12-29-08

[Guest]

Re: 12-29-08

PPP

COLLEGE BASKETBALL
4% TEMPLE +9
3% GEORGETOWN +7
3% ARKANSAS STATE +13.5
3% PORTLAND STATE +13.5
4% DAVIDSON -4.5

COLLEGE FOOTBALL
5% NC STATE +7
3% MISSOURI +12

From his website for late plays

Breakfast Club A Northwestern

PPP: 5* NC State, 3* NWestern (FROM ABOVE)

*****BE CAREFUL, CONFLICTING INFORMATION*****

[Mr. IWS]

Re: 12-29-08

Larry Ness' Late Breaking Play

No. 13 Villanova (11-1) will travel to Marquette on Thursday in its Big East opener but first must wrap up its annual series of games vs its "Big Five" rivals. The Wildcats are looking to sweep all four games vs city rivals for the third time in four seasons. The Wildcats have already beaten Penn (69-47), St Joe's (59-56) and LaSalle (70-59) and tonight take on the Temple Owls. The Owls upset then-No. 8 Tennessee 88-72 back on Dec 13, as 6-6 senior Dionte Christmas (20.8-6.4) scored 35 points. However, the Owls have dropped both games since, falling 71-59 at Kansas on Dec 20 and losing 76-71 last Monday at Long Beach State. The Kansas loss is no big deal but the loss at Long Beach St should concern coach Fran Dunphy. Dunphy led the Owls to four straight wins to end the regular season last year (his 2nd at Temple) and then led Temple to the A-10 tourney title with three more wins, beating St Joe's in the championship game. A 72-61 first round NCAA loss to Michigan St didn't put damper on a very good season for the Owls. The team's 5-5 start is a disappointment but that could all change with a win over 'Nova. I'm not quite sure how good Villanova is? The Wildcats are 11-1 , losing only to Texas but the Wildcats sure looked outclassed vs the Longhorns (lost 67-58 at Madison Square Garden). The 6-8 Cunningham (17.3-7.8) is joined in the frontcourt by 6-8 sophomore Pena (7.5-5.9) and senior swingman Anderson (4.6-3.8). Reynolds (14.7-4.5 APG) and Stokes (12.2) are the starting backcourt, with Fisher (8.9) and Redding (6.8-4.6) getting significant minutes. The 6-7 Clark (4.8-3.) is about the only other real contributor. Christmas is the 'key' for Temple and he's joined on the perimeter by Brooks (12.5), Inge (8.50)and freshman Moore (5.8). The 7-0 Olmos (12.0-3.5) is scoring more than double what he averaged LY (5.8) and the 6-9 Allen (9..6-8.0) has shown solid improvement from his freshman season. Villanova had seven days off for exams prior to its 78-68 win over Navy on Dec 22 and was a "step slow" on defense all game, allowing 14 three-pointers. Villanova is facing another lay-off here (six days) since the Navy game and the Wildcats are hoping they won't have the same troubles here (I'm hoping they will). The Wildcats won 101-93 at Temple last December, as Christmas had 20 points but shot just 5-of-15. It marked Villanova's third straight win in the series, meaning this is the senior's last chance to get a win over the Wildcats. Villanova struggled vs 5-6 St Joe's and didn't pull away from 6-5 LaSalle until late, so despite the fact that they've won 22 straight here at The Pavilion, I expect this one to be close. Fran Dunphy's Owls were able to beat Tennessee (albeit at home) and with a big game from Christmas (it IS that time of year!), they are surely capable of taking this one to wire.


Late Breaking Play on Temple