College Basketball Information
Indiana State beat Ball State 68-48/57-50 last two years; Sycamores are expected to contend in MVC this year, with four starters back from LYs 18-15 team. Cardinals have three starters back from 15-15 team that was #3 in country at getting to foul line LY, but #296 at making foul shots. Ball State hit just 32% from floor in LY's loss to Indiana State.
Defending national champ Louisville is loaded; they forced 27 turnovers in humiliating Charleston 80-38 LY (was 36-16 at half). Cougars move up to CAA this year, have four starters back from team that wound up 24-11- they brought in six freshman to bolster roster. Louisville lost two starters from LY (Siva/Dieng); their early schedule isn't very hard.
Temple won its last six games with Big 5 rival Penn, but last two were by 7-6 points; Owls lost four starters from LY's 24-10 team that finally won an NCAA tourney game for former Quaker coach Dunphy. Penn has whole team back from LY's 8-22 nightmare (6-8 in Ivy). Owls are picked 7th out of ten teams in new AAC, ranked #4 league in USA.
Ohio U lost four starters from LY's 24-10 team that was #7 in country at forcing turnovers; Bobcats have to replace stellar PG Cooper, tough to do. Northern Iowa lost three starters from 21-15 team that beat Toledo in OT LY, its only game against a MAC opponent.
Drake has new coach, three new starters after going 15-17, 7-11 LY, ar e picked to finish 8th in MVC, even with Creighton's departure weakening league somewhat. Ill-Chicago has three starters back from 18-16 team that was 9-1 early, before stumbling to 18-16 finish, losing eight of their last twelve games.
South Dakota State lost three starters from LY's 25-10 team, including star G Wolters, who is now with Milwaukee Bucks; Jackrabbits lost by 4 at San Diego last night, shooting just 43% from floor. LMU won by 3 in its opener over Grand Canyon Friday; star G Ireland played only 22 minutes due to foul trouble.
New Mexico State has three starters back from 24-11 team, but they got beat 70-64 by Western Michigan Friday, shooting 35% from floor, 1-11 on arc and missing 15-40 foul shots. Tennessee State lost three starters from 18-15 team; they got crushed 85-55 at host Hawai'i last night- they were down 21 at half, shot 1-15 outside arc.
Manhattan has four starters back from team that finished 8-3 after 6-15 start LY; they're picked to win 11-team MAAC. Jaspers were 1-2 vs A-13 teams LY, losing to Dayton by 8, GW by 12, beating Fordham, the worst team in league. LaSalle has four starters back from 24-10 team and is picked to finish 3rd in A-13- they made it to Sweet 16 last March.
Iona has three starters back from 20-14 team that lost by 25 to Ohio St in NCAAs LY; Gaels are better on offense, playing #8 pace in country LY while not forcing lot of turnovers. Cleveland State has four starters back from 14-18 team that lost six of last eight games. Iona lost by 5 to UIC of Horizon League last season.
Niagara has new coach, two new starters after Mihalich took Hofstra job after going 19-14/13-5 LY; he will be missed. Eagles lost to Notre Dame by 22 LY, its only game vs a Big East team. Seton Hall has four starters back from 15-18 team that went 3-15 in league; they were in bottom 15 in country in protecting ball LY, but they brought in two new PGs.
Northern Arizona lost its best returning player three days ago when he announced he was transferring to greener pastures, brutal blow for NAU squad that was 11-21 LY, 8-12 in Big Sky. UTSA lost three starters on LY's 10-22 team and picked 13th in first year in 16-team C-USA, so it is two rebuilding teams meeting here.
Chris Collins coaches first game for Northwestern that will finally play a little faster after being stuck in Princeton-offense rut for decade-plus and never making NCAAs. Wildcats have three starters back from 13-19 club that went 4-14 in Big Dozen. Eastern Illinois lost three starters from an 11-21, 6-10 team- their eFG% LY was 334rd in country, really bad.
Cal State-Fullerton has new coach, two new starters after going 14-18 with interim coach LY- they lost last five games, were terrible defensive team that was 4th-worst in country in 2-point FG%. Montana State has three starters back from 13-17 team that went 10-10 in Big Sky- they are picked to finish 5th this season in an 11-team league.
Armadillosports.com
College Basketball Point Spreads and Picks
By: The Linemakers
Sportingnews.com
The defending champion Louisville Cardinals return to the hardwood as 20.5-point favorites. Ranked No. 3 in the country, Rick Pitino's squad will play host to the Charleston Cougars (1 p.m. ET) to open their 2013-14 season.
The Cardinals have some new weapons to unleash on the nation, one of which is 2013 junior college player of the year, Chris Jones. The 5-foot-10 guard is expected to run point for the Cardinals, allowing Russ Smith (18.7 points per game) to devote more attention to scoring the basketball.
The newcomer won't be afraid to handle some of the offensive load himself. "If I'm wide open for a jumper, I'm going to shoot," Jones said on Louisville's media day. "If a guy comes up, I'll go past him. If another big guy comes up, I'll drop it off or dunk. It's just about the situation with me."
The Cardinals lost Peyton Siva and Gorgui Dieng, who are both in the NBA. Smith and Jones are expected to form a strong combo in the backcourt, but Pitino is hoping that senior forward Stephan Van Treese and raw, redshirt freshman Mangok Mathiang can develop into productive frontcourt presences over the course of the season.
"Things that sometimes you take for granted when you grow up playing the game, he doesn't have that right now," Pitino said of the 6-foot-10 Mathiang. "But he's a willing learner and will pick it up. We're just way behind in that area right now."
Those two won't be asked to handle too heavy of a load down low with junior Wayne Blackshear and sophomore Montrezl Harrell also in the mix, but their continued development will be important over the course of the season.
The Charleston Cougars may not have the horses to run with the Cardinals, but they are a solid program that went 24-11 and reached the Southern Conference title game last season. The Cougars return four starters and will make their debut in the Colonial Athletic Conference in 2013.
FIU vs. Youngstown State (-3.5)
The Youngstown State Penguins will face the Florida International Golden Panthers in the second day of the Kennesaw State Tournament. The Penguins beat Kennesaw State yesterday by a score of 73-53 while FIU dropped their game with Eastern Kentucky by a score of 83-61.
The Linemakers leans
College of Charleston +20.5
Youngstown State -3.5