College Basketball Injury Report
By Brian Edwards
Sportsmemo.com
The status of North Carolina’s P.J. Hairston and Leslie McDonald remains uncertain. Both remain suspended indefinitely and the only certainty is that neither will play Saturday vs. Kentucky.
Oregon’s Ben Carter and Dominic Artis are expected to make their season debuts Tuesday vs. UC Irvine. Both have been suspended so far while the Ducks have run out to an 8-0 straight-up record and a 7-0 against-the-spread mark. The ‘over’ is also 6-0 for Oregon. Both will miss their ninth and final game Saturday vs. Illinois.
Florida stormed out to a double-digit lead by forcing 16 first-half turnovers in Tuesday’s home win over Kansas. The Gators hooked up their backers in the 67-61 win as three-point favorites in a game that wasn’t near as close as the final score indicated. A late barrage of 3-pointers by KU’s Andrew Wiggins and abysmal free-throw shooting by UF made the final seem close. UF was playing for the first time all season with its full compliment of players. Scottie Wilbekin and Kasey Hill both returned from sprained ankles a little sooner than anticipated. Wilbekin was the best player on the court against the Jayhawks, finishing with 18 points, six assists and four steals. The Gators remain hopeful that even more help could be on the way. Chris Walker, a McDonald’s All-American, has completed his course requirement and should find out if UF will admit him in the next few days. From there, the athletic shot-blocking center will have just one last hurdle, the NCAA Clearinghouse, to get past before taking the court for the orange and blue. Also, Damontre Harris remains suspended indefinitely, but there’s a chance he could earn back a spot on the roster. Finally, UF has decided to redshirt Rutgers transfer Eli Carter, who was granted immediate eligibility but still wasn’t 100 percent after suffering a leg injury late last season.
Fresno State senior guard Tyler Johnson remains out with a foot injury. Johnson is expected to miss a fifth consecutive game Saturday at California. He was averaging 14.3 points, 8.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game. Without Johnson, the Bulldogs have split four games, going 1-3 against the spread. Gamblers should check his status ahead of a Dec. 21 game at Florida.
Belmont might be without two of its best players Saturday at South Dakota State. Craig Bradshaw and Reece Chamberlain are both question marks. Bradshaw suffered a head injury in a home loss to VCU on Dec. 1. He is averaging 11.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game. Chamberlain, who averages 10.9 points, 4.9 assists and 3.9 rebounds per contest, hasn’t played since Nov. 24 when he injured his foot. The Bruins are 8-2 with a win at North Carolina on their resume.
Colorado freshman forward Wesley Gordon did not play in Saturday’s 75-72 win over Kansas and is questionable Friday vs. Elon. Gordon, who has an undisclosed injury, is averaging 7.6 points and 6.3 boards per game.
Davidson star forward De’Mon Brooks missed his fifth straight game Wednesday in a loss to Niagara. Brooks has a groin injury and is questionable for Sunday’s home game vs. Drexel. Brooks averages 16.8 points and 6.4 rebounds per game.
Drexel guard Damion Lee is out for the season with a torn ACL. This is a huge loss for the Dragons, who started the season with six straight spread covers before failing to cover in their last two games. Lee was averaging 13.0 PPG.
Harvard guard Brandyn Curry and forward Kenyatta Smith remain out indefinitely with foot injuries. Curry has played in two games this season, averaging 9.5 points and 4.5 assists per game. Smith has yet to play after averaging 5.8 points and 4.3 rebounds per contest in 2012-13.
Maryland guard Seth Allen broke his foot at practice on Oct. 29. The Terrapins are hoping he can return in the next 2-3 weeks. Allen averaged 7.8 points and 2.3 assists per game last season and was expected to be a starter.
Michigan State guard Gary Harris is a question mark for Saturday’s home game vs. Oakland. Harris averages a team-high 17.6 PPG for the Spartans. Adreian Payne is also nursing a foot injury but is expected to start against the Grizzlies.
Providence guard Kris Dunn is out for the season with a shoulder injury. Dunn was averaging 3.8 points, 5.0 assists and 2.5 rebounds per game for the Friars.
Vandy came into the season with some personnel issues after losing three key players unexpectedly. One was suspended, one turned pro overseas and another decided to transfer. And now the Commodores will be without Josh Henderson for an indefinite period of time. Henderson injured his knee in last Thursday’s home win over Marshall. He was averaging 6.6 points and 4.3 rebounds per game.
College Basketball: Streaks, Trends, Notes
Sportspic.com
Kentucky at North Carolina
College basketball takes center stage Saturday with one of the high profile games being North Carolina hosting Kentucky. Tar Heels lead by Paige (18.8), Johnson (13.6), McAdoo (13.0) are netting 77.5 points/game on 47.7% shooting and quietly playing solid defense allowing opponents 66.5 per/contest on 37.6% from the filed. The Jekyll-and-Hyde Tar Heels have beaten a #3 Louisville and #1 Michigan State but have also lost to a couple of inferior teams. Coach Cal’s Cats lead by Randle (17.8), Young (13.9) with the twins chipping in a combined 24.1 are scoring 80.8 per/game on 48.3% shooting while surrendering 63.4 per/game on 36.3% from the field. Cats also have two blemishes vs ranked teams losing to Michigan State, Baylor. UNC lost the last meeting 73-72 at Rupp Arena but cashed as 6.5 point road underdogs marking eight straight cover in the series with Kentucky (6-2 SU). UNC with series history on their side, a profitable 12-1-1 ATS vs the SEC and Cats a dreadful 1-12 ATS last thirteen vs the ACC the lean is Tar Heels.
Saturday's NCAAB Top 25 Betting Cheat Sheet: Afternoon Action
By Covers.com
With only one college football game on Saturday's schedule, the attention swings to NCAA hoops. Saturday's slate is packed with marquee matchups, including some big-name showdowns between Top 25 programs. Here's a look at all the Top 25 betting action Saturday:
Arizona Wildcats at Michigan Wolverines (-1)
Arizona didn’t miss a beat in its first game at No. 1 and the level of challenge gets raised a few notches when it visits No. 25 Michigan on Saturday afternoon. The Wildcats hammered New Mexico State 74-48 on Wednesday, but they face a Michigan team that has won 20 straight games at home against non-conference opponents and had a week to prepare for them. The key battle could be inside between Arizona’s 6-9 freshman Aaron Gordon and 6-10 sophomore Mitch McGary of Michigan.
The Wolverines followed up a loss at Duke by beating Houston Baptist by 54 last Saturday, recording a season-high 26 assists. Michigan’s only two upperclassmen play up front and Arizona is young in the backcourt as well, except for leading scorer junior Nick Johnson. Michigan is averaging more than 80 points and the Wildcats have held six of 10 opponents under 60, beating San Diego State 69-60 in their only true road game.
TRENDS:
* Wildcats are 5-1 ATS in their last six vs. Big Ten.
* Wolverines are 6-2 ATS in their last eight home games.
* Under is 6-0 in Wildcats' last six overall.
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at Louisville Cardinals (-22)
Coach Rick Pitino is waiting for that championship-level defense to appear at No. 4 Louisville, which hosts Western Kentucky on Saturday. The numbers look good - the Cardinals started the week leading the country in turnover margin, ranked fifth in steals and 11th in scoring defense at 60.3 points - but Pitino has gotten on his team more than once this year about playing sloppy defense. "We have got to just keep working on it. It will get better," Pitino said after a 113-74 win against Louisiana-Lafayette last week. "The guys we have can score, and we can teach them defense, and it will get better."
The Hilltoppers enter the 12th annual Billy Minardi Classic with decent defensive numbers too - holding teams to 62.4 points - but will be tested by a Louisville team averaging almost 87 points. Western Kentucky gets some help this week when transfers Chris Harrison-Docks (Butler) and Trency Jackson (Texas Tech) become eligible. "We'll have to figure out where we will use those guys and what situations they're going to help us the most, but no question about (it), they're going to help," coach Ray Harper said.
TRENDS:
* Over is 4-0 in the last four meetings.
* Cardinals are 13-4 ATS in their last 17 home games.
* Over is 12-3 in Cardinals' last 15 overall.
Eastern Kentucky Colonels at Wisconsin Badgers (-16.5)
Ben Brust took his turn in the spotlight this week as No. 6 Wisconsin, which hosts Eastern Kentucky on Saturday, continued its hot start. In case anyone had forgotten about Brust in the Badgers' balanced attack, the senior hit his first six shots to get Wisconsin rolling Wednesday. "Ben is one of those guys that can get hot real quick and he can change the complexion of a whole game just because he's such a sharp shooter," sophomore Sam Dekker said after the win against Wisconsin-Milwaukee. "Ben is one of those guys that's not going to always pass the eye test for some people. But he's always one of those guys that's going to get it done day in and day out."
Before anyone misinterpreted his comments, Dekker said Brust works hard in practice and makes hustle plays in games that sometimes go unnoticed - but not by teammates. The Colonels have been opportunistic with turnovers while Wisconsin hasn't lost that many. Wisconsin started the week second in turnovers lost (8.9) while Eastern Kentucky - ranked second in steals at 11.1 - has scored 239 points of 182 turnovers in 10 games.
TRENDS:
* Colonels are 2-5 ATS in their last seven road games.
* Badgers are 4-1 ATS in their last five games overall.
* Under is 5-1 in Badgers' last siix overall.
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs vs. Oklahoma State Cowboys (-12.5)
Marcus Smart has carried Oklahoma State into the top 10 while pushing himself up draft boards. Smart will need to be at his best Saturday when the ninth-ranked Cowboys face upset-minded Louisiana Tech in the All-College Classic at Oklahoma City. Smart and Markel Brown form one of the most dynamic scoring backcourts in the country and swingman Le’Bryan Nash offers a third scoring option for an Oklahoma State club that is among the leaders in the nation with a 90.4 scoring average.
The Bulldogs are no slouches in the scoring department and put up an average of 86.2 points behind their own solid backcourt of Raheem Appleby, Kenneth “Speedy” Smith and Alex Hamilton. “We are excited about the opportunity to play a really good team,” Louisiana Tech coach Michael White said of the Cowboys. “I think everyone in this locker room feels like we have a chance if we play great, despite what they are ranked.” Oklahoma State has been off since topping South Carolina on Dec. 6, and is beginning a stretch of three games in eight days.
TRENDS:
* Bulldogs are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games overall.
* Cowboys are 0-6 ATS in their last six neutral-site games.
* Under is 18-7-1 in Cowboys' last 26 non-conference games.
Tennessee Volunteers at Wichita State Shockers (-7)
Wichita State looks to go 10-0 for the first time in school history when it hosts Tennessee on Saturday in the first of two straight games against Southeastern Conference opponents. The eighth-ranked Shockers, who visit Alabama on Tuesday, won their ninth straight out of the gate with a 71-58 triumph over Oral Roberts last Saturday. It marked the eighth time that Wichita State won by double digits and the seventh time it held an opponent under 70 points.
The Shockers have limited opponents to an average of 60.3 points, which was tied for 11th in the country entering the week. They may be challenged by a Volunteers' squad that has found its offensive rhythm, averaging 77 points during a three-game win streak that includes runaway victories against Xavier and Wake Forest. Jarnell Stokes recorded his fourth straight double-double with 19 points and 13 rebounds in an 84-63 win over Tennessee Tech last Saturday.
TRENDS:
* Volunteers are 12-5 ATS in their last 17 road games.
* Shockers are 19-7-1 ATS in their last 27 non-conference games.
* Under is 53-25-1 in Volunteers' last 79 road games.
Northern Illinois Huskies at UMass Minutemen (-24.5)
The wins continue to pile up for No. 20 Massachusetts, which hosts Northern Illinois on Saturday, but votes in the USA Today Coaches Poll have yet to follow. Of the 10 unbeaten teams in the top 25, the Minutemen have the lowest ranking, but coach Derek Kellogg isn't all that concerned about it. "I just like that we are in the top 25, that UMass is thought of as one of those teams," said Kellogg. "We're getting some great publicity for the school. I think it's great for UMass."
The Huskies will go for their first win over a ranked team since 1973 and just their third in 31 all-time tries. Nebraska, which is the only common opponent between the two teams, defeated the Huskies 63-58 and lost to the Minutemen 96-90, both at home. Mark Montgomery's team averages only 69 points - nearly 16 fewer than the Minutemen - but ranks 20th in the nation in rebounding at 41.9 per game, just ahead of Massachusette's 41.6.
TRENDS:
* Huskies are 2-5 ATS in their last seven non-conference games.
* Minutemen are 6-0 ATS in their last six games overall.
* Under is 41-18 in Huskies' last 59 overall.
Michigan State Spartans at Oakland Golden Grizzlies (+17)
Fifth-ranked Michigan State has been forced to dwell on a 14-point home loss for 10 days but finally gets the chance to create a more positive memory when it faces in-state opponent Oakland on Saturday at the Palace of Auburn Hills. The Spartans gave up their top spot in the rankings after a 79-65 loss to North Carolina, a game that revealed a potential weakness in the post as they were outscored 44-28 in the paint. Oakland has lost 25 consecutive games against Big Ten opponents, including a 81-54 drubbing at Indiana on Tuesday.
While the Spartans had a long layoff, they didn't have much time to work on correcting their mistakes against the Tar Heels because of exams. They have two games to prepare for another tough non-conference test at Texas next Saturday. "I can guarantee you this, I sure as hell ain't worried about Texas," coach Tom Izzo told reporters after the North Carolina game. "I'm worried about Michigan State. We didn't do the things that championship-caliber teams need to do in big games, and that is so disappointing." Michigan State has won all 11 meetings between the in-state foes.
TRENDS:
* Spartans are 1-3-1 ATS in their last five road games.
* Golden Grizzlies are 0-5 ATS in their last five vs. Big Ten.
* Over is 4-1 in Spartans' last five overall.
Saturday's NCAAB Top 25 Betting Cheat Sheet: Evening Action
By Covers.com
With only one college football game on Saturday's schedule, the attention swings to NCAA hoops. Saturday's slate is backed with marquee matchups, including some big-name showdowns between Top 25 programs. Here's a look at all the Top 25 betting action Saturday evening:
Kentucky Wildcats at North Carolina Tar Heels (-3)
Kentucky’s young team fell in both of its previous chances against a more experienced, ranked opponent. The No. 10 Wildcats will get another chance when they visit No. 21 North Carolina on Saturday in a battle between two of the most storied programs in college basketball. The Tar Heels own a pair of losses, but have plenty of experience knocking off top-10 teams with triumphs over Louisville and then-No. 1 Michigan State already on the resume.
Kentucky’s fabulous freshmen are maturing at different speeds, with Julius Randle and James Young the most consistent through the early schedule. “The mental aspect of getting yourself ready every day,” Randle said about the college experience being more difficult. “It’s not high school or AAU where you can take days off. You have to be ready to compete every day.” North Carolina is surging behind sophomore guard Marcus Paige, who will be dueling with the Wildcats’ Harrison twins on the perimeter.
TRENDS:
* Under is 4-0-1 in the last five meetings.
* Wildcats are 1-4 ATS in the last five meetings in North Carolina.
* Wildcats are 1-8-1 ATS in the last 10 meetings.
New Mexico Lobos at Kansas Jayhawks (-5.5)
Two teams that haven’t played to preseason expectations will collide Saturday night when No. 13 Kansas meets New Mexico as part of the Kansas City Shootout at the Sprint Center. The Jayhawks fell six spots in the rankings after losing Saturday to unranked Colorado and figure to drop a couple more after falling Tuesday to No. 19 Florida. New Mexico opened the season ranked No. 20 but needed two overtimes to beat Alabama-Birmingham and lost to Massachusetts.
Most eyes will be on Kansas freshman Andrew Wiggins, a 6-9 guard who is coming off season highs of 26 points and 11 rebounds against Florida. He also made four 3-pointers and blocked two shots for the first time in his college career, even making all eight of his free throws. The Lobos have a guard, a forward and a center each averaging better than 18 points, giving them a variety of methods to sting opponents.
TRENDS:
* Lobos are 5-1 ATS in their last six vs. Big 12.
* Jayhawks are 0-5 ATS in their last five games overall.
* Under is 5-2 in Jayhawks' last seven overall.
Prairie View A&M Panthers at UCLA Bruins (N/A)
Jordan Adams played in the shadow of Shabazz Muhammad for much of last season and now the UCLA guard is taking advantage of his opportunity to shine as UCLA’s No. 1 scoring option heading into its game Saturday evening against visiting Prairie View A&M. Adams is averaging 21.6 points while shooting 51.8 percent from the field, better than the 17.9 points and 44.3 percent shooting Muhammad notched before he was drafted 14th overall by the Utah Jazz last June and then promptly traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Adams has also been consistent, scoring at least 16 points in every game, including four games with 22.
The UCLA player that has NBA scouts especially interested is 6-9 sophomore swingman Kyle Anderson, who already has one triple-double this season and has brushed up against a couple others. Anderson entered the week as the only player in the nation averaging at least 10 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. His playmaking was stifled in Saturday’s loss at Missouri, however, finishing with 13 points, six rebounds and two assists.
TRENDS:
* Panthers are 5-0 ATS in their last five non-conference games.
* Bruins are 4-0 ATS in their last four home games.
* Over is 4-0 in Bruins' last four home games.
North Dakota State Bison at Ohio State Buckeyes (-13.5)
No. 2 Ohio State might have more than it bargained for when red-hot North Dakota State pays a visit Saturday night as part of the Blackrock Gotham Classic. The Bison are riding a five-game winning streak and pulled off a big-time upset at Notre Dame on Wednesday behind 26 points from Marshall Bjorklund. Notre Dame coach Mike Brey told the Chicago Tribune that the Bison are “very good — an old, experienced team” and referred to Bjorklund as a “bear.”
The Buckeyes have relied on their traditional lock-down defense, entering the week ranked third in the NCAA in scoring defense (54.5 points allowed per game). After getting blown out by the Buckeyes 86-48 on Dec. 11, Bryant coach Tim O’Shea told the Columbus Dispatch, “There are a few teams in the country that will contend for the national championship legitimately, and clearly Ohio State is one of them. … They play national championship-caliber defense.”
TRENDS:
* Bison are 19-7 ATS in their last 26 non-conference games.
* Buckeyes are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 home games.
* Under is 5-1-1 in Buckeyes' last seven overall.
Illinois Fighting Illini vs. Oregon Ducks (-6.5)
Mike Moser’s college career has taken a long and winding road, but Oregon’s second-leading scorer will finally get a chance to play in his hometown of Portland on Saturday night when the No. 11 Ducks host Illinois. Moser appeared in just 15 games as a freshman at UCLA, transferred to Nevada-Las Vegas in search of more playing time and produced one solid season and another injury-filled year. Moser went searching for greener pastures again after graduating from UNLV last spring and found it at Oregon, where he’s averaging 15 points and 7.4 rebounds.
The Ducks are benefiting from the arrival of another transfer, junior guard Joseph Young, who averages a team-high 20.1 points on 53.9 percent shooting. The Illini, meanwhile, are also led by a junior guard in his first season with the program. Drake transfer Rayvonte Rice has filled in nicely after the departure of leading scorers Brandon Paul and D.J. Richardson, reaching double figures in scoring in every game this season while also contributing 5.7 rebounds.
TRENDS:
* Fighting Illini are 1-3-1 ATS in their last five games overall.
* Ducks are 13-3-1 ATS in their last 17 games overall.
* Over is 13-3 in Ducks' last 16 overall.
Gonzaga Bulldogs vs. South Alabama Jaguars (+15.5)
Gonzaga will try to exploit its mismatch known as 7-1 sophomore Przemek Karnowski for a second straight game when it meets undersized South Alabama on Saturday in the Battle In Seattle. The No. 17 Bulldogs are known more for their guard play led by Kevin Pangos, but they will be a much tougher out come NCAA Tournament time if Karnowski continues to develop and center Sam Dower remains effective. Gonzaga has won five straight since its only loss - 84-79 to Dayton in the Maui Invitational.
Karnowski was humble in his assessment of Gonzaga's 80-76 victory at West Virginia on Tuesday, when he scored a season-high 19 points and matched a career best with 13 rebounds while recording the second double-double of his career. ''The guys were finding me,'' Karnowski said. ''I had great passes, I just had to finish them.'' The Jaguars lost 96-93 at the buzzer in triple overtime at Rice on Dec. 7 to fall to 0-3 on the road and do not have a player in the regular rotation taller than 6-7.
TRENDS:
* Bulldogs are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 Saturday games.
* Jaguars are 2-5 ATS in their last seven neutral-site games.
* Over is 5-1 in Bulldogs' last six overall.
Saturday's Tip Sheet
By David Schwab
VegasInsider.com
As we reach the end of another week of non-conference play in college basketball, the schedule has saved the best for last with three big matchups on Saturday's slate. When you are talking about men's basketball dynasties, it does not get any bigger than Kentucky vs. North Carolina, which is the featured showdown of the day. These two have staged some epic battles in the past and this Saturday should be no different. The following is a tip sheet for all three games.
No. 11 Kentucky Wildcats vs. No. 18 North Carolina Tar Heels
Kentucky started the season as the top ranked team in the nation but losses to then-No.2 Michigan State in mid-November and No. 14 Baylor on Dec. 6 have temporarily knocked it just outside the top 10. The game against the Spartans ended as a PUSH with the Wildcats closing as four-point underdogs, but in the 67-62 loss to the Bears they were favored by 4½ points. They are 8-2 straight-up on the year with a 4-3-1 record against the spread. The total has stayed UNDER in five of seven games. The Wildcats are averaging 80.8 points a game while shooting 48.2 percent from the field. Freshman Julius Randle has led the way with 17.8 points and 12 rebounds a game.
The Tar Heels were ranked No. 12 in the initial AP preseason poll and they have bounced around ever since with a 6-2 SU start. They knocked-off then-No.1 Michigan State 79-65 on Dec. 4 as 10-point road underdogs, but they also suffered a pair of losses as solid favorites to Belmont and UAB along the way. North Carolina is still over .500 ATS at 5-3 ATS and the total has stayed UNDER in five of its first seven games with a posted line. The Tar Hills match up well with Kentucky with an average of 77.5 points while shooting 47.8 percent from the field. They are pulling down an average of 41.5 rebounds a game versus 44.3 boards for the Wildcats. The game changer for North Carolina has been sophomore Marcus Page. He leads the team in points (18.8) and assists (4.5).
North Carolina has been opened as a three-point home favorite over the Wildcats for this Saturday's contest.
Head-to-head, Kentucky is just 1-8-1 ATS in the last 10 meetings and it has failed to cover in four of its last five trips to Chapel Hill. The total in this showdown has stayed UNDER in four of the last five meetings.
New Mexico Lobos vs. No. 13 Kansas Jayhawks
The Lobos have made some early noise with a 7-1 SU start, but this will be their first matchup against a ranked team. They have been favorites in all five games they played with a posted line, but they are 2-3 ATS with the total staying UNDER in three of those games. New Mexico is fueled by a trio of players that know how to score. Cameron Bairstow is averaging 19.8 points with Kendall Williams chipping in another 19.1 points and Alex Kirk a close third with 18.6 points a game. Kirk leads the team in rebounds (10.4) and Williams leads in assists (5.8).
Kansas comes into this contest looking to right the ship after dropping three of its last four games. The competition has been fierce with losses to Villanova, Colorado and No. 19 Florida, but the young Jayhawks are obviously suffering through some growing pains in their 6-3 SU start. They are just 3-6 ATS and the total has stayed UNDER in five of eight games. Freshman Andrew Wiggins has lived up to all the preseason hype with a team-high 16.4 points while shooting 50.5 percent from the field. Kansas, as a whole, is averaging 77.1 points a game and shooting 49.8 percent from the floor.
Saturday night's game will be played at the Sprint Center in Kansas City with the Jayhawks listed as 5 ½-point favorites against New Mexico.
This will be the first meeting between the two. The Lobos come in with a 2-5 record ATS in their last seven nonconference games and the Jayhawks have now failed to cover in their last five games against teams outside of their conference.
Illinois Fighting Illini vs. No. 15 Oregon Ducks
Illinois has darted out to a 9-1 SU start with a 4-3-2 record ATS as a favorite in eight of their last nine games. It is just 1-3-1 ATS in its last five games with the total staying UNDER in five of its last seven outings. The Fighting Illini are averaging 72.3 points with Rayvonte Rice leading the way with 17.9 points and a field goal percentage of 51.2. The real strength of this team is on the opposite end of the court with a defensive effort that has not allowed more than 67 points in any of its first 10 games.
Oregon continues to make its way up the rankings with a perfect 8-0 SU start and it has covered the spread in all seven games with a posted line. The Ducks outlasted Mississippi 115-105 in overtime last Saturday as three-point underdogs on the road taking the total OVER in six straight games. There is no doubt that this team can light up the scoreboard with an average of 91.4 points, which is the second-highest total in the nation. Oregon is shooting an impressive 52.9 percent from the field, which is ranked fifth overall. Joseph Young leads all scorers with 20.1 points a game.
This game will be played at the Moda Center in Portland with the Ducks favored by 6½ points over Illinois.
These two played a two-year series in 2004 and 2005 with Illinois winning both games SU (1-0-1 ATS). More recently, the Fighting Illini are 0-3-1 ATS in their last four games following a SU win and just 2-9 ATS in their last 11 Saturday games. Oregon is 18-5 ATS in its last 23 games against a team from outside the Pac-12 and 13-3-1 ATS in their last 17 games overall.
College Basketball Information
VCU beat Northern Iowa 77-68 in Bracket Buster game couple of years ago; this is return game. Rams are 2-0 in true road games, winning by 3 at Virginia, 13 at Belmont. VCU forces turnovers 27.3% of time, #2 in US. UNI is 0-2 vs top 100 teams, blowing 18-point second half lead in OT oss to good Iowa State team on neutral floor-- best team they've beaten is #110 LaSalle. Panthers' other top 100 loss was by 14 to Maryland.
Arizona is 10-0, beating Drexel/Duke in NYC, winning at San Diego St. by 9 in only true road game; four of Wildcats' 10 wins are against teams in top 100, with #19 Duke only top 25 foe. Michigan is 1-3 vs top 100 teams but none of those games were at home- they're 3-0 at home, but vs stiffs. Michigan's only win vs top 200 team was in OT vs Florida State.
Tennessee outscored Wichita State 29-12 on foul line in 69-60 win LY in game they were down 5 with 11:05 left; Vols lost by 4 at Xavier in only true road game- they won two of three neutral court games, avenging loss to Xavier in process. Shockers are 9-0, beating BYU by 13, Saint Louis by 5 in only top 100 tilts. Vols rebound 45.3% of own misses, #2 in US.
Louisiana Tech is good mid-major that'll be heard from in March- they're 0-2 vs top 100 teams, losing by 13 at St Mary's, 9 to UL-Lafayette at home. Tech has couple of road wins vs stiffs- they force turnovers 24% of time, #11 in US. First game in eight days for 8-1 Oklahoma State team that split pair with #16 Memphis; they've got six wins by 21+ points.
Indiana beat Notre Dame 79-58 on neutral floor couple years ago, teams' only meeting in last four years; Hoosiers are 8-2, but best team they beat is Stony Brook. IU lost to UConn/Syracuse, only top 100 teams they've played. Notre Dame lost by 5 at Iowa in only true road game- they lost last game at home to North Dakota State- their best win was Delaware.
North Carolina beat Louisville/Michigan State, lost to Belmont/UAB, so they're tough to figure; Tar Heels shoot 29.5% from arc, 61.8% on line, but they also force turnovers 21.6% of time (#36 in US). UNC is 7-2 in last three games vs Kentucky, with home side winning last three, which were decided by total of five points. This is Kentucky's first true road game- they lost to Baylor in Dallas last week.
Boise State was +11 in turnovers but lost by 15 at Kentucky Tuesday, as Wildcats (67.6%) dominated paint; Broncos beat Utah 69-67 for best home win. This is first road game for 7-0 St Mary's whose best wins are over #74 la Tech, #76 North Dakota State, both by 13. Boise coach Rice is an old Gonzaga assistant, so he knows Gaels well. Mountain West home favorites are 17-14 vs spread.
Purdue lost by hoop to Butler in last meeting two years ago; Boilers are 8-2, but BC is best team they've beaten and they're not so good. Butler lost couple of 2-point games in Florida; best team they beat is Princeton by 3- they also beat Vandy/Wazzu, decent teams. Big East neutral court favorites are 5-9 vs spread. Big Dozen neutral underdogs are 3-5.
7-1 New Mexico has lot of height/experience; their only loss was by 16 to quick UMass, though UAB had them beat before Lobos squeezed out an OT win. Lobos won at New Mexico State in only true road game this year- this isn't a true road game. Kansas lost three of last four games but hasn't played in Lawrence in 22 days- they're 1-3 vs teams in top 75.
West Virginia won six of last seven games vs Marshall, beating Hard last two years by 16-10 points; this is bigger game for Marshall, which plays in smaller league. WVU lost three of last four games after Gonzaga beat them at home Tuesday; they're 6-0 vs teams ranked outside the top 100, with all wins by 13+. Marshall lost last three games, by 10-2-13 points.
Xavier won four of last six games vs city rival Cincinnati; game is played at neutral downtown arena after they had brawl at campus arena. Xavier lost by 15 to Bearcats LY; they're 1-2 vs top 100 teams, splitting pair with Tennessee, losing by 3 to Iowa. Bearcats forves turnovers 27% of time, #3 in country; they lost at New Mexico last week, their first road game this year. In last decade, Cincy hasn't beaten Xavier twice in row.
9-1 Illinois lost by 3 at #85 Ga Tech. only team they've played ranked above #114; they've won at UNLV, beat Auburn on neutral floor, held foes to 40.2% inside arc. Oregon has quality wins over Georgetown, Ole Miss; they're making 40.4% from arc, 57.5% inside arc, have #3 eFG% in country. This is Ducks' last game before they get PG Artis back.
BYU won last seven games with in-state rival Utah; they beat Utes by 3 LY in brickfest (teams were 13-49 from arc), won last three visits here by 20-25-19 points. Cougars won 112-103 at Stanford in only true road game; they're 2-2 on neutral floors, losing at UMass last week. Utah has played 3rd-easiest schedule so far, losing 69-67 at Boise State, the only top 150 team they've played this season.
Armadillosports.com
College Basketball Preview
By Joe Gavazzi
Arizona at Michigan
This is a tough 10 am body time start for the No. 1 Wildcats. They do seem to have it all with an interior defender in Tarczewski, solid wings in Ashley and Gordon, and a solid back court in PG McConnell and Duke Johnson. Along with the coaching of Miller, it will be no surprise if they remain in the Top 5 all season long. They avoided the pressure of No. 1 with a midweek defensive gem against tricky New Mexico St. The only true road test has been a 69-60 win at San Diego St. Along the way was the marquee victory against Duke. In short, no knock on this team who under Miller is 32-18 ATS if they allowed 60 or less points in their previous game and who in his coaching career is 75-46 ATS in non con play. Championship runner up, Michigan, is struggling to replace the departed guard tandem of Burke and Hardaway. Frosh PG Walton is a winner, Stauskus has become a far more complete player, and McGary is a future NBAer. A trio of losses has already occurred at Iowa St., at Duke, and vs. underrated Charlotte. Four cupcakes have been devoured atChrisler, where Michigan is 36-2 SU L2+Y. Though Miller is familiar with the original Pittsburgh based concept of the amoeba zones offered by HC Belein, the concept of unlocking that puzzle is not so easy to translate to the young Wildcats.
Tennessee vs. Wichita St
Love what Cunzo Martin is doing at Tennessee. His hard-nosed, Big 10 concepts and inside-out offense are working well for triplets, Stokes on the inside and McRae and Barton on the outside. Since a stunning loss to UTEP, the Vols have ripped off a 3-0 SU ATS run covering by 21 points and allowing just 58 PPG. But it is rare that we back down from 7th year Wichita HC Marshall whose Final Four Wheatshockers are off to a 9-0 SU start, despite the loss of last year’s key pieces, interior force Hall and PG Armstead. With a solid defense allowing just 60/39/28 and the brilliant late game coaching of Marshall, the Shockers have opened 9-0 SU, 6-1 ATS including wins vs. the diverse styles of St. Louis and BYU. With the motivation of 60-69 revenge from last year and the benefit of no home impost from the In Trust Arena site, we confidently line up with Wichita St. to avenge last year’s defeat.
Notre Dame vs. Indiana
All is not right in South Bend. Without the benefit of a physical defense,it will be tough for HC Brey to implement his “slow burn.” After viewing both Notre Dame midweek games at the Joyce Center, it is painfully obvious that they lack defensive quickness and front court scoring to complement a quality trio of guards in Atkins, Grant, and Connaughton. They have now failed in 3 consecutive home contests, beating Delaware by only 5, Bryant by only 11, and losing outright to N. Dak St. by 4. In so doing, they lost to the number by 21 points. Not good. Now, they must face an Indiana team who has fared surprisingly well in the early going, despite the loss of their own interior force Zeller and Olidapo. Crean has simply plugged-in experienced pieces and added an ever improving Frosh impact player in Vonleh. The result has been 7-2 SU, with losses by only 10 at Syracuse and 1 vs. UConn. The Irish are nowhere as good as either of those teams which will show today.
Min Tennessee St. at Mississippi
The decline of the Blue Raiders was expected. Just 2 RS from a 28-6 NCAA team of last year has already lost at home by 12 to Belmont and by 20 on the road at Florida. Non con success has rarely been a part of the resume of 12th year HC Kermit Davis. Now, they visit Oxford on the wrong night. The Rebels are far more than Marshall Henderson dropping 3 point bombs. Jarvis Summers is a solid complement on the perimeter. Cox and Jones are dominant forces on the interior. But tonight, they host Mid Tenn following consecutive losses at Kansas St. by 3 and on this court last week to Oregon in a wild 115-105 OT loss. Combined with 65-62 revenge, for a loss at the Blue Raiders Murphy Center last year, it sets up an ideal situation. Rebs are 31-5 SU 2+Y on this court, while under 8thyear HC Kennedy, Ole Miss is 22-14 ATS home vs. non con. Lay it!
Kentucky at North Carolina
Kentucky has already lost to Michigan St. by 4 and Baylor by 5 on neutral courts in their only 2 step-up games. This will be a yearlong maturation project under the tutelage of Calipari with another vaunted recruiting class. Two years ago, it evolved into a National Title. Last year, it never worked with the Wildcats losing to Robert Morris in the NIT. What we do know is that Calipari is a solid 37-23 ATS as underdog. In a similar way, North Carolina without key perimeter players Hairston and McDonald has been bad enough to lose on this court to Belmont by 3 and at UAB by 4. Yet, they have also recorded marquee wins vs. defending champion Louisville and then No. 1 Michigan St. Peripatetic! What we do know is that the Tar Heels are 49-4 SU on this court, 43-21 ATS to -9 at home, and 44-25 ATS hosting non-conference opponents. With more proven success with quality teams and the strength of their home court, the Tar Heels appear to be the value SIDE.
Purdue vs. Butler
Under 9th year HC Painter, I thought the Boilers would be on a mission after winning 104 games the previous 4 seasons. Purdue dropped to 16 -18 last year, losing in the CBI QF. But the Boilers have disappointed a bit with a record of 3-5 ATS out of the gate. That includes losing by 10 to Oklahoma St. (trailed by 24), by 15 to Washington St., and defeating Siena and E. Michigan by only 5 points apiece. The rough and tumble ways of Big 10 Purdue will not intimidate a Butler team who has already been hardened by similar opponents as Purdue. In fact, in the same Holiday event, Butler beat Washington St. by 7, lost by only 2 to Oklahoma St. and 2 to LSU, covering all 3 of those games. Under 1st year HC Miller, the “Butler Way” continues. The Bulldogs are now 30-9 ATS on neutral floors, 3-0 TY and 41-13 ATS as dog to -1 vs. non con (2-0 TY). Based on comparative scores and history, this could be an easier than expected win for the Bulldogs.
West Virginia vs. Marshall
In his 4th year at the helm, Marshall HC Herrion has much to prove. His 1sttwo seasons netted 43 victories making the 3 year run of the Herd total 67 wins. He stepped back to a 13-19 SU season of last and 1st round CUSA CCT loss. Though the Herd is 3-1 ATS out of the gate, a second division finish with just 1 RS is expected for Marshall. In preseason play, whereHerrion is 10-21 ATS, non con has never been a priority. Far prefer West Virginia, who even in last year’s down season won this matchup 69-59 as 5 point chalk. After needing plenty of meds to get through last year’s 13-19 SU debacle, and worst offensive team of his illustrious career, Huggins’ Mountaineers are on their own mission. Already, there has been a 2nd half meltdown at VA Tech and losses to quality teams Wisconsin by 7, Missouri by 9, and Gonzaga by 4. But all 5 victories, many against teams of a similar ilk to Marshall, have been by 13 or more points. It is because the Mountaineers offense has perked up considerably with averages of 83/47/43 and only 9 TOs per game. No doubt, the consumption of Maalox is far reduced for Huggins. He will also sleep easily tonight, after he puts away this in-state foe by double digits.
BYU at Utah
If BYU perimeter players Haws and Carlino go off, the visiting Cougars will have their way in this. But in turning to a 94 ft. game, BYU HC Rose has exposed some major deficiencies. In short, the Cougars are one of the worst perimeter defensive teams allowing 78 PPG. Last weekend, we used a Top Play against BYU as UMass PG Williams consistently broke them down. There have also been losses to the divergent offensive styles of Wichita and Iowa St. Vastly underrated Utah is capable of the same. Clearly, the Utes were looking forward to this 61-58 revenge meet in their midweek matchup against Idaho St., when they trailed by double digits before recording a 74-66 win. Only a 69-67 loss at Boise, but easy cover, mars an otherwise perfect log which sees them stand 8-1 SU, 4-1 ATS. A quick look at the stats tells the story. The offensive numbers show the Utes averaging 86/55/36 with less than 10 TOs per game. On defense, they allowed just 61/39/25. A +9 rebound margin concludes the story. Although it is against a weaker slate than what BYU has faced, those numbers are impressive. Combine it with rivalry revenge from last season, a 37-18 ATS home mark, and 17-6 ATS non con mark under 3rdyear HC Krystowiak, and you got yourself a winner.
Arizona at Michigan: What Bettors Need to Know
By Covers.com
Arizona Wildcats at Michigan Wolverines (-1.5)
Arizona didn’t miss a beat in its first game at No. 1 and the level of competition gets raised a few notches when it visits No. 25 Michigan on Saturday afternoon. The Wildcats hammered New Mexico State 74-48 on Wednesday, but they face a Michigan team that has won 20 straight games at home against non-conference opponents and had a week to prepare for them. The key battle could be inside between Arizona’s 6-9 freshman Aaron Gordon and 6-10 sophomore Mitch McGary of Michigan.
The Wolverines followed up a loss at Duke by beating Houston Baptist by 54 last Saturday, recording a season-high 26 assists in the process. Michigan’s only two upperclassmen play up front and Arizona is young in the backcourt as well, except for their leading scorer, junior Nick Johnson. Michigan is averaging more than 80 points and the Wildcats have held six of 10 opponents under 60, beating San Diego State 69-60 in their only true road game.
ABOUT ARIZONA (10-0): The Wildcats have dominated inside, boasting a plus-14.3 rebounding margin and 29 more blocks than their opponents while shooting 50.2 percent from the field and allowing 36.4 percent by the opposition. Johnson averages 15.7 points and shoots 50 percent from the field and 6-8 forward Brandon Ashley is contributing 12.3 points and making 61 percent for his shots. Gordon, one of the most heralded first-year players in the country, has scored in double figures each of the last eight games with four double-doubles.
ABOUT MICHIGAN (6-3): The Wolverines will have to continue their production from behind the 3-point line, where they have averaged 9.44 made 3s per contest on 38.6 percent shooting. McGary, who struggled with a back injury earlier this season, is averaging 10.6 points and 10.4 rebounds over the last five contests and matched a career high with six assists against Houston Baptist. Nik Stauskas leads Michigan at 18.9 points per game while draining half of his 48 attempts from 3-point range.
TRENDS:
* Wildcats are 5-1 ATS in their last six vs. Big Ten.
* Wolverines are 6-2 ATS in their last eight home games.
* Under is 6-0 in Wildcats last six overall.
* Under is 4-1 in Wolverines last five home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
TIP-INS:
1. The only place Arizona has struggled is at the free-throw line, where it has made only 66 percent.
2. Michigan is 24-0 when scoring 80 points or more since John Beilein took over as coach in 2007-08.
3. Arizona leads the all time series 6-2 and has not played in a Big Ten venue since visiting Michigan State in 2001.