Cnotes 2016 NCAA Basketball News-Trends-Picks !

[CNOTES]

Preview: Wildcats (14-0) at Bulldogs (12-2)
Date: January 04, 2017 6:30 PM EDT

After capturing the national title last season, Villanova has shown no evidence of a letup.


The No. 1 Wildcats are unbeaten (14-0, 2-0 Big East) heading into Wednesday's game at No. 18 Butler (12-2, 1-1 Big East) at 6:30 p.m. at Hinkle Fieldhouse.


"They're so good and so tough," Butler coach Chris Holtmann said. "They're tough physically. Their mindset and their approach is really second to none. I don't think there is a team in the country that possesses that game in and game out."


Villanova is 7-0 all-time against Butler. The Wildcats beat the Bulldogs in 1996 in a tournament in Puerto Rico and then have swept all six games in Big East Conference play the past three seasons.


"We have the utmost respect for how they play and the way they play," Holtmann said. "They have terrific players and (coach) Jay (Wright) obviously does a great job."


Butler is 8-0 at home this season, including a 10-point win over Cincinnati, which is ranked No. 22 this week.


Bulldogs senior Avery Woodson, a graduate transfer from Memphis, said the Bulldogs will be ready for Villanova.


"This conference is tough whether it's Villanova next or Georgetown, it's a test," Woodson said. "They just so happen to be the No. 1 team and the next on our schedule so we'll prepare like we always do."


Holtmann said his team had better preparation in Sunday's 78-61 victory over visiting Providence than it did in its 76-73 loss on Dec. 29 at St. John's.


"If we didn't learn from that loss, shame on us," Holtmann said.


Holtmann said his players took an immature approach to the conference opener. Butler is now 19-3 following a loss under Holtmann.


This is Butler's seventh meeting with a team ranked No. 1. The Bulldogs are 1-5, beating No. 1 Indiana in the 2012 Crossroads Classic.


The Bulldogs have won 11 straight games at home, including all eight this season.


Villanova was tied at 66-all at No. 10 Creighton Saturday before closing with 14-4 spurt to win 80-70.


Sophomore guard Jalen Brunson scored a career-high 27 points against Creighton and was named Big East Player of the Week.


"We know against the best teams, it's about being solid and playing Villanova basketball," senior Josh Hart said. "We knew when they tied it we had to come closer together. We stuck to playing Villanova basketball."


Hart owns a team-high scoring average of 20.3 points, pacing four Wildcats in double figures. Brunson averages 13.9 points, followed by forward Kris Jenkins at 13.4 points and sophomore guard/forward Mikal Bridges at 10.0. Hart, Jenkins and Brunson started last season.


"We feel pretty good about where we are right now," Wright said. "Not as much because of the No. 1 ranking, but we feel like we're progressing. The young guys are developing."


Wright likes the development of key reserves -- freshman Donte DiVincenzo and sophomore Eric Paschall.


"Mikal Bridges, a starter, is really playing well," Wright said. "Jalen in his sophomore year has given us a great lift. All of those guys have made substantial strides."


The Wildcats, who are shooting 50.4 percent as a team, have shot 50 percent or better from the field in seven of their last eight games.


Butler is shooting 49.9 percent as a team. Junior forward Kelan Martin leads the Bulldogs with an 18.1 scoring average.

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Yellow Jackets (9-4) at Blue Devils (12-2)
Date: January 04, 2017 7:00 PM EDT

DURHAM, N.C. -- Duke knows that coach Mike Krzyzewski will be taking time away from the team for another surgery, but it's unclear when guard Grayson Allen and Krzyzewski will be back in active roles with the No. 8 Blue Devils.


Krzyzewski will coach his final game Wednesday night against visiting Georgia Tech before undergoing surgery on his lower back Friday.


This just adds to what has been a saga-filled season for Duke, with injuries and Allen's indefinite suspension for a tripping incident last month perhaps trumped by the next sabbatical for Krzyzewski.


Eighth-ranked Duke (12-2) was the Atlantic Coast Conference preseason favorite and held the No. 1 preseason national ranking.


Krzyzewski said the past three games have been disjointed for his team, but some of that might have been masked by outcomes against Tennessee State and Elon. Then the Blue Devils were exposed in an 89-75 loss at Virginia Tech on Saturday.


"It's not that we're selfish," Krzyzewski said. "We're not playing as one."


The Blue Devils are hoping freshman center Harry Giles can make more progress. Some of that was evident against Virginia Tech, but there are issues as he comes off preseason knee surgery.


"He just has to be out there," Krzyzewski said of Giles, who has played in three games. "He gets tired. He gets winded. He's just not in shape yet. ... He's learning in real time."


With all this clamor about Duke, Georgia Tech's surprising victory against North Carolina to open ACC play is overshadowed.


First-year Georgia Tech coach Josh Pastner will face a Hall of Fame coach for the second game in a row, going from Roy Williams to Krzyzewski. The Yellow Jackets didn't look good for much of the pre-ACC schedule.


"We had, as I call it, a truth telling," Pastner said. "(The players) were told some things they needed to hear."


The Yellow Jackets (9-4) go for another significant conquest despite projections that they'll finish near the bottom in the ACC.


"No one can say we can't win any games in the ACC, now," Pastner said. "I want us to have a mentality that we belong here. I want that winning mentality."


Against elite teams, Pastner said the Yellow Jackets don't need to be home run hitters but simply keep to the basics.


"If we just hit singles, stay simple and sound," he said. "We're going to leave it all on the floor. These young men have bought in."


Following the Georgia Tech game, Krzyzewski is stepping away for an extended period for the first time since his absence for a large part of the 1994-95 season.


Associate head coach Jeff Capel will serve as the interim coach, beginning with Saturday afternoon's home game against Boston College.


After Friday's surgery to remove a fragment of a herniated disc, the anticipated recovery time for Krzyzewski is up to four weeks. The school announced in a release that after many conservative treatment options during the last month, it was determined that a surgical procedure was necessary to resolve the problem.


Krzyzewski, who turns 70 next month, is the all-time winningest Division I men's basketball coach (1,055-323) and last summer completed his time as the U.S. national coach by directing a third gold medal-winning performance. This is his 42nd season overall, and his 37th at Duke, where he has won five national championships.


Capel, a former Duke guard, was a head coach for nine seasons combined between Virginia Commonwealth and Oklahoma. He has been on Duke's staff since May 2011, filling in for Krzyzewski for a victory at Georgia Tech last season when the Hall of Fame coach was dealing with an illness.

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Cyclones (9-3) at Bears (13-0)
Date: January 04, 2017 8:00 PM EDT

WACO, Texas -- Last week, the Iowa State Cyclones used the momentum created in part by a sold-out Hilton Coliseum crowd to make a second-half comeback and avoid a home loss to Texas Tech to start Big 12 play.


If it comes down to it, No. 2 Baylor hopes it can do the same thing on Wednesday.


"It's a big goal for us to be successful at home and we can't do it without the fans," Baylor coach Scott Drew said. "The more they can show up, the more they can be loud and boisterous and support us, the more they can affect the game."


Baylor enters the first full week of Big 12 action with a 13-0 record - the only unblemished season so far in the conference - and the highest ranking in program history.


While Iowa State came back from 14 down in the second half to defeat Texas Tech in Ames, Iowa, on Friday, the Bears went on the road to crush Oklahoma.


Baylor's 76-50 win over the Sooners in Norman, Okla., was the latest in its litany of impressive victories so far. But it certainly wasn't the most eye-opening.


Baylor posted four victories over top-25 foes in nonconference play, including No. 4 Oregon, No. 24 Michigan State, No. 10 Louisville and No. 7 Xavier. With that, the Bears entered conference play as the newly minted frontrunner to win the league despite Kansas's 12-year regular-season title streak and West Virginia's impressive nonconference performance.


The Bears also have a four-game winning streak in their series versus Iowa State. And on paper, the Cyclones (9-3) will be facing an uphill battle when they tip off against Baylor.


Iowa State thrived with a four-guard lineup late in the game against Texas Tech. But can the Cyclones do the same versus a Baylor team that features 6-foot-10 Johnathan Motley and 7-footer Jo Lual-Acuil in its frontcourt?


"If you're going to play four guards, you've got to have great toughness, speed, you've got to have a resolve about you," Iowa State coach Steve Prohm said. "Obviously, if you're just going to play straight man-to-man defense with those guys, you're going to have to do some things differently. Offensively, we can do some good things attacking them. Defensively, we're going to have to have great team defense."


Motley has increased his scoring role this season for Baylor. He's averaging 16.3 points with a season-high of 26 against Michigan State. He was a problem for the Cyclones last season as he scored a career-high 27 in each of the Bears' two matchups versus Iowa State.


If the Cyclones stick with their four-guard look, it will likely fall to 6-8 forward Darrell Bowie and 6-5 guard Deonte Burton to slow down Motley.


"For us to be great, we need Deonte to be terrific for us," Prohm said. "We need Darrel Bowie, we need all those guys to play well. If we have to play four guards, we're working on it more."


And, of course, it will help the Cyclones' chances to have a hot Naz Long sinking buckets. Long scored 19 versus the Red Raiders in the conference-opening win. He posted that total despite going just 1-of-7 from 3-point range.


But Prohm said it's a matter of group flow rather than just having Long heat up.


"I've got to do a better job of demanding offensive execution, because when we do that. we get good looks," Prohm said.

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Bluejays (13-1) at Red Storm (8-7)
Date: January 04, 2017 8:30 PM EDT

NEW YORK -- The last time the St. John's men's basketball team played at Carnesecca Arena, it beat then-No. 13 Butler to earn the program's first on-campus win over a ranked opponent since 1998. The Red Storm will look to author an even more impressive encore Wednesday night, when it hosts 10th-ranked Creighton.


The 76-73 win over Butler on Dec. 29 was St. John's first win over a top-15 opponent at home since a victory over No. 13 Syracuse on Feb. 23, 1983. It was also the second of three straight wins for the Red Storm, who routed Syracuse 93-60 on Dec. 21 and edged DePaul 79-73 on Sunday to improve to 2-0 in the Big East for the first time since 2010-11.


The recent surge has generated a buzz about the Red Storm (8-7), who went just 8-24 last season and have made the NCAA Tournament just three times since 2000. A win over Creighton would certainly garner more attention for St. John's, which last beat a top-10 team on campus on Dec. 9, 1975, when it beat No. 7 Tennessee at what was then known as Alumni Hall.


Second-year head coach Chris Mullin is hoping the Red Storm is less focused on what could happen Wednesday and more on simply building off the momentum generated over the last three games.


"You kind of just deal with the moment," Mullin said Tuesday. "Naturally, we all want to win and feel good every day, but that's not reality. We make a concerted effort to stay in the moment. When you lose and feel terrible, you go through that day. When we win, it feels better and we sleep better, but we deal with it, file it away and prepare for the next day."


Creighton (13-1 overall, 1-1 Big East) is preparing off a loss for the first time after falling to top-ranked Villanova, 80-70, on Saturday afternoon. The 13-0 start marked only the third time in program history the Blue Jays have opened 13-0 or better.


On Saturday, host Creighton led the defending national champions by 10 points twice in the first half but saw its upset hopes disappear by hitting just two of its final 10 shots in the game.


The defeat doubly stung Creighton, which is one of the most high-scoring teams in the nation. The Blue Jays entered the week ranked 10th in the nation in points per game (88.4) and second in both field goal percentage (53.7 percent) and 3-point field goal percentage (43 percent).


"We just didn't make the shots," freshman center Justin Patton said. "But we'll make those shots, later in the season."


St. John's defense will provide another test for the Blue Jays. Red Storm opponents are shooting 41.8 percent from the field and 35.6 percent from 3-point land.


The Red Storm might also be able to keep pace in a shootout. St. John's is averaging 78.6 points per game and leads the Big East with 149 3-pointers.

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Cardinals (12-2) at Fighting Irish (12-2)
Date: January 04, 2017 9:00 PM EDT

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The holiday break and college hoops have often been a bad mix around Northern Indiana for No. 23 Notre Dame.


The Fighting Irish (12-2, 1-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) often play in front of thousands of empty seats from mid-December to mid-January in an arena that holds only 9,149. There are no students, no band and no juice. Despite advancing to consecutive NCAA tournament Elite Eights, their next sellout this season will be the first.


Heading into Wednesday's ACC opener against No. 9 Louisville (12-2, 0-1), with the students still on winter break and the game ticketed for a late start, Irish coach Mike Brey doesn't want to hear any excuses about a less-than-capacity crowd.


"We need our fans," Brey said as the Irish look to start 2-0 in league play for the second time in three seasons. "Like, a 9 o'clock late game and the students not here is not an excuse. That's not an excuse."


Especially since Notre Dame found a way to battle back from five points down in regulation, then again down five in overtime, for its first league win Saturday at Pittsburgh. On New Year's Eve with the Pittsburgh student body mostly absent.


"We played Pitt the other day on break and it was rocking in that place," Brey said. "We've had success here against Louisville when the place has been rocking. We don't have our students, so we need our sixth man to help us.


"If they help us, we've got a great chance of winning."


Louisville sophomore guard Donovan Mitchell leads the ACC in steals at 2.1 and is coming off a career-high 25 points in Saturday's win over then-No. 16 Indiana. Fellow sophomore Deng Adel added 17.


The Cardinals face their fourth ranked opponent in a row. Louisville is 2-1 with wins over Indiana and Kentucky and a loss to Virginia to start league play.


"We've played a very, very tough schedule," said coach Rick Pitino.


Picked in preseason to finish fourth, No. 9 Louisville was one of three ranked ACC teams -- along with Duke and North Carolina -- to open league play 0-1.


"This is just an amazing league with great strength and teams that people did not expect to be great," Pitino said. "I could not tell you right now who has the best chance of winning this league. I couldn't even give you a top three."


Louisville inserted Anas Mahmoud into the starting lineup Saturday at the center spot, a move that Pitino believes helped the Cardinals better move the ball.


Pitino also praised Notre Dame's offensive efficiency Tuesday, but the Irish defense has been better this season.


Notre Dame finished 158th last season in Ken Pomeroy's adjusted defensive efficiency, which tracks points allowed per 100 possessions. The Irish were at 102.9. Fourteen games in, Notre Dame ranks 93rd in KenPom's adjusted defensive efficiency. The Irish are at 99.0.


A year after the Irish finished 144th nationally in scoring defense (70.6 points per game) and 156th in field-goal percentage defense (43.2), those numbers have improved to 72nd (66.2) and 40th (39.1).


Power forward Bonzie Colson covers a lot of space with his 7-foot-plus wingspan around the low block. Power forward Martinas Geben knows how to use his 6-10, 255-pound frame to defend in the post. Guards V.J. Beachem (6-8) and Steve Vasturia (6-6) are long on the perimeter while point guard Matt Farrell plays with a bulldog/challenge-you mentality.


The Irish also have two reserves in sophomore Rex Pflueger and freshman T.J. Gibbs who check in at key times often thinking first and second and sometimes third about guarding.


"It comes down to energy and the will to want to play defense," said Pflueger, who often tag-teams with Vasturia in getting after the other team's most talented perimeter player while Gibbs' concentration centers on point guards. "It comes down to, do you really want to exert as much energy on defense as you do on offense?


"We're doing a great job balancing it out."

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Hokies (12-1) at Wolfpack (11-3)
Date: January 04, 2017 9:00 PM EDT

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Now there's no sneaking up on any team for Virginia Tech.


The Hokies have moved into the national rankings at No. 21 after defeating Duke to open Atlantic Coast Conference play.


Virginia Tech tries to enhance its blossoming profile Wednesday night against host North Carolina State at PNC Arena.


The best way to do that is to play at a high level all the time, guard Seth Allen said.


"It shows what we can do," Allen said of defeating then-No. 5 Duke. "If we can play a top-five team like this, we should never play down to an opponent."


So just how the Hokies (12-1) handle this new-found respect might define the course of the season. The Hokies are ranked for the first time since early in the 2010-11 season.


"I don't think we're to the point that we played 40 minutes (perfectly), but I don't know that any coach would say that in Game 13," Virginia Tech coach Buzz Williams said. "I think that we have a long way to go."


This will be Virginia Tech's second true road game of the season. The Hokies haven't won in Raleigh since 2011.


Having lost at Miami on Saturday, N.C. State will be opening the ACC schedule with three consecutive games against nationally ranked teams.


So there are various ways to judge the Wolfpack's progress.


"The way I look at it is, the most important thing I see is, 'Are we getting better? Are we getting better defensively? Are we getting better executing our offense? Are we getting better rebounding the ball?' " N.C. State coach Mark Gottfried said. "And I do think we are. Now we're going to get challenged."


N.C. State is still trying to figure out its best lineup combinations, something that might not have been totally sorted out in the 81-63 loss to Miami.


Forward Omer Yurtseven is less than a month into his freshman season after sitting out the first nine games as mandated by the NCAA, and so a degree of patient might be required.


"We knew it'd be a learning curve, and I think we're making that adjustment now and it's going to be good for us in conference play," freshman point guard Dennis Smith Jr. said.


The Wolfpack's defense has progressed, something that Gottfried said will be tested in other ways against ACC competition.


"I think they have a little confidence defensively in how they're playing, they feel good about that part of the game for us," Gottfried said.


In six non-league December games, the most points allowed were the 71 in a victory against Rider.


"We got better defensively. That's pretty obvious," freshman forward Ted Kapita said. "Because before, we didn't know ... what to do on defense sometimes. Now we got better, everybody wants to play harder, everybody wants to win. I think we're all on the same page right now."


N.C. State will have to deal with a diverse Virginia Tech offense, which put six players in double figures in the Duke game. That included sophomore forward Chris Clarke, whose 13 points marked his most in ACC play in two seasons. Clarke was 5 of 5 from the field, marking the 12th time in 13 games he has shot 50 percent or better.

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Cavaliers (11-2) at Panthers (11-3)
Date: January 04, 2017 9:00 PM EDT

Home losses have been somewhat of a rarity for No. 11 Virginia and Pittsburgh the past few seasons.


After already suffering a home loss each prior to the start of Atlantic Coast Conference play, both the Cavaliers and Panthers dropped their conference home openers on Saturday in advance of their matchup Wednesday night.


Despite their loss, Virginia moved up a spot in the latest AP Top 25 Poll and travels to what will be a hostile environment at the famed Oakland Zoo. The Cavaliers knocked off Louisville on the road last week before falling to a very good Florida State team on Saturday after a game-winning 3-pointer by Dwayne Bacon collapsed the Cavaliers.


"The first thing I said to our team when we walked into the locker room was 'Welcome to the ACC,' Virginia head coach Tony Bennett said. "I said, 'If you are not right, and you are not executing all of the way through, you will not be successful.' That is why in those games, if you can get them, you take them. Obviously, Louisville, we went in there and got a win. Florida State, they came in here, and that is a talented offensive group. You are just going to have to be ready to play at home or away."


Pittsburgh is 0-4 against Virginia since joining the ACC back in 2014, but has played the Cavaliers close in a majority of those games. A key for the Panthers and first-year head coach Kevin Stallings is productivity from their bench, which they haven't gotten much of lately.


"We need some more offense from more people," Stallings said after Pittsburgh's loss to Notre Dame on Saturday. "Our bench didn't do enough for us today."


Senior Michael Young continues to get it done for Stallings and the Panthers as he averages just under 23 points per game, while forward Jamel Artis pours the points in at a 21 points per game clip.


Once you get beyond that duo however, Pittsburgh's point distribution takes a bit of a dive as Cameron Johnson is the only other Panther to average in double figures. The Panthers are 38th in the country in scoring as they average just under 82 points per game, but their defense is allowing 75 points per game which has been a problem despite their 11-3 record.


Virginia continues to use their balanced approach which was evident in their loss to the Seminoles when they put four players in double figures, led by freshman Kyle Guy who continues to impress for Bennett and the Cavaliers.


Guy is shooting 58 percent from the three-point line this season and is on pace to break the Virginia single-season 3-point percentage records.


As expected in the ACC this season, every game will be competitive and this one will be no different as Pittsburgh looks for a quality win against a top 15 opponent.

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Ducks (13-2) at Huskies (7-6)
Date: January 04, 2017 9:00 PM EDT

SEATTLE -- Oregon should take plenty of positive thoughts to Washington on Wednesday.


The Ducks have won 11 straight games to move up six spots to No. 15 in the AP Top 25 Poll. Oregon is coming off wins over No. 4 UCLA and No. 25 USC to open Pac-12 Conference play at 2-0.


The Ducks are also as healthy as they have been all season after senior center Chris Boucher returned to play against the Bruins and Trojans after missing two games due to a sprained ankle.


All-conference junior forward Dillon Brooks, who missed the first three games of the season and was on a minute-restriction when he returned, has been fully cleared and was named Pac-12 player of the week after averaging 25.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in the wins over USC and UCLA.


Now Oregon hits the road for the first time in six weeks to visit Washington (7-6), which lost 79-74 at home to Washington State in its conference opener on Sunday.


Everything seems to favor Oregon except for the fact that none of the Ducks have ever won a game in Seattle or Pullman where they face Washington State on Saturday. Oregon was swept two years ago at UW and WSU did not visit the Washington schools last season.


"Now we have to go on the road to the Washington schools where we had two poor performances the year before last," Oregon coach Dana Altman said. "We've got to go and play. We don't have a guy on the team who won at those schools, so we will have our work cut out for us."


One advantage for the Ducks is that they last played on Friday while the Huskies have only two days to prepare for Oregon after playing on Sunday.


"We have a couple times where the schedule gets us like that, so you just have to go play," Altman said. "They had a little more time at Christmas than we did. I would have liked to let the guys stay home on Christmas Day, but there was no way."


Brooks has taken over the team lead with 14.8 points per game while Boucher is averaging 13.5 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 3.1 blocks per game. Junior forward Jordan Bell leads Oregon with 8.1 rebounds to go with 10.4 points and 2.3 blocks per game.


"We have so much room to grow into," Altman said. "Our blockouts can get better, our transition defense can get better. The exciting thing is if our guys will focus and really trust each other they can get so much better in so many areas. Our ball movement and execution on offense can get better and that is an exciting thing. All the areas we can work through in January and February to get better."


Washington had won three straight games against Western Michigan, Cal Poly, and Seattle before dropping its conference opener to the Cougars.


"Our next game is playing a team that was picked to win the league and a preseason Top 10 team," Washington coach Lorenzo Romar said. "Right now they are playing as good as anyone in the league. We certainly didn't set ourselves up to come into the game with any momentum."


Freshman guard Markelle Fultz had 26 points, 11 assists, and nine rebounds in the loss to the Cougars. The 6-foot-4 point guard leads Washington with 22.3 points, 6.6 assists, and 6.4 rebounds per game.


Six-foot guard David Crisp is averaging 14.1 points while 6-8 forward Noah Dickerson is averaging 12.5 points and 8.7 rebounds.

 

[CNOTES]

CBB SEASON RECORD OPINIONS AND BEST BETS:


WLT Pct Units


ATS Picks 236-255-8 48.07% -22250


O/U Picks 251-244-5 50.71% -8700


DAILY RECORD OPINIONS AND BEST BETS


01/01/2017 20-20-1 50.00% -1000
01/02/2017 16-21-0 43.24% -3550
01/03/2017 6-9-0 40.00% -1950


DAILY BEST BETS RECORD:


ATS: 13 - 19 - 1


O/U : 8 - 5 - 0

 

[CNOTES]

In the Paint - Week 9
January 4, 2017


Grin and Bear It
Baylor slid up to No. 2 in the Top 25 rankings, and the Bears are not just winning, but covering, too. Baylor moved to 13-0 SU with a 76-50 win at Oklahoma Dec. 30 in their last outing, easily covering a 6 1/2-point number. They have covered six in a row, and opponents haven't come within 15 points of the Bears in the past seven games dating back to Nov. 25, a three-point win against Louisville on a neutral-site court. Only three of Baylor's 13 opponents so far have been able to lose by just single digits. They have wins by 26 points against Oklahoma, 15 points against Michigan State and 17 points against Oregon.


Bullish on the Bulldogs
Gonzaga currently sits at No. 5 in the Top 25 rankings, and they're unlikely to be moving down anytime soon. The Bulldogs have passed early-season tests at Tennessee, home against San Diego State and Washington, and neutral-site wins over Arizona, Florida and Iowa State. Really, the most challenging part of their schedule is over, as conference play has begun. While the West Coast Conference is not quite a pushover, only Brigham Young and Saint Mary's (CA) realistically are expected to give the Bulldogs any trouble. Gonzaga rolls into their next game at San Francisco on a 7-0 ATS run, and they have covered four in a row either on the road are on a neutral court.

Mounting Concerns
West Virginia entered play Tuesday in Lubbock ranked No. 7 in the nation. But Vegas had a sneaking suspicion about the Mountaineers, as they were favored by just a bucket. West Virginia headed home with a 77-76 loss in overtime at unranked Texas Tech, as the Mountaineers suffered their first loss since a neutral-site setback against Temple back on Nov. 25. West Virginia passed their first league road test at Oklahoma State Dec. 30 in a 92-75 win, but the Red Raiders proved there won't be many free lunches in the league this season.


Not Just a Football School
Florida State is garnering attention for its work on the hardwood, shooting up to No. 12 in the nation this week. The Seminoles have a week-long rest after their New Year's Eve victory at Virginia, 60-58. The Seminoles have opened up conference play with a pair of wins and covers, and they're now 6-2 ATS over the past eight. Like West Virginia, FSU's last loss came on a neutral-site court against Temple back on Nov. 24. And if you like playing totals, the 'under' is a perfect 4-0 in FSU's past four, and 7-3 in their past 10 overall. The Seminoles rank 23rd in the country in defensive field goal percentage, as opponents are shooting just 38.5 percent from the floor.


Indiana Slide
The Indiana Hoosiers are in danger of sliding right out of the Top 25 after a 75-68 setback against No. 11 Wisconsin Tuesday night. The Hoosiers have dropped three in a row, and four of their past six games overall. They're also just 2-4 ATS during the span, and a major reason for their struggles has been on the defensive end. Indiana has allowed 75 or more points in each of those four losses. Head coach Tom Crean's group will look to regroup Saturday against Illinois, a team which is 4-1 ATS in their past five outings while scoring 75 or more points in five of the past six.


Other Teams to Watch


Arkansas State travels to Myrtle Beach on Saturday for an interesting non-conference tilt with Coastal Carolina in the first-ever meetings between the schools on the hardwood. Ark State has covered three in a row, and they're 7-2 ATS in the past nine games overall. The Chanticleers of CCU limp in with just one cover over the past five outings, and they're 0-3 ATS at home this year.


DePaul has dropped four straight, and they're 1-4 ATS over the past five games and 1-8 ATS over the past nine overall. Remember that for Saturday's trip to Seton Hall, although the Pirates are just 3-7-1 ATS in their past 11 overall.


Fresno State heads into its game Wednesday night against Wyoming on quite the roll. Yes, they have won two of their past three straight up, but the Bulldogs have covered eight in a row since their lone non-cover in their Nov. 11 opener against Texas-San Antonio.


Sacramento State continues to struggle, losing three in a row overall. They're also a dismal 1-9 ATS in their past 10 games overall. Total bettors will want to remember the Hornets, too, as the 'under' is 6-1 in their past seven.


South Dakota hits the road for Denver Wednesday night looking to stay hot against the number. The Coyotes are 7-1-1 ATS over their past nine games, and 3-1-1 ATS in their past five on the road. However, the Pioneers are 6-0-1 ATS in their past seven league games, and 4-1 ATS in the past five meetings with the underdog going 5-2 ATS in the past seven outings.


We've been picking on UCSB this season, but they have certainly shown some improvement lately. While they lost last time out against Seattle Dec. 30, they did pick up an impressive win over Cal-State Bakersfield in overtime Dec. 27, and covered on a neutral court against Nevada. In fact, the over was their first of the season in eight tries. They're still a poor team against the spread, and they're seven-point 'dogs at UC Davis Wednesday. The Aggies are 5-1 ATS in their past six against teams with a losing overall record, and the favorite is 5-1-1 ATS in the past seven in the series.


Like UCSB, fellow Big West foe UC Riverside Highlanders has struggled against the number this season, too. Riverside has dropped seven of their past eight straight up, and they're 0-5 ATS over the past five and 1-7 ATS over the past eight overall. The 'under' is a perfect 5-0 in their past five, and 7-1 in the past eight overall.

 

[CNOTES]

NCAAB
Long Sheet

Wednesday, January 4

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RUTGERS (11 - 4) at MICHIGAN ST (10 - 5) - 1/4/2017, 6:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
RUTGERS is 10-19 ATS (-10.9 Units) as an underdog over the last 2 seasons.
RUTGERS is 2-10 ATS (-9.0 Units) as a road underdog of 12.5 or more points over the last 2 seasons.
RUTGERS is 5-16 ATS (-12.6 Units) against conference opponents over the last 2 seasons.
RUTGERS is 4-15 ATS (-12.5 Units) after a conference game over the last 2 seasons.
RUTGERS is 4-14 ATS (-11.4 Units) off a loss against a conference rival over the last 2 seasons.
RUTGERS is 51-75 ATS (-31.5 Units) after allowing 60 points or less since 1997.
RUTGERS is 4-12 ATS (-9.2 Units) after 3 or more consecutive losses over the last 2 seasons.
MICHIGAN ST is 51-35 ATS (+12.5 Units) in all games over the last 3 seasons.
MICHIGAN ST is 51-35 ATS (+12.5 Units) in all lined games over the last 3 seasons.
MICHIGAN ST is 42-26 ATS (+13.4 Units) as a favorite over the last 3 seasons.
MICHIGAN ST is 15-6 ATS (+8.4 Units) as a home favorite of 12.5 or more points over the last 3 seasons.
MICHIGAN ST is 16-7 ATS (+8.3 Units) against conference opponents over the last 2 seasons.
MICHIGAN ST is 60-33 ATS (+23.7 Units) on Wednesday games since 1997.
MICHIGAN ST is 198-157 ATS (+25.3 Units) after a conference game since 1997.
MICHIGAN ST is 13-4 ATS (+8.6 Units) off a win against a conference rival over the last 2 seasons.
MICHIGAN ST is 24-12 ATS (+10.8 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.


Head-to-Head Series History
MICHIGAN ST is 3-0 against the spread versus RUTGERS over the last 3 seasons
MICHIGAN ST is 3-0 straight up against RUTGERS over the last 3 seasons
2 of 3 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons




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VILLANOVA (14 - 0) at BUTLER (12 - 2) - 1/4/2017, 6:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
BUTLER is 46-30 ATS (+13.0 Units) in all games over the last 3 seasons.
BUTLER is 46-30 ATS (+13.0 Units) in all lined games over the last 3 seasons.
BUTLER is 30-16 ATS (+12.4 Units) when the total is 140 to 149.5 since 1997.
BUTLER is 93-66 ATS (+20.4 Units) as an underdog since 1997.
BUTLER is 202-157 ATS (+29.3 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record since 1997.
BUTLER is 8-0 ATS (+8.0 Units) versus good defensive teams - allowing <=64 points/game over the last 2 seasons.
VILLANOVA is 53-32 ATS (+17.8 Units) in all games over the last 3 seasons.
VILLANOVA is 53-32 ATS (+17.8 Units) in all lined games over the last 3 seasons.
VILLANOVA is 51-31 ATS (+16.9 Units) as a favorite over the last 3 seasons.
VILLANOVA is 20-8 ATS (+11.2 Units) as a road favorite of 3 points or less or pick since 1997.
VILLANOVA is 41-21 ATS (+17.9 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 3 seasons.
VILLANOVA is 15-6 ATS (+8.4 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 77+ points/game over the last 3 seasons.


Head-to-Head Series History
VILLANOVA is 2-1 against the spread versus BUTLER over the last 3 seasons
VILLANOVA is 4-0 straight up against BUTLER over the last 3 seasons
2 of 3 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons




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MIAMI (11 - 2) at SYRACUSE (8 - 6) - 1/4/2017, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
MIAMI is 115-81 ATS (+25.9 Units) in road games since 1997.
MIAMI is 115-81 ATS (+25.9 Units) in road lined games since 1997.
MIAMI is 24-11 ATS (+11.9 Units) in a road game where the total is 135 to 139.5 since 1997.
MIAMI is 106-75 ATS (+23.5 Units) in road games against conference opponents since 1997.
MIAMI is 105-75 ATS (+22.5 Units) in road games after a conference game since 1997.
MIAMI is 132-98 ATS (+24.2 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record since 1997.
MIAMI is 87-59 ATS (+22.1 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 77+ points/game since 1997.


Head-to-Head Series History
MIAMI is 2-0 against the spread versus SYRACUSE over the last 3 seasons
MIAMI is 2-0 straight up against SYRACUSE over the last 3 seasons
1 of 1 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons




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GEORGIA TECH (9 - 4) at DUKE (12 - 2) - 1/4/2017, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
DUKE is 126-87 ATS (+30.3 Units) as a home favorite of 12.5 or more points since 1997.
DUKE is 91-64 ATS (+20.6 Units) in January games since 1997.
DUKE is 60-34 ATS (+22.6 Units) after allowing 80 points or more since 1997.
GEORGIA TECH is 11-2 ATS (+8.8 Units) on Wednesday games over the last 3 seasons.


Head-to-Head Series History
DUKE is 1-1 against the spread versus GEORGIA TECH over the last 3 seasons
DUKE is 2-0 straight up against GEORGIA TECH over the last 3 seasons
1 of 2 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons




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FORDHAM (6 - 8) at RICHMOND (7 - 6) - 1/4/2017, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
FORDHAM is 211-259 ATS (-73.9 Units) in all games since 1997.
FORDHAM is 211-259 ATS (-73.9 Units) in all lined games since 1997.
FORDHAM is 161-204 ATS (-63.4 Units) as an underdog since 1997.
FORDHAM is 93-127 ATS (-46.7 Units) in road games since 1997.
FORDHAM is 93-127 ATS (-46.7 Units) in road lined games since 1997.
FORDHAM is 33-54 ATS (-26.4 Units) in road games on Wednesday games since 1997.
RICHMOND is 7-19 ATS (-13.9 Units) in home games after scoring 80 points or more since 1997.


Head-to-Head Series History
RICHMOND is 2-2 against the spread versus FORDHAM over the last 3 seasons
RICHMOND is 4-0 straight up against FORDHAM over the last 3 seasons
2 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons




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MASSACHUSETTS (10 - 4) at GEORGE MASON (10 - 4) - 1/4/2017, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
MASSACHUSETTS is 1-8 ATS (-7.8 Units) after allowing 80 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
GEORGE MASON is 6-15 ATS (-10.5 Units) on Wednesday games over the last 3 seasons.


Head-to-Head Series History
MASSACHUSETTS is 1-0 against the spread versus GEORGE MASON over the last 3 seasons
MASSACHUSETTS is 2-0 straight up against GEORGE MASON over the last 3 seasons
2 of 2 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons




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GEORGETOWN (8 - 6) at PROVIDENCE (10 - 5) - 1/4/2017, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
GEORGETOWN is 163-204 ATS (-61.4 Units) against conference opponents since 1997.
PROVIDENCE is 0-7 ATS (-7.7 Units) when the total is 130 to 139.5 this season.
PROVIDENCE is 35-58 ATS (-28.8 Units) in home games off a loss against a conference rival since 1997.


Head-to-Head Series History
PROVIDENCE is 3-1 against the spread versus GEORGETOWN over the last 3 seasons
PROVIDENCE is 4-0 straight up against GEORGETOWN over the last 3 seasons
3 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons




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SAINT LOUIS (4 - 9) at LASALLE (6 - 5) - 1/4/2017, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
SAINT LOUIS is 22-43 ATS (-25.3 Units) in all games over the last 3 seasons.
SAINT LOUIS is 22-43 ATS (-25.3 Units) in all lined games over the last 3 seasons.
SAINT LOUIS is 16-33 ATS (-20.3 Units) as an underdog over the last 3 seasons.
SAINT LOUIS is 7-17 ATS (-11.7 Units) in road games over the last 3 seasons.
SAINT LOUIS is 7-17 ATS (-11.7 Units) in road lined games over the last 3 seasons.
SAINT LOUIS is 9-21 ATS (-14.1 Units) after scoring 60 points or less over the last 3 seasons.
SAINT LOUIS is 13-28 ATS (-17.8 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 3 seasons.
SAINT LOUIS is 3-11 ATS (-9.1 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 77+ points/game over the last 3 seasons.
LASALLE is 84-60 ATS (+18.0 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record since 1997.


Head-to-Head Series History
LASALLE is 1-1 against the spread versus SAINT LOUIS over the last 3 seasons
LASALLE is 1-1 straight up against SAINT LOUIS over the last 3 seasons
2 of 2 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons




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VA COMMONWEALTH (11 - 3) at DUQUESNE (8 - 6) - 1/4/2017, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
VA COMMONWEALTH is 26-15 ATS (+9.5 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
VA COMMONWEALTH is 26-15 ATS (+9.5 Units) in all lined games over the last 2 seasons.
VA COMMONWEALTH is 16-6 ATS (+9.4 Units) against conference opponents over the last 2 seasons.
VA COMMONWEALTH is 15-6 ATS (+8.4 Units) after a conference game over the last 2 seasons.
VA COMMONWEALTH is 13-5 ATS (+7.5 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
DUQUESNE is 59-83 ATS (-32.3 Units) in home games after a conference game since 1997.
DUQUESNE is 127-162 ATS (-51.2 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record since 1997.


Head-to-Head Series History
DUQUESNE is 1-1 against the spread versus VA COMMONWEALTH over the last 3 seasons
VA COMMONWEALTH is 2-0 straight up against DUQUESNE over the last 3 seasons
1 of 2 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons




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S CAROLINA (10 - 3) at GEORGIA (9 - 4) - 1/4/2017, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
GEORGIA is 10-2 ATS (+7.8 Units) on Wednesday games over the last 3 seasons.
GEORGIA is 34-19 ATS (+13.1 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 3 seasons.


Head-to-Head Series History
GEORGIA is 4-2 against the spread versus S CAROLINA over the last 3 seasons
GEORGIA is 4-2 straight up against S CAROLINA over the last 3 seasons
3 of 6 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons




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AUBURN (10 - 3) at VANDERBILT (7 - 6) - 1/4/2017, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
VANDERBILT is 47-26 ATS (+18.4 Units) in home games versus good offensive teams - scoring 77+ points/game since 1997.
VANDERBILT is 4-14 ATS (-11.4 Units) in January games over the last 3 seasons.


Head-to-Head Series History
VANDERBILT is 3-0 against the spread versus AUBURN over the last 3 seasons
VANDERBILT is 3-0 straight up against AUBURN over the last 3 seasons
2 of 3 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons




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N IOWA (5 - 8) at LOYOLA-IL (10 - 5) - 1/4/2017, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
N IOWA is 2-8 ATS (-6.8 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
N IOWA is 0-6 ATS (-6.6 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 77+ points/game this season.
N IOWA is 26-14 ATS (+10.6 Units) after a conference game over the last 3 seasons.


Head-to-Head Series History
LOYOLA-IL is 3-2 against the spread versus N IOWA over the last 3 seasons
N IOWA is 3-2 straight up against LOYOLA-IL over the last 3 seasons
4 of 5 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons




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BRADLEY (6 - 9) at EVANSVILLE (10 - 5) - 1/4/2017, 8:00 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.


Head-to-Head Series History
EVANSVILLE is 2-2 against the spread versus BRADLEY over the last 3 seasons
EVANSVILLE is 3-1 straight up against BRADLEY over the last 3 seasons
4 of 4 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons




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INDIANA ST (6 - 8) at S ILLINOIS (8 - 7) - 1/4/2017, 8:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
INDIANA ST is 6-16 ATS (-11.6 Units) in a road game where the total is 135 to 139.5 since 1997.
INDIANA ST is 8-1 ATS (+6.9 Units) as an underdog this season.
INDIANA ST is 8-2 ATS (+5.8 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.


Head-to-Head Series History
S ILLINOIS is 2-2 against the spread versus INDIANA ST over the last 3 seasons
S ILLINOIS is 2-2 straight up against INDIANA ST over the last 3 seasons
2 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons




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DRAKE (3 - 11) at WICHITA ST (12 - 3) - 1/4/2017, 8:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
DRAKE is 13-24 ATS (-13.4 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
DRAKE is 13-24 ATS (-13.4 Units) in all lined games over the last 2 seasons.
DRAKE is 7-17 ATS (-11.7 Units) in road games over the last 3 seasons.
DRAKE is 7-17 ATS (-11.7 Units) in road lined games over the last 3 seasons.
DRAKE is 6-15 ATS (-10.5 Units) against conference opponents over the last 2 seasons.
DRAKE is 1-9 ATS (-8.9 Units) in January games over the last 2 seasons.
DRAKE is 5-15 ATS (-11.5 Units) after a conference game over the last 2 seasons.
DRAKE is 3-13 ATS (-11.3 Units) off a loss against a conference rival over the last 2 seasons.
DRAKE is 0-6 ATS (-6.6 Units) after allowing 80 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
WICHITA ST is 198-152 ATS (+30.8 Units) as a favorite since 1997.
WICHITA ST is 12-2 ATS (+9.8 Units) as a home favorite of 12.5 or more points over the last 2 seasons.
WICHITA ST is 13-5 ATS (+7.5 Units) in all home games over the last 2 seasons.
WICHITA ST is 13-5 ATS (+7.5 Units) in home lined games over the last 2 seasons.
WICHITA ST is 9-1 ATS (+7.9 Units) in January games over the last 2 seasons.
WICHITA ST is 15-6 ATS (+8.4 Units) after a conference game over the last 2 seasons.
WICHITA ST is 23-12 ATS (+9.8 Units) off a win against a conference rival over the last 3 seasons.
WICHITA ST is 13-4 ATS (+8.6 Units) after scoring 80 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
WICHITA ST is 11-1 ATS (+9.9 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons.


Head-to-Head Series History
WICHITA ST is 3-1 against the spread versus DRAKE over the last 3 seasons
WICHITA ST is 4-0 straight up against DRAKE over the last 3 seasons
3 of 3 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons




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OKLAHOMA ST (10 - 3) at TEXAS (6 - 7) - 1/4/2017, 8:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
OKLAHOMA ST is 80-112 ATS (-43.2 Units) in road games since 1997.
OKLAHOMA ST is 80-112 ATS (-43.2 Units) in road lined games since 1997.
OKLAHOMA ST is 82-110 ATS (-39.0 Units) in road games against conference opponents since 1997.
OKLAHOMA ST is 26-44 ATS (-22.4 Units) in road games in January games since 1997.
OKLAHOMA ST is 86-115 ATS (-40.5 Units) in road games after a conference game since 1997.


Head-to-Head Series History
OKLAHOMA ST is 3-1 against the spread versus TEXAS over the last 3 seasons
TEXAS is 2-2 straight up against OKLAHOMA ST over the last 3 seasons
3 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons




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PENN ST (9 - 6) at MICHIGAN (10 - 4) - 1/4/2017, 8:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
MICHIGAN is 49-25 ATS (+21.5 Units) in home games in January games since 1997.


Head-to-Head Series History
MICHIGAN is 2-1 against the spread versus PENN ST over the last 3 seasons
MICHIGAN is 3-0 straight up against PENN ST over the last 3 seasons
3 of 3 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons




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CREIGHTON (13 - 1) at ST JOHNS (8 - 7) - 1/4/2017, 8:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
CREIGHTON is 29-18 ATS (+9.2 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
CREIGHTON is 29-18 ATS (+9.2 Units) in all lined games over the last 2 seasons.
CREIGHTON is 23-10 ATS (+12.0 Units) as a favorite over the last 2 seasons.


Head-to-Head Series History
CREIGHTON is 3-1 against the spread versus ST JOHNS over the last 3 seasons
CREIGHTON is 3-1 straight up against ST JOHNS over the last 3 seasons
4 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons




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MISSOURI ST (11 - 4) at ILLINOIS ST (10 - 4) - 1/4/2017, 9:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
MISSOURI ST is 0-6 ATS (-6.6 Units) in a road game where the total is 130 to 134.5 over the last 3 seasons.
MISSOURI ST is 33-58 ATS (-30.8 Units) off a win against a conference rival since 1997.
MISSOURI ST is 1-10 ATS (-10.0 Units) after scoring 80 points or more over the last 3 seasons.


Head-to-Head Series History
ILLINOIS ST is 2-2 against the spread versus MISSOURI ST over the last 3 seasons
ILLINOIS ST is 3-1 straight up against MISSOURI ST over the last 3 seasons
2 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons




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OREGON (13 - 2) at WASHINGTON (7 - 6) - 1/4/2017, 9:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
OREGON is 14-4 ATS (+9.6 Units) off a win against a conference rival over the last 2 seasons.


Head-to-Head Series History
WASHINGTON is 3-1 against the spread versus OREGON over the last 3 seasons
OREGON is 3-1 straight up against WASHINGTON over the last 3 seasons
2 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons




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LSU (8 - 4) at MISSOURI (5 - 7) - 1/4/2017, 9:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
LSU is 15-27 ATS (-14.7 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
LSU is 15-27 ATS (-14.7 Units) in all lined games over the last 2 seasons.
LSU is 2-10 ATS (-9.0 Units) in road games over the last 2 seasons.
LSU is 2-10 ATS (-9.0 Units) in road lined games over the last 2 seasons.
LSU is 58-86 ATS (-36.6 Units) in January games since 1997.
LSU is 1-8 ATS (-7.8 Units) in road games after a conference game over the last 2 seasons.
LSU is 0-6 ATS (-6.6 Units) in road games after scoring 80 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
MISSOURI is 18-33 ATS (-18.3 Units) in home games after allowing 80 points or more since 1997.


Head-to-Head Series History
MISSOURI is 2-0 against the spread versus LSU over the last 3 seasons
MISSOURI is 1-1 straight up against LSU over the last 3 seasons
1 of 2 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons




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TULSA (7 - 6) at HOUSTON (12 - 3) - 1/4/2017, 9:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
TULSA is 4-13 ATS (-10.3 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
HOUSTON is 12-4 ATS (+7.6 Units) in all home games over the last 2 seasons.
HOUSTON is 12-4 ATS (+7.6 Units) in home lined games over the last 2 seasons.
HOUSTON is 25-11 ATS (+12.9 Units) in home games after allowing 60 points or less since 1997.
TULSA is 46-28 ATS (+15.2 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 77+ points/game after 15+ games since 1997.


Head-to-Head Series History
TULSA is 3-2 against the spread versus HOUSTON over the last 3 seasons
TULSA is 4-1 straight up against HOUSTON over the last 3 seasons
4 of 5 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons




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LOUISVILLE (12 - 2) at NOTRE DAME (12 - 2) - 1/4/2017, 9:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
LOUISVILLE is 2-9 ATS (-7.9 Units) in road games over the last 2 seasons.
LOUISVILLE is 2-9 ATS (-7.9 Units) in road lined games over the last 2 seasons.
LOUISVILLE is 1-8 ATS (-7.8 Units) in road games against conference opponents over the last 2 seasons.


Head-to-Head Series History
NOTRE DAME is 2-0 against the spread versus LOUISVILLE over the last 3 seasons
NOTRE DAME is 2-0 straight up against LOUISVILLE over the last 3 seasons
2 of 2 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons




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VIRGINIA TECH (12 - 1) at NC STATE (11 - 3) - 1/4/2017, 9:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
VIRGINIA TECH is 26-12 ATS (+12.8 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
VIRGINIA TECH is 26-12 ATS (+12.8 Units) in all lined games over the last 2 seasons.
VIRGINIA TECH is 17-4 ATS (+12.6 Units) against conference opponents over the last 2 seasons.
VIRGINIA TECH is 13-4 ATS (+8.6 Units) in January games over the last 3 seasons.
VIRGINIA TECH is 16-4 ATS (+11.6 Units) after a conference game over the last 2 seasons.
VIRGINIA TECH is 9-2 ATS (+6.8 Units) off a win against a conference rival over the last 2 seasons.
VIRGINIA TECH is 22-11 ATS (+9.9 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.


Head-to-Head Series History
NC STATE is 1-1 against the spread versus VIRGINIA TECH over the last 3 seasons
NC STATE is 1-1 straight up against VIRGINIA TECH over the last 3 seasons
2 of 2 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons




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VIRGINIA (11 - 2) at PITTSBURGH (11 - 3) - 1/4/2017, 9:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
PITTSBURGH is 26-46 ATS (-24.6 Units) in all games over the last 3 seasons.
PITTSBURGH is 26-46 ATS (-24.6 Units) in all lined games over the last 3 seasons.
PITTSBURGH is 11-25 ATS (-16.5 Units) after a conference game over the last 3 seasons.
PITTSBURGH is 0-6 ATS (-6.6 Units) versus good defensive teams - allowing <=64 points/game over the last 2 seasons.


Head-to-Head Series History
VIRGINIA is 1-0 against the spread versus PITTSBURGH over the last 3 seasons
VIRGINIA is 2-0 straight up against PITTSBURGH over the last 3 seasons
2 of 2 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


TEMPLE (9 - 6) at SMU (12 - 3) - 1/4/2017, 9:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
TEMPLE is 38-63 ATS (-31.3 Units) in road games versus good defensive teams - allowing <=64 points/game since 1997.
SMU is 7-1 ATS (+5.9 Units) as a favorite this season.
SMU is 7-0 ATS (+7.0 Units) in a home game where the total is 130 to 134.5 over the last 3 seasons.
TEMPLE is 196-152 ATS (+28.8 Units) against conference opponents since 1997.
TEMPLE is 20-10 ATS (+9.0 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.


Head-to-Head Series History
SMU is 3-1 against the spread versus TEMPLE over the last 3 seasons
SMU is 3-1 straight up against TEMPLE over the last 3 seasons
2 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons




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IOWA ST (9 - 3) at BAYLOR (13 - 0) - 1/4/2017, 8:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
BAYLOR is 7-1 ATS (+5.9 Units) in all games this season.
BAYLOR is 7-1 ATS (+5.9 Units) in all lined games this season.
BAYLOR is 6-0 ATS (+6.0 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
IOWA ST is 231-178 ATS (+35.2 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record since 1997.


Head-to-Head Series History
BAYLOR is 3-1 against the spread versus IOWA ST over the last 3 seasons
BAYLOR is 4-0 straight up against IOWA ST over the last 3 seasons
4 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons




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UC-RIVERSIDE (3 - 9) at CS-NORTHRIDGE (4 - 9) - 1/4/2017, 10:00 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.


Head-to-Head Series History
CS-NORTHRIDGE is 2-2 against the spread versus UC-RIVERSIDE over the last 3 seasons
CS-NORTHRIDGE is 2-2 straight up against UC-RIVERSIDE over the last 3 seasons
2 of 3 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons




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LONG BEACH ST (5 - 11) at UC-IRVINE (7 - 9) - 1/4/2017, 10:00 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.


Head-to-Head Series History
UC-IRVINE is 3-2 against the spread versus LONG BEACH ST over the last 3 seasons
UC-IRVINE is 3-2 straight up against LONG BEACH ST over the last 3 seasons
3 of 5 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons




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UC-SANTA BARBARA (2 - 10) at CAL DAVIS (8 - 7) - 1/4/2017, 10:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
UC-SANTA BARBARA is 1-7 ATS (-6.7 Units) in all games this season.
UC-SANTA BARBARA is 1-7 ATS (-6.7 Units) in all lined games this season.
UC-SANTA BARBARA is 1-7 ATS (-6.7 Units) after a non-conference game this season.


Head-to-Head Series History
UC-SANTA BARBARA is 3-2 against the spread versus CAL DAVIS over the last 3 seasons
UC-SANTA BARBARA is 4-1 straight up against CAL DAVIS over the last 3 seasons
3 of 5 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


COLORADO ST (9 - 6) at SAN JOSE ST (7 - 5) - 1/4/2017, 10:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
COLORADO ST is 21-42 ATS (-25.2 Units) in road games in January games since 1997.
COLORADO ST is 155-193 ATS (-57.3 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record since 1997.
SAN JOSE ST is 9-2 ATS (+6.8 Units) when the total is 130 to 139.5 over the last 2 seasons.
COLORADO ST is 14-5 ATS (+8.5 Units) when the total is 130 to 139.5 over the last 3 seasons.
COLORADO ST is 6-0 ATS (+6.0 Units) in a road game where the total is 135 to 139.5 over the last 3 seasons.
SAN JOSE ST is 94-127 ATS (-45.7 Units) in all home games since 1997.
SAN JOSE ST is 94-127 ATS (-45.7 Units) in home lined games since 1997.
SAN JOSE ST is 14-32 ATS (-21.2 Units) in home games after allowing 80 points or more since 1997.
SAN JOSE ST is 26-44 ATS (-22.4 Units) after failing to cover the spread in 3 or more consecutive games since 1997.


Head-to-Head Series History
SAN JOSE ST is 3-2 against the spread versus COLORADO ST over the last 3 seasons
COLORADO ST is 5-0 straight up against SAN JOSE ST over the last 3 seasons
4 of 5 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


WYOMING (11 - 4) at FRESNO ST (9 - 5) - 1/4/2017, 10:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
FRESNO ST is 8-1 ATS (+6.9 Units) in all games this season.
FRESNO ST is 8-1 ATS (+6.9 Units) in all lined games this season.
FRESNO ST is 16-7 ATS (+8.3 Units) against conference opponents over the last 2 seasons.
FRESNO ST is 51-32 ATS (+15.8 Units) on Wednesday games since 1997.
FRESNO ST is 18-9 ATS (+8.1 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
FRESNO ST is 70-97 ATS (-36.7 Units) off a win against a conference rival since 1997.


Head-to-Head Series History
FRESNO ST is 3-1 against the spread versus WYOMING over the last 3 seasons
FRESNO ST is 3-1 straight up against WYOMING over the last 3 seasons
3 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


NEW MEXICO (9 - 5) at UTAH ST (7 - 7) - 1/4/2017, 11:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
NEW MEXICO is 176-140 ATS (+22.0 Units) against conference opponents since 1997.
NEW MEXICO is 58-37 ATS (+17.3 Units) on Wednesday games since 1997.
UTAH ST is 7-16 ATS (-10.6 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.


Head-to-Head Series History
UTAH ST is 2-2 against the spread versus NEW MEXICO over the last 3 seasons
UTAH ST is 2-2 straight up against NEW MEXICO over the last 3 seasons
3 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


SAN DIEGO ST (8 - 5) at NEVADA (12 - 3) - 1/4/2017, 11:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
NEVADA is 59-39 ATS (+16.1 Units) off a loss against a conference rival since 1997.
NEVADA is 21-11 ATS (+8.9 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.


Head-to-Head Series History
NEVADA is 2-2 against the spread versus SAN DIEGO ST over the last 3 seasons
SAN DIEGO ST is 4-0 straight up against NEVADA over the last 3 seasons
3 of 4 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


BOISE ST (9 - 4) at UNLV (8 - 7) - 1/4/2017, 11:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
UNLV is 9-2 ATS (+6.8 Units) in all home games this season.
UNLV is 9-2 ATS (+6.8 Units) in home lined games this season.
UNLV is 7-1 ATS (+5.9 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
BOISE ST is 26-14 ATS (+10.6 Units) after a conference game over the last 3 seasons.
BOISE ST is 19-8 ATS (+10.2 Units) off a win against a conference rival over the last 3 seasons.


Head-to-Head Series History
BOISE ST is 3-1 against the spread versus UNLV over the last 3 seasons
BOISE ST is 3-1 straight up against UNLV over the last 3 seasons
2 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


OREGON ST (4 - 11) at WASHINGTON ST (8 - 5) - 1/4/2017, 11:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
OREGON ST is 8-18 ATS (-11.8 Units) in road games over the last 3 seasons.
OREGON ST is 8-18 ATS (-11.8 Units) in road lined games over the last 3 seasons.
WASHINGTON ST is 1-8 ATS (-7.8 Units) in home games against conference opponents over the last 2 seasons.
WASHINGTON ST is 64-91 ATS (-36.1 Units) in January games since 1997.


Head-to-Head Series History
OREGON ST is 2-1 against the spread versus WASHINGTON ST over the last 3 seasons
OREGON ST is 3-0 straight up against WASHINGTON ST over the last 3 seasons
3 of 3 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


QUINNIPIAC (5 - 8) at CANISIUS (9 - 5) - 1/4/2017, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
QUINNIPIAC is 10-22 ATS (-14.2 Units) after scoring 80 points or more since 1997.
CANISIUS is 7-16 ATS (-10.6 Units) after a conference game over the last 2 seasons.


Head-to-Head Series History
CANISIUS is 3-1 against the spread versus QUINNIPIAC over the last 3 seasons
CANISIUS is 3-1 straight up against QUINNIPIAC over the last 3 seasons
2 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


SIENA (4 - 10) at NIAGARA (4 - 10) - 1/4/2017, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
SIENA is 65-93 ATS (-37.3 Units) when playing with one or less days rest since 1997.
NIAGARA is 8-19 ATS (-12.9 Units) in all home games over the last 3 seasons.
NIAGARA is 8-19 ATS (-12.9 Units) in home lined games over the last 3 seasons.
NIAGARA is 6-15 ATS (-10.5 Units) in home games against conference opponents over the last 3 seasons.
NIAGARA is 3-15 ATS (-13.5 Units) in home games after a conference game over the last 3 seasons.
NIAGARA is 2-10 ATS (-9.0 Units) in home games off a loss against a conference rival over the last 3 seasons.


Head-to-Head Series History
SIENA is 4-1 against the spread versus NIAGARA over the last 3 seasons
SIENA is 5-0 straight up against NIAGARA over the last 3 seasons
3 of 5 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


IUPU-FT WAYNE (11 - 4) at NEBRASKA-OMAHA (7 - 8) - 1/4/2017, 8:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
IUPU-FT WAYNE is 26-13 ATS (+11.7 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
IUPU-FT WAYNE is 26-13 ATS (+11.7 Units) in all lined games over the last 2 seasons.
IUPU-FT WAYNE is 59-37 ATS (+18.3 Units) in road games since 1997.
IUPU-FT WAYNE is 59-37 ATS (+18.3 Units) in road lined games since 1997.
IUPU-FT WAYNE is 41-24 ATS (+14.6 Units) in road games against conference opponents since 1997.
IUPU-FT WAYNE is 23-12 ATS (+9.8 Units) after a conference game over the last 3 seasons.
IUPU-FT WAYNE is 14-3 ATS (+10.7 Units) after allowing 80 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
IUPU-FT WAYNE is 25-12 ATS (+11.8 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a losing record since 1997.
IUPU-FT WAYNE is 19-6 ATS (+12.4 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a losing record after 15 or more games since 1997.
IUPU-FT WAYNE is 6-0 ATS (+6.0 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 77+ points/game after 15+ games over the last 2 seasons.
IUPU-FT WAYNE is 8-1 ATS (+6.9 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 77+ points/game over the last 2 seasons.
IUPU-FT WAYNE is 6-0 ATS (+6.0 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 77+ points/game after 15+ games over the last 3 seasons.
IUPU-FT WAYNE is 11-3 ATS (+7.7 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 77+ points/game over the last 2 seasons.
NEBRASKA-OMAHA is 3-13 ATS (-11.3 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a winning record since 1997.


Head-to-Head Series History
IUPU-FT WAYNE is 3-1 against the spread versus NEBRASKA-OMAHA over the last 3 seasons
IUPU-FT WAYNE is 3-1 straight up against NEBRASKA-OMAHA over the last 3 seasons
2 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


S DAKOTA ST (8 - 9) at W ILLINOIS (4 - 9) - 1/4/2017, 8:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
S DAKOTA ST is 3-11 ATS (-9.1 Units) in all games this season.
S DAKOTA ST is 3-11 ATS (-9.1 Units) in all lined games this season.
S DAKOTA ST is 75-52 ATS (+17.8 Units) against conference opponents since 1997.
W ILLINOIS is 8-18 ATS (-11.8 Units) off a loss against a conference rival over the last 3 seasons.


Head-to-Head Series History
S DAKOTA ST is 3-2 against the spread versus W ILLINOIS over the last 3 seasons
S DAKOTA ST is 5-0 straight up against W ILLINOIS over the last 3 seasons
3 of 5 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


S DAKOTA (10 - 7) at DENVER (9 - 5) - 1/4/2017, 9:00 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.


Head-to-Head Series History
DENVER is 3-1 against the spread versus S DAKOTA over the last 3 seasons
DENVER is 3-1 straight up against S DAKOTA over the last 3 seasons
2 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

 

[CNOTES]

NCAAB
Armadillo's Write-Up

Wednesday, January 4

Villanova won its last six games with Butler, covering four of last five; they won last three visits here by 3-3-5 points. Wildcats are 14-0 vs schedule #59; they’re 2-0 in true road games, with wins at Purdue/Creighton. Villanova is shooting 60.1% inside arc, has #3 eFG%, holds foes to 27.8% on arc. Butler makes 39.4% on arc, has #8 eFG%; they’re only two losses were on road to Indiana State/St John’s. Bulldogs are 12-2 vs schedule #40; they’re 8-1 vs top 100 teams, with four top 50 wins.

Syracuse is 4-6 in its last ten games; in last two losses, to St John’s/BC, Orange allowed 94.5 pts/game and 1.26/1.32 ppp. Syracuse was actually playing man/man at end of Boston College game; they’re 0-3 vs top 60 teams, losing by 14-7-17 points. Miami won its last two games with Syracuse by 13-4 points; they split last two series games played in Carrier Dome. Hurricanes won last seven games, beating NC State by 18 in ACC opener; Miami has #9 eFG% defense, but their only true road game was 94-56 at North Florida on Nov 16.

Providence won its last four games with Georgetown, all by 4 or less points; Hoyas lost 60-57/75-72 in last two visits to Dunkin Donuts Center. Friars lost last three games, all on road, by 12-26-17 points after a 10-2 start; they’re 3-4 vs top 100 teams, with best win by 3 over #34 URI. Georgetown allowed 78.5 pts/game in losing its first two Big East games by 5-10 points. Hoyas won their only true road game by 7 at Syracuse; they’re shooting 39.8% on arc but turning ball over 20.7% of time.

Georgia is 9-4 vs schedule #31; they won SEC opener by 12 at Auburn. Dawgs are 0-4 vs top 90 teams- their best wins are over Auburn/UL-Lafayette. Georgia is 12-3 in its last 15 games with South Carolina, winning last four, last two by total of three points. Gamecocks lost six of last seven visits to Athens. South Carolina is 2-3 in its last five games after an 8-0 start; they they won at South Florida, lost by 16 at Memphis in only two true road games. Gamecocks are forcing turnovers 23.7% of time, #8 in country.

Vanderbilt won its last 12 games with Auburn, last three by 12+ points. Tigers lost last eight games in Nashville, last four all by 12+ points. Commodores are 7-6 vs schedule #35; they won by 7 at LSU in SEC opener, but are just 1-5 vs top 100 teams, with win by hoop at LSU. Vandy is shooting 40.2% on arc (#15). Auburn won its two true road games by total of 7 points, at UAB/UConn, but they lost SEC opener at home to Georgia. Tigers are #323 experience team that forces turnovers 21.8% of time- they’re playing at pace #8.

Oklahoma State is 10-3 vs schedule #81; they’re 2-1 in true road games, winning at Tulsa/Wichita State, losing by point at Maryland. OSU forces turnovers 25.4% of time (#3).- they lost Big X opener by 17 to West Virginia. Texas is 3-2 in last five games with Oklahoma State, beating OSU by 5-12 points LY. Teams split last four series games in Austin. Seven of last nine series games were decided by 10+ points. Longhorns lost seven of last ten games, scoring 60 pts/game in last two games, losses to Kent State/Kansas State.

St John’s won its last three games, upsetting Butler, winning by 33 at Syracuse after starting season 5-7; Red Storm is #348 experience team that makes 40.2% of its 3’s- they play pace #49. Home side won five of six Creighton-St John’s games; Bluejays won here LY, beat Red Storm 100-59 in last meeting in Omaha- they’ve lost two of three visits here. Creighton lost its first game Saturday after a 13-0 start; they’ve got road wins by 15 at Nebraska, 11 at Arizona State. Bluejays are shooting 43% on arc, best in country.

Washington is #346 experience team that is 7-6 vs schedule #269; they’re 0-4 vs top 100 teams with three losses by 13+ points- their best win was over #187 Long Beach State. Huskies are shooting 42.4% in arc, #2 in country. Home side won last five Oregon-Washington games, with Oregon winning last three, by 4-13-6 points- they beat Huskies 83-77 in Pac-12 tourney LY. Ducks lost by 4-8 points in last two visits to Seattle. Oregon won its last 11 games; they lost by 18 at Baylor in their only true road game, way back on November 15.

Louisville lost its last five visits to Notre Dame, losing a 5-OT game here in 2013; Cardinals are 5-6 overall in last 11 games with Irish, losing last two, by 12-5 points. Louisville is 12-2 vs #22 schedule; this is their 4th strait game vs a top 30 team. Cardinals won by 7 at Grand Canyon in only true road game- their win over Indiana Saturday was in Indy, not Bloomington. Notre Dame is 4-2 vs top 100 teams; they won ACC opener by point in OT at Pittsburgh. Irish are #2 in USA at protecting ball, #1 in country on foul line (84.1%).

Virginia Tech hammered Allen-less Duke Saturday, now goes on road with a 12-1 record against schedule #326. Hokies won by 3 at Michigan in their only true road game- their only loss was by 3 to Texas A&M on a neutral floor. NC State won five of last six games with Virginia Tech, losing in OT at Blacksburg LY; Hokies lost last two visits to Raleigh by 4-16 points. Wolfpack lost ACC opener by 18 at Miami; they’re 4-2 since big man Yurtseven became eligible. State is 0-3 vs top 100 teams; their best win was over #119 St Joe’s.

Virginia won its last four games with Pittsburgh, winning 48-45/64-50 in last two visits to Steel City. Cavaliers are 11-2 vs schedule #5 with wins at Cal/Louisville, but they go to foul line only five times in home loss to Florida State Saturday, snapping 4-game win streak. Virginia is 5-2 vs top 100 teams; their other loss was to West Virginia. Panthers are 2nd-worst team in country at forcing turnovers; they lost ACC opener in OT to Notre Dame after beating Marshall 112-106 in game before that. Pitt is #23 experience team with a thin bench (#323 in subs’ minutes).

Baylor won its last four games with Iowa State, with three of four by 5 or less points or in OT; Cyclones lost last three visits to Waco by 13-1-9 points. Baylor is 13-0 vs schedule #65 with six top 100 wins, three top 50 wins- they play at slowish pace and block 17% of opponents’ shots. Iowa State went on 20-0 run in second half to come from behind and beat Iowa State by 7 in its Big X opener. Cyclones are #4 experience team that lost by 14 at Iowa in their only true road game this season- they’re 2-3 vs top 100 teams, with wins over Texas Tech/Miami.

Fort Wayne won seven of its last nine games with Omaha, winning last two by 5-4 points; Mastodons are 3-2 in last five visits here, with all three wins in overtime. Fort Wayne won four of last five games; in the loss, Western Illinois made 18-37 on arc in 93-91 game- that is FW’s only loss in eight games vs teams ranked outside top 100- they’re 3-3 in true road games, but wins are all at teams outside top 300. Omaha lost its first two Summit games by 17-12 points, allowing 84 pts/game in two road tilts- they do have a win at Iowa on their resume.

 

[CNOTES]

NCAAB

Wednesday, January 4

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Trend Report
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

6:30 PM
RUTGERS vs. MICHIGAN STATE
Rutgers is 2-23 SU in its last 25 games on the road
Michigan State is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Michigan State's last 5 games at home

See more trends!
JANUARY 4, 6:30 PM
VILLANOVA vs. BUTLER
The total has gone OVER in 9 of Villanova's last 12 games on the road
Villanova is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Butler is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing Villanova
Butler is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Villanova

See more trends!
JANUARY 4, 7:00 PM
NORTHERN IOWA vs. LOYOLA OF CHICAGO
Northern Iowa is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Northern Iowa is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Loyola of Chicago's last 5 games when playing Northern Iowa
Loyola of Chicago is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing Northern Iowa

See more trends!
JANUARY 4, 7:00 PM
BROWN vs. NJIT
Brown is 1-12 SU in its last 13 games on the road
No trends available

See more trends!
JANUARY 4, 7:00 PM
AUBURN vs. VANDERBILT
Auburn is 4-13 SU in its last 17 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Auburn's last 5 games on the road
Vanderbilt is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Auburn
Vanderbilt is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Auburn

See more trends!
JANUARY 4, 7:00 PM
GEORGIA TECH vs. DUKE
Georgia Tech is 7-17 SU in its last 24 games on the road
Georgia Tech is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
Duke is 10-1 SU in its last 11 games
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Duke's last 12 games

See more trends!
JANUARY 4, 7:00 PM
FORDHAM vs. RICHMOND
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Fordham's last 7 games on the road
Fordham is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Richmond's last 11 games when playing Fordham
Richmond is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Fordham

See more trends!
JANUARY 4, 7:00 PM
VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH vs. DUQUESNE
Virginia Commonwealth is 2-3-1 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
Virginia Commonwealth is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Duquesne is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home
Duquesne is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games

See more trends!
JANUARY 4, 7:00 PM
SOUTH CAROLINA vs. GEORGIA
South Carolina is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games on the road
South Carolina is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
Georgia is 9-2 SU in its last 11 games when playing South Carolina
Georgia is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games when playing at home against South Carolina

See more trends!
JANUARY 4, 7:00 PM
QUINNIPIAC vs. CANISIUS
Quinnipiac is 2-9 SU in its last 11 games on the road
Canisius is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
Canisius is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games at home

See more trends!
JANUARY 4, 7:00 PM
MASSACHUSETTS vs. GEORGE MASON
Massachusetts is 6-16 SU in its last 22 games on the road
George Mason is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games at home
George Mason is 9-1 SU in its last 10 games

See more trends!
JANUARY 4, 7:00 PM
GEORGETOWN vs. PROVIDENCE
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Georgetown's last 6 games when playing on the road against Providence
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Georgetown's last 8 games on the road
Providence is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
Providence is 9-4 SU in its last 13 games

See more trends!
JANUARY 4, 7:00 PM
SIENA vs. NIAGARA
Siena is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Siena's last 7 games when playing on the road against Niagara
Niagara is 3-7 SU in its last 10 games at home
Niagara is 5-19 SU in its last 24 games

See more trends!
JANUARY 4, 7:00 PM
SAINT LOUIS vs. LA SALLE
Saint Louis is 8-17 ATS in its last 25 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Saint Louis's last 5 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of La Salle's last 5 games
La Salle is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games at home

See more trends!
JANUARY 4, 7:00 PM
MIAMI vs. SYRACUSE
Miami is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Miami is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Syracuse is 16-4 SU in its last 20 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Syracuse's last 5 games

See more trends!
JANUARY 4, 8:00 PM
BRADLEY vs. EVANSVILLE
Bradley is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 9 of Bradley's last 13 games on the road
Evansville is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
Evansville is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games

See more trends!
JANUARY 4, 8:00 PM
INDIANA STATE vs. SOUTHERN ILLINOIS
Indiana State is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Southern Illinois
Indiana State is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Southern Illinois
Southern Illinois is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Southern Illinois's last 5 games

See more trends!
JANUARY 4, 8:00 PM
IOWA STATE vs. BAYLOR
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Iowa State's last 6 games on the road
Iowa State is 2-8 SU in its last 10 games on the road
Baylor is 9-1 SU in its last 10 games when playing at home against Iowa State
The total has gone OVER in 9 of Baylor's last 11 games when playing Iowa State

See more trends!
JANUARY 4, 8:00 PM
DRAKE vs. WICHITA STATE
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Drake's last 7 games on the road
Drake is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Wichita State is 7-0-1 ATS in its last 8 games when playing at home against Drake
Wichita State is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Drake

See more trends!
JANUARY 4, 8:00 PM
OKLAHOMA STATE vs. TEXAS
Oklahoma State is 2-12 SU in its last 14 games when playing on the road against Texas
The total has gone UNDER in 10 of Oklahoma State's last 15 games when playing on the road against Texas
Texas is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Texas's last 9 games at home

See more trends!
JANUARY 4, 8:30 PM
PENN STATE vs. MICHIGAN
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Penn State's last 6 games when playing on the road against Michigan
Penn State is 2-11 ATS in its last 13 games when playing on the road against Michigan
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Michigan's last 5 games
Michigan is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home

See more trends!
JANUARY 4, 8:30 PM
CREIGHTON vs. ST. JOHN'S
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Creighton's last 5 games on the road
Creighton is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 5 of St. John's last 6 games
St. John's is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games

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JANUARY 4, 9:00 PM
LOUISVILLE vs. NOTRE DAME
Louisville is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Notre Dame
Louisville is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Notre Dame
Notre Dame is 12-2 SU in its last 14 games
Notre Dame is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home

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JANUARY 4, 9:00 PM
VIRGINIA vs. PITTSBURGH
Virginia is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Virginia's last 5 games on the road
Pittsburgh is 4-13-2 ATS in its last 19 games
Pittsburgh is 2-8-2 ATS in its last 12 games at home

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JANUARY 4, 9:00 PM
TEMPLE vs. SOUTHERN METHODIST
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Temple's last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Southern Methodist's last 6 games when playing Temple
Southern Methodist is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing Temple

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JANUARY 4, 9:00 PM
TULSA vs. HOUSTON
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Tulsa's last 7 games when playing on the road against Houston
Tulsa is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games when playing on the road against Houston
Houston is 1-7 SU in its last 8 games when playing Tulsa
Houston is 6-3 SU in its last 9 games when playing at home against Tulsa

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JANUARY 4, 9:00 PM
LSU vs. MISSOURI
LSU is 1-7 ATS in its last 8 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of LSU's last 12 games on the road
Missouri is 2-6 SU in its last 8 games at home
Missouri is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games

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JANUARY 4, 9:00 PM
MISSOURI STATE vs. ILLINOIS STATE
Missouri State is 2-7-1 ATS in its last 10 games on the road
Missouri State is 2-8 SU in its last 10 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Illinois State's last 5 games
Illinois State is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games

See more trends!
JANUARY 4, 9:00 PM
OREGON vs. WASHINGTON
Oregon is 5-12 ATS in its last 17 games when playing on the road against Washington
Oregon is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Washington
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Washington's last 12 games at home
Washington is 10-3 SU in its last 13 games at home

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JANUARY 4, 9:00 PM
VIRGINIA TECH vs. NORTH CAROLINA STATE
Virginia Tech is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games on the road
Virginia Tech is 8-17 SU in its last 25 games on the road
North Carolina State is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
North Carolina State is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games

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JANUARY 4, 10:00 PM
COLORADO STATE vs. SAN JOSE STATE
Colorado State is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against San Jose State
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Colorado State's last 5 games on the road
San Jose State is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games
San Jose State is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home

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JANUARY 4, 10:00 PM
SANTA BARBARA vs. UC DAVIS
Santa Barbara is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Santa Barbara is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games on the road
UC Davis is 4-11-1 ATS in its last 16 games when playing Santa Barbara
UC Davis is 1-6 ATS in its last 7 games when playing at home against Santa Barbara

See more trends!
JANUARY 4, 10:00 PM
UC RIVERSIDE vs. CS NORTHRIDGE
UC Riverside is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against CS Northridge
UC Riverside is 4-8 SU in its last 12 games when playing on the road against CS Northridge
CS Northridge is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
CS Northridge is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against UC Riverside

See more trends!
JANUARY 4, 10:00 PM
WYOMING vs. FRESNO STATE
Wyoming is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Fresno State
Wyoming is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Fresno State
Fresno State is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing Wyoming
Fresno State is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing at home against Wyoming

See more trends!
JANUARY 4, 10:00 PM
LONG BEACH STATE vs. UC IRVINE
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Long Beach State's last 5 games when playing on the road against UC Irvine
Long Beach State is 6-14 SU in its last 20 games when playing on the road against UC Irvine
UC Irvine is 19-6 SU in its last 25 games at home
UC Irvine is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games

See more trends!
JANUARY 4, 11:00 PM
OREGON STATE vs. WASHINGTON STATE
Oregon State is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Oregon State's last 9 games on the road
Washington State is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games when playing at home against Oregon State
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Washington State's last 8 games when playing at home against Oregon State

See more trends!
JANUARY 4, 11:00 PM
SAN DIEGO STATE vs. NEVADA
San Diego State is 10-4 SU in its last 14 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Nevada's last 5 games when playing San Diego State
Nevada is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing San Diego State

See more trends!
JANUARY 4, 11:00 PM
BOISE STATE vs. UNLV
Boise State is 2-3-1 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
Boise State is 3-8 SU in its last 11 games on the road
UNLV is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Boise State
The total has gone OVER in 4 of UNLV's last 6 games when playing Boise State

See more trends!
JANUARY 4, 11:00 PM
NEW MEXICO vs. UTAH STATE
New Mexico is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games on the road
New Mexico is 3-8 ATS in its last 11 games on the road
Utah State is 3-7 SU in its last 10 games
Utah State is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games at home

 

[CNOTES]

CBB SEASON RECORD OPINIONS AND BEST BETS:


WLT Pct Units


ATS Picks 236-255-8 48.07% -22250


O/U Picks 251-244-5 50.71% -8700


DAILY RECORD OPINIONS AND BEST BETS


01/01/2017 20-20-1 50.00% -1000
01/02/2017 16-21-0 43.24% -3550
01/03/2017 6-9-0 40.00% -1950


DAILY BEST BETS RECORD:


ATS: 13 - 19 - 1


O/U : 8 - 5 - 0

 

[CNOTES]

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4


ALL THESE GAMES ARE MY BEST BETS FOR THE DAY


GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS


VILL at BUT 06:30 PM


VILL -2.0


GTWN at PROV 07:00 PM


GTWN +2.5


O 142.0


MIA at SYR 07:00 PM


MIA -2.5


U 138.0


AUB at VAN 07:00 PM


AUB +6.0


O 150.5


SCAR at UGA 07:00 PM


UGA -2.5


OKST at TEX 08:00 PM


OKST -1.0


O 154.0


ISU at BAY 08:00 PM


BAY -9.0


O 137.5


IPFW at NEOM 08:00 PM


IPFW -3.0


O 174.0


CRE at SJU 08:30 PM


CRE -7.5


O 160.0


LOU at ND 09:00 PM

ND +0.0


UVA at PITT 09:00 PM


PITT +6.0


U 127.0


ORE at WASH 09:00 PM


ORE -10.0


O 158.5


VT at NCST 09:00 PM


VT -1.5


O 159.5


WYO at FRES 10:00 PM


FRES -5.0



THESE GAMES I LIKE AS OPINIONS.


SELECTION LINE AMOUNT


MSU -12.5
X
SLU at LAS U 140.5
X
QUIN +8.5
X
QUIN at CAN O 163.0
X
SIE -5.0
X
FOR +8.0
X
GMU -3.5
X
MASS at GMU O 146.5
X
VCU -9.5
X
VCU at DUQ U 141.0
X
GT +20.0
X
L-IL -3.0
X
INST +1.5
X
EVAN -11.5
X
WICH -25.5
X
SDST +1.0
X
LSU +1.0
X
MOSU +9.0
X
SMU -11.5
X
HOU -13.0
X
SDAK +4.0
X
CSN -8.5
X
UCD -8.5
X
CSU at SJSU U 140.5
X
WSU -4.5
X
BSU -4.5
X
BSU at UNLV O 145.5
X
UNM -1.0
X
NEV -2.5

 

[indiana]

C/note.........BOL with all your action tonight..........indy

 

[CNOTES]

Top 25 Capsules
January 5, 2017


INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Kethan Savage scored five of his 13 points during a decisive seven-point run late to give No. 18 Butler a 66-58 victory over No. 1 Villanova on Wednesday night, ending the Wildcats' 20-game winning streak.


Butler (13-2, 2-1 Big East) improved to 4-0 against ranked opponents this season and extended its home-court winning streak to 12 games, beating a top-ranked team for the second time in school history.


The Bulldogs did it by upending the defending national champions and stopping the longest winning streak in Villanova history.


Jalen Brunson had 23 points and Josh Hart scored 13 on a rugged shooting night for the Wildcats (14-1, 2-1), beaten for the first time since a 69-67 loss to Seton Hall in the Big East championship game last March.


From there, the Wildcats won all six games in the 2016 NCAA Tournament before opening 14-0 this season to build the longest active winning streak in the country.


Villanova's loss left No. 2 Baylor and No. 5 Gonzaga as the only undefeated teams in Division I.


Butler's other victory over a top-ranked team came in 2012 against Indiana.


No. 2 BAYLOR 65, IOWA STATE 63


WACO, Texas (AP) - Manu Lecomte made a short, high-arcing jumper over a taller defender with 8 seconds left and Baylor edged Iowa State in its Big 12 home opener.


After a timeout, the Bears (14-0, 2-0) came out and the Miami transfer made a move around the left side and then shot over Matt Thomas, who at 6-foot-5 is 6 inches taller than the guard.


Iowa State (9-4, 1-1) had one more chance after a timeout, but Monte Morris' baseline jumper was no good as time expired.


Baylor was playing with its highest ranking ever, and fans chanted ''No. 1 !, No. 1!'' when the game ended. Baylor has never been ranked No. 1.


Jo Lual-Acuil had 15 points for the Bears while Johnathan Motley had 13 points and 12 rebounds.


Nazareth Mitrou-Long led Iowa State with 17 points and Morris had 12.


No. 8 DUKE 110, GEORGIA TECH 57


DURHAM, N.C. (AP) - Grayson Allen had 15 points and seven assists in his return from a one-game suspension for tripping an opponent, and Duke routed Georgia Tech in coach Mike Krzyzewski's final game before leaving the team to have back surgery.


Jayson Tatum scored 19 points to lead the Blue Devils (13-2, 1-1 Atlantic Coast Conference), who had seven double-figure scorers in arguably their most complete performance of the season.


Still, it was largely overshadowed by a pair of subplots: Allen's quick return from what was an indefinite suspension for tripping an Elon player Dec. 21, and Krzyzewski's upcoming leave of absence that's expected to last a few weeks.


Luke Kennard finished with 16 points, Frank Jackson added 15 and Harry Giles had 10 points and 12 rebounds for Duke.


Justin Moore was one of three players with 11 points for the Yellow Jackets (9-5, 1-1).


Krzyzewski will have surgery Friday to remove a fragment of a herniated disk from his lower back. The Blue Devils expect him back in roughly four weeks and they will put associate head coach Jeff Capel in charge until he returns.


No. 23 NOTRE DAME 77, No. 9 LOUISVILLE 70


SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) - Steve Vasturia scored a career-high 24 points to lead Notre Dame over Louisville.


Matt Farrell tied his career high with 22 points for the Irish (13-2, 2-0 ACC), who have won four straight overall and six in a row at home against Louisville. The Cardinals (12-3, 0-2) have not won in Purcell Pavilion since 1994.


Bonzie Colson had his ninth double-double of the season for Notre Dame, finishing with 18 points and 14 rebounds.


Donovan Mitchell scored 20 points to lead Louisville. He added five steals to go with five assists and four rebounds.

No. 10 CREIGHTON 85, ST. JOHN'S 72


NEW YORK (AP) - Freshman 7-footer Justin Patton scored a season-high 25 points and grabbed nine rebounds as Creighton bounced back from its first loss of the season with a victory over St. John's, snapping the Red Storm's three-game winning streak.


The Bluejays (14-1, 2-1 Big East) lost to No. 1 Villanova on New Year's Eve, ending their 13-game winning streak - the school's longest since 1942-43.


Patton led Creighton's huge advantage over St. John's in points in the paint, 52-24.


Marcus LoVett had 23 points to lead the Red Storm (8-8, 2-1).


Maurice Watson Jr. scored 19 points for Creighton, and Marcus Foster added 15.


PITTSBURGH 88, No. 11 VIRGINIA 76, OT


PITTSBURGH (AP) - Jamel Artis scored 24 points, Michael Young added 19 and Sheldon Jeter hit a pair of 3-pointers in overtime to lift Pittsburgh over Virginia.


Jeter and Cam Johnson finished with 16 points each as the Panthers (12-3, 1-1 ACC) pulled away in the extra session after Virginia's London Perrantes hit a deep 3-pointer with 2.4 seconds left in regulation to tie it.


The Panthers made 13 of 21 3-pointers and shot 29 of 53 (54 percent) from the floor. Virginia began the night second in the country in field goal defense, allowing opponents to shoot just 35 percent.


Perrantes led the Cavaliers (11-3, 1-2) with 16 points, but Virginia was no match for Pitt in overtime. The Cavaliers have lost two straight for the first time since early last January.

No. 15 OREGON 83, WASHINGTON 61


SEATTLE (AP) - Tyler Dorsey made eight 3-pointers and finished with 28 points, and Oregon overcame foul trouble to pull away from Washington in the second half.


Playing in an opponent's gym for only the second time this season, the Ducks shook off foul problems for its two leading scorers - Dillon Brooks and Chris Boucher - to easily take care of the Huskies. Oregon (14-2, 3-0 Pac-12) was 14 of 26 on 3-pointers, led by Dorsey going 8 of 12.


The sophomore set a career high with the eight 3s, the most for an Oregon player since Tajuan Porter set the school record with 10 in 2006 against Portland State. Dorsey finished one point off his career high of 29 set earlier this season against Savannah State.


Markelle Fultz led Washington (7-7, 0-2) with 22 points.

N.C. STATE 104, No. 21 VIRGINIA TECH 78


RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - Freshman guard Dennis Smith Jr. had 27 points, 11 assists and 11 rebounds for the second triple-double in program history, and North Carolina State rode a dominant first-half performance to a victory over Virginia Tech.


The Wolfpack (12-3, 1-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) quickly put on a pedal-to-the-floor show of hot shooting and sharp execution through those first 20 minutes. N.C. State shot nearly 70 percent (23 of 33) and led 55-30 by halftime on the way to the school's first 100-point outing since 2004.


Ahmed Hill scored 17 points for Virginia Tech (12-2, 1-1), which was coming off a home win against then-No. 5 Duke that pushed the Hokies into the AP Top 25 for the first time since November 2010. But just about everything went wrong Wednesday, down to 6-foot-10 freshman starter Khadim Sy sitting out after rolling an ankle during the afternoon shootaround.

 

[CNOTES]

Kansas C Azubuike out for season
January 4, 2017


LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) Kansas center Udoka Azubuike had surgery Wednesday to repair torn ligaments in his left wrist, and coach Bill Self said the big freshman should be able to resume playing by mid-summer.


Azubuike hurt the wrist during practice late last month. He had just begun to assume a bigger role with the third-ranked Jayhawks, giving them a big presence that they'd been lacking in the paint. He played 11 games, starting his last six, and averaged 5 points and 4.4 rebounds.


The Jayhawks' interior defense has suffered in the two weeks since he's been out.


The procedure on the 7-footer was performed by Dr. Thomas Graham of Northwell Health at the Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center in Akron, Ohio. Self said doctors called it ''a complete success.''


Kansas (13-1, 2-0 Big 12) plays Texas Tech on Saturday.

 

[CNOTES]

Pac-12 heats up with Utah-Arizona
January 4, 2017


A look at things to watch this week in the Pac-12 Conference:


GAME OF THE WEEK: Utah (10-3, 1-0 Pac-12) at No. 17 Arizona (13-2, 2-0),


Thursday.


The Wildcats have been short-handed all season, yet keep finding ways to win. Arizona has played all season without Allonzo Trier (unspecified) and Ray Smith (knee), and point guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright missed six games. Jackson-Cartwright returned last week for wins over California and Stanford, giving Arizona another scoring option. The Utes have bounced back from a loss to San Francisco at the Diamondhead Classic, playing one of their best games of the season the last time out, a 16-point victory over Colorado.


LOOKING AHEAD: UCLA (14-1, 1-1) lost its first game of the season last week, a thrilling 89-87 road loss to No. 15 Oregon. The Bruins bounced back by knocking off Oregon State, but it dropped them two spots to No. 4 in the AP Top 25 . UCLA plays at home this week, against California on Thursday and Stanford on Sunday. Southern California gets the opposite Northern California teams this week after losing its first game of the season, 84-61 to Oregon .


INSIDE THE NUMBERS: Oregon's 11-game winning streak is the fifth-longest in the nation. ... Four Pac-12 teams are among the top 10 nationally in blocked shots: 1. Oregon (7.7 per game); 4. Washington (6.9); T7. USC and UCLA (6.5). ... Arizona's 87 straight weeks in the AP Top 25 is the second-longest streak in the nation behind Kansas at 151. ... The 48 career double-doubles by Stanford's Josh Hawkinson is the highest active total in the country.


PLAYER TO WATCH: Dillon Brooks, Oregon. The junior missed the first three games of the season due to offseason foot surgery and took a few games to get back into the groove. He's sure in one now. Brooks was named the NCAA and conference player of the week after averaging 25.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists in victories over previously-unbeaten No. 4 UCLA and No. 25 USC. He also hit the game-winning 3-pointer against the Bruins.

ON THE WOMEN'S SIDE: The Pac-12 currently has six teams ranked in the AP Top 25, led by UCLA at No. 9. The Bruins are followed by 10th-ranked Stanford, 12th-ranked Washington, 16th-ranked Oregon State, 19th-ranked Arizona State and 20th-ranked California. Two teams could likely see a change in the rankings next week; Oregon State plays at Cal on Friday.

 

[CNOTES]

Wednesday’s List of 13: Mid-week musings…….


13) When he starts Saturday’s playoff game in Houston, Oakland’s Connor Cook becomes first-ever NFL QB whose first career start came in a playoff game.


Funny thinking about it now; the biggest question about Cook coming out of Michigan State last spring was that his teammates did not vote him in as a captain as a senior, rare for a multi-year starting QB. Some teams were turned off on him because of that.


12) With Tom Savage in concussion protocol, Houston’s backup QB against the Raiders will be Brandon Weeden.


11) Reading into Mike Zimmer’s comments that Sam Bradford “….has earned the right to be the starting QB” next season, that tells me the Vikings don’t think Teddy Bridgewater will be healthy for the start of next season.


10) For what it is worth (apparently not much) Buffalo Bills were 14-2 in the coin toss this year.


9) At one point this season. Green Bay allowed 153 points in losing four straight games and stood at 4-6; everyone had them dead and buried. Since then, they’ve won six games in a row, and they’ve played pretty good defense. It is strange how quickly they turned things around.


8) Nathan Hale HS in Seattle was 3-18 LY; now they’re 9-0 and one service has them ranked as the best high school team in the country. Team is coached by former Portland Trailblazers star Brandon Roy.


7) When I was a kid, every high school team played zone defense on out-of-bounds under plays; it was an automatic thing. Now it is just the opposite; no one does.


6) Colorado State will lose three of its ten eligible basketball players when spring semester starts January 17; despite fact that everyone knows the kids will be ineligible then, they played last night in a win at San Jose State. Curious if they will recruit a couple of football players to fill out the roster— hard to practice well with seven players.


5) Grayson Allen’s suspension turned out to be one game- big deal. Duke killed Georgia Tech last night and now Mike Krzyzewski begins a leave of absence to get his back operated on.


This will be Krzyzewski’s 4th operation in the last ten months; he turns 70 on February 13. Wouldn’t surprise me a whole lot if this was it for him. The body can only take so much.


4) During/after his playing career, Bill Walton had 37 orthopedic operations. Thats a lot.


3) I’d be in favor of college basketball putting in the NBA’s 8-second to cross half court rule. Would encourage teams to press and make the game a little faster.


2) Russell Westbrook was 10-31 from floor in Oklahoma City’s loss in Charlotte last night; there have been six games this year where a player missed 20+ shots from the floor. Westbrook has four of those six games.


1) ESPN should most definitely hire Lane Kiffin as an analyst for Monday night’s national title game. He would get 3-4 hours of free advertising for his new team at FAU, fans would get some insight into the Alabama offense and into what makes Kiffin such a polarizing figure.