NBA News and Notes
Tuesday, November 24
Information on the best of Tuesday's college hoop games........
Florida State (+2) beat Florida 57-55 LY; Seminoles beat three stiffs by 26-42-39 points. Florida is 3-0 vs stiffs, winning by 28-20-22 points, but both teams step way up in class here. Gators have three starters back from 25-11 team (9-7 in SEC). SEC favorites are 15-9 vs spread.
Cornell won couple road games, then came home and lost to Seton Hall 89-79; Big Red has all five starters back from 21-10 Ivy League champs. Ivy League road dogs are 6-5 vs spread. Syracuse beat North Carolina and Cal in NYC last week. Big East home favorites are 7-11 vs spread.
Drexel shot 37-39% in losing first two games, by 10 in OT at St Joe's, by 7 at Niagara; Dragons (-2) beat Penn 66-64 LY. CAA faves are 3-4 vs spread. Penn is 0-2 after losing to Delaware in double OT Saturday, in a game Quakers by 10 at half. Both team have four starters back from LY.
LMU is 2-3, with no losses by more than six points; they upset USC in last game, after being down 33-25 at half. Tulsa has four starters back from 25-11 team; they've beat up on three stiffs so far. WCC underdogs are 5-6 vs pointspread. C-USA favorites are 9-4 against the spread.
UAB (-20) beat Troy 73-68 LY; Blazers waxed Georgia 72-56 Saturday; they're 4-1, losing only to Kent. Troy State has four starters back from 19-13 team (14-4 in Sun Belt); they lost by 22 at Florida Saturday, game Trojans led 32-31 at half. Sun Belt underdogs are 7-10 against spread.
Fullerton got first-ever win over UCLA in last game, 8 days ago; how do they react to success? they've got four starters back from 15-17 team. New Mexico State allowed 98.5 ppg in losing both games vs D-I foes. WAC road dogs are 5-7 vs spread. Big West favorites are 5-1 vs spread.
Kentucky leaves home for first time after winning its first four games by 16-2-10-29 points. Wildcats have three starters back from 22-14 team, plus they have excellent recruits. SEC favorites are 1-5 vs spread away from home. Cleveland State is 3-1, losing at St Bonaventure by 10.
Stanford lost three starters from LY's team that was 6-12 in the Pac-10; Cardinal is 2-2, losing at San Diego by 13, at home to Oral Roberts by a hoop. Pac-10 home favorites are 5-10 vs spread. Virginia beat ORU by 21 in last game; they're 3-1, with only loss by 17 at South Florida.
Texas beat Iowa by 25 last night despite being tied at half; none of the Longhorns played 30 minutes, so they should be well-rested. Pitt beat Wichita State by 13 last nite, forcing 24 turnovers, but four of Panthers' starters played at least 29 minutes. Big 12 favorites are 9-7 vs spread.
Siena lost by 4 at Temple Saturday after leading by 4 at half; Saints are 2-1, have trip to St John's on tap Friday. MAAC favorites are 5-7 vs the spread, 2-5 at home. Delaware is 1-2, beating Penn in double OT in last game, after losing first two games, by 20 to Temple, by 16 to Bucknell.
Buffalo (-2.5) beat Canisius 69-64 LY, after being up 17 at half-- Bulls are 2-1 after winning in OT at Towson Saturday- their only loss was by a point to Vermont. Canisius is 1-1 after losing by 20 at Loyola IL and winning by 10 at St Francis. MAC favorites are 6-7 against spread.
Maryland jogged against host Chaminade in its Maui opener; Terps are 4-0 but this is big step up for them, playing Cincinnati squad that upset Vanderbilt 67-58 Monday, holding Commodores to 27.5% from floor. ACC teams are 17-8 against the spread. Big East teams are 22-15.
Gonzaga won first game of day Monday, holding off gritty Colorado by 4, after being down 11 at half; they only played their subs for total of 28 minutes in tense game. Wisconsin won last game of day, beating Arizona 65-61, despite shooting 4-18 from arc. Badgers are more experienced.