NCAAB Preview
West Virginia was up 17 at Va Tech Tuesday but lost 87-82; Hokies hit 30-38 free throws as WV fell to 1-1; Mountaineers blew 49-34 second half lead LY and lost 60-56 at Duquesne. Former Dukes' coach Everhart is a WV assistant now. Dukes lost 84-81 to New Hampshire at home in last game, a horrible loss, as Wildcats made 15-27 shots behind the arc.
Notre Dame won its first two games by 12-31 points, making half their 3-pointers; Irish have four starters back from 25-10 team as they move to ACC- they're expected to be top 20 team. Indiana State blew 16-point halftime lead and lost last game 96-95 at Belmont, (shot 68% inside arc), after they beat Ball State in opener. MVC road underdogs are 4-5.
Kansas State made just 23.3% of 3-pointers in splitting first two games, getting upset by Northern Colorado, beating Oral Roberts by 8; Wildcats lost three starters from LY's 27-8 team. Long Beach lost at Arizona by 34, then lost at home by point to LMU last game (bad loss). 49ers are overscheduled, as usual, with three starters gone from LY's 19-14 team.
Clemson won 64-55 at South Carolina LY, its 7th win in last nine series games; Tigers forced 19 turnovers, held Gamecocks to 34.6% from floor. Clemson allowed only 44 ppg in winning first two games this year, by 33-17 points. Carolina lost by hoop at Baylor Tuesday, after being up 5 in second half, in a brickfest with 79 foul shots (Baylor was 22-43).
Michigan hits road after beating two stiffs by 27-34 points to start its season; Wolverines beat Iowa State 76-66 in last meeting couple years ago, but both teams are lot different now. Cyclones also beat two stiffs,, by 30-32 points to start season. Big X home teams are 7-6 vs spread to start season, 4-4 at home. Big Dozen teams are 9-6, 3-2 on the road.
Towson State beat Temple this week and it wasn't an upset; Tigers were 1-31 two years ago, but are 3-0 this year, making 42% from arc, while rebounding 42.9% of its own missed shots. Villanova won by 16-31 vs two stiffs to start season. Big East home favorites are 6-4 vs spread so far this month. CAA road underdogs are 5-4 against the spread.
Illinois won its first two games by 17-24 points, then got good test last game from Valparaiso, pulling away late for 64-52 win; Illini lost three starters from LY's 23-13 team and had a bad beat on recruiting's Signing Day this week, too. Bradley is 4-0 against four stiffs, but they've turned ball over 24.8% of time, not good. MVC road dogs are 4-5 vs spread.
Oregon State comes east so the Beavers can play in front of the coach's brother-in-law, President Obama; OSU lost at home to Coppin State, a horrible loss, then beat Portland by 6- they made only 25% of 3's in first two games. Maryland rallied back from 17 down but lost to UConn by a point in opener. ACC home favorites are 7-8 against the spread.
Valparaiso lost all five starters from LY's 26-8 team that won Horizon tourney; Crusaders lost by 12 at Illinois last game, after beating Murray State by 3 in opener (combined 77 FTs). Ohio U lost four starters from 24-10 team; they lost by 10 at Ohio State last game (were down 17 in first 10:00) after beating No Iowa in opener. MAC home teams are 1-4.
Illinois State plays its home games on Doug Collins Court; today they're up against Collins' son, the new Northwestern coach, whose Wildcats split first two games, losing by 13 at Stanford- they took 28 3's, only 26 2's. ISU lost in OT to Northwestern on neutral floor in Texas LY, going 10-20 on foul line (Wildcats were 23-27). MVC road underdogs: 4-5.
Stanford hits road after 2-1 start, beating Northwestern by 13 after they got run off court 112-103 by BYU; Cardinal beat Denver 71-58 LY, in a game they led 21-6 after 10:00- Stanford shot 65% inside arc. Denver got whacked 77-50 in opener at Cal, forcing only 6 TO's (-8) in game that Bears led 35-18 at half. Summit League teams are 4-9 against the spread.
North Carolina is dealing with various suspensions; they won first two games by 23-8 points, actually trailed Holy Cross by 3 in second half of last game. Belmont lost by 8 at Richmond, then was down 16 at half to Indiana State last game, but rallied to win 96-95- they've made 61% of its 2-point shots. ACC home favorites are 7-8 against the spread.
Marshall beat Morehead State 70-67 LY at home, outscoring Morehead 28-8 on foul line (28-44; Eagles were 8-16), but going 2-17 behind arc. Herd beat two stiffs to start season; they've lost four starters from LY's 13-19/6-10 team. Morehead turned ball over 22.8% of time in first two games this year (2-1), after turning it over 24.9% (8th-worst in US) LY.
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