College Basketball Knowledge
Cleveland State won its last two games by total of 8 points after 2-7 start plagued by tough schedule made before two graduate transfers bolted for greener pastures. Vikings turn ball over 20.7% of time, have #307 eFG%; they lost by 10 at Bowling Green LY, after leading by 7 at half. BG is on third coach in three years; they lost their last two games by 15-36 points.
Illinois won its last four games after 3-5 start; they beat Missouri in last two meetings by combined four points- this game is played in St Louis, a neutral site. Illini is 4-0 vs teams outside top 150, but none of wins were by more than 12 points. Mizzou is #339 in experience; they lost couple games to Arizona/North Carolina by 36-14 points- they're 5-0 vs teams outside top 100.
Minnesota is disappointing 6-5, with losses to both South Dakota clubs, both at home; Gophers are 5-2 vs teams outside top 100- they're #275 in experience but their schedule is #269 to this point. Milwaukee upset the Badgers in Madison; they lost last game in double OT to South Dakota last Thursday- they're 2-1 on road, losing 86-78 at Notre Dame in a game where they hit 13-25 on arc to cover.
Gonzaga won its last 12 games with LMU, winning at least 12 in row at the Kennel; Zags pounded on Pepperdine in WCC opener Monday, they were 16-26 from arc in easy win. Lions lost by 27 at Portland in opener Monday; they're 0-4 vs teams in top 160, with losses by 24-8-9-1- loss at Boise (67-66) was encouraging, but getting waxed at Portland was not. LMU is 7-12 as WCC road dog under Dunlap.
Home side won six of last seven Pepperdine-Portland games, with Waves losing three of last four visits here, last two by 12-17 points. Over last six years, Pepperdine is 4-1 as WCC road favorite; over last four years, Portland is 6-11-1 as home dog. Pilots made 14-33 on arc in 87-60 win in WCC opener Monday; they force turnovers 20.8% of time (#65), are 3-1 in last four games, after a 4-6 start.
San Diego won three of last four D-I games after 1-5 start, including win over Aztecs at Petco Park; Toreros are shooting 27.9% on arc, have the #333 eFG%, making 59.3% on line. Northridge lost five of last six D-I games but got Kendall Smith eligible, which helps; he had 22 points, four assists in his debut. Matadors are turning ball over 23% of time, but that was before Smith and should improve now.
San Francisco is 5-0 vs Pacific in WCC play, winning by 5-10 points in two games here; Dons lost WCC opener by 22 to St Mary's- they're 7-9 as WCC home favorites last three years. USF is 5-0 vs teams outside top 200, with three wins by 4 or less points. Pacific pulled out an OT win at home vs Santa Clara Monday; Tigers are 8-9 as WCC roaad underdogs.
St Mary's won 18 of last 20 games with Santa Clara, winning last three by 22-13-1 points; Gaels are 16-8-1 as WCC road favorites the last four years. Broncos' last two series wins were both here- they lost OT game at a weak Pacific team Monday- they were 5-2 as WCC home underdog LY. Three of SC's last four losses are by 3 or less points- they turn ball over 20.8% of time. St Mary's lost only true road game, 63-59 at Cal.
BYU lost in OT to Harvard yesterday; two starters played 41:00+ in a game they trailed by 16 early, then led by 4 in OT. Average total in last three Cougar games is 175. New Mexico lost last two games by total of 6 points- they called TO they didn't have with 0:00.1 left Saturday in loss to Rice (90-89). Lobos used all five starters 34:00+ yesterday; one sub played more than six minutes.
Harvard was up 19-3 early yesterday, wound up rallying back in OT to nip BYU 85-82- they had eight guys play 13:00+- two guys played 35+ minutes. Crimson is missing its PG this year- Providence is only one its six losses that was by more than nine points (76-64). Auburn presses so that could be problem; Tigers were down six with 9:30 left yesterday- they're 4-0 vs teams outside top 100.
Washington State is 6-3 vs schedule #323; they lost by 9-28 to only top 200 teams they've played, getting crushed by 28 last nite by an excellent Oklahoma team. Only one guy played more than 29:00. Northern Iowa beat Iowa State on neutral floor Saturday, then lost true road game by 16 to Hawai'i last night; Panthers played two guys 38:00 in game where they hit 6-20 on arc.
Oklahoma is 9-0 with 84-78 win at Memphis in opener, only true road game so far; Sooners pounded Wazzu by 28 last nite, going 10-23 on arc in game that was only 38-31 at half. Oklahoma is making 47.2% for year on arc- they have #18 eFG%. Hawai'i is still eligible for NCAAs for this year (not next), so this is huge game for their resume. Last night was first top 100 win- they lost by 8 at Texas Tech.
SMU is 10-0 but can't go to NCAAs because their coaches cheat; they're 3-0 vs top 100 teams, with wins by 15-2-24 points- they were 25-31 on line in 90-74 win over Kent State Tuesday, Brown's first game as coach this year, after 9-game suspension. Colorado nosed out Penn State 71-70 in game where they shot 39 FTs, Lions 16; Buffs won 11 games in row since losing opener to Iowa State.
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