NCAAB News and Notes
Information on the best of Sundays college hoop games........
Arkansas lost to E. Tennessee St last game; they're 2-3, allowing 85.4 ppg- they allowed 94+ points in all three losses. Hogs' only wins are vs Appalachian State, Alcorn State. SEC home favorites are 15-10. South Alabama is Pelphrey's old team, they're 5-2, losing to Tulsa and Rice.
California is banged up early in season; they're 3-2, with wins by 5-34-32 points- they lost to Ohio State/Syracuse in NYC. Pac-10 favorites are 8-14, 5-12 at home. Princeton is 2-2, losing by 4 to Army, to George Washington by 15. Ivy League road underdogs are 7-9 against spread.
USC was upset at home 67-59 by LMU but won its other two games, by 10-34 points; Trojans lost three starters and coach from 22-13 team (9-9 in Pac-10). Nebraska is 3-1, losing by 14 at Saint Louis, winning by 13 vs TCU and beating two stiffs. Big 12 road dogs are 4-2 vs spread.
Wyoming hasn't played anyone yet but is 2-3, losing last two games by a combined five points to Monmouth/Denver. MWC home favorites are 9-7 vs spread. Pepperdine is 1-3 vs D-I teams, with losses by 9-3-19 points, only win vs Hampton. WCC road underdogs are 6-5 vs spread.
Nevada has new coach, two new starters from LY's 21-13 team (11-5 in WAC); Wolf Pack lost by 13 at UNLV, by 9 to VCU. WAC road dogs are 7-9 vs spread. North Carolina is smarting from loss to Syracuse last week in NYC; they're looking ahead to Michigan St game Wednesday.
Remember, the Old Spice and 76 tournaments; the teams played Friday and Thursday, but had yesterday off........
Iona made 12-28 from arc in OT loss to Baylor Friday; they were 2-15 in 54-49 loss to Florida State Thursday; Siena of MAAC went 0-3 down here LY, but still won game in NCAAs. Creighton is 17-52 from arc in first two games of this event, forcing 20 turnovers. MVC faves: 7-8.
Xavier is just 19-34 from foul line last two games; its offense improved Friday; they shot 54% from floor, 9-18 from arc after being 6-11 from line on day they shot 36% from floor. Baylor has two good guards; they outrebounded Iona 45-27 Friday, but had 18 turnovers, didn't guard arc.
Michigan was just 3-20 from arc in Friday's loss to Marquette after they made 10-27 vs Creighton Thursday. Big 11 favorites are 14-9 vs spread. Alabama got to line 34 times Thursday, only 8 Friday, which explains why they're in 3rd place game. SEC underdogs are 5-7 against spread.
Marquette is playing great defense, allowing 63 ppg with foes 8-37 on arc in this event, wins by 7-14 points. Big East teams are 23-10 against spread away from home. Florida State cut its turnovers from 27 in first round game to 13 vs Alabama; they have wins in this event by 9-5 pts.
UCLA-Long Beach State in 7th place game at Anaheim wasn't exactly the plan for tourney organizers; Bruins are 12-42 from arc in this event, turning ball over 33 times in two games. 49ers got to line 34 times in the Clemson loss (Tigers were 6-8)- their losses this weekend are by 23-8.
Minnesota shot just 33% in loss to Portland, 3-19 from arc, but they did force 19 turnovers from veteran Pilots. Big 11 favorites are 5-4 on road. Texas A&M led by hoop at half vs West Virgnia, but they were 18-31 at foul line, 2-8 from arc. That catches up to them against an athletic foe.
Butler shot 28-33-39% from floor in its last three games (12-47 from arc in this event); Horizon underdogs are 7-11 against spread. Clemson shot 58% in win over Long Beach, but got to foul line onlu eight times; they shot 34% vs A&M, but made just 34% from floor, 5-18 from arc.
Portland is veteran team that shoots/passes well and has some size in the paint; they held UCLA/Minnesota to 33% from floor in both games, but West Virginia is better than either team, making 52-51% from floor in its two wins, by 23-7 points. Big East favorites are 11-6 away from home.