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Warriors vs. Lakers Preview and Predictions
By Gracenote for Scores and Stats10:30 PM
by Gracenote on 12/17/2017
The Los Angeles Lakers will retire Kobe Bryant's jersey during halftime on Monday and the Golden State Warriors, who will be visiting, intend to watch the ceremony. The Lakers will retire both Nos. 8 and 24 in honor of Bryant, who was part of five NBA championship teams while spending his entire career with the franchise.
"Just the experience in seeing one of the greatest players in the history of the game getting his jersey retired and we happen to be there," Warriors coach Steve Kerr told reporters. "I'm not going to keep them in the locker room to watch tape of the first half. The players would look at me like I was nuts. There's something interesting going on the floor. Let's go out there." Golden State hopes to have a lead at halftime and continues to battle through injuries while posting eight consecutive wins. The Lakers are returning home after dropping the final two of a four-game road trip and have been off since 121-112 setback in Cleveland on Thursday. "I think that we showed what our identity is going to be, we are just not all the way there yet," Lakers coach Luke Walton told reporters. "It is tough to do it for entire stretches of games."
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, NBATV, NBCS Bay Area (Golden State), Spectrum SportsNet (Los Angeles)
ABOUT THE WARRIORS (23-6): Golden State expects to be without point guard Stephen Curry (ankle) for another week and already declared starters Zaza Pachulia (shoulder) and Draymond Green (shoulder) out for Monday along with key reserve Shaun Livingston (knee). "It's gotta be as beaten up as we've ever been since I've been here," Kerr told reporters. "I don't remember having this many guys out, in particularly the starters. It's all part of it and we've handled it really well, obviously, and it's created some opportunities for other guys and I think they've taken advantage. So, it's all good." Kevin Durant is carrying a heavier load with all the injuries and is averaging 33.8 points, 10.3 rebounds and 7.3 assists over the last four games.
ABOUT THE LAKERS (10-17): Los Angeles dropped seven of its last nine games and allowed at least 113 points in each of those seven setbacks. The Lakers allowed the Cavaliers to shoot 50 percent from the floor in Thursday's 121-112 loss but got some strong performances on the other end of the floor from some of its young stars. Second-year small forward Brandon Ingram bounced back from a 2-of-12 effort at New York on Tuesday to score 26 points on 10-of-15 on Thursday while rookie Kyle Kuzma added 20 points off the bench.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Warriors SG Nick Young (concussion) is expected to return on Monday.
2. Lakers SG Kentavious Caldwell-Pope will sit out road games outside of California for the next month as part of a plea agreement tied to his arrest for suspicion of drunk driving.
3. Golden State took the last four in the series but needed overtime to earn a 127-123 win at Los Angeles in the last meeting on Nov. 29.
PREDICTION: Warriors 119, Lakers 116
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Anaheim Ducks at New Jersey Devils Preview and Predictions
By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/17/2017
The Anaheim Ducks look to extend their point streak to eight contests as they continue their six-game road trip Monday against the New Jersey Devils. Anaheim dropped a 3-2 overtime decision at Washington on Saturday, falling to 1-0-1 on its trek, and has gone 3-0-4 since losing in regulation to Columbus on Dec. 1.
The Ducks carried a 2-0 lead into the third period against the Capitals but came unglued and fell to 2-0-8 in overtime this season. New Jersey continues a six-game homestand that began Friday with a 5-2 triumph over Dallas. Brian Boyle led the way with a pair of goals - including the 100th of his career, which proved to be the game-winner. The 33-year-old, who also notched an assist in the win, has scored seven of his eight goals on the season over his last 11 contests.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, KCOP-13 (Anaheim), MSG Plus (New Jersey)
ABOUT THE DUCKS (14-11-8): Hampus Lindholm returned to the lineup Saturday and registered three shots while blocking one in 17 minutes, 48 seconds of ice time. The 23-year-old Swedish defenseman had missed five games with a concussion. Adam Henrique has recorded three goals and three assists in eight contests since being acquired from New Jersey on Nov. 30.
ABOUT THE DEVILS (18-9-5): Taylor Hall leads the team with 31 points and ranks second with 11 goals but has missed the last two games with a knee contusion. Brian Gibbons tops the club with 12 tallies in 32 games after registering five in 66 contests over his first two NHL seasons with Pittsburgh (2013-14) and Columbus (2014-15). The 29-year-old left wing is tied for fourth on the team with 20 points and has collected five in his last five games.
OVERTIME
1. Ducks LW Andrew Cogliano has gone nine games without an assist, remaining stuck on 199 for his career.
2. New Jersey D Will Butcher ranks second among NHL rookies with 19 assists.
3. Anaheim RW Jakob Silfverberg, who has landed on the scoresheet in four of his last five contests, is one assist shy of 100 in the NHL.
PREDICTION: Devils 3, Ducks 2
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Kings vs. Flyers Preview and Predictions
By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/17/2017
Two teams streaking in opposite directions face off Monday as the Philadelphia Flyers continue their five-game homestand against the Los Angeles Kings. Philadelphia has made its 10-game slide (0-5-5) a distant memory with a season-high winning streak that was extended to six contests with Saturday's 2-1 overtime triumph over Dallas.
Defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere scored both goals, including the winner at 3:50 of the extra session as the Flyers improved to 3-0-0 on their stretch at Wells Fargo Center. Los Angeles, meanwhile, has followed an eight-game winning streak with a three-game skid (0-2-1) and looks to salvage the finale of its four-game road trip. The Kings earned a point against the New York Islanders on Saturday as captain Anze Kopitar scored the tying goal with 13 seconds remaining in the third period but went on to fall 4-3 in overtime. The 30-year-old Kopitar has netted a team-high 17 tallies in 34 games after recording only 12 in 76 contests last season.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, NHL Network, FSN West (Los Angeles), NBCSN Philadelphia
ABOUT THE KINGS (20-10-4): Tyler Toffoli registered his 100th career assist in Saturday's setback and can reach two more milestones against Philadelphia. The 25-year-old center is one goal shy of the century mark and one point away from 200 in the NHL. Los Angeles has allowed a power-play tally in five consecutive games after yielding one in back-to-back contests only twice this season.
ABOUT THE FLYERS (14-11-7): Jakub Voracek recorded two assists on Saturday, giving him a league-leading 33 and a team-high 40 points. Philadelphia has done a good job staying out of the penalty box lately, permitting fewer than three power-play opportunities in seven consecutive games. Sean Couturier tops the club with 15 goals but has scored just once in his last eight contests.
OVERTIME
1. The Flyers are the third team in NHL history to win at least six in a row after losing 10 straight, joining the 1966-67 Toronto Maple Leafs and 2005-06 San Jose Sharks.
2. Los Angeles RW Dustin Brown will be playing in his 999th career game on Monday.
3. Philadelphia's winning streak is its longest since a 10-game run from Nov. 27-Dec. 14, 2016.
PREDICTION: Kings 4, Flyers 2
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Blue Jackets vs. Bruins Preview and Predictions
By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/17/2017
The Boston Bruins look to avoid a winless homestand when they host the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday. The Bruins had won nine of 11 games before dropping a 5-3 contest against Washington on Thursday and a 3-2 overtime decision to the New York Rangers two days later.
"We certainly had opportunities to take advantage early, and we didn't," Boston coach Bruce Cassidy told reporters after Saturday's setback. "Even in overtime, just lost control of pucks and lost our footing, and it took some good chances away." Bruins leading scorer David Pastrnak brings a career high-tying 11-game point streak into the matchup with the Blue Jackets and teammate Brad Marchand has landed on the scoresheet in eight straight contests. Columbus built a 36-24 advantage in shots Saturday in Carolina but came away with its second loss in three contests, a 2-1 defeat on the first leg and a two-game road trip. "I don't think we really got to it, as far as rebounds and getting to second opportunities," Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella told reporters of his team, which has scored fewer than three goals in three of its last four contests. "To score goals, you're going to have to score some ugly ones along the way."
TV: 7 p.m. ET, Sportsnet, TVA, FSN Ohio (Columbus), NESN (Boston)
ABOUT THE BLUE JACKETS (20-12-1): Oliver Bjorkstrand is warming up with a goal and five assists in his last three games and ranks second on the team with 22 points - six behind Artemi Panarin. Alexander Wennberg, who recorded a career-high 59 points in 2016-17, also is starting to increase his production with a pair of goals and two assists in his last five contests after managing one point in the previous 10 games. Columbus could take some pressure off with better play on the power play, which is last in the league at 9.67 percent.
ABOUT THE BRUINS (15-10-5): Pastrnak, who leads the team with 30 points, has collected five goals and eight assists during his point streak while Marchand has netted five tallies and set up seven others during his career-best run. Boston is getting healthier as Ryan Spooner returned Saturday from a four-game absence due to a lower-body injury, and defenseman Adam McQuaid (broken fibula) could be back Monday after missing two months. Tuukka Rask has allowed just 10 goals in his last seven games, going 5-1-1 after a slow start to the season.
OVERTIME
1. The Blue Jackets earned a 4-3 shootout victory over the Bruins at home on Oct. 30 as Panarin and Bjorkstrand both scored in the bonus format.
2. Boston rookie C Danton Heinen (18 points) has recorded three goals and three assists in his last six games.
3. Columbus recalled D Cameron Gaunce and LW Sonny Milano from Cleveland while assigning LW Jordan Schroeder and D Gabriel Carlsson to the American Hockey League team on Sunday.
PREDICTION: Blue Jackets 4, Bruins 2
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Sharks vs. Oilers Preview and Predictions
By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/17/2017
After earning three points over the first two contests of their three-game road trip, the San Jose Sharks attempt to extend their streak to six games Monday without their leading scorer as they visit the Edmonton Oilers. San Jose, which has gone 3-0-2 in its last five, lost Logan Couture to a head injury in Friday's 4-3 overtime loss at Vancouver.
The 28-year-old Couture, who tops the Sharks in goals (15) and points (26), is expected to miss Monday's contest and possibly more with what may be a concussion. Defenseman Brent Burns tallied twice in the setback against the Canucks, marking his second two-goal performance in three games and fourth two-point effort in his last five contests. Edmonton is beginning a three-game stretch at home, where it has lost three in a row. The Oilers are coming off a 3-2 triumph at Minnesota on Saturday in which Cam Talbot returned from a seven-game absence due to an upper-body injury and made 29 saves.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, NBCSN California (San Jose), Sportsnet West (Edmonton)
ABOUT THE SHARKS (17-10-4): Joe Thornton had his four-game point streak halted Friday, keeping him one behind Doug Gilmour (1,414) for 18th place on the all-time list. The 38-year-old Thornton also is nine assists away from tying Mario Lemieux (1,033) for 11th in NHL history. After scoring at least 29 goals in each of the previous four seasons, captain Joe Pavelski has recorded only six in 31 games this campaign.
ABOUT THE OILERS (14-17-2): Edmonton hopes to get healthier on the blue line soon as Adam Larsson (upper body) and Andrej Sekera (knee) continue to get closer to returning to the lineup. "Larsson, yes," coach Todd McLellan told the team's website when asked if the defensemen would be back before Christmas. "Sekera is getting close. We'll have to make that call as we progress, but Andrej won't play (Monday)." Connor McDavid leads the team with 40 points and has not been kept off the scoresheet in back-to-back games this season.
OVERTIME
1. Sharks G Martin Jones is 0-0-2 in his last two starts, remaining one win shy of 100 for his career.
2. Edmonton and San Jose are among four teams tied for the league lead with six short-handed goals.
3. Burns has scored five goals in as many games after recording one in his first 26 contests this season.
PREDICTION: Oilers 3, Sharks 2
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Penguins vs. Avalanche Preview and Predictions
By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/17/2017
The two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins look to string together a pair of wins to end a short road trip when they visit the Colorado Avalanche on Monday. The Penguins, who had an uneven start to the season, snapped a three-game losing streak with a 4-2 victory at Arizona on Saturday and hope to avenge last Monday's 2-1 loss to the Avalanche.
Pittsburgh coughed up a two-goal lead against the Coyotes before defenseman Olli Maatta's goal with 14.6 seconds remaining snapped a 2-2 tie and improved the Penguins to 7-9-2 on the road this season. "It was a little discouraging when they tied it up. I thought we controlled a lot of the play for a lot of the night," Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan told reporters after the win. "It was just one of those nights. I really liked our stick-to-it-iveness. We just went back to work." Colorado rallied from four goals down to get within one before suffering a 6-5 loss to Tampa Bay on Saturday despite captain Gabriel Landeskog's career-high five points, including his second hat trick of the season. "We're here to play and we're here to compete," Landeskog told reporters. "We're not going to be pushed around and we're not going to give up on anybody. The most important thing is that we showed that to ourselves (Saturday)."
TV: 9 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh, Altitude (Colorado)
ABOUT THE PENGUINS (17-14-3): Pittsburgh is just 4-4-0 this month, but that record could be much worse if not for a penalty-killing unit that has been a perfect 23-for-23 in the last eight contests. Phil Kessel tops the team with 15 goals, including four in his last seven games, and 38 points - five more than captain Sidney Crosby, who has recorded eight goals and nine assists in his last 12 contests. Evgeni Malkin has notched at least one point in seven of eight games this month after scoring his 10th goal of the campaign in Saturday's victory.
ABOUT THE AVALANCHE (15-15-2): Defenseman Erik Johnson was suspended two games for boarding Tampa Bay's Vladislav Namestnikov on Saturday. Landeskog's big performance gave him 13 goals and pulled him within a pair of team leader Nathan MacKinnon, who has collected four tallies and an assist in his last two games to increase his team-best total to 38 points. Alex Kerfoot (21 points), who has missed the last three contests with a lower-body injury, could return Monday.
OVERTIME
1. The Penguins have won five of their last six games at Colorado but dropped their last two at home against the Avalanche.
2. Colorado G Semyon Varlamov is 3-1-1 with a .917 save percentage in his career against the Penguins.
3. Crosby is four goals away from 400 in his career and RW Patric Hornqvist needs two assists to reach 200.
PREDICTION: Penguins 4, Avalanche 2
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Houston Baptist vs. Michigan State Preview and Predictions
By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/18/2017
No. 2 Michigan State looks to extend its winning streak to 10 games when it begins a five-game homestand Monday against Houston Baptist in a non-conference contest. The Spartans pulled away from a feisty Oakland team for a neutral-court victory on Saturday, while the Huskies are coming off a home rout of Barclay on Friday.
Freshmen David Caraher and Ian DuBose are the highest-scoring duo in the Southland Conference, averaging 15.2 and 11.4 points, respectively. They'll both certainly be focused on by Michigan State's defense, which leads the nation in field-goal percentage defense, allowing just 33.3 percent shooting. Offensively, it's nearly impossible to focus on all the Spartans' scoring threats, as all five starters are averaging double digits this season - including sophomore forwards Miles Bridges (15.1 points, 6.5 rebounds) and Nick Ward (13.8, 6.9). The backcourt duo of Joshua Langford (13.3 points) and Cassius Winston (13.3, 6.4 assists, national-best 58.3 3-point percentage) is equally dangerous, with both able to bury an opponent from beyond the arc.
TV: 6 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network
ABOUT HOUSTON BAPTIST (4-7): The Huskies have been one of the top rebounding teams in the country this season, ranking 14th in rebounds per game (42.1) and third in offensive boards (15.8). Without a lot of size - 6-10 Edward Hardt is the only starter above 6-6 - coach Ron Cottrell has his team competing on the glass every night because everyone concentrates on getting to the boards. Four different players average at least 5.1 rebounds, including point guard Braxton Bonds at 6.2, although the Huskies likely will need a lot more than hustle against a Michigan State squad blessed with loads of height and depth.
ABOUT MICHIGAN STATE (10-1): While the Spartans' starting five gets a lot of the attention, the bench may be what sets this team apart from others that have played for Tom Izzo, giving him versatility and answers when he needs to make adjustments. Against Oakland, despite Ward playing great, Izzo switched to forward Kenny Goins when the Golden Grizzlies went to a zone in the second half, and the junior responded with a career-high seven assists from the high post. Likewise, with Oakland's Kendrick Nunn scoring 31 points in the game's first 31 minutes, Izzo brought in senior guard Lourawls Nairn Jr. to shut him down, and Nunn was held to just a single free throw the rest of the way as Michigan State pulled away in the final minutes for the victory.
TIP-INS
1. Bonds recorded just the third triple-double in school history in the win over Barclay, finishing with 16 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists.
2. Michigan State ranks second in the nation in blocked shots per game, averaging 8.1 behind freshman F Jaren Jackson Jr.'s team-best 3.1 - which is 14th in the country.
3. The Spartans are No. 19 in the nation in scoring defense (62.4 points), allowing just three opponents to record more than 60 points this season.
PREDICTION: Michigan State 88, Houston Baptist 62
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Northern Arizona vs. South Florida Preview and Predictions
By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/17/2017
South Florida looks to win consecutive games for the second time this season when the Bulls host Northern Arizona on Monday night. USF has not won back-to-back games since knocking off Howard and Arkansas State on Nov. 22 and 24, respectively.
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The Bulls hope to carry over the strong shooting performance from last Thursday's victory against Bethune-Cookman into Monday's meeting with Northern Arizona, which allows just short of 50 percent shooting. USF had its best shooting night of the season last time out, hitting on 55.6 percent from the field and draining 7-of-14 from 3-point range. It marked the first time the Bulls made at least 55 percent of their shots and 50 percent from behind the 3-point line in the same game since Nov. 28, 2016 against Kennesaw State. Only one prior time this season had USF been better than 50 percent from the field, which came during a victory at Stetson on Nov. 15.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, No TV
ABOUT NORTHERN ARIZONA (2-9): Sophomore guard JoJo Anderson is coming off a career-high 30 points in the Lumberjacks' loss to South Dakota on Thursday. Anderson had not scored more than 19 in any game this season and managed just 22 combined points in the previous three contests. He is one of two players averaging in double digits scoring despite starting just four of 11 games this season.
ABOUT SOUTH FLORIDA (5-6): The Bulls had five players reach double digits in scoring for the first time since Dec. 16, 2015, last time out. Senior guard Stephan Jiggetts led the way with 20 points and became the second player this season to lead the Bulls in scoring, rebounds (five) and assists (seven) in the same game. The Bulls put up a season-high in points with 83 against Bethune-Cookman, nearly 20 more than their season average.
TIP-INS
1. USF F Malik Martin is shooting 60.3 percent from the floor this season and is coming off a perfect 5-for-5 night against Bethune-Cookman.
2. Jiggets ranks second in the American Athletic Conference in free-throw percentage, hitting 92 percent from the charity stripe.
3. USF is 30th nationally among 351 Division I schools in free-throw percentage (76.3 percent).
PREDICTION: South Florida 74, Northern Arizona 69
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Northern Illinois vs. Marquette Preview and Predictions
By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/17/2017
Marquette is off to a sensational start, having opened with seven wins in its first 10 games and an emphatic victory over rival Wisconsin in its first road game of the season. And things are about to get even better for the Golden Eagles, as they add towering center Harry Froling to the lineup in time for Monday's home meeting with Northern Illinois.
Froling, a 6-11 Australia native and SMU transfer who was forced to sit out Marquette's first 10 games, is expected to provide a significant frontcourt presence after averaging 4.3 points and 3.2 rebounds in 14.6 minutes over 10 games with the Mustangs last season. He joins a Golden Eagles team that shot a red-hot 14-of-22 from 3-point range in an 82-63 rout of the Badgers, prompting head coach Steve Wojciechowski to say afterward: "It was as good of a 40-minute effort that we've had all season." Marquette goes for its sixth win in seven games Monday as it hosts a Northern Illinois team that held off Central Connecticut 61-55 last time out. Eugene German led the way with 19 points for the Huskies, who have alternated wins and losses over their previous five games.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1
ABOUT NORTHERN ILLINOIS (6-4): German leads the Huskies in scoring and ranks fourth in the Mid-American Conference in scoring (19.9 ppg), and has shot 50 percent from the field or better in three consecutive games; he has also made 15 3-pointers so far this season, just one fewer than he had in 2016-17. Junior guard Levi Bradley contributes 15.2 points and a team-best 5.8 rebounds, and has racked up nine boards in each of his last two games. Northern Illinois has been sensational at preventing opposing steals, yielding just 3.1 per game - the fewest in the nation.
ABOUT MARQUETTE (7-3): Second-year guard Markus Howard has been the driving force behind the Golden Eagles' offense, leading the Big East and ranking 16th in the nation in scoring (22.5 ppg); he has averaged nearly 30 points over his previous four games while knocking down an incredible 25 3-pointers over that span. Backcourt mate Andrew Rowsey is close behind at 21.8 points and has also been prolific from beyond the arc, making at least three 3-pointers in each of his previous four contests. Rebounding has been a major concern for Marquette, which averages just 31.3 boards per game (32nd out of 351 Division I teams).
TIP-INS
1. Howard leads the conference in made 3-pointers per game (4.0).
2. Marquette shoots 79.7 percent from the free-throw line, tied for the sixth-best rate in the nation.
3. Northern Illinois averages just 5.9 made 3-pointers per game, ranking outside the top 300 nationally.
PREDICTION: Marquette 84, Northern Illinois 68
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Charleston Southern vs. Florida State Preview and Predictions
By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/17/2017
For the first time this season, Florida State has to prove that it can rebound from a loss. The 19th-ranked Seminoles suffered a tough defeat their last time out and only have 48 hours to bounce back as they host Charleston Southern on Monday.
In its last contest, Florida State led by a point with under 10 seconds left before Oklahoma State scored the decisive basket, leaving Seminoles coach Leonard Hamilton bummed but not broken. "We're in a conference where you can't get caught up in streaks, because nobody in the ACC is going to go undefeated," Hamilton said. "It doesn't happen. Tonight we played against a team that played a little better than us." Phil Cofer and Terance Mann combined for 42 points, 18 rebounds and five steals against the Cowboys, but the team was doomed by 22 turnovers. Hamilton hopes to see a sharper effort against a Buccaneers team that has lost three consecutive games.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPNU
ABOUT CHARLESTON SOUTHERN (4-5): The Buccaneers have lost their last two games by eight total points and allowed the final 10 points of the game in Friday's 70-65 setback against Eastern Kentucky. Christian Keeling (26 points) was the only player on the team to score more than 10 points in that one, and the sophomore guard is averaging 23 points over his last three contests. Keeling (17.8 points) and Travis McConico (13.1) are the only players averaging above 7.5 points for Charleston Southern, which shoots only 30.1 percent from behind the arc.
ABOUT FLORIDA STATE (9-1): The Seminoles have four double-digit scorers, including Mann (16.0) and Cofer (13.3), both of whom are having terrific seasons in different ways. Mann shoots a blistering 63.9 percent from the field - an awesome percentage for a guard - and has shot at least 50 percent in every game this season. Cofer has increased his scoring average from 2.9 to 13.3 this season and is shooting 53.7 percent from the floor, including 11-of-22 from the arc.
TIP-INS
1. Mann leads the team in rebounding (6.4), including an impressive 2.7 offensive boards per game.
2. Cofer had two steals all season before notching three against Oklahoma State.
3. Only 12 teams in the nation average more blocks than Florida State (6.2).
PREDICTION: Florida State 77, Charleston Southern 66
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Wake Forest vs. Coastal Carolina Preview and Predictions
By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/18/2017
Wake Forest aims for its sixth consecutive victory when it visits Coastal Carolina on Monday. The Demon Deacons have beaten the Chanticleers each of the last two seasons and hold a 4-1 advantage in the all-time series.
The Demon Deacons lost their first three games and four of their first five, but they've won their last three by an average of 27 points. Wake Forest is playing for the first time since posting a 109-80 home victory over Army on Dec. 8. The Chanticleers nearly upset their last Power Five opponent, falling 80-78 at South Carolina on Dec. 9. Coastal Carolina bounced back for an 83-70 home triumph over NAIA opponent Montreat on Saturday.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, NO TV
ABOUT WAKE FOREST (6-4): After a slow start at the offensive end, the Demon Deacons have picked it up during their five-game winning streak, shooting 54.8 percent overall and 43.7 percent from 3-point range. Guards Keyshawn Woods (16.2 points) and Bryant Crawford (15.8, 4.8 assists) lead the offense and are a combined 81-for-91 from the foul line. Wake Forest should have an advantage in the paint with 7-1 center Doral Moore (11.1 points, 7.7 rebounds), who has four inches on the Chanticleers' tallest player.
ABOUT COASTAL CAROLINA (6-5): The Chanticleers have a nice inside-outside combination in forward Zac Cuthbertson (17.5 points, eight rebounds) and guard Jaylen Shaw (16.7 points, 4.4 assists). Forward Demario Beck (11.4 points, 6.7 rebounds) has been productive off the bench, posting a double-double against Montreat. One of the team's biggest deficiencies is on the perimeter, where Coastal Carolina averages just 7.5 3-pointers but allows 8.9 per game.
TIP-INS
1. Wake Forest hasn't had a six-game winning streak since capturing seven straight during the 2009-10 season.
2. The Demon Deacons have shot 50 percent or better in five straight games - their longest streak in a single season since a six-game run in 1992-93.
3. The Chanticleers have outrebounded 10 of their 11 opponents despite having their tallest player stand at 6-9.
PREDICTION: Wake Forest 78, Coastal Carolina 75
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Charlotte vs. East Carolina Preview and Predictions
By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/18/2017
Two teams that already have made coaching changes this season square off Monday, when East Carolina hosts Charlotte. The 49ers are playing their first game since coach Mark Price was fired following a four-game losing streak.
Price was let go on Thursday, four days after a 64-50 loss at Chattanooga, and assistant Houston Fancher - who has 12 years of head-coaching experience - was named the interim coach. "I'm not going to come down and sprinkle any magic dust and fix things right away, but we've got to play with more energy and get off to better starts," Fancher told the Charlotte Observer. "We've got to have better confidence and play through adversity better. I know that sounds like coach-speak, but we've got to get better with those things." The Pirates have responded well to their own coaching change, winning their first three games since Michael Perry took over after Jeff Lebo's resignation. East Carolina is playing for the first time since recording a 69-66 home win over Campbell on Dec. 4.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN3
ABOUT CHARLOTTE (3-6): The 49ers have struggled on the boards and on defense, both of which were cited as reasons for the coaching change. Opponents shoot 47.1 percent and average 77.4 points - ranking Charlotte in the bottom-fourth of NCAA Division I teams in both categories. The 49ers' biggest strength is their 3-point shooting - they rank 33rd nationally at 40.4 percent - but star guard Jon Davis (13.2 points, 5.5 assists) has seen his offensive production fall off significantly after averaging 19.6 points last season.
ABOUT EAST CAROLINA (5-4): The Pirates have played well at the defensive end - and especially on the perimeter, holding opponents to 29.4 percent from 3-point range. Their guards do much of their scoring as well, with B.J. Tyson (15.8 points) and Isaac Fleming (14.3, 4.4 assists) leading the way. Swingman Kentrell Barkley (13.2 points, 6.3 rebounds) has put up solid numbers, and freshman guard Shawn Williams is averaging 10.7 points during the three-game winning streak.
TIP-INS
1. The in-state rivals are squaring off for the fourth consecutive season, with the Pirates having won two of the last three meetings.
2. Charlotte is 3-0 when forcing more turnovers than it commits and 0-6 when having the same number or more turnovers than its opponents.
3. The Pirates are 53-for-83 from the foul line during their three-game winning streak, while their opponents are 25-for-38 over the same span.
PREDICTION: East Carolina 75, Charlotte 71
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Fort Wayne vs. Indiana Preview and Predictions
By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/17/2017
Indiana looks to build on its first signature win of the Archie Miller era when it hosts Fort Wayne on Monday. The Hoosiers knocked off 18th-ranked Notre Dame 80-77 in overtime at the Crossroads Classic to move over .500, and they hope to win back-to-back games for the first time in three weeks by avenging a disappointing 71-68 setback to the Mastodons last season.
"I'm sure everyone will remind us about last year's game," Miller told reporters. "Fort Wayne is a really big game for us and our team as we stand right now so we have to get back to work." The Hoosiers have won four of their last five home games with their lone loss coming to No. 4 Duke during that stretch and hope to continue their winning ways at Assembly Hall by notching their first victory over a Summit League opponent in over two years. "I think we've been in the pressure cooker for about four weeks," Miller said. "You're going against Duke and you're right there but you're disappointed you weren't able to get it done." Fort Wayne ended a two-game skid with an 88-84 win against Stetson and hopes to take down a Power 5 team for the first time this season.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network
ABOUT FORT WAYNE (7-5): Senior guard Bryson Scott scored 26 of his 34 points in the first half to equal a career high in the win over Stetson, and he finished in double figures for the 18th straight regular-season game. John Konchar flirted with a double-double as he added 17 points and eight rebounds while Xzavier Taylor tallied 13 points. Kason Harrell registered nine points and Jax Levitch pulled down a career-high 12 rebounds as the Mastodons won the battle of the boards 42-27 to earn their 20th straight non-conference home win.
ABOUT INDIANA (6-5): Juwan Morgan poured in a career-high 34 points, including eight in overtime, to go along with 11 rebounds to notch the third double-double of his career in the win against Notre Dame. Robert Johnson drilled five 3-pointers en route to 20 points against the Fighting Irish after being limited to a combined 15 points on 4-of-19 shooting over his previous three games. Devonte Green provided a spark off the bench as he scored 12 points and dished out three assists to help Indiana erase an eight point deficit with two minutes remaining in regulation.
TIP-INS
1. Morgan has posted two double-doubles in his last three games.
2. Johnson has registered seven 20-point games in his career.
3. Scott has scored 30 or more points in four games this season.
PREDICTION: Indiana 83, Fort Wayne 70
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Nicholls vs. Tulane Preview and Predictions
By Gracenote for Scores and Stats08:00 PM
by Gracenote on 12/18/2017
Tulane returns from an eight-day layoff looking to keep its perfect home record intact when it hosts non-conference foe Nicholls on Monday. The Green Wave are coming off a loss to Florida State on Dec. 10, while the Colonels routed Culver-Stockton College at home on Saturday.
Nicholls is a high-scoring team, averaging 90.9 points behind the 1-2 punch of Roddy Peters (19.5 points) and Tevon Saddler (16.8). Tulane is not quite as explosive offensively, coming off a 53-point effort in the loss to the Seminoles, but coach Mike Dunleavy's squad is holding opponents to 70.9 points per game. Junior guard Melvin Frazier is the Green Wave's top scorer, averaging 17.2 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.4 steals, although he was held to a season-low three points by Florida State - his first single-digit scoring performance of the campaign. Senior swingman Cameron Reynolds provides a solid second scoring option, averaging 16.8 points and six rebounds, while sophomore forward Samir Sehic (11.9 points, 6.9 boards) gives Dunleavy production off the bench.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN3
ABOUT NICHOLLS (5-5): While Nicholls' defense this season hasn't been the hardest to score on - it has allowed 85.5 points per contest - the team has been opportunistic on the defensive end, posting a turnover margin of plus-3.5 and averaging 11 steals. Three players - Jahvaughn Powell (2.6), Saddler (2.3) and Kevin Johnson (2.1) are averaging over two steals, which helps the Colonels get plenty of easy baskets at the other end of the floor. Nicholls recorded a season high in steals with 18 in the 41-point win over Culver-Stockton College and finished with advantages of 48-9 in points off turnovers and 32-4 in fast-break points.
ABOUT TULANE (7-3): If there's one area in which Dunleavy would like to see improvement, it's at the free-throw line, where the Green Wave are shooting just 70.3 percent. With the team's top two scorers - Frazier and Reynolds - hitting 70.7 and 74.3 percent, respectively, Dunleavy isn't sure if a late lead is going to hold up when his best players are fouled. Sophomore Colin Slater (.889) and Sehic (.809) are the only regulars hitting above 80 percent, but as the games get closer - Tulane has had just two contests decided by fewer than 10 points - the free throws will mean even more, and Dunleavy is going to want his team hitting at a better clip.
TIP-INS
1. Reynolds recorded his fifth career double-double - and first this season - with 16 points and 11 rebounds in the loss to Florida State.
2. Tulane has registered at least 20 assists in four different contests this season and is undefeated in those games.
3. While the Green Wave rank 11th in the 12-team American Athletic Conference in offensive rebounding (9.7), they are second in the league in defensive rebounding (28.5).
PREDICTION: Tulane 86, Nicholls 80
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Tennessee State vs. Texas Preview and Predictions
By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/17/2017
Not much was made of the news when Tulane sophomore Dylan Osetkowski decided to transfer to Texas, but two years later and with the Longhorns coming off an 11-22 campaign, the 6-9 forward has proven to be the most indispensable player on the team. Having helped Texas to a 7-3 start, Osetkowski will be shooting for an eighth consecutive double-digit scoring outing Monday when Tennessee State visits in a nonconference matchup.
Osetkowski, who averaged 11.4 yards as a sophomore in 2015-16 before sitting out all of last season, leads the team in rebounds (7.5) and steals (1.3) and is second in scoring (15.1 points per game) after pouring in a season-high 22 points in a 75-60 victory over Louisiana Tech on Saturday. "He's probably our most important player from the standpoint of all of the things that he does," Texas third-year coach Shaka Smart said after the game. "He's like a connective tissue for us. I think that the combination of having a high basketball IQ and being in his fourth year as a college basketball player, he's further ahead than pretty much everyone else on our team." Forward Mohamed Bamba contributed 14 points, a team-high nine rebounds and matched a career high with five blocks in just 18 foul-plagued minutes on Saturday, and fellow freshman forward Jericho Sims registered season highs in both points (nine) and rebounds (eight). "I think at the end, [Bamba] just went in and said, 'I'm going to attack and whatever happens happens,'" Smart said.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, ESPN2
ABOUT TENNESSEE STATE (5-4): The Tigers, who return two starters from a 17-win team that played both Duke and North Carolina State tough last season in nonconference play, are coming off a 64-54 defeat to North Carolina A&T on Friday despite 17 points from Delano Spencer and 15 from Ken'Darrius Hamilton. Senior guard Spencer leads the team in scoring (15.7 points per game) and junior forward Christian Mekowulu chips in 11.4 points and a team-best 9.6 rebounds. The Tigers play at a slow pace, yielding just 67 points per contest, but as a group shoot just 41.4 percent from the floor and have more turnovers (126) than assists (98).
ABOUT TEXAS (7-3): The 6-11 Bamba, considered by many as one of the top five high school recruits in the country last season, is averaging 11 points on 51.4 percent shooting, 10.0 rebounds and 4.1 blocks in 27.7 minutes per game. Andrew Jones, a 6-4 sophomore guard, leads the team in scoring (15.2 points per game) and 3-point shooting (16-of-36, 44.4 percent) and shoots 53 percent from the floor overall. Matt Coleman, another highly touted freshman prospect that Smart was hoping would solidify the point guard position, is averaging just 7.2 points on 31.9 percent shooting, including 25.8 from beyond the arc, and 3.8 assists in a team-high 31.6 minutes per game.
TIP-INS
1. Three-point shooting is a big area of concern for the Longhorns, as they shoot just 29.3 percent from that range.
2. Tennessee State played one other major-conference team in the nonconference, losing 92-56 to Kansas on Nov. 10.
3. Bamba ranks second in the nation in blocked shots behind Minnesota's Reggie Lynch (4.3).
PREDICTION: Texas 76, Tennessee State 51
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UT Arlington vs. Creighton Preview and Predictions
By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/17/2017
It might not have been a Big East opponent, but Creighton coach Greg McDermott was still impressed with his Bluejays' record-setting performance against Maryland-Eastern Shore during finals week. McDermott will look for another outstanding effort Monday when a solid UT Arlington team visits for another nonconference clash.
Creighton beat UMES 87-36 on Friday - the fewest points allowed by any team in the 266-game history of CenturyLink Center Omaha and the fewest points allowed by Creighton in a game at any site since Jan .13, 1986, when it allowed 35 to Illinois State. The Hawks shot 23.6 percent from the floor - the lowest mark in facility history, surpassing the previous low of 24.1 percent (14-of-58) by Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Nov. 29, 2006. "Your mind's everywhere during finals week," McDermott told reporters after the game. "I thought our focus to start the game ... that really set the tone. I don't care who you're playing - if you hold a team to 36 points on 60 possessions, you're doing some things right defensively." Arlington, which won 27 games and the Sun Belt regular-season title a season ago, has a 14-point win over BYU already this season and dropped a one-point decision to then-No. 25 Alabama back in November.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1
ABOUT TEXAS-ARLINGTON (8-3): Senior Kevin Hervey, a 6-9 forward who was the Sun Belt Player of the Year in 2016-17 (17.1 points, 8.5 rebounds), is even better in his senior season, averaging a conference-best 23.6 points and nine rebounds while leading the team with 28 3-pointers on 38 percent from the arc. Hervey scored 30 points and grabbed a career-high 16 rebounds as the Mavericks won a third straight game in Saturday's 86-65 road victory against Texas-Rio Grande Valley. Point guard Erick Neal (13.8 points, 4.1 rebounds per game), who leads the nation in assists (9.4 per game), missed Saturday's game due to personal reasons and his return is questionable.
ABOUT CREIGHTON (8-2): Five Bluejays scored in double-figures against the Hawks, led by 15 from Marcus Foster and 12 each by Khyri Thomas and Ty-Shon Alexander. Junior Kaleb Joseph, a transfer from Syracuse who hadn't played since Nov. 25 due to a hamstring injury, had four points and two assists in eight games and may be a solution for the subpar performance at the point guard position. While Foster (18.6 points, 41.5 percent from the arc) and Thomas (15.7 points, 42.2 percent, 1.4 steals) continue to shine on the wing, Davion Mintz (4.7 points, 2.7 assists) has struggled piloting the team.
TIP-INS
1. Foster has scored in double-figures in 28 straight games. Foster is the first Bluejay to start his senior season with 10 straight double-figure scoring games since Rodney Buford in 1998-99.
2. Creighton freshman C Jacob Epperson will undergo a minor surgical procedure on his knee next week and will redshirt this season.
3. Creighton's 902 points through 10 games is second-most in program history, trailing only the 915 after 10 games last season.
PREDICTION: Creighton 92, Texas-Arlington 71
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North Dakota State vs. Arizona Preview and Predictions
By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/17/2017
Already boasting one of the top duos in the country in Allonzo Trier and Deandre Ayton, No. 23 Arizona now has a third scoring threat for opponents to consider. Sophomore swingman Rawle Alkins has made a seamless transition from injury back into the starting lineup for the Wildcats, who look to extend their winning streak to six games Monday against visiting North Dakota State.
After playing 22 minutes off the bench in his season debut against Alabama, Alkins made his first start in Saturday's 89-73 win at New Mexico and scored a career-high 26 points on 9-of-11 shooting, including 3-of-3 from 3-point range. "Simply put, we're a much better team with him because he's one of our best players," coach Sean Miller told reporters. "If he didn't play tonight, it would have been a much different game." Alkins missed the team's first nine games due to a broken foot, but his return should result in even more opportunities for Trier and Ayton, who are averaging a combined 42.2 points and 15.2 rebounds. With Alkins back in the starting lineup, promising freshman guard Brandon Randolph returned to a reserve role Saturday and had seven points in 14 minutes.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network
ABOUT NORTH DAKOTA STATE (5-5): Senior guard Paul Miller averages a team-high 16.0 points for the Bison, who were picked to finish third in the Summit League preseason poll. Fourth-year coach David Richman's squad rolled to a 101-58 win over NAIA Valley City State last Tuesday, giving them back-to-back wins following three straight losses to Stephen F. Austin, Mississippi State and Missouri State. The team's strong frontcourt features forwards Deng Geu and Rocky Kreuser, who combined to score 35 points in Tuesday's victory.
ABOUT ARIZONA (8-3): Since losing three games in the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament in the Bahamas, the Wildcats have used impressive wins over Texas A&M, UNLV and Alabama to return to the national rankings. Miller has an enviable mix of youth and veteran experience on the roster, with senior point guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright averaging 7.8 points with a solid 55-to-17 assist-to-turnover ratio. Senior center Dusan Ristic (58.6 percent shooting) has served as a perfect complement to the 7-foot-1 Ayton, who has a team-high 15 blocks.
TIP-INS
1. Arizona has won 45 consecutive nonconference home games.
2. North Dakota State's five losses have come against opponents with a combined record of 38-10.
3. Arizona freshman G Alex Barcello missed Saturday's game due to a sprained left ankle and is listed as day-to-day.
PREDICTION: Arizona 88, North Dakota State 69
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NFL
Long Sheet
Week 15
Monday, December18
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ATLANTA (8 - 5) at TAMPA BAY (4 - 9) - 12/18/2017, 8:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
ATLANTA is 31-50 ATS (-24.0 Units) off a win against a division rival since 1992.
ATLANTA is 16-7 ATS (+8.3 Units) against conference opponents over the last 2 seasons.
TAMPA BAY is 0-6 ATS (-6.6 Units) as an underdog this season.
TAMPA BAY is 1-8 ATS (-7.8 Units) against conference opponents this season.
TAMPA BAY is 23-39 ATS (-19.9 Units) in home games after 2 or more consecutive losses since 1992.
Head-to-Head Series History
TAMPA BAY is 3-2 against the spread versus ATLANTA over the last 3 seasons
TAMPA BAY is 3-2 straight up against ATLANTA 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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NFL
Week 15
Trend Report
Monday, December 18
ATLANTA @ TAMPA BAY
Atlanta is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
Atlanta is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Tampa Bay's last 6 games when playing at home against Atlanta
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Tampa Bay's last 9 games when playing Atlanta
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NFL
Week 15
Monday's game
Falcons (8-5) @ Buccaneers (4-9)— 8-5 Falcons won four of last five games, are game behind Saints/Panthers in NFC South- they play those teams the last two weeks. Atlanta is 4-2 on road, 2-1 as road favorites. Tampa Bay lost three in row, eight of last nine games; they’re 3-3 at home, 1-2 as home underdogs. Buccaneers haven’t led at halftime since Week 4. Atlanta (-10) beat Bucs 34-10 at home three weeks ago; Falcons converted 11-14 on 3rd down, averaged 10.2 yds/pass attempt. Tampa Bay won three of last four series games- teams split last six series games played here. Home side is 5-2 vs spread in NFC South divisional games this season. Under is 8-2 in last ten Falcon games, 4-2 in Bucs’ last six games.
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