and 12-21 in his first two seasons but had a breakout year in going 21-10 before last season was shut down. Wisconsin had shot 39.4 percent over a 4-3 stretch before making 48.1 percent of its shots during Tuesday's 72-56 home win over Penn State. Despite leading scorer D'Mitrik Trice being held without a point, the Badgers prevailed after losing two of the previous three, including 81-71 at Penn State last weekend. Wisconsin starts FIVE seniors, guards Trice (13.3-3.4-3.9) and Davison (9.3 & 3.3) plus the 6-10 Potter (12.3 & 6.6), the 6-11 Reuvers (9.5 & 3.7) and the 6-8 Ford (9.4 & 4.4). 6-5 freshman Davis (6.8 & 4.4) and 6-9 sophomore Wahl (5.7 & 4.3) both contribute off the bench. Illinois opened No. 8 in the preseason poll and while it hasn't been smooth sailing, it enters this contest playing some of its best basketball of the season. The Illini bounced back from consecutive home defeats to Maryland and then-No. 21 Ohio State by rolling over Penn State by 14, beating then-No. 7 Iowa 80-75, and rallying from a seven-point halftime hole to win 75-71 at Indiana in overtime on Tuesday. Illinois features one of the top guards in the nation in Dosunmu (21.2-6.1-4.6) plus 7-0 center Cockburn (16.8 & 10.2) has built on a successful freshman season. Dosunmu is joined in the backcourt by veterans Frazier (10.2), Curbelo (8.8 & 4.6 APG), Frazier and Williams (5.5 & 5.4) plus freshman Miller adds 8.7 PPG. The 6-9 Bezhanishvili (5.7 & 2.7) rounds out the main contributors. However, here's the rub. The Fighting Illini are attempting to end a SEVEN-game home losing streak skid to the Badgers. Illinois did snap a 15-game overall losing streak to Wisconsin with a 71-70 road win last season but I'll be taking the points with Wisconsin, which has won 15 of its last 16 meetings with Illinois. Good luck...Larry |
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02-06-21 | Syracuse v. Clemson -2.5 | Top | 61-78 | Win | 100 | 9 h 40 m | Show |
My 9* play is on Clemson at 2:00 ET. 10-5 Syracuse plays at 11-5 Clemson Saturday afternoon in a matchup of Atlantic Coast Conference teams looking to strengthen their postseason position. Both teams enter the game at .500 in ACC play, with the Orange at 4-4 and Clemson at 5-5. Syracuse has won THREE of its last four games, including a come-from-behind victory against North Carolina State last Sunday, when the Orange won by three points after trailing by nine points at the half. Clemson was 9-1 and ranked 12th when it welcomed Virginia to Littlejohn Coliseum on Jan 16. The Tigers were coming off an extended pause due to a positive COVID-19 test and subsequent contact tracing. The 11-day break clearly did not turn out well, as UVa routed Clemson 85-50. That was the first of three straight losses in which the Tigers averaged 58.7 PPG. However, the Tigers have won TWO of their last three, beating then-No. 25 Louisville and North Carolina. Jim Boeheim has been at Syracuse since right after the end of the Civil War and he's worried about his team's inconsistent play. "We're playing the guys that are playing the best in practice," Boeheim said. The Orange have little depth but all five starters are averaging more than 30 minutes. The 6-7 Guerrier leads in scoring (16.3) and rebounding (9.5), SF Griffin checks in at 15.7 & 7.1 plus the 6-10 Dolezag adds 11.0 & 5.5. The backcourt is Buddy Boeheim (14.8) and PG Girard (10.2 & 3.0 APG). Syracuse ranks 258th in the nation on three-point shooting (31.6 percent) but Boeheim insists his players are getting good looks from the perimeter. "We have to make those shots," he said. Brad Brownell came to Clemson for the 2010-11 season, after so-so stints at UNC-Wilmington and Wright St (not a single NCAA bid) and has produced a modest four, 20-win seasons and just two NCAA berths in his tenure. However, he returned four starters plus Fordham transfer Nick Honor is now eligible. The Tigers are led by 6-8 senior forward Aamir Simms (12.3 & 5.9) and senior guard Clyde Trapp (7.6 & 5.5). Simms was a preseason All-ACC first-team and Trapp is surrounded by guards Honor (8.6) and Dawes (8.4). The 6-8 Tyson (6.4 & 3.6) helps Simms up front. Clemson can have trouble scoring at times but its defense always comes to play, allowing 62.7 PPG to rank 26th in the nation. The Tigers are 7-1 at home (lone loss to UVa) and Syracuse is 1-4 on the road (won at BC back on Dec 12) and is 0-4 ATS in its four road losses. Clemson is the play at home. Good luck...Larry |
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02-04-21 | Minnesota v. Rutgers -5 | Top | 72-76 | Loss | -111 | 14 h 7 m | Show |
My 9* PERFECT STORM is on Rutgers at 9:00 ET. Richard Pitino is in his eighth season at Minnesota. He led the Gophers to the NIT championship in his first season (2013-14) but over the last six seasons, Minnesota has made just two NCAA appearances (2017 and 2019), while going a combined 56-71 (.441) over the other four. The Gophers opened 9-1 in Pitino's 8th season but the Golden Gophers fell out of the top-25 this past Monday and currently sit 11-6, including 4-6 in the Big Ten (more in a bit). Steve Pikiell spent 11 years at Stony Brook, winning 20-plus games in his final five seasons. He led the Seawolves to an NCAA berth in 2015-16 and a 26-7 record. His first three seasons at Rutgers saw the Scarlet Knights go just 15-18, 15-19 and 14-17. However, Rutgers was 20-11 last season before the year was shut down. Rutgers won its first five games by double digits and opened league play with a 74-60 win at Maryland on Dec 14. The Scarlet Knights improved to 6-0 by pulling out a 91-88 win over then-No. 13 Illinois on Dec 20 (rose to No. 11 in the AP poll). However, like Minnesota, Rutgers has cooled off. The Scarlet Knights welcome Minnesota to "The RAC" just 10-6, including 6-6 in the Big Ten. This is the first of two meetings between the Big Ten schools. Minnesota PG Carr (20.0-4.1-5.2) ranks with the best in the nation and has been aided by THREE transfers, 7-0 Liam Robbins (13.4 & 6.9) from Drake, the 6-6 Gach (9.1 & 4.9) from Utah and the 6-8 Johnson (8.2 & 6.1) from Western Michigan. Plus, don't dismiss returning junior guard Kalescheur, who's adding 9.1 PPG. Rutgers has a STRONG backcourt in Harper (17.3 & 6.2), Young (14.6), Mathis (10.8) and Baker (9.9-3.0-3.0). Mulcahy has played more recently in the backcourt, adding 5.9-3.9-3.3-3.6) The 6-11 Johnson (8.3 & 8.8) has been solid all season inside plus 6-11 freshman Omoruyi (4.3 & 4.4) has returned from a knee injury to play in the last three games. Rutgers has won those last three games, snapping out of a five-game losing streak. Here's the bottom line. Minnesota may be 11-1 at home (Williams Arena) but the not-so-Golden Gophers are 0-5 SU & ATS on the road (all Big Ten games), that's a perfect" 100% go-against. Rutgers has regrouped and the Scarlet Knights are a 'sweet' 25-5 SU at "The RAC" (Rutgers Athletic Center) since the start of last season. Lay the points! Good luck...Larry |
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02-04-21 | Ohio State v. Iowa -4.5 | Top | 89-85 | Loss | -114 | 10 h 26 m | Show |
My 10* Revenge Rout is on Iowa at 7:00 ET. Chris Holtmann took over at Butler for Brad Stevens and went 70-31 win three seasons, each ending with an NCAA tourney berth. He took the Ohio St job beginning in 2017-18 and strung together three straight 20-win seasons but was denied a third straight NCAA bid when last season was shut down. Holtmann credits his players' mental toughness for pushing the No. 7 Buckeyes near the top of the Big Ten standings after losing two of their first three conference games. The Buckeyes (14-4 / 8-4 Big Ten) have won THREE straight and SIX of seven going into tonight's showdown at No. 8 Iowa (13-4 / 7-3 Big Ten). Fran McCaffrey came to Iowa City from Siena, where he led the Saints to THREE straight NCAA appearances and a 77-26 record. He's been at Iowa since the 2010-11 season. He's led Iowa to SIX 20-win seasons the last eight seasons, getting four NCAA bids (would have been five last year but the NCAA tourney was canceled). Iowa returned all FIVE starters from last year, including the Preseason P-O-Y. (Luka Garza). SG Washington (14.5) has been solid all season for Ohio St in the backcourt and after missing some time due to torn ligaments in his right hand, PG Walker (8.6 & 3.9 APG) has been back the last three games (all wins!). The frontcourt has five solid contributors led by the team's best player, the 6-7 Liddell (15.3 & 6.9). He's joined on the frontline by the 6-7 Sueing (10.9 & 5.4), the 6-8 Young (8.0 & 5.9), the 6-6 Aherns (6.9) and 6-8 freshman Key (6.6 & 3.6). Garza (26.5 & 8.8) is joined in Iowa's starting lineup by senior guards Wieskamp (14.2 & 6.2) and Bohannon (9.5 & 4.5 APG) plus Fredrick (8.7) and PG Conor McCafrey (3.7-3.4-4.3). The 6-11 Nunge (7.1 & 5.5) comes off the bench, as do the 6-8 Murray (6.7 & 4.5) and the 6-9 Patrick McCaffrey (5.3 & 3.1). No doubt that Ohio St comes in playing well but after Iowa defeated visiting Michigan State 84-78 on Tuesday, to break a two-game losing streak, the Hawkeyes will be PRIMED to avenge a 102-95 Christmas Day loss in Columbus to the Buckeyes. Double-digit "payback" win expected. Good luck...Larry |
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02-04-21 | Cincinnati v. Temple +2.5 | Top | 63-60 | Loss | -115 | 10 h 42 m | Show |
My 10* Oddsmaker's Error of the Month is on Temple at 7:00 ET. John Brannen led Northern Kentucky to a 72-30 record in his final three seasons, leading the Norse to the "Big Dance" in two of those three years. He was hired at Cincy on April 14, 2019 when Mick Cronin left for UCLA. The Bearcats went 20-10 in last year's pandemic-shortened season but opened the current season missing guards Jarron Cumberland (15.5) and Jaevin Cumberland (8.8) plus forward Tre Scott (11.4 & 10.5). The Bearcats were one of the last teams in Division I to start their season not taking the floor until Dec 2. Now, when they visit Philadelphia to meet Temple on Thursday night, the team has not been able to play a game since Jan 10 due to COVID-19 cases within its program. Aaron McKie had a great career as a player at Temple and then spent 13 years in the NBA. He replaced Fran Dunphy as head coach before the start of last season (Owls went just 14-17) and is now in his second season coaching his alma mater. Before Cincy's shutdown, which included six postponements, the Bearcats (3-7 / 1-4 AAC) the Bearcats had lost SIX lost of seven games, with their most recent being an 82-76 defeat at Wichita State (Jan 10). Cincy's team is guard-dominated, led by Williams (15.0 & 4.2), who is joined by fellow starters Davenport (10.1 & 4.3), Dejulius (8.6 & 4.8) and Adam-Woods (7.9). The biggest disappointment has been returning 7-1 center Vogt (11.0 & 5.8 last season), who longer starts and enters averaging just 5.6 & 3.68. The 6-8 Eason (7.6 & 5.5) is about the ONLY regular frontcourt contributor. Like Cincy, Temple has played a limited amount of games this season, entering this contest 4-5 overall, including 3-5 in the AAC. Following the death of legendary former coach John Chaney, the Owls held a pregame tribute to Chaney pregame but then went out and shot 39.7 percent for the game, making only 2-of-14 threes in the second half of an 81-64 home defeat to Tulane. However, I believe this Temple team is WAY better than its record. It has three frontcourt starters that can (should) be successful against Cincy in the 6-8 Forrester (10.0 & 6.70, the 6-7 Perry (8.3 & 5.0) and the 6-7 Moorman (7.7 & 6.2). The starting backcourt is leading scorer Dunn (14.1 & 4.4) and PG Williams (7.6-3.4-5.0) but also features Battle (11.8 & 5.5) and Barry (7.60 coming off the bench. I feel as if the Owls will bounce back quickly from that 'ugly' effort vs Tulane and as for Cincy, the game must feel so long ago for the Bearcats, who have spent most of the shutdown without even being able to conduct a full team workout. "We're getting through it, I hope to be through it soon in terms of player availability, but our guys' health is the most important thing," head coach John Brannen said on his local radio show recently. "I told our walk-ons that everybody is going to be available right now because once we have the amount of players available to play games, we'll certainly do it." Temple opened a home dog in this one? Good luck...Larry |
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02-03-21 | SMU v. Tulsa +2.5 | Top | 65-63 | Win | 100 | 14 h 19 m | Show |
My 10* Game of the Week is on Tulsa at 9:00 ET. 15-1 Houston is now ranked No. 5 in the latest AP poll (highest for the school since the Phi Slamma Jamma days) and with a 10-1 record in the AAC is unquestionably the league's dominant team. Falling in behind the Cougars in conference play are 5-2 Wichita St, 6-3 Memphis, 6-4 Tulsa and 5-4 SMU. The SMU Mustangs and Tulsa Golden Hurricane meet Wednesday at Tulsa's Donald W. Reynolds Center. SMU opened 6-0 but enters this contest having lost FOUR of seven since. Tulsa opened 7-3 but has lost THREE of five. Tm Jankovich took over after Larry Brown once again left a program in tatters and in his first full season (2016-17) went 30-5. However, the Mustangs were just a combined 51-44 the previous three seasons. The Mustangs returned the outstanding guard duo of Davis and Jolly but Jolly's been battling personal issues and made his first appearance of the current season on Jan 23. In his first games back, he's averaging 8.5 & 4.0 (averaged 14.5 & 6.2 last season). PG Davis (16.8-4.3-7.4) has been great and three other starters are averaging in or just below double digits. The group includes guard Bandoumel (11.3) plus a pair of 6-9 forwards in Hunt (12.2 & 8.0) and Chargois (9.8 & 5.4). Frank Haith has had stops at Miami-Fl and Missouri before coming to Tulsa for the 2014-15 season. His teams have averaged 19.3 wins per year in his first six seasons, including going 21-10 before COVID shut down the 2019-20 season. The Golden Hurricane are led by a quartet of guards in Rachal (15.1 & 6.7), Joiner (10.2-4.7-3.4), Jackson (6.8 & 4.0) and Embery-Simpson (6.7). The 6-9 Idowu (9.2 & 4.5) is the team's best frontcourt player. The Mustangs enter this contest 1-6 ATS their last seven games overall and going back to last season, are just 2-8-1 ATS their last 11 road games. Tulsa is a terrific defensive team, holding opponents to 63.5 PPG (31st) on 39.8% shooting (28th), including 29.9% on threes (29th). Frank Haith's biggest win at Tulsa came when it stunned No. 5 Houston 65-64 back on Dec 29. It was the program's first win over a top-5 opponent in 24 years and the Golden Hurricane have played at home just ONCE (a Jan 17 win over Memphis) since that game. Tulsa has to be VERY happy to be back home and that spells "bad news" for a poor-traveling SMU team. Good luck...Larry |
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02-03-21 | Kentucky v. Missouri -4.5 | Top | 70-75 | Win | 100 | 10 h 36 m | Show |
My 9* Weekly Wipeout is on Missouri at 7:00 ET. Kentucky was ranked No. 10 in the AP preseason poll but its 1-6 start took care of that. However, the Wildcats won three straight to open SEC play, after a 76-58 at Florida on Jan 9. Hope was alive in Lexington but the Wildcats have lost FOUR of five since that 3-0 SEC start. Missouri head coach Cuonzo Martin has his team off to a 6-0 start, after back-to-back losing seasons of 15-17 and 15-16. The Tigers have gone 5-3 (4-3 in the SEC) since that perfect start, as they welcome Kentucky to Mizzou Arena on Wednesday night. Kentucky saw its marquee matchup with No. 5 Texas canceled last Saturday, as the Wildcats' program went on a 48-hour pause because of COVID-19 concerns, with the game against Missouri bumped from Tuesday to Wednesday. Kentucky hasn't played since Jan 26, when it faded down the stretch of a 70-59 loss at No. 9 Alabama. The Wildcats led 54-52 with 4:27 left but went scoreless over the next 3:47 while the Crimson Tide pumped in 10 straight points to seize control. Coach Cal said, "The last three minutes, dudes backed away. Playing --you ready? -- not to lose vs playing to win. We had our chances. We, again, got out-toughed. Just makes me sick." It's no surprise that Calipari relies on freshmen, including leading scorer Boston (12.1 & 5.5), who was joined in the backcourt by freshman Clarke (10.7) and Askew (6.6) plus senior Mintz (9.7-3.4). However, Clarke has been sidelined since Dc 26 with an ankle injury. 7-0 senior Wake Forest transfer Sarr (10.3 & 5.9) has help up front from 6-10 freshman Jackson (6.5 & 6.9) and now 6-7 sophomore Brooks, who since getting back on the court has averaged 10.2 & 5.2. Missouri's 6-10 center Tilmon is averaging 13.9 & 8.1 and is Missouri's lone big man of note, as Missouri's next four top scorers are guards Pinson (15.1-3.4-3.4), Dru Smith (13.0), Mark Smith (13.0) and Pickett (8.1). The 6-7 Brown (6.6 & 6.2) does help some up front. Missouri (11-3 / 4-3 SEC) avoided its first losing streak of the season by closing regulation with a 19-7 run last Saturday against TCU. Xavier Pinson's three-pointer with 3.9 seconds left forced the extra session, and the Tigers outlasted the Horned Frogs in OT, 102-98. The Tigers can do without all the dramatics here and Kentucky should play the perfect foil. Bottom line is, Kentucky is averaging just 67.5 PPG (273rd) on 41.5% shooting (287th), including 29.0% on threes (320th). Who'da thunk it? If that wasn't bad enough, the Wildcats have 55 more turnovers than assists! Blowout Alert! Good luck...Larry |
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02-02-21 | Illinois v. Indiana +3 | Top | 75-71 | Loss | -117 | 15 h 15 m | Show |
My 9* Situational Stunner is on Indiana at 9:00 ET. Brad Underwood made a big 'splash' at S.F. Austin and then made a one year 'pit stop' at Oklahoma St, before landing in Champaign-Urbana. The Fighting Illini were just 14-18 and 12-21 in his first two seasons but had a breakout year in going 21-10 before last season was shut down. Illinois opened the current season No. 8 in the AP's preseason poll but it's hardly been 'smooth sailing.' Illinois did 'jump' from No. 19 to No. 12 in Monday's AP poll after Friday's 80-75 victory over then-No. 7 Iowa but the Fighting Illini are 11-5 on the season (7-3 in the Big Ten) with just TWO wins over a ranked team. The other came vs No. 10 Duke, which dropped out of the top-25 back on Jan 17. Archie Miller spent six years at Dayton, winning 20-plus games in five seasons. Over his final four at the school, the Flyers averaged 25.5 wins per season and went to four straight NCAA tourneys. He got the Indiana job beginning with the 2017-18 season and was just 16-15 and 19-16. However, last year's team was 20-12 before the season was "called off." Indiana has NOT built on last season's improvement and comes into this contest 9-7 overall, including 4-5 in the Big Ten. Illinois features one of the top guards in the nation in Dosunmu (21.9-6.1-4.8) plus 7-0 center Cockburn (16.9 & 10.3) has built on a successful freshman season. Dosunmu is joined in the backcourt by veterans Curbelo (8.6 & 4.6 APG), Frazier (9.6) and Williams (5.6 & 5.4) plus freshman Miller adds 9.0 PPG. The 6-9 Bezhanishvili (5.8 & 2.8) rounds out the main contributors. Gone from last year's Indiana team are Devontae Green (13.5 & 8.4) who graduated and the 6-7 Justin Smith (10.4 & 5.2), who transferred to Arkansas. This year's team is led by the 6-9 Jackson-Davis (20.1 & 8.7) and the 6-8 Thompson (9.3 & 6.4) up front plus in the backcourt, it's sophomore Franklin (12.8 & 4.4), senior Durham (10.6-3.7-3.1) and junior Phinisee (8.3). Franklin could be out with a recurring ankle injury. Illinois responded well in its win over Iowa, coming off a 10-day layoff due to a Jan 23 game at Michigan State being postponed due to COVID-19 issues with the Spartans. However, I'm just not 'sold' on them. Indiana's scheduled game Saturday at No 4 Michigan was postponed due to COVID-19 issues with the Wolverines, so the Hoosiers will take the court tonight having last played Jan 24. The Hoosiers haven't won more than two games in a row all season but also haven't lost more than two in a row. I'm backing the home dog here, as I expect Illinois to once again underachieve, coming off its win over Iowa. Good luck...Larry |
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02-02-21 | Penn State v. Wisconsin -7 | Top | 56-72 | Win | 100 | 15 h 37 m | Show |
My 10* Revenge Rout is on Wisconsin at 8:30 ET. Wisconsin's 81-71 Saturday loss at Penn St dropped the Badgers (13-5, 7-4 Big Ten) from No. 14 to No. 19 in Monday's latest AP poll. Penn State interim head coach Jim Ferry called the victory a great program win. "The resiliency of this group just keeps showing," Ferry added. "We really locked in. I thought we defended well, and we got the game to be played at our pace, which we talked about as being very important. We're getting better, and that's the focus." That said, Penn St travels to Madison just 6-7 overall, including 3-6 in the Big Ten. Wisconsin has had a terrific basketball program for decades and Greg Gard is in his sixth season at Madison, having had FOUR 20-win seasons in his first five. Wisconsin prides itself on being one of college basketball's best defensive teams but in a 74-62 loss to Ohio State (Jan 23), the Buckeyes shot 50.9 percent on Wisconsin's home court and never trailed. Wisconsin rebounded by holding Maryland to 55 points in a Jan 27 win but then on Saturday, Penn St 'exploded' for 50 points in the second half! The Badgers start FIVE seniors, guards Trice (14.1-3.3-3.8) and Davison (9.1 & 3.1) plus the 6-10 Potter (12.3 & 6.6), the 6-8 Ford (9.6 & 4.5) and the 6-11 Reuvers (9.5 & 3.8). 6-5 freshman Davis (6.2 & 4.4) and 6-9 sophomore Wahl (5.7 & 4.4) both contribute off the bench. Penn St was 21-10 last season but the Nittany Lions went through some turmoil right as practices started when head coach Pat Chambers resigned in late October following an investigation into inappropriate conduct. As noted above, Penn State is playing this season with interim head coach Jim Ferry. The Nittany Lions surely miss All-Big Ten forward Lamar Stevens (17.6 & 6.9) but the Nittany Lions have four players averaging in double figures; the 6-7 Izaiah Brockington (15.2 & 5.0) and the 6-7 Seth Lundy (12.9 & 4.3) plus guards Myreon Jones (15.8) and Sam Sessoms (10.1). Sessoms has come off the bench, with the 6-9 Harrar (8.5 & 8.3) and PG Wheeler (5.2-4.1-4.0) starting alongside Jones and the two 6-7 forwards. Wisconsin entered Saturday's game at Penn St allowing 64.2 PPG but allowed 50 points in the second half, when the Nittany Lions made 53.6 percent of their shots. "At times we're really good. The notion that we're going to outscore teams is a fairy tale," Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard said. "We've got to be really good defensively." Expect "just that" in tonight's contest. Penn St is at the WRONG place at the WRONG time. Good luck...Larry |
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02-02-21 | Baylor v. Texas +6 | Top | 83-69 | Loss | -112 | 13 h 10 m | Show |
My 9* Ultimate Underdog is on Texas at 7:00 ET. No. 2 Baylor is 16-0 (8-0 in Big 12 play) travels to Austin to take on No. 5 Texas (11-3 / 5-2 in Big 12). This is the first meeting of the season between the two schools (only scheduled regular season game), who are two of the Big 12's SEVEN ranked teams. The Bears are off an 84-72 win at home over Auburn on Saturday in a Big 12/SEC Challenge contest. The Longhorns were supposed to play at Kentucky on Saturday but that game was postponed because of limited player availability within the Wildcats' program due to COVID-19. Baylor's Scott Drew took over a devastated Baylor program in the 2003-04 season and since 2007-08, has turned the Bears into one of the best programs in the country. Baylor won the NIT in 2013 and has made eight NCAA tourney appearances (26-4 last season would have made nine). Baylor lost 6-9 center Gillespie (9.6 & 9.0) from last year's team. The strength of Baylor's team is centered around its guards. Butler's (16.8-3.4-5.4) the best of the group but don't look past Teague (14.9 & 4.0), Mitchell (12.9 & 5.9 APG) or Flagler (10.4). The 6-5 Vital (5.9 & 5.3) plays like a power forward and is considered one of the best defensive players in the nation. Tchatchoua is a 6-8 transfer from UNLV and he's averaged 8.2 & 6.4. Shaka Smart was a 'genius' at VCU, winning the CBI championship in his first season and then taking the Rams to the Final Four in his second season. He took the Texas job after six seasons at VCU where he was 163-56, an average of 27.2 wins per season. However, in his first five seasons in Austin, he's had one 'nightmare' season (11-22 in his second year) and four more in which the Longhorns have won a total of just 79 games (just under 20 per) with just two NCAA appearances (lost first game each time). Texas returned all FIVE starters plus added the 6-9 Brown, an impressive freshman. The Longhorns opened 10-1 (rose to No. 4 in the nation) but over the last THREE weeks have played just three games (three others have been postponed or canceled) and in the rugged Big 12, this promising could 'slip away.' Texas features a trio of veteran guards in Andrew Jones (14.3 & 4.7), Ramey (13.9-3.2-3.9) and Coleman 13.1-3.5-4.1. Up front, freshman Brown is chipping in 11.9 & 8.0, the 6-11 Kai Jones adds 9.0 & 5.2 and the 6-10 Sims is averaging 7.8 & 6.4. Baylor's 16-0 start means the Bears have gone deeper into a season without a loss only once, when they began the 2011-12 campaign with 17 straight wins. Will they ever lose? If so, that "L" has a good chance of happening here. The Longhorns' cancellation of the Kentucky game might actually help them in the long run, as Texas was set to make the trip minus two of its starters, Courtney Ramey and Jericho Sims, because of COVID -19 protocols and without coach Shaka Smart, who tested positive on Jan 24. However, those Ramey and Sims should be back for Tuesday's contest. Texas' three losses this season have all been at home to ranked teams and by just a combined SEVEN points. Upset Alert? Good luck...Larry |
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02-01-21 | Georgia Tech v. Louisville -3.5 | Top | 58-74 | Win | 100 | 6 h 39 m | Show |
My 9* Daytime Dominator is on Louisville at 2:00 ET. No. 25 Louisville (10-4, 5-3 ACC) looks to get back on track after losing THREE of its last four games when the Cardinals welcome the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (8-5, 4-3) to KFC Yum! Center. The Cards will surely fall out of the rankings in the new AP poll (released this afternoon), after Louisville lost 54-50 at slumping Clemson last Wednesday, making just 18 of 57 FGs (31.6%) and going a pitiful 5 of 24 on three-pointers (20.8%). Meanwhile, is coming off arguably its best win of the season, a 76-65 upset of No. 16 Florida State Saturday in Tallahassee. Ga Tech head coach Josh Pastner is in his fifth season with the Yellow Jackets, after SEVEN years at Memphis. His first four seasons have not gone well (just 65-67). Tech had three consecutive games postponed and hadn't played since Jan 3 when it routed Clemson 83-65 on Jan 20. However, two straight losses followed prior to Saturday's win over FSU. Ga Tech has a solid five-man rotation but the Yellow Jackets have little depth. Returning PG Alvarado (18.3-3.5-4.5) and SG Devoe (13.5-4.7-3.2) have been excellent plus returning 6-9 big man Wright (17.1 & 7.2) present an excellent trio. 6-7 USC transfer Usher (11.0 & 4.8) helps out up front plus VMI transfer Parham (8.1 & 3.4) adds to the team's backcourt depth. However, Parham is currently out (personal reasons?). Chris Mack took over at Xavier for the 2009-10 season when Sean Miller took the Arizona job. He led the Musketeers to eight NCAA tourneys in nine seasons before moving to Louisville. The Cards went 20-14 in his first season (NCAA bid) and were 24-7 in his second year, when the season was shut down in March (AP ranked them 14th in its final poll). Louisville swingman Jordan Nwora (18.0 & 7.7) is gone from last season's team but FOUR starters returned. However, Carlik Jones leads the team in scoring, averaging 17.8-5.5-4.6. He's a graduate transfer from Radford and was last season's Big South Conference player of the year. He joins returning guard Johnson (12.4-5.9-3.6) in the backcourt. The 6-7 Williamson did little last season but averages 8.8 & 6.6 this season. True freshman guard Davis (8.5) and the 6-8 Slazinski (6.3 & 3.6) plus 6-9 redshirt freshman Withers (10.3 & 7.6) all contribute. Ga Tech has shown 'promise' as of late (lost tough games to UVa and Duke) but while Louisville won't stay in the top-25 in today's newest poll, I believe the Cards ARE a top-25 team. Cards prove my point here with a double digit win! Good luck...Larry |
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01-31-21 | NC State v. Syracuse -5 | Top | 73-76 | Loss | -110 | 11 h 24 m | Show |
My 9* Situational Stunner is on Syracuse at 6:00 ET. Kevin Keatts took over at NC State for Mark Gottfried beginning in the 2017-18 season, after leading UNC-Wilmington to 25-8 and 29-6 records in his final two seasons (both teams earned NCAA tourney bids). He's won 21, 24 and 20 games his first three seasons in Raleigh but lost leading scorer Bryce (13.3 & 6.3) plus PG Johnson (12.8-4.4-6.8) from last year's team, NC State is 7-5 (3-4 ACC) as it heads to Syracuse and will be playing its first full game since losing leading scorer Devon Daniels (16.5-5.1-3.2). Jim Boeheim has been at Syracuse since right after the end of the Civil War and the Orange are 9-5 (3-4 ACC) after losing 81-58 at ACC-leading Virginia in Monday night's game. Orange coach Jim Boeheim said there's no easy solution to the team's inconsistent play. "We're playing the guys that are playing the best in practice," Boeheim said. "I quickly appreciated the tenacity and relentlessness he brought into the gym every day," Wolfpack coach Kevin Keatts said, recalling when Daniels joined the program after transferring from Utah. "Devon built himself into one of the premier players in the ACC with that tireless work ethic." NC State managed to hang on to defeat visiting Wake Forest after Daniels departed in the second half of Wednesday night's game. With the loss of Daniels, the Wolfpack are left with just two double digit scorers, the 6-10 Funderburk (11.9 & 5.2) and 6-7 wing Hellems (11.8 & 5.3). Other significant contributors are the 6-11 Bates (9.0 & 5.3) plus guards Allen (7.4), Hayes (7.0), Moore (6.60 and Beverly (6.3). The Orange have little depth but all five starters are averaging more than 30 minutes. The 6-7 Guerrier leads in scoring (16.8) and rebounding (9.4), SF Griffin checks in at 15.5 & 7.2 plus the 6-10 Dolezag adds 11.0 & 4.5. The backcourt is Buddy Boeheim (14.5) and PG Girard (10.6 & 3.9 APG). Syracuse rates 12th in the ACC (14 teams) with 31.4 percent on three-point shooting but Boeheim insists his players are getting good looks from the perimeter. "We have to make those shots," he said. Maybe they will start falling here vs NC State? The Wolfpack endured a coronavirus-related pause a couple of weeks ago and hadn't won in January until the Wake Forest game. Now, the team will have to make another adjustment minus a key player. What's more, NC State is 0-4 SU (0-3-1 ATS) in its four ACC road games this season (ONLY road games all season have come in conference). I noted earlier that Boeheim has complained about his team's inconsistent play and will add here that the Orange come into this contest 2-2 over their last four games, with all of those results by margins of 18 points or more! my bet says Syracuse is on the 'right side' of a blowout final in this one! Good luck...Larry |
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01-31-21 | Sam Houston State v. Stephen F Austin -5 | Top | 68-78 | Win | 100 | 8 h 53 m | Show |
My 10* Southland Game of the Year is on SF Austin at 4:00 ET. The Sam Houston State Bearkats are 13-5 and at 7-0 in league play, sit atop the Southland Conference. The Bearkats travel to Nacogdoches, Tx to take on the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks, who are 9-3 (5-1 in Southland play). The Bearkats are looking for an EIGHTH straight conference win, while the Lumberjacks look to bounce back from their first conference loss, an 82-62 defeat at 14-3 Abilene Christian on Wednesday. Sam Houston head coach Jason Hooten opened the season having lost four of five starters for the SECOND straight year. That was the case last season and after a 15-6 start, the Bearkats were just 18-13 when the season was shut down. Guard Nutall is the lone returning starter and he leads the team averaging 19.9 PPG, as well as a team-high 5.9 RPG. Senior guard Lampley (15.9) is the only other double digit scorer. However, the team averages 81.3 PPG on the season (28th). Kyle Keller was hired as the head coach at Stephen F. Austin, replacing Brad Underwood. Following the discovery of an administrative error in declaring student-athletes eligible, on May 20, 2020, Stephen F. Austin reached an agreement with the NCAA to vacate hundreds of wins across multiple sports from 2013 to 2019, including all 117 men's basketball wins from the 2014–15 to 2018–19 seasons. With that behind the program, the Lumberjacks finished the 2019–20 season with a 28–3 (19–1 Southland) record and the regular season Southland title. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Southland and NCAA tournaments were cancelled. Last season was highlighted by the Lumberjacks' 85–83 overtime win at No. 1 Duke, giving the Blue Devils their first non-conference home loss in 150 games. SF Austin owns a solid trio of guards in Johnson (18.1 & 4.4), Ware (11.7) and Kachelries (9.8 & 4.1 APG). A pair of 6-7 sophomores start up front in Kensmil (14.1 & 6.3) and Soloman (8.4 & 5.2). The Lumberjacks can score with any team, averaging 82.1 PPG (22nd), while shooting 53.7& from the floor (2nd in the nation). SF Austin's last game was a 'nightmare,' as the team shot just 42.6% on the game (25% on threes) and even went a pathetic 14 of 25 from the FT line (56%). Bounce-back time here for a team that is 8-0 at home this season and 24-1 at home going back to the start of last season. Lay the reasonable points! Good luck...Larry |
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01-31-21 | Cal-Irvine v. Hawaii +3 | Top | 61-62 | Win | 100 | 16 h 42 m | Show |
My 10* Big West Game of the Year is on Hawaii at 11:59 ET. Russell Turner has done a nice job at UC-Irvine. He had losing seasons in his first two years at the school but entered this season have won 20-plus games in SEVEN of his last eight seasons. The Anteaters won 31 games two seasons ago and were 21-11 before the shut down last season. However, UC-Irvine had to replace four senior starters entering this season. The 6-9 Welp is back and leads in scoring at 12.2 2 PPG (adds 6.5 RPG). The only other starter averaging in double digits is the 6-11 Greene (10.7 PPG and a team-high 7.5 RPG). Two newcomers come off the bench in freshman guard Baker (11.5) and fellow guard Davis (8.,5), who is back from a two-year Mormon mission. |
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01-30-21 | Minnesota v. Purdue -2.5 | Top | 62-81 | Win | 100 | 10 h 25 m | Show |
My 9* Situational Stunner is on Purdue at 7:00 ET. No. 21 Minnesota is 11-5 (just 4-5 in the Big Ten) and Purdue welcomes them to Mackey Arena on Saturday at 11-6 (6-4 in the Big Ten). This is the first of two meetings between the teams over a 13-day span. Richard Pitino is in his eighth season at Minnesota. He led the Gophers to the NIT championship in his first season (2013-14) but over the last six seasons, Minnesota has made just two NCAA appearances (2017 and 2019), while going a combined 56-71 (.441) over the other four. The Gophers opened 9-1 in Pitino's 8th season but have lost FOUR of their last six. Purdue's Matt Painter is in his 16th season with the Boilermakers and his team was just 16-14 last season, coming off a four-year run of averaging 27.3 wins per season. Minnesota PG Carr (20.9-4.1-5.2) ranks with the best in the nation and has been aided by THREE transfers, 7-0 Liam Robbins (13.3 & 6.9) from Drake, the 6-6 Gach (9.6 & 5.1) from Utah and the 6-8 Johnson (8.0 & 6.3) from Western Michigan. Plus, don't dismiss returning junior guard Kalescheur, who's adding 9.3 PPG. Painter's lone loss of note from last season's team was the 7-3 Haarms (8.6 & 4.6), who went to BYU as a graduate transfer. The team's "Big Three" are all returning players, senior PG Hunter (10.3 & 3.2 APG) plus juniors like the 6-10 Williams (15.3 & 9.6) and SG Stefanovic (11.1). 7-4 freshman Edey (7.9 & 4.2) has made all forget about Haarms plus freshman guard Newman (8.9) gives Purdue five players averaging between 7.9 and 15.3 PPG. Depth is provided by four players chipping in a combined 21 PPG. Minnesota may be 11-1 at home (Williams Arena) but the not-so-Golden Gophers are 0-4 SU & ATS on the road (all Big Ten games). Meanwhile, Purdue was 6-0 at home before losing 70-53 to Michigan. Purdue shot just 30.8 percent from the floor, including a dismal 2 of 12 on three-pointers, as it was held to a season-low point total. This just in! Minnesota in NO WAY resembles Michigan! Purdue is a GREAT value at this price. Good luck...Larry |
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01-30-21 | Wisconsin -4 v. Penn State | Top | 71-81 | Loss | -115 | 5 h 3 m | Show |
My 9* PERFECT STORM is on Wisconsin at 3:00 ET. No. 14 Wisconsin will play Penn State in consecutive games starting with a matchup at University Park on Saturday with the second game at Madison on Tuesday. The Badgers (13-4 / 7-3 Big Ten) have won THREE of their last four games, including Wednesday's 61-55 win at Maryland that avenged a 70-64 loss to the Terrapins at home Dec 28. Penn State is just 5-7 (2-6 Big Ten) after an 83-79 loss at No. 13 Ohio State. The Nittany Lions were competitive throughout and had the lead with less than two minutes remaining. Wisconsin has had a terrific basketball program for decades and Greg Gard is in his sixth season at Madison, having had FOUR 20-win seasons in his first five. Wisconsin prides itself on being one of college basketball's best defensive teams was OFF a VERY disappointing 74-62 loss to Ohio State last Saturday (Buckeyes shot 50.9 percent on Wisconsin's home court and never trailed), so holding Maryland to 55 points was a good feeling. The Badgers start FIVE seniors, guards Trice (14.5-3.5-3.9) and Davison (9.2) plus the 6-10 Potter (12.7 & 6.8), the 6-8 Ford (9.0 & 3.8) and the 6-11 Reuvers. 6-5 freshman Davis (6.3 & 4.5) and 6-9 sophomore Wahl (5.3 & 4.1) both contribute off the bench. Penn St was 21-10 last season but the Nittany Lions went through some turmoil right as practices started when head coach Pat Chambers resigned in late October following an investigation into inappropriate conduct. Penn State interim head coach Jim Ferry led the Nittany Lions to a 3-4 start through Dec 31 but the team's first four games of 2021 were postponed due to COVID-19 issues. Penn State is trying to persevere through the season but it's been tough. Penn St surely misses All-Big Ten forward Lamar Stevens (17.6 & 6.9) but the Nittany Lions have four players averaging in double figures; the 6-7 Izaiah Brockington (15.0 & 4.7) and the 6-7 Seth Lundy (13.8 & 5.0) plus guards Myreon Jones (15.4) and Sam Sessoms (10.3). Sessoms has come off the bench, with the 6-9 Harrar (7.8 & 8.3) and PG Wheeler (4.9-4.1-3.9) starting alongside Jones and the two 6-7 forwards. The Ohio St game (see above) was an aberration, as Wisconsin had held its two previous opponents to 54 and 52 points. Wisconsin was back in 'defensive mode' at Maryland allowed 55 points on 35.8% shooting) and that's what I expect here, Road favorite is the play. Good luck...Larry |
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01-29-21 | Boise State -1.5 v. Colorado State | Top | 85-77 | Win | 100 | 14 h 3 m | Show |
My 9* Situational Stunner is on Boise St at 11:00 ET. Niko Medved spent four years at Furman and one at Drake, and had an overall record of 79-087 when Colorado St tabbed him as its next head coach. He went 12-20 in his first season but turned things around by going 20-12 last season, before the shut down. His Rams have opened 12-3 this season (9-2 in the MWC) after an impressive 78-56 home rout of Boise St on Wednesday. Boise's Leon Rice is in his 11th season with the Broncos and has produced EIGHT seasons of 20-plus wins through his first 10 seasons. This year's team could be his best, as the Broncos were 16-1 before getting routed by the Rams two nights ago. FOUR of Boise's starters average in double figures, led by 6-9 guard Alston (17.0 & 3.9). Fellows guards Shaver (13.2 & 5.1) and Dennis (10.9-3.3-3.4) and the 6-7 Kigab (13.3 & 6.0 round out that quartet. The fifth starter is the 6-10 Armus (6.7 & 7.3), while guard Doutrive (10.2) and the 6-8 Akot (7.4 & 4.2) contribute off the bench. CSU misses the 6-11 Carvacho (12.9 & 10.8) but four starters are back from last season. PG Stevens led all scorers last season but the 6-5 Roddy leads this season with 16.0 and 9.4 RPG (also a team-high). Stevens (15.4-4.7-6.5) checks in right behind him with guard Moore (11.2) and the 6-6 Thistlewood (8.9 & 3.3). Depth is provided by guard Tonje (7.1) and the 6-9 Thomas (5.1 & 3.3). Roddy had a career-high 27 points plus 15 rebounds as Colorado State extended its home win streak to seven games, easily beating Boise State 78-56 on Wednesday night. However, the two teams are right back at it in Fort Collins tonight. I surely don't expect CSU to shoot 55.8% again, nor do I expect BSU to shoot 38.2% (Broncos have made 46.9% on the season). Boise St in a bounce-back effort wins. Good luck...Larry |
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01-29-21 | Iowa +2 v. Illinois | Top | 75-80 | Loss | -105 | 11 h 13 m | Show |
My 9* CBB Ranked vs Ranked Showdown is on Iowa at 9:00 ET. Iowa opened No. 5 in the AP's preseason poll and Illinois opened No. 8. As the two schools get set for their first (and only) meeting of the regular season, the Hawkeyes visit Champaign-Urbana 12-3 and ranked 7th, while the Fighting Illini are 10-5 and ranked 19th. Fran McCaffrey came to Iowa City from Siena, where he led the Saints to THREE straight NCAA appearances and a 77-26 record. He's been at Iowa since the 2010-11 season. He's led Iowa to SIX 20-win seasons the last eight seasons, getting four NCAA bids (would have been five last year but the NCAA tourney was canceled). Iowa returned all FIVE starters from last year, including the Preseason P-O-Y. (Luka Garza). Brad Underwood made a big 'splash' at S.F. Austin and then made a one year 'pit stop' at Oklahoma St, before landing in Champaign-Urbana. The Fighting Illini were just 14-18 and 12-21 in his first two seasons but had a breakout year in going 21-10 before last season was shut down. Garza is the consensus favorite to win national player of the year honors. The 6-11 senior leads the Big Ten with an average of 26.9 PPG (8.9 RPG) while shooting 61%, including 46.2% on threes. Two senior guards join him in the starting lineup in Wieskamp (14.5 & 6.7) and Bohannon (9.8 & 4.7 APG). The 6-11 Nunge (7.0 & 5.5) comes off the bench plus FIVE more players contribute regularly, led by sophomore guard Fredrick (9,1). Illinois features one of the top guards in the nation in Dosunmu (21.7-6.3-4.9) plus 7-0 center Cockburn (17.4 & 10.3) has built on a successful freshman season. Dosunmu is joined in the backcourt by veterans Curbelo (9.6 & 4.4 APG), Frazier (8.7) and Williams (6.0 & 5.6) plus freshman Miller adds 9.6 PPG. The 6-9 Bezhanishvili (5.9 & 2.9) rounds out the main contributors. I believe Illinois has been one of the more disappointing teams from the AP preseason top-25 and I guess the overall strength of the Big Ten keeps them in the current top-25. Meanwhile, Iowa's first two losses came in a neutral-site game with unbeaten and No. 1 Gonzaga plus in OT at Minnesota, which is 11-1 at home. The Hawkeyes haven't played since an 81-69 upset home loss on Jan 21 to Indiana (third loss), which wiped out a second-half deficit with a stunning 23-3 run. Garza and the Hawkeyes bounce back with a win. Good luck...Larry |
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01-28-21 | Stanford v. Arizona -7.5 | Top | 73-64 | Loss | -110 | 13 h 11 m | Show |
My 9* Bailout Blowout is on Arizona at 10:00 ET. Stanford head coach Jerod Haase may be feeling some pressure, as he replaced Johnny Dawkins at Stanford, who earned the title "King of the NIT," leading the Cardinal to NIT titles in 2012 and 2015. However, no school gets much credit these days for an NIT championship. Haase is just 78-66 in his first four-plus years at Stanford (including a 9-5 overall / 5-3 Pac 12 record this season), without an NCAA bid and his lone NIT appearance ended in the second round. Sean Miller is in his 12th season with the Wildcats and has had more than a few off the court issues the last few years. He saw THREE freshmen from last year go the 'One and Done' route in PG Mannion (14.0 & 5.3 APG), Green (12.0 & 4.6) and big man Nnaji (16.1 & 8.6) but Arizona opened a surprising 9-1, although it enters this game 12-3 (6-3 in the Pac 12). The 6-9 Oscar da Silva averaged team-leading totals in points (15.7) and rebounds (6.4) last season for Stanford and while he'll miss guard Terry (14.6-4.5-3.2) who left for the NBA, he expected the infusion of young talent to be a boon for his game. Da Silva is averaging 19.8 & 7.1 plus two solid defensive guards are back in Davis (13.1-4.1-3.0) and Willis (9.3 & 4.6). 6-8 forward Ziaire Williams was expected to be the star of the freshman class and he's averaged 12.5 & 5.7. The problem tonight is that 6-6 Mills (12.5 & 7.7) is out with a leg injury plus both guard Dan]vis and freshman Williams (see above on both) may also miss for undisclosed reasons. Arizona has been led by Georgetown transfer James Akinjo (14.3 & 5.5 APG) plus four more double digit scorers. However, fellow guard Baker (12.0) has been sidelined the rest of the season with a broken right wrist plus 6-7 freshman Bennedict Mathurin (11.8 & 4.9) went down with a sprained right ankle in Monday's 80-67 win over Arizona State. His status for Thursday is undetermined. That said, Arizona still has 6-11 freshman Azuolas Tubelis (11.0 & 6.4) and 6-11 Jordan Brown (10.3 & 5.4) coming off the bench with guard Terrell Brown (8.7-3.2-3.5). Da Silva had a game-winning basket last Saturday against UCLA off an inbounds pass in a 73-72 overtime. He finished with 26 points. Back in late Dec, Stanford ended a 12-year drought of losing to Arizona with a 78-75 win at home. The victory snapped a 20-game losing streak to the Wildcats and now the Cardinal will go for their first sweep of the Wildcats since the 2007-08 season. I sure DON'T see that happening, as even without fans, the McKale Center is one tough venue. Lay the points, as this one has "B-L-O-W-O-U-T written all over it!" Good luck...Larry |
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01-28-21 | Memphis v. SMU -3 | Top | 65-67 | Loss | -115 | 14 h 46 m | Show |
My 10* Revenge Rout-Part 4 is on SMU at 8:00 ET. 13-1 Houston is now ranked No. 6 in the latest AP poll and with an 8-1 record in the AAC is unquestionably the league's dominant team. Entering Tuesday, 8-2 SMU, 8-5 Memphis and 8-4 Wichita St were all 4-2 in conference. The SMU Mustangs played at Memphis Tuesday and in a game that was close the ENTIRE way, lost 76-72 to the Tigers. The two schools play each other again Thursday, this time Dallas. First-place Houston plays tonight at Tulane and Wichita St won't play until Saturday. No one is likely catching Houston but tonight's a chance for Memphis (5-2 AAC) to put a little difference between themselves and SMU (4-3 in AAC) with a second straight win. Penny Hardaway is in his third season coaching at his alma mater. He went 22-14 in his first season and the Tigers were 21-10 last season before the season was shut down. Memphis had its first three games of 2020 postponed due to COVID issues but the Tigers now own THREE straight AAC wins, a pair of blowout wins over Wichita State and East Carolina plus Tuesday' win over SMU. Va Tech transfer, the 6-7 Nolley (12.8 & 3.4), leads the Tigers in scoring. He's joined in the starting lineup by the 6-9 Williams (10.4 & 5.3), guard Quinones (9.9 & 5.4) and the 6-10 Cisse (7.6 & 7.68). Coming off the bench is the 6-7 Jefferson (10.5 & 5.9) and PG Lomax (5.4 & 4.1 APG). Nolley had 12 points and center Cisse added 10 & 10 in Tuesday's win, while Jefferson (12 points) continued his excellent efforts off the bench. A real bonus was guard Lomax, who scored a team-high 14 points with five assists. Tim Jankovich took over after Larry Brown once again left a program in tatters and in his first full season (2016-17) went 30-5. However, the Mustangs were just a combined 51-44 the previous three seasons. Jankovich was running a low-grade fever and two other assistants were back in Dallas as part of contact tracing when SMU won 78-65 at UCF on Saturday. Jankovich was NOT on the sidelines on Tuesday and is unlikely to be available tonight. The Mustangs returned the outstanding guard duo of Davis and Jolly but Jolly's been battling personal issues and made his first appearance of the current season in Saturday's win at UCF (scored five points in minutes). The good news coming out of Tuesday's loss was that Jolly played 21 minutes and scored 15 points (he averaged 14.5 & 6.2 last season). PG Davis (18.3-4.5-7.6) has been great and three other starters are averaging in or just below double digits. The group includes guard Bandoumel (11.9) plus a pair of 6-9 forwards in Hunt (12.0 & 8.3) and Chargois (9.9 & 5.8). Penny was an exciting offensive player in college (Memphis) and in the NBA but he's a defense-first head coach. He EXPECTS his team to be one of the nation's top defensive teams. Memphis entered Tuesday's game having allowed 61.8 PPG (20th) on 37.7% shooting (7th), including 27.2% on threes (9th). The Tigers have held their last FIVE opponents under 60 points, the longest such streak since a run of seven consecutive games in January 2008. Yes, Memphis pulled out the win but the Mustangs scored 72 points (on the road) while shooting 48.3%. Memphis won because it shot 50.9% (47.6% on threes). Memphis is shooting 4.2% on the season, including 34.5% on threes. SMU star Davis was just 4 of 14 on FGs (8 points) and one HAS to believe he'll bounce back plus Jolly looks like he's ready to be a major contributor. Quick turnaround equals quick REVENGE for the Mustangs. Good luck...Larry |
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01-27-21 | Wisconsin -3 v. Maryland | Top | 61-55 | Win | 100 | 14 h 10 m | Show |
My 9* Revenge Rout-Part 3 is on Wisconsin at 9:00 ET. Wisconsin has had a terrific basketball program for decades and Greg Gard is in his sixth season at Madison, having had FOUR 20-win seasons in his first five. No. 14 Wisconsin (12-4 / 6-3 in Big Ten) prides itself on being one of college basketball's best defensive teams and the Badgers are looking to re-establish that identity when they play four of their next five games on the road. That stretch starts tonight in College Park against 9-6 Maryland (just 3-6 in the Big Ten). Mark Turgeon coached Wichita St for seven years, before leading Texas A&M to four straight NCAA tournaments in four years going 97-40. He joined Maryland when it was still in the ACC but its move to the Big Ten has been good for the basketball program, as over the last six seasons the Terps have won 20-plus games in five seasons (exception was a 19-win season), making four NCAA tourneys (would have been five, as Maryland was 24-7 when the season was shut down last year). The Badgers start FIVE seniors, guards Trice (14.6-3.3-3.9) and Davison (9.4) plus the 6-10 Potter (12.1 & 6.5), the 6-11 Reuvers (9.3 & 3.8) and the 6-8 Ford (9.6 & 4.4). 6-5 freshman Davis (6.4 & 4.6) and 6-9 sophomore Wahl (5.4 & 4.1) both contribute off the bench. Wisconsin was disappointed with its defensive performance in a 74-62 loss to then-No. 15 Ohio State on Saturday, as the Buckeyes shot 50.9 percent on Wisconsin's home court and never trailed. It was particularly galling because the Badgers were coming off a pair of strong defensive efforts, when they held Rutgers to 54 points and Northwestern to 52. PG Cowan (16.3 & 4.7 APG) and big man Jalen Smith (15.5 & 10.5) are gone from last season's Maryland team but the Terps have a deep backcourt, Ayala (14.4 & 3.1) and Wiggins (12.2-5.3-3.0) lead the way, supported by Hart (9.8) and Morsell (8.1 & 4.3). Up front, it's the 6-7 Scott (13.0 & 6.9) and 6-8 BC transfer Hamilton (7.4 & 2.8). Maryland's three Big Ten wins have all come on the road, over No. 6 Wisconsin, No. 12 Illinois and No. 17 Minnesota (opponents ranking at the time of each win). That makes Maryland the first team to have such success on the road while being unranked in the last five seasons. It's also the first time in program history that Maryland has won three road games against ranked teams, period Wisconsin will be HIGHLY focused on this contest (remember, four of next five on the road), as the Badgers don't want to see a strong start to the season evaporate. The Badgers allowed Maryland to shoot 50% in a 70-64 home loss to the Terps back on Dec 28 but with that memory and Saturday's poor defensive effort against Ohio St still fresh, I expect a "big-time" defensive effort from Wisconsin here. The Badgers are allowing just 62.2 PPG on 40.5% shooting and remember, Maryland's Big Ten wins have come on the road, NOT here at home (0-3 SU & ATS). REVENGE works in this one. Good luck...Larry |
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01-27-21 | Penn State v. Ohio State -7.5 | Top | 79-83 | Loss | -110 | 9 h 17 m | Show |
My 9* Weekly Wipeout is on Ohio St at 7:00 ET. Penn St was 21-10 last season but the Nittany Lions went through some turmoil right as practices started when head coach Pat Chambers resigned in late October following an investigation into inappropriate conduct. Penn State interim head coach Jim Ferry led the Nittany Lions to a 3-4 start through Dec 31 but the team's first four games of 2021 were postponed due to COVID-19 issues. Penn St returned on Jan 17 and lost at Purdue and two days later at Illinois. The Nittany Lions have rebounded with two straight wins last week and now take a 5-6 record into this game with No. 13 Ohio St (12-4) in Columbus. Chris Holtmann took over at Butler for Brad Stevens and went 70-31 win three seasons, each ending with an NCAA tourney berth. He took the Ohio St job beginning in 2017-18 and strung together three straight 20-win seasons but was denied a third straight NCAA bid when last season was shut down. Ohio State saw a three-game winning streak end a week ago Tuesday night when Purdue's Jaden Ivey drilled a stepback three-pointer with five seconds to secure a 67-65 decision in Columbus but rebounded with a wire-to-wire, 74-62 win at then-No. 10 Wisconsin on Saturday. Penn St surely misses All-Big Ten forward Lamar Stevens (17.6 & 6.9) but the Nittany Lions have four players averaging in double figures; the 6-7 Izaiah Brockington (14.7 & 4.8) and the 6-7 Seth Lundy (12.7 & 4.5) plus guards Myreon Jones (15.9) and Sam Sessoms (11.3). Sessoms has come off the bench, with the 6-9 Harrar (7.2 & 8.2) and PG Wheeler (5.0-4.1.4-0) starting alongside Jones and the two 6-7 forwards. Guard Washington (15.3) leads Ohio St in scoring and had been paired with PG Walker (8.7 & 4.1 APG). The frontcourt has four solid contributors led by arguably the team's best player, the 6-7 Liddell (14.5 & 6.8). He's joined on the frontline by the 6-7 Sueing (10.4 & 5.0), the 6-8 Young (8.0 & 5.9), 6-8 freshman Key (6.4 & 3.8) and the 6-6 Aherns (6.8). The Buckeyes got a boost with the return of senior starting point guard CJ Walker, who missed four games because of torn ligaments in his right hand. He had eight points, three assists, two rebounds and a steal in 24 minutes of playing time in the win at Wisconsin. Having him back is HUGE and note that Ohio St is 7-1 at home (only blemish a two-point loss to Purdue). Yes, Penn St has won back-to-back games but the wins came over Rutgers (2-6 since a 6-0 start) and Northwestern (0-7 after a 6-1 start). Prior to those wins, the Nittany Lions started 0-5 in league play and are 1-4 overall on the road. Lay the points! Good luck...Larry |
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01-27-21 | Creighton v. Seton Hall +1.5 | Top | 85-81 | Loss | -100 | 9 h 32 m | Show |
My 10* PERFECT STORM is on Seton Hall at 7:00 ET. Greg McDermott has won 20-plus games in NINE of his first 10 seasons at Creighton and the Bluejays were ranked 11th in the AP's preseason poll, the school's highest-ever preseason ranking. Creighton is 11-4 (7-3 in Big East) entering this game at Seton Hall, ranked 17th. Seton Hall believed it could have made a run to the Final Four behind All-American guard Myles Powell (21.0 & 4.3) last season before COVID-19 shut things down. The Pirates were 21-9 and ranked 15th in the country after finishing tied for first in the Big East with a 13-5 record. Powell is now in the NBA but the Pirates are a disappointing 9-6 this season (6-3 in the Big East). Creighton brought back all starters except leading scorer Alexander (16.9 & 5.0) and this season's starting-five is a strong group. A trio of guards start, along with the 6-7 Bishop (11.3 & 5.2) and 6-5 SF Jefferson (13.0 & 4.9). Denzel Mahoney (15.4 & 4.5), PG Zegarowski (14.4-4.0-4.5) and Ballock (9.1) comprise an impressive backcourt, while the 7-0 Kalkbrenner (7.1 & 4.3) comes off the bench. The Pirates have SEVEN players who have participated in all 15 games. The 6-11 Mamukelashvili leads the team in scoring (18.4) and rebounding (7.0). Wing Jared Rhoden adds 15.8 & 6.9 and fellow wing Myles Cale (11.6) is the team's third double-digit scorer. PG Reynolds (7.9 & 4.5 APG) and Molson (6.5 & 3.2) are solid backcourt performers, while the 7-2 Obiagu (5.4 & 5.6) starts and the 6-10 Samuel (6.2 & 3.3) comes off the bench to aid Mamukelashvili up front. Creighton lost 70-66 in OT at Butler and then 74-70 at home to Providence (both schools own losing Big East records), before shooting 51.1 percent from the floor on Saturday in a 74-66 home victory against then-No. 23 UConn (3rd straight ATS loss). Creighton enjoyed its best shooting performance of the season in a rout of Seton Hall back on Jan 6, shooting 59.6 percent; including 13 of 24 from three-point range in an 89-53 home win against Seton Hall. Kevin Willard and his team will remember that one and are eager to get back on the court after overcoming a nine-point deficit with 7:21 left to pull even against No. 3 Villanova, only to fall just 76-74 on Jan 19. Creighton is a good team but I believe overrated and falls to the Pirates in this one. Good luck...Larry |
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01-26-21 | SMU v. Memphis -2 | Top | 72-76 | Win | 100 | 9 h 27 m | Show |
My 10* AAC Game of the Year is on Memphis at 7:00 ET. 13-1 Houston is now ranked No. 6 in the latest AP poll and with an 8-1 record in the AAC is unquestionably the league's dominant team.8-2 SMU, 8-5 Memphis and 8-4 Wichita St are all 4-2 in conference. The SMU Mustangs are 3-0 on the road for the first time since starting 5-0 in 2015-16 and will look to extend that streak on Tuesday at Memphis. Tim Jankovich took over after Larry Brown once again left a program in tatters and in his first full season (2016-17) went 30-5. However, the Mustangs were just a combined 51-44 the previous three seasons. Jankovich was running a low-grade fever and two other assistants were back in Dallas as part of contact tracing when SMU won 78-65 at UCF on Saturday. Penny Hardaway is in his third season coaching at his alma mater. He went 22-14 in his first season and the Tigers were 21-10 last season before the season was shut down. Memphis its first three games of 2020 postponed due to COVID issues but the Tigers own a pair of blowout wins over Wichita State and East Carolina. The Tigers have held their last FIVE opponents under 60 points, the longest such streak since a run of seven consecutive games in January 2008. The Mustangs returned the outstanding guard duo of Davis and Jolly but Jolly's been battling personal issues and made his first appearance of the current season in Saturday's win at UCF (scored five points in minutes). Will he contribute the rest of the way? TBD. PG Davis (19.3-4.6-7.8) has been great and three other starters are averaging in double digits. The group includes guard Bandoumel (11.8) plus a pair of 6-9 forwards in Hunt (12.2 & 8.6) and Chargois (10.1 & 6.1). Memphis lost centr James Wisman after just three games last season and PF Achiuwa (15.8 & 10.8) after the season (both are now in the NBA as 1st round picks). Va Tech transfer, the 6-7 Nolley (12.8 & 3.5) leads the Tigers in scoring. He's joined in the starting lineup by the 6-9 Williams (10.5), guard Quinones (10.1 & 5.2) and the 6-10 Cisse (7.5 & 7.6). Coming off the bench is the 6-7 Jefferson (10.4 & 6.2). Penny was an exciting offensive player in college (Memphis) and in the NBA but he's a defense-first head coach. He EXPECTS his team to be one of the nation's top defensive teams. Memphis enters having allowed 61.8 PPG (20th) on 37.7% shooting (7th), including 27.2% on threes (9th). FYI, Memphis allowed opponents to shoot 36.1%, including 28.0% on threes last season. I'm on Penny and the Tigers. Good luck...Larry |
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01-25-21 | Texas Tech v. West Virginia -1 | Top | 87-88 | Push | 0 | 8 h 5 m | Show |
My 9* Late-Breaker is on West Va at 9:00 ET. "Greed, for lack of a better word, is good." So said Michael Douglas as Gordon Gekko in the 1987 movie "Wall Street," In the world of college basketball, "Routine is Good." However, NOTHING has been "routine" in CBB 2020-21. The 12th-ranked Texas Tech Red Raiders (11-4, 4-3 in Big 12) visit Morgantown on Monday to take on the No. 14 West Va Mountaineers (10-4, 3-3 Big 12). Both schools have seen their routines interrupted. Tonight's game will be Texas Tech's first since Jan 16 after both of the Red Raiders' scheduled matchups last week were postponed due to COVID-19 protocols at TCU and Iowa State. West Virginia just returned from a two-week pause on Saturday with a 69-47 road victory at Kansas State. Chris Beard went 30-5 at Arkansas St in 2015-16 and was able to land the Texas Tech job as a reward. In his second season, the Red Raiders won 27 games and made the Elite 8 and then followed that up by winning 31 games in the 2018-19 season, where they lost to UVa in the national championship game. Last year's 18-13 season was seen as a major slump but Tech opened at No. 14 in the AP preseason poll. Georgetown transfer McClung (16.3) leads Tech in scoring and is joined in the starting lineup by guards Edwards (10.1 & 5.4) and freshman Peavy (5.9 & 3.0). The 6-7 Santos-Silva (8.9 & 6.3) is Tech's tallest starter, although the 6-6 Shannon (12.8 & 5.0) who comes off the bench, and 6-6 starter McCullar (11.2 & 7.2) are bigger producers. The Red Raiders' calling card remains defense, allowing 59.9 PPG (10th) on 39.4% shooting (33rd). Bob Huggins had a legendary 16-year stint at Cincinnati, leading the Bearcats to NCAA berths in each of his final 14 seasons. He returned to his alma mater for the 2007-08 season and has led the Mountaineers to the Big Dance in NINE of his 13 seasons (21-10 LY would have made 10 but COVID took care of that). FOUR of five starters are back from last season but the 6-9 Oscar Tshiebwe (11.2 & 9.2 last season) opted to transfer to Kentucky in mid-season, forcing a complete change of basketball philosophy for Huggins. The 6-10 Culver (13.4 & 10.7) is now the main focus inside, as Huggins now relies on his perimeter people. Guards McBride (15.3-3.4-4.1), Sherman (12.2) and McNeil, plus 6-7 SF Matthews (7.7 & 2.9) are the main contributors. It's true that Texas Tech has opened 3-0 on the Big 12 road (just the second time the Red Raiders have done so since the league began in 1996-97) but as we've seen many times this season, teams have struggled after a layoff. Winning at WVU Coliseum has NEVER been easy and Huggins-coached teams know plenty about playing defense, as well. West Virginia's defense got back to work in style after the two-week hiatus by limiting Kansas State to 38.1 percent shooting (16 of 42) and forcing 28 turnovers, the most by a Big 12 team this season Home team is the play. Good luck...Larry |
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01-25-21 | Syracuse v. Virginia -7 | Top | 58-81 | Win | 100 | 10 h 50 m | Show |
My 10* Situational Stunner is on Virginia at 7:00 ET. Syracuse's victory against No. 16 Virginia Tech on Saturday was its first against a ranked opponent in more than a year, the last one a 63-55 overtime win at Virginia on Jan 11, 2020. The victory gives the Orange a 9-4 overall record (3-3 in the ACC) as they visit the No. 13 Cavaliers (10-2, 6-0 in the ACC) at Charlottesville on Monday The Orange have little depth but all five starters are averaging more than 30 minutes. The 6-7 Guerrier leads in scoring (16.9) and rebounding (9.5), SF Griffin checks in at 15.7 & 7.2 plus the 6-10 Dolezag adds 11.2 & 5.5. The backcourt is Buddy Boeheim (15.1) and PG Girard (10.8 & 4.1 APG). UVa lost the 6-9 Diakite (13.7 & 6.8) and 6-8 big guard Key (9.9 & 7.4). Four starters are averaging in double digits, led by 6-8 Marquette transfer Sam Hauser (14.5 & 7.4), the returning 7-1 Huff (13.3 & 5.8), the 6-9 Trey Murphy (10.4) and PG Clark (10.2 & 4.1 APG). Guard Morell (6.9) is the best producer off the bench. I noted that Syracuse won 63-55 in overtime at Virginia on Jan 11, 2020 but this Virginia team is riding a six-game winning streak and has won 14 consecutive ACC games dating back Feb 8, 2020. Since losing to No. 1 Gonzaga back on Dec 26, the Cavs have held their last six opponents to 57.8 PPG (season average is 59.6 PPG to rank 6th in the nation). Jim Boeheim is a Hall of Fame coach but since coming to Virginia, Tony Bennett's record is among the best in CBB. He came to Charlottesville to begin the 2009-10 season and in his first two years at the school went 15-16 and 16-15. Enough of that! It's been NINE straight seasons of 20-plus wins since, including four seasons of 30-plus wins. Bennett and UVa lost to UMBC in the opening round of the 2018 NCAA tournament, becoming the first time since expansion in 1985 that a No. 1 seed lost to a No. 16 one, However, the Cavs came back to win the title in 2019, as ESPN called Virginia's championship run "the most redemptive season in the history of college basketball," and NBC Sports took it a step further by calling it "the greatest redemption story in the history of sports." UVa was 23-7 when the season was shut down last March. UVa is the more complete team and wins "with room to spare" here at John Paul Jones Arena. Good luck...Larry |
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01-24-21 | Notre Dame v. Miami-FL -2 | Top | 73-59 | Loss | -110 | 12 h 37 m | Show |
My 10* Weekend Wipeout is on Miami-Fl at 6:00 ET. Notre Dame bounced back from a 14-win season two seasons ago to go 20-12 last year but lost PF Mooney, who averaged 16.2 & 12.7. Mike Brey is now in his 21st season at South Bend but this year's team has struggled, going 4-8 overall, including 1-5 in the ACC. Jim Larranaga will likely always be remembered for taking George Mason to the 2006 Final 4 but in SIX of his first seven seasons at Miami, won 20-plus games with four NCAA appearances. However, the 'Canes are coming off back-to-back seasons of 14 and 15 wins and enter this game at 6-7 (2-6 in the ACC). Notre Dame PG Hubb (13.7-3.1-5.0) ) and SG Goodwin (13.3 & 4.7) are a solid backcourt duo plus the 6-10 Laszewski leads the team in scoring (16.7) and rebounding (7.7). Stanford transfer Ryan (9.4-4.4-3.1) comes off the bench and 6-11 UConn transfer Durham (8.3 & 5.2) has been a solid complement up front with Laszewski. Miami really misses PG Lykes (15.5-4.0-5.5), who is out indefinitely with an ankle injury. However, the 'Canes have excellent backcourt depth. Wong (17.5 & 5.8) is joined in the starting lineup by Olaniyui (9.2- and Beverly (8.1-5.5-3.5) plus McGusty (10.0) and Timberlake (9.3 & 5.0) come off the bench. The 7-0 brooks (7.2 & 6.6) and the 6-0 Walker (7.2 & 3.3) start up front. Miami is coming off an ugly 83-57 loss to Syracuse on Tuesday but faces a Notre Dame team that hasn't played since snapping a four-game losing streak with an 80-70 home win over Boston College on Jan 16. Notre Dame's lone road win this season (1-4) came back on Dec 12 64-63 at Kentucky, part of the Wildcats' season-opening 1-6 start. Road win No. 2 is NOT coming here! Good luck...Larry |
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01-23-21 | Missouri v. Tennessee -7 | Top | 73-64 | Loss | -110 | 13 h 45 m | Show |
My 9* play is on Tennessee at 8:30 ET. The Tennessee Volunteers were No. 12 in the AP's preseason poll and the Vols were 10-1 and ranked 6th when they lost 75-49 at Florida to the Gators on Tuesday, Head coach Rick Barnes promised to try a different in Saturday's home game against the surprising Missouri Tigers, who are 9-2 and ranked 19th. Coming off back-to-back losing seasons of 15-17 and 15-16, the Tigers opened 6-0, their best start to a season since they opened 10-0 in 2013. Missouri's 6-0 start was ended when the Volunteers won 73-53 back on Dec 30 in Columbia. Tigers center Jeremiah Tilmon had nine points and four rebounds in that game but has become a force in conference play, scoring 74 points and grabbing 37 rebounds in his last four games. Tilmon's averaging 12.8 & 8.0 and is Missouri's lone big man of note, as Missouri's next four scorers are guards Pinson (12.9), Dru Smith (12.1), Mark Smith (11.6) and Pickett (7.6). Tennessee is loaded with perimeter plays. Guards Bailey (11.6), Springer (11.0), Vescovi (9.8), Johnson (9.1), James (8.1) and Pons (7.3) are quite a group. The 6-9 Fulkerson averages 12.2 & 6.2). The Vols have plenty of offensive balance, averaging 74.8 PPG but Barnes' team thrives on its defense, holding opponents to 58.7 PPG (5th). Missouri head coach Counzo Martin needs more consistency from his guards. Xavier Pinson has as many turnovers (nine) as points in his last two games. Dru Smith averaged 14.6 points in his first five games, then scored just six points in each of his next three games. Mark Smith averaged 17.3 points in his first four games before scoring just 6.8 points per game in his next six. That hardly bodes well against an OUTSTANDING Tennessee defensive team, looking to bounce back from an 'ugly' loss to Florida. In the first meeting at Missouri, Tennessee shot 50.0% and held Missouri to 36.1% shooting and to a season-low 53 points. No revenge here! Good luck...Larry |
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01-23-21 | LSU v. Kentucky -1 | Top | 69-82 | Win | 100 | 12 h 8 m | Show |
My 10* Oddsmaker's Error of the Month is on Kentucky at 6:00 ET. LSU (10-3, 5-2) entered its home game with No. 18 Alabama (Tuesday) on a four-game winning streak and had a chance to tie the league-leading Tide with a win. Instead, the Tigers allowed the most points in Will Wade's four seasons as head coach in a 105-75 loss (Alabama finished with an SEC-record 23 three-pointers). Kentucky was ranked No. 10 in the AP preseason poll but its 1-6 start took care of that. However, the Wildcats won three straight to open SEC play, after a 76-58 at Florida on Jan 9. Hope was alive in Lexington THREE straight losses have followed. Kentucky welcomes LSU to Rupp Arena 4-9, including 3-3 in SEC play. Freshman guard Thomas (22.0) leads the Tigers in scoring, joined by fellow guard Smart (14.9-3.8-4.0) to give LSU one of the SEC's top backcourt duos. The 6-9 Watford (18.1 & 7.1), the 6-7 Days (12.9 & 8.2) plus SF Wilkerson (4.9 & 3.6) start up front. It's no surprise that Calipari relies on freshmen, including leading scorer Boston (12.0 & 5.4), who is joined in the backcourt by freshman Clarke (10.7) and Askew (7.5) plus senior Mintz (9.5). 7-0 senior Wake Forest transfer Sarr (10.0 & 6.1) has help up front from 6-10 freshman Jackson (6.5 & 6.4) and now the 6-7 Brooks. The sophomore has been back on the court for the last four games, averaging 10.5 & 4.8. However, his return has been mitigated by Clarke being sidelined with an ankle injury. The Wildcats had a six-point lead at Georgia with two minutes remaining Wednesday night but Kentucky didn't score again. The Bulldogs scored the final SEVEN points in winning 63-62 on a last-second layup by P.J. Horne. "We should have won the game," Wildcats coach John Calipari said after his team lost its third straight. "I'm discouraged." Coach Cal's season is on the brink of being a 'lost cause' and this game with LSU is the ONLY one in the next five for the Wildcats that is not against a ranked team. Win here, or "pack it in!" Good luck...Larry |
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01-23-21 | Ohio State v. Wisconsin -4.5 | Top | 74-62 | Loss | -110 | 8 h 20 m | Show |
My 9* play is on Wisconsin at 4:00 ET. Wisconsin has had a terrific basketball program for decades and Greg Gard enters his sixth season at Madison, having had FOUR 20-win seasons in his first five. Wisconsin got blown out at 77-54 Michigan on Jan 12 but has allowed 54 and 52 points, respectively, in conference wins over Rutgers and Northwestern since the Michigan game. Chris Holtmann took over at Butler for Brad Stevens and went 70-31 win three seasons, each ending with an NCAA tourney berth. He took the Ohio St job beginning in 2017-18 and strung together three straight 20-win seasons but was denied a third straight NCAA bid when last season was shut down. Ohio State (11-4, 5-4) saw a three-game winning streak end Tuesday night when Purdue's Jaden Ivey drilled a stepback three-pointer with five seconds to secure a 67-65 decision in Columbus. The Buckeyes led by five points with 2:08 left but didn't manage a field goal for the game's remainder. Ohio State hit just 37.7 percent from the floor against Purdue. "Give Purdue credit; I thought they made a few more plays and got to a few more loose balls than we did," Chris Holtmann said. "It was a super-physical game. We have to be tougher with the ball in a game like this. That's my fault." Guard Washington (15.1) leads the team in scoring and had been paired with PG Walker (8.7 & 4.2 APG). However, Walkers is now out with torn ligaments in his right hand. The frontcourt has four solid contributors led by arguably the team's best player, the 6-7 Liddell (14.1 & 6.8). He's joined on the frontline by the 6-7 Sueing (10.5 & 5.2), the 6-8 Young (8.0 & 6.1), 6-8 freshman Key (6.7 & 3.7) and the 6-6 Aherns (6.6) The Badgers start FIVE seniors, guards Trice (14.8-3.2-3.3) and Davison (9.8) plus the 6-10 Potter (12.1 & 6.7), the 6-11 Reuvers (9.1 & 3.9) and the 6-8 Ford (9.4 & 4.2). 6-5 freshman Davis (6.5 & 4.6) and 6-9 sophomore Wahl (5.5 & 4.1) both contribute off the bench. I love the way Wisconsin plays and Ohio St is typically vulnerable away from Columbus. Lay the points. Good luck...Larry |
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01-23-21 | NC State v. North Carolina -6 | Top | 76-86 | Win | 100 | 5 h 12 m | Show |
My 9* Play is on North Carolina at 2:00 ET. Kevin Keatts took over at NC State for Mark Gottfried beginning in the 2017-18 season, after leading UNC-Wilmington to 25-8 and 29-6 records in his final two seasons (both teams earned NCAA tourney bids). He's won 21, 24 and 20 games his first three seasons in Raleigh and while he lost leading scorer Bryce (13.3 & 6.3) plus PG Johnson (12.8-4.4-6.8) from last season's team, the Wolfpack have plenty of talent and depth this season. However, NC State is just 6-4 (2-3 ACC) and hasn't played since Jan. 13 because of COVID-19 issues. North Carolina's legendary head coach Roy Williams is coming off a 14-19 season in which North Carolina players lost 99 games to injury. However, the Tar Heels opened No. 16 in the AP's preseason poll. The Tar Heels welcome the Wolfpack to Chapel Hill at 9-5 (4-3 in ACC). NC State enters on a three-game losing streak (most recent game was a 105-73 loss at Clemson) and the team's practice time has been reduced because of the COVID-19 pause. Guard Daniels (15.7 & 4.8-3.3) and 6-7 wing Hellems (11.3 & 5.2) are averaging in double digits, as is the 6-10 Funderburk (12.1 & 5.3), who comes off the bench. Hayes (7.9) and Beverley (6.0) start in the backcourt along with Daniels, while the 6-11 Bates (9.4 & 5.4) starts up front with Hellems. However, Bates is out with an ankle injury. Last year's super frosh Anthony lost time to injury last season (played 22 games) but averaged 18.5-5.7-4.0 and as expected was a "One and Done!" Also gone is senior guard Robinson and his 11.8 PPG for North Carolina. The Tar Heels' strength is their depth. Up front it's the 6-10 Bacot (11.6 & 7.6), the 6-10 Brooks (10.7 & 7.4) and the 6-11 Sharpe (9.0 & 7.6), while the backcourt goes five-deep. The group includes Love (10.2), Davis (9.4), Black (7.0 & 6.0), Walton (6.1) and Platek (5.3). North Carolina lost 79-76 to NC State on Dec. 22 in Raleigh but hasn't lost consecutive games to NC State since 2002-03, the season before Roy Williams became coach. With Williams as coach, North Carolina is 32-5 vs. NC State. Lay the points. Good luck...Larry |
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01-23-21 | Kansas -1 v. Oklahoma | Top | 68-75 | Loss | -114 | 7 h 22 m | Show |
My 9* Eye-Opener is on Kansas at 12:00 ET. When last season was shut down because of COVID, the Kansas Jayhawks were the AP's No. 1-ranked team. Key losses for Kansas entering this season were PG Devon Dotson (18.1-4.9-4.0) and the seven-foot Udoka Azubuike (13.7 & 10.5). The Jayhawks opened the current season losing 102-90 to No. 1 Gonzaga but then won EIGHT in a row before a shocking 84-59 home loss to Texas on Jan 2 (the Longhorns owned just one previous win in 17 tries at Lawrence). The Jayhawks enter this game in Norman at 10-4 (4-3 Big 12), having lost back-to-back games for the first time in two seasons and two consecutive conference games for the first time since 2013. Lon Kruger's Oklahoma team is 8-4 overall and like Kansas, 4-3 in the Big 12. The Sooners lost 63-59 at Kansas back on Jan 9, although the Sooners played without forwards Brady Manek (12.5 & 4.1) and Jalen Hill (3.9 & 3.5) due to COVID-19 protocols. Manek and Hill returned in Tuesday night's 76-50 win over Kansas State, each coming off the bench and scoring six points apiece. The 6-8 Jalen Wilson has bounced back after suffering a broken ankle as a freshman last season to average 13.1 & 7.6 for Kansas this season. Junior Ochai Agbaji (14.8 & 4.4) leads the team in scoring and senior Marcus Garrett (9.2 & 4.3-3.9) is one of the nation's top defenders. Sophomore guard Braun (10.7 & 5.5) and 6-10 junior David McCormack (10.6 & 5.9) round out Self's main contributors. Oklahoma's top scorer from last season is gone (forward Doolittle averaged 15.8 & 8.9). Guards Reaves (15.2-5.5-5.3), Harmon (12.0) and Williams (8.4) are joined by big men like the 6-9 Manek (12.5 & 4.1), the 6-10 Kuath (8.1 & 4.9) and the 6-7 Iwuako (5.6 7 4.0). Oklahoma's playing with revenge but the Jayhawks have had just TWO three-game losing streaks in 18 seasons under Self! I'm backing Kansas. Good luck...Larry |
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01-22-21 | Michigan v. Purdue +4 | Top | 70-53 | Loss | -110 | 11 h 52 m | Show |
My 10* Weekly Wipeout is on Purdue at 7:00 ET. Michigan's Juwan Howard's first season as head coach saw his team open 7-0, then go 6-9 over its next 15 games. A six-game win streak followed but Michigan lost three of four before the shutdown (19-11 finish). Howard's sophomore year at Michigan has everyone's attention! Michigan started the season with 11 consecutive victories before falling 75-57 at Minnesota last Saturday but routed Maryland 87-63 in a game they never trailed on Tuesday. The win came even though Michigan's leading scorer Hunter Dickinson (15.7 PPG) only took three shots and scored three points. The Boilermakers welcome Michigan to Mackey Arena on a current four-game winning streak that began when they rallied from 17 points down against Michigan State back on Jan 8. The Boilermakers have outscored opponents by a combined 39 points in the second half over the last four games. and are 11-5, including 6-0 at home. Gone from Michigan's team last season are PG Simpson (12.9-4.5-7.9) and the 7-1 Teske (11.6 & 6.7). 6-7 senior Livers led Michigan in scoring last season and is averaging 14.1 & 5.7 this season. The Wolverines have an experienced group but their leading scorer is 7-1 freshman Hunter Dickinson (15.7 & 7.5). Experience comes in guards Wagner (12.3 & 7.2), Smith (8.6 & 5.8 APG), Brown (9.2), Brooks (8,6 & 3.8 APG). Michigan is averaging 80.5 PPG on 51.4% shooting (10th), while holding opponents to 66.3 PPG on 37.9% shooting (11th). Purdue's Matt Painter is in his 16th season with the Boilermakers and his team was just 16-14 last season, coming off a four-year run of averaging 27.3 wins per season. Purdue is 11-5 this season, including 6-3 in Big Ten. Painter's lone loss of note from last season's team was the 7-3 Haarms (8.6 & 4.6), who went to BYU as a graduate transfer. The team's "Big Three" are all returning players, senior PG Hunter (10.5 & 3.3 APG) plus juniors like the 6-10 Williams (15.4 & 9.65 and SG Stefanovic (11.1). 7-4 freshman Edey (8.1 & 3.9) has made all forget about Haarms plus freshman guard Newman (9.1) gives Purdue five players averaging between 8.1 and 15.4 PPG. Depth is provided by four players chipping in a combined 21 PPG. Michigan delivered an emphatic response to its first loss of the season against Maryland but winning here at Purdue is a tough assignment. Trevion Williams has scored in double figures in 11 consecutive games (he's averaged 19.3 points during the Boilermakers' current four-game winning streak) but it was reserve freshman guard Jaden Ivey (7.2) who made the game-winning shot. He knocked down a three-pointer with five seconds left and finished with a career-high 15 points in Purdue's 67-65 win at Ohio St. It was Ohio State's first home loss of the season (had opened 7-0), as Purdue's defense held the Buckeyes to 37.7 percent shooting. The home dog barks LOUDLY in this one. Good luck...Larry |
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01-21-21 | Utah v. Washington State +2.5 | 71-56 | Loss | -108 | 11 h 39 m | Show | |
My 8* Las Vegas Insider is on Washington St at 10:00 ET. Larry Krystkowiak led Montana to back-to-back NCAA berths in his two seasons at his alma mater and then took the Utah job to begin the 2011-12 season. He had losing seasons in his first two years but then led his team to an average of 23.4 wins per season over the next five with postseason berths in each one (3 NIT and 2 NCAA). However, the Utes opened this season off seasons of just 17 and 16 wins. Utah enters this game just 5-6, including 2-5 in the Pac. Kyle Smith was at Columbia for SIX seasons and in his final one, led the Lions to a 25-10 record and a CIT championship. He spent three seasons at San Francisco, winning 20, 22 and 21 games. He was named head coach at Washington St on March 27, 201 and led the Cougars to a 16-16 record. No big deal? It was the team's best since 2011-12!. Utah lost Both Gach to Minnesota (transfer) but returned four starters. 6-6 forward Allen led the team in scoring last season and is averaging 17.3 & 5.8. Guard Alfonso Plummer (13.0) is the only other double digit scorer. Joining Allen up front are the 6-8 Jantunen (9.5 & 4.5), the 7-0 Carlson (6.4) and the 6-9 Battin (5.4 & 34.5). Gach liked to play PG and his leaving has opened that role up to Jones (5.7 & 4.1 APG), who joins Plummer in the starting backcourt, while freshman Larsson (8.0) comes off the bench. Washington St guards Bonton (18.9-4.5-4.00 and Williams (12.0) lead the way, joined in the starting lineup by the 6-10 Abogidi (9.9 & 8.2), the 6-8 Jakimovski (7.6 & 5.0) and the 6-10 Jackson (5.2 & 3.5) More size up front comes with the 6-8 Kunc (5.3 & 3.2) off the bench. Utah is coming off 72-63 home loss Saturday to California, which entered the game with one conference win. The Utes blew a12-point halftime lead, allowing 50 second-half points. The Utes have lost FIVE of six coming and while the Cougars are 1-4 since their 8-0 start, just ONE of those five games during that stretch came at home (86-82 OT loss to Arizona). The Cougars are 8-1 SU at home this season and will handle the Utes in this one. Good luck...Larry |
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01-21-21 | San Francisco v. Santa Clara +4 | Top | 73-50 | Loss | -107 | 13 h 7 m | Show |
My 10* WCC Game of the Year is on Santa Clara at 10:00 ET. San Francisco went 22-12 last season in head coach Todd Golden's first season and enters this contest 9-7. The Dons lost two key players from last season in leading scorer Mineland (14.4 & 4.7) and huge center Lull (11.9 & 7.6). This year's team revolves around senior PG Bouyea (17.4-3.4-3.8 APG), junior SG Shabazz (15.6-4.1) and 6-9 junior Ryuny (10.3 & 6.0). The Dons are on the road tonight in Santa Clara to face the Broncos. The Broncos are coached by Herb Sendek (NC State and Arizona St), who after going 44-51 in his first three seasons with Santa Clara, went 23-13 last season and has opened this season 8-3. San Francisco shocked UVA 61-60 way back in late-Dec but has been a .500 team since. Joining the above-mentioned double digit scorers in the starting lineup are the 6-9 Jurkatamm (6.5 & 3.0) and the 6-8 Kunen (3.9 & 5.1). Guards Rishwain (6.9) and Milstead (5.5) come off the bench. Santa Clara is led by the 6-9 Vrankic (14.3 & 8.5) and the 6-7 Justice (11.0 & 5.8), who are joined by guards Carlyle (9.1), Williams (8.3 & 3.7) and Caruso (6.8 & 3.7) The 6-8 Mitchell (5.7 & 4.8) and 60-10 Bediako (5.7 & 6.1) come off the bench. No crowds have blunted Santa Clara's success at home, as the Broncos are a perfect 5-0 at Leavey Center. What the Broncos could use more of is, MORE home games. Santa Clara opened the season 6-0, going 5-0 at home but due to COVID cancelations and postponements, haven't played at home since Dec 15. The Dons are in the WRONG place at the WRONG time in this one and any points we get will be a bonus. Good luck...Larry |
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01-20-21 | Tulsa v. Houston -12 | Top | 59-86 | Win | 100 | 8 h 37 m | Show |
My 9* Late-Breaker is on Houston at 8:00 ET. Frank Haith has had stops at Miami-Fl and Missouri before coming to Tulsa for the 2014-15 season. His teams have averaged 19.3 wins per year in his first six seasons, including going 21-10 before COVID shut down the 2019-20 season. However, Haith's biggest win at Tulsa came when it stunned No. 5 Houston 65-64 back on Dec 29. It was the program's first win over a top-5 opponent in 24 years (Golden Hurricane beat a ranked UCLA team back in 1995!). After opening 1-3, Tulsa has gone 7-1 to enter this rematch with Houston at 8-4. Kelvin Sampson had a great run at Oklahoma (nine NCAA tourneys in 10 seasons, including a Final 4 appearance in 2002) but then ran into off the court issues in a two-year stay at Indiana. He was away from CBB for a few years but resurfaced at Houston for the 2014-15 season. It took him a while to build the program but his teams won 27 and 33 games in back-to-back seasons before going 23-8 in last year's pandemic-shortened season. The Cougars opened 7-0 this season, rising to No. 5 in the latest AP poll but lost their first game of the season 65-64 at Tulsa. The Cougars have won all four games since that loss to the Golden Hurricane and enter this rematch 11-1 and ranked No. 8 in the latest AP poll. The Golden Hurricane are led by a quartet of guards in Rachal (14.6 & 7.2), Joiner (9.8-5.1-3.8), Embery-Simpson (7.9) and Jackson (7.3). The 6-9 Idowu (8.5 & 4.8) is the team's best frontcourt player. Tulsa is scoring a modest 67.8 PPG, which is NOT helped by the team making just 64.3% of its free throws (307th). However, Tulsa does play defense, allowing 60.9 PPG (16th) while holding opponents to 37.4% from the floor (7th). Houston guards Grimes (17.8 & 6.5) and Sasser (15.5) are the 'big dogs,' joined on the perimeter by Jarreau (8.8-6.0-3.7) and freshman Mark (7.9). The best frontcourt player is the 6-7 Gorham (7.7 & 9.1). Houston is not a high scoring team (73.3 PPG) but Sampson's team can sure play "D," allowing only 56.5 PPG, ranking second-best in the nation. The Cougars are holding opponents to 37.1% shooting (4th), including 25.6% on threes (also 4th-best). Houston is 8-0 at home with an average margin of victory of 21.0 PPG and wins this one "with room to spare!" Lay it! Good luck...Larry |
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01-20-21 | Clemson +1.5 v. Georgia Tech | Top | 65-83 | Loss | -109 | 11 h 4 m | Show |
My 10* Situational Stunner is on Clemson at 7:00 ET. 9-1 Clemson was ranked 12th when it welcomed Virginia to Littlejohn Coliseum on Saturday. The Tigers were coming off an extended pause due to a positive COVID-19 test and subsequent contact tracing. The 11-day break clearly did not turn out well, as UVa routed Clemson 85-50 for its 11th consecutive win over the Tigers. Clemson (9-2) dropped to No. 20 in Monday's AP poll and will travel to Atlanta to take on a 6-3 Georgia Tech team. Brad Brownell came to Clemson for the 2010-11 season, after so-so stints at UNC-Wilmington and Wright St (not a single NCAA bid) and has produced a modest four, 20-win seasons and just two NCAA berths in his tenure. However, he returned four starters plus Fordham transfer Nick Honor is now eligible. The Tigers are led by 6-8 senior forward Aamir Simms (11.6 & 5.7) and senior guard Clyde Trapp (7.2 & 5.1). Simms was a preseason All-ACC first-team and Trapp is surrounded by guards Honor (10.3) and Dawes (8.8). Ga Tech head coach Josh Pastner is in his fifth season with the Yellow Jackets, after SEVEN years at Memphis. His first four seasons have not gone well (just 65-67) and this year's team is 6-3 and similar to Clemson this past Saturday, enters tonight's contest having had four consecutive games postponed and haven't played since Jan 3. Returning PG Alvarado (18.1-3.7-3.8) and SG Devoe (14.2-4.9-3.2) have been excellent plus returning big man Wright (17.0 & 7.1) present an excellent trio. 6-7 USC transfer Usher (9.7 & 5.2) helps out up front plus VMI transfer Parham (9.7 & 3.7) adds to the team's backcourt depth. That's a solid five-man rotation but the Yellow Jackets have little depth. The Yellow Jackets aren't likely to be at full strength against the Tigers, although Pastner did not identify which of his players he expects to miss Wednesday night's game. Georgia Tech had won four straight games before the interruption but so had Clemson prior to facing Virginia. The "situation" is just right for a Clemson bounce-back against a Ga Tech team playing for the first time in 2 1/2-weeks. Good luck...Larry |
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01-19-21 | Duke -2.5 v. Pittsburgh | Top | 73-79 | Loss | -110 | 14 h 14 m | Show |
My 9* play is on Duke at 9:00 ET. Duke opened No. 9 in the AP's preseason poll but the team's Jan 12 loss at Va Tech saw 5-3 Duke (3-1 in the ACC) fall out of the AP poll on Monday. It ended the nation's second-longest streak of consecutive weeks in the top-25 at 91. The Blue Devils have been idle since that Jan 12 loss and will travel to Pittsburgh 7-2 / 3-1 ACC) to take on the Panthers. Pittsburgh has played just TWO games across a 25-day period, BOTH against Syracuse, winning each time fueled by second-half comebacks.
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01-19-21 | Alabama v. LSU -1 | Top | 105-75 | Loss | -108 | 14 h 3 m | Show |
My 9* play is on LSU at 9:00 ET. Alabama head coach Nate Oats was 96-43 at Buffalo, leading the Bulls to three NCAA tourneys in his four years, including going 27-9 and 32-4 in his last two seasons. 'Bama was just 16-15 last season and guard Lewis (18.5-4.8-5.2) left after one year for the NBA. Alabama has won SEVEN in a row (6-0 in SEC puts them in 1st-place) and at 11-3, just entered the top-25 for the first time this season on Monday (No. 18). LSU head coach Will Wade has been surrounded by controversy but his Tigers enter on a four-game winning streak and at 10-2 (5-1 SEC), can tie Alabama atop the SEC with a home win tonight. Alabama's backcourt is strong, with PG Quinnerly (12.5 & 3.5 APG), Shackleford (13.6 & 4.3), Petty (13.5 & 5.3) and Primo (7.6 & 3.4), while the 6-8 Jones (12.6 & 5.9) had been joined up front by he 6-10 Brunner (7.8 & 5.3), who is a rare Yale graduate transfer. However, Brunner is out until mid-Feb with a knee injury. Freshman guard Thomas (22.1) leads the Tigers in scoring, joined by fellow guard Smart (15.2-4.0-4.0) to give LSU one of the SEC's top backcourt duos. The 6-9 Watford (18.7 & 7.0), the 6-7 Days (13.7 & 8.6) plus SF Wilkerson (4.8 & 3.7) start up front. Alabama is off to its best start in SEC play since 1987 and its seventh consecutive win was a 90-59 rout of visiting Arkansas on Saturday. That victory came just four days after an 85-65 victory against Kentucky LSU 85-80 home win against South Carolina on Saturday saw the Tigers hold the Gamecocks without a field goal for more than SEVEN minutes to take control. South Carolina missed 11 consecutive shots and made just one of its last 13. I respect Alabama but LSU is a perfect 8-0 SU at home and with this pointspread, a "W" is a cover! Good luck...Larry |
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01-19-21 | Ole Miss v. Mississippi State -2.5 | Top | 64-46 | Loss | -105 | 13 h 10 m | Show |
My 10* Conference Game of the Month (SEC) is on Mississippi St at 9:00 ET. Kermit Davis is in his third season at Ole Miss. His first team won 20 games but last season's team won just 15, going 6-12 in the SEC (12th of 14 teams). Davis was critical of his team saying that it couldn't close out games. "We had seven games in SEC play where we had leads but couldn't hold them." Ole Miss is just 6-6 (1-4 SEC) and enters this game having lost three in a row. However, the Rebels have won 10 of the last 14 meetings against Mississippi State. Ben Howland's MSU team went 20-11 last season, its third consecutive 20-win season. The Bulldogs were on a roll (had won 11 of their last 15) and finished with an 11-7 mark in SEC conference play, earning the No. 4 seed in the conference tournament, earning a bye to the quarterfinals. However COVID-19 had other plans and the conference tournament was canceled. The Bulldogs are 9-5 (4-2 SEC), after a 72-69 win over visiting Florida on Saturday. Ole Miss lost by 14 to LSU, by nine to Florida and despite 24 points and eight assists from Devontae Shuler, lost to Georgia 78-74, at home this past Saturday. PG Shuler (14.1 & 4.3 APG) leads the team in scoring and the Rebels' only other double digit scorer is 6-8 Arizona graduate transfer Romello White (11.2 & 5.8). The returning 6-7 Buffen (9.8 & 4.6 just misses double digits, as do guards Joiner (9.90 and Rodriguez (8.2 & 6.9). Howland lost his four best players in the 6-10 Reggie Perry (17.4 & 10.1), plus guards Tyson Carter (13.9), Robert Woodard (11.4 & 6.5) and Nick Weatherspoon (11.6-3.5-4.1). However, returning guard DJ Stewart is averaging 17.4 PPG plus the 6-11 Abdul Ado has added 5.9 & 6.5). 5.7 & 6.7). The surprise has been sophomore guard Molinar, who averaged only 5.9 PPG last season, but leads the team with 18.4-4.4-3.4. Howland had high hopes for 6-6 forward Jalen Johnson (a transfer from Louisiana who averaged 15.5 points and 6.6 rebounds last season) but he has disappointed by averaging 7.4 PPG. That said, 6-10 Tolo Smith (via Western Ky) is averaging 13.8 & 8.9. Tuesday will be the first meeting of the season between the rivals and the Bulldogs and guard Iverson Molinar has scored in double figures in all 11 games he has played this season, while the 6-10 Smith leads the SEC in rebounding. Ole Miss just doesn't match up well here and note that the Bulldogs beat the Rebels 69-44 last season at Humphrey Coliseum. The price seems cheap. Lay it! Good luck...Larry |
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01-19-21 | Penn State v. Illinois -8 | Top | 65-79 | Win | 100 | 14 h 34 m | Show |
My 9* play is on Illinois at 8:30 ET. Brad Underwood made a big 'splash' at S.F. Austin and then made a one year 'pit stop' at Oklahoma St, before landing in Champaign-Urbana. The Fighting Illini were just 14-18 and 12-21 in his first two seasons but had a breakout year in going 21-10 before last season was shut down. Illinois opened the current season No. 8 in the AP's preseason poll but so far, it has NOT been 'smooth sailing.' The Illini opened 3-0 but was just 5-3 before a four-game winning streak from Dec 23 through Jan 7. However, a 66-63 home loss to Maryland on Jan 10 ended that winning run and after sitting on that loss to Maryland for six days, Illinois promptly fell behind 10-2 and 37-19 in the first half against Ohio St, of an eventual 87-81 defeat in Champaign. Penn St was 21-10 last season but the Nittany Lions went through some turmoil right as practices started when head coach Pat Chambers resigned in late October following an investigation into inappropriate conduct. Penn State interim head coach Jim Ferry has led the Nittany Lions to an unimpressive 3-5 start, after an 87-85 overtime loss at Indiana on Dec 30. Penn State had been idle since Dec 30 (FOUR straight postponements due to COVID-19 concerns within the program) but returned to the court on Sunday in an 80-72 loss at Purdue. The Nittany Lions were predictably rusty in the first half, scoring just nine points in the first 10 minutes. Penn St surely misses All-Big Ten forward Lamar Stevens (17.6 & 6.9) but the Nittany Lions have four players averaging in double figures; the 6-7 Izaiah Brockington (14.8 & 5.3) and the 6-7 Seth Lundy (11.9 & 3.5) plus guards Myreon Jones (15.4) and Sam Sessoms (11.5). Sessoms has come off the bench, with the 6-9 Harrar (7.9 & 7.5) and PG Wheeler (5.0-4.3.4-1) starting alongside Jones and the two 6-7 forwards. Penn St allied to take a lead later in the half against Purdue and trailed only 33-32 at intermission, but the Boilermakers started the second half with an 18-5 spurt that was simply too much for Penn State to overcome. Myreon Jones led Penn State with a career-high 23 points, while senior John Harrar enjoyed the best game of his career with 14 points and 14 rebounds. The loss to Ohio St dropped coach Brad Underwood's team to 9-5 overall and 5-3 in the conference, and after the game, he sounded like a man who has seen enough. "I'm getting really frustrated with really poor, lack of emotion, non-competitive starts," he said to the Champaign News-Gazette. "You can't come out of a locker room and can't come out of a pregame huddle and be down 10-2. "You can't have guys not show up and not be assignment-sound and not be dialed in mentally. Right now we have that. We've got to put five guys on the floor who will be competitive, not just ride the emotional waves of good or bad. Just play." Illinois features one of the top guards in the nation in Dosunmu (22.4-6.7-4.9) plus 7-0 center Cockburn (17.1 & 10.1) has built on a successful freshman season. Dosunmu is joined in the backcourt by veterans Curbelo (8.8 & 4.4 APG), Frazier (8.4) and Williams (6.2 & 5.6) plus freshman Miller adds 9.6 PPG. The 6-9 Bezhanishvili (5.9 & 2.9) rounds out the main contributors. Somehow, Illinois remained in the top-25 in Monday's new poll (22nd) but the Illini won't remain for long without a big (quick) turnaround. With four or five potential pros on its roster and perhaps a couple of future NBA All-Stars, No. 22 Illinois was expected to challenge for the Big Ten Conference title back in November and potentially make a deep NCAA Tournament run. It sure doesn't look like that now. That said, I don't doubt this team's talent. Lay the points. Good luck...Larry |
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01-18-21 | Florida State v. Louisville -1.5 | Top | 78-65 | Loss | -112 | 12 h 33 m | Show |
My 10* PERFECT STORM is on Louisville at 7:00 ET. Leonard Hamilton has built a championship-caliber program at Florida St, one that has produced the THIRD most victories among ACC schools behind Duke and Virginia since 2016. Florida State went 14 days in a row without playing due to COVID-19 interruptions but the Seminoles beat North Carolina 82-75 on Saturday for their second consecutive victory after losing two of the previous three games. The now 7-2 Seminoles shot 48.0 percent against North Carolina, after making a blistering 70.7 percent of their shots during a 105-73 rout of North Carolina State on Wednesday. Chris Mack took over at Xavier for the 2009-10 season when Sean Miller took the Arizona job. He led the Musketeers to eight NCAA tourneys in nine seasons before moving to Louisville. The Cards went 20-14 in his first season (NCAA bid) and were 24-7 in his second year, when the season was shut down in March (AP ranked them 14th in its final poll). Louisville entered the weekend riding a FIVE-game winning streak and was tied with Virginia atop the ACC. However, a 3-for-20 three-point shooting performance and Miami's 49.2-percent effort from the floor sent the Cardinals to a 78-72 road loss on Saturday. Louisville trailed by 12 at halftime and never found a rhythm offensively. Florida State was 26-5 and poised to make a Final Four run before the postseason was curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic but entered this season losing three key players from a team.PG Forrest (11.6-4.4-4.0), SG Vassell (12.7 & 5.1) and 6-7 swingman Williams (9.7 & 4.0) were all chosen in the NBA draft. Guard MJ Walker is back and leads with 16.3 PPG plus is surrounded by a talented group. Frontcourt veterans like the 7-1 Koprivica (9.4 & 5.7), the 6-8 Gray (8.3 & 5.4) start, while the 6-9 Osborne (3.9 & 4.7) comes off the bench. 6-9 freshman guard Barnes averages 11.1-3.8-4.1 but he's questionable with an ankle issue. Returning guard Polite (9.6 & 4.6) just misses double digits Louisville swingman Jordan Nwora (18.0 & 7.7) is gone from last season's Louisville team but FOUR starters returned. However, Carlik Jones leads the team in scoring, averaging 18.0-6.2-4.9. He's a graduate transfer from Radford and was last season's Big South Conference player of the year. He joins returning guard Johnson (12.9-5.6-4.1) in the backcourt. The 6-7 Williamson did little last season but averages 10.0 & 7.2 this season. True freshman guard Davis (8.9 & 6.2) and the 6-8 Slazinski (6.6 & 4.3) plus 6-9 redshirt freshman Withers (8.9 & 6.2) all contribute. Florida State won its 20th straight ACC home game on Saturday but now plays its THIRD game over a SIX-day stretch after going 14 in a row without playing (see above). Let me also note that the Seminoles lost 77-67 at Clemson on Dec 29 in their ONLY other true road game of the season and in Louisville, FSU is playing a ranked team for the FIRST time this season. The No. 16 Cardinals (9-2 / 4-1 ACC) look to rebound from their first Atlantic Coast Conference defeat and avoid losing back-to-back games for the first time this season. Louisville has won its last six home games, outscoring opponents on average, 74.3-to-60.3 PPG. VERY tough spot for the Seminoles. "PERFECT" spot for the Cards! Good luck...Larry |
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01-17-21 | Penn State v. Purdue -5 | Top | 72-80 | Win | 100 | 6 h 8 m | Show |
My 10* Weekend Wipeout of the Month is on Purdue at 1:00 ET. Penn St was 21-10 last season but the Nittany Lions went through some turmoil right as practices started when head coach Pat Chambers resigned in late October following an investigation into inappropriate conduct. Penn State interim head coach Jim Ferry led the Nittany Lions to an unimpressive 3-4 start, after an 87-85 overtime loss at Indiana on Dec 30. However, the Nittany Lions have been idle since that game, as Penn State has had FOUR straight postponements due to COVID-19 concerns within the program and enters on a three-game losing streak. Purdue's Matt Painter is in his 16th season with the Boilermakers and his team was just 16-14 last season, coming off a four-year run of averaging 27.3 wins per season. Purdue is coming off a four-game road trip that included meetings with THREE ranked schools and the Boilermakers return home (where they are 5-0 SU) with a 9-5 overall record (4-3 Big Ten). Penn St surely misses All-Big Ten forward Lamar Stevens (17.6 & 6.9) but the Nittany Lions have four players averaging in double figures; the 6-7 Izaiah Brockington (15.1 & 4.7) and the 6-7 Seth Lundy (12.6) plus guards Myreon Jones (14.3) and Sam Sessoms (12.6). Sessoms has come off the bench, with the 6-9 Harrar (7.0 & 6.6) and PG Wheeler (5.3-4.0.4-3) starting alongside Jones and the two 6-7 forwards. Head coach Jim Ferry declined to offer specifics on which players would still be out due to quarantining but said the Nittany Lions would have enough players Sunday as they begin a stretch of four games in seven days. Matt Painter's lone loss of note from last season's team was the 7-3 Haarms (8.6 & 4.6), who went to BYU as a graduate transfer. The team's "Big Three" are all returning players, senior PG Hunter (10.4 & 3.5 APG) plus juniors like the 6-10 Williams (15.5 & 9.6) and SG Stefanovic (10.5). 7-4 freshman Edey (8.2 & 3.7) has made all forget about Haarms plus freshman guard Newman (9.5 & 3.6) gives Purdue five players averaging between 8.2 and 15.5 PPG. Depth is provided by four players chipping in a combined 21 PPG, including Wheeler (4.2 & 5.0), who leads the team in assists. Purdue is coming off a win at Indiana, the Boilermakers EIGHTH straight win over the Hoosiers. Trevion Williams has asserted himself in Purdue's last two games, combining for 48 points to spur road victories against then-No. 23 Michigan State and in-state rival Indiana. He has now scored in double figures in NINE straight games, averaging 18.6 points and 9.1 rebounds during that stretch. Purdue is 5-0 at home and Penn St is off to an 0-3 start in the big Ten. BOTH of those streaks continue here, as the Boilermakers roll to a win "with room to spare!" Good luck...Larry |
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01-16-21 | Baylor -4.5 v. Texas Tech | Top | 68-60 | Win | 100 | 10 h 5 m | Show |
My 10* Big 12 Game of the Year is on Baylor at 4:00 ET. FIVE of the Big 12's 10 teams rank among the top-15 in the latest Associated Press poll, including THREE in the top six. No. 4 Texas and No. 15 Texas Tech met Wednesday night in Austin. Texas scored 48 points in the first half (10-point lead) against a team allowing just 58.0 PPG but while the Longhorns led almost the entire game, Tech's Mac McClung made a long jumper with THREE seconds left to give No. 15 Texas Tech a 79-77 win, ending the Longhorns' 4-0 start in the Big 12. Tech returns home to Lubbock on Saturday but "there's no rest for the weary," as No. 2 Baylor comes to town with its 11-0 record (9-2 ATS). Fresh off its first road victory against a top-five opponent in program history, Texas Tech now hosts Baylor, a contest marking the first game between the two schools in which BOTH are ranked in the top-15. Baylor's Scott Drew took over a devastated Baylor program in the 2003-04 season and since 2007-08, has turned the Bears into one of the better programs in the country. Baylor won the NIT in 2013 and has made eight NCAA tourney appearances (26-4 last season would have made nine). Baylor lost 6-9 center Gillespie (9.6 & 9.0) but Tchatchoua is a 6-8 transfer from UNLV and he's averaged 9.0 & 7.2. The 6-5 Vital plays like a power forward, averaging 5.2 & 5.3 and is considered one of the best defensive players in the nation. The strength of Baylor's team is centered around its four guards, all scoring in double digits. Butler's (16.4-3.5-5.4) the best of the group but don't look past Teague (15.6 & 4.2), Mitchell (11.5 & 6.5 APG) or Flagler (10.1).The Bears (11-0, 4-0 Big 12) have been off for several days after their game against No. 13 West Virginia was postponed because of COVID-19 concerns in the Mountaineers' program. Baylor's last outing was Jan 9, when the Bears throttled TCU 67-49 in Fort Worth, for its fourth league win by double digits! Chris Beard went 30-5 at Arkansas St in 2015-16 and was able to to land the Texas Tech job as a reward. In his second season, the Red Raiders won 27 games and made the Elite 8 and then followed that up by winning 31 games in the 2018-19 season, where they lost to UVa in the national championship game. Last year's 18-13 season was seen as a major slump but Tech opened at No. 14 in the AP preseason poll. Georgetown transfer McClung (15.8) leads Tech in scoring and is joined in the starting lineup by guards Edwards (10.4 & 5.4) and freshman Peavy (5.9). The 6-7 Santos-Silva (8.9 & 6.0) is Tech's tallest starter, although the 6-6 Shannon (13.6 & 5.0, who comes off the bench, and 6-6 starter McCullar (11.4 & 6.6) are bigger producers. The Red Raiders' calling card remains defense, allowing 59.4 PPG (9th) on 39.2% shooting (36th). However, here's the rub. Baylor KNOWS more than a little about playing defense too, holding opponents to 61.2 PPG (29th). On the offensive end, Baylor is averaging 89.0 PPG (5th), which is about two 'TDs' more than Texas Tech (75.8 PPG), while shooting 50.9% (14th), including 42.3% on threes (3rd). Maybe Baylor will get tripped up somewhere in its 'travels' through the Big 12 but NOT here, as after 'escaping' at Austin, the Red Raiders will fail here at home to the Bears. Good luck...Larry |
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01-16-21 | Michigan v. Minnesota +6 | Top | 57-75 | Win | 100 | 5 h 29 m | Show |
My 9* Revenge Rout-Part 2 is on Minnesota at 2:00 ET. Michigan's Juwan Howard's first season as head coach saw his team open 7-0, then go 6-9 over its next 15 games. A six-game win streak followed but Michigan lost three of four before the shutdown (19-11 finish). Howard's sophomore year at Michigan has everyone's attention! Michigan got some extra time to prepare for the No. 9 Badgers on Tuesday, as its scheduled game at Penn State last Saturday was postponed due to COVID-19 issues within the Nittany Lions' program. Fueled by a suffocating defense, the No. 7 Wolverines routed Wisconsin 77-54 on Tuesday to remain the Big Ten's only undefeated team. Michigan held Wisconsin to 30.8% shooting, while making 51.6% themselves. Michigan led the Badgers by as much as 40 points and now faces No. 23 Minnesota (10-4, 3-4 Big Ten) for the second time in three games. Richard Pitino is in his eighth season at Minnesota. He led the Gophers to the NIT championship in his first season (2013-14) but over the last six seasons, Minnesota has made just two NCAA appearances (2017 and 2019), while going a combined 56-71 (.441) over the other four. The Gophers opened 9-1 in Pitino's 8th season but have lost THREE of four entering this game. Gone from Michigan's team last season are PG Simpson (12.9-4.5-7.9) and the 7-1 Teske (11.6 & 6.7). 6-7 senior Livers led Michigan in scoring last season and is averaging 13.8 & 5.5 this season. The Wolverines have an experienced group but their leading scorer is 7-1 freshman Hunter Dickinson (17.5 & 7.9). Experience comes in guards Wagner (12.5 & 7.1), Smith (9.2 & 5.4 APG), Brown (9.0), Brooks (8.7 & 3.6 APG). Michigan is averaging 82.0 PPG on 52.4% shooting (8th), while holding opponents to 65.8 PPG on 36.9% shooting (8th). Minnesota PG Carr (20.9-3.9-5.5) ranks with the best in the nation and has been aided by THREE transfers, 7-0 Liam Robbins (13.7 & 7.2) from Drake, the 6-6 Gach (10.5-5.3-3.0) from Utah and the 6-8 Johnson (8.1 & 6.0) from Western Michigan. Plus, don't dismiss returning junior guard Kalescheur, who's adding 9.8 PPG. Carr finished with a modest 14 points (made just 5 of 16 FG attempts) when Michigan routed Minnesota 92-57 in Ann Arbor on Jan 6. Michigan's Dickinson scored a career-high 28 points and had eight rebounds that night, as Michigan shot 56.9 percent from the floor. So what's the difference here? Minnesota's at home in Williams Arena where the Gophers are 10-0, averaging 85.5 PPG. The Gophers have beaten then-No. 4 Iowa (102-95), then-No. 17 Mich St (81-56) and then-No. 25 Ohio St (77-60) in this venue! Now-No. 7 Michigan suffers a similar fate! Take the points! Good luck...Larry |
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01-16-21 | Ohio State v. Illinois -5.5 | Top | 87-81 | Loss | -110 | 6 h 14 m | Show |
My 9* Eye Opener is on Illinois at 12:00 ET. Chris Holtmann took over at Butler for Brad Stevens and went 70-31 in three seasons, each ending with an NCAA tourney berth. He took the Ohio St job beginning in 2017-18 and strung together three straight 20-win seasons but was denied a third straight NCAA bid when last season was shut down. Ohio St opened 6-0 in non-conference play but has gone 4-3 in the rugged Big Ten. However, the Buckeyes are off back-to-back conference wins at Rutgers and a Wednesday home win over Northwestern, avenging a 71-70 loss to the Wildcats in Evanston. Brad Underwood made a big 'splash' at S.F. Austin and then made a one year 'pit stop' at Oklahoma St, before landing in Champaign-Urbana. The Fighting Illini were just 14-18 and 12-21 in his first two seasons but had a breakout year in going 21-10 before last season was shut down. Illinois opened the current season No. 8 in the AP's preseason poll but so far, it has NOT been 'smooth sailing.' The Illini opened 3-0 but was just 5-3 before a four-game winning streak from Dec 23 through Jan 7. However, a 66-63 home loss to Maryland on Jan 10 ended that winning run. Illinois is currently ranked 14th as it welcomes No. 21 Ohio St to the State Farm Center. Missing from the lineup in Ohio St's 10-point win over Northwestern were starting point guard CJ Walker (8.7 & 4.2 APG) and backup Jimmy Sotos because of injuries. One would expect that leading scorer, the 6-7 E.J. Liddell (13.3 & 6.7), would step up for the Buckeyes but he went 0 of 6 from the floor, scoring just SIX points by going 6-for-8 at the free-throw line. Instead, it was 6-7 junior forward Justice Sueing (10.8 & 5.2) who made his first career start at PG, and had 13 points and seven rebounds Junior guard Duane Washington Jr. (15.7 PPG) led four Buckeyes in double figures with a career-high 23 points. Illinois features one of the top guards in the nation in Dosunmu (22.4-6.9-4.8) plus 7-0 center Cockburn (17.3 & 10.1) has built on a successful freshman season. Dosunmu is joined in the backcourt by veterans Curbelo (9.3 & 4.6 APG), Frazier (8.4) and Williams (6.5 & 5.9) plus freshman Miller adds 9.3 PPG. The 6-9 Bezhanishvili (5.3 & 3.2) rounds out the main contributors. Illinois (9-4, 5-2 Big Ten) was supposed to play at Nebraska on Wednesday but the game was postponed because the Cornhuskers paused full-team activities due to positive COVID-19 results in the program. The unexpected open date prevented the Illini from getting on the court to erase memories of a 66-63 loss to Maryland on Sunday. Illinois led 59-56 with 7:30 left, but the Illini scored just FOUR points the rest of the game! I see this as a great bounce-back spot for Illinois and note that the Buckeyes haven't been to the State Farm Center in more than four years (last played there back on Jan 1, 2017!). Me thinks that after this one, Ohio State will want to take another FOUR years off between visits to Champaign-Urbana. Lay the points! Good luck...Larry |
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01-14-21 | BYU v. St. Mary's | 62-52 | Loss | -105 | 15 h 37 m | Show | |
My 8* Las Vegas Insider is on St Mary's at 11:00 ET. The BYU Cougars and Saint Mary's Gaels meet Thursday in WCC action in Moraga, Ca. ALL schools in the WCC play in the 'shadow' of Gonzaga but the Cougars and Gaels each have a long history of excellent basketball teams. Both enter with 9-3 records on the season. Mark Pope had an excellent first season at BYU (came from Utah Valley St), going 24-8. However, gone are PF Childs (22.2 & 9.0) plus guards Toolson (15.2-4.8-3.9) and Haws (14.0 & 5.8 APG). Guard Barcello (9.3 PPG last season) is leading the way in averaging 16.3-4.7-4.8 and the 7-3 Haarms (Purdue graduate transfer) has chipped in 11,2 & 3.7. BYU has a ton of depth, as EIGHT more players are averaging between 11 and 26 MPG. Guard Averette leads in scoring (10.2 in that group, while 6-9 Lohner (6.5) and the 6-11 Harvard (4.6) are the best rebounders. Randy Bennett has been head coach at St Mary's since the 2001-02 season and entered this season with a 440-182 (.707) record. The Gaels posted their 13th season of 20-plus wins last year, as they were 26-8 when COVID shut things down. Would the Gaels have gotten an NCAA bid? Bennett and his various teams know all about NCAA snubs, as SIX times in the previous 12 seasons, his team had been denied an NCAA bid despite seasons of 28, 25, 23, 21, 29 and 30 wins. Gone from last year are guard Ford (21.9), forward Fitts (16.5 & 7.1) and guard Krebs (9.1). However, after dropping their season opener, 73-56, to Memphis at Sioux Falls, SD back on Nov 25, St Mary's won EIGHT in a row before losing to SD State. Senior Guard Kushe, who averaged just 5.9 PPG last season, is averaging 14.8-4.0-5.7 so far this season. Junior guard Johnson (1.4 PPG last season) is averaging 11.0 & 3.6, while returning players like the 6-10 Tass (10.1 & 5.3) and the 6-7 Fotu (7.3 & 4.4) are holding up their ends. Aussie guard Ducas averaged just 3.6 PPG last season but adds 10.9 & 5.3. BYU was 9-2 when it ran into some postponements due to COVID plus Gonzaga was facing the same issues. The schools both decided to play each other a month early back last Thursday but BYU's long layoff (previous games was Dec 23) was evident early, as the Cougars committed five turnovers in the first four minutes to fall behind 16-2. Gonzaga made seven of its first nine shots, while Cougars made only two of their first 12 shots to trail 30-7 with just over nine minutes gone in the first half (would lose 86-69). This trip to St Mary's is BYU's first game since the Gonzaga contest and will take on a St Mary's team in need of a win after losing TWO of their last three games. However, stealing a line from Broadway's Annie Get Your Gun, "Anything BYU can do, St Mary's can do better!" St Mary's Gaels has won SEVEN of the last 10 meetings against BYU and makes it EIGHT of 11 here! Good luck...Larry |
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01-14-21 | Purdue v. Indiana -3 | Top | 81-69 | Loss | -110 | 12 h 0 m | Show |
My 10* Rivalry Game of the Month is on Indiana at 7:00 ET. The Indiana Hoosiers football team and the Purdue Boilermakers football team play annually for The Old Oaken Bucket. There is no trophy in basketball but that doesn't mean an Indiana/Purdue basketball game is not a bitter rivalry. Both schools play solid defense with Purdue allowing 66.2 PPG and Indiana 66.6 PPG. Indiana ranks 14th nationally per KenPom in adjusted defensive efficiency, while Purdue ranks 36th. Purdue is 8-5 (3-3 in the Big Ten) and Indiana has the exact same record overall and in Big Ten play. Purdue head coach Matt Painter's lone loss of note from last season's team was the 7-3 Haarms (8.6 & 4.6), who went to BYU as a graduate transfer. The team's "Big Three" are all returning players, senior PG Hunter (10.3 & 3.4 APG) plus juniors like the 6-10 Williams (15.0 & 9.5) and SG Stefanovic (10.7). 7-4 freshman Edey (8.8 & 4.0) has made all forget about Haarms plus freshman guard Newman (9.3) gives Purdue five players averaging between 8.8 and 15.0 PPG. Depth is provided by four players chipping in a combined 21 PPG. Archie Miller spent six years at Dayton, winning 20-plus games in five seasons. Over his final four at the school, the Flyers averaged 25.5 wins per season and went to four straight NCAA tourneys. He got the Indiana job beginning with the 2017-18 season and was just 16-15 and 19-16. However, last year's team was 20-12 before the season was "called off!" Gone from that team are Devontae Green (13.5 & 8.4) who graduated and the 6-7 Justin Smith (10.4 & 5.2), who transferred to Arkansas. This year's Indiana team is led by the 6-9 Jackson-Davis (20.1 & 9.3) and the 6-8 Thompson (9.5 & 6.6) up front plus in the backcourt, it's sophomore Franklin (12.7 & 4.2), senior Durham (11.1-3.8-3.3) and junior Phinisee (8.0). The bad news for the Hoosiers is that Franklin is out indefinitely with an ankle injury. That will give some extra minutes to the 6-7 Hunter (5.2 & 3.2) and guard Galloway (5.0), who started for Franklin in the last game. Purdue has won SEVEN straight in the rivalry between the two schools but the Boilermakers are coming off a dramatic, 55-54 win at Michigan State. In that game, Purdue rallied from down 15 points at halftime to win on a short jumper by Trevion Williams with 4.5 seconds remaining. As for Indiana, it enters with THREE wins in its last four, losing only in double-OT at the-No. 8 Wisconsin. Jackson-Davis has posted double-doubles in three straight games (against Maryland, Wisconsin and Nebraska) and I expect that the Hoosiers are primed to end their SEVEN-game slide against the hated-Boilermakers, who have averaged just 59.6 PPG in five road games this season. That's the play! Good luck...Larry |
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01-13-21 | Northwestern v. Ohio State -7.5 | Top | 71-81 | Win | 100 | 10 h 35 m | Show |
My 9* Revenge Game of the Month is on Ohio St at 7:00 ET. Chris Collins took over at Northwestern back in the 2013-14 season and won 20 games in the 2015-16 season. The very next season, he led the Wildcats to a 24-12 year, as Northwestern finished with its first winning Big Ten Conference record in 49 years (10-8) and earned its first NCAA Tournament appearance in school history (Wildcats even won their first game). It was NO small accomplishment, as Northwestern had been the only member of a power conference to have never made the "Big Dance." However, three straight losing seasons followed. However, with four starters back for this season, the Wildcats won SIX of their first seven, including a 3-0 start in the Big Ten. Northwestern won its first THREE conference games for the first time since the 1967-68 season (note: Northwestern was 3-17 in the Big Ten last season!) and entered the AP poll on Dec 28th (No. 19) for the first time this season but hardly told the whole story. Northwestern's No. 19 ranking was its highest this late in a season since 1969! However, the Wildcats have lost THREE in a row since. Chris Holtmann took over at Butler for Brad Stevens and went 70-31 win three seasons, each ending with an NCAA tourney berth. He took the Ohio St job beginning in 2017-18 and strung together three straight 20-win seasons but was denied a third straight NCAA bid when last season was shut down. Ohio St opened 5-0 and was ranked 20th in the AP poll before a 67-60 road loss at Purdue on Dec 16. A 77-70 win over UCLA (in Cleveland) plus an 80-68 home win over then-No. 11 Rutgers came next. However, the Buckeyes lost 71-70 at Northwestern, pounded visiting Nebraska 90-54 and lost 77-60 at Minnesota. The Buckeyes produced a 22-4 burst while building a 42-30 halftime lead at Rutgers on Saturday and won 79-68. Ohio St is back in the latest AP poll at No. 21. I noted that Northwestern has lost three straight but last Thursday's defeat is worthy of note. The Wildcats held a 15-point halftime over visiting Illinois last Thursday but were outscored 53-13 in the second half while shooting 2 of 24 from the floor, leading to an 81-56 loss. A major conference school had not been outscored by 40 points in a half since Kentucky was 43 points better in the second half vs Vanderbilt on March 5, 2003. The 6-7 Kupp (13.8) leads Northwestern in scoring. Guard Audige (11.7), the 6-10 Nance (11.4 & 5.8) and PG Buie (10.3& 5.0 APG) join Kupp in double digits. The 6-10 Young (9.0 & 6.1) and the 6-9 Beran (7.6 & 3.5) contribute off the bench, as does freshman guard Berry (7.1). SG Washington (15.1) leads the team in scoring and has been paired with PG Walker (8.7 & 4.2 APG). However, he is expected to be lost for multiple games due to torn ligaments in his right hand. The frontcourt has four solid contributors led by arguably the team's best player, the 6-7 Liddell (14.0 & 6,4). He's joined on the frontline by the 6-7 Sueing (10.7 & 5.0), the 6-8 Young (7.9 & 6.3), 6-8 freshman Key (6.9) and the 6-6 Aherns (5.3). Coming off a total collapse against Illinois does not bode well for the Wildcats here in Columbus, where Ohio St is 6-0 (average margin of victory 20.7 PPG) and 'itching' for revenge from that 71-70 at Northwestern back on the day after Christmas. Lay the points! Good luck...Larry |
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01-13-21 | NC State v. Florida State -4 | Top | 73-105 | Win | 100 | 10 h 55 m | Show |
My 10* (ACC Game of the Year is on Florida St at 7:00 ET. Florida State(5-2 / 1-1 in ACC) just dropped out of the AP top-25 on Monday and tonight, will end its longest in-season layoff since a holiday break during the 1956-57 season when it plays host to North Carolina State (6-3 / 2-2) in Tallahassee. COVID-19 positive tests and contact tracing within the program led to three postponed games. NC State lost four games due to COVID but opened 6-1 (2-0 ACC) before losing its last two games to Clemson and Miami in ACC play. Head coach Kevin Keatts took over at NC State for Mark Gottfried beginning in the 2017-18 season, after leading UNC-Wilmington to 25-8 and 29-6 records in his final two seasons (both teams earned NCAA tourney bids). He's won 21, 24 and 20 games his first three seasons in Raleigh and while he lost leading scorer Bryce (13.3 & 6.3) plus PG Johnson (12.8-4.4-6.8) from last season's team, the Wolfpack have plenty of talent and depth this season. Guard Daniels (15.9 & 5.2) and 6-7 wing Hellems (11/2 & 5.1) are averaging in double digits, as is the 6-10 Funderburk (13.0 & 5.5z), who comes off the bench. Hayes (7.7) and Beverley (6.4) start in the backcourt along with Daniels, while the 6-11 Bates (9.4 & 5.4) starts up front with Hellems. Leonard Hamilton is now in his 19th season with FSU and he's been greatly underappreciated (more later). Florida State was 26-5 and poised to make a Final Four run before the postseason was curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic but entered this season losing three key players from a team.PG Forrest (11.6-4.4-4.0), SG Vassell (12.7 & 5.1) and 6-7 swingman Williams (9.7 & 4.0) were all chosen in the NBA draft. Guard MJ Walker is back and leads with 15.3 PPG plus is surrounded by a talented group. Frontcourt veterans like the 7-1 Koprivica (9.9 & 5.90, the 6-8 Gray (7.0 & 6.0) start, while the 6-9 Osborne (3.6 & 5.1) comes off the bench. Freshman Barnes, a 6-9 guard averages 11.1-3.9-4.3) and returning guard Polite (10.9 & 5.1) are both double digit scorers. Here's the bottom line. Hamilton has built a championship-caliber program at Florida St, one that has produced the THIRD most victories among ACC schools behind Duke and Virginia since 2016. How many knew that? "We missed those practices," Hamilton said about the team's layoff. "We are kind of still a team, like most teams right now. We are still growing and developing." My bet is that Hamilton's crew "won't miss a beat!" Good luck...Larry |
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01-12-21 | Syracuse v. North Carolina -3.5 | 75-81 | Win | 100 | 12 h 33 m | Show | |
My 8* Las Vegas Insider is on North Carolina at 9:00 ET. Syracuse (7-2, 1-1 ACC) will visit Chapel Hill tonight to take on North Carolina (7-4, 2-2 ACC). Both teams are used to close games, as Syracuse has seen FOUR games decided by six points or less (another game went into overtime), while SEVEN of North Carolina 11 games have been decided by six points or less. The Orange have little depth, as all five starters are averaging more than 30 minutes. The 6-7 Guerrier leads in scoring (15.7) and rebounding (9.3), SF Griffin checks in at 15.6 & 7.3 plus the 6-10 Dolezag adds 12.0 & 6.3. The backcourt is Buddy Boeheim (15.2) and PG Girard (11.6 & 4.6 APG). 6-5 forward Richmond (7.2 & 3.8) is the lone producer off the bench. North Carolina's strength is its depth. Up front it's the 6-10 Bacot (11.0 & 7.6), the 6-10 Brooks (10.2 & 7.7) and the 6-11 Sharpe (9.8 & 8.2), while the backcourt goes four-deep. The group includes Love (9.5 & 3.5 APG), Davis (8.3), Black (7.7 & 6.4) and Platek (5.9). North Carolina has dominated this series recently, as its regular-season road victory stretched its winning streak in the series to NINE games. However, Syracuse won in an ACC tournament blowout in what became the last game played, because the rest of the event was canceled at the start of the current COVID-19 pandemic. The Tar Heels are beginning to "find themselves," as Roy Williams puts last season's 14-19 'nightmare' behind him. Lay the points. Good luck...Larry |
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01-12-21 | Alabama v. Kentucky -2 | Top | 85-65 | Loss | -109 | 12 h 17 m | Show |
My 10* PERFECT STORM of the Month is on Kentucky at 9:00 ET. The lead in the Southeastern Conference will be at stake when Alabama visits Kentucky on Tuesday in Lexington. That the Tide and Wildcats are atop the standings even this early in the season is somewhat of a surprise since both teams struggled in non-conference play. Alabama went a modest 5-3, while Kentucky opened 1-6, its worst start to a season since the 1926-27 Wildcats lost eight of nine. However, Alabama is 4-0 to open SEC play and Kentucky 3-0 (note: the only other unbeaten team in the SEC is 1-0 South Carolina!). Alabama head coach Nate Oats was 96-43 at Buffalo, leading the Bulls to three NCAA tourneys in his four years, including going 27-9 and 32-4 in his last two seasons. 'Bama was just 16-15 last season but guard Lewis (18.5-4.8-5.2) left after one year for the NBA. The starting backcourt is strong, with PG Quinnerly (13.0 & 3.4 APG), Shackleford (13.1 & 4.8), Petty (12.4 & 5.5) and Primo (7.7 & 3.3), while the 6-8 Jones (12.9 & 6.5) is joined up front by he 6-10 Brunner (7.8 & 5.6), who is a rare Yale graduate transfer. Kentucky was ranked No. 10 in the AP preseason poll but its 1-6 start took care of that. Not surprisingly, Calipari again relies on freshman and transfers. Three Wildcats are averaging double digits thus far, freshmen Brandon Boston (12.8 & 5.3), 7-0 Wake Forest transfer Sarr (11.2 & 5.6) and Creighton transfer Mintz (10.3 & 7.3). Freshman guards Askew (7.7) and Allen (7.1) plus 6-10 freshman Jackson (5.7 & 7.2) are getting their 'sea legs.' Then there is 6-7 sophomore Keion Brooks Jr., playing his first game after missing the first nine with a left calf injury. He scored 12 points plus has six rebounds and four assists in Kentucky's impressive 76-58 win at Florida this past Saturday. Did anyone really think Kentucky would just fold after that 1-6 start? Alabama PG PG Quinnerly has NOT played in the team's last two games and there is no indication he's expected to play here. Either way, I'm "all over" Kentucky here, as the Wildcats open 4-0 in the SEC. Good luck...Larry |
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01-12-21 | Wisconsin +4 v. Michigan | Top | 54-77 | Loss | -110 | 12 h 21 m | Show |
My 9* Ultimate Underdog is on Wisconsin at 7:00 ET. The new AP poll was released on Monday and the Big Ten has SEVEN teams in the top-25, including THREE in the top-10. TWO of those schools square off Tuesday as No. 7 Michigan (10-0 / 5-0 Big Ten) welcomes No. 9 Wisconsin (10-2 / 4-1 Big Ten) to Crisler Arena. Michigan's Juwan Howard's first season as head coach saw his team open 7-0, then go 6-9 over its next 15 games. A six-game win streak followed but Michigan lost three of four before the shutdown (19-11 finish). In his sophomore year, Michigan is off to even a better start. Wisconsin has had a terrific basketball program for decades and head coach Greg Gard enters his sixth season at Madison, having had FOUR 20-win seasons in his first five. The Badgers start FIVE seniors, guards Trice (14.8-3.3-3.7) and Davison (10.0) plus the 6-10 Potter (12.5 & 7.0), the 6-11 Reuvers (10.3 & 4.3) and the 6-8 Ford (9.8 & 4.1). 6-5 freshman Davis (7.3 & 4.8) and 6-9 sophomore Wahl (4.9 & 3.6) both contribute off the bench. Gone from Michigan's team last season are PG Simpson (12.9-4.5-7.9) and the 7-1 Teske (11.6 & 6.7). 6-7 senior Livers led Michigan in scoring last season and is averaging 13.9 & 5.4. The Wolverines, like the Badgers, have an experienced group but their leading scorer is 7-1 freshman Hunter Dickinson (18.0 & 9.1) and scored a career-high 28 points in Michigan's last game, an 82-57 romp of Minnesota on Wednesday. Experience comes in guards Wagner (12.2 & 6.), Brown (9.2), Brooks (9.1 & 3.8 APG) and Smith (8.1 & 5.3 APG). Michigan got some extra time to prepare for the Badgers as its scheduled game at Penn State on Saturday was postponed due to COVID-19 issues within the Nittany Lions' program. The Wolverines have defeated their last four opponents by double digits through a combination of a suffocating defense and a very efficient offense (Michigan is shooting 52.5% on the season). However, Wisconsin knows all about playing defense, allowing just 61.5 PPG (24th) on 38.9% shooting (26th). The Badgers went into Breslin Center back on Dec 25 and beat Michigan St 85-76 by shooting 52.9%. It was Wisconsin's first win in East Lansing since 2004 (had lost 12 straight!). Why can't (won't) the Badgers win here in Ann Arbor? Take the points! Good luck...Larry |
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01-12-21 | Butler v. St. John's -1.5 | Top | 57-69 | Win | 100 | 12 h 10 m | Show |
My 9* Weekly Wipeout is on St John's at 7:00 ET. LaVall Jordan is in his fourth season at Butler and last year's team was 22-9 before the shutdown (would have made the NCAAs for a fifth time in six seasons). The team lost key players from that team, including leading scorer Baldwin (16.2) and three-point shooter McDermott. Butler is struggling so far, going 3-6 overall (2-4 in the Big East). St John's is coached by Mike Anderson, who is in his second season in Queens. He's had success wherever he's been, going 89-41 in four years at UAB, 111-57 in five years at Missouri and 169-102 in eight years at Arkansas. Anderson took over a recently struggling St John's program last season and went 17-15, giving him his 18th consecutive winning season as a head coach (zero losing seasons). Could that streak end this season? St John's is just 6-6, including 1-5 in the Big East. Senior guards Thompson (14.3 & 4.5 APG) and Bolden (13.0 & 4.1) lead the but fellow guards N\Harris (11.1) and Tate (7.9) contribute. Up front, it's just the 6-7 Nze (9.9 & 6.6) and the 6-9 Golden (9.9 & 5.3). Anderson lost LJ Figueroa (14.5 & 4.5) to Oregon but THREE newcomers have already made HUGE contributions. Vince Cole is a 6-5 two-time junior-college All-American and is averaging 10.5 PPG, freshman PG Posh Alexander averages 9.3 & 4.4 APG and 6-10 JC transfer Isaih Moore (but with a 7-6 wingspan) comes off the bench to average 9.7 & 5.8. There's all sorts of depth in the backcourt with Williams (11.8), Dunn (7.3) and freshman Addae-Wusu (5.8). However, the team's star is 6-8 wing Julian Champagnie, who averages 21.0 & 7.9. The bottom line is that this contest is a 'battle' of styles. Butler enters Tuesday averaging 63.7 PPG, which is not only is the worst scoring average in the 11-team Big East but also marks the Bulldogs as the only team below 70 per game. Conversely, the Bulldogs are allowing 69.0 PPG, which is the fourth-best figure in the league. In stark contrast, St John's is second in the Big East with 80.5 PPG (39th nationally) but is allowing 80.8 PPG (327th in the nation). The team that "plays its game" wins and I believe that's St John's here at home. Butler has averaged 60.3 PPG away from home, while St John's has averaged 83.2 PPG at home. Blowout Alert! Good luck...Larry |
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01-11-21 | Colorado v. Utah +3.5 | Top | 65-58 | Loss | -114 | 13 h 56 m | Show |
My 10* Situational Stunner is on Utah at 6:00 ET. The Colorado Buffaloes (8-3, 2-2 Pac-12) and the Utah Utes (4-4, 1-3) meet Monday in Salt Lake City. It was originally scheduled for March 6 but was moved up after Colorado's game with the Beavers was postponed due to COVID-19 concerns within the Oregon State program. The Utes are fitting this game in between Saturday's loss to the Oregon Ducks and Thursday's game against Stanford. Both teams are coming off home games against Oregon, with different results. The Buffs beat the Ducks 79-72 on Thursday (the 10th straight time they've defeated Oregon in Boulder), Utah fell 79-73 to the Ducks on Saturday. Tad Boyle is in his 11th season at Colorado and despite losing the 6-7 Tyler Bey (13.8 & 9.0) to the NBA (he played center for the Buffs), Colorado is off to an 8-3 start. The good news was that PG Wright flirted with the NBA draft but returned to Boulder for his senior season. Wright (16.0-5.0-5.2) is the team leader and is surrounded by veterans, such as the 6-8 Evan Battey (9.9 & 5.2) and the 7-0 Dallas Walton (9.6 & 3.0) plus the 6-7 Jeriah Horn (a Tulsa graduate transfer) adds 11.3 & 5.8. Depth is provided by FIVE players combining to average 33 PPG. Larry Krystkowiak led Montana to back-to-back NCAA berths in his two seasons at his alma mater and then took the Utah job to begin the 2011-12 season. He had losing seasons in his first two years but then led his team to an average of 23.4 wins per season over the next five with postseason berths in each one (3 NIT and 2 NCAA). However, the Utes opened this season off seasons of just 17 and 16 wins. Utah lost Both Gach to Minnesota (transfer) but returned four starters. 6-6 forward Allen led the team in scoring last season and is averaging 15.4 & 5.6, just ahead of guard Alfonso Plummer (13.4). Joining Allen up front are the 6-8 Jantunen (10.3 & 4.9), the 7-0 Carlson (6.3) and the 6-9 Battin (6.3 & 3.0). Gach liked to play PG and his leaving has opened that role up to Jones (6.8 & 4.8 APG), who joins Plummer in the starting backcourt, while freshman Larsson (8.3) comes off the bench. Colorado has played strong defense (62.6 PPG ranks 31st) and is scoring 75.6 PPG. Utah's defense is decent (65.8 PPG) but its offense averages less than 70 PPG (not good). However, this is NOT a good "situation" for Colorado. This contest was supposed to be in the middle of a four-game homestand for the Buffs but instead of resting after a game against Oregon State, the Buffaloes will be on the road. Utah had been 4-0 at home before its loss to Oregon and has scored 70-plus points in all FIVE home games this season (75.6 per). This will be the 20th meeting between the teams since the Buffaloes joined the Pac-12 before the 2011-12 season and they have split the last six games, with the home teams winning EACH time. Make that SEVEN straight wins by the home team in this series and as a bonus, we get about a 'FG!' Good luck...Larry |
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01-10-21 | Cincinnati v. Wichita State -2.5 | Top | 76-82 | Win | 100 | 10 h 5 m | Show |
My 10* AAC Game of the Year is on Wichita St at 4:30 ET. The Cincinnati Bearcats and the Wichita State Shockers have each been regular NCAA tourney participants but their respective 2020-21 seasons have NOT begun well. John Brannen led Northern Kentucky to a 72-30 record in his final three seasons, leading the Norse to the "Big Dance" in two of those three years. He was hired at Cincy on April 14, 2019 when Mick Cronin left for UCLA. The Bearcats went 20-10 in last year's pandemic-shortened season but opened the current season missing guards Jarron Cumberland (15.5) and Jaevin Cumberland (8.8) plus forward Tre Scott (11.4 & 10.5). The Bearcats were one of the last teams in Division I to start their season, not taking the floor until Dec 2. The Bearcats are coming off a 76-69 win at Tulsa on Jan 7 but that snapped a FIVE-game losing streak. Cincy is just 3-6 entering this contest. Wichita St's season was marred before it got started, as head coach Gregg Marshall resigned as coach of Wichita State after multiple allegations of verbal and physical abuse spanning years on November 17, 2020. Marshall's success started at Winthrop (seven NCAA berths in nine years) and continued at Wichita St, winning the NIT title in 2011 then winning 30-plus games in three straight seasons, including a Final 4 appearance in 2013. Lead assistant Isaac Brown was named interim head coach. Guard Keith Williams leads the Bearcats in scoring with 15.1 PPG, while fellow guard Jeremiah Davenport has 10.6 & 4.1 to give Cincy a pair of double digit scorers. Guards Mike Adams-Woods (8.6) and David DeJulius (8.2-4.7- 5.1_ round out a strong backcourt. The frontcourt offers little, with 7-1 returning center Chris Vogt (5.4 & 3.6) being the biggest disappointment, coming off a season in which he averaged 11.1 & 5.7. The 6-7 Eason (7.6 & 5.7) and the 6-10 Ivanauskas (6.7 & 5.0) have been Cincy's top frontcourt performers. Center Echenique (11.3 & 7.1) plus guards Stevenson (11.1 & 4.7( and Burton (10.3-3.5-3.4) are all gone from last year's 23-8 team (top-3 scorers). However, the Shockers are a deep team this season, led by a trio of guards in Etienne (17.9 & 3.8), UConn transfer Gilbert (10.8-3.4-3.3) and Dennis (8.3 & 3.3). The top frontcourt performers are the 6-8 Udeze (7.2 & 2.6(, 6-7 JUCO transfer Jackson (5.7 & 4.8) and the 6-6 Wade (5.6 & 5.7). Wichita St is 6-3 but all three losses have come against quality opponents, losing to now-No. 13 Missouri, a solid 8-3 Oklahoma St team and this past Wednesday to No. 11 Houston. That loss snapped the team's FIVE-game winning streak. Wichita St opened 1-2 SU & 0-3 ATS but has gone 5-1 SU since, including 4-0 ATS with two games with no pointspread. In contrast, before Cincy won at SMU on Thursday, the Bearcats were 1-7 ATS on the season and had lost their previous five games. Home games are not what they used to be this season but the Charles Koch Arena has always been good to the Shockers and this season's Cincy team is just NOT very good. Off a surprising road win at SMU, expect the Bearcats to lose in Wichita to a Shockers team that has played excellent opponents well so far and should have no problem with this Bearcat team. Double digit win expected here! Good luck...Larry |
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01-09-21 | UCLA v. Arizona -3 | Top | 81-76 | Loss | -110 | 15 h 32 m | Show |
My 10* Signature 37-Club Play is on Arizona at 9:00 ET. UCLA (8-2, 4-0 Pac-120 has won two games without injured Chris Smith and will go for three in a row when the Bruins play the Arizona Wildcats (9-2, 3-2) tonight in Tucson. Mick Cronin made NINE consecutive NCAA Tourney appearances at Cincy, as his Bearcats posted a 235-78 (.751) record in that span. He moved to Westwood last season and his Bruins got better as the year progressed and were playing their best ball when the season was shut down. UCLA lost its opener at San Diego St (Nov 25) and its only other loss came 77-70 to Ohio St in Cleveland back on Dec 19. Sean Miller is in his 12th season with the Wildcats and has had more than a few off the court issues the last few years. He saw THREE freshmen from last year go the 'One and Done' route in PG Mannion (14.0 & 5.3 APG), Green (12.0 & 4.6) and big man Nnaji (16.1 & 8.6) but Arizona had opened a surprising 9-1, before losing 87-73 Thursday night at home to USC. UCLA's 6-9 Smith averaged 12.6 points and 6.4 rebounds in eight games but is now out for the season with a knee injury. However, the Bruins still have SIX players averaging between 8.4 and 12.8 PPG. PG Campbell (10.6 & 7.0 APG) is still surrounded by "big guards" like the 6-6 Jaquez (12.8 & 5.7), the 6-6 Juzang (10.7) and the 6-6 Bernard (10.1 & 5.6). Up front it's the 6-9 Riley (10.2 & 5.8) and the 6-10 Hill (8.4 & 6.1). Cody Riley scored a career-high 22 points in UCLA's 81-75 OT win Thursday at ASU plus guard David Singleton, who had averaged just 4.3 points through the first nine games, drained two 3-pointers in overtime and finished with 14 points. Arizona saw its four-game winning streak snapped on Thursday by USC, as the Wildcats were the Trojans' overall length and ability to chase them off the three-point line. In fact, starting guards James Akinjo (12.9 & 5.2 APG) and Jemarl Baker (12.7) made 1 of 16 from the floor and finished with a total of three points!! The good news was that 6-11 freshman Azuolas Tubelis (10.5 & 5.9) finished with 31 points, 18 above his previous career high. 6-7 freshman Bennedict Mathurin (from Canada) is averaging 10.6 & 6.5, after averaging 16.0 PPG over Arizona's last three games. The 6-11 Jordan Brown (10.0 & 5.7) is a Nevada transfer and 7-1 sophomore Christian Koloko (4.6 & 5.2) both make solid contributions. More depth is provided by guard Terrell Brown (8.3-3.2-3.3) and the 6-8 Lee (4.7 & 4.8). UCLA has won three straight Pac 12 games since losing in Cleveland to Ohio St but ALL have been 'squeakers.' The Bruins have edged Utah 72-70) and Colorado (65-62) at home, then won in OT at ASU a couple of nights ago. My bet says their 'luck' runs out tonight at McKale Center! Good luck...Larry |
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01-09-21 | Seton Hall -3.5 v. DePaul | Top | 76-68 | Win | 100 | 6 h 2 m | Show |
My 9* Situational Stunner is on Seton Hall at 2:00 ET. Seton Hall believed it could have made a run to the Final Four behind All-American guard Myles Powell (21.0 & 4.3) last season before COVID-19 shut things down. The Pirates were 21-9 and ranked 15th in the country after finishing tied for first in the Big East with a 13-5 record. Powell is now in the NBA but OUTSTANDING head coach Kevin Willard has plenty to work with as this season. The Pirates (8-5, 5-2 Big East), saw their three-game winning streak end with a T-H-U-D in a 36-point loss at No. 7 Creighton on , shooting a season-low 33.3 percent. Seton Hall heads to DePaul on Saturday looking to bounce back. DePaul head coach Dave Leitao is in his second stint at the school and it's been a LONG time since DePaul has had a relevant basketball program. The last time the Blue Demons made the NCAA tourney was 2004 and 2007 was the last time the program was relevant, playing in the NIT. DePaul finished 20-14 that season and hasn't won 20 games since. DePaul became the final major-conference team to make its debut with a 91-72 win over Western Illinois back on Dec 23 and has played just THREE games (1-2 / 0-2 Big East). "We've got to regroup," said Seton Hall head coach Kevin Willard, whose team absorbed its most one-sided defeat in his 11 seasons at Creighton. "We've got to recover. Every once in a while, you get smacked down and you've got to pick yourself up. This group has done that." The 6-11 Mamukelashvili leads the team in scoring (18.3) and adds 6.8 RPG. Wing Jared Rhoden adds 15.4 and a team-high 7.2 RPG. Fellow wing Myles Cale (11.7) is the team's third double-digit scorer. PG Reynolds (7.8 & 4.6 APG) and Molson (7.1) are solid backcourt performers, while the 6-10 Samuel (6.1 & 3.2) and the 7-2 Obiagu (5.4 & 5.0) aid Mamukelashvili up front. Guards Charlie Moore (16.3-3,7-5.3) and Javon Freeman-Liberty (13.7-5.7-4.0) are the only major players to participate in all three of DePaul's modest total of three games. The 6-7 Weems (13.5 & 4.0), the 6-7 Hall (10.0 & 8.0) and guard Lopez (10.0-4.0-3.5) have all played two games. Seton Hall is by FAR the better team with all things being equal. However, that's NOT the case here, with DePaul starting late (see above) and then playing just THREE games over the last 19 days. Meanwhile, Seton Hall is 7-2 after a 1-3 start and is coming off a 36-point embarrassment at Creighton. BLOWOUT Alert! Good luck...Larry |
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01-09-21 | Ohio State v. Rutgers -4 | 79-68 | Loss | -110 | 6 h 56 m | Show | |
My Las Vegas Insider is on Rutgers at 12:00 ET. Chris Holtmann took over at Butler for Brad Stevens and went 70-31 win three seasons, each ending with an NCAA tourney berth. He took the Ohio St job beginning in 2017-18 and strung together three straight 20-win seasons but was denied a third straight NCAA bid when last season was shut down. Ohio St opened 5-0 and was ranked 20th in the AP poll before a 67-60 road loss at Purdue on Dec 16. A 77-70 win over UCLA (in Cleveland) plus an 80-68 home win over then-No. 11 Rutgers came next. However, the Buckeyes lost 71-70 at Northwestern, pounded visiting Nebraska 90-54 and lost 77-60 at Minnesota. Steve Pikiell spent 11 years at Stony Brook, winning 20-plus games in his final five seasons. He led the Seawolves to an NCAA berth in 2015-16 and a 26-7 record. His first three seasons at Rutgers saw the Scarlet Knights go just 15-18, 15-19 and 14-17. Rutgers was 20-11 last season before the year was shut down. Rutgers won its first five games by double digits and opened league play with a 74-60 win at Maryland on Dec 14. The Scarlet Knights improved to 6-0 by pulling out a 91-88 win over then-No. 13 Illinois on Dec 20 (rose to No. 11 in the AP poll). However, Rutgers followed with an 80-68 loss at Ohio St, edged Purdue but then lost back-to-back to Iowa (two-point game) and Michigan St (got rolled!). The Buckeyes (8-3, 2-3 Big Ten) visit Rutgers (7-3, 3-3 Big Ten) for a 12 noon ET tip. SG Washington (14.9) leads the team in scoring and is paired with PG Walker (8.7 & 4.2 APG). The frontcourt has four solid contributors led by arguably the team's best player, the 6-7 Liddell (143.9 & 6,4) He's joined on the frontline bb the 6-7 Sueing (10.5 & 4.5), the 6-8 Young (7.5 & 6.4) and 6-8 freshman Key (6.8). Rutgers has a STRONG backcourt in Harper (21. & 6.4), Young (15.2 & 4.8), Mathis (14.1 & 3.8) and Baker (9.4-3.0-3.0). Bakers is questionable with an ankle injury but that means Mulcahy (6.4-4.1-3.6) could get more time, which is NOT a bad thing. 6-11 freshman Omoruyi (5.3 & 5.8) is out indefinitely with a knee injury but the 6-11 Johnson (7.4 & 8.5) has been solid all season inside. Speaking of injuries, Chris Holtmann announced Thursday that starting point guard C.J. Walker will be out indefinitely with torn ligaments in his right hand. He was injured during the first preseason scrimmage and it got progressively worse. Ohio St is 0-3 on the Big Ten road, averaging only 63.3 PPG, almost two 'TDs' less than the Gophers average in all games (76.3 PPG). Ohio St is visiting "The RAC" (Rutgers Athletic Center) at the WRONG time. The Scarlet Knights are not only playing with revenge from that earlier loss in Columbus but are also coming off a bad beating at East Lansing vs Michigan St (lost 68-45). The momentum and positive national image achieved by No. 15 Rutgers' best Big Ten start (won its first two conference games for the first time since joining the Big Ten in 2014) would take a HUGE hit if the Scarlet Knights can't find a way to win here (have gone 1-3 in the big Ten since that 2-0 start). Rutgers has gone a 'sweet' 24-3 SU at home since the start of last season. Lay the reasonable price! Good luck...Larry |
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01-08-21 | Purdue v. Michigan State -4 | Top | 55-54 | Loss | -115 | 14 h 35 m | Show |
My 10* PERFECT STORM is on Michigan St at 7:00 ET. Michigan State lost its first three Big Ten games for the first time since 2001-02 but broke through with its first conference win with an 84-77 victory at Nebraska on Saturday. That win hardly meant that Tom Izzo's Spartans "were back," as the Cornhuskers are 0-4 to open Big Ten play this season. However, Michigan St (8-3 / 2-3 Big Ten) followed that contest with an impressive 68-45 home win over the No. 15 Rutgers Scarlet Knights on Tuesday. Visiting East Lansing Friday night will be Purdue (7-5, 2-3), which has lost THREE of its last four games. The Boilermakers haven't played since falling at Illinois 66-58 on Saturday. Their home game against Nebraska on Tuesday was postponed due to coronavirus issues within the Cornhuskers program. Purdue head coach Matt Painter's lone loss of note from last season's team was the 7-3 Haarms (8.6 & 4.6), who went to BYU as a graduate transfer. The team's "Big Three" are all returning players, senior PG Hunter (10.8 & 4.0 APG) plus juniors like the 6-10 Williams (14.1 & 9.6) and SG Stefanovic (11.3). 7-4 freshman Edey (9.1 & 4.1) has made all forget about Haarms plus freshman guard Newman (9.9) gives Purdue five players averaging between 9.1 and 14.1 PPG. Depth is provided by four players chipping in a combined 21 PPG. Michigan St lost its two best players from last season's team to the NBA Draft, as PG Winston (18.6 & 5.9 APG) was taken by the Wizards and the 6-8 Tillman (13.7 & 10.3) by the Grizzlies. The team's top-two players so far this season have been 6-9 junior forward Joey Hauser, a transfer from Marquette, and 6-6 returning forward Aaron Henry. Henry's recent play, a career-high 27 points vs Nebraska followed by 20 points, eight rebounds, four blocks and two steals in the rout of Rutgers, has pushed him slightly ahead of Hauser as the team's top scorer. Henry checks in with a line of 14.0-5.5-3.8 with Hauser posting 12.0 PPG and a team-high 8.5 RPG. Sophomore PG Watts (9.9 & 3.6 APG) has stepped in for Winston plus veteran guards Langford (8.8) and Loyer (5.6) join him on the perimeter. Two returning 6-7 forwards, Brown (8.2) and Hall (6.2 & 5.5) give MSU a deep bench. Purdue has lost all FOUR road games, while averaging a meager 60.8 PPG. Izzo's teams have always played excellent D and the Spartans are coming off a game in which they held Rutgers to 30.5 percent shooting. "I thought that was one of our better defensive performances in a couple of years," Izzo said. Michigan St was ranked 13th in the AP preseason poll and I believe are headed on a path to be ranked among the nation's top-10 teams shortly. The price is 'cheap!' Good luck...Larry |
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01-07-21 | USC v. Arizona -3 | Top | 87-73 | Loss | -109 | 13 h 50 m | Show |
My 10* Game of the Week is on Arizona at 9:00 ET. Andy Enfield led Florida Gulf Coast to a 26-11 season in his second at the school, making a Sweet 16 appearance. That gave him the chance to "move on up" to USC but his first two seasons were HUGE disappointments (11-21 and 12-20). However, the Trojans have won 21-plus games in FOUR of the last five seasons, including a 22-9 mark last season. USC saw its top-five scorers leave after the 2020 season. Onyeka Okongwu left for the NBA, Elijah Weaver transferred to University of Dayton plus seniors Jonah Mathews, Nick Rakocevic, and Daniel Utomi all graduated. However, Enfield recruited a "super frosh" in 7-0 freshman Evan Mobley plus brought in SIX transfers. USC has opened 6-2 (1-1 in Pac 12). Arizona's Sean Miller is in his 12th season with the Wildcats and has had more than a few off the court issues the last few years. He saw THREE freshmen from last year go the 'One and Done' route in PG Mannion (14.0 & 5.3 APG), Green (12.0 & 4.6) and big man Nnaji (16.1 & 8.6). However, Arizona has opened a surprising 9-1, including 3-1 in Pac-12 play. Evan Mobley has wasted little time in showing his value for USC, averaging 15.0 & 8.0. He joins his brother Isaiah (a 6-10 sophomore), who has added 8.9 & 7.9. Peterson (10.5-4.9-3.1) is a 6-8 swingman from Rice and joins guards Eaddy (Santa Clara) and White, a grad transfer from Utah Valley St. Eaddy is averaging 12.8 PPG and White 7.0 Guard Goodwin (7.4 & 4.9) and Baumann (5.9) come off the bench. Arizona also features a first-year player making a big 'splash' recently. 6-7 freshman Bennedict Mathurin (from Canada) led the team in scoring in both games of a road sweep at the Washington schools last week. He was chosen the Pac-12 Freshman of the Week, averaging 18.5 points and 8.5 rebounds in those two games. He's now averaging 10.6 & 4.9 on the season. Georgetown transfer James Akinjo (14.2 & 5.1 APG) and fellow guard Jemarl Baker (13.7) are the top scorers. The 6-11 Jordan Brown (10.2 & 6.0) is a Nevada transfer plus 6-11 freshman Azoulas Tubelis (8.4 & 5.7) and 7-1 sophomore Christian Koloko (4.9 & 5.5) both make solid contributions. Enfield has a good team at USC and a strong frontline but the Trojans have NOTHING of this surprising Arizona team that is on the verge of cracking the top-25. McKale Center has always been one of the nation's toughest home floors and even without fans, beating Arizona on its home floor will always be quite a challenge. Tough time in Tucson for USC tonight. Good luck...Larry |
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01-07-21 | Oregon v. Colorado -1.5 | 72-79 | Win | 100 | 10 h 9 m | Show | |
My 8* Las Vegas Insider is Colorado at 5:00 ET. Dana Altman spent 16 seasons at Creighton and took the school to seven NCAA tourneys in his last 12 years at the school. He came to Oregon for the 2010-11 season and won the CBI championship in his first season. He's now in his 11th season in Eugene having won 20-plus games in each of his first 10, averaging 25.9 wins per year. PG Payton Pritchard (20.5-4.3-5.5) was a HUGE loss plus Altman also lost SG Mathis (8.5) and 6-7 SF Juiston (7.9 & 6.3). Oregon lost its season opener back on Dec 2 (in Omaha) 83-75 to Missouri but has won EIGHT in a row since (now No. 17 in the latest AP poll). Tad Boyle is in his 11th season at Colorado and despite losing the 6-7 Tyler Bey (13.8 & 9.0) to the NBA (he played center for the Buffs). The good news was that PG Wright flirted with the NBA draft but returned to Boulder for his senior season. Colorado will welcome Oregon to Boulder with a 7-3 record (1-2 Pac 12). The Ducks are coming off a 73-56 win over Stanford and will look to make it NINE straight wins vs the Buffs. Coming to the rescue for Oregon this season have come three transfers. The 6-6 Eugene Omoruyi, who sat out last year as a transfer from Rutgers, the 6-6 Eric Williams who transferred from Duquesne and 6-6 Figueroa from St John's. Omoruyi leads the team with 18.7 PPG (adds 4.7 RPG), Williams is adding 12.7 & 6.9 and Figueroa 9.5 & 7.5 (he averaged 14.4 and 14.5 the last two seasons for the Red Storm). Some not so good news for Oregon is that starting center N'Faly Dante (8.2 & 5.8) has suffered a torn ACL and hasn't played in any of the last three games. Figueroa has been promoted to the starting lineup and let's NOT forget returning 6-6 senior Duarte (16.7 & 4.8), who is also off to a strong start. PG Wright (15.5-4.5-5.2) is the team leader and is surrounded by veterans, such as the 7-0 Dallas Walton (9.6), the 6-8 Evan Battey (897 & 4.7) and the 6-7 Jeriah Horn (a Tulsa graduate transfer), who adds 10.7 & 5.8. Depth is provided by FIVE players combining to average 33 PPG. Colorado opened 6-1, losing only at now-No. 7 Tennessee 56-47. Colorado returns home after losing TWO of three on the road, falling 88-74 at Arizona and 65-62 at UCLA, while winning 72-62 at USC. Colorado has spent most of the season on the road or at neutral sites, having played only two games at the CU Events Center so far. The Buffs were scheduled for four straight home games but Saturday's game against Oregon State has been postponed due to COVID-19 issues within the Beavers' program. Yes, the CU Events will be empty and pretty quiet but the Buffs are 143-27 at home in their 11 seasons under Boyle. The Price is sure Right on Colorado in this one. Good luck...Larry |
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01-06-21 | Virginia Tech v. Louisville -4 | Top | 71-73 | Loss | -115 | 10 h 51 m | Show |
My 10* ACC Game of the Month is on Louisville at 6:30 ET. Va Tech head coach Mike Young is in his second season with the school, after a record-setting 17-year tenure as the head coach at Wofford. The Terriers posted a 30-5 overall record in 2018-19, including a perfect 18-0 mark in Southern Conference play, and registered a convincing 84-68 win over Seton Hall in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Tournament. Young built the Terriers into one of the Southern Conference's preeminent programs and a perennial NCAA Tournament participant. He guided Wofford to five NCAA Tournament berths over his last 10 seasons and five Southern Conference championships. However, the Hokies were just 16-16 overall in Young's first season at Blacksburg, losing almost two-thirds of their ACC games (7-13). Chris Mack took over at Xavier for the 2009-10 season when Sean Miller took the Arizona job. He led the Musketeers to eight NCAA tourneys in nine seasons before moving to Louisville. The Cards went 20-14 in his first (NCAA bid) but were 24-7 in his second year, when the season was shut down in March (AP ranked them 14th in its final poll). Va Tech's Landers Nolley was selected to the ACC All-Freshman Team in leading the Hokies in scoring (15.5 PPG) last season but after the season he announced he was transferring to Memphis. More bad news came when the 6-6 Horne (7.6 & 4.2) also transferred. Sophomore guard Tyrece Radford (10.2 & 6.2) was both the team's leading returning scorer AND rebounder! However, Young liked his team's chance to improve in the 2020-21 season because of some key experienced graduate transfers. Radford is averaging 10.8 & 5.9 RPG and the 6-9 Alleyne (11.1) has made excellent progress in his sophomore season plus two 6-7 transfers start up front The 6-7 Keve Aluma (16.0 & 6.7) followed Young from Wofford and is Va Tech's best players this season, while 6-7 Delaware transfer Justyn Mutts (6.6 & 5.9) has been solid. Returning guards Cone (10.3) and Bede (5.7) have both added valuable contributions. Swingman Jordan Nwora (18.0 & 7.7) is gone from last season's Louisville team but FOUR starters returned. However, Carlik Jones leads the team in scoring, averaging 16.4-6.6-5.1. He's a graduate transfer from Radford and was last season's Big South Conference player of the year. He joins returning guard Johnson (14.4-6.3-4.0) in the backcourt. The 6-7 Williamson did little last season but averages 10.0 & 6.2 this season. True freshman guard Davis (9.1) and the 6-8 Traynor (5.4 & 3.3) plus 6-9 redshirt freshman Withers adds 9.0 & 6.9. 8-1 Va Tech comes in as the ranked team (No. 24) but has benefited from playing seven games at home in Blacksburg, with two on a neutral court. The game at Louisville will be the Hokies' first game away from Blacksburg since Nov 29 and their first true road game of the current season. 7-1 Louisville's ONLY loss this season has come at now-No. 8 Wisconsin. What's more, a check of the history book reveals that Louisville has won 16 straight games against Virginia Tech, most recently 68-52 at home on March 1, 2020. The last Virginia Tech win over Louisville was back in February 1991 in Blacksburg, 72-56. Is tonight the night Va Tech ends its losing streak? NOT in my opinion! Good luck...Larry |
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01-05-21 | Kansas -5.5 v. TCU | 93-64 | Win | 100 | 13 h 44 m | Show | |
My 8* Las Vegas Insider is on Kansas at 9:00 ET. When last season was shut down because of COVID, the Kansas Jayhawks were the AP's No. 1-ranked team. Signs do not point to No. 6 Kansas as the favorite to capture the Big 12 championship. Key losses for Kansas entering this season were PG Devon Dotson (18.1-4.9-4.0) and the seven-foot Udoka Azubuike (13.7 & 10.5). The Jayhawks opened the current season losing 102-90 to No. 1 Gonzaga but then won EIGHT in a row before Saturday's shocking home loss to Texas. The Longhorns owned just one previous win in 17 tries at Lawrence but routed the Jayhawks 84-59, ending a 17-game conference win streak by Kansas. It marked the most lopsided defeat for head coach Bill Self in his 18 seasons coaching the Jayhawks and it matched the largest margin of defeat for ANY Kansas team in the 65-year history of the Phog Allen Fieldhouse. Other than that, it was "just another loss." Jamie Dixon had a great run at Pittsburgh, leading the Panthers to 13 postseasons in his 13 years at the school. 11 were NCAA berths plus the other two were a CBI championship and a trip to the NIT. He returned to his alma mater (TCU) for the 2014-15 season and led the Horned Frogs to the NIT championship. He followed with two NCAA berths and an NIT 'Final 4' the next three seasons but last season's team was just 16-16 when the shut down came. . Coming off that humbling defeat to Texas, Kansas (8-2 / 2-1 Big 12) fell three spots in the polls (from No. 3 to No. 6) and travels to Fort Worth to take on TCU (9-2, 2-1). Kansas was an abysmal 3-for-23 from three-point range, just 11 days after scorching West Virginia with 16 triples. Kansas managed to shoot just 30.8 percent overall vs the Longhorns, while falling into a third-place tie with TCU behind Big 12 co-leaders Baylor and Texas. The 6-8 Jalen Wilson, who has bounced back after suffering a broken ankle as a freshman last season, has been excellent (15.1 & 7.8). Two 6-5 guards are back, junior Ochai Agbaji (14.4 & 4.7) and senior Marcus Garrett (9.1-4.6-3.6), who is one of the nation's top defenders. Sophomore guard Braun (11.1 & 5.9) and 6-10 junior David McCormack (9.6 & 5.9) round out Self's main contributors. RJ. Nembhard returned from a one-game absence stemming from a sore hip to score 21 points Saturday as TCU beat Kansas State 67-60. Nembhard (18.9-4.3-4.4) leads the team in scoring, followed by fellow guard Miles (14.8-3.4-3.6). The 6-11 Samuel (10.2 & 10.2) averages a double-double plus Dixon has SIX more players chipping in between 4.8 and 6.8 PPG. Not much was expected of TCU this season and here's what Nembhard had to say after the win over Kansas St. "We were picked ninth, but we haven't done anything yet," he said. "One win, two wins, two conference wins, so what? Onto the next game. All these games are personal. We want to put the conference and the nation on notice that we're legit." TCU's start has been better than expected but the Horned Frogs are in the WRONG place at the WRONG time with the Jayhawks coming off their humiliating home loss to the Longhorns. Lay the points with Kansas. Good luck...Larry |
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01-05-21 | Rutgers v. Michigan State -1.5 | Top | 45-68 | Win | 100 | 13 h 10 m | Show |
My 10* Situational Stunner Game of the Month is on Michigan St at 9:00 ET. Michigan State lost its first three Big Ten games for the first time since 2001-02 but broke through with its first conference win with an 84-77 victory at Nebraska on Saturday. That win hardly means that Tom Izzo's Spartans "are back," as the Cornhuskers are 0-4 to open Big Ten play this season. Steve Pikiell spent 11 years at Stony Brook, winning 20-plus games in his final five seasons. He led the Seawolves to an NCAA berth in 2015-16 and a 26-7 record. His first three seasons at Rutgers saw the Scarlet Knights go just 15-18, 15-19 and 14-1 but Rutgers was 20-11 last season before the year was shut down. This year's team won its first five games by double digits and opened league play with a 74-60 win at Maryland on Dec 14. The Scarlet Knights improved to 6-0 by pulling out a 91-88 win over then-No. 13 Illinois on Dec 20 (rose to No. 11 in the AP poll) but was unable to duplicate that performance when it lost 80-68 at then-No. 23 Ohio State. Rutgers opened last week with a home win over Purdue but then lost an agonizing 77-75 decision at home to now-No. Iowa on Saturday. The Hawkeyes made three free throws in the final 17 seconds, sandwiching a Scarlet Knights turnover by Myles Johnson with five seconds remaining. Rutgers is ranked 15th in the AP's latest poll (Jan 4) as the Scarlet Knights visiting East Lansing on Tuesday. This is a very good team, led by senior guards Harper (22.1 & 7.0) and Young (15.7 & 5.2 APG). Junior guard Mathis adds 15.3 & 4.1 plus two 6-11 centers, Johnson (8.0 & 8.7) and Omoruyi (5.3 & 5.8), give Rutgers a strong inside presence. A problem for Rutgers is that standout freshman Omoruyi has missed THREE straight games with a knee injury (listed as out indefinitely). Michigan St lost its two best players from last season's team to the NBA Draft, as PG Winston (18.6 & 5.9 APG) was taken by the Wizards and the 6-8 Tillman (13.7 & 10.3) by the Grizzlies. The team's top-two players so far this season have been 6-9 junior forward Joey Hauser, a transfer from Marquette, and 6-6 returning forward Aaron Henry. Henry's (13.4-5.2-4.1) recent play (career-high 27 points vs Nebraska) has pushed him slightly ahead of Hauser (12.3 & 7.9as the team's top scorer, while Hauser remains the team's top rebounder. Sophomore PG Watts (9.8 & 3.9 APG) has stepped in for Winston plus veteran guards Langford (8.6) and Loyer (6.2) join him on the perimeter. Two returning 6-7 forwards, Brown (8.6) and Hall (6.3 & 5.7) give MSU a deep bench. Michigan St has 'cost me' a couple of times this season but I sure like them in this spot. C'mon Tom, get your team playing up to its potential! Good luck...Larry |
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01-05-21 | Connecticut v. Marquette -1.5 | Top | 65-54 | Loss | -105 | 13 h 43 m | Show |
My 9* Big East game of the Month is on Marquette at 9:00 ET. UConn moved to the AAC for the 2013-14 season and made an improbable run to the Final Four and won a national championship. However, it has spent the last six seasons going just 110-90, with just two seasons of 20-plus wins and one NCAA tourney appearance. The Huskies have fallen out of the national 'picture' but a return to the Big East this season, along with the hiring of Dan Hurley as its head coach, had expectations running high in Storrs. Hurley spent six seasons at Rhode Island, winning 25 and 26 games in his final two years, ending with NCAA bids. However, he went 14 -19 and 16-17 in his first two seasons with UConn, before going 19-12 in last season's pandemic-shortened one. Marquette opened the current season without Markus Howard, who led the nation in scoring last season at 27.8 PPG. Also gone was fellow senior Scar Anim, who added 13.1 PPG. However, head coach Steve Wojciechowski welcomed an impressive freshman to his roster, the 6-11 Dawson Garcia (31.9 & 9.7 last year in high school) plus has been able to surround him with a deep supporting cast. Connecticut has played just five games so far (4-1 / 1-1 Big East), earning its first conference win last Wednesday night with an 82-61 romp over visiting DePaul. Rhode Island transfer Tyrese Martin collected 22 points and 10 rebounds for his first double-double with the Huskies. Martin is averaging 10.3 & 9.3 and is joined on the perimeter by leading scorer Bouknight (23.2 & 5.4) and PG Cole (10.6 & 3.8 APG). Up front, the 6-9 Whaley (8.2 & 5.8), 6-11 Carlton (6.0 & 6.5) and the 6-9 Polley (4.8 & 3.) are the main contributors. Marquette opened 4-1, including an impressive home victory over then-No. 4 Wisconsin (67-65) but comes into this game just 6-5 (2-3 in the Big East). Marquette fell behind Georgetown by 18 points early in the second half Saturday night at Washington, DC and it sure looked like the Golden Eagles were headed for a FOURTH straight Big East Conference loss. However, senior Jamal Cain led a huge comeback that eventually erased a 38-20 deficit, leading to his three-pointer with less than 20 seconds remaining that sealed a 64-60 victory. The 6-7 Cain (11.5 & 6.5) scored a game-high 25 points. 6-11 freshman Garcia added nine points and 13 rebounds, winning him Big East Freshman of the Week honors. He is second on the team in scoring at 12.4 PPG and leads the team in rebounding (7.3 per). Senior guard McEwen (13.5-3.5-2.5), sophomore guard Carton (11.4-3.4-3.9), 6-7 freshman Lewis (8.5 & 6.3) and 6-9 senior John (7.9 & 5.8) give Marquette a solid 'Core 6.' This is UConn's first true road game and if Marquette can beat Wisconsin here on its home floor (Fiserv Forum), the Golden Eagles should be 'golden' here against the Huskies. I'm convinced Marquette is SIGNIFICANTLY better than its record and will prove just that in this contest. "The Price is sure Right!" Good luck...Larry |
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01-04-21 | Colorado State v. San Diego State -8 | Top | 65-78 | Win | 100 | 12 h 8 m | Show |
My 10* Conference Game of the Month (MWC) is on SD State at 9:00 ET. Niko Medved spent four years at Furman and one at Drake, and had an overall record of 79-087 when Colorado St tabbed him as its next head coach. He went 12-20 in his first season but turned things around by 20-12 last season, before the shut down. His Rams have opened 6-1 this season, including a 70-67 upset of San Diego St Saturday at the Viejas Arena at Aztec Bowl (Rams were a nine-point underdog). Brian Dutcher has more than 30 years of coaching experience, including 18 seasons as an assistant to Steve Fisher, first at Michigan and then at San Diego St. Dutcher joined then-interim coach Fisher in 1989 when Michigan won the national championship. He is credited for having a central role in recruiting the Fab Five to Michigan and for bringing Kawhi Leonard to San Diego St. Following Fisher's decision to retire, Dutcher was formally named as his replacement on April 11, 2017. The Aztecs won 22 and 21 games in his first two seasons but last season, the team opened 26-0 with impressive road/neutral site wins over BYU, Creighton, Iowa, and Utah State. SD State finished 30-2 and ranked No. 6 when the season shut down. The Aztecs opened 5-0 this season (including good wins over UCLA and Arizona St) and was ranked 18th when it lost 72-62 at home to BYU. Colorado St fell behind by 26 points in the first half Saturday night against the Aztecs but came all the way back to win 70-67, representing the largest come-from-behind win in MWC history. They miss the 6-11 Carvacho (1.29 & 10.8) but four starters are back from last season.PG Stevens led all scorers last season but the 6-5 Roddy leads this season with 16.0 PPFG and 9.9 RPG (also a team-high). Stevens (13.9-4.1-6.1) checks in right behind him with guard Moore (10.1) and the 6-6 Thistlewood (9.6 & 3.7) just missing double digits. Depth is provided by FIVE other players appearing in all seven games and combining to average about 23 PPG. Matt Mitchell flirted with the NBA draft but returned and leads the Aztecs with 15.3 PPG (adds 4.3 RPG). Guard Schakel (12.9) and the 6-10 Mensah (9.4 & 7.5) are also returning players. In this 'Year of COVID' we are seeing teams playing back-to-back game against each other in the same venue and that's the case here. After a historic comeback (see above), the Rams are in the WRONG place in the WRONG time against SD St, which entered this season 41-6 SU at home the previous three seasons. Yes, the Aztecs have a margin to overcome but I'm laying the points! Good luck...Larry |
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01-03-21 | Houston -2 v. SMU | 74-60 | Win | 100 | 13 h 17 m | Show | |
My 8* Las Vegas Insider is on Houston at 7:00 ET. Kelvin Sampson had a great run at Oklahoma (nine NCAA tourneys in 10 seasons, including a Final 4 appearance in 2002) by then ran into off the court issues in a two-year stay at Indiana. He was away from CBB for a few years but resurfaced at Houston for the 2014-15 season. It took him a while to build the program but his teams won 27 and 33 games in back-to-back seasons before going 23-8 in last year's pandemic-shortened season. The Cougars opened 7-0 this season, rising to No. 5 in the latest AP poll but lost their first game of the season 65-64 at Tulsa this past Tuesday. The Cougars get another tough game on Sunday, playing at 6-0 but unranked SMU. Houston made just 35.7 percent of its shots, including 4 of 21 from three-point range but still lost by just ONE point at Tulsa. The team's defense always comes to play, as it enters this contest allowing 55.9 PPG (4th) on 37.4% shooting (19th). Guards Grimes (18.5 & 7.3) and Sasser (15.0) are the 'big dogs,' joined on the perimeter by freshman Mark (10.1) and Jarreau (8.5 & 5.5). The best frontcourt contributors are the 6-7 Gorham (6.0 & 7.5) and the 6-9 Chaney (4.6). Tim Jankovich took over after Larry Brown once again left a program in tatters and in his first full season (2016-17) went 30-5. However, the Mustangs were just a combined 51-44 the previous three seasons, before opening 6-0 this season. The Mustangs are led by excellent PG Davis (19.7-4.3-7.2). He's joined by fellow guard Bandoumel (12.8), the 6-8 Hunt (12.0 & 7.5) and the 6-9 Chargois (11.5 & 7.7) in the starting lineup, while guard McNeill averages 10.4 PPG off the bench. SMU is allowing a solid 64.3 PPG but its offense is leading the way by averaging 84.2 PPG (29th). SMU could sneak into the top-25 come Monday but I wouldn't 'celebrate' just yet Mustang supporters. Houston's solid 64-53 over then-No, 14 Texas Tech on a neutral floor leads me to bet that the Cougars bounce-back off that loss to Tulsa. Good luck...Larry |
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01-03-21 | Ohio State v. Minnesota +1 | Top | 60-77 | Win | 100 | 8 h 46 m | Show |
My 10* Big Ten Game of the Month is on Minnesota at 5:30 ET. Chris Holtmann took over at Butler for Brad Stevens and went 70-31 win three seasons, each ending with an NCAA tourney berth. He took the Ohio St job beginning in 2017-18 and strung together three straight 20-win seasons but was denied a third straight NCAA bid when last season was shut down. Ohio St opened 5-0 and was ranked 20th in the AP poll before a 67-60 road loss at Purdue on Dec 16. A 77-70 win over UCLA (in Cleveland) plus an 80-68 home win over then-No. 11 Rutgers came next. However, the Buckeyes lost 671-70 at Northwestern, before closing 2020 by pounding visiting Nebraska 90-54 on Wednesday. The now-No. 25 Buckeyes (8-2, 2-2 Big Ten) take on the No. 21 Minnesota Golden Gophers (9-2, 2-2) Sunday at Williams Arena. Richard Pitino is in his eighth season at Minnesota. He led the Gophers to the NIT championship in his first season (2013-14) but over the last six seasons, Minnesota has made just two NCAA appearances (2017 and 2019), while going a combined 56-71 (.441) over the other four. Season No. 8 has begun well but while Minnesota had hoped to build off wins against Iowa (102-95 in overtime) and Michigan State (81-56), it instead trailed by 26 points at Wisconsin on Thursday, before a surge in the final minutes made the 71-59 final look respectable (it wasn't!). The Buckeyes saw five players score in double figures in their blowout of Nebraska and the 90 points was their highest point total in a conference game since defeating Penn State 106-74 back on Dec 7, 2019. The 6-7 Liddell (14.4 & 6,4) is Ohio State's best player. Guard Washington (14.3), the 6-7 Sueing (11.0 & 4.5), PG Walker (9.4 & 4.4 APG), the 6-8 Young (7.7 & 6.7) and 6-8 freshman Key (7.1 & 4.0) round out the main contributors Minnesota PG Carr (22.7-3.9-6.2) ranks with the best in the nation and has been aided by THREE transfers, 7-0 Liam Robbins (13.0 & 7.0) from Drake, the 6-6 Gach (11.1 & 5/7) from Utah and the 6-8 Johnson (8.9 & 6.0) from Western Michigan. Plus, don't dismiss returning junior guard Kalescheur, who's adding 9.8 PPG. Not much went right for anyone for Minnesota at Madison and Carr was NO exception. He entered the game fourth nationally with 24.0 points per game but needed five points in the final minutes to finish with 10 points on 3-of-13 shooting. This set up as a great bounce-back spot for Minnesota which is 9-0 at home, outscoring opponents on average, 86.4-to-71.9 PPG! LOVE this price! Good luck...Larry |
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01-02-21 | Colorado v. UCLA -2 | Top | 62-65 | Win | 100 | 14 h 48 m | Show |
My 10* PERFECT STORM is on UCLA at 8:00 ET. Tad Boyle is in his 11th season at Colorado and despite losing the 6-7 Tyler Bey (13.8 & 9.0) to the NBA (he played center), Boyle has his Buffs off to a 7-2 start. The good news was that PG Wright flirted with the NBA draft but returned to Boulder and is surrounded by veterans. Mick Cronin made NINE consecutive NCAA Tourney appearances at Cincy, as his Bearcats posted a 235-78 (.751) record in that span. He moved to Westwood last season and his Bruins got better as the year progressed and were playing their best ball when the season was shut down. UCLA lost its opener at San Diego St but then won FIVE in a row, before losing 77-70 to Ohio St in Cleveland on Dec 19. The 6-2 Bruins are coming off a 72-70 home victory over Utah on Thursday night and have opened 2-0 in Pac 12 play. The Colorado Buffaloes came into the week with a tough road trip to start the Pac-12 season. They opened in Arizona against the Wildcats on Tuesday and lost 88-74. That didn't come as too much of a surprise, as the Buffs have NEVER won at McKale Center since joining the Pac 12 for the 2011-12 season. However, Colorado won 72-62 at USC on Thursday. Wright is averaging 15.9-4.7-5.4 and is surrounded by veterans, such as the 7-0 Dallas Walton (9.6), the 6-8 Evan Battey (10.0 & 4.6) and the 6-7 Jeriah Horn (a Tulsa graduate transfer), who adds 10.8 & 6.1. A quartet of guards combine to add about 26 PPG. Cronin's Bruins feature SEVEN players averaging at least 8.5 PPG. 5-11 PG Campbell (10.9 & 7.3 APG) is surrounded by a bevy of "big guards," including the 6-6 Jaquez (13.3 & 5.9), the 6-9 Smith (12.6 & 6.4), the 6-6 Juzang (11.3) and the 6-6 Bernard (10.0 & 4.9). Up front it's the 6-9 Riley (8.8 & 5.0) and the 6-10 Hill (8.5 & 6.7).The Bruins showed some resiliency in their win over the Utes after their lone senior, Chris Smith, was briefly knocked out of the game with a bone bruise in his left knee late in the first half. He returned to finish with a team-high 16 points but got plenty of help from his younger teammates. UCLA will need that kind of depth if Smith is hobbled or unable to play against the Buffaloes. Speaking of injuries, Colorado's Wright suffered an ankle injury in the loss at Arizona on Tuesday night but not only did he play on Thursday at USC, he scored a game-high 19 points. "We have a great trainer," Boyle said after Thursday's game. "People don't talk about college basketball trainers enough, especially in years like this year, with all of the things he has on his plate with testing and protocols and contact tracing. Then he's got to keep our guys healthy mentally and physically. He's an important part of our success. He doesn't get talked about enough." We'll see what kind of shape Wright is in tonight. Regardless, UCLA win over Utah extended the Bruins' current home winning streak to 11 in a row and Colorado is a VERY tough spot, playing its THIRD conference road game in just FIVE days. Just a "PERFECT" spot for a UCLA win! Good luck...Larry |
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01-02-21 | Utah v. USC -5 | Top | 46-64 | Win | 100 | 7 h 4 m | Show |
My 9* Situational Stunner is on USC at 4:00 ET. The Utah Utes are 4-2 (1-1 Pac-12) and the USC Trojans 5-2 (0-1 Pac12), as both enter this contest off conference losses. The Utes saw their comeback fall short in a 72-70 loss at UCLA on Thursday, while the Trojans lost their Pac-12 home opener 72-62 to Colorado on the same night. Larry Krystkowiak led Montana to back-to-back NCAA berths in his two seasons at his alma mater and then took the Utah job to begin the 2011-12 season. He had losing seasons in his first two years but then led his team to an average of 23.4 wins per season over the next five with postseason berths in each one (3 NIT and 2 NCAA). However, the Utes opened this season off seasons of just 17 and 16 wins. Andy Enfield led Florida Gulf Coast to a 26-11 season in his second at the school, making a Sweet 16 appearance. That gave him the chance to "move on up" to USC but his first two seasons were HUGE disappointments (11-21 and 12-20). However, the Trojans have won 21-plus games in FOUR of the last five seasons, including a 22-9 mark last season. Utah lost Both Gach to Minnesota (transfer) but returned four starters. 6-6 forward Allen led the team in scoring last season and is averaging 15.8-5.3-3.0 this season, just behind guard Alfonso Plummer (16.0 & 3.7), who scored a season high 22 points at UCLA. Joining Allen up front are the 6-8 Jantunen (8.8 & 5.2), the 7-0 Carlson (7.7 & 2.8) and the 6-9 Battin (6.2 & 4.0). Gach liked to play PG and his leaving has opened that role up to Jones (7.8 & 4.5 APG), who joins Plummer in the starting backcourt, while freshman Larsson (7.7) comes off the bench. USC saw its top-five scorers leave after the 2020 season. Onyeka Okongwu left for the NBA, Elijah Weaver transferred to University of Dayton plus seniors Jonah Mathews, Nick Rakocevic, and Daniel Utomi all graduated. However, Enfield recruited a "super frosh" in 7-0 freshman Evan Mobley plus brought in SIX transfers. Evan Mobley has wasted little time in showing his value, averaging 16.7 & 8.4. He joins his brother Isaiah (a 6-10 sophomore), who has added 9.9 & 8.3. Peterson (10.1-4.0-3.3) is a 6-8 swingman from Rice and joins guards Eaddy (Santa Clara) and White, a grad transfer from Utah Valley St. Eaddy is averaging 12.0 PPG and White 6.3 & 3.6. Guard Goodwin (6.9 & 4.9) and Baumann (6.4) come off the bench. USC is the more complete team at this stage of the season plus while Utah gave a 'close but no cigar' effort at UCLA, the fact remains that the Utes have now lost 11 consecutive games on the Pac 12 road. Utah has not won on the road in league play since beating Washington State 92-79 back on Feb 23, 2019. The Utes ATS record in that span is 2-9 or an 82% "go-against" Fight On USC!! Good luck...Larry |
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01-02-21 | Tulsa v. Cincinnati -5 | Top | 70-66 | Loss | -110 | 9 h 17 m | Show |
My 9* Weekend Wipeout is on Cincinnati at 2:00 ET. Frank Haith has had stops at Miami-Fl and Missouri before coming to Tulsa for the 2014-15 season. His teams have averaged 19.3 wins per year in his first six seasons, including going 21-10 before COVID shut down the 2019-20 season. However, Haith's biggest win at Tulsa came this past Tuesday when it stunned No. 5 Houston 65-64. The victory was clinched when Brandon Rachal hit two free throws with 0.1 seconds remaining. It was the program's first win over a top-5 opponent in 24 years (Golden Hurricane beat a ranked UCLA team back in 1995!). John Brannen led Northern Kentucky to a 72-30 record in his final three seasons, leading the Norse to the "Big Dance" in two of those three years. He was hired at Cincy on April 14, 2019 when Mick Cronin left for UCLA. The Bearcats went 20-10 in last year's pandemic-shortened season but opened the current season missing guards Jarron Cumberland (15.5) and Jaevin Cumberland (8.8) plus forward Tre Scott (11.4 & 10.5). The Bearcats were one of the last teams in Division I to start their season, not taking the floor until Dec 2, and limp into this contest against 5-3 Tulsa just 2-5. The Golden Hurricane are led by a quartet of guards in Rachal (14.5 & 7.0(, Embery-Simpson (9.3), Joiner (9.0-5.3-4.1) and Jackson (7.1 & 4.0). The 6-9 Idowu (8.4 & 4.8) is the team's best frontcourt player. Tulsa is scoring a modest 71.5 PPG, which is NOT helped by the team making just 60.6% of its free throws (314th). However, Tulsa does play defense, allowing 60.6 PPG (26th) while holding opponents to 36.7% from the floor (15th). Not much has gone right for Cincy so far, as the Bearcats enter on a four-game skid. The Bearcats lost 75-70 at UCF on Dec 22 in their most recent outing, despite getting the first career double-double from Keith Williams (19 points, 10 rebounds) and a career-high 15 points from Zach Harvey. Williams (15.1 & 4.3) is the team's LONE double digit scorer. Big things were expected from the 7-1 Chris Vogt (11.0 & 5.9 LY) but he's off to a poor start (6.4 & 4.1). However, here's the rub. As noted, Tulsa's off its first win over a top-5 team since 1996 and now faces a desperate for a win Cincinnati team which enters having won its last seven meetings with Tulsa, with a MOV of 16 PPG. "W-I-P-E-O-U-T Alert! Good luck...Larry |
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12-31-20 | Utah v. UCLA -6.5 | Top | 70-72 | Loss | -115 | 13 h 17 m | Show |
My 9* Pac 12 Game of the Month is on UCLA at 7:00 ET. My 9* Conference Crusher (Pac 12) is on UCLA at 7:00 ET. Larry Krystkowiak led Montana to back-to-back NCAA berths in his two seasons at his alma mater and then took the Utah job to begin the 2011-12 season. He had losing seasons in his first two years but then led his team to an average of 23.4 wins per season over the next five with postseason berths in each one (3 NIT and 2 NCAA). However, the Utes opened this season off seasons of just 17 and 16 wins. Mick Cronin made NINE consecutive NCAA Tourney appearances at Cincy, as his Bearcats posted a 235-78 (.751) record in that span. He moved to Westwood last season and his Bruins got better as the year progressed and were playing their best ball when the season was shut down. The Bruins were 19-12, including a 12-6 Pac-12 record, good enough to get the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament. Utah lost Both Gach to Minnesota (transfer) but returned four starters. 6-6 forward Allen led the team in scoring last season and is doing so again so far, at 15.4 & 5.2). Joining him up front are returning starters like the 7-0 Carlson (8.8 & 3.4) and the 6-9 Battin (6.4 & 4.0). Gach liked to play PG and his leaving has opened that role up to Jones (8.2 & 4.6 APG), who is joined in the starting backcourt by Plummer (14.8 PPG). Cronin's Bruins feature SEVEN players averaging at least nine points per game. 5-11 PG Campbell (11.1 & 6.9 APG) is surrounded by a bevy of "big guards," including the 6-6 Jaquez (13.7 & 6.0), the 6-9 Smith (12.1 & 6.7), the 6-6 Juzang (10.7) and the 6-6 Bernard (9.6 & 5.1). Up front it's the 6-9 Riley (9.7 & 5.0) and the 6-10 Hill (9.0 & 7.0). UCLA lost its opener at San Diego St but then won FIVE in a row, before losing 77-70 to Ohio St in Cleveland on Dec 19. UCLA led for most of the second half against the Buckeyes but gave up a big run in the final five minutes ending the team's five-game winning streak. The Bruins were to make a 'pit stop' in Eugene to play reigning league champion Oregon on Dec 23 but the contest was postponed due to a referee testing positive for COVID-19. The Bruins return to action here for the first time in almost two weeks. Utah knows something about "off time" as well, as the Utes haven't played since Dec 18. Utah is 4-1 but note that the wins have come in Salt Lake City, while the loss came 82-64 at BYU. Struggling on the road is NOT new, especially in the Pac 12. Utah enters this game without a conference road victory since February of 2019. The Utes went 0-9 in Pac-12 games away from Salt Lake City last season and enter on a 10-game road losing streak in Pac 12 play, going 1-9 ATS. Why should that change here? Good luck...Larry |
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12-31-20 | Minnesota v. Wisconsin -8 | Top | 59-71 | Win | 100 | 7 h 25 m | Show |
My 10* PERFECT STORM is on Wisconsin at 4:30 ET. Richard Pitino is in his eighth season at Minnesota. He led the Gophers to the NIT championship in his first season (2013-14) but over the last six seasons, Minnesota has made just two NCAA appearances (2017 and 2019), while going a combined 56-71 (.441) over the other four. However, Season No. 8 has begun well, as the Golden Gophers are now 9-1 after beating then-No. 4 Iowa 102-95 in OT on Christmas plus routing then-No. 17 Michigan St 81-56 this past Monday. Wisconsin opened the Week 8-1 (ranked No. 6 in Monday's latest AP poll) and took a 10-game Big Ten winning streak into its Monday home game with Maryland. However, the Terps beat the Badgers 70-64. The two conference rivals wrap up the 2020 portion of the current season late this afternoon in Madison. PG Carr (24.0-3.8-6.1) ranks with the best in the nation and has been aided by THREE transfers, 7-0 Liam Robbins (13.1 & 6.8) from Drake, the 6-6 Gach (11.7 & 6.3) from Utah and the 6-8 Johnson (8.6 & 5.7) from Western Michigan. Plus, don't dismiss returning junior guard Kalescheur, who's adding 9.3 PPG. Wisconsin has had a terrific basketball program for decades and Greg Gard enters his sixth season at Madison, having had FOUR 20-win seasons in his first five. The Badgers start FIVE seniors, guards Trice (14.2-3.2-3.2) and Davison (10.6) plus the 6-10 Potter (12.2 & 6.9), the 6-11 Reuvers (10.3 & 3.9) and the 6-8 Ford (9.6 & 4.2). 6-5 freshman Davis (7.4 & 4.6) and 6-9 sophomore Wahl (4.4 & 4.1) are both averaging about 21 MPG off the bench. Minnesota entered the top-25 for the first time this season on Monday (T-21) and while its win over Michigan St was proof it belonged, the Golden Gophers face a tough matchup here at Kohl Center. There is NO rest for the weary in the Big Ten, which placed a record NINE teams in the latest AP poll. In fact, Minnesota's visit to Wisconsin marks the third game in a rugged stretch of SEVEN straight games against teams currently ranked. Wisconsin plays stifling defense and entered its game with Maryland holding opponents to 57.5 PPG on 36.2 percent shooting overall. Maryland didn't exactly 'light up the scoreboard (70 points) but the Terps did shoot 50% from the floor. Meanwhile, Wisconsin's 64 points were a season-low. It's bounce back time here for the Badgers and note that Minnesota has played just one true road game so far, getting crushed in a 92-65 loss at Illinois. Note: The Illini are coming off a three-point loss at Missouri in the schools' Braggin' Rights game. Sound familiar? Lay the points! Good luck...Larry |
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Larry Ness NCAA-B Picks
Date | Match Up | Rating | Score | Result | Profit | Lead Time | Analysis |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
02-20-21 | Notre Dame v. Syracuse -2.5 | Top | 67-75 | Win | 100 | 6 h 6 m | Show |
02-19-21 | Toledo +2 v. Buffalo | Top | 80-70 | Win | 100 | 13 h 31 m | Show |
02-18-21 | Houston v. Wichita State +8 | Top | 63-68 | Win | 100 | 12 h 37 m | Show |
02-17-21 | Marquette v. Butler -2 | Top | 73-57 | Loss | -110 | 9 h 55 m | Show |
02-17-21 | Gardner-Webb v. Radford -3 | Top | 69-57 | Loss | -110 | 11 h 50 m | Show |
02-16-21 | Providence v. Connecticut -5.5 | Top | 61-73 | Win | 100 | 9 h 14 m | Show |
02-15-21 | Virginia v. Florida State -1 | Top | 60-81 | Win | 100 | 10 h 13 m | Show |
02-14-21 | Norfolk State v. Morgan State -3 | Top | 68-65 | Loss | -110 | 5 h 23 m | Show |
02-14-21 | Michigan v. Wisconsin +1 | Top | 67-59 | Loss | -105 | 6 h 39 m | Show |
02-13-21 | St. Mary's -0.5 v. Pepperdine | Top | 58-60 | Loss | -113 | 11 h 43 m | Show |
02-13-21 | Bradley v. Missouri State -2.5 | Top | 58-80 | Win | 100 | 10 h 6 m | Show |
02-13-21 | Villanova -2.5 v. Creighton | Top | 70-86 | Loss | -110 | 12 h 34 m | Show |
02-13-21 | Loyola-Chicago v. Drake +4.5 | Top | 81-54 | Loss | -105 | 6 h 55 m | Show |
02-12-21 | Georgia Tech v. Clemson -3.5 | Top | 72-74 | Loss | -110 | 11 h 57 m | Show |
02-11-21 | Troy State v. South Alabama -6 | Top | 70-73 | Loss | -113 | 10 h 53 m | Show |
02-11-21 | Purdue v. Minnesota -3.5 | Top | 68-71 | Loss | -110 | 10 h 44 m | Show |
02-10-21 | Rutgers v. Iowa -6 | Top | 66-79 | Win | 100 | 12 h 31 m | Show |
02-10-21 | East Tennessee State v. The Citadel +7.5 | Top | 71-79 | Win | 100 | 10 h 59 m | Show |
02-09-21 | Penn State v. Michigan State -3 | Top | 58-60 | Loss | -110 | 10 h 41 m | Show |
02-09-21 | Syracuse v. NC State -2 | Top | 77-68 | Loss | -107 | 10 h 34 m | Show |
02-08-21 | Oklahoma State v. Kansas -4.5 | Top | 66-78 | Win | 100 | 12 h 21 m | Show |
02-07-21 | Boise State -4.5 v. Nevada | Top | 62-73 | Loss | -110 | 10 h 36 m | Show |
02-07-21 | Iowa -3 v. Indiana | Top | 65-67 | Loss | -110 | 6 h 44 m | Show |
02-06-21 | UCLA v. USC -3 | Top | 48-66 | Win | 100 | 15 h 45 m | Show |
02-06-21 | South Dakota v. South Dakota State -5.5 | Top | 78-89 | Win | 100 | 11 h 5 m | Show |
02-06-21 | UCF v. Tulsa -4.5 | Top | 65-58 | Loss | -111 | 12 h 19 m | Show |
02-06-21 | Wisconsin +4.5 v. Illinois | Top | 60-75 | Loss | -110 | 9 h 9 m | Show |
02-06-21 | Syracuse v. Clemson -2.5 | Top | 61-78 | Win | 100 | 9 h 40 m | Show |
02-04-21 | Minnesota v. Rutgers -5 | Top | 72-76 | Loss | -111 | 14 h 7 m | Show |
02-04-21 | Ohio State v. Iowa -4.5 | Top | 89-85 | Loss | -114 | 10 h 26 m | Show |
02-04-21 | Cincinnati v. Temple +2.5 | Top | 63-60 | Loss | -115 | 10 h 42 m | Show |
02-03-21 | SMU v. Tulsa +2.5 | Top | 65-63 | Win | 100 | 14 h 19 m | Show |
02-03-21 | Kentucky v. Missouri -4.5 | Top | 70-75 | Win | 100 | 10 h 36 m | Show |
02-02-21 | Illinois v. Indiana +3 | Top | 75-71 | Loss | -117 | 15 h 15 m | Show |
02-02-21 | Penn State v. Wisconsin -7 | Top | 56-72 | Win | 100 | 15 h 37 m | Show |
02-02-21 | Baylor v. Texas +6 | Top | 83-69 | Loss | -112 | 13 h 10 m | Show |
02-01-21 | Georgia Tech v. Louisville -3.5 | Top | 58-74 | Win | 100 | 6 h 39 m | Show |
01-31-21 | NC State v. Syracuse -5 | Top | 73-76 | Loss | -110 | 11 h 24 m | Show |
01-31-21 | Sam Houston State v. Stephen F Austin -5 | Top | 68-78 | Win | 100 | 8 h 53 m | Show |
01-31-21 | Cal-Irvine v. Hawaii +3 | Top | 61-62 | Win | 100 | 16 h 42 m | Show |
01-30-21 | Minnesota v. Purdue -2.5 | Top | 62-81 | Win | 100 | 10 h 25 m | Show |
01-30-21 | Wisconsin -4 v. Penn State | Top | 71-81 | Loss | -115 | 5 h 3 m | Show |
01-29-21 | Boise State -1.5 v. Colorado State | Top | 85-77 | Win | 100 | 14 h 3 m | Show |
01-29-21 | Iowa +2 v. Illinois | Top | 75-80 | Loss | -105 | 11 h 13 m | Show |
01-28-21 | Stanford v. Arizona -7.5 | Top | 73-64 | Loss | -110 | 13 h 11 m | Show |
01-28-21 | Memphis v. SMU -3 | Top | 65-67 | Loss | -115 | 14 h 46 m | Show |
01-27-21 | Wisconsin -3 v. Maryland | Top | 61-55 | Win | 100 | 14 h 10 m | Show |
01-27-21 | Penn State v. Ohio State -7.5 | Top | 79-83 | Loss | -110 | 9 h 17 m | Show |
01-27-21 | Creighton v. Seton Hall +1.5 | Top | 85-81 | Loss | -100 | 9 h 32 m | Show |
01-26-21 | SMU v. Memphis -2 | Top | 72-76 | Win | 100 | 9 h 27 m | Show |
01-25-21 | Texas Tech v. West Virginia -1 | Top | 87-88 | Push | 0 | 8 h 5 m | Show |
01-25-21 | Syracuse v. Virginia -7 | Top | 58-81 | Win | 100 | 10 h 50 m | Show |
01-24-21 | Notre Dame v. Miami-FL -2 | Top | 73-59 | Loss | -110 | 12 h 37 m | Show |
01-23-21 | Missouri v. Tennessee -7 | Top | 73-64 | Loss | -110 | 13 h 45 m | Show |
01-23-21 | LSU v. Kentucky -1 | Top | 69-82 | Win | 100 | 12 h 8 m | Show |
01-23-21 | Ohio State v. Wisconsin -4.5 | Top | 74-62 | Loss | -110 | 8 h 20 m | Show |
01-23-21 | NC State v. North Carolina -6 | Top | 76-86 | Win | 100 | 5 h 12 m | Show |
01-23-21 | Kansas -1 v. Oklahoma | Top | 68-75 | Loss | -114 | 7 h 22 m | Show |
01-22-21 | Michigan v. Purdue +4 | Top | 70-53 | Loss | -110 | 11 h 52 m | Show |
01-21-21 | Utah v. Washington State +2.5 | 71-56 | Loss | -108 | 11 h 39 m | Show | |
01-21-21 | San Francisco v. Santa Clara +4 | Top | 73-50 | Loss | -107 | 13 h 7 m | Show |
01-20-21 | Tulsa v. Houston -12 | Top | 59-86 | Win | 100 | 8 h 37 m | Show |
01-20-21 | Clemson +1.5 v. Georgia Tech | Top | 65-83 | Loss | -109 | 11 h 4 m | Show |
01-19-21 | Duke -2.5 v. Pittsburgh | Top | 73-79 | Loss | -110 | 14 h 14 m | Show |
01-19-21 | Alabama v. LSU -1 | Top | 105-75 | Loss | -108 | 14 h 3 m | Show |
01-19-21 | Ole Miss v. Mississippi State -2.5 | Top | 64-46 | Loss | -105 | 13 h 10 m | Show |
01-19-21 | Penn State v. Illinois -8 | Top | 65-79 | Win | 100 | 14 h 34 m | Show |
01-18-21 | Florida State v. Louisville -1.5 | Top | 78-65 | Loss | -112 | 12 h 33 m | Show |
01-17-21 | Penn State v. Purdue -5 | Top | 72-80 | Win | 100 | 6 h 8 m | Show |
01-16-21 | Baylor -4.5 v. Texas Tech | Top | 68-60 | Win | 100 | 10 h 5 m | Show |
01-16-21 | Michigan v. Minnesota +6 | Top | 57-75 | Win | 100 | 5 h 29 m | Show |
01-16-21 | Ohio State v. Illinois -5.5 | Top | 87-81 | Loss | -110 | 6 h 14 m | Show |
01-14-21 | BYU v. St. Mary's | 62-52 | Loss | -105 | 15 h 37 m | Show | |
01-14-21 | Purdue v. Indiana -3 | Top | 81-69 | Loss | -110 | 12 h 0 m | Show |
01-13-21 | Northwestern v. Ohio State -7.5 | Top | 71-81 | Win | 100 | 10 h 35 m | Show |
01-13-21 | NC State v. Florida State -4 | Top | 73-105 | Win | 100 | 10 h 55 m | Show |
01-12-21 | Syracuse v. North Carolina -3.5 | 75-81 | Win | 100 | 12 h 33 m | Show | |
01-12-21 | Alabama v. Kentucky -2 | Top | 85-65 | Loss | -109 | 12 h 17 m | Show |
01-12-21 | Wisconsin +4 v. Michigan | Top | 54-77 | Loss | -110 | 12 h 21 m | Show |
01-12-21 | Butler v. St. John's -1.5 | Top | 57-69 | Win | 100 | 12 h 10 m | Show |
01-11-21 | Colorado v. Utah +3.5 | Top | 65-58 | Loss | -114 | 13 h 56 m | Show |
01-10-21 | Cincinnati v. Wichita State -2.5 | Top | 76-82 | Win | 100 | 10 h 5 m | Show |
01-09-21 | UCLA v. Arizona -3 | Top | 81-76 | Loss | -110 | 15 h 32 m | Show |
01-09-21 | Seton Hall -3.5 v. DePaul | Top | 76-68 | Win | 100 | 6 h 2 m | Show |
01-09-21 | Ohio State v. Rutgers -4 | 79-68 | Loss | -110 | 6 h 56 m | Show | |
01-08-21 | Purdue v. Michigan State -4 | Top | 55-54 | Loss | -115 | 14 h 35 m | Show |
01-07-21 | USC v. Arizona -3 | Top | 87-73 | Loss | -109 | 13 h 50 m | Show |
01-07-21 | Oregon v. Colorado -1.5 | 72-79 | Win | 100 | 10 h 9 m | Show | |
01-06-21 | Virginia Tech v. Louisville -4 | Top | 71-73 | Loss | -115 | 10 h 51 m | Show |
01-05-21 | Kansas -5.5 v. TCU | 93-64 | Win | 100 | 13 h 44 m | Show | |
01-05-21 | Rutgers v. Michigan State -1.5 | Top | 45-68 | Win | 100 | 13 h 10 m | Show |
01-05-21 | Connecticut v. Marquette -1.5 | Top | 65-54 | Loss | -105 | 13 h 43 m | Show |
01-04-21 | Colorado State v. San Diego State -8 | Top | 65-78 | Win | 100 | 12 h 8 m | Show |
01-03-21 | Houston -2 v. SMU | 74-60 | Win | 100 | 13 h 17 m | Show | |
01-03-21 | Ohio State v. Minnesota +1 | Top | 60-77 | Win | 100 | 8 h 46 m | Show |
01-02-21 | Colorado v. UCLA -2 | Top | 62-65 | Win | 100 | 14 h 48 m | Show |
01-02-21 | Utah v. USC -5 | Top | 46-64 | Win | 100 | 7 h 4 m | Show |
01-02-21 | Tulsa v. Cincinnati -5 | Top | 70-66 | Loss | -110 | 9 h 17 m | Show |
12-31-20 | Utah v. UCLA -6.5 | Top | 70-72 | Loss | -115 | 13 h 17 m | Show |
12-31-20 | Minnesota v. Wisconsin -8 | Top | 59-71 | Win | 100 | 7 h 25 m | Show |