College basketball knowledge.
Monday’s college basketball
Syracuse is 5-0, but best team they’ve played so far is #120 Oakland (schedule #305); Orange have #10 eFG% defense in country, holding teams to 36.1% inside arc- they’re #327 experience team in country, starting to sophs, two juniors and a frosh. Maryland is 6-1 after getting upset by the Bonnies in northwest Florida; Terrapins are #299 experience team that is turning ball over 25.1% of time (#338)- they start three sophs, one junior. ACC home favorites are 12-7 vs spread; Big 14 underdogs are 3-7 away from home.
Duquesne hasn’t played in eight days; they’ve played easiest schedule in country so far this month. Dukes are 2-1 despite making only 24.3% of their 3’s- they start two seniors, appear to play only six guys, have a new coach. Cornell is 2-3, losing all three of its road games by 32-11-20 points; Big Red is #282 experience team that starts three juniors and a senior. A-14 home favorites are 8-10 vs spread; Ivy League underdogs are 6-6 vs spread away from home.
Florida International is 0-3 vs D-I teams, losing to Stetson in OT, in 3OT’s to Elon; Panthers are shooting just 27.8% behind arc, 44.5% inside arc, 60% on foul line. FIU starts four juniors and a soph. South Carolina never trailed in 70-54 home win over FIU last year; Gamecocks are 4-1 this year, losing by 4 to Illinois State in Myrtle Beach tourney- Carolina hasn’t played in eight days. SEC favorites are 14-5 vs spread away from home.. C-USA underdogs are 10-15 vs spread.
Yale’s two best players are out hurt; they start three juniors, no seniors, are 3-4 vs schedule #78 but all four losses are to top 100 teams- they’re 2-0 vs teams outside top 100. Bulldogs are turning ball over 21.5% of time, making just 30.1% on arc. #212 Delaware is 2-2 vs D-I teams; this is their first home game against a D-I team. Blue Hens are #298 experience team- they start two sophs and a freshman. Ivy League favorites are 1-3 vs spread away from home. CAA underdogs are 7-18.
Virginia is 6-0 with five wins by 15 points; only close game was 76-67 win at VCU. Cavaliers have given up only 62.3 ppg so far this season. Tony Bennett’s dad led Wisconsin to 2000 Final Four. Cavaliers start two sophs, two seniors- they play slowest tempo in country. Wisconsin play tempo #332, also very slow- they’re 3-3, 0-3 vs top 100 teams, losing by 10-5-2 points- this is experience team #323 playing its first true road game. ACC home favorites are 12-7 vs spread; Big 14 underdogs are 3-7 away from home.
Oakland lost its last three games, getting squashed in buy games at Syracuse/Kansas; Grizzlies beat Oral Roberts 92-64 at home LY- they’re playing pace #24 this year, with experience team #114, but they’re turning ball over 22.1% of time- they step way down in class here. ORU is 0-5 vs D-I teams, with three losses by 19+ points; Golden Eagles are turning ball over 23.5% of time. Horizon favorites are 3-2 vs spread away from home; Summit League underdogs are 17-10.
Marquette is 3-2 vs schedule #28 so far this year; four of Eagles’ five games were against top 100 teams- they won by 21 in one game against a team outside the top 100. Marquette won two of three in Maui Classic; they’re #265 experience team in country. Eastern Illinois is 1-3 vs D-I teams, but lost to Nebraska by 4, beat Illinois in an exhibition game. EIU is #18 experience team in country- they’re turning ball over 22.8% of time. Big East home favorites are 8-5 vs spread; OVC road underdogs are 10-12
armadillosports.com