4 Expert Picks
Georgia Southern has won six straight games. …
Which team has the edge on a neutral court?...
Facing Iowa looks a bad idea for Bucknell...
Can Xavier bounce back after a 41-point loss? ...
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.
The HBCU Classic continues Friday with a pair of matchups. The second game will feature two teams that have just one win each against division one opponents in Norfolk State and Jackson State. The Tigers had great individual play from Daeshun Ruffin in yesterday’s loss to Hampton with 36 points. Expect a down shooting night for Ruffin in consecutive games, and for Norfolk State to get their second win over a division one school. Lay the number.
We can envision backing the Hilltoppers down the road in C-USA play this season, as WKU has displayed a sharper edge at times and put a scare into high-ranked Vanderbilt in the Bahamas last month. Three-point shooting, a bane for the Tops last season, has improved slightly from last term, and 6-5 soph wing Teagan Moore (17.6 ppg) has emerged as a go-to threat. Nonetheless, we need more evidence to buck a red-hot Tulsa that might be the team to be in the American with its 90 ppg offense. The Golden Hurricane can hit from all angles after HC Eric Konkol unearthed some gems from the portal such (ex-CBU G Tylen Riley & ex-St Thomas G Miles Barnstable, both at 15 ppg). Play Tulsa.
Neither of these sides has hinted about riding the handbrake, so this total looks very much within reach tonight at Diddle Arena. Tulsa, in particular, is playing at a much faster speed this season for HC Eric Konkol, who entered the campaign under fire but has re-booted the Golden Hurricane offense with transfers such as Gs Tylen Riley (via Cal Baptist) and Miles Barnstable (via St Thomas-Minn). Both are scoring at 15 ppg for a revved-up offense scoring 90 ppg and hitting nearly 50% from the floor. Meanwhile, Hank Plona's Hilltoppers are also playing at a fast pace and scoring nearly 85 ppg. WKU has uncovered a go-to threat from tis own ranks in holdover soph G Teagan Moore (17.6 ppg). Play Tulsa-WKU Over.
Not much glory in being one of the best 2-9 teams, but signs of progress nonetheless from the Beach. Four straight spread covers for Chris Acker's troops, who have narrowly missed road wins at UCSB and San Jose State (both in OT) and pushed a 10-1 UCSD side to the wire in the past couple of weeks. Improvement from last year is palpable with frosh G Gavin Sykes (17.1 ppg) & Syracuse transfer F Petar Majstorovic (14 ppg) likely to be popular portal targets in the offseason. Meanwhile, despite a better record, Pep hasn't impressed regional observers, missing the sharp edge that transferred G Moe Odum (now ASU) provided last term, while the Waves aren't helping themselves with subpar three-point shooting (29.1%). Play Long Beach.
Opening game of OVC conference play for both teams. Neither of these teams play much defense and want an uptempo game. Tennessee Tech is 3-1 SU at home and will dictate the pace, as they’re technically the faster paced team. The Redhawks is 1-4 SU on the road this season where their defense is allowing 82.8 points per game. Tennessee Tech has scored 80 points in four straight games and are the more battle tested team, playing Georgia, Kentucky and pulled two nice upsets over West Georgia and US Upstate, better teams than the Redhawks.
One of the yearly small school matchups I tend to gravitate towards is Tennessee Martin against Tennessee State. The Tigers won both matchups last season, including a one point win in overtime. Remarkably tonight will mark their first home game against a division one opponent all season. Look for UT Martin to get off to the faster start, and seek revenge for last year’s sweep.
MVC sources have alerted to keep an eye on action-packed Murray State. Now at 91 ppg after running away from Akron in a 115-100 shootout at Henderson, first-year HC Ryan Miller (via Greg McDermott's Creighton staff) has assembled a new team of Racers via transfers and frosh. Ex-UIC G Javon Jackson (16.5 ppg) now flourishing in a go-go offense, while hybrid 6-9 frosh point-forward Roman Domon has scored double-digits in six straight. Meanwhile, Drake is still looking to gain some traction for new HC Eric Henderson, off of a good run at South Dakota State, but on its third coach in as many years after the portal cleaned out last year's overachievers for Ben McCollum (many now at Iowa). Play Murray State.