Cnotes 2016 NCAA Basketball News-Trends-Picks !

[CNOTES]

NCAAB
Long Sheet

Monday, January 9

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ST JOHNS (8 - 9) at GEORGETOWN (8 - 8) - 1/9/2017, 6:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
GEORGETOWN is 12-23 ATS (-13.3 Units) in all home games over the last 3 seasons.
GEORGETOWN is 12-23 ATS (-13.3 Units) in home lined games over the last 3 seasons.
GEORGETOWN is 163-206 ATS (-63.6 Units) against conference opponents since 1997.
GEORGETOWN is 23-39 ATS (-19.9 Units) in home games versus good offensive teams - scoring 77+ points/game since 1997.

Head-to-Head Series History
GEORGETOWN is 3-1 against the spread versus ST JOHNS over the last 3 seasons
GEORGETOWN is 3-1 straight up against ST JOHNS 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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TROY (8 - 8) at GEORGIA ST (8 - 6) - 1/9/2017, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
TROY is 6-0 ATS (+6.0 Units) in road games after scoring 80 points or more over the last 3 seasons.
GEORGIA ST is 12-26 ATS (-16.6 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
GEORGIA ST is 12-26 ATS (-16.6 Units) in all lined games over the last 2 seasons.
GEORGIA ST is 5-17 ATS (-13.7 Units) against conference opponents over the last 2 seasons.
GEORGIA ST is 5-15 ATS (-11.5 Units) after a conference game over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
TROY is 3-1 against the spread versus GEORGIA ST over the last 3 seasons
GEORGIA ST is 3-1 straight up against TROY 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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ARK-LITTLE ROCK (11 - 5) at COASTAL CAROLINA (7 - 9) - 1/9/2017, 7:00 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

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ARKANSAS ST (11 - 5) at APPALACHIAN ST (5 - 9) - 1/9/2017, 7:00 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
APPALACHIAN ST is 3-1 against the spread versus ARKANSAS ST over the last 3 seasons
APPALACHIAN ST is 3-1 straight up against ARKANSAS 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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S ALABAMA (8 - 7) at GA SOUTHERN (9 - 6) - 1/9/2017, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
S ALABAMA is 113-149 ATS (-50.9 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record since 1997.
GA SOUTHERN is 35-21 ATS (+11.9 Units) in all games over the last 3 seasons.
GA SOUTHERN is 35-21 ATS (+11.9 Units) in all lined games over the last 3 seasons.
GA SOUTHERN is 27-15 ATS (+10.5 Units) after a conference game over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
S ALABAMA is 4-1 against the spread versus GA SOUTHERN over the last 3 seasons
S ALABAMA is 3-2 straight up against GA SOUTHERN 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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QUINNIPIAC (6 - 9) at ST PETERS (6 - 8) - 1/9/2017, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
ST PETERS is 64-94 ATS (-39.4 Units) in all home games since 1997.
ST PETERS is 64-94 ATS (-39.4 Units) in home lined games since 1997.
ST PETERS is 59-83 ATS (-32.3 Units) in home games against conference opponents since 1997.
ST PETERS is 25-43 ATS (-22.3 Units) in home games in January games since 1997.
ST PETERS is 25-50 ATS (-30.0 Units) in home games off a loss against a conference rival since 1997.

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

 

[CNOTES]

NCAAB
Armadillo's Write-Up

Monday, January 9

Georgetown is 0-4 in Big East, losing by 10-6-5-9(ot) points; they’re 2-7 vs top 100 teams, with wins over Oregon/Syracuse. Hoyas are 2-5 in games decided by 6 or less points or in OT, but they’re also 8-2 in last ten games with St John’s. Red Storm lost its last 11 visits here, with last six losses here all by 10+ points. St John’s allowed 91 pts/game in losing last two games by 13-15 points; they’re 2-6 vs top 100 teams, with wins over Syracuse/Butler. Favorites are 13-4-1 vs spread in Big East games so far this season.

Home side won five of six Georgia State-Troy games; Trojans lost last three visits here, by 9-5-4 points. State lost three of last five games overall; they’re 4-0 vs teams ranked outside top 200, with three of four wins by 15+ points- they’re turning ball over 23.2% of time (#337)- their bench is playing #4 minutes in country. GSU is 5-0 at home, beating five stiffs. #202 Troy State allowed 81 pts/game in losing first two Sun Belt games by total of six points; they’re 1-6 vs top 200 teams, with only win over Eastern Illinois back in November.

Little Rock won two of first three Sun Belt games, winning by 4-8 points; they’re 3-2 in true road games, losing at Oral Roberts/Florida. Trojans are 11-5 vs schedule #342; they’re 6-3 vs teams ranked outside top 200- they’ve got #245 eFG% defense. Coastal Carolina upset Arkansas State Saturday in first Sun Belt home game; Chanticleers are 7-9 vs schedule #83, with couple of non-D-I wins- they’re 3-0 vs teams ranked outside top 200, with losses by 7-15-30 points. Coastal turns ball over 20.9% of time, makes just 63.4% on foul line.

Appalachian State won three of its first four Sun Belt games vs Arkansas State, splitting pair of games played here; they swept Red Wolves by 14-7 points LY. Mountaineers lost first three Sun Belt games, by 9-15-8 points; they’re 0-5 vs teams ranked in top 125, losing by 12-9-35-33-15 points. Arkansas State got upset at Coastal Carolina Saturday, when they fell behind 11-0 at start of game; they’re 4-4 in true road games, 6-1 vs teams ranked outside top 200. Home teams are 5-4 vs spread so far this season Sun Belt games.

South Alabama swept Georgia Southern LY, winning by 6-4-6 points, with 67-61 win in Sun Belt tourney; teams split two meetings in this gym. Eagles scored 87 pts/game in winning first two Sun Belt games by 23-4 points; they’re 5-0 vs teams ranked outside top 200, with three of five wins by 7 or less points. South Alabama lost six of last seven D-I games; their first two Sun Belt games (1-1) were both decided by a single point. Jaguars are forcing turnovers 23% of time (#15) but shooting just 29.3% on the arc (#328).

St Peter’s/Quinnipiac split their series the last three years; home side won four of six games; Bobcats lost two of three visits to Jersey City, with losses by 1-10 points. Quinnipiac is 3-5 in its last five games, also 2-3 in MAAC tilts, splitting their two road games- they’re 1-5 in top 200 games, with only win over Indiana State. Peacocks lost five of last seven games; they’re 2-2 in MAAC, 2-1 at home, beating Manhattan/Monmouth, losing to Iona. St Peter’s lost last game by hoop at Siena Saturday. MAAC home favorites are 8-10–1 vs spread so far this season.

 

[CNOTES]

NCAAB

Monday, January 9

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Trend Report
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6:30 PM
ST. JOHN'S vs. GEORGETOWN
St. John's is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Georgetown
The total has gone OVER in 4 of St. John's last 5 games when playing on the road against Georgetown
Georgetown is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
Georgetown is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games

7:00 PM
ARKANSAS-LITTLE ROCK vs. COASTAL CAROLINA
Arkansas-Little Rock is 18-7 SU in its last 25 games on the road
No trends available

7:00 PM
QUINNIPIAC vs. SAINT PETER'S
Quinnipiac is 2-10 SU in its last 12 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Saint Peter's last 5 games
Saint Peter's is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games

7:00 PM
ARKANSAS STATE vs. APPALACHIAN STATE
Arkansas State is 5-13 SU in its last 18 games on the road
Appalachian State is 3-7 SU in its last 10 games
Appalachian State is 7-2 SU in its last 9 games at home

7:00 PM
SOUTH ALABAMA vs. GEORGIA SOUTHERN
South Alabama is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Georgia Southern is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
Georgia Southern is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games at home

7:00 PM
TROY vs. GEORGIA STATE
Troy is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Georgia State
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Troy's last 5 games when playing on the road against Georgia State
Georgia State is 1-6 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Troy
Georgia State is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing Troy

 

[CNOTES]

NCAAB
Dunkel

Monday, January 9


Quinnipiac @ St Peter's

Game 717-718
January 9, 2017 @ 7:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Quinnipiac
48.942
St Peter's
54.217
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
St Peter's
by 5 1/2
141
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
St Peter's
by 8
135
Dunkel Pick:
Quinnipiac
(+8); Over

South Alabama @ Georgia Southern

Game 715-716
January 9, 2017 @ 7:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
South Alabama
51.485
Georgia Southern
54.763
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Georgia Southern
by 3 1/2
144
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Georgia Southern
by 8 1/2
146 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
South Alabama
(+8 1/2); Under

Arkansas St @ Appalachian St

Game 713-714
January 9, 2017 @ 7:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Arkansas St
59.390
Appalachian St
48.859
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Arkansas St
by 9 1/2
138
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Arkansas St
by 5 1/2
145
Dunkel Pick:
Arkansas St
(-5 1/2); Over

AR-Little Rock @ Coastal Carolina

Game 711-712
January 9, 2017 @ 7:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
AR-Little Rock
49.744
Coastal Carolina
57.250
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Coastal Carolina
by 7 1/2
157
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Coastal Carolina
by 2
135
Dunkel Pick:
Coastal Carolina
(-2); Over

Troy @ Georgia State

Game 709-710
January 9, 2017 @ 7:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Troy
51.263
Georgia State
54.116
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Georgia State
by 3
152
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Georgia State
by 6 1/2
145 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Troy
(+6 1/2); Over

St John's @ Georgetown

Game 707-708
January 9, 2017 @ 6:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
St John's
63.068
Georgetown
66.016
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Georgetown
by 3
148
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Georgetown
by 7
154 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
St John's
(+7); Under

 

[CNOTES]

MONDAY, JANUARY 9


GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS


SJU at GTWN 06:30 PM


SJU +6.5 *****


O 154.5 *****


TROY at GSU 07:00 PM

O 146.0 *****


QUIN at SPC 07:00 PM

QUIN +6.5


O 135.5 *****


UALR at CCAR 07:00 PM


UALR +2.0


O 134.0


USA at GASO 07:00 PM


GASO -7.0 *****


O 149.0 *****


ARST at APP 07:00 PM


ARST -5.0


O 145.0

 

[CNOTES]

CBB SEASON RECORD OPINIONS AND BEST BETS:


WLT Pct Units


ATS Picks 694-679-25 50.55% -26450


O/U Picks 213-205-5 50.96% -6250


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
01/04/2017 23-29-1 44.23% -4450
01/05 2017 No Plays
01/06/2017 No Plays
01/07/2017 59-43-2 57.84% +5850
01/08/2017 9-14-1 39.13% -3200
01/09/2017 3-8-0 27.27% -2900


DAILY BEST BETS RECORD:


ATS: 28 - 40 - 1


O/U : 17 - 16 - 0






Tuesday’s List of 13: Nobody asked me, but……..


13) Clemson 35, Alabama 31— One of greatest college football games ever. Some quick thoughts:
— Clemson ran 98 plays from scrimmage, had 31 first downs. Against Alabama.
— Crimson Tide was just 2-15 on third down. Hard to win with a freshman QB, even if he is a really good freshman.
— Deshaun Watson threw for 420 yards; he threw for 405 vs Alabama LY. Can’t wait to see where he gets drafted in the NFL.
— Alabama led 24-14 after the third quarter; at that point, no one thought they were losing.
— I had great fun watching ESPNews, with six D-I coaches and Brian Griese watching the game. Three of the six happen to be ACC coaches. It was excellent TV.
— Boston College coach Steve Addazio was good in studio but he didn’t know the clock doesn’t run during a PAT, which seems strange.
— BYU coach Kilani Sitake had the line of the night, when coaches were busting his chops about his players going on Mormon missions: “If it was a great system to develop athletes, Alabama would be doing it.”
— Clemson’s last national title was in 1981; their coach then was Danny Ford, who just like Dabo Swinney, is an Alabama graduate.


12) This past weekend was first time in 15+ years that all four home favorites won/covered in the Wild Card round of the NFL playoffs. All four favorites covered in 2012, but Seattle was a road favorite in Washington that year.


11) DeMarcus Cousins is a really good player, but has anger management issues; he already has 10 technical fouls this year. When he gets to 16, it is an automatic one-game suspension.


10) Valparaiso 81, Detroit 74— This game was Sunday; Crusaders were 33-42 on the foul line, the visiting Titans 4-9. In a 7-point game. Detroit got hosed.


9) Clippers/Lakers both played at home Sunday at Staples Center, the Clippers against Miami in the afternoon, Lakers against Orlando at night. Wonder how many people were at both games?


8) Over last three years, #1 seeds are 6-0SU in the divisional round (3-3 vs spread). Over last five years, underdogs are 11-7-1 vs spread in all games of the divisional round- 49ers-Panthers game was a pick ‘em in 2013.


7) Jacksonville promoted interim coach Doug Marrone to head coach, hired Tom Coughlin as an executive, and gave their GM a 2-year contract extension.


6) Branden Grace finished last at the SBS Tournament of Champions this weekend at Kapalua; he cashed a check for $61,000. Winning a PGA Tour event has many bonuses, this being one of them, a spot in the TOC that guarantees you a nice check for the next year.


5) I’d like to see an NBA team skip having gameday walk-thrus, see if it helped keep players fresher, both mentally/physically. Walk-thrus became a thing in the 70’s. Just wondering if the game would be crisper if players were only in the gym once a day on game day.


4) Minnesota Vikings fired QB coach Scott Turner, who is Norv Turner’s son. Norv may have to take another OC job in order to get his son another job.


3) Wake Forest has lost 25 ACC road games in a row. No bueno.


2) Georgetown 83, St John’s 55— Red Storm are impossible to handicap; they get crushed in this game, after they won by 33 at Syracuse, and upset Butler. Hoyas won by 28, didn’t appear to play that well.


1— Pelicans 110, Knicks 96— So you want to be an NBA coach? Derrick Rose was a no-show and didn’t call; he had Knick officials concerned enough that they checked his apartment. Apparently he had a family issue and went back to Chicago.


I hope Rose and his family/friends are all healthy.


That said, Derrick Rose is making $21,323,250 this year, or $260,039.63 per game. In this day and age, if you cannot text/call a teammate, coach or the GM when you’re going to miss a game, then you shouldn’t be paid for that game. Its not that hard.


Quote of the Day


“I mean, I don’t really want to talk too much about it because I don’t really know what the situation is,. Obviously Derrick is one of our better players. And when he is not here it is tough. But I am just happy that everything is OK with him.”
Joakim Noah, on Derrick Rose’s absence Monday night

 

[CNOTES]

Tuesday’s games


Baylor is a 6-point underdog the day after they got to #1 in country for first time ever; Bears are 15-0 vs schedule #38- they won by 26 in only true road game, at Oklahoma. Baylor has six top 50 wins; they’re playing 10th-slowest tempo in country, are #125 at protecting ball, important vs West Virginia pressure. Mountaineers force turnovers on 32.8% of possessions. Bears lost twice to West Virginia LY, after winning six of previous seven games with WVU. Bears won three of last four visits here. Big X home favorites are 2-7-1 vs spread in conference play.


Syracuse is 0-2 in true road games, losing by 17 at Wisconsin, 15 at BC. Orange beat Miami/Pitt at home in their last two games. Virginia Tech allowed 98.5 pts/game in losing its last two games since they upset Duke at home in ACC opener- teams are shooting 56.9% inside arc against Tech in ACC tilts. Syracuse is 4-0 vs Virginia Tech in ACC play, winning by 20-2 in two visits to Blacksburg- last three series games were decided by 2 points or in OT. Tech lost by 8 in OT in Carrier Dome LY. ACC single digit home favorites are 6-2 vs spread.


Ohio U scored 87 pts/game in winning its first two MAC games by 31-18 points; Bobcats are 1-3 in true road games, with only win at Ga Tech- they lost at WKU, Iona, Marshall. Buffalo/Ohio split last six meetings; Bulls beat Ohio in MAC tourney last March. Buffalo lost five of last six visits to Athens, losing last two 63-61/103-96. Buffalo is 2-0 in d-I home games (vs teams #329/344); they split first two MAC games, upsetting Eastern Michigan in Ypsilanti last game. Home teams are 8-4 vs spread in MAC games, home dogs are 1-0.


Kentucky won its first three SEC games by 23-42-26 points; they lost by 3 at Louisville, won by 26 at Ole Miss in only two true road games. Vanderbilt is 0-4 vs top 50 teams, with three of those four losses by 10 or less points- they lost by 3 at Alabama Saturday, blowing a 14-point second half lead. Vandy scored only 7 points in last 10:00 of game. Kentucky won eight of last ten games with Vanderbilt, winning three of last four visits here, with wins by 6-9-2 points- they lost at Vandy LY. SEC double digit favorites are 4-2 vs spread this season.


Missouri lost its last six games (four of six were at home), losing first two SEC games by 11-5 points; Tigers are shooting 25.9% on arc, 3rd-worst in country- they’ve made only 20.6% of 3’s in SEC games. Tigers are #340 experience team. Auburn lost its first three SEC games, allowing 88 pts/game; teams are shooting 56.8% inside arc against them in league play. Missouri is 4-1 vs Auburn as SEC rivals; teams split two games played here. Home side won four of the five games. SEC home underdogs are 2-0 so far this month.


Villanova is 6-1 in Big East games with Xavier, winning by 23-13-31 points in three games in Philly- they lost last meeting 90-83 LY. Wildcats are 15-1 vs schedule #23- they beat Marquette by 12 in last game, after losing at Butler last week. Xavier won its last six games; they’re 1-2 in true road games, winning by 5 at Georgetown, losing at Baylor/Colorado. Musketeers scored 81+ points in their last five games. Villanova puts its opponents on foul line less than any team in country. Big East single digit favorites are 9-3 vs spread this season.


Duke will be without big man Jefferson/Coach K tonight. Duke won its last four games with Florida State, after losing four of previous five series games. Blue Devils won last three visits here, by 8-19-3 points. Florida State won its last 11 games, winning first three ACC games by 16-2-15 points- they’re 6-1 in top 100 games, with only loss by 3 to Temple on a neutral floor. Home teams are 6-3-1 vs spread in ACC games when spread was 6 or less points. Duke was 17-10 when Jefferson was injured and couldn’t play last season.


This is really Indiana’s first true road game of year; they lost at Fort Wayne in OT, but there were more Hoosier fans than FW fans in arena that nite. Hoosiers snapped 3-game skid with easy win over Illinois Saturday; they’re 3-4 in top 100 games, Maryland is #318 experience team that plays beyond its years; they’re 5-2 in top 100 games, losing to Pitt/Nebraska. Indiana-Maryland split four Big 14 meetings; home side won three regular series meetings with Terps winning in ’15 conference tourney. Big 14 home favorites of 4 or less points are 4-2 vs spread.


Oklahoma lost its last six games, with four losses by 5 or less points; they’re 0-4 in Big X tilts, losing at home by 26 to Baylor in only conference home game. Sooners are #326 experience team whose bench plays #9 minutes. Jayhawks won 14 games in row since losing opener; they’re 3-0 in Big X, winning by 6-8-17 points. Kansas won five of its last six games with Oklahoma, sweeping senior-laden Sooners LY by 3-4 points. Teams split last four games played here. Big X home underdogs are 2-3 vs spread this month.


Florida won its last five games, winning first three SEC games by 9-7-13 points; Gators are 2-1 in true road games, losing by 5 at FSU, winning by 9 at Arkansas. Alabama won its last four games, allowing 57 pts/game in winning first two SEC games- they rallied back from down 14 in second half to beat Vandy Saturday. Tide is 0-3 in top 50 games, losing by 5-9-13 points. Alabama beat Florida in Gainesville LY, ending an 11-game series skid. Gators won last five visits here, by 7-1-9-6-2 points. SEC favorites of 6 or less points are 3-9 vs spread this month.


New Mexico blew a 14-point lead with 1:10 left at home three nites ago, losing to Nevada in OT; tough game to bounce back from. Lobos lost last two games by total of five points. UNLV lost its first two conference road games by 14-16 points; they’re basically an expansion team that lacks muscle inside. Rebels are 0-7 vs teams in top 125; their best win is #142 Wyoming, but that was at home. UNLV is 4-7 in last 11 games with New Mexico, but they won two of last three games in The Pit. Mountain West home favorites are 10-5 vs spread this season.


Home side won last four Kansas State-Texas Tech games; Wildcats lost by 11-9 points in last two visits here- they’re 11-2 in last 13 series games overall. Tech is 11-2 vs schedule #314; they’re #8 experience team, are 1-2 in Big X, upsetting West Va in OT, losing at Iowa State, Kansas. K-State forced turnovers 24.9% of time in Big X games, but has worst 3FG% defense at same time- they split two true road games, losing by hoop at Kansas, winning at Saint Louis by 31. Big X home favorites are 2-7-1 vs spread in conference play.


Fairfield scored 95 pts/game in winning its last two games, by 6-18 points. Stags are 3-1 at home, with only loss to #96 Bucknell. Fairfield played three starters 38:00+ in an 18-point win in their last game- not much depth. Canisius had 7-game win streak snapped Sunday at Iona; they’re 5-4 in true road games, 6-2 vs teams outside top 150. Canisius won its last four games with Fairfield, winning by 12-26-14 points in last three visits here. Favorites covered last four series games. MAAC home favorites of 4 or less points are 3-4 vs spread.

 

[CNOTES]

Tuesday's Tip Sheet
January 9, 2017


**Baylor at West Virginia**


-- West Virginia (13-2 straight up, 6-4 against the spread) is No. 39 in the RPI Rankings, going 3-0 against Top-50 competition with a home win over TCU, a road scalp at Virginia and a neutral-court triumph over Illinois. The Mountaineers are 4-2 versus the Top-100, winning at Oklahoma State but losing at Texas Tech and vs. Temple on a neutral court. Their RPI isn’t strong yet because eight of their wins have come to teams outside of the Top 150.


-- WVU is unbeaten in nine home games with a 2-2 spread record. Bob Huggins’s team is off of Saturday’s 82-70 win over TCU as a 13-point home favorite. Daxter Miles Jr. was the catalyst with 22 points and seven rebounds. Esa Ahmad added 16 points, while Sagaba Konate and Jevon Carter scored 13 points apiece.


-- West Virginia has a balanced scoring attack with seven players averaging at least 7.6 points per game. Ahmad is averaging a team-best 12.9 PPG while shooting 55.1 percent from the field. Carter (10.5 PPG) has a stellar 70/23 assists-to-turnovers ratio.


-- WVU is ranked fourth in the country in scoring offense, averaging 90.1 PPG. The Mountaineers are 16th in the nation in scoring defense (61.4 PPG). They press and trap all over the court for 40 minutes.


-- It’s amazing that WVU scores at such a high clip considering its abysmal free-throw shooting that ranks No. 303 in America (64.6%).


-- As of early Monday night, most betting shops had WVU listed as a five-point favorite. One offshore book had the total at 139.


-- Baylor (15-0 SU, 7-3 ATS) took over the No. 1 ranking in the AP poll on Monday for the first time in school history. The Bears are off to a 3-0 start in league play that has them sharing the Big 12 lead with Kansas. They’ve failed to cover the spread in back-to-back games, however, including Saturday’s 61-57 win over Oklahoma State as a 12-point home ‘chalk.’ Manu Lecomte scored a team-best 17 points thanks to 8-of-10 shooting from the free-throw line. Johnathan Motley added 13 points, 10 rebounds, three blocked shots and three assists.


-- Baylor has only played one true road game to date, rolling to an easy 76-50 win at Oklahoma in the Big 12 opener for both schools. Scott Drew’s team easily took the money as a seven-point road favorite, while the 126 combined points fell ‘under’ the 141.5-point total. Motley paced the winners with 19 points, 13 rebounds and three blocked shots.


-- Motley, a junior power forward, is averaging team-highs in scoring (15.8 PPG) and rebounding (9.4 RPG) while also blocking 1.1 shots per game. Jo Lusai-Acuil, a seven-foot junior center, is third in the nation in blocked shots (3.5 BPG). He also averages 10.8 points and 7.1 rebounds per game while shooting at a 62.3 percent clip from the field. Lecomte (11.8 PPG) has a 73/30 assists-to-turnovers ratio.


-- Baylor is ranked fourth in the nation in scoring defense, limiting opponents to 58.3 points per game. The Bears are sixth in field-goal percentage defense (37.3%).


-- Baylor has won outright in two underdog spots. The Bears beat Louisville 66-63 as three-point ‘dogs in the finals of the Battle 4 Atlantis down in the Bahamas. They also knocked off Oregon 66-49 as one-point home ‘dogs.


-- WVU won both head-to-head meetings both SU and ATS last season. In fact, the Mountaineers won by double digits in both contests, including an 80-69 home win in Morgantown.


-- The ‘over’ is 5-1 in the last six WVU-Baylor encounters.


-- The ‘over’ is 5-4-1 overall for WVU, 3-1 in its home games. The ‘over’ is 2-0-1 in the Mountaineers’ last three outings (regardless of the venue).


-- The ‘under’ is 7-2 overall for the Bears, 1-0 in their lone road assignment.


-- Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Eastern on ESPN2.


**Duke at Florida State**


-- FSU might have its best team since 1993-94 when Pat Kennedy’s team advanced to the Elite Eight behind the play of Sam Cassell, Charlie Ward, Doug Edwards and Rodney Dobard before getting smashed by Kentucky. Leonard Hamilton’s bunch is in a first-place tie with Notre Dame atop the ACC standings, as both schools have 3-0 record in league play.


-- FSU (15-1 straight up, 10-4 against the spread) is undefeated in 11 home games with a 7-2 spread record. The ‘Noles will bring an 11-game winning streak into this contest.


-- As of early Monday night, most spots had FSU installed as a short one-point favorite with a total of 157.


-- FSU has ACC wins over vs. Wake Forest (88-72), at Virginia (60-58) and vs. Virginia Tech (93-78). Hamilton’s squad took the cash as an 8.5-point home ‘chalk’ Saturday against the Hokies, while the 171 combined points jumped ‘over’ the 160.5-point total. Terance Mann led the way with 22 points and nine rebounds, while Dwayne Bacon contributed 17 points and six boards. Jonathan Isaac, Jarquez Smith and P.J. Savoy were also in double figures with 13, 12 and 11 points, respectively. Savoy logged only seven minutes of playing time, but he drained 3-of-6 attempts from downtown.


-- Savoy doesn’t get many minutes, averaging less than 10 minutes per game. But he knows how to take advantage of them. Savoy is instant offense off the bench, burying 20-of-46 shots (43.5%) from 3-point range. He’s only taken five two-pointers, making two of them. He had 27 points in only 14 minutes of action in a win over So. Miss and went for 18 points in a season-high 23 minutes of action vs. Nicholls.


-- Bacon is averaging a team-best 18.1 points per game. Isaac, a 6’10” freshman forward, is averaging 12.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 1.2 blocked shots per game. Junior guard Xavier Rathan-Mayes is averaging 10.4 points, 4.7 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game. He has a 75/30 assists-to-turnovers ratio.


-- Duke (14-2 SU, 7-8 ATS) is 1-1 both SU and ATS in a pair of road games this year. It will be playing for a second time without legendary head coach Mike Krzyzewski, who had back surgery this past Friday and probably won’t return to the sidelines until early February. Jeff Capel, the long-time assistant who is the former head coach at VCU and Oklahoma, is the new interim head coach. He led the Blue Devils past Boston College by a 93-82 count Saturday at Cameron Indoor Stadium. The Eagles easily took the cash as 26.5-point road underdogs. True freshman Jayson Tatum paced the winners with 22 points, six rebounds, four steals, three assists and a pair of blocked shots. Grayson Allen added 12 points, 11 assists and three steals, while Harry Giles had 12 points and five boards.


-- Duke will be without fifth-year senior power forward Amile Jefferson, who sustained a bone bruise in his foot. The long-term prognosis is good, but he’s out at FSU. Jefferson is averaging 13.6 points, 10.1 rebounds and 1.6 blocked shots per game.


-- Duke is led by the smoothest southpaw shooter I’ve seen since Chris Mullin. His name is Luke Kennard. The sophomore two-guard is averaging a team-high 20.2 PPG thanks to shooting percentages of 53.1 (FG%), 45.5 (3P%) and 86.5 (FT%). He also pulls down 5.8 RPG. Tatum missed the team’s first eight games, but he’s been making up for lost time since then. Tatum is averaging 17.0 points and 7.1 RPG. Allen (15.6 PPG) has a 59/26 assists-to-turnovers ratio, while Frank Jackson (12.2 PPG) is also scoring in double figures.


-- Giles is a true freshman center who many have tabbed to be the 2017 NBA Draft’s No. 1 overall pick. The five-star recruit blew out his knee during his senior year of high school and missed Duke’s first 11 games. In five games to date, Giles is averaging 12:48 minutes per contest as they slowly work him back into playing shape. He is averaging 5.4 points and 5.4 RPG. His minutes have increased from 4, 6, 13, 17 and then 24 against BC. In last week’s 110-57 home win over Ga. Tech, Giles had 10 points and 12 rebounds. With Jefferson out at FSU, the Winston-Salem product may move into the starting lineup.


-- FSU is No. 11 in the RPI Rankings thanks to six Top-50 wins and eight scalps of Top-100 foes. The Seminoles own home wins over Minnesota, Florida, Wake Forest and Virginia Tech, in addition to a neutral-court victory over Illinois and a win at UVA. The ‘Noles took their only defeat vs. Temple (RPI: 51) on a neutral floor.


-- Duke is No. 13 in the RPI, compiling a 3-2 record against the Top 50 and a 5-2 mark versus the Top 100. The Blue Devils own quality neutral-court wins over Florida, Rhode Island and Penn St., in addition to a home win over Michigan State. The Blue Devils’ losses came at Virginia Tech and vs. Kansas on a neutral court.


-- Totals have been an overall wash (7-7) for the ‘Noles, but they’ve seen the ‘over’ go 6-3 in their home games. However, the ‘under’ is 4-1 in their last five outings (regardless of the venue).


-- The ‘under’ is 10-5 overall for Duke, 1-1 in its road contests. However, the ‘over’ has hit in three consecutive games for the Blue Devils.


-- This 8:00 p.m. Eastern tip will be on ESPN Extra (DirecTV channel 790).

**B.E.’s Bonus Nuggets**


-- Indiana will invade College Park on Tuesday night to take on Maryland at 9:00 p.m. Eastern on ESPN. The Terrapins bounced from a surprising home loss to Nebraska last week by going into Ann Arbor on Saturday and emerging with a 77-70 win as eight-point road underdogs. They are 9-2 SU but just 2-6 ATS at home. Indiana started 0-2 in Big Ten play but responded with Saturday’s 96-80 win over Illinois as 11-point favorites.


-- Oklahoma star guard Jordan Woodward (illness) is ‘out’ for Tuesday’s home game vs. Kansas. Woodward is averaging 17.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.1 steals per game. OU and KU will tip at 9:00 p.m. Eastern on ESPN2.


-- Kentucky was listed as an early 11-point road favorite for Tuesday’s trip to Music City to take on Vanderbilt.


-- Boston College has covered the spread in five straight games when listed as a double-digit underdog, winning three of those games outright. The Eagles will host N.C. State on Wednesday, but they won’t be catching double digits in that spot.


-- Northeastern is absolutely on fire, winning seven straight games while going 6-0 ATS. The Huskies are led by T.J. Williams, who is averaging team-highs in scoring (21.1 PPG), assists (6.0 APG) and steals (1.5 SPG). They’re also getting outstanding play from Alex Murphy, who formerly played at Duke and Florida. The grad transfer is averaging 14.7 points and 5.2 RPG while shooting a team-high 51.8 percent clip from the field. Northeastern will put its seven-game winning streak on the line Thursday at home vs. Drexel.


-- The nation’s best ATS teams are South Dakota (12-3-1), Marshall (11-3), Gonzaga (10-2), Fresno State (9-2), Creighton (11-4) and Kentucky (11-4).


-- The worst ATS teams are South Dakota State (3-12-1), No. Iowa (3-11), DePaul (4-11), Long Beach State (3-10) and Sacramento State (2-9).

 

[CNOTES]

NCAAB
Long Sheet

Tuesday, January 10

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

BAYLOR (15 - 0) at W VIRGINIA (13 - 2) - 1/10/2017, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
W VIRGINIA is 26-16 ATS (+8.4 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
W VIRGINIA is 26-16 ATS (+8.4 Units) in all lined games over the last 2 seasons.
W VIRGINIA is 33-20 ATS (+11.0 Units) as a favorite over the last 3 seasons.
W VIRGINIA is 43-22 ATS (+18.8 Units) in home games off a win against a conference rival since 1997.
BAYLOR is 9-2 ATS (+6.8 Units) in road games against conference opponents over the last 2 seasons.


Head-to-Head Series History
BAYLOR is 3-2 against the spread versus W VIRGINIA over the last 3 seasons
BAYLOR is 3-2 straight up against W VIRGINIA over the last 3 seasons
4 of 5 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons




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


SYRACUSE (10 - 6) at VIRGINIA TECH (12 - 3) - 1/10/2017, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
VIRGINIA TECH is 26-14 ATS (+10.6 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
VIRGINIA TECH is 26-14 ATS (+10.6 Units) in all lined games over the last 2 seasons.
VIRGINIA TECH is 14-5 ATS (+8.5 Units) in all home games over the last 2 seasons.
VIRGINIA TECH is 14-5 ATS (+8.5 Units) in home lined games over the last 2 seasons.
VIRGINIA TECH is 17-6 ATS (+10.4 Units) against conference opponents over the last 2 seasons.
VIRGINIA TECH is 8-1 ATS (+6.9 Units) in home games in January games over the last 3 seasons.
VIRGINIA TECH is 16-6 ATS (+9.4 Units) after a conference game over the last 2 seasons.
VIRGINIA TECH is 6-0 ATS (+6.0 Units) in home games off a loss against a conference rival over the last 2 seasons.
VIRGINIA TECH is 15-3 ATS (+11.7 Units) after allowing 80 points or more over the last 3 seasons.
VIRGINIA TECH is 12-4 ATS (+7.6 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
VIRGINIA TECH is 14-4 ATS (+9.6 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record after 15 or more games over the last 2 seasons.


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




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


MIAMI OHIO (8 - 7) at BALL ST (9 - 6) - 1/10/2017, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
MIAMI OHIO is 1-9 ATS (-8.9 Units) in road games versus good offensive teams - scoring 77+ points/game over the last 3 seasons.
MIAMI OHIO is 47-29 ATS (+15.1 Units) in road games off a loss against a conference rival since 1997.
BALL ST is 4-16 ATS (-13.6 Units) as a favorite over the last 2 seasons.
BALL ST is 5-14 ATS (-10.4 Units) in all home games over the last 2 seasons.
BALL ST is 5-14 ATS (-10.4 Units) in home lined games over the last 2 seasons.
BALL ST is 4-15 ATS (-12.5 Units) in home games against conference opponents over the last 3 seasons.
BALL ST is 1-8 ATS (-7.8 Units) in home games after a conference game over the last 2 seasons.
BALL ST is 2-10 ATS (-9.0 Units) in home games off a loss against a conference rival over the last 3 seasons.
BALL ST is 2-10 ATS (-9.0 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a winning record after 15 or more games over the last 3 seasons.


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




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


GEORGE MASON (11 - 5) at ST JOSEPHS (8 - 6) - 1/10/2017, 7:00 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.


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




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


AKRON (12 - 3) at C MICHIGAN (10 - 5) - 1/10/2017, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
C MICHIGAN is 6-0 ATS (+6.0 Units) in home games on Tuesday nights over the last 2 seasons.


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




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


OHIO U (10 - 3) at BUFFALO (7 - 8) - 1/10/2017, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
OHIO U is 8-18 ATS (-11.8 Units) in road games over the last 3 seasons.
OHIO U is 8-18 ATS (-11.8 Units) in road lined games over the last 3 seasons.
OHIO U is 81-53 ATS (+22.7 Units) after scoring 80 points or more since 1997.


Head-to-Head Series History
OHIO U is 3-2 against the spread versus BUFFALO over the last 3 seasons
OHIO U is 3-2 straight up against BUFFALO over the last 3 seasons
4 of 5 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons




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


TOLEDO (9 - 6) at W MICHIGAN (4 - 10) - 1/10/2017, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
W MICHIGAN is 2-10 ATS (-9.0 Units) on Tuesday nights over the last 2 seasons.


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




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


E MICHIGAN (9 - 6) at BOWLING GREEN (7 - 8) - 1/10/2017, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
E MICHIGAN is 63-90 ATS (-36.0 Units) in January games since 1997.


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




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


N ILLINOIS (9 - 6) at KENT ST (9 - 6) - 1/10/2017, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
KENT ST is 18-6 ATS (+11.4 Units) in home games on Tuesday nights since 1997.
N ILLINOIS is 34-18 ATS (+14.2 Units) in road games after allowing 80 points or more since 1997.
N ILLINOIS is 56-33 ATS (+19.7 Units) after scoring 80 points or more since 1997.
N ILLINOIS is 82-54 ATS (+22.6 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record since 1997.
N ILLINOIS is 45-24 ATS (+18.6 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record after 15 or more games since 1997.


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




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


KENTUCKY (13 - 2) at VANDERBILT (8 - 7) - 1/10/2017, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
VANDERBILT is 48-26 ATS (+19.4 Units) in home games versus good offensive teams - scoring 77+ points/game since 1997.
KENTUCKY is 17-7 ATS (+9.3 Units) against conference opponents over the last 2 seasons.
KENTUCKY is 16-7 ATS (+8.3 Units) after a conference game over the last 2 seasons.
KENTUCKY is 24-10 ATS (+13.0 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
KENTUCKY is 12-4 ATS (+7.6 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record after 15 or more games over the last 2 seasons.


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




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


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


Head-to-Head Series History
MISSOURI is 1-1 against the spread versus AUBURN over the last 3 seasons
MISSOURI is 2-1 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




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


XAVIER (13 - 2) at VILLANOVA (15 - 1) - 1/10/2017, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
VILLANOVA is 54-33 ATS (+17.7 Units) in all games over the last 3 seasons.
VILLANOVA is 54-33 ATS (+17.7 Units) in all lined games over the last 3 seasons.
VILLANOVA is 52-32 ATS (+16.8 Units) as a favorite over the last 3 seasons.
VILLANOVA is 42-22 ATS (+17.8 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 3 seasons.
XAVIER is 323-267 ATS (+29.3 Units) in all games since 1997.
XAVIER is 323-267 ATS (+29.3 Units) in all lined games since 1997.
XAVIER is 191-153 ATS (+22.7 Units) against conference opponents since 1997.
XAVIER is 188-150 ATS (+23.0 Units) after a conference game since 1997.
XAVIER is 25-15 ATS (+8.5 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
XAVIER is 126-92 ATS (+24.8 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record after 15 or more games since 1997.
XAVIER is 12-4 ATS (+7.6 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 77+ points/game over the last 2 seasons.


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




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


DUKE (14 - 2) at FLORIDA ST (15 - 1) - 1/10/2017, 8:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
DUKE is 92-65 ATS (+20.5 Units) in January games since 1997.
DUKE is 61-34 ATS (+23.6 Units) after allowing 80 points or more since 1997.
DUKE is 199-144 ATS (+40.6 Units) after scoring 80 points or more since 1997.


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




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


N KENTUCKY (12 - 5) at WI-GREEN BAY (9 - 6) - 1/10/2017, 8:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
N KENTUCKY is 10-3 ATS (+6.7 Units) in all games this season.
N KENTUCKY is 10-3 ATS (+6.7 Units) in all lined games this season.


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




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


INDIANA (11 - 5) at MARYLAND (14 - 2) - 1/10/2017, 9:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
INDIANA is 2-12 ATS (-11.2 Units) in road games after scoring 80 points or more over the last 2 seasons.


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




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


KANSAS (14 - 1) at OKLAHOMA (6 - 8) - 1/10/2017, 9:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
KANSAS is 12-4 ATS (+7.6 Units) in road games after scoring 80 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
OKLAHOMA is 15-27 ATS (-14.7 Units) after a conference game over the last 3 seasons.
OKLAHOMA is 14-24 ATS (-12.4 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.


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




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


PROVIDENCE (11 - 6) at DEPAUL (7 - 9) - 1/10/2017, 9:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
PROVIDENCE is 0-7 ATS (-7.7 Units) when the total is 130 to 139.5 this season.
DEPAUL is 4-11 ATS (-8.1 Units) in all games this season.
DEPAUL is 4-11 ATS (-8.1 Units) in all lined games this season.
DEPAUL is 8-22 ATS (-16.2 Units) as an underdog over the last 2 seasons.
DEPAUL is 64-93 ATS (-38.3 Units) in home games against conference opponents since 1997.
DEPAUL is 6-16 ATS (-11.6 Units) after 3 or more consecutive losses over the last 3 seasons.
DEPAUL is 8-22 ATS (-16.2 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.


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




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


FLORIDA (12 - 3) at ALABAMA (9 - 5) - 1/10/2017, 9:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
FLORIDA is 8-2 ATS (+5.8 Units) as a favorite this season.


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




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


MISSISSIPPI ST (10 - 4) at ARKANSAS (12 - 3) - 1/10/2017, 9:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
ARKANSAS is 56-36 ATS (+16.4 Units) in home games off a loss against a conference rival since 1997.


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




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


UNLV (8 - 9) at NEW MEXICO (9 - 7) - 1/10/2017, 9:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
UNLV is 3-12 ATS (-10.2 Units) in road games over the last 2 seasons.
UNLV is 3-12 ATS (-10.2 Units) in road lined games over the last 2 seasons.
UNLV is 7-17 ATS (-11.7 Units) against conference opponents over the last 2 seasons.
UNLV is 7-17 ATS (-11.7 Units) after a conference game over the last 2 seasons.
NEW MEXICO is 86-60 ATS (+20.0 Units) after scoring 80 points or more since 1997.
NEW MEXICO is 2-10 ATS (-9.0 Units) on Tuesday nights over the last 3 seasons.


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




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


KANSAS ST (13 - 2) at TEXAS TECH (12 - 3) - 1/10/2017, 9:15 PM
Top Trends for this game.
KANSAS ST is 10-22 ATS (-14.2 Units) as a road underdog of 3.5 to 6 points since 1997.
KANSAS ST is 0-6 ATS (-6.6 Units) in road games versus good defensive teams - allowing <=64 points/game after 15+ games over the last 3 seasons.
KANSAS ST is 83-58 ATS (+19.2 Units) in January games since 1997.


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




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


SAN JOSE ST (8 - 6) at SAN DIEGO ST (8 - 7) - 1/10/2017, 11:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
SAN JOSE ST is 9-2 ATS (+6.8 Units) when the total is 130 to 139.5 over the last 2 seasons.


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




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


CANISIUS (10 - 6) at FAIRFIELD (8 - 5) - 1/10/2017, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
CANISIUS is 7-18 ATS (-12.8 Units) after a conference game over the last 2 seasons.
CANISIUS is 2-10 ATS (-9.0 Units) off a loss against a conference rival over the last 2 seasons.
FAIRFIELD is 7-1 ATS (+5.9 Units) in all games this season.
FAIRFIELD is 7-1 ATS (+5.9 Units) in all lined games this season.
FAIRFIELD is 34-53 ATS (-24.3 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a winning record since 1997.


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




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


NIAGARA (5 - 11) at MANHATTAN (5 - 11) - 1/10/2017, 7:00 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.


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




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


TENNESSEE TECH (7 - 11) at SE MISSOURI ST (6 - 12) - 1/10/2017, 7:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
SE MISSOURI ST is 6-0 ATS (+6.0 Units) when the total is 140 to 149.5 this season.
SE MISSOURI ST is 69-97 ATS (-37.7 Units) in all home games since 1997.
SE MISSOURI ST is 69-97 ATS (-37.7 Units) in home lined games since 1997.
SE MISSOURI ST is 20-36 ATS (-19.6 Units) in home games after allowing 80 points or more since 1997.


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

 

[CNOTES]

NCAA (COLLEGE)


DUNKEL'S HIGHLIGHTED GAME


Xavier at Villanova - Tuesday January 10, 2017
The Musketeers head to Villanova tonight to face a Wildcats team that is 21-9 ATS in its last 30 games as a home favorite of 7 to 12 1/2 points. Villanova is the pick (-7 1/2) according to Dunkel, which has the Wildcats favored by 16. Dunkel Pick: Villanova (-7 1/2).


TUESDAY JANUARY 10, 2017


Kentucky
@
Vanderbilt


Game 537-538
January 10, 2017 @ 7:00 pm


Dunkel Rating: Kentucky
78.335
Vanderbilt
71.653
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total: Kentucky
by 7
154
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total: Kentucky
by 11 1/2
160
Dunkel Pick: Vanderbilt
(+11 1/2); Under


Northern Illinois
@
Kent State


Game 535-536
January 10, 2017 @ 7:00 pm


Dunkel Rating: Northern Illinois
56.815
Kent State
52.396
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total: Northern Illinois
by 4 1/2
136
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total: Kent State
by 5
139
Dunkel Pick: Northern Illinois
(+5); Under


Eastern Michigan
@
Bowling Green


Game 533-534
January 10, 2017 @ 7:00 pm


Dunkel Rating: Eastern Michigan
58.987
Bowling Green
50.671
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total: Eastern Michigan
by 8 1/2
161
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total: Eastern Michigan
by 2
153 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Eastern Michigan
(-2); Over


Toledo
@
Western Michigan


Game 531-532
January 10, 2017 @ 7:00 pm


Dunkel Rating: Toledo
60.554
Western Michigan
52.405
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total: Toledo
by 8
157
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total: Toledo
by 3
153
Dunkel Pick: Toledo
(-3); Over


Ohio
@
Buffalo


Game 529-530
January 10, 2017 @ 7:00 pm


Dunkel Rating: Ohio
55.416
Buffalo
62.998
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total: Buffalo
by 7 1/2
157
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total: Ohio
by 1 1/2
151
Dunkel Pick: Buffalo
(+1 1/2); Over


Akron
@
Central Michigan


Game 527-528
January 10, 2017 @ 7:00 pm


Dunkel Rating: Akron
53.169
Central Michigan
60.404
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total: Central Michigan
by 7
155
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total: Akron
by 2 1/2
170
Dunkel Pick: Central Michigan
(+2 1/2); Under


George Mason
@
St Joseph's


Game 525-526
January 10, 2017 @ 7:00 pm


Dunkel Rating: George Mason
60.444
St Joseph's
61.307
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total: St Joseph's
by 1
153
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total: St Joseph's
by 4 1/2
144
Dunkel Pick: George Mason
(+4 1/2); Over


Miami-OH
@
Ball State


Game 523-524
January 10, 2017 @ 7:00 pm


Dunkel Rating: Miami-OH
44.065
Ball State
59.538
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total: Ball State
by 15 1/2
140
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total: Ball State
by 7
146
Dunkel Pick: Ball State
(-7); Under


Syracuse
@
Virginia Tech


Game 521-522
January 10, 2017 @ 7:00 pm


Dunkel Rating: Syracuse
67.933
Virginia Tech
64.736
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total: Syracuse
by 3
158
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total: Virginia Tech
by 4
151 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Syracuse
(+4); Over


Baylor
@
West Virginia


Game 519-520
January 10, 2017 @ 7:00 pm


Dunkel Rating: Baylor
74.768
West Virginia
84.143
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total: West Virginia
by 9 1/2
148
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total: West Virginia
by 6
139
Dunkel Pick: West Virginia
(-6); Over


Tennessee Tech
@
SE Missouri St


Game 567-568
January 10, 2017 @ 7:30 pm


Dunkel Rating: Tennessee Tech
50.948
SE Missouri St
49.562
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total: Tennessee Tech
by 1 1/2
136
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total: SE Missouri St
by 3
142
Dunkel Pick: Tennessee Tech
(+3); Under


Niagara
@
Manhattan


Game 565-566
January 10, 2017 @ 7:00 pm


Dunkel Rating: Niagara
48.383
Manhattan
49.224
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total: Manhattan
by 1
157
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total: Manhattan
by 6
147
Dunkel Pick: Niagara
(+6); Over


Canisius
@
Fairfield


Game 563-564
January 10, 2017 @ 7:00 pm


Dunkel Rating: Canisius
51.536
Fairfield
58.855
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total: Fairfield
by 7 1/2
174
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total: Fairfield
by 4
164 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Fairfield
(-4); Over


San Jose St
@
San Diego St


Game 561-562
January 10, 2017 @ 11:00 pm


Dunkel Rating: San Jose St
52.611
San Diego St
61.558
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total: San Diego St
by 9
142
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total: San Diego St
by 12
130
Dunkel Pick: San Jose St
(+12); Over


Kansas State
@
Texas Tech


Game 559-560
January 10, 2017 @ 9:15 pm


Dunkel Rating: Kansas State
63.516
Texas Tech
77.925
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total: Texas Tech
by 14 1/2
138
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total: Texas Tech
by 5 1/2
130
Dunkel Pick: Texas Tech
(-5 1/2); Over


UNLV
@
New Mexico


Game 557-558
January 10, 2017 @ 9:00 pm


Dunkel Rating: UNLV
52.430
New Mexico
59.835
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total: New Mexico
by 7 1/2
143
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total: New Mexico
by 10 1/2
151 1/2
Dunkel Pick: UNLV
(+10 1/2); Under


Mississippi State
@
Arkansas


Game 555-556
January 10, 2017 @ 9:00 pm


Dunkel Rating: Mississippi State
62.772
Arkansas
69.328
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total: Arkansas
by 6 1/2
147
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total: Arkansas
by 10 1/2
151
Dunkel Pick: Mississippi State
(+10 1/2); Under


Florida
@
Alabama

Game 553-554
January 10, 2017 @ 9:00 pm


Dunkel Rating: Florida
77.648
Alabama
62.438
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total: Florida
by 15
142
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total: Florida
by 5 1/2
130 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Florida
(-5 1/2); Over


Providence
@
DePaul


Game 551-552
January 10, 2017 @ 9:00 pm


Dunkel Rating: Providence
62.569
DePaul
56.023
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total: Providence
by 6 1/2
148
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total: Providence
by 4 1/2
136 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Providence
(-4 1/2); Over


Kansas
@
Oklahoma


Game 549-550
January 10, 2017 @ 9:00 pm


Dunkel Rating: Kansas
72.107
Oklahoma
70.989
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total: Kansas
by 1
149
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total: Kansas
by 11
157
Dunkel Pick: Oklahoma
(+11); Under


Indiana
@
Maryland


Game 547-548
January 10, 2017 @ 9:00 pm


Dunkel Rating: Indiana
69.176
Maryland
72.559
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total: Maryland
by 3 1/2
144
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total: Indiana
by 1
151
Dunkel Pick: Maryland
(+1); Under


Northern Kentucky
@
Green Bay


Game 545-546
January 10, 2017 @ 8:00 pm


Dunkel Rating: Northern Kentucky
49.263
Green Bay
60.963
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total: Green Bay
by 11 1/2
142
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total: Green Bay
by 3
154 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Green Bay
(-3); Under


Duke
@
Florida State


Game 543-544
January 10, 2017 @ 8:00 pm


Dunkel Rating: Duke
74.543
Florida State
79.055
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total: Florida State
by 4 1/2
145
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total: Florida State
by 1 1/2
157
Dunkel Pick: Florida State
(-1 1/2); Under


Xavier
@
Villanova


Game 541-542
January 10, 2017 @ 7:00 pm


Dunkel Rating: Xavier
68.114
Villanova
84.350
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total: Villanova
by 16
153
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total: Villanova
by 7 1/2
143
Dunkel Pick: Villanova
(-7 1/2); Over


Auburn
@
Missouri


Game 539-540
January 10, 2017 @ 7:00 pm


Dunkel Rating: Auburn
59.097
Missouri
55.307
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total: Auburn
by 4
137
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total: Auburn
by 1 1/2
148 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Auburn
(-1 1/2); Under

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Bears (15-0) at Mountainers (13-2)
Date: January 10, 2017 7:00 PM EDT

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- Baylor ascended to No. 1 in the The Associated Press poll Monday, quite a climb for a team that began the season unranked.


One of two unbeatens in Division I, the Bears (15-0, 3-0) realize staying on top won't be easy as they visit No. 10 West Virginia (13-2, 2-1) on Tuesday night.


"Not many people get a chance to be ranked No. 1, and that's a great honor," Baylor coach Scott Drew said. "Baylor Nation deserves it, because they helped us get here. We're glad to make them proud and happy and give them something to be excited about.


"Big picture, though, we know no one is going to remember who is ranked No. 1 the first week of January."


Last January, in fact, top-ranked Kansas came to Morgantown and lost 74-63. Now the Mountaineers want a repeat against the Big 12's most surprising team. The Bears were picked fifth in the league's preseason poll after losing NBA first-round pick Taurean Prince and top rebounder Rico Gathers.


"From what they got back from last year, I knew they were going to be a solid team," West Virginia forward Nate Adrian said. "Did I think they were going to be No. 1? No, but I'm glad they are."


Baylor's 6-foot-10 All-American candidate Johnathan Motley (15.8 points, 9.4 rebounds) forms a lengthy component next to 7-foot center Jo Lual-Acuil (10.8 points, 7.1 rebounds). They are among four starters who previously redshirted - along with guards Manu Lecomte and Al Freeman - helping Drew restock a mature lineup.


Lecomte, a transfer from Miami, averages 11.8 points and 4.9 assists and tops the team in 3-point attempts (26-of-68). Freeman shoots 43 percent from 3 and scores 11.1 points.


The talk from West Virginia's side, however, has focused on Baylor's defense and, specifically, the 1-1-3 zone Drew favors.


"You can't simulate their length," Mountaineers coach Bob Huggins said. "When you can pretty much touch hands across the floor, you're going to cover some ground.


"They can make mistakes and compensate for it with their length. You don't get anything easy or unchallenged around the rim."


No. 6 nationally in field-goal defense and No, 4 in scoring defense, the Bears yield only 58.3 points per game while ranking 13th in blocks - most of those by Lual-Acuil and Motley.


After facing Baylor seven times the past three seasons, Adrian is familiar with the trapping zone and the passing needed to beat it.


"You've got to get them on the same side of the court, so you can get numbers on the other side," he said. "Their length makes it difficult, and now they've got two almost 7-footers playing the back of their zone."


While Adrian's offense has slipped of late - having slipped below double-digit scoring for the first time this season at 9.9 per game - Daxter Miles (11.1 points) has gained traction from outside and Jevon Carter (10.5 points, 4.7 assists) looks more comfortable at point guard.


Forward Esa Ahmad (12.9 points, 4.9 rebounds) has become more attack-minded and the 6-9 Brandon Watkins (7.5 points, 4.3 rebounds) is making 67 percent of his shots while showing nice touch from midrange.


Despite the Mountaineers' home-and-home sweep last season, Baylor owns a 6-3 edge in the Big 12 series.

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Wildcats (13-2) at Commodores (8-7)
Date: January 10, 2017 7:00 PM EDT

Can anyone in the Southeastern Conference stop Kentucky?


It's a question SEC fans are asking as Kentucky heads to Nashville to face Vanderbilt on Tuesday evening.


Kentucky (13-2, 3-0 SEC) is No. 6 in both major polls, but that might be underselling the Wildcats a bit. They top Ken Pomeroy's rankings as of late Monday afternoon, after demolishing their first three SEC opponents -- Ole Miss, Texas A&M and Arkansas -- by 23, 42 and 26 points, respectively.


What has made the 'Cats scary on both ends of the floor is the play of its three starting guards -- point guard De'Aron Fox, and wings Isaiah Briscoe and Malik Monk.


Monk leads the SEC in scoring at 21.9 points per game, and Briscoe and Fox have each registered triple-doubles this season.


Monk has been plagued by inconsistency at times -- he scored 16 points on 17 shots, one game removed from putting up 47 points against North Carolina -- but has averaged 24 points in the three games since while shooting 62.1 percent from the field.


Fox led the team in scoring (27) against Arkansas and paces the SEC in assists per game (6.7) by a wide margin. Briscoe, an elite on-ball defender, has significantly improved his offensive game (15.2 ppg, 50.7 percent shooting from the field).


Kentucky also has gifted interior players with forwards Bam Adebayo, who averages 13.1 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.8 blocks, and forward Derek Willis, who scored 15 points in 19 minutes off the bench against Arkansas.


"If there's a weakness, you guys can let us know," Vanderbilt coach Bryce Drew joked this week.


But as Kentucky knows, winning in Memorial Gymnasium isn't always easy. Vanderbilt won there 74-62 last season, and the Wildcats, who are 11-point favorites, haven't beaten the Commodores by double digits in Memorial Gym in its last 10 games there.


After getting blown out at Middle Tennessee State on Dec. 8, the Commodores have played much better. Drew scrapped much of his four-out, one-in offense for one more like last year's coach, Kevin Stallings, ran, one that finds shooters and uses back cuts to loosen defenses.


"They're a terrific offensive team with 3-point shooters," Kentucky coach John Calipari said. "That's how they played, and they're running almost all of the stuff with adjustments, but it's mostly the stuff that they ran a year ago."


Vanderbilt ranks 13th in the country in 3-point shooting (40.3 percent) and has hit 40 3-pointers in its three SEC games while making 77.4 percent of its free throws, which ranks 12th nationally.


Kentucky's focus will be on guard Matthew Fisher-Davis, who averaged 27 points in the three games before Saturday's loss at Alabama, during which he scored just seven points on nine shots from the floor.


But the Wildcats will also have to worry about 7-foot-1 center Luke Kornet. The senior is one of the country's better shot-blockers. He has averaged 15.5 points in the last four games and seems to be healing from persistent knee issues.


Kentucky is more athletic and holds opponents to 29.7 percent 3-point shooting. But the Commodores have six players who have hit at least 14 3-pointers this season, and they move the ball well in their half-court offense.

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Musketeers (13-2) at Wildcats (15-1)
Date: January 10, 2017 7:00 PM EDT

VILLANOVA, Pa. -- Third-ranked Villanova will have a chance to tie a remarkable record when it hosts No. 15 Xavier Tuesday night at The Pavilion.


The Wildcats (15-1, 3-1 Big East) are in search of their 46th consecutive victory at their cozy 6,500-seat on-campus arena on the Main Line. They also won 46 straight games here from 2007-11.


For Villanova to match this record, it will have to defeat a very potent Xavier team, which has won six in a row and improved to 13-2 and 3-0 in the Big East following a 97-82 win over St. John's on Saturday.


After an eight-point loss at No. 18 Butler last Wednesday, the Wildcats bounced back with a commanding 93-81 victory over Marquette Saturday night at the Wells Fargo Center. Villanova, which dropped two spots to No. 3 in the latest poll released Monday afternoon, led by 30 points late in the second half.


Senior Kris Jenkins, who knocked down the game-winning 3-pointer over North Carolina to capture last season's national championship, led the way with 23 points. Preseason National Player of the Year candidate Josh Hart scored 19 points and made some clutch baskets down the stretch.


"We're just learning as we go along," Jenkins said. "We've got some new guys in some new roles with our three senior leaders. It's something that we're working on and getting better at."


Redshirt freshman guard Donte DiVincenzo played one of his strongest games all season and finished with eight points and a career-high six assists in 29 minutes.


"He's a big part of this team," Villanova coach Jay Wright said. "Being hurt last year, he not only missed a lot of games but a lot of teaching time in practice. He can really pass the ball. He can really score and rebound. We need him. Donte gives us great versatility. He's big for us."


Xavier, the last remaining unbeaten team in the Big East, will feature an upgraded roster with the return of senior guard Myles Davis. He was added to the active roster as of Sunday, following a suspension for two misdemeanor criminal charges reportedly connected with a former girlfriend. Davis missed the first 15 games this season.


"Beginning tomorrow (Monday), Myles Davis is going to be reinstated to our basketball program," Xavier coach Chris Mack said in a prepared statement. "He's met the terms of his suspension, which were outlined to him at the beginning of the school year when he was suspended. I think he learned some valuable lessons from his mistakes, his 15-game long suspension and his reinstatement. I think he needs to continue to make good choices in order to keep his standing within our program.


"He's obviously had a long road to this point. His role on our basketball team will be no different from the other 14 guys in our locker room. He'll earn everything he gets from this point forward. So he has a lot of work to do and I think he recognizes that and understands that. We now move forward with Myles as part of our team."


Junior Trevon Bluiett leads the Musketeers in scoring (17.7 points) and recorded a team-best eight 20-point performances this season. Edmond Sumner ranks second on the team in scoring (15.6) and first in assists (4.9).


"I'm really happy with our effort," Mack told the Cincinnati Enquirer following the 15-point win over St. John's. "I thought we played really unselfish. ... I think we're finding the open man a little bit better than we did earlier in the year, so, yeah, it was definitely an efficient game offensively.


"We shot the eyes out of the ball in the first half. In the second half, had we made more free throws, we'd score over 100 points. Again, you do that against a team that pressures and is as athletic as St. John's is, you take it."

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Blue Devils (14-2) at Seminoles (15-1)
Date: January 10, 2017 8:00 PM EDT

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- No. 9 Florida State and No. 7 Duke both moved up in the AP Top 25 men's basketball poll Monday, setting up a mammoth ACC showdown Tuesday night at the Donald L. Tucker Center.


And being home for this matchup is just fine with the Seminoles (15-1, 3-0 ACC), who are 11-0 this season on their court and ready for whatever the powerhouse Blue Devils (14-2, 2-1) bring their way.


"It's going to be fun," Florida State forward Jarquez Smith said. "We're looking forward to it. We feel like we have a lot to prove this year."


Florida State, which leaped three spots from No. 12 last week, has proved plenty thus far.


The Seminoles have already knocked off three Top 25 teams -- Florida, Virginia Tech and Virginia -- and beat the latter two in back-to-back games.


Add in a win over Wake Forest to kick off ACC play two weeks ago and Florida State is off to its first 3-0 start in the ACC in school history. The Seminoles are tied for first place with No. 20 Notre Dame.


"No one's going to the NCAA Tournament winning three conference games," Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton said after Saturday's 93-78 rout for its 11th straight win. "So I realize we still got a lot of work to do."


That work continues when the Blue Devils roll into town for a prime-time, nationally televised Top 10 duel. And Florida State hopes to take advantage of two key pieces missing for Duke when the teams tip off.


First, Duke -- winners of two straight and 12 of their last 13 -- will be without coach Mike Krzyzewski, who underwent back surgery last Friday and is out for an unknown amount of time.


Second, the Blue Devils announced Monday that star forward Amile Jefferson (bruised foot) will not play against the Seminoles. Jefferson, who averages 13.6 points and a team-best 10.1 rebounds, was hurt in the first half during Duke's last game against Boston College. The injury is to the same foot that Jefferson broke last season, causing him to miss the final three months of the year.


Acting Duke coach Jeff Capel said Jefferson will be sorely missed against a Florida State team that boasts two 7-footers: centers Michael Ojo (7-1) and Christ Koumadje (7-4).


"Amile is as important a player that we have," Capel told the Charlotte (N.C.) News & Observer on Monday. "His importance, his value cannot be measured by just numbers, and the numbers themselves are incredibly impressive.


"But the things that he does, coaches really value the things that he does. You see it a little different, the leadership, the talking, the experience. Being the most respected guy on the court and in the locker room."


Duke does, however, have its leading scorer Grayson Allen -- a magnet for controversy lately -- back after Allen was suspended indefinitely three weeks ago. The junior guard, who is averaging 15.6 points per game, was caught tripping an opposing player during Duke's Dec. 21 game against Elon and later forced to sit -- although the suspension only lasted one game.


However, in Allen's second game back from suspension against Boston College on Saturday, he was caught on camera appearing to trip yet another player.


The ACC reviewed the tape Sunday and later released a statement saying, "There is nothing conclusive that can be determined as to whether Allen intentionally made contact with an Eagles player using his leg or foot."


And Florida State knows Allen's antics better than most.


Allen was in hot water twice for the same type of infraction last year -- once against Florida State and in another game against Louisville.


In the Blue Devils' February 2016 win over the Seminoles -- an 80-65 Duke victory that marked the teams' last meeting before Tuesday -- Allen tripped guard Xavier Rathan-Mayes and was whistled for a technical.


After the game, Krzyzewski called Hamilton to apologize for his star player's behavior.


"He acknowledged the fact and apologized to our staff and to let Xavier know, too," Hamilton said at the time. "We accepted it and moved on. I was proud of the way Xavier handled it. We've moved on. We don't want it to become an issue. It's over."


The Seminoles, who are 9-35 against the Blue Devils all time, might have moved on, but they will undoubtedly keep the incident in the back of their minds as they seek their first win over Duke in almost five years.


Florida State last beat the Blue Devils in the ACC Tournament in March 2012, and Hamilton knows his team is once again up against a supremely talented squad.


"I think a lot of folks (in the preseason) picked them to win the national title," Hamilton said. "This is a typical Duke basketball team loaded with talent."


Of course, Florida State has plenty of talent of its own this year in leading scorer Dwayne Bacon (18.1 points per game) and five-star freshman forward Jonathan Isaac (12.2 ppg and 7.4 rebounds per game).


Bacon has reached double figures in 25 straight games and Rathan-Mayes has upped his scoring average this season and now averages 10.4 points per game.


But it's Florida State's depth that has emerged as its biggest weapon this year. A dozen Seminoles are seeing double-digit minutes, and their depth is scary.


"They have 12 high-major plus players, and (coach Hamilton) manages their energy level and skill set and matches it accordingly," Virginia Tech coach Buzz Williams said after Saturday's loss to the Seminoles. "I think they're just really, really good.


"And, look, I know football is big (at Florida State), but I think coach Hamilton is too much an afterthought and doesn't get the credit he deserves nationally. I think this is the best team he's ever had, in my opinion."


Florida State enters with its highest ranking since the 1992-93 season when it reached No. 7, and the Seminoles are 15-1 for just the second time ever. If they beat Duke, their 16-1 record will match the best start in program history (1988-89).


But getting there will be no easy task.


After Tuesday's game against Duke, the Seminoles continue a brutal ACC gauntlet to start the season by traveling to play No. 14 North Carolina, followed by back-to-back home games against two more ranked teams: No. 20 Notre Dame and No. 14 Louisville.


By the time the brutal stretch is over, Florida State will have faced six of the ACC's seven Top 25 teams in their first seven games.


But so far so good.


"I believe our guys are handling this level and atmosphere with maturity," Hamilton said. "We are constantly making sure they understand where we are. We're (still) at the beginning of the season and we've won three conference games. We've been on the other side, trying to climb up, but now for (these wins) to be meaningful, you got to stay there. You gotta keep stack victories."

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Jayhawks (14-1) at Sooners (6-8)
Date: January 10, 2017 9:00 PM EDT

NORMAN, Okla. -- Some things never change, like second-ranked Kansas' stranglehold on the Big 12 and the Jayhawks' position as one of college basketball's powers.


Some things do, like Oklahoma's plunge from Final Four team a year ago to the basement of the Big 12 through three conference games.


A year ago when the Jayhawks and Sooners met for the first time, the teams provided one of the highlights of last season -- a thrilling 109-106 triple-overtime win by Kansas that also jump-started Oklahoma's Buddy Hield's national player of the year candidacy.


But this Oklahoma team isn't the one that pushed Kansas to the brink with Hield's spectacular 46-point performance and eventually advanced to the Final Four.


Oklahoma enters Tuesday night's first meeting between the teams riding a six-game losing streak and still without its best scorer, Jordan Woodard.


Woodard will miss his fifth consecutive game and fourth with an undisclosed medical condition after sitting out Oklahoma's Dec. 21 loss to Auburn with an upper-leg injury.


He did return to practice Monday but will not play against Kansas.


Jayhawks coach Bill Self isn't about to take anything for granted, though.


"To win a league you have to win at home, but you also have to go win games that you have a chance to win on the road," Self said. "We went to TCU and got it done, and certainly this would be a great win, as far as the league race goes, to go to Norman and get it done.


"I've watched them and I know their players are dangerous and we can't allow them to get in a rhythm playing well, which I know they're very capable of."


Kansas has been on a roll since a season-opening overtime loss to Indiana, winning 14 consecutive games.


"One of the top one or two teams in the country," Sooners coach Lon Kruger said. "Very talented. Bill does a great job. Their club is playing with a high level of confidence and does a lot of things very well. Just a very good team."


Kansas hasn't been dominant in Big 12 play, though, winning close games at TCU and at home against Kansas State before a 17-point win over Texas Tech on Saturday that was the program's 2,200th victory, something Self downplayed.


"I think we're about 15-18 wins behind Kentucky, so it's going to take a few years to catch those 'Cats," Self said. "But if we could ever get to the No. 1 slot, then that to me would mean quite a bit. That means that these particular teams would be doing something pretty remarkable."


The Jayhawks can afford to have such thoughts.


For Oklahoma, the focus is on improvement as much as anything as the Sooners' chances for a fifth consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament have slipped away over the last month.


"When you're not winning ballgames, it's a challenge," Kruger said. "We know they're going to keep working at it and their effort is gonna be there. They have to maintain a fresh mindset as well and come every day and get better.


"That's the only answer and there's no quick fix to it. You have to keep growing and getting better from each experience."

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Gators (12-3) at Crimson Tide (9-5)
Date: January 10, 2017 9:00 PM EDT

Florida scored more than 80 points on four occasions during a five-game winning streak, but the No. 23 Gators might need to play a different style to keep that streak intact.


That's because Florida visits Alabama on Tuesday and the Crimson Tide are finding success in a different manner. Alabama is allowing an average of 56.5 points during its four-game winning streak.


So it definitely makes for a clash of philosophies when two of the SEC's four remaining unbeaten teams in conference play square off in Tuscaloosa, Ala.


The Gators (12-3, 3-0) feature three players averaging more than 11 points per game, including red-hot sophomore guard KeVaughn Allen (14.7 per game). The Crimson Tide (9-5, 2-0) don't have any players scoring in double digits while limiting opponents to an average of 61.1, which ranks second in the SEC.


"We're an emerging offensive team, but we hang our hats on defense," Alabama coach Avery Johnson said Monday. "We think if we can continue to rebound with our opponents or try to outrebound them, that will have a direct correlation on success for us.


"But we have to get back on defense. We can't give Florida any easy baskets. They are outstanding in the open floor."


Allen has been outstanding from all areas of the floor during the past four games. He has made at least four 3-pointers in each and is 18 of 29 from long range during the span.


Allen is averaging 19.3 points during the stretch and was named SEC Player of the Week on Monday after averaging 18.5 points in last week's victories over Mississippi and Tennessee.


"It's nice to see him really aggressive because he's a really talented scorer," Florida coach Mike White said, "and his teammates rally around that, too."


Allen likes being a difference-maker, but he is more smitten over his team's results.


"It's a big accomplishment to be 3-0," Allen said. "But we have to continue to work hard, go to practice, learn from our mistakes and perform better."


Junior forward Devin Robinson (12.1) and reserve senior guard Canyon Barry (11.8) also are scoring in double digits for the Gators, who average 78.9 points per game. Senior forward Justin Leon averages just 7.2 points but delivered a career-best 19 points in Saturday's 83-70 victory over Tennessee.


Alabama is coming off a 59-56 victory over Vanderbilt to improve to 9-0 when holding teams to 61 or fewer points.


Freshman guard Dazon Ingram leads the Crimson Tide in scoring (9.9), assists (3.9) and steals (16). Freshman forward Braxton Key (9.4 points, 5.5 rebounds) is the only other player averaging more than eight points per game.


The relative lack of firepower leaves Johnson well aware that his team has little margin for error against the Gators.


"Florida is a really good team. They are experienced and they do a great job," Johnson said. "Allen makes 3s from all over the floor. This is a well-coached, experienced basketball team so we're going to have to play our best basketball."


Alabama outplayed Florida in last season's lone meeting as it halted an 11-game losing streak against the Gators by posting a 61-55 road victory. It was only the fourth time the Crimson Tide defeated Florida in the past 26 meetings.

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Wildcats (13-2) at Red Raiders (12-3)
Date: January 10, 2017 9:15 PM EDT

Texas Tech hosts Kansas State on Tuesday night, a day after the Wildcats squeezed into the Top 25 in a tie for 25th with USC.


But a look at the respective resumes of the Red Raiders and Wildcats and it's clear the ranking could just as easily be flip-flopped. Texas Tech and Kansas State look a lot alike as both vie for a place in the upper half of the Big 12 standings.


Kansas State (13-2, 2-1 Big 12) achieved a top-25 ranking despite having no victories over top 25 opponents so far this season. Last week, the Wildcats played rival No. 2 Kansas to a controversial two-point loss in Lawrence, Kan., and hammered struggling Oklahoma in Manhattan, Kan.


Meanwhile, Texas Tech (12-3, 1-2) posted its first victory over a top 25 this season when the Red Raiders edged No. 7 West Virginia by a point in overtime in Lubbock, Texas.


Kansas State (50) and Texas Tech (56) were close enough to throw a napkin over the both of them in RPI as of Monday.


Wildcats coach Bruce Weber knows his team will not be able to roll into Lubbock and intimidate the Red Raiders.


"They run Bob Knight old-school motion," Weber said in his postgame press conference after the win over Oklahoma. "They have versatile, big guys that shoot 3s. We are going to have to play well."


Nor will Texas Tech be likely to overlook the Wildcats. The Red Raiders began conference play with a road trip to Iowa State, then the home game against the Mountaineers and the trip to Kansas.


But they're aware that there are no easy nights in the Big 12.


"(Kansas) Coach (Bill) Self asked me right after the game, 'Who do you play next?' and I said, 'I think Golden State Warriors,'" Texas Tech coach Chris Beard joked after the loss to the Jayhawks. "It's an 18-round fight and you want to give yourself a chance every night. We intend to be a part of the fight."


Kansas State can help its chances to win in Lubbock by keeping up the defensive pressure it showed in the victory over Oklahoma. The Wildcats scored 18 points off 19 Sooners turnovers. Giving up transition points has been a problem for the Red Raiders in their losses.


Another night of balanced scoring would also boost Kansas State's chances. All five starters scored in double digits against Oklahoma, led by guard Wesley Iwundu with 16.


To defend its home court, Texas Tech probably needs to get back to scoring in the paint.


The Red Raiders scored 26 points in the paint in the win over West Virginia but managed just 18 in the loss to Kansas. Texas Tech turned to the 3-pointer against the Jayhawks and, though the Red Raiders hit 11 of 28, they still failed to keep up with Kansas.


The Jayhawks poured in 30 points in the paint against the Red Raiders and also dropped 9 of 18 treys.


Kansas State can score from beyond the arc as it has hit 7.6 3-pointers per game this season, but the Wildcats will likely need balance to pull of a win in Lubbock and retain their ranking.

 

[CNOTES]

TOP 25 SELECTIONS:


TUESDAY, JANUARY 10


GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS


BAY at WVU 07:00 PM


BAY +7.0


O 137.5


XAV at VILL 07:00 PM


VILL -8.0


O 146.0


UK at VAN 07:00 PM


UK -12.0


U 158.0


DUKE at FSU 08:00 PM


FSU -2.5 CBB GAME OF THE DAY


U 159.0


KU at OKLA 09:00 PM


KU -11.5


O 152.5


FLA at ALA 09:00 PM

FLA -5.5


U 129.5


KSU at TTU 09:15 PM


TTU -6.0


O 133.0





BEST OF THE REST


SELECTION LINE AMOUNT
VT -3.5
X
SYR at VT O 147.5
X
M-OH +6.5
X
M-OH at BALL O 147.5
X
GMU +4.0
X
GMU at JOES O 143.0
X
AKR at CMU O 167.0
X
OHIO -1.0
X
OHIO at BUFF O 149.5
X
WMU +3.5
X
TOL at WMU O 155.5
X
NIU at KENT O 140.5
X
FAIR -4.5
X
CAN at FAIR U 162.5
X
NIAG +6.0
X
NIAG at MAN O 148.5
X
AUB at MIZZ U 149.5
X
BGSU +2.5
X
EMU at BGSU O 152.0
X
TNTC at SEMO U 141.0
X
NKU +4.0
X
IND at MD O 149.5
X
IND -1.0
X
PROV -4.5
X
PROV at DEP O 139.0
X
MSST +10.0
X
MSST at ARK U 150.0
X
UNM -10.0
X
UNLV at UNM O 150.5
X
SJSU +12.0
X
SJSU at SDSU O 131.5
X

 

[CNOTES]

Top 25 roundup: No. 10 West Virginia crushes No. 1 Baylor
January 10, 2017


MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Nathan Adrian poured in 22 points, Jevon Carter had 17 points and seven assists, and the two combined for eight of No. 10 West Virginia's 15 steals in an 89-68 blowout of No. 1 Baylor on Tuesday.


The Mountaineers (14-2, 3-1 Big 12) forced 29 turnovers, the most in their 82-game Big 12 tenure. The loss by the Bears (15-1, 3-1) left Gonzaga as the lone unbeaten team in Division I.


Brandon Watkins and Tarik Phillip added 11 points each for West Virginia, which beat Baylor for the third consecutive time.


Al Freeman, Lual-Acuil and Terry Maston scored 10 points each for the Bears, who were routed one day after climbing to the top spot in the AP poll. The 7-foot Lual-Acuil also grabbed 12 rebounds, the only category in which Baylor was competitive

No. 2 Kansas 81, Oklahoma 70


NORMAN, Okla. -- Bill Self became the fourth Jayhawks coach to win 400 games at the school when Kansas knocked off the Sooners.


Frank Mason III led the way for the Jayhawks, scoring 19 of his 28 points in the second half as Kansas won its 15th straight after dropping its season opener. Josh Jackson added 16 points, Devonte' Graham 13 and Landen Lucas had 10 points and 13 rebounds for the Jayhawks (15-1, 4-0 Big 12).


Kameron McGusty and Rashard Odomes led a balanced Oklahoma attack with 13 points apiece. The Sooners (6-9, 0-4) welcomed the return of leading scorer Jordan Woodard (seven points, six rebounds and five assists), who missed the previous four games because of injury or illness.


No. 3 Villanova 79, No. 15 Xavier 54


VILLANOVA, Pa. -- Josh Hart had 20 points, six rebounds and five assists while one of five players in double figures as the Wildcats won their 46th straight game at the Pavilion


Kris Jenkins scored 20 points and Jalen Brunson added 11 for Villanova (16-1, 4-1 Big East), which also won 46 in a row at the 6,500-seat campus arena in 2007-11. Darryl Reynolds and Donte DiVincenzo scored 10 each for the Wildcats. Villanova's senior class -- Jenkins, Hart and Reynolds -- has never lost in this arena.


Edmond Sumner led the Musketeers (13-3, 3-1) with 11 points while J.P. Macura and Trevon Bluiett scored 10 apiece. Xavier, which shot only 29.8 percent, had a six-game winning streak snapped and had been the last remaining unbeaten team in the Big East.


No. 6 Kentucky 87, Vanderbilt 81


NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Isaiah Briscoe scored 23 points, De'Aaron Fox had 22 and Malik Monk added 18 as the Wildcats survived an upset bid from the Commodores.


The trio was Kentucky's offense down the stretch, scoring the team's last 27 points over the final 12:31.Bam Adebayo added 15 points for the Wildcats (14-2, 4-0 SEC), who survived 1-for-9 shooting from 3-point range.


Matthew Fisher-Davis, Riley LaChance and Jeff Roberson scored 19 points apiece for Vanderbilt (8-8, 2-2), which trailed by two with 32 seconds left. Monk, though, got into the lane and hit a short pull-up with 32 seconds left, putting Kentucky up 83-79.


No. 9 Florida State 88, No. 7 Duke 72


TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Xavier Rathan-Mayes scored 18 of his 21 points in the second half as the Seminoles routed the Blue Devils for their 12th straight victory.


Also contributing for Florida State (16-1, 4-0 ACC) were Dwayne Bacon and Terance Mann, who scored 13 points apiece. Jonathan Isaac rounded out the Seminoles' double-figure scorers with 11 points, while Mann led the team in rebounds with seven.


Duke (14-3, 2-2) fell to 0-2 away from Cameron Indoor Stadium, also losing to Virginia Tech. The Blue Devils got a great game from leading scorer Luke Kennard with 23 points while Jayson Tatum added 21.


No. 23 Florida 80, Alabama 67


TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Keith Stone scored 14 points and drained all three of his 3-point attempts as the Gators won their sixth straight game.


Canyon Barry and Kasey Hill added 13 points apiece for Florida (13-3, 4-0 SEC), which defeated the Crimson Tide in 12 of the past 13 meetings.


Braxton Key scored a season-best 24 points for Alabama (9-6, 2-1). Donta Hall added 12 points on 6-of-6 shooting for the Crimson Tide, who had their four-game winning streak halted.


Texas Tech 66, No. 25 Kansas State 65


LUBBOCK, Texas -- Keenan Evans scored 18 points, including the game-winning bucket with 15 seconds left, to help the Red Raiders defeat the Wildcats in their third straight game against a ranked opponent.


Evans got a steal with 20 seconds left and rebounded Niem Stevenson's miss on the ensuing fastbreak before giving Texas Tech (13-3, 2-2 Big 12) the lead for good. Zach Smith added 16 points, and Aaron Ross finished with 10 for the Red Raiders, who defeated No. 10 West Virginia before losing to No. 2 Kansas.


Kamau Stokes scored 17 to lead Kansas State (13-3, 2-2). Dean Wade added 12, and forward D.J. Johnson had 11.

 

[CNOTES]

Wednesday’s six-pack

Longest shots to win the 2017 World Series:


150-1— Cincinnati Reds


100-1— Brewers-Rays-Diamondbacks


80-1— A’s-Padres-Twins


75-1— Atlanta Braves, Philadelphia Phillies


60-1— Los Angles Angels


50-1— Colorado Rockies, Chicago White Sox


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


13) Milwaukee Bucks came into the NBA in 1968; they went 27-55 in their first season, but 56-26 in their second season, then 68-16 with an NBA title in their third season.


This is fairly graphic evidence that Kareem Adbul-Jabbar is the greatest basketball player ever; they won a coin flip with the Phoenix Suns for the top pick in the ’69 draft and the right to select Kareem. Add in his 88-2 record as a college player, and you get the point.


They outlawed the dunk in college basketball because of Kareem.


No one dominated the sport like Abdul-Jabbar did, but because he has a surly personality, doesn’t do a lot of commercials, he fell out of public consciousness, unlike Michael Jordan, whose Jordan Brand shoes/apparel is still a huge money maker for Nike.


Then there is this: freshmen were ineligible to play college ball back then. UCLA won the national title when Kareem was a senior in high school— his freshman team beat the UCLA varsity by 20 that year, and the UCLA varsity was the defending national champs.


12) Underdogs were 25-15-1 vs spread in bowl games this season.


11) ACC went 9-3 in bowl games; they were underdog in seven of the 12 games.


10) Alabama RB Josh Scarbrough broke his leg in Monday night’s game, which no doubt will be brought up next year if/when a running back sits out a bowl game to keep himself healthy for the NFL Draft.


9) Wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if college football scrapped the rule that says the clock stops after every first down. National title game took over four hours to play and ratings were a bit down, even though it was a great game. Knee-jerk reaction will be to shorten games.


My theory on the ratings being down? Two teams from the south played; people in other regions of the country aren’t as interested if their teams aren’t playing.


8) College football coaches don’t go on vacation now that the games are over; National Signing Day is February 1, three weeks from today, so coaches will be working their butts off on the phone between now and then, recruiting players who will win games down the road.


Games that will be played from 2018-2021 will be partially determined by who signs where on February 1st. Football recruiting is a big. big business.


7) Giants’ DE Jason Pierre-Paul says he won’t sign a 1-year contract next season; what happens if no one offers him a multi-year deal? Will he retire?


6) March is going to feel a little different this year; the ACC tournament is in Brooklyn, for some reason. The Big 14 tourney is in Washington DC because of Maryland being in the league, but it doesn’t make much sense. Big 14 should have their tournament in the midwest; the ACC tourney should be somewhere on Tobacco Road.


5) I worked for New York State for 34 years in a mundane office job; if I needed a day off that I hadn’t asked for previously, had to call in sick and tell a person in charge that I wasn’t coming in that day. Failure to do so meant you went LWOP (Leave With-Out Pay), meaning there would be no pay for that day— I never did that once in 34 years.


My job wasn’t very important, certainly not as critical to my agency as a point guard is to an NBA team. Derrick Rose didn’t bother to call/text the Knicks Monday, when he flew to Chicago and missed their game; when they called him, he couldn’t be bothered to answer the phone.


I’m very curious how much the team fined him, but no one is saying. Rose makes a little over $260,000 PER GAME- he is a free agent this summer. I’m curious where he’ll wind up.


4) Quick work-related story from my mediocre career with New York State- this happened back in the late 80’s. I was 28 or 29 at the time.


In mid-afternoon on a Thursday, this is in mid-October, my boss’ boss calls me into her office. She was kind of a stern woman, we had very little interaction, but she had a job for me to do.


“We need a World Series pool and I want you to run it. You think you can do that?”


I’m trying not to laugh as I sat there, but quickly agreed and went about my duty and we had a good World Series pool that year. Sometimes, working for the government was fun.


3) Tuesday’s college hoop:
— West Virginia 89, Baylor 68— Bears lasted one day at #1- they had 29 turnovers.
— Villanova 79, Xavier 54— Surprisingly easy win for the Wildcats.
— Kentucky 87, Vanderbilt 81— Commodores had their chances in last minute.
— Florida State 88, Duke 72– Seminoles are 4-0 in ACC for first time.


2) Oakland Raiders let OC Bill Musgrave walk after his contract expired, promoted QB coach Todd Dowling to OC, telling the world they think Dowling was more responsible for Derek Carr’s improved play than Musgrave was. Interesting decision.


1— Remember Warrick Dunn, the running back for the Buccaneers? His mom was a police officer who was killed in the line of duty, when Dunn was 18. He used her life insurance to buy a house for himself and four younger siblings- there was no father in the picture.


After Dunn became an NFL player, he started a charity that has put 152 families into affordable homes, just great work. If there was a People Hall of Fame, Dunn would be in it.


Back in 2006, one of the families Dunn’s charity gave a home to was Clemson QB Deshaun Watson’s family.