College Basketball Knowledge
Villanova won last 12 games with Penn, only four by 15+ points; they open Big East play with Xavier Thursday; Wildcats force turnovers 23% of time (#15); they're shooting 60.2% inside arc (#3), have #49 eFG%. Penn lost last five D-I games, with four of the five by six or less points. Quakers lost 104-67 to Washington in their only top 100 game this year.
Detroit is 4-2 vs teams not in top 100; teams are shooting 45.6% on arc against them (#349); Titans are 2-0 vs MAC teams this year, with wins vs Bowling Green/Toledo. Eastern Michigan is 3-4 vs D-I teams; they've got four non-D-I wins. Eagles are shooting 26.1% on arc (#347)- they got beat by 10 at Oakland, only Horizon League they've played this season.
Duke is 5-0 vs teams outside top 100, with four wins by 23+ points; the Blue Devils play Long Beach Wednesday, then start in ACC Saturday. Elon is 9-3 vs schedule #265; they lost 20 at Michigan, 11 at Syracuse in two top 100 games- they've won last five D-I games overall, but 86-81 win over #138 NC-Asheville is their only win against a top 200 team. .
Davidson split pair of 30-point decisions in its only true road games; the Wildcats lost by 25 to Pitt, 33 at North Carolina in its top 100 games-- their best win is #111 Morehead State. California is 1-3 vs teams in top 100, beating St Mary's by 4; Bears won five of last six games, losing in OT at Virginia last game. Teams are shooting 37.4% inside arc (#3) vs Cal Four of last seven Cal games were decided by 4 or less points or in OT.
Rebuilt Washington is 8-3 vs schedule #264, with all three losses vs top 70 teams; Huskies force turnovers 21.7% of time (#41)- they won by 18 vs Fullerton of Big West. UCSB is 3-7 vs #10 schedule; they beat Iona on neutral court last game, a decent win. Gauchos are 0-4 vs Pac-12 squads, with three of four losses by 12+ points. Washington starts Pac-12 play when it hosts UCLA on Friday.
North Carolina beat NC-Greensboro by 23-31 points last two years; the Spartans are coached by Tar Heel alum Wes Miller. UNC are 3-0 against teams outside top 200, winning by 20-24-24 poiuts. Tar Heels open the ACC schedule Wednesday vs Clemson. UNCG is 1-8 vs D-I teams, with losses by 10 at Wake Forest, 6 at NC State- they have three non-D-I Ws.
Morehead State is 6-4 vs schedule #71; they're 5-1 vs teams outside top 100, with only loss 67-66 at Illinois State. Eagles force turnovers 24.2% of time (#8) but also turn it over 21.2% (#303). Green Bay is playing a faster pace under its new coach; they're 5-2 in last seven games, with two losses by total of seven points to Toledo/Wisconsin- they start Horizon League play Saturday.
Cornell is 1-5 in true road games, with only win in double OT at Colgate; Big Red is 1-2 vs MAAC teams, losing 25 at Canisius, 9 to Monmouth- they rallied to beat Siena 81-80 at home. St Peter's is 3-3 vs teams not in top 200; they're 2-0 in MAAC, 2-6 outside it. Peacocks are 4-1 if they allow 68 or less points, 0-5 if they allow more than 68. Cornell scored 69+ points in four of last five games.
Butler is 5-0 vs teams outside top 200, with four wins by 24+ points- they start Big East play vs Providence on Thursday. Bulldogs make 58% of shots inside arc (#10)- they've won last seven games overall. IUPUI is 3-10 vs D-I teams, losing by 25 at Creighton, in OT at Marquette in two games vs Big East teams. Three of Jaguars' last four losses are by 25+.
4-6 Iona has five top 100 losses; they've lost last three games, are 3-0 vs teams outside top 100, winning by 15-35-10 points. Gaels lost couple of games in Las Vegas LW- they're experienced, deeep, shoot 39.3% on arc. Iona made 10-21 on arc in 81-62 win over Drexel LY. Dragons are 0-6 vs top 150 teams, with four of six losses by 9 or less points- their two wins are vs teams ranked #257/#267. Iona is #109.
Valparaiso beat Belmont 61-57 at home Dec 3, forcing 19 turnovers (+9) in game they trailed by 4 with 5;18 left. Bruins shot 59% inside arc but took more 3's (25) than 2's (22). Crusaders won last four games- they are 3-2 in true road games. Belmont is 2-0 in D-I home games; they're 0-2 vs Horizon teams, losing by hoop at Cleveland State. Belmont is shooting 61.5% inside arc, #1 in country.
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