Date | Match Up | Rating | Score | Result | Profit | Lead Time | Analysis |
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04-02-22 | North Carolina v. Duke -4 | Top | 81-77 | Loss | -105 | 37 h 37 m | Show |
My 10* ONE & ONLY CBB Game of the Year is on Duke at 8:49 ET. Everyone knows the set-up by now. The UNC-Duke rivalry is over 100 years old but the schools have never gone head-to-head in the NCAA tournament until now. It comes in Mike Krzyzewski's final season, While Coach K is in his 13th Final Four (most of any coach in NCAA history) his "opposite number" will be UNC's Hubert Davis. He is the first first-year head coach to make the Final Four since Bill Guthridge, who also did so with UNC after taking over for Dean Smith in 1998. You can't make this stuff up! 28-9 North Carolina is the lowest seed at No. 8 but the Tar Heels have already spoiled Coach K's homecourt goodbye (94-81 back on Mar 5) in a game Hubert Davis believes flipped the switch for what he felt was an underachieving team up to that point. When Carolina takes the court Saturday in New Orleans, the Tar heels will take a 10-1 run (9-2 ATS) into the contest. 32-6 Duke opened the season No. 9 in the AP's preseason poll and for most of the season, were the lone ACC team ranked in the top-25 (Blue Devils finished 9th in the AP's final regular season poll). North Carolina is 4-0 ATS in the tournament so far, while after beating CS-Fullerton by 17 points (as an 18 1/2-point favorite), Duke covered in its wins over Michigan St, Texas Tech and Arkansas, North Carolina has an excellent frontcourt duo in the 6-10 Bacot (16.5 & 12.8) and 6-9 Oklahoma transfer Manek (15.2 & 5.9). It was a trio, but 6-11 Marquette transfer Garcia (9.0 & 5.5) left the team in mid-January and has not returned. Sophomore guard Love (15.7-3.4-3.7) teams with freshman Davis (13.4-4.0-3.7) in the backcourt, with Black (4.9 & 4.3) starting in Garcia's place. Manek has been great in the tourney by averaging 21.5 & 8.0 and Bacot his usual self (16.5 PPG but also an impressive 15.8 RPG!). Love scored just FIVE points vs Baylor but has averaged 22.3 PPG in the other three. Davis stepped up with 30 points vs Baylor and is averaging 13.8 & 6.0 in the tourney. Duke has had three freshmen make major contributions. The 6-10 Paolo Banchero (17.1 & 7.7), guard Keels (11.3) and the 6-6 Griffin (10.5 & 3.9). That trio has started for most of the season along with junior SF Moore (13.5-5.2-44) and 7-0 sophomore center Williams (11.3 & 7.5). Guard Roach (8.6) has mostly come off the bench. In the tourney, Bacot (18.5 & 7.0), Williams (14.5 & 8.8) and Moore (13.5-3.5-3.5) have all reached double digits in all four games. Griffin has averaged 11.5 & 4.8 plus Roach (12.3 & 3.8 APG) has replaced Keels in the starting lineup, scoring in double digits in three of the four (nine points in the other one). Keels' minutes have been reduced and he's averaging a modest 6.8 PPG in the tourney. Neither school has much depth but both are playing great. Kudos to the job that Davis has done but Coach K's ]magical' last season run WON'T run here. When all is said and done, Duke's loss to North Carolina in Coach K's final regular season game may have been "just what the doctor ordered" for the Blue Devils. See you Monday in the championship game. Good luck...Larry |
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04-01-22 | Fresno State v. Coastal Carolina +3 | Top | 85-74 | Loss | -110 | 26 h 22 m | Show |
My 10* TBC Game of the Year is on Coastal Carolina at 6:00 ET. Justin Hutson is in his fourth season as head coach of the Fresno St Bulldogs, He won 23 games in his first season but entered the current season off 11-and 12-win seasons. However, this year's team did return all FIVE starters. The MWC was a tough league this season, as FOUR schools got NCAA bids, and Fresno finished just 8-9 in conference play. After losing its second game in the MWC tourney,19-13 Fresno has made the most of its postseason in TBC by winning THREE home games. However, Fresno is off to Conway, SC for the championship game of TBC to take on Coastal Carolina. The Chanticleers' head coach is Cliff Ellis, who is in his 48th season and his 15th at Coastal Carolina. The Chanticleers were just 8-8 in the SBC and lost their first game of the SBC tourney. They entered TBC at 16-13 but three games later (two home wins and a 69-68 OT win at South Alabama), get to host TBC championship game in their home gym (HTC center). Fresno St is led by 7-0 center Robinson (19.4 & 8.2) but what was a deep backcourt has been weakened by injuries. Hill (10.1) and Holland (9.6) have been steady all season but Holland has missed the last two games with a hamstring issue (questionable here). Baker averaged 12.0 PPG last season but made it through just FIVE games this season. Another guard, Ballard (5.3), hasn't played since the MWC tourney with an undisclosed issue. Coastal Carolina features a solid trio in guards Cole (15.4) and Williams (14.5 & 4.1) plus 6-9 center Mostafa (13.2 & 9.6). Four more players combine to add about 27 PPG. Fresno St is on the road for the first time in this tourney and one can't ignore that Bulldogs have averaged just 63.2 PPG in road games this season. Coastal Carolina is 3-0 SU & ATS in this tourney and enters having covered SIX of its last seven, overall. A closing thought. This marks Ellis' 29th postseason tourney (10th with Coastal Carolina) and he has yet to win one. His 2017 Coastal Carolina team was the CBI runner-up, as was last season's team. Isn't it about time he wins one of these? My bet is Y-E-S! Good luck...Larry |
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03-29-22 | St Bonaventure v. Xavier +1.5 | Top | 77-84 | Win | 100 | 9 h 58 m | Show |
My 10* NIT Game of the Year is on Xavier at 7:00 ET. St Bonaventure entered the season as the defending Atlantic 10 regular season and tournament champions and were ranked No. 23 in the AP's preseason poll, the school's first ranking in the media poll since January 1971 (Can you say Bob Lanier?). Head coach Mark Schmidt had all five starters back and expectations were high in Olean, NY. The Bonnies were just 12-7 in early February but finished the regular season on an 8-1 run to finish 4th in the A-10 at 12-5 (20-8 overall). However, St Louis beat them 57-56 in their first A-10 tourney game. There was no NCAA berth for St Bonaventure this season but the Bonnies have earned their spot in this year's semifinals with three road wins at Power 5 opponents over a one-week span, beating Colorado, Oklahoma and Virginia. Xavier head coach Travis Steele was badly in need of a 20-win season entering the 2021-22 season. He took over from Chris Mack (23.9 wins per season with NINE straight Big Dance bands), who took over from Sean Miller (24 wins per season and NCAA bids in his last four seasons of his five-year stint). The Musketeers had won just 51 games (17 per) in Steele's first three seasons, without an NCAA bid. The Musketeers were feeling pretty good about the current season, as they were 14-3 (4-2 in Big East) through Jan 19. However, Xavier stumbled to a 4-9 finish and then lost its first Big East Tourney game 89-82 (OT) to Butler. Steele's team got an NIT bid and THREE home games, beating Cleveland St, Florida and Vanderbilt. St Bonaventure features a STRONG starting-five but little else. The 6-10 Osunnyi (11.3 & 7.7) is joined by four guards. Adaway (15.7 7 5.9) leads the way, followed by Holmes (13.4-5.0-3.6), Lofton (12.7-3.6-5.7) and Welch (11.9 & 6.0). Xavier is almost a 'mirror image' of St Bonaventure as its starting-five also features five double-digit scorers. The 7-0 Nunge (13.3 & 7.3) and the 6-9 Freemantle (10.3 & 5.7) are joined by a backcourt trio of Scruggs (11.7-4.2-4.1), Jones (11.2 & 7.4) and Johnson (10.4). However, Xavier also gets contributions from guards Kunkel (8.6) and Odom (6.0). Obviously, winning a NIT title pales in comparison to winning March Madness but it IS a "big deal" for these two schools. They are pretty similar but it's clear that St Bonaventure has had a more impressive run to get here, winning three ROAD games, while Xavier was HOME for its three wins. That said, maybe St Bonaventure is being asked to do too much. In the end, I like Xavier's TWO big men vs Osunnyi, plus Xavier throws SIX guards against St Bonaventure's four. Historical notes: This marks the first appearance for the Bonnies in the NIT semifinals since 1977, when they won the event. Xavier won the 1958 NIT title, beating St. Bonaventure in the semifinals and then Dayton in the championship game. Second verse, same as the first. Take the Musketeers. Good luck...Larry |
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03-28-22 | Coastal Carolina v. South Alabama -2 | Top | 69-68 | Loss | -110 | 11 h 57 m | Show |
My 10* Situational Stunner is on South Alabama at 8:00 ET. Two SBC rivals meet tonight in The Basketball Classic from Mitchell Center in Mobile, Al. The Coastal Carolina Chanticleers finished 8-8 in league play this season and the South Alabama Jaguars finished 9-7 but both lost their first game in the SBC Tourney. Both teams have been given home games in TBC and each have advanced by winning those contests. However, while Coastal Carolina is 2-0 ATS, South Alabama is 0-2 ATS. Cliff Ellis is in his 48th season as a head coach and his 15th at Coastal Carolina. He's a solid trio in guards Cole 15.4) and Williams (14.4 & 4.2) plus 6-9 center Mostafa (13.3 & 9.6). Four more players combine to add about 27 PPG. South Alabama's top-two scorers on the season have been guards Manning (15,4-3.8-3.6) and Chandler (15.3) but Chandler hasn't played since late February and Manning, after scoring 10 points in USA's first win, scored just two points (in eight minutes) in its second. However, the 6-7 Franklin and guard Jones have come up HUGE in TBC. Franklin (12.0 & 7.7 on the season) has gone for 28 & 7 and 17 & 14 in the two wins. Jones was hurt early and didn't get back on the court until late January, but has played PG and scored 45 points with 13 assists in three tourney games (one in SBC and two in TBC). Also note that Franklin has solid help in the frontcourt with the 6-8 Goncalves (7.4 & 4.0), the 6-6 Smith (7.0 & 3.8) and the 6-6 Anderson (6.1 & 3.3) Coastal is playing with revenge (lost 71-68 at home on Feb 17 and has the veteran head coach but USA's Richie Riley went 54-39 in his first three seasons as South Alabama's head coach and now has his team at 21-11, including 15-2 at home (losses came against the SBC's top-two teams, Texas St and App St). Home court "wins the day" here, over "revenge!" Good luck...Larry |
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03-27-22 | St. Peter's v. North Carolina -8 | Top | 49-69 | Win | 100 | 12 h 53 m | Show |
My 10* Elite 8 Game of the Year is on North Carolina at 5:05 ET. Head coach Shaheen Holloway was just 42-45 in his first three seasons at St Peter's but his team's NCAA run has made him a shooting star in the coaching ranks. His counterpart, Hubert Davis, took over at North Carolina (an NCAA blueblood) for the retiring Roy Wiliams and after a modest start (by Carolina standards), has his alma mater ONE win away from a Final 4 appearance.
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03-27-22 | Miami-FL v. Kansas -5.5 | Top | 50-76 | Win | 100 | 7 h 20 m | Show |
My 9* Situational Stunner is on Kansas at 2:20 ET. Jim Larranaga entered this season having led the Hurricanes to six, 20-win seasons in his 10 years, to all three of the school's 25-win seasons and to two of the school's three Sweet 16 appearances. By the way, I could also throw in him leading unheralded George Mason to a Final 4 appearance back in 2006. The 'Canes were awful last season (10-17 / 4-15 in the ACC), but this year's team contended for the ACC title during the regular season, before losing in the ACC semifinals to top-seeded Duke. Now, the 10th-seeded Miami Hurricanes are taking on Kansas (No.1 seed in the Midwest), looking to continue a historic run that has vaulted the program to its first-ever Elite Eight appearance. Bill Self's Jayhawks began the current season ranked No. 3, tied Baylor for the regular season title but then won the Big 12 tourney to enter the Big Dance as one of four No. 1 seeds. Ho-hum!
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03-26-22 | Arkansas v. Duke -3.5 | Top | 69-78 | Win | 100 | 15 h 9 m | Show |
My 9* Situational Stunner is on Duke at 8:49 ET. Eric Musselman is in his third season at Fayetteville, after four OUTSTANDING seasons at Nevada. He won the CBI title in his first season, then went to three straight NCAA tourneys (4-year record of 110-34!) with the Wolf Pack. He was 20-12 in his first season at Arkansas, then went 25-7 last season (Elite 8 appearance). His Razorbacks (No. 4 in the West) just took down the No. 1 overall seed of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday (beat Gonzaga 74-68) and 28-8 Arkansas is in the Elite Eight for the second straight season. Another upset will elevate the Hogs to their first Final Four since 1995. Standing in the way is 31-6 Duke (No. 2 seed), which advanced with a 78-73 win over third-seeded Texas Tech to send Mike Krzyzewski to the Elite Eight for the 17th time. The victory was the 100th in NCAA Tournament competition for Krzyzewski, and a win over Arkansas would send Coach K to his 13th Final Four in his 42 seasons at Duke. Arkansas is led by a trio of guards, all scoring in double digits. The group includes Notae (18.5-4.6-3.7), Umude (11.8 & 4.7) and Toney (10.7 & 5.3). The 6-10 Williams adds 10.7 & 9.8 and is really the lone frontcourt player of note. Guards Davis (8.3) and Lykes (7.8) round out what has basically been a six-man rotation. Notae's line vs Gonzaga was 21-6-6, while Williams (15 & 12) and Umude (15 & 7) both played well. However, the game's 'MVP' was the Arkansas defense (remember "40 Minutes of Hell?"), as Gonzaga was held to 68 points on 37.5% shooting (Gonzaga entered leading the nation in scoring at 87.8 PPG). Duke has relied on three freshmen this season, the 6-10 Paolo Banchero (17.2 & 7.8), guard Keels (11.3 & 3.6) and the 6-6 Griffin (10.3 & 3.9). That trio has started along with 7-0 sophomore center Williams (11.3 & 7.4) and junior SF Moore (13.5 -5.3-4.5). Guard Roach (8.5) has come off the bench. I'm not sure why (haven't read anything), but Keels did not start and played just 14 scoreless minutes. Duke's five starters all scored in double digits against Texas Tech. Roach took over for Keels and had a line of 15-4-5. Banchero led with 22 points, Williams had 16 & 8, Moore had 12 points and Griffin 11 & 7. Duke shot 71% from the floor in the second half and made its final EIGHT shots. It's Musselman's turn to end the coaching career of Duke legend Mike Krzyzewski but Duke has won 12 of 14 and looks as if it is ready to send Coach K back to his 13th Final Four. I'm laying the points and going against Arkansas off its upset on the top-seeded Bulldogs. Good luck...Larry |
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03-26-22 | Houston v. Villanova +2.5 | Top | 44-50 | Win | 100 | 10 h 12 m | Show |
My 10* Weekend Wipeout is on Villanova at 6:09 ET. Kelvin Sampson had a great run at Oklahoma (11 NCAA berths in 12 seasons but at Indiana, ran into recruiting issues and lasted just two seasons. No one really expected him to get another major job, but he resurfaced at Houston for the 2014-15 season. His first team went 13-19 but it's been nothing but 20-win seasons since. 32-5 Houston (No. 5 seed) moved into the Elite Eight with an impressive 72-60 win over top-seeded Arizona on Thursday, as the Cougars never trailed and pulled away late. The Cougars are ONE win away from their second straight Final Four berth. 29-7 Villanova (a No. 2 seed) fought past No. 11 seed Michigan 63-55 on Thursday to reach the Elite Eight for the third time in the past six tournaments, and the fifth time in 21 seasons under coach Jay Wright. The Wildcats won national championships in 2016 and 2018. This may be Sampson's best-ever coaching job. Starting guard Mark (10.1) was lost just seven games into the season and then Houston's best player, Sasser (17.7), saw his season end in late December, after just 12 games. However, here the Cougars are. They are down to basically their starting-five, but ALL average in double digits. Edwards (14.1 & 6.9) leads a trio of guards that includes Moore (10.3 & 4.7) and Shead (10.1 & 5.9 APG). Up front, it's the 6-8 White (12.8 & 5.7) and the 6-11 Carlton (11.8 & 6.3). The Cougars never trailed against Arizona and pulled away late. Jamal Shead poured in 21 points and Kyler Edwards added 19. A concern may be that White and just 4 & 5. However, it was the Houston defense that was the difference. Arizona was averaging 84.7 PPG on 49.5% shooting but was held to 60 points on 33.3% shooting, including 7 of 22 on threes! Villanova was ranked 4th in the AP's preseason poll but was an early season disappointment but the key to Villanova's late-season success started with a record-breaking early season 57-36 loss at Baylor on Dec 12. It set a mark for the fewest points scored in Wright's 21-year tenure as coach of the Wildcats. 'Nova lost by 20 points in their next game (at Creighton) and stood just 7-4. However, the Wildcats will take the court tonight having won 22 of their last 25 games, after knocking off Michigan. 'Nova goes no more than six-deep. PG Gillespie (15.9-3.8-3.3) and fellow guard Moore (15.0 & 4.9) start in the backcourt, while it's the 6-7 Samuels (11.0 & 6.4), the 6-8 Dixon (9.2 & 6.4) and the 6-7 Slater (8.4 & 3.6) up front. The Wildcats do have a very good 6th-man (and part-time starter) in Daniels (10.2 & 3.7). Samuels led Villanova with 22 points against Michigan, while Moore added 15 points and Gillespie 12. Samuels also drew the defensive assignment on Michigan star center Hunter Dickinson and while Dickinson had 15 points and 15 rebound, he made just 6 of 16 shots. Wright's Villanova team knows more than a little about defense too, holding Michigan to 55 points on 34.4% shooting. I have nothing but admiration and praise for Sampson and his Houston team but since losing 71-169 at UConn in Feb 22, Villanova has won EIGHT in row. In its SIX Big East and NCAA tourney games, the Wildcats have held its opponents to just 58.2 PPG. Villanova is back in the Elite Eight for the third time in the last six seasons. The other two appearances? They won the title. Not sure why Houston is favored in this one, as I see the Wildcats pulling away to win comfortably. Good luck...Larry |
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03-25-22 | North Carolina v. UCLA -2 | Top | 73-66 | Loss | -110 | 14 h 7 m | Show |
My 10* Sweet 16 Game of the Year is on UCLA at 9:39 ET. North Carolina and UCLA were supposed to meet last December in Las Vegas, but the game was canceled when UCLA had a COVID-19 outbreak. Instead, the college basketball blue bloods will meet in a 'makeup' game Friday night in Philadelphia after the East Region's other game between Purdue and St Peter's. 26-9 North Carolina is a No. 8 seed and 27-7 UCLA a No. 4 seed. Roy Williams retired after last season and Hubert Davis stepped into his shoes. The Tar Heels were ranked No. 19 in the preseason but spent much of the year outside of the top-25. However, an 11-2 run to close the regular season (including an upset of Duke in Mike Krzyzewski's last home game before retirement) allowed North Carolina to sneak into the top-25 right before the ACC tourney. However, a loss to Va Tech in its second game, saw the Tar Heels drop out of the final AP poll. UCLA made that great run to the Final 4 last season and opened No. 2 in the AP poll. It's hard to say the Bruins underachieved this season but they ended the season 11th in the final AP poll and with no better than a No. 4 seed. We don't often see North Carolina as a No. 8 seed but one could argue that the Tar Heels are a MUCH better team than that right now. North Carolina has an excellent frontcourt duo in the 6-10 Bacot (16.4 & 12.5) and 6-9 Oklahoma transfer Manek (15.1 & 5.8). It was a trio, but 6-11 Marquette transfer Garcia (9.0 & 5.5) left the team in mid-January and has not returned. Sophomore guard Love (15.3-3.4-3.7) teams with freshman Davis (13.5-3.9-3.7) in the backcourt, with Black (5.0 & 4.3) as the only other North Carolina player averaging as much as 5 PPG. UCLA is led by a 'Core 4' of guards. Juzang (15.7 & 4.8) leads the way, followed by Jaquez (14.0 & 5.7) and Bernard (12.7 & 4.7). All three are 6-7 and 5-11 PG Campbell (11.8 & 4.2 APG) runs the show. Centers Riley (7.4 & 3.9) and Johnson (3.6 & 5.4) have been serviceable plus the 6-5 Clark (6.9 & 4.8) has played well after getting a late start due to nagging injuries and health issues. Guard Singleton also chips in 4.8 PPG. A closer look reveals that UCLA is the MUCH deeper team but Jaquez, UCLA's second-leading scorer and one of the Bruins' most indispensable players, suffered an apparent ankle injury in the second half of the Bruins' 72-56 romp over Saint Mary's last Saturday night. UCLA coach Mick Cronin said regarding Jaquez, "He's had so many sprained ankles, I don't know how much he can sprain it anymore." He added, "I'll tell you if anyone can deal with it, it's him. He's the epitome of physical and mental toughness." Jaquez is Cronin's kind of player, a paragon of grit and toughness, which has defined Cronin's coaching career. Cronin led Cincinnati to the Big Dance in his final NINE seasons with the school, before coming to UCLA. His first team went 19-12 (no postseason due to COVID) but then came last year's Final Four run and now this year's team is two wins away from back-to-back Final 4 appearances. In the end, I want Cronin over Davis (first-ever season as a head coach), especially with North Carolina coming off its upset of Baylor. The "Price is sure Right" on UCLA! Good luck...Larry |
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03-24-22 | Texas Tech v. Duke | Top | 73-78 | Loss | -115 | 15 h 20 m | Show |
My 10* Weekly Wipeout is on Texas Tech at 9:39 ET. When Chris Beard left Texas Tech to take the Texas job, his assistant (Mark Adams) elected to stay in Lubbock as the Red Raiders' head coach. It's safe to say that Texas Tech AND coach Adams are more than just a little pleased with how things have turned out. Texas Tech didn't miss a beat this season and at 25-9, earned a No. 3 seed in the West Region. The Red Raiders routed Montana State and rallied to beat Notre Dame (Tech ended the game on a 10-1 run!) to reach the Sweet 16. Waiting for the now 27-9 Red Raiders will be the region's No. 2 seed, Duke. The 30-6 Blue Devils are in the Sweet 16 for the 28th time as a program, after defeating Cal State Fullerton and Michigan State.
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03-24-22 | Michigan v. Villanova -5 | Top | 55-63 | Win | 100 | 9 h 53 m | Show |
My 9* Situational Stunner is on Villanova at 7:29 ET. Michigan was the No. 6 team in the AP's preseason poll coming off a 23-5 year in which Michigan made it to the Elite. Villanova opened the year as the AP's 4th-ranked team, after going 18-7 with a loss in last year's Sweet 16. Tonight's South Regional opens with No. 11 Michigan (19-14) taking on No. 2 Villanova (28-7). Michigan beat No. 6 Wyoming 75-63 in the first round and then upset No. 3 Tennessee 76-68. Villanova beat Delaware (No. 15) 80-60 and then No. 7 Ohio State 71-61.
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03-23-22 | Washington State +3.5 v. BYU | Top | 77-58 | Win | 100 | 12 h 56 m | Show |
My 10* NIT Showdown (Cougars vs Cougars) is on Washington at 9:00 ET. One team of Cougars will be headed to NYC's Madison Square Garden for its version off a 'Final Four,' after tonight's NIT quarterfinal game (in Provo, Utah) between 21-14 Washington State and 24-10 BYU. Kyle Smith won the CIT championship and finished 25-10 in his final season at Columbia. That led to a three-year stint at San Francisco, where his teams went 63-40. He left for Washington St but his first two years were disappointing (16-16 and 14-13). However, the Cougars finished 11-9 in the Pac 12 this season and after back-to-wins in the NIT (more in a bit), are one win away from a trip to MSG. Mark Pope is also in just his third season at BYU but entered this season having delivered a 44-15 two-year record. BYU was 17-4 through Jan 22 but after a loss to San Francisco in the WCC tourney, finished on a 5-6 run its final 11 games. However, after two DOMINATING home wins in the NIT (more in a bit), this group of Cougars is ONE win away from visiting the Big Apple. Wash St has a nice guard rotation in Flowers (14.1), Roberts (11.3), Williams (9.7) and Bamba (7.9). Up front, it's the 6-10 Abogidi (8.1 & 5.7) and the 6-11 Gueye (7.6 & 5.2). BYU owns a very good guard duo in Barcello (16.9-3.8-3.3) and Lucas (10.6 & 4.8 APG) plus a frontcourt that features the 6-6 Traore (9.3 & 8.5), the 6-6 George (8.9 & 5.1) and the 6-8 Lohner (6.9 & 6.2). BYU is a terrific offensive team and in its two NIT wins (both at home), scored 93 and 90 points, while shooting 53.7% from the floor. In contrast, Wash St won at home vs Santa Clara (held the Broncos to 50 points!) and then won 75-63 at SMU, which entered the game a perfect 16-0 at home on the season. BYU gets a THIRD straight game at home (has to be considered an advantage) but doesn't the old axiom go, "Defense wins championships?" Wash St has allowed an average of just 56.5 PPG on 33.9% shooting in its first two NIT wins. I'm taking the points. Good luck...Larry |
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03-22-22 | Southern Utah +4.5 v. UTEP | Top | 82-69 | Win | 100 | 13 h 50 m | Show |
My 10* CBB Game of the Week is on Southern Utah 9:00 ET. The 22-11 Southern Utah Thunderbirds and the 20-13 UTEP Miners meet Tuesday in The Basketball Classic from the Don Haskins Center in El Paso. Todd Simon is in his sixth season (1st was 2016-17) with the Thunderbirds and he has now put together back-to-back 20-win seasons, after going 20-4 last year (the school we just 6-27 in that 2016-17 season). Jeff Golding led the Abilene Christain Wildcats into the Big Dance in both 2019 and 2021 (upset Texas in the first round) but decided to take the job at UTEP. The Miners were just 12-12 last year, so 20 wins (and counting) has made for a solid start for Golding's return to his alma mater.
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03-22-22 | St Bonaventure +3.5 v. Virginia | Top | 52-51 | Win | 100 | 10 h 38 m | Show |
My 9* NIT Showdown is on St Bonaventure at 7:00 ET. St. Bonaventure was ranked 23rd in the AP's preseason poll, coming off an NCAA appearance and a 16-5 record. Virginia snuck in as the AP's No. 25 in that poll, coming off an 18-7 season after a first-round NCAA loss to 13th-seed Ohio U. Both schools have underachieved during the regular season but will have a chance to salvage their 2021-22 campaigns, as the winner of tonight's game will head "off to MSG" for the NIT's version of its 'Final Four!' St Bonaventure is 22-9 and visits 21-13 Virginia in Charlottesville, Va.
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