6 Expert Picks
Denver's weekend win at UNC should have Tulsa on alert...
SIU Edwardsville is coming off an overtime loss against Eastern Illinois. …
Is Bryant walking into a buzzsaw tonight at High Point?
IU-Indy's brand of non-defense has the Lopes excited for tonight...
Reggie Theus doesn't seem to mind his BCU going down swinging...
This looks like a real chess match tonight in Moraga...
This could be quite a wake-up call in this Monday matinee for West Georgia. Though the Wolves are excited at this rare shot against in-state SEC big boy UGa, keep in mind that UWG has already allowed 86 points vs. Nebraska, 83 vs. UCLA, 92 vs. The Citadel, 82 vs. Georgia Tech, and 91 vs. Georgia Southern. What, then, might happen vs. the Bulldogs, entering the week as the nation's highest scoring team at 99.5 ppg? Mike White is advising his team to shoot often and why not, hitting almost 50% from the floor, and sorts like Cal transfer G Jeremiah Wilkinson scoring at a 17.9 pg clip while playing roughly 22 minutes per contest? Georgia scores points in its sleep! Play UWG-Georgia Over
We've seen enough of the Ducks trying to step up in class, at the Players Era last month in Las Vegas, to recent games vs. Big Ten "West" foes USC and UCLA, to suggest that if Dana Altman's team hits stride as his editions usually do, it hasn't happened yet. Even the return of 7-footer Nate Bittle, who was out briefly, to active duty hadn't lifted the Webfoots vs. top-shelf opposition. Gonzaga certainly rates that much with its near 93 ppg and 53% FG -hooting offense that pounds foes with its twin towners Braden Huff (19 ppg) and Graham Ike (17 ppg). The ravenous Zag fan base will also be well-represented at the Blazers' Moda Center. Play Gonzaga (at Portland)
Don't be deceived by that 108-99 Indiana State-Bradley scoreline at midweek, as it took triple OT for the Sycs and Braves to settle matters at Terre Haute; the game was destined to be an under result (and ISU cover) had Sycamores' G Jo Van Buggenhout's 61-footer at the buzzer not knotted the score at 74 and caused the first OT. Matthew Graves found a recipe that worked for ISU in preceding games vs. Southern Illinois and Milwaukee, playing at a bit slower pace, and kept tempo to its liking most of the way vs. Bradley. The Redbirds might be the team to beat in the Valley, but asking them to speed up the Sycs enough to clear 151 might be a chore. Play Sycamores-Redbirds Under
It looks like Columbia might be an Ivy League contender this season...not the ACC. Those are the challenges ahead for Mark Madsen's Cal, but the Golden Bears are passing most of their tests thus far, winning 11 of 12, with a win over UCLA as the decorative piece. Cal has plenty of balance in its near-84 ppg offense, with Virginia transfer G Dai Dai Ames (17.4 ppg) proving a very pleasant surprise for Madsen. The Lions have what should be an Ivy MVP contender in G Kenny Noland (17.7 ppg), but the schedule has mostly broken well, and this is a long road trip (vs. what appears a foe of real quality) for a team used to playing in the Eastern Time Zone. Play Cal
Notre Dame has greater challenges ahead in the ACC but might look at this test vs. go-go PFW as a valuable tune-up. The Mastodons are playing at their normal brisk pace for Jon Coffman, scoring at near 86 ppg and led by G Corey Hadnot, scoring at 20.2 ppg and hitting 57% FGs. Along with backcourt mates DeAndre Craig and Mikale Stevenson, Coffman's team is also shooting nearly 50% from the floor. This suggests the Irish will have to answer, but will have chances vs. a PFW defense allowing nearly 80 ppg. It's important for Micah Shrewsberry to identify new go-to scorers with star G Markus Burton (18.5 ppg) on the shelf for several weeks with a foot injury. Play IPFW-Notre Dame Over
Molasses-paced Maine would probably prefer no shot-clock and play the old stall game if the rules allowed. That's because the Black Bears effectively have no offense, scoring at only 58.5 ppg, which ranks 360th out of 361 in D-I (only the slow-motion Ragin' Cajuns from ULL are scoring less). Maine doesn't do anything particularly well except slow the pace, and isn't even shooting FTs with any accuracy (only 61%). There's also just one DD scorer (SE Missouri transfer F TJ Biel at 11.2 ppg). No reason for Drexel to fear the 1-12 Black Bears, but it will likely be a tedious afternoon in Philadelphia for the Dragons, who have their own limitations offensively (just 42.5% FGs). Play Maine-Drexel Under
Wake Forest has the height and physicality to give the Commodores a run for their money. Vanderbilt escaped a close call on the road at Memphis and the Demon Deacons offense is much better than theirs. They rely heavily on their guards and Wake Forest has the ability to force turnovers and provide pressure on defense. The Demon Deacons defend the perimeter well and will need to keep the Vanderbilt off the offensive glass.
Hofstra is creating quite a buzz in the Coastal after recent wins over Pitt and Syracuse but this might not be am easy test this afternoon on Long Island. The Q is looking like a top contender in the Metro-Atlantic after a succession of combative efforts featuring five straight wins and also including a win over ACC Pitt. Tom Pecora is hoping to get back top scorer Jaden Zimmerman (17 ppg), who has missed consecutive games with a foot problem, but even without Zimmerman, the Pollsters' balance (four other DD scorers) helped put away UMass-Lowell and Monmouth. As for the Pride, it is leaning awfully hard upon explosive G Cruz Davis (20.8 ppg) to keep producing. Play Quinnipiac
Xavier is off a 41-point loss to the Bluejays in their opener for conference play. The public is leaning towards them in a bounce back spot as they’ve won eight of the last 10 meetings between these two. Georgetown is also 0-5 ATS at home thus far. However, the Hoyas don't rely on the three, like the Xavier, instead they’re more efficient inside the arc and especially from the stripe. The Musketeers defense has been vulnerable and even though they can be efficient on offense, they've struggled against above average, physical defenses which Georgetown has.