Bruce's Picks (6 Live)
The Roadrunners might score more points if they could shoot better. Unfortunately, UTSA needs some help that unfortunately won't come until the offseason for HC Austin Claunch, whose tenure in the Alamo City is stalling with the Roadrunners 359th in FG shooting (38.2%) and 354th in three-point accuracy (28.6%). All reasons why UTSA hasn't scored more than 58 points its last three games and remains winless in American action. Rice isn't the most-potent attack, either, hitting barely 41% from the floor, which is about where top scorers Gs Trae Broadnax and Nick Anderson are landing this season, so this scoreline climbing toward the high 140s looks like it will be a bit of a chore. Play Rice-UTSA Under.
Our preference would be to not trivialize sadness, but in the wake of assistant coach Bill Courtney's untimely passing, a special effort from Temple might not surprise tonight in Memphis. The Owls have done their part on the court lately, too, winning their last seven, as Adam Fisher's team is surprisingly tied with Tulane at the top of the American after breaking 3-0 from the gate in league action. Temple shoots the ball decently, and hits at a superb 38% rate beyond the arc, with ex-Arkansas State G Derrian Ford (17.7 ppg) turning into one of the surprise successes from the portal. Meanwhile, Penny Hardaway's 7-8 Memphis continues to seek traction, yet to cover a spread in its first three league games. Play Temple.
All of a sudden the season seems to be on the line for Bona, which was looking like a potential A-10 contender into January but has instead opened 0-3 in loop play. Mark Schmidt's Bonnies have been close vs. VCU, Richmond and Fordham, but frustration is growing after the narrow defeats. Further angst with recent foul trouble for Minnesota transfer PF Frank Mitchell (16 ppg, 10.8 rpg) DQ'd twice in recent weeks, including Saturday's loss to the Rams when he was held to just six points. Meanwhile, St Joe's has recovered to win two straight, but the Hawks have a problem if they fall behind, as poor 27.2% three-point shooting (ranks 358th out of 361) remains an issue for Billy Lange. Play the Bonnies.
The Q is a rarity, a Metro-Atlantic entry with some offense to spare, scoring nearly 78 ppg and featuring five double-digit scorers for Tom Pecora. Soph wing 6-5 Jaden Zimmerman in particular has emerged as a scoring threat for the Pollsters, at 17.3 ppg one of the loop's top point-producers. Still, propelling a scoreline vs. Bashir Mason's scrappy Peacocks might take a bit of work, as Saint Peter's hasn't featured in a Metro-Atlantic game yet where the result has exceeded 139 points. Partly because in six league games, the Peacocks are allowing a tick beneath 60 ppg. Though contributing to lower scorelines are recurring shooting issues for SPU, which hits barely 40% from the floor and 30% beyond the arc. Play Saint Peter's-Quinnipiac Under.
Things aren't going too well for Rider, which might have a case as the worst-shooting team in America. To wit: only four teams out of 361 shoot less accurately from the floor than the Broncs' 38.6%, and there isn't one team that shoots triples worse than Rider, whose at 24.7% from beyond the arc are bottom-of-the-barrel nationally, with second-worst East Carolina not even that close. The plight is reflected by All-Name soph G Flash Burton, who followed up his recent 27-point game vs. Fairfield by getting blanked on Sunday by Marist. Meanwhile, Iona has steadied since scoring just 38 in a recent lopsided loss vs. that same Marist, blowing out Niagara and Canisius last week while allowing just 50 ppg in the process. Play Iona
Avoiding the big donut on their Midwest road trip last week with the OT win at Minnesota, the Trojans now get a schedule break with three in a row at home. At Galen Center, SC usually has a sharper edge, and after enduring his worst night this season when scoring only 4 at Michigan State, Auburn transfer Chad Baker-Mazara (19.9 ppg) had one of his best games (29 points) in the win over the Gophers. Though rugged Purdue looms on the weekend, nothing rugged about Tuesday foe Maryland, minus its best player (F Pharrel Payne) for over a month and which couldn't even make a 48-29 rebound edge over UCLA work on Saturday in a 67-55 loss to the Bruins. Play USC.
Maybe Bryce Drew has found something that works for his Grand Canyon side that is starting to cause a bit of a stir in its new Mountain West neighborhood. Slowing the pace might be a key for the Phoenix bunch, as Boise State and San Jose State were both held to 58 points while each shot well beneath 40% from the floor (Broncos 35%, Spartans 37%) across the last two MW games, both handy wins for the Lopes. GCU also had a +18 rebound edge across the past two games to help the cause. Meanwhile, the host Lobos are allowing only 59 ppg across their last six as Eric Olen's debut season is going better than expected in Albuquerque. Play GCU-New Mexico Under.
In stat categories that are measured in tenths-of-a-point, the bottom national rank (361 of 361) for WIU in assists is especially alarming. At a mere 7.9 apg, the Leathernecks are 1.4 per game beneath the next-lowest assist team (Texas Southern, at 9.3 apg)! Ohio Valley insiders have alerted to these shortcomings, and note that WIU's four wins have come vs. either lower-tier sides (three of them) and an OT escape vs. North Dakota. Starting 0-6 in the OVC, the Leathernecks are also barely registering 60 ppg, and for the season their 3-point shooting hovers near 30%. Not good! Meanwhile, rival EIU has been winning (4 of 6), and sr. G Zion Fruster (15.7 ppg) has emerged as one of the OVC's best. Play EIU.
Whaddya know! The Purple Aces were finally rewarded for several close-but-no-cigar efforts in the Valley with Saturday's win at Indiana State. Though Evansville looks a near sure-thing to be playing on the first day of Arch Madness at St Louis in March, it has proven a tough out, and took down the Sycamores minus top scorer F Connor Turnbull, who has missed recent action after playing limited minutes for a few games with knee issues, with 6-9 Saint Louis transfer AJ Casey (19.3 ppg last three) among those picking up the slack. Meanwhile, note the Braves' only road win in the Valley required triple OT at Terre Haute, as home edge has worked in every other Bradley MVC game to date. Play Evansville.