College Basketball
Valparaiso beat Ball State last two years by 19-3 points; Crusaders have all five starters back from LY, are 6-1 vs #23 schedule in country, with wins at URI/Oregon State- they lost by 6 at Oregon. Ball State is 4-2 vs #327 schedule- they lost 1 at Bradley, 8 at E. Kentucky. Horizon road favorites are 3-0 vs spread; MAC underdogs are 5-9 against the spread.
Texas Tech won two of three games in Puerto Rico, beating Miss State, Minnesota; Red Raiders are starting three sophs they’re shooting 26.4% from arc. Hawai’i is on mainland for first time ths year; they’re 4-0, with best win over #136 Nevada by a point. Big X home favorites are 5-3 vs spread; Big West road underdogs are 8-5 against the spread.
Hofstra lost two of three in Virgin Islands tourney, but they did upset Florida State; Pride isn’t very deep, but they start three seniors- they are shooting 41.9% from arc in five games. St Bonaventure lost at Syracuse by 13 in between three wins over stiffs; Bonnies start two sophs and one frosh. A-14 favorites are 10-13 vs spread; CAA underdogs are 12-7.
VCU won four of last five games with Old Dominion, losing 73-67 LY on road; Rams are 3-2 under new coach Wade, losing to pair of top 40 teams, beating three stiffs. VCU is forcing turnovers 27.1% of time (#5). ODU scored 51.5 ppg in losing pair of games at Mohegan Sun LW by 22-2.
A-14 home favorites are 6-8 vs spread; C-USA road underdogs are 9-11.
Georgia turned ball over 21.9% of time in 2-1 start; they lost 92-90 in OT to Chattanooga, then won by 11-3 points while scoring 55.5 pp in wins over Murray State/High Point. Dawgs were up 41-22 at half in 65-47 win over Seton Hall LY- Pirates were 3-20 from arc. Seton Hall is 4-1 after winning two of three in Charleston, including win over SEC’s Ole Miss.
Nevada is 4-1 with only loss by point at Hawai’i; their last three games were decided by total of 7 points. Wolf Pack lost 65-55 to Fullerton at home LY, but they have #20 eFG% defense this year under Musselman, a former NBA coach. Fullerton is off to 3-1 start; three of the four were on road. Titans are shooting 42.7% from the arc.
Toledo avenged an earlier loss to Loyola Chi last nite; Rockets used three starters 30+ minutes, outscored Ramblers 23-8 on foul line. Toledo starts two frosh and a soph (#307 in experience) but they’ve protected ball well so far. Middle Tennessee is 4-1 with only loss at Murray State by 11 in opener. Blue Raiders shot only 55.9% from line in their first four games.
Pacific has been missing three players due to NCAA investigation; Tigers are 0-3 vs D-I teams, losing last two games by total of four points- their eFG% is #302 in country. Eastern Washington is 1-2 vs D-I teams, with 18-point loss at Miss State and split with Seattle; Eagles take ton of 3’s- they’re 0-2 on road. Big Sky underdogs are 9-12 against the spread.
Canisius is 3-8 in last 11 games with Buffalo, losing by 15 to Bulls LY; Griffins are 2-2 this year, scoring 85.5 ppg- they’re rebounding 40.1% of their own misses. Buffalo has new coach after Hurley bolted to Arizona State; Bulls are 2-2 vs D-I teams, despite 41.1 eFG% (#331). MAC home favorites are 6-4 vs spread. MAAC road underdogs are 7-8 vs spread.
East Tennessee State upset Georgia Tech, lost to Charleston Southern- typical erly season erratic play. Buccaneers are experienced team that has played lousy defense so far, despite playing at slow pace. UNCW has a coach from Pitino tree; they’re playing fast, forcing turnovers on 24.4% of possessions during 3-0 start, scoring 79 ppg in two D-I games.
Manhattan had only five scholarship players for last game, comeback win over George Mason- Jaspers trailed by 16 in second half, won 69-67 in a game where they used only one sub whole game. Manhattan won three of last four games with Fordham. Rams are forcing turnovers 23.5% of time in 2-1 start vs D-I teams; they scored 84.5 ppg in pair of home wins.
Western Illinois won as 26-point underdogs at Wisconsin two weeks ago; Leathernecks scored 78.7 ppg in three D-I wins- they also have couple of non-D-I wins. Summit League teams are 29-7 vs spread this month, 17-5 as underdogs. Creighton scored 91 ppg in winning couple of games in Las Vegas earlier this week- they’re shooting 59.8% inside the arc so far.
Wyoming lost 83-82 to Montana State on semi-neutral court in Billings six days ago, despite making 12-25 on arc. Adams scored 36, no one else had more than 9 points for Cowboys. Bobcats also hit 12-25 on the arc; State lost only true road game by 11 at Hawai’i. Wyoming had a win on Wednesday; State hasn’t played since the game in Billings Sunday.