College Basketball Knowledge
Texas A&M won its last five games, winning by point at Miss State last game, its first true road win in two tries (lost at Arizona State). Aggies won last three games vs Tennessee by total of 10 points, winning 57-56 in last visit here, in '14. Vols are 8-0 at home, 0-6 away from home; they spanked Florida by 14 last game. Five of six Texas losses are by 8 or less points. SEC home underdogs are 3-2 vs spread.
Last three Creighton-Seton Hall games were decided by one point; teams split last four meetings, going 1-1 in each other's arena. Bluejays are 1-4 vs top 100 teams, losing by 21-2-13-14 points; they're 1-3 in true road games, with only win at lowly St John's. Big East home favorites of 7 or less points are 4-1. Villanova snapped Seton Hall's 7-game win streak on Wednesday; Pirates are 4-2 against top 100 teams.
Virginia won eight of last nine games with Georgia Tech, winning three in row by 28-19-29 points; Cavaliers had 11-game win streak snapped at Va Tech Monday- they're 1-2 in true road games, winning at Ohio State, but losing at GW. Tech is much-improved this year, but lost first two games in ACC by 8-5 points, allowing 87.5 ppg. Jackets are 1-3 vs top 50 clubs with only win over VCU. ACC home underdogs are 4-4 vs spread.
Home side is 14-2 in last 16 Baylor-Iowa State games; Bears won 79-70 in Ames LY, ending 7+-game skid at Iowa State, beating Cyclones for 3rd time in last four tries. Baylor is 3-2 in last five games, with four of them decided by 7 or less points; Bears are 0-3 in true road games, losing by 7-19-28 at Oregon, Tex A&M, Kansas. Iowa State is 5-2 vs teams in top 100. Big X home favorites are 4-4 against spread.
Vanderbilt won six of last seven games with South Carolina, going 3-1 in last four visits here, but Gamecocks are 14-0 this season, with only one win by less than 8 points and four top 100 wins. Carolina holds teams to 40.7% inside arc, has #41 eFG% defense. Vandy lost six of its last nine games, allowing 90 points in each of its first two SEC games (0-2). SEC home favorites are 6-1 against the spread.
Eastern Michigan won nine of last 11 games with Northern Illinois, with four straight wins, all by 8 or less points, but Huskies are improved- they are 6-0 at home vs D-I teams. NIU has played schedule #331, so they'll have to prove themselves in MAC play. Eagles are 5-3 vs teams outside top 100; they won MAC opener by 19 at Central Michigan. EMU has made only 30.1% of its 3's (#312)- they force TOs 20.3% of time.
Wichita State won eight of last nine games with Southern Illinois, taking wins by 15-22 points in last two visits to Carbondale. Shockers are 3-0 in Valley, winning by 20-27-3 points; they're 2-2 in true road games, with wins at Saint Louis, Bradley. Salukis are a much-improved 14-2, but vs schedule #344; SIU won its last six games, with four of last five games on road. MVC home teams are 6-9 against the spread.
Pitt won its last two games with Notre Dame by four points each after losing five in row to Irish before that; Panthers are 1-3 in last four visits to South Bend, losing by 12-13-15 points. ACC home favorites are 2-4 vs spread. Notre Dame won easily in Boston Thursday; they're 2-3 in top 100 games, 7-0 at home, 3-2 in last five SU. This is Pitt's first true road game of the season, on January 9. Oy.
UCLA won seven of last nine games with Arizona State; Sun Devils lost last five visits to Westwood, with three losses by 15+ points. Bruins had great win over Arizona Thursday; all three of their Pac-12 games were decided by 7 or less points. ASU allowed 84.5 ppg in losing its first two league games, by 12-10 points. Pac-12 home favorites are 4-3 vs spread. Sun Devils split four true road games, winning at Creighton/UNLV.
Arizona won six of last seven games with USC but lost four of last six at Galen Center; Wildcats allowed 83 ppg in splitting first two Pac-12 tilts, winning by 12 at ASU, losing by 3 at UCLA Thursday. USC won eight of last nine games; they blew 22-point lead in the loss, at Washington. Trojans have #11 eFG% defense in US, holding foes to 41.6% inside arc. Pac-12 home underdogs are 5-2 against the spread.
Memphis beat UConn twice LY by total of four points after losing three in row to Huskies before that; Tigers split pair of games here that were decided by total of six points. Memphis lost its only true road game, by 10 at South Carolina; Tigers have #3 eFG% defense vs schedule #326. UConn had 5-game win streak snapped by Temple last game; they're 3-3 vs top 100 teams. AAC home favorites are 4-7 vs spread.
Syracuse went 4-5 while Boeheim was suspended; he comes back here vs North Carolina team that split pair of home court wins with Orange last two years, losing 57-45 here in '14. Syracuse is 0-3 in ACC, losing by 11-13-1 point; they're 3-5 vs top 100 teams. Carolina is expected to get big man Meeks back for this game; UNC is 1-2 in true road games, losing at UNI/Texas. ACC home underdogs are 4-4 vs spread.
Cal won its last five games with Oregon State, winning three of last four by 5 or less points; Bears won three of last four visits to Corvallis- they are 1-2 in true road games, with win in OT at Wyoming- they lost by 1-3 at Virginia/Oregon. Beavers had 4-game win streak snapped by Stanford last game; OSU is shooting 39.1% on arc- they have #53 eFG% defense. Pac-12 home underdogs are 5-2 against the spread.
Armadillosports.com
NCAAB: Streaks, Tips, Notes
Sportspic.com
Oklahoma State at West Virginia
West Virginia Mountaineers (13-1, 6-5 ATS) netting 86.6 PPG are lead by Devin Williams (14.7) and three other players in double digits. Defense the moniker for Mountaineers with its relentless press, affectionately known as 'Press Virginia' limits opponents to 63.6 points/game. Oklahoma State Cowboys (9-5, 7-5 ATS) dropping 70.8 per/game have four players in double digits. However top scorer Phil Forte (13.3) is sidelined with an elbow injury. On the other side of the court 'Pokes' with their own brand of defense allow opponents 63.5 points/game.
Consider Mountaineers, who’ve been flawless at home, sport a 4-0 ATS record vs Cowboys, 11-2 ATS in lined games allowing opponents 75.0 or less. Additionally, Cowboys have not been a peg to hang your hat on when away from Stillwater. 'Pokes are 2-7 ATS last nine away vs a conference rival, 9-23-1 ATS in its last 33 on the road, 1-4 ATS taking double digits
Saturday's Tip Sheet
By Brian Edwards
VegasInsider.com
North Carolina at Syracuse
North Carolina (14-2 straight up, 7-8-1 against the spread) is out to a 3-0 start in ACC play and will be looking to remain unbeaten Saturday night at the Carrier Dome. Roy Williams’s team smashed FSU 106-90 on Monday as a 3.5-point road favorite.
Brice Johnson went off in Tallahassee, dropping 39 points and 23 rebounds on the Seminoles while making 14-of-16 shots from the field. The senior power forward also had three steals and three blocked shots. Marcus Paige also enjoyed a stellar performance, producing 30 points, five rebounds and five assists without committing a turnover.
Johnson paces UNC in scoring (16.8 points per game), rebounding (10.6 RPG) and blocked shots (1.1 BPG). He is making 64.5 percent of his shots from the field and has excellent touch at the free-throw line (80.6%) for a big man. Johnson also has 16 steals.
UNC has lost both SU and ATS in two of its three true road assignments. The Tar Heels lost at No. Iowa (71-67) without Paige and fell 84-82 at Texas.
North Carolina loves to push the pace, ranking No. 5 in the nation in scoring (87.8 points per game). The Tar Heels are 13th in the nation in field-goal percentage, knocking down shots from the floor at a 50.0 percent clip.
Since missing the first six games, Paige has been dynamite, averaging 16.3 PPG while burying 49.5 percent of his shots from the field, 44.4 percent from 3-point land and 80.6 percent at the charity stripe. He also has a stellar 37/6 assists-to-turnovers ratio.
Justin Jackson, a sophomore swingman, is scoring at a 12.8 PPG clip. He has a 52/22 assists-to-turnovers ratio to along with 13 steals, 10 blocked shots and a 4.1 RPG average. Joel Berry II has dished out a team-best 69 assists compared to 33 turnovers. The sophomore point guard is also scoring in double figures (12.5 PPG) and has a team-high 22 steals.
Junior forward Kennedy Meeks (12.3 PPG, 7.4 RPG) is expected to miss his eighth consecutive game Saturday night due to a knee injury. Williams hopes to have Meeks back in the next week or two.
Syracuse (10-6 SU, 6-9 ATS) has lost three in a row to open ACC action and it has failed to cover the spread in four straight games. The Orange lost at Pitt (72-61) and at Miami (64-51) before dropping a 74-73 decision to Clemson in overtime Tuesday night. The Tigers went into the Carrier Dome and won outright as 4.5-point underdogs. In the losing effort, Michael Gbinije scored a team-high 22 points. Malachi Richardson added 21 points and nine rebounds, while Tyler Roberson and Trevor Cooney also scored in double figures with 14 and 12 points, respectively.
Jim Boeheim’s squad has won seven of its nine home games, going 4-4 versus the number. Syracuse lost at home to Wisconsin 66-58 in overtime before its recent defeats against the Clemson. The Orange is in its first home underdog situation here vs. UNC.
Syracuse has been an underdog four times this year, producing a 2-2 record both SU and ATS with outright wins against UConn and Texas A&M on a neutral court.
UNC is ranked seventh in the RPI thanks to seven wins over Top-100 opponents. The Tar Heels’ best wins have come at home vs. Maryland and vs. Davidson. They also own a road win at FSU, in addition to neutral-court triumphs over Kansas St., Temple and UCLA.
Syracuse is No. 71 in the RPI Rankings. The ‘Cuse is 1-2 against the Top 50 and 3-4 versus the Top 100. The Orange’s worst defeats were against Clemson (RPI: 148) and at St. John’s (#182). Their best win was at home vs. St. Bonaventure (#66).
Gbinije leads the ‘Cuse in scoring (18.0 PPG), assists (4.6 APG) and steals (2.3 SPG). Cooney and Richardson are both scoring at a 13.0 PPG clip. Tyler Lydon, a 6-8 freshman, is averaging 9.4 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocked shots per game.
The ‘over’ is 8-7 overall for the ‘Cuse, but the ‘under’ has cashed in four of its last six contests.
The ‘over’ has hit in eight straight and is 12-4-1 overall for UNC, 2-1 in its three road outings.
As of late Friday afternoon, one offshore shop had UNC installed as a seven-point favorite.
Tip-off is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. Eastern on ESPN.
Kansas at Texas Tech
Kansas (13-1 SU, 9-3 ATS) is 2-0 in Big 12 play and atop the league standings along with West Virginia. However, Bill Self’s team could be in letdown mode for this road trip to Lubbock. KU is off Monday’s emotional triple-overtime win over Oklahoma by a 109-106 count. The Jayhawks, who were seven-point home ‘chalk’ to OU, saw their 5-0 ATS spree halted.
Perry Ellis led the way against the Sooners with 27 points and 13 rebounds. Devonte Graham added 20 points, seven boards and three assists, while Wayne Selden Jr. finished with 21 points and five boards. Frank Mason contributed 15 points, seven rebounds, six assists and three steals.
As of late Friday afternoon, one offshore book had KU listed as a seven-point favorite.
KU has won 12 in a row while posting an 8-2 spread record. The Jayhawks are 3-2 ATS in five games as single-digit favorites.
KU is No. 3 in the RPI with a 7-1 record against the Top 100. The Jayhawks’ best wins are vs. Oregon State and vs. OU. They also have scalps over UCLA and Vanderbilt on a neutral court, in addition to a 70-57 victory at San Diego St.
KU’s lone loss of the season came in the form of a 79-73 setback vs Michigan State on Nov. 17 at United Center in Chicago. The Jayhawks allowed an 11-point lead with 9:42 remaining get away.
Ellis leads KU in scoring (16.1 PPG) and rebounding (6.6 RPG). Selden is scoring at a 15.9 PPG clip and is draining 54.2 percent of his shots from downtown. Selden also has a 44/21 assists-to-turnovers ratio. Mason averages 13.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and owns a 78/22 assists-to-turnovers ratio. Mason is tied for the team-high in steals with 26.
Texas Tech (11-2 SU, 8-2 ATS) is perfect at home this year with a 9-0 SU record and a 6-0 ATS mark. Tubby Smith’s squad has covered the number in eight consecutive games.
Texas Tech saw its 10-game winning streak snapped in Wednesday’s 76-69 loss at Iowa St., but it took the cash as an 11-point underdog. Justin Gray had a team-best 14 points and nine rebounds. Toddrick Gotcher tallied 12 points, seven rebounds and eight assists without a turnover.
Texas Tech is 2-1 ATS with one outright win (vs. Minnesota on a neutral floor) in three games as an underdog. The Red Raiders’ only other loss prior to going to Ames was a 73-63 setback against Utah on Nov. 19 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Devaugntah Williams is averaging a team-high 14.8 PPG Gotcher is averaging 11.8 points, 4.6 rebounds and is burying 3-balls at a 42.2 percent clip. Zach Smith is also scoring in double figures (10.2 PPG) and paces the Red Raiders in rebounding (6.5 RPG) and field-goal percentage (58.1%).
Totals have been an overall wash (5-5) for the Red Raiders, but they’ve watched the ‘over’ go 4-2 in their home outings.
The ‘over’ is 8-3 overall for KU, 1-0 in its lone true road contest.
ESPNU will have the broadcast at 9:00 p.m. Eastern.
Saturday's Top Action
By Sportsbook.ag
LSU TIGERS (9-5, 2-0 SEC) at FLORIDA GATORS (9-5, 1-1 SEC)
Sportsbook.ag Line: Florida -5.5
LSU will try to build off its best win of the season when it visits slumping Florida on Saturday afternoon.
The Tigers (9-5 SU, 5-7 ATS) have opened 2016 with a pair of impressive victories, as they won 90-82 as a double-digit underdog at No. 23 Vanderbilt on Saturday before blowing out No. 9 Kentucky on Tuesday by an 85-67 margin. Meanwhile, the Gators (6-5-1 ATS) are only 3-3 in their past six games, which included an 83-69 loss at 4.5-point underdog Tennessee on Wednesday. LSU has not played well outside of Baton Rouge this season at 1-4 (SU and ATS), and has allowed a whopping 85.7 PPG in three true road games.
The O'Connell Center is always difficult for visitors, and this season is no different, as Florida is 6-1 SU (3-1-1 ATS) at home where it outscores opponents by a whopping 21.4 PPG. The Gators are also a perfect 3-0 ATS after an ATS loss, but the Tigers are 3-1 ATS with a +15.8 PPG margin when following an ATS victory this season. Although Florida opened the decade with six straight SU wins in this series (4-2 ATS), LSU won both meetings last season, including a shocking 79-61 win in Gainesville as an 11-point underdog.
LSU has a potent offense that produces 84.3 PPG (18th in nation) on 47.8% FG (37th in D-I), but makes a subpar 32.5% threes (243rd in nation). This is also a mediocre rebounding team (+1.4 RPG margin, 168th in D-I) and foul shooting team (66.9% FT, 234th in nation), but is very unselfish with 17.1 APG (27th in D-I). The Tigers are very efficient on offense with only 11.8 turnovers per game (66th in nation), and they have also forced 15.6 TO per game (46th in D-I), which equals a stellar +3.8 TO margin (24th in nation). This helps combat an otherwise lackluster defense that is allowing 75.9 PPG (262nd in D-I) on 47.8% FG (37th in nation) and 36.1% threes (265th in D-I).
Freshman F/C Ben Simmons has not shown a weakness in any area, as he scores 20.1 PPG on 59% FG, 33% threes and 74% FT, while chipping in a hefty 12.9 RPG, 5.2 APG, 2.1 SPG and 1.4 BPG. The 6-foot-10 Simmons leads the SEC (T-5th in nation) with 11 double-doubles, including three straight games where he's averaged 23.7 PPG and 12.0 RPG.
Senior G Keith Hornsby (16.3 PPG, 51% FG, 47% threes, 84% FT) has scored at least nine points in all seven of his games this season, including 23 points on 8-of-13 FG (4-of-7 threes) in the last road game at Vanderbilt on Jan. 2. Hornsby averaged 13.5 PPG on 5-of-12 threes last season and will be counted on to provide more long-range shooting on Saturday.
Sophomore F Craig Victor II (13.4 PPG, 5.0 RPG) has scored at least 10 points in all five of his games thanks to a healthy 52% FG clip. Victor, a transfer from Arizona, is also a stellar defensive player with 2.0 SPG on the season and nine steals in his past four contests. Junior G Tim Quarterman (12.1 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 3.7 APG) is coming off a monster game against Kentucky where he had 21 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.
Florida's offense hasn't been great this season with 73.1 PPG (184th in nation, 11th in SEC), as they make a mere 41.6% FG (284th in D-I) on a horrendous 28.9% threes (330th in nation) and 62.0% FT (325th in D-I). However, the Gators defense has been swarming opponents all season in allowing only 63.5 PPG (27th in nation) on 38.2% FG (21st in D-I) and 32.1% threes (100th in nation).
Four Florida players average double-figure points this season, with F Dorian Finney-Smith (13.1 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 2.4 APG, 1.1 SPG) leading the charge. Although the senior has been in a shooting funk over the past three games (10-of-33 FG, 4-of-16 threes), he still tallied 12 points and 11 boards in Wednesday's loss. In Finney-Smith's one game versus LSU last season, he had 10 points and eight rebounds, but made just 4-of-13 FG and committed five turnovers.
F Devin Robinson is in the midst of a strong sophomore season where he's averaged 11.1 PPG (50% FG) and 6.9 RPG. Robinson has scored at least 10 points in seven of the past eight games. Sophomore C John Egbunu has also provided muscle in the paint with 10.8 PPG (59% FG), 7.0 RPG and 1.6 BPG, but has made only 4-of-17 free throws (24%) in the past five games. The Gators are hoping he can keep LSU star Ben Simmons off the glass. Florida's main perimeter scorer is freshman G KeVaughn Allen (10.7 PPG, 2.2 RPG), who has pumped in five straight games with double figures where he's averaged an impressive 18.8 PPG on 52% shooting.
NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS (14-2, 3-0 ACC) at SYRACUSE ORANGE (10-6, 0-3 ACC)
Sportsbook.ag Line: North Carolina -6
No. 6 North Carolina looks to extend its long win streak on Saturday night when it visits a reeling Syracuse team that is happy to get back its Hall of Fame head coach.
While the Tar Heels have ripped off seven straight wins (3-4 ATS) since their buzzer-beater loss at Texas on Dec. 12, the Orange have started conference play 0-3 SU for the first time since 1996-97. Although this is the earliest Syracuse has been saddled with six losses since 1968-69, head coach Jim Boeheim will be back on the sidelines after serving an NCAA-imposed, nine-game suspension.
These schools will meet for just the third time in ACC play with the home team winning the previous two meetings by double-digits. North Carolina has outscored opponents by 18.4 PPG during its win streak, but is only 6-9-1 ATS this season. The Orange have lost three in a row (SU and ATS) by an 8.3 PPG margin, but they hold a +12.0 PPG cushion at home this season where they are 7-2 SU (4-4 ATS).
North Carolina's offense has been hard to slow down this season with 87.8 PPG (5th in D-I) on 50.0% FG (11th in nation), but it makes only 34.1% threes (174th in D-I). The Tar Heels dominate the glass with their great size (+10.7 RPG margin, 15th in nation) and also take care of the basketball with a stellar 1.7 Ast/TO ratio (5th in D-I). This is not a great defense, though, allowing 71.6 PPG (189th in nation) on 42.2% FG (140th in D-I), and the team is horrible at defending the three-point shot (39.2%, 330th in nation).
UNC's offense has five players averaging more than a dozen points, which includes star F Brice Johnson (16.8 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 1.1 BPG) and G Marcus Paige (16.3 PPG, 3.7 APG). Johnson exploded for 39 points (14-of-16 FG) and 23 rebounds in Monday's win at Florida State, which is his third double-double in the past four games. Johnson also had a double-double against Syracuse last season when he shot a perfect 6-of-6 from the field and finished with 17 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks.
Paige also dominated the Orange last season with 22 points (4-of-7 threes), eight assists, six rebounds and four steals. Paige is also having a monster 2015-16 season that began with a broken hand. The senior continues to get stronger throughout the year, and has scored at least 13 points in four straight games (18.8 PPG) including 30 against Florida State that was overshadowed by Johnson's super-human performance.
F Justin Jackson (12.8 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 3.4 APG) and G Joel Berry II (12.5 PPG, 4.4 APG) are the other healthy main scorers for this team that will likely be without F Kennedy Meeks (12.3 PPG, 7.4 RPG) for an eighth straight game due to a knee injury. Considering Meeks scored 17 points with eight rebounds against the Orange last season, this could be a big omission.
Syracuse has been anemic offensively this season with only 70.8 PPG (235th in nation) on 41.8% FG (278th in D-I) and 35.4% threes (130th in nation). The team makes only 67.1% FT (232nd in D-I), but doesn't hurt itself with many turnovers (11.8 per game, 65th in nation). The defense has been pretty strong though, allowing only 65.3 PPG (55th in D-I) on 39.9% FG (65th in nation) and 30.9% threes (54th in D-I).
The Orange are adept at generating steals through their active 2-3 zone, as their 143 steals rank seventh in the nation. Rebounding has been a big problem though with a minus-1.9 RPG margin (251st in D-I), and the team is facing one of the most ferocious rebounding clubs in the nation on Saturday.
Syracuse has three players who provide the bulk of scoring with versatile G Michael Gbinije (18.0 PPG, 4.7 APG, 4.0 RPG, 2.4 SPG), streaky shooting G Trevor Cooney (13.0 PPG, 2.8 APG, 1.9 SPG) and swingman F/G Malachi Richardson (13.0 PPG, 4.9 RPG). Gbinije can score from anywhere on the floor with a 45% FG clip and 40% threes, but he needs to make more than 63% FT. The senior has scored at least 10 points in every game this season, and is coming off a 22-point effort in an overtime loss to Clemson on Tuesday, which marks his sixth 20-point game this year.
Gbinije also padded the box score at North Carolina last season when he went for 16 points, five assists and four rebounds. Cooney was the leading scorer in that loss in Chapel Hill one season ago, as he dropped 28 points. However, the senior hoisted 26 shots (10-of-26 FG) and 13 threes (4-of-13 3's) to get his avalanche of points. This season, Cooney has scored in double-figures in all but two games, but has made only 9-of-25 shots (36%) during the team's three-game losing skid. The freshman Richardson has been on a scoring binge since the new year began, netting 41 points on 10-of-13 threes, while grabbing 15 rebounds over the past two games.