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.
Facing Iowa looks a bad idea for Bucknell, which has sorely missed last year's Patriot MVP 7-0 Noah Williamson, now at Alabama. The 3-9 Bison have taken some real lumps , as their very-subpar 40% FG shooting has left them stranded more than once this season. A recent nine-game skid, halted only by an unsightly 51-38 win over punchless Rider, included heavy defeats by 34 (vs Pitt), 48 (vs St. John's), and 29 (vs. Cornell). Ben McCollum's Hawkeyes can be merciless vs. this category of foe, as Western Michigan found out in a 91-51 blowout loss last Sunday when McCollum cleared his bench early. A chance to showcase for the fans in Des Moines should help charge Iowa as well. Play Iowa (at Des Moines)
Houston hasn't played its best basketball yet but I feel like it's coming soon. While Kelvin Sampson has some veterans back from the team that reached the National Championship, he is also depending on four freshman to play big minutes. Sometimes it takes a while for all that to mesh. Arkansas has looked good so far but I like the matchup for the Cougars here. I think Houston will dominate on the offensive glass and when that happens they are hard to beat. The number has stayed pretty steady since it was released, so I'll lay the 4.5 in case it goes up overnight. Bet up to 5.5.
A team that has been inconsistent is James Madison. Their struggles have been compounded on the road where they are 1-5 overall. Yet, before a big game you can get a team to focus on what lies ahead. After today’s matchup against Georgia Southern they will have a nine day layoff before facing Arkansas. Take the Dukes to cover and threaten Georgia Southern’s six game winning streak.
Having had a chance to get used to the rims and shooting background at home-neutral Santa Cruz (at the Warriors' G-League Kaiser Permanente Arena) in the midweek win over North Texas, expect a better offensive showing from the Broncos, who can shoot 3s much better than the 7 for 25 vs. the Mean Green, when top scorer G Christian Hammond also had an off-night (just 2 for 9 FGs). Slashing wing Elijah Mahi, however, is off back-to-back 17-point efforts. The other attraction here is to go against a struggling 3-9 Ramblers side that ever after welcoming 6-9 Wisconsin transfer Xavier Amos (17.5 ppg) two games ago, has continued to lose, with Loyola bowing to Chicago State and USF. Play Santa Clara (at Santa Cruz)
It's a special game for Rick Pitino vs. former employer Kentucky, as St John's looks to continue a recent rally that has seen it win three in a row after three losses vs. ranked foes in November. The pieces, however, are starting to fit for Pitino, whose balanced squad features six double-digit scorers. Portal adds F Bryce Hopkins (ex-Providence) and G Ian Jackson (ex-North Carolina) are both tallying at 14 ppg and pacing a Red Storm offense scoring at an 88 ppg clip. Meanwhile, Mark Pope still looking to gain traction with the Cats, who've suffered a couple of heavy losses vs. Michigan State and Gonzaga, and still seeking proper combinations after losing four double-digit scorers from last year. Play St John's (at Atlanta)
Seattle has failed to cover their last three but the line continues to move in their favor. The Redhawks are also 1-4 ATS at home thus far. Washington has dominated the Redhawks, winners of 16 of the last 17 meetings. But, Seattle is currently 11th in the country from three, 40.1%, while scoring 82.9 points per game and the Huskies struggle defending the perimeter. Washington’s 19-game winning streak over the Redhawks came to an end last season and this inner state rivalry should be competitive as well.
Belmont has been flying under the radar and hits Orange County with an 11-1 mark, though a quick look under the hood and at the schedule to date create some doubts about the Bruins. Belmont has taken advantage of a very soft pre-MVC slate, recently barely surviving upset bids vs. modest opposition, and a long trip in the week before the Christmas break would unnerve many foes. Meanwhile, though Russell Turner's UCI has been a bit more erratic than expected. The Anteaters have won four on the spin, and a crackling perimeter led by G Jurian Brown (5.3 ppg) has enough weaponry to trade points if nothing else at the Bren Center. Play UCI.