College basketball knowledge
Tuesday’s college basketball
Xavier shot 31% in 76-61 loss at Baylor LY; they were +!2 on boards, -7 in turnovers. Xavier is 5-1 with a win at Wisconsin; they got whacked 102-86 by Arizona St in Vegas over the weekend- ASU made 13-27 on arc after trailing by 15 early. Musketeers start two sophs, two seniors. Baylor beat Wisconsin/Creighton in Kansas City last week; they’re 5-0, shooting 38.2% behind arc. Bears are #40 experience team, starting three seniors. Big East home favorites are 8-6 vs spread; Big X underdogs are 0-4 vs spread.
Florida State is 5-0 vs schedule #325, with 17 points their closest win; best team they’ve beaten is #171 Colorado State- this is their first true road game. Seminoles start two seniors- they’re shooting only 62% on foul line. Rutgers is 6-0 against schedule #351, easiest schedule in whole country. Scarlet Knights’ best win was over #248 ECU. Rutgers starts is shooting 28.3% on arc- their schedule has been so awful, big jump in competition for this game. ACC favorites are 16-8 vs spread; Big 14 underdogs are 2-8-1.
Davidson won its last four games with cross-town rival Charlotte by average of 18 points, taking last two visits here by 9ot-30 points. Wildcats split their first four games, losing road games at Nevada/App State- they scored 110-108 points in their two wins, 68-62 in losses. Davidson is making 39.4% of its 3’s- they start a freshman, two sophs. Charlotte lost its two top 100 games by 18-9 points; 49ers start three juniors and a senior. A-14 favorites are 1-6 vs spread away from home; C-USA underdogs are 11-15.
Georgia Tech beat three stiffs since their 63-60 loss to UCLA in China; Jackets got Jackson back in last game- he is one of their best players, had been suspended. Tech has forced turnovers 23.8% of time- 3 of their top 7 guys are freshmen. Northwestern is 4-2, losing its two top 100 games by 4-36 points, giving up 88.5 ppg. Wildcats start two juniors, three seniors- they’ve not been a good defensive team so far this season. ACC home favorites are 13-7 vs spread; Big 14 teams are 19-16 away from home.
First big test for Louisville’s interim coach Padgett; Cardinals is 4-0 vs schedule #192- also their first road game. Louisville start two juniors, two seniors. Purdue lost 2 of 3 in Atlantis tourney, beating Arizona in 7th-place game; Boilers are 5-2 with win at Marquette. Purdue has made 44% of its 3’s so far- their two losses in Atlantis were by total of 7 points. Boilers start four seniors and a sophomore- they shot 42%+ from arc in four of their five wins. Big 14 home favorites are 16-9 vs spread; ACC underdogs are 3-6.
Valparaiso is 7-0 vs schedule #298; best team they’ve beaten is #173 UNCW, on neutral floor in Savannah over weekend. Crusaders are #260 experience team that has forced turnovers 23.2% of time. 9 of 12 Valpo guys who played last game are frosh/sophs. Utah State is 4-3, losing both its road games, by 6 at Weber St, 13 at Gonzaga. Aggies won couple games in Nashville over the weekend; their best win was over #176 Montana State. One of State’s best players, McEwen, missed three of State’s last four games- they play four frosh, two sophs, four seniors. MVC home favorites are 7-3 vs spread; Mountain West underdogs are 8-5.
Boise State is 5-1 with an 11-point loss to Iowa St on Myrtle Beach, their only top 100 game so far. Broncos allowed 65 or less points in their wins, 75 in the loss- they’re #112 experience team, starting two sophs, two seniors. Loyola is 7-0 vs schedule #324; their best win was over #173 UNCW. Ramblers won their only road game, by 10 at UMKC; they start two juniors, two seniors, are shooting 43.1% on arc. Mountain West home favorites are 12-5 vs spread; MVC underdogs are 9-5 away from home.
Wake Forest is 2-4, with losses to Ga Southern, Drake, Liberty; they got hurt by John Collins going pro early- Deacons start two juniors, two seniors. Wake is shooting 39.1% on arc, but their opponents are shooting 42.8%. Illinois is 6-0 vs schedule #342; best teams they’ve beaten are DePaul/Marshall. Illini has new coach; they’re forcing turnovers 25.3% of time, are starting two juniors and a senior- this is their first road game. ACC home favorites are 13-7 vs spread; Big 14 teams are 19-16 away from home.
Iowa had rough time on Cayman Islands, losing to Sun Belt/Summit teams; they’re 4-2 with a 10-point win over UAB their only win over a team in top 300. Hawkeyes are #339 experience team- they’re making 42.7% of their 3’s- this is their first true road game. Virginia Tech is 5-1 vs schedule #333; their only top 250 win was over #144 Washington on a neutral floor. Hokies are #201 experience team- they’ve made 49.6% of their 3’s so far this season. ACC home favorites are 13-7 vs spread; Big 14 teams are 19-16 away from home.
Road team won last two Santa Barbara-San Francisco games; USF won by 12 in ThunderDome last year. UCSB has a new coach, is #42 experience team; they’re 4-2, 1-2 on road, win at Pepperdine, losses at Pitt/Texas A&M. Gauchos start four seniors, but transfers are included in there. USF is 3-1 vs schedule #341, all home games; Dons lost opener to Long Beach, beat teams ranked #196/309 since. USF is #186 experience team, starting two juniors, one senior. WCC home favorites are 3-8 vs spread; Big West road underdogs are 13-9.
Akron is #321 experience team with new coach; they lost by 13 at Dayton last game, after home wins over Cleveland St by 10, UT-Martin by 17 (schedule #312). Zips are shooting only 44.2% inside arc. Chattanooga also has a new coach; they’re #336 experience team that is 1-3 vs D-I teams, turning ball over 22.9% of time. Mocs lost their road games, by 9 at Wyoming, by 42 at UAB- their only D-I win is over #344 Alabama State. MAC home favorites are 5-1 vs spread; SoCon underdogs are 6-14 away from home.
Ohio lost 79-75 at Iona LY, after leading by 12 in first half. Iona hasn’t played in nine days; they’re 1-4 vs schedule #70. Gaels are 0-2 in true road games, losing by 2 at Albany, by 9 at Syracuse- their only win was by 9 over Weber State on neutral floor in the Bahamas. Iona starts three seniors, one junior. Ohio U is 3-2 with a 4-OT win over Indiana St, losses to Clemson/Dayton; Bobcats are #138 experience team, starting three juniors, one senior. MAC home favorites are 5-1 vs spread; MAAC underdogs are 12-13 away from home.
Ole Miss is 4-1 vs schedule #229; their best win is over #113 UL-Lafayette, their only loss to #54 Utah on a neutral floor. Rebels are #61 experience team, starting three seniors, one junior. SEC home favorites are 6-9 vs spread; Summit League road underdogs are 8-14. South Dakota State is #46 experience team that is 6-2 vs schedule #115, losing to Kansas/Wyoming (by 12)- their best win is 80-72 over Iowa on neutral floor in Cayman Islands. Jackrabbits start three juniors, two seniors- they’re making 41.8% of their 3-pointers.
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