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MIKE DAVIS (CBB)
5-Unit Play. Take #730 Miami -9.5 over Drexel (Thursday, November 20th at 3:00 p.m.)
Many will consider this a let down spot for the Hurricanes but I’m not buying it. This Hurricanes team is led by two guards that transfered in from other schools and they have something to prove. Former Kansas State guard, Angel Rodriguez, certainly proved his value in the big upset win over Florida. Former Texas guard, Sheldon McClellan, didn’t have as big of an impact but he did play the most minutes (39) of anyone on the team. Today, the Hurricanes face an inferior opponent, Drexel, in the opening game of the Gilden Charleston Classic. Drexel has stumbled out of the gate with two losses at Colorado and vs St. Joe’s. The Dragons have had some bad luck with injuries the past few seasons but this year they simply don’t have the overall talent to be a contender. They would have to play a near perfect game to stay within the number in this ballgame. St. Joe’s beat them on their home court and St. Joe’s lost by 52 points last night at Gonzaga. I know the Zags are good but 52 points. Fifty-Two points. Miami will roll today and move on in the winner’s bracket of the tournament.
Take Miami.
4-Unit Play. Take #731 Penn State -3 over Charlotte (Thursday, November 20th at 5:30 p.m.)
Penn State has a roster that is starting to resemble a solid Big Ten roster. They have a potential Big Ten player of the year candidate in guard D.J. Newbill. He finished second in the league in scoring last season and the senior can play the point or the two guard position. The Nittany Lions also return three other starters and they will get a big contribution from Pitt transfer, John Johnson, all season long. Shep Garner is a highly touted freshmen guard and he has played well in the early season. Charlotte is a solid but not great team. They should have a better year this year than last year but they will certainly miss Shawn Lester who opted to turn pro and play overseas. This game will come down to guard play and Penn State’s rotation of guards is better and deeper than Charlotte’s. Newbill will have a big game on the national stage today. I look for Charlotte to keep it close and perhaps have a lead at halftime. However, the Nittany Lions will pull away to an 8 or 9 point victory in the second half.
Take Penn State.
4-Unit Play. Take #712 Indiana +3 over SMU (Thursday, November 20th at 8:00 p.m.)
Indiana is a guard laden team and Crean has started four guards in each of their two games this season. That’s a perfect matchup for the Hoosiers vs SMU. Neither team will have a dominant big man in this game and like the Penn State/Charlotte game, this game will come down to guard play. Indiana certainly isn’t a legit contender for a Big Ten title but they do have some legitimate guards that can play. Yogi Ferrell is the most talented guard on the team and he will be looked upon to provide scoring and leadership. James Blackmon and Robert Johnson are two very good freshmen guards and it will be fun to watch how they play vs a solid SMU backcourt. SMU has some very good players but the loss of Markus Kennedy (eligibility) and the decision of Emmanuel Mudiay to play pro ball instead of attend SMU has put a huge damper on their season. Indiana is a tough place to play and SMU has already failed one road test this season when Gonzaga picked them apart in a 16-point defeat. Indiana is certainly not Gonzaga but they are at home and the strength of their team matches up well with the strength of the Mustangs. This will be a fun game to watch on many different levels and the Hoosiers will pull off the home win by 5-8 points.
Take Indiana.
5-Unit Play. Take #730 Miami -9.5 over Drexel (Thursday, November 20th at 3:00 p.m.)
Many will consider this a let down spot for the Hurricanes but I’m not buying it. This Hurricanes team is led by two guards that transfered in from other schools and they have something to prove. Former Kansas State guard, Angel Rodriguez, certainly proved his value in the big upset win over Florida. Former Texas guard, Sheldon McClellan, didn’t have as big of an impact but he did play the most minutes (39) of anyone on the team. Today, the Hurricanes face an inferior opponent, Drexel, in the opening game of the Gilden Charleston Classic. Drexel has stumbled out of the gate with two losses at Colorado and vs St. Joe’s. The Dragons have had some bad luck with injuries the past few seasons but this year they simply don’t have the overall talent to be a contender. They would have to play a near perfect game to stay within the number in this ballgame. St. Joe’s beat them on their home court and St. Joe’s lost by 52 points last night at Gonzaga. I know the Zags are good but 52 points. Fifty-Two points. Miami will roll today and move on in the winner’s bracket of the tournament.
Take Miami.
4-Unit Play. Take #731 Penn State -3 over Charlotte (Thursday, November 20th at 5:30 p.m.)
Penn State has a roster that is starting to resemble a solid Big Ten roster. They have a potential Big Ten player of the year candidate in guard D.J. Newbill. He finished second in the league in scoring last season and the senior can play the point or the two guard position. The Nittany Lions also return three other starters and they will get a big contribution from Pitt transfer, John Johnson, all season long. Shep Garner is a highly touted freshmen guard and he has played well in the early season. Charlotte is a solid but not great team. They should have a better year this year than last year but they will certainly miss Shawn Lester who opted to turn pro and play overseas. This game will come down to guard play and Penn State’s rotation of guards is better and deeper than Charlotte’s. Newbill will have a big game on the national stage today. I look for Charlotte to keep it close and perhaps have a lead at halftime. However, the Nittany Lions will pull away to an 8 or 9 point victory in the second half.
Take Penn State.
4-Unit Play. Take #712 Indiana +3 over SMU (Thursday, November 20th at 8:00 p.m.)
Indiana is a guard laden team and Crean has started four guards in each of their two games this season. That’s a perfect matchup for the Hoosiers vs SMU. Neither team will have a dominant big man in this game and like the Penn State/Charlotte game, this game will come down to guard play. Indiana certainly isn’t a legit contender for a Big Ten title but they do have some legitimate guards that can play. Yogi Ferrell is the most talented guard on the team and he will be looked upon to provide scoring and leadership. James Blackmon and Robert Johnson are two very good freshmen guards and it will be fun to watch how they play vs a solid SMU backcourt. SMU has some very good players but the loss of Markus Kennedy (eligibility) and the decision of Emmanuel Mudiay to play pro ball instead of attend SMU has put a huge damper on their season. Indiana is a tough place to play and SMU has already failed one road test this season when Gonzaga picked them apart in a 16-point defeat. Indiana is certainly not Gonzaga but they are at home and the strength of their team matches up well with the strength of the Mustangs. This will be a fun game to watch on many different levels and the Hoosiers will pull off the home win by 5-8 points.
Take Indiana.
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