Larry Ness
REASON FOR PICK: It's starting to look like this is Buffalo's year. Turner Gill led the football team to the MAC championship and a bowl game and now Reggie Witherspoon is looking for a "repeat performance" by this year's basketball team. The Bulls were just 10-20 (3-13 in the MAC) last year but this year's team comes into this game 17-6 overall, while leading the MAC East with a 9-2 record. The Bulls saw their nine-game winning streak snapped this past Sunday, as they lost 53-51 at Ball State (shot just 37 percent as a team, including 2-of-9 on threes!) but don't expect that one loss to "burst the team's bubble." The Bulls have 11 players in their rotation, nine who have played in all 23 games. The 6-3 Betts (10.0-6.1) and the 6-4 Gamble (8.8-5.3) are two small forwards who get the most out of their abilities. The 6-9 Fedotov (5.3-2.4) and the 6-7 Bouderau (5.3-3.) have done decent jobs inside, while Pierce (14.0-3.7) has had a breakout season at one guard (he averaged just 7.6 PPG last year) and fellow guard Andy Robinson (8.2) has been the team's best perimeter defender. Bowling Green also 'slipped up' this past Sunday but it's transgression was much worse. The Falcons, 14-10 overall and 7-4 in MAC play, lost 65-57 at home to Eastern Michigan, which is just 4-12 overall, including 2-9 in MAC play. Louis Orr is in his second season at BG (went 13-17 LY) and like Buffalo, has two talented small forwards (both 6-4) in Miller (12.5-6.7) and Clements (10.3-4.3). The Falcons own a little more size than the Bulls, as the 6-7 Knight (6.6-4.9), the 6-9 Polk (5.9-5.6) and the 6-7 Marschall (4.9-3.7) are all contributors. BG's backcourt consists of Moten (11.2) and Jakubowski (8.3-2.8-3.7). Bowling Green beat Buffalo 86-82 back on Jan 10, while shooting 53 percent from the floor (including 8-of-13 on threes). One can't expect that kind of marksmanship again, as Buffalo is allowing just 59 PPG on its home floor, where it is 8-2. Revenge works here. Revenge Rout on Buffalo (7*).
REASON FOR PICK: Charles Koch went 11-20 (4-14 in MVC play) in his first season as the Shockers' head coach and lost four starters off that team. He enters this game 13-13 overall, with a 7-8 league mark. Freshman guard Murry (11.6-3.6) and his JUCO partner Hannah (10.4-4.5 APG) have solidified Wichita's backcourt but 7-0 freshman Stutz (4.6-2.9) has not lived up to expectations, in the frontcourt. The 6-7 Durley (8.0-4.5) has recovered nicely from LY's injury, while the 6-6 Clemente (7.2-7.7) has been fine all season, after collapsing during July drills. Hawkins (4.4-2.1), a 6-5 transfer from St Bonaventure, is about the only other major contributor. Illinois St opened the year 14-0 but is just 7-5 since. The Redbirds are 10-5 in the MVC, trailing both Northern Iowa and Creighton. Illinois St won 25 games last season in Tim Jankovich's first year at Normal and are well on their way to topping that total this year. Three starters are gone from LY's team but only the 6-7 Slack (9.5-7.1) is really missed. The 6-8 Odiakosa (9.2-7.3) and the 6-8 Sampay (7.2-5.0) have done a decent job up front and shouldn't have much trouble with Wichita's frontcourt. Illinois State's backcourt has been excellent all year, as returning players Eldridgre (14.0-6.1) and Holloway (11.1-4.1-2.9) have been joined by 6-5 Oregon transfer Oguchi (14.7-5.8) and JUCO point guard Phillips (11.6-3.5 APG). Phillips has missed the team's last two games because of personal reasons but it hasn't mattered, as the Redbirds won at Evansville and then routed last year's MVC champs Drake, 67-45 in Des Moines on Sunday (Phillips is expected back here). Illinois St knows failing to win the MVC regular season title likely means no NCAA bid without winning the MVC tourney, as LY's 24 wins left the team playing in the NIT. Illinois St still has games upcoming with Northern Iowa and Creighton but tonight, it's first things first. The Redbirds won't lack for motivation, as this will be the team's first home game since it lost 75-73 (in OT) in Normal to Indiana St on Feb 8. It's the team's lone home loss this year (14-1 SU) and came to a team which is 7-19 overall, including 5-10 in MVC play. What's more, Illinois St lost 64-58 at Wichita State back on Jan 21, so taking the Shockers lightly should not be a worry. Wichita State is just 1-8 SU on the road TY (won at Ind St), even losing 68-55 at MVC doormat Missouri St (Bears are 3-13 in MVC play). The Shockers have been a poor road team for quite some time now, while Illinois St has been tough to beat here in Redbird Arena. Weekly Wipeout Winner Illinois St (7.5*).
Travis Ford led U Mass to 24 wins and 25 wins in each of the last two seasons and last year, led the Minutemen to the NIT championship game (lost to Ohio St). He used that as a 'springboard' to get the Okla St job, where Sean Sutton was let go. Things haven't exactly worked out as planned for Ford and their are rumors that he's alienated more than a few players. The Cowboys are an odd team to begin with, featuring no big men to speak of. The 6-11 Thomas (8.3-3.9) decided to transfer after seven games and OSU is basically down to a five-man rotation. It includes PG Eaton (14.5-3.4-6.0) and freshman Page (9.2), teamed with three 6-5 or 6-6 players. Anderson (17.7-5.8) is the team's leading scorer, Muonelo (14.1-8.3) its leading rebounder and Harris (14.3-5.0) completes the trio. OSU has been known as a poor road team long before Ford's arrival but he's dome little to change that reputation this year. OSU is 2-5 SU (1-5 ATS) in true road games this year, beating only Texas A&M-CC and Nebraska. In three neutral-site games, the Cowboys lost to Gonzaga and Mich St (0-2 ATS), while beating Siena. Now things are "far from perfect" in Lubbock either, as Pat Knight tries to fill his father's shoes. Tech is not a big team by any stretch of the imagination but the 6-5 Singleatry (10.2-5.3) is a pretty nice small forward, 6-9 freshman Lewandowski (6.9-4.0) has shown signs of being a pretty fair player plus the 6-7 Roberts (6.1-4.2) and the 6-7 Prince (4.3-3.2) add 'bodies.' Tech's backcourt is pretty good, led by sophomore PG Roberson (14.4-3.4-6.7), senior Voskuvil (14.0-4.2) and JUCO transfer Okorie (10.3.). Tech is 11-3 SU at home (losses are to TCU, Tex and Neb) and almost won at Stillwater back on Feb 4. In that game, Tech led 47-35 at the half, before barely losing, 81-80. Knight's team is fighting for a winning season right now (12-13 overall) and the poor-traveling, somewhat 'distracted' Cowboys should prove to be the perfect 'tonic.' OSU has lost eight games away from Stillwater this year, allowing 85.6 PPG. While I'm not calling for Tech to 'hang' 167 points on the Cowboys (like the Red Raiders did to East Central on Nov 20), I do expect them to have a big game. Why is this bunch of Cowboys even favored away from Stillwater? Oddsmaker's Error on Okla State (8*).
ointer:
