Bruce's Picks (3 Live)
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
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
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)
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)
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.
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.