NCAAB
Saturday, January 4
January 4th is first true road game for Pitt, which is 3-1 in neutral court games, losing brutal 44-43 game to #32 Cincinnati. This is also the first ACC game for Panthers, who are #15 in defensive efficiency against the #306 schedule. NC State won eight of last nine games, losing last home game to #41 Missouri; they're 1-2 vs top 100 teams, also losing 68-57 at Cincinnati back in November.
Cincinnati-Memphis are league rivals again for first time since '09; last four meetings were won by Memphis, all by 10+ points. Tigers are 2-2 vs top 40 teams, splitting pair with Oklahoma State, losing at Florida, beating LSU- they force turnovers 23.8% of time. Bearcats are 4-2 vs top 100 teams, but lost by 9 at New Mexico in only true road game.
Georgetown won its last five games with St John's, all by 10+ points; Red Storm lost their last eight visits here, last three by 15-10-12 points. Red Storm is 9-4 with no good wins; best team they've beaten is #100 Ga Tech- this is also their first true road game. Hoyas are 2-2 vs top 100 teams, beating K-State/VCU- they're shooting 56.4% inside arc (#7).
UConn got upset 75-71 in AAC opener at Houston, giving up last seven points of game they led with 1:42 left; Huskies trailed by 21 late in first half, led by second TV timeout in second, but they made just 7-22 from arc in just their second true road game (1-1, won at Washington). SMU leads countrey, holding teams to 38.4% inside arc, but they're 0-3 vs teams in top 50, losing by 11-3-8 points.
Indiana won its last three games with Michigan State by 15-5-4 points, after losing previous six; Spartans lost last two visits here, won both true road games this year, by 14-16 at Texas/Penn State. Spartans are #9 in defensive efficiency- their only loss was to North Carolina. Indiana is 0-4 vs top 100 teams- best team they've beaten is #111 Stony Brook.
Xavier won its last six games, last four of which were all against top 100 tewams; Musketeers are 5-3 overall vs top 100 teams, with all three of its losses on trip to Atlantis Thanksgiving weekend. Butler lost its Big East opener by 3 at home to Villanova, they took 28 3's, 30 2's in that game, as Villanova shot 58% inside arc. Butler needs to get little bit more athletic to be a force in this tougher league.
Florida has its SEC opener Wednesday; they've won four in row, nine of last ten games, forcing turnovers 22.5% of time.. Gators are 3-2 vs teams in top 100, with none of wins by more than six points. Richmond is 3-1 in true road games, all vs weaker teams- they lost at Wake Forest in Ot; Spiders aren't shooting it well (29.8% on arc) but are forcing turnovers 22.9% of time, a higher rate than Florida.
Home teams won three of four Oregon State-Utah games since Utes got into Pac-12; teams split pair here, with Utes winning by 11 LY, losing by 18 year before. Beavers lost last three road games by 12-6-6 points; they were -10 in turnovers in Thursday's loss at Colorado, making 8-15 3's. Utah lost tough OT game to Oregon (led by 10 with 13:45 left).
San Francisco won five of last six games with Pepperdine, winning last four played here by 30-1-15-6 points, but Waves are off to 3-0 start in WCC this year, scorign 75 ppg with win at Santa Clara. Pepperdine has made 40% (#22) of its 3's, is 4-1 in true road games, with only loss at Washington State. USF is 6-3 at home, allowing 90+ in all three losses.
Notre Dame's first ACC game is at home vs Duke; Irish are 2-4 vs top 100 teams, beating Indiana on neutral floor, but losing to North Dakota State at home- they needed OT to beat Cansiuis last game, with leading Grant (grades) done for year. Duke's first true road games comes today; they're 3-2 on neutral courts, 2-2 vs top 100 teams, not a great team on interior defense- Vermont was 31-41 inside arc against them.
Kansas State won four of last five games with Oklahoma State, which is having bad week; big guy Cobbins tore his Achilles, backup point guard got busted for weed. Wildcats won last eight games after 2-3 start, with win over Gonzaga- they're holding teams to 26.3% on arc. Oklahoma St is 12-1, winning by 26 at South Forida in its only true away game, and that was before Thanksgiving.
Dayton is 11-3 but this is its first road game since loss at inexperienced Illinois State four weeks ago; Flyers have road win at Ga Tech, are 2-2 vs top 100 teams, beating Gonzaga/Cal (Solomon was hurt). Ole Miss is 9-3 but lost last three games vs top 100 teams; this is Henderson's last game for 11 days; he is suspended for Rebels' first two SEC contests.
Texas is 11-2 despite being 6th-least experienced team in country; they won seven of last eight games with Oklahoma, winning last eight in this gym, winning last two years by 8-6 points. Oklahoma won in Brooklyn vs Seton Hall, not a true road game but close- they haven't played a true road game and lost last game at home in OT to good Louisana Tech club.
Saturday, January 4
January 4th is first true road game for Pitt, which is 3-1 in neutral court games, losing brutal 44-43 game to #32 Cincinnati. This is also the first ACC game for Panthers, who are #15 in defensive efficiency against the #306 schedule. NC State won eight of last nine games, losing last home game to #41 Missouri; they're 1-2 vs top 100 teams, also losing 68-57 at Cincinnati back in November.
Cincinnati-Memphis are league rivals again for first time since '09; last four meetings were won by Memphis, all by 10+ points. Tigers are 2-2 vs top 40 teams, splitting pair with Oklahoma State, losing at Florida, beating LSU- they force turnovers 23.8% of time. Bearcats are 4-2 vs top 100 teams, but lost by 9 at New Mexico in only true road game.
Georgetown won its last five games with St John's, all by 10+ points; Red Storm lost their last eight visits here, last three by 15-10-12 points. Red Storm is 9-4 with no good wins; best team they've beaten is #100 Ga Tech- this is also their first true road game. Hoyas are 2-2 vs top 100 teams, beating K-State/VCU- they're shooting 56.4% inside arc (#7).
UConn got upset 75-71 in AAC opener at Houston, giving up last seven points of game they led with 1:42 left; Huskies trailed by 21 late in first half, led by second TV timeout in second, but they made just 7-22 from arc in just their second true road game (1-1, won at Washington). SMU leads countrey, holding teams to 38.4% inside arc, but they're 0-3 vs teams in top 50, losing by 11-3-8 points.
Indiana won its last three games with Michigan State by 15-5-4 points, after losing previous six; Spartans lost last two visits here, won both true road games this year, by 14-16 at Texas/Penn State. Spartans are #9 in defensive efficiency- their only loss was to North Carolina. Indiana is 0-4 vs top 100 teams- best team they've beaten is #111 Stony Brook.
Xavier won its last six games, last four of which were all against top 100 tewams; Musketeers are 5-3 overall vs top 100 teams, with all three of its losses on trip to Atlantis Thanksgiving weekend. Butler lost its Big East opener by 3 at home to Villanova, they took 28 3's, 30 2's in that game, as Villanova shot 58% inside arc. Butler needs to get little bit more athletic to be a force in this tougher league.
Florida has its SEC opener Wednesday; they've won four in row, nine of last ten games, forcing turnovers 22.5% of time.. Gators are 3-2 vs teams in top 100, with none of wins by more than six points. Richmond is 3-1 in true road games, all vs weaker teams- they lost at Wake Forest in Ot; Spiders aren't shooting it well (29.8% on arc) but are forcing turnovers 22.9% of time, a higher rate than Florida.
Home teams won three of four Oregon State-Utah games since Utes got into Pac-12; teams split pair here, with Utes winning by 11 LY, losing by 18 year before. Beavers lost last three road games by 12-6-6 points; they were -10 in turnovers in Thursday's loss at Colorado, making 8-15 3's. Utah lost tough OT game to Oregon (led by 10 with 13:45 left).
San Francisco won five of last six games with Pepperdine, winning last four played here by 30-1-15-6 points, but Waves are off to 3-0 start in WCC this year, scorign 75 ppg with win at Santa Clara. Pepperdine has made 40% (#22) of its 3's, is 4-1 in true road games, with only loss at Washington State. USF is 6-3 at home, allowing 90+ in all three losses.
Notre Dame's first ACC game is at home vs Duke; Irish are 2-4 vs top 100 teams, beating Indiana on neutral floor, but losing to North Dakota State at home- they needed OT to beat Cansiuis last game, with leading Grant (grades) done for year. Duke's first true road games comes today; they're 3-2 on neutral courts, 2-2 vs top 100 teams, not a great team on interior defense- Vermont was 31-41 inside arc against them.
Kansas State won four of last five games with Oklahoma State, which is having bad week; big guy Cobbins tore his Achilles, backup point guard got busted for weed. Wildcats won last eight games after 2-3 start, with win over Gonzaga- they're holding teams to 26.3% on arc. Oklahoma St is 12-1, winning by 26 at South Forida in its only true away game, and that was before Thanksgiving.
Dayton is 11-3 but this is its first road game since loss at inexperienced Illinois State four weeks ago; Flyers have road win at Ga Tech, are 2-2 vs top 100 teams, beating Gonzaga/Cal (Solomon was hurt). Ole Miss is 9-3 but lost last three games vs top 100 teams; this is Henderson's last game for 11 days; he is suspended for Rebels' first two SEC contests.
Texas is 11-2 despite being 6th-least experienced team in country; they won seven of last eight games with Oklahoma, winning last eight in this gym, winning last two years by 8-6 points. Oklahoma won in Brooklyn vs Seton Hall, not a true road game but close- they haven't played a true road game and lost last game at home in OT to good Louisana Tech club.
