::Tuesday:: 11/25 (84-72-0 +2.1 units)

1* 66-57  

2* 15-11

3* 2-3

4* 1-1

5* 0-0

1* Bethune Cookman Wildcats -3.5

Arterio Morris.  You may remember him from Texas a couple years ago.  Well he's back, and he's carrying this Cats team. Even without Doc Bradley, this Cookman team is athletically superior to Stony Brook at almost every spot.  They give up a little height in the paint, but that's ok as they rely on the 3pt shot to get offense, and Stony comes in at 363rd in 3pt% defense. Plus this game is a "neutral" game, but Bethune is in Daytona.

1* Towson/Liberty Under 135.5

If you like defense like I do, this one will be a great watch on ESPN2 at 11am central.  Libertys offense is very good.  Always has been under Ritchie McKay, but its slow and methodical, so possessions aren't a plenty.  Towson showed the world yesterday that their defense is for real, as they held Rhode Island to 55 points.  But their offense is not only snail paced, it's not good.  They won with 62 points yesterday.  They've won with 51 earlier in the year. Rock fight for a tourney title.

That's the early tips.  Be back for afternoon games.

Good luck STL 

Heels 

1* Rutgers Scarlet Knights +7.5

I'm giving Pikiell and his guys one more chance.  The Irish had to actually play 40 mins yesterday, and were within arms reach of Kansas the entire game.  Rutgers had to play bout 7-8 mins, and then it was clear their game was over.  I think that benefits them today, along with coming off Tennessees pressure, ND defense will look like a mid major.  ND has nothing to hang their heads about with they way they played yesterday, but Rutgers has a gut check game today.  This one could break their season before conference play even starts. 

2* Iowa St/Creighton Over 150.5

I'd imagine Otzleberger doesn't play Lipsey today, seeing there is nothing left to play for in Vegas with the loss yesterday.  I'd banking on both teams playing carefree basketball, working on offensive sets, and not really caring what happens on the defensive end of the floor.  Momcilovich is a match up nightmare for anyone, but this is where Creighton will really miss Jackson McAndrews. Both teams get into the 80s. 

1* Boise St Broncos +6.5

The Maui field has been gutted by the Players Era Festival in Vegas, so we get games like this.  Not terrible, but not what we are used to on the islands.  Boises strength on defense is defending the perimeter, and that is where NC St wants to score from. Leon Rice has his culture implanted at Boise, and its all defense predicated, while Will Wade is still trying to figure out what exactly he has at NC St.  Broncos are a live dog in this one.

2* Kansas Jayhawks -5.5

Cuse just took Houston to OT last night, and then has to play like 15 hours later.  No thanks.  Plus they shot like 60% from the field and I promise you that won't happen again.  The stars shined as bright as they possible could last night for the Orange, and they don't have anything left in the tank, in a meaningless game.  Plus I'll take Bill Self over Adrian Autrey on short rest every day of the week. 

1* Northern Iowa -8.5

Back to the well on fading Drew Valentines squad.  They are terrible.  Straight up losses to Mercyhurst and Northern Illinois as a double digit fav.  They've lost 5 in a row, and now fly out to Cali to play old conference foe, UNI, who is undefeated at 5-0.  Asking a slow offense to cover nearly double digits isn't crazy exciting, but Loyolas defense has just been that bad.  I'm also not sure where their points are going to come from.  

1* Baylor/St. Johns Under 161.5

I think Scott Drew slows this one down every chance he gets.  When you can make St. Johns play you in the half court, on both ends, they become significantly less effective then when they are able to play free in transition.  The physicality the Bears bring, should slow down the Johnnies guards.  Baylor needs to take care of the ball, and keep the live ball turnovers to a minimum, and this should comfortably stay in the 150s.

1* North Carolina Tar Heels -10.5

It appears that Tar Heel basketball may have returned.  We got a big guy in Veesaar, and maybe the best freshman in the country in Caleb Wilson.  They are getting on the offensive glass again, and defending the paint.  The Bonnies haven't seen this level of competition yet, and I think with the freshman Wilson leading this bunch now that Tremble has gone down, they believe they are very good, and want to prove it. They've dispatched all of their opponents sans Kansas, by double digits. 

1* Tennessee Volunteers +3.5

I think the Vols win this game.  Houston has been super unimpressive in their two profile games.  I thought they would destroy Cuse, and while Cuse was hot from the outside early, Houston turned the ball over a bunch, had multiple moving screen fouls, and weren't closing out on shooters.  Relying on a true freshman PG will do that I guess.  This is certainly the game of the night, but could be game of the year. Tennessee didn't really have to exert much energy yesterday in their route of Rutgers so they are completely fresh, while Houston had to grind through OT to get here.

6pm CST tips and after to come in a bit

GL STL 

1* Lehigh/Marist Under132.5

The Mountain Hawks offense lacks real scoring ability, although their numbers are a little fudged by the Houston and West Virginia defenses they went against.  But it's Marists defense that should keep this thing under.  They are 10th in defensive effective FG%.  There aren't many teams that want to go slower than the Fox do either.  It's a pace both teams should be comfortable playing at, but neither offense is scaring anyone.

1* Kansas St/Indiana Over 163.5

Kansas St wants to run every chance they can get, and haven't scored less than 84 points yet this year.  This will be their first true road game, but they've played in other gyms already.  IU doesn't necessarily want to run up and down, but they are very efficient in their half court sets.  DeVries has been that way since his Drake days. Both teams have guys they can lean on to get buckets if things get stale, so I don't expect a lot of scoring droughts.

1*Arizona St Sun Devils -5.5

That was a hell of a win last night in Maui for ASU.  Got a little lucky with some missed free throws late out of Texas, but survive and advance they did, and they are rewarded with the terrible WSU Cougars. Wazzu snuck out last night with a win a Chaminade, but it wasn't pretty.  They've only played one top 100 team, and it was a 12 point loss at home to their rival.  This team doesn't have the athletes to stay in this game with the Devils.  

1* Michigan Wolverines -4.5

Similar to the Tennessee handicap, the Wolves didn't have to do anything yesterday.  They won by 40 and it was over well before halftime.  Auburn had to fight off Oregon until the final couple mins.  Michigans defense is playing lights out, and the offense isn't far behind.  Auburn still has some questions to be answered, like, can they hit a consistent 3pt shot?  The answer thus far is no.  Michigan leads this tourney in style points, and they would like to guarantee themselves a shot at the million dollar prize by blowing out Auburn too.

1* Gonzaga Bulldogs -14.5

After what I saw them do the Tide last night, Maryland certainly isn't gonna have an answer for Ike and Grant-Foster.  They didn't even shoot the ball well from outside, and still won by double digits.  It appears the game plan was let Philon get his, but no one else is going to beat us.  Probably get a similar game plan tonight, just replace Philon with Payne (can't believe he's back already).  Maryland is still depleted with injuries, but Payne not being done for the year was a HUGE lift for them.

1* Ole Miss/Iowa Under 142.5

Iowa currently carries the title of best offensive effective FG% in the country and best 2pt% as well.  Maybe a little less impressive that they haven't played outside of their home gym yet.  Defensively, they have yet to give up 70+, albeit a fairly weak schedule thus far.  Ole Miss hasn't really tested themselves either yet, but aside from the Memphis game, they haven't given up more than 65.  Both teams play at a controlled pace, with very little transition offense. 

That's all I got. GL everyone.

gl today