NCAAB Wednesday's Tip Sheet
January 13, 2015
By Brian Edwards
VegasInsider
**North Carolina at North Carolina State**
-- As of late Tuesday night, most betting shops had North Carolina installed as a 3.5-point favorite.
-- North Carolina (12-4 straight up, 10-6 against the spread) needed Marcus Paige's buzzer-beating layup to sneak past Louisville as a three-point favorite this past Saturday. The Tar Heels failed to cover the spread, but they avoided dropping back-to-back home games after losing to Notre Dame last Monday. The 143 combined points slipped 'over' the 140-point total. UNC improved to 2-1 in ACC play with the win over U of L.
-- Before producing the game winner, Paige had struggled against the Cardinals. He had more turnovers (four) than assists (three) and made only 4-of-12 shots from the field en route to scoring only 10 points. Kennedy Meeks led a balanced attack with 13 points, six rebounds, three steals and a pair of blocked shots. J.P. Tokoto finished with 10 points, five boards and five assists without a turnover.
-- North Carolina St. (12-5 SU, 7-7 ATS) is also coming off a huge win. Mark Gottfried's team handed Duke its first loss Sunday by capturing an 87-75 win as a nine-point home underdog. Trevor Lacey buried 8-of-13 shots, including 5-of-7 from long distance, to lead the way with 21 points. Ralston Turner added 16 points, while Beejay Anya contributed 14 points, six rebounds and four blocked shots in only 19 minutes of playing time from off the bench.
-- Lacey is the catalyst for N.C. St. The transfer from Alabama is averaging a team-high 16.9 points per game. He also leads the Wolfpack in steals (0.9 per game) and field-goal percentage (50.0%).
-- UNC is No. 14 in the RPI Rankings, posting a 2-3 record against RPI Top-50 opponents and a 6-4 mark against the RPI Top 100. The Tar Heels' best wins have come over Davidson and Louisville, while their four defeats occurred at Kentucky, vs. Butler in the Bahamas and in Chapel Hill vs. Iowa and Notre Dame.
-- N.C. St. is No. 32 in the RPI. The Wolfpack has won just one of five games against the RPI Top 50 (Duke), but it has five Top-100 victories. The victims have included Richmond, Boise St., Tennessee and Pittsburgh.
-- N.C. St. has won 12 of its 14 home games, going 6-5 ATS. The Wolfpack has won two of its first three ACC games, covering the number in all three spots. They are 2-2 ATS in four games as underdogs.
-- North Carolina won an 85-84 decision at N.C. St. in overtime last season. Paige erupted for a career-high 35 points and had the game-winning bucket on a layup with 0.9 seconds remaining.
-- UNC has won nine of the last 10 games against N.C. St., compiling a 7-3 spread record in the process. The 'over' is 3-1 in the last four encounters, 8-2 in the last 10 meetings in Raleigh.
-- The 'over' is 7-6-1 overall for UNC, but the 'under' has cashed in two of its three road games.
-- The 'over' is 5-4 overall for N.C. St., 4-2 in its home games.
-- Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Eastern on ESPN2.
**Xavier at Villanova**
-- As of late Tuesday night, most books had Villanova listed as a 10.5-point favorite for Wednesday's Big East showdown vs. Xavier. The Wildcats are 3-1 in league play, while the Musketeers are 2-2.
-- Villanova (15-1 SU, 10-5 ATS) has won three of its first four Big East games and is undefeated in eight home games. The Wildcats, who are 5-3 ATS at home, are coming off Saturday's 81-64 win over DePaul. Jay Wright's team failed to cover the number as 21.5-point home 'chalk.' Darrun Hilliard was the catalyst with a game-high 21 points and four steals. Hilliard drained 4-of-8 attempts from 3-point range. The victory resulted in the first Big East loss for the Blue Demons, who had started 3-0 with scalps of Marquette, Xavier and Creighton.
-- Hilliard, who averages 13.5 points per game, has scored 21 in back-to-back contests. He has knocked down 7-of-15 shots from beyond the arc in these two games.
-- Villanova owns a 6-4 spread record in 10 games as a double-digit favorite.
-- Xavier (11-5 SU, 8-7 ATS) has dropped two of its last three games, including Saturday's 88-76 setback at Butler as a 2.5-point underdog. Matt Stainbrook had a team-high 21 points in the losing effort. Remy Abell chipped in with 15 points.
-- Chris Mack's squad has limped to a 1-3 record both SU and ATS in four true road assignments. The Musketeers were in their first game as underdogs this season in the loss at Butler.
-- Xavier is No. 36 in the RPI, going 3-1 vs. the RPI Top 50 but only 4-4 vs. the Top 100. The Musketeers own wins over Alabama, Georgetown and Seton Hall.
-- Villanova is ranked fourth in the RPI, posting a stellar 6-1 record against Top-50 foes. The Wildcats have eight Top-100 wins over VCU, Illinois, Temple, Syracuse, Butler, St. John's, Michigan and La Salle.
-- The 'under' is 9-6 overall for Villanova, 5-3 in its home games. However, the 'over' has hit at a 5-2 clip in its last seven outings.
-- Totals have been an wash overall (7-7) for Xavier, but the 'under' is on a 6-2 run its last eight games.
-- Fox Sports 1 will have the broadcast at 9:00 p.m. Eastern.
**B.E.'s Bonus Nuggets**
-- Wisconsin senior center Frank Kaminsky has been cleared to practice and upgraded to 'probable' for Thursday's home game vs. Nebraska. Kaminsky missed Sunday's 67-62 loss at Rutgers due to a concussion. Kaminsky averages team-highs in scoring (16.9 PPG), rebounding (8.2 RPG), steals (1.2 SPG) and blocked shots (1.9 BPG). The Badgers will be without starting point guard Traevon Jackson for six weeks after he broke his foot in the loss at RU. Jackson is averaging 9.4 points and 2.9 assists per game.
-- Syracuse freshman forward Chris McCullough is out for the rest of the season after tearing his ACL in Sunday night's home win over FSU. McCullough was averaging 9.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.1 blocked shots, 1.7 steals and 1.1 assists per game. He will be missed by the Orange, who were fortunate to survive Wake Forest's upset bid Tuesday night at the Carrier Dome. Jim Boeheim's team won an 86-83 decision in overtime, but the Demon Deacons easily took the cash as 9.5-point underdogs.
-- Air Force guard Matt Mooney is 'out' of Wednesday's game at New Mexico due to a one-game suspension for his involvement in an altercation during Saturday's home loss to Colorado St. Mooney averages 7.0 points, 2.4 assists and 2.1 rebounds per game.
-- Seton Hall went into Tuesday's home game vs. Butler as a two-point favorite. The Pirates previously had record of 8-0 SU at home, 7-0 ATS at home and 6-0 ATS as single-digit favorites. Those unbeaten ledgers were busted, however, as the Bulldogs won 79-75 for their third win both SU and ATS in their last four outings. Roosevelt Jones and Kellen Dunham scored 44 combined points to lead the way for Butler, which has the look of a team that can make some serious noise in March.
-- The 'under' was 8-0 at home for Tennessee going into Tuesday's showdown vs. Arkansas, but the 143 combined points in the Volunteers' 74-69 win allowed the 'over' to cash (136). UT won outright as a 3.5-point home underdog.
January 13, 2015
By Brian Edwards
VegasInsider
**North Carolina at North Carolina State**
-- As of late Tuesday night, most betting shops had North Carolina installed as a 3.5-point favorite.
-- North Carolina (12-4 straight up, 10-6 against the spread) needed Marcus Paige's buzzer-beating layup to sneak past Louisville as a three-point favorite this past Saturday. The Tar Heels failed to cover the spread, but they avoided dropping back-to-back home games after losing to Notre Dame last Monday. The 143 combined points slipped 'over' the 140-point total. UNC improved to 2-1 in ACC play with the win over U of L.
-- Before producing the game winner, Paige had struggled against the Cardinals. He had more turnovers (four) than assists (three) and made only 4-of-12 shots from the field en route to scoring only 10 points. Kennedy Meeks led a balanced attack with 13 points, six rebounds, three steals and a pair of blocked shots. J.P. Tokoto finished with 10 points, five boards and five assists without a turnover.
-- North Carolina St. (12-5 SU, 7-7 ATS) is also coming off a huge win. Mark Gottfried's team handed Duke its first loss Sunday by capturing an 87-75 win as a nine-point home underdog. Trevor Lacey buried 8-of-13 shots, including 5-of-7 from long distance, to lead the way with 21 points. Ralston Turner added 16 points, while Beejay Anya contributed 14 points, six rebounds and four blocked shots in only 19 minutes of playing time from off the bench.
-- Lacey is the catalyst for N.C. St. The transfer from Alabama is averaging a team-high 16.9 points per game. He also leads the Wolfpack in steals (0.9 per game) and field-goal percentage (50.0%).
-- UNC is No. 14 in the RPI Rankings, posting a 2-3 record against RPI Top-50 opponents and a 6-4 mark against the RPI Top 100. The Tar Heels' best wins have come over Davidson and Louisville, while their four defeats occurred at Kentucky, vs. Butler in the Bahamas and in Chapel Hill vs. Iowa and Notre Dame.
-- N.C. St. is No. 32 in the RPI. The Wolfpack has won just one of five games against the RPI Top 50 (Duke), but it has five Top-100 victories. The victims have included Richmond, Boise St., Tennessee and Pittsburgh.
-- N.C. St. has won 12 of its 14 home games, going 6-5 ATS. The Wolfpack has won two of its first three ACC games, covering the number in all three spots. They are 2-2 ATS in four games as underdogs.
-- North Carolina won an 85-84 decision at N.C. St. in overtime last season. Paige erupted for a career-high 35 points and had the game-winning bucket on a layup with 0.9 seconds remaining.
-- UNC has won nine of the last 10 games against N.C. St., compiling a 7-3 spread record in the process. The 'over' is 3-1 in the last four encounters, 8-2 in the last 10 meetings in Raleigh.
-- The 'over' is 7-6-1 overall for UNC, but the 'under' has cashed in two of its three road games.
-- The 'over' is 5-4 overall for N.C. St., 4-2 in its home games.
-- Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Eastern on ESPN2.
**Xavier at Villanova**
-- As of late Tuesday night, most books had Villanova listed as a 10.5-point favorite for Wednesday's Big East showdown vs. Xavier. The Wildcats are 3-1 in league play, while the Musketeers are 2-2.
-- Villanova (15-1 SU, 10-5 ATS) has won three of its first four Big East games and is undefeated in eight home games. The Wildcats, who are 5-3 ATS at home, are coming off Saturday's 81-64 win over DePaul. Jay Wright's team failed to cover the number as 21.5-point home 'chalk.' Darrun Hilliard was the catalyst with a game-high 21 points and four steals. Hilliard drained 4-of-8 attempts from 3-point range. The victory resulted in the first Big East loss for the Blue Demons, who had started 3-0 with scalps of Marquette, Xavier and Creighton.
-- Hilliard, who averages 13.5 points per game, has scored 21 in back-to-back contests. He has knocked down 7-of-15 shots from beyond the arc in these two games.
-- Villanova owns a 6-4 spread record in 10 games as a double-digit favorite.
-- Xavier (11-5 SU, 8-7 ATS) has dropped two of its last three games, including Saturday's 88-76 setback at Butler as a 2.5-point underdog. Matt Stainbrook had a team-high 21 points in the losing effort. Remy Abell chipped in with 15 points.
-- Chris Mack's squad has limped to a 1-3 record both SU and ATS in four true road assignments. The Musketeers were in their first game as underdogs this season in the loss at Butler.
-- Xavier is No. 36 in the RPI, going 3-1 vs. the RPI Top 50 but only 4-4 vs. the Top 100. The Musketeers own wins over Alabama, Georgetown and Seton Hall.
-- Villanova is ranked fourth in the RPI, posting a stellar 6-1 record against Top-50 foes. The Wildcats have eight Top-100 wins over VCU, Illinois, Temple, Syracuse, Butler, St. John's, Michigan and La Salle.
-- The 'under' is 9-6 overall for Villanova, 5-3 in its home games. However, the 'over' has hit at a 5-2 clip in its last seven outings.
-- Totals have been an wash overall (7-7) for Xavier, but the 'under' is on a 6-2 run its last eight games.
-- Fox Sports 1 will have the broadcast at 9:00 p.m. Eastern.
**B.E.'s Bonus Nuggets**
-- Wisconsin senior center Frank Kaminsky has been cleared to practice and upgraded to 'probable' for Thursday's home game vs. Nebraska. Kaminsky missed Sunday's 67-62 loss at Rutgers due to a concussion. Kaminsky averages team-highs in scoring (16.9 PPG), rebounding (8.2 RPG), steals (1.2 SPG) and blocked shots (1.9 BPG). The Badgers will be without starting point guard Traevon Jackson for six weeks after he broke his foot in the loss at RU. Jackson is averaging 9.4 points and 2.9 assists per game.
-- Syracuse freshman forward Chris McCullough is out for the rest of the season after tearing his ACL in Sunday night's home win over FSU. McCullough was averaging 9.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.1 blocked shots, 1.7 steals and 1.1 assists per game. He will be missed by the Orange, who were fortunate to survive Wake Forest's upset bid Tuesday night at the Carrier Dome. Jim Boeheim's team won an 86-83 decision in overtime, but the Demon Deacons easily took the cash as 9.5-point underdogs.
-- Air Force guard Matt Mooney is 'out' of Wednesday's game at New Mexico due to a one-game suspension for his involvement in an altercation during Saturday's home loss to Colorado St. Mooney averages 7.0 points, 2.4 assists and 2.1 rebounds per game.
-- Seton Hall went into Tuesday's home game vs. Butler as a two-point favorite. The Pirates previously had record of 8-0 SU at home, 7-0 ATS at home and 6-0 ATS as single-digit favorites. Those unbeaten ledgers were busted, however, as the Bulldogs won 79-75 for their third win both SU and ATS in their last four outings. Roosevelt Jones and Kellen Dunham scored 44 combined points to lead the way for Butler, which has the look of a team that can make some serious noise in March.
-- The 'under' was 8-0 at home for Tennessee going into Tuesday's showdown vs. Arkansas, but the 143 combined points in the Volunteers' 74-69 win allowed the 'over' to cash (136). UT won outright as a 3.5-point home underdog.
