Tuesday 11-21-17 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Trends - Vancouver at Philadelphia

W/L TRENDS

Vancouver

Canucks are 4-0 in their last 4 Tuesday games. Canucks are 4-1 in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a losing home record. Canucks are 5-2 in their last 7 road games. Canucks are 12-27 in their last 39 vs. Eastern Conference. Canucks are 16-37 in their last 53 overall. Canucks are 4-10 in their last 14 vs. a team with a losing record. Canucks are 7-19 in their last 26 vs. Metropolitan. Canucks are 7-22 in their last 29 when their opponent allows 5 goals or more in their previous game.

Philadelphia

Flyers are 7-1 in their last 8 after allowing 5 goals or more in their previous game. Flyers are 16-35 in their last 51 vs. Pacific. Flyers are 4-9 in their last 13 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600. Flyers are 1-4 in their last 5 Tuesday games. Flyers are 1-5 in their last 6 home games. Flyers are 0-4 in their last 4 overall. Flyers are 0-5 in their last 5 vs. a team with a losing record. Flyers are 0-4 in their last 4 vs. Western Conference.

OU TRENDS

Vancouver

Under is 5-1 in Canucks last 6 road games. Under is 5-1-1 in Canucks last 7 Tuesday games. Under is 4-1 in Canucks last 5 games playing on 2 days rest. Under is 4-1 in Canucks last 5 road games vs. a team with a losing home record. Over is 5-2-2 in Canucks last 9 when their opponent allows 5 goals or more in their previous game.

Philadelphia

Over is 4-0-1 in Flyers last 5 after allowing 5 goals or more in their previous game. Over is 4-0 in Flyers last 4 vs. a team with a losing record. Over is 6-1 in Flyers last 7 games playing on 2 days rest. Under is 4-1 in Flyers last 5 overall. Under is 4-1 in Flyers last 5 vs. Western Conference.

HEAD TO HEAD

Home team is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Edmonton Oilers at St. Louis Blues Preview

Brayden Schenn hasn't needed much time to get acclimated to his new surroundings following an offseason trade, as the 26-year-old has recorded five goals and 10 assists on his career-best seven-game point streak. Schenn looks to extend that stretch and drill the Edmonton Oilers for the second time in under a week when the red-hot Blues open a five-game homestand on Tuesday.

"I'm just trying to be a piece of the puzzle," said Schenn, who has fit in nicely since being acquired from Philadelphia in June for No. 27 overall pick Morgan Frost, Jori Lehtera and a conditional first-round pick. Schenn continued his torrid stretch with two goals and an assist in St. Louis' 4-1 win at Edmonton on Thursday before netting the overtime winner two nights later in a 4-3 victory versus Vancouver. While the Blues have won nine of 12 overall and earned points in 11 of their last 13 home encounters with the Oilers, Edmonton fell for the fourth time in five outings with a 6-3 setback to Dallas on Saturday in the opener of a five-game trek. Reigning Hart Trophy recipient Connor McDavid netted a goal and set up two others to give him 17 points (seven goals, 10 assists) in his past 13 games, although he was held off the scoresheet and finished with a minus-2 rating in that encounter with the Blues.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBCSN, Sportsnet West (Edmonton)

ABOUT THE OILERS (7-11-2): Although McDavid missed Monday's practice with an illness, coach Todd McLellan wasn't so much concerned with his team's 27th-ranked offense as opposed to its 23rd-ranked defense. "The commitment to coverage. It's beyond goaltending. It's team-wide and it's something we need to fix," McLellan said. "We've addressed it many times. The group is going to have to respond at some point and finally get it." Cam Talbot yielded all four goals to the Blues in the first encounter after permitting that total - on 88 shots - en route to sweeping St. Louis in three meetings last season.

ABOUT THE BLUES (15-5-1): After joining his team during its three-game trip through western Canada, two-time All-Star defenseman Jay Bouwmeester is expected to make his season debut on Tuesday after sustaining a fractured left ankle while blocking a shot during training camp. "It was good to get on that road trip and skate and practice and get that stuff going," the 34-year-old Edmonton native said. "It's been a long time, especially at the start of the year when you miss training camp and stuff. I'm excited, and hopefully just jump in and not interfere with what's going on here." Bouwmeester will be looking to aid Jake Allen, who turned aside 29 of 30 shots on Thursday to snap a personal three-game skid to the Oilers.

OVERTIME

1. Schenn's line consisting of RW Vladimir Tarasenko and LW Jaden Schwartz has combined for 74 points (28 goals, 46 assists) and a plus-44 rating.

2. St. Louis native LW Patrick Maroon has answered a seven-game point streak by being held off the scoresheet in seven of his last eight contests.

3. Blues C Paul Stastny has six assists in his last three games.

PREDICTION: Blues 4, Oilers 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Trends - Edmonton at St. Louis

W/L TRENDS

Edmonton

Oilers are 6-1 in their last 7 vs. a team with a winning record. Oilers are 19-39 in their last 58 games following a loss of 3 or more goals. Oilers are 101-209 in their last 310 road games. Oilers are 16-38 in their last 54 after allowing 5 goals or more in their previous game. Oilers are 32-93 in their last 125 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600. Oilers are 14-41 in their last 55 Tuesday games. Oilers are 1-4 in their last 5 overall. Oilers are 1-10 in their last 11 games playing on 2 days rest.

St. Louis

Blues are 5-1 in their last 6 vs. Pacific. Blues are 5-1 in their last 6 vs. Western Conference. Blues are 9-2 in their last 11 home games. Blues are 42-12 in their last 54 vs. a team with a winning % below .400. Blues are 66-19 in their last 85 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400. Blues are 6-2 in their last 8 games following a win. Blues are 36-15 in their last 51 overall. Blues are 36-16 in their last 52 games playing on 2 days rest.

OU TRENDS

Edmonton

Under is 5-1 in Oilers last 6 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600. Under is 8-2 in Oilers last 10 road games. Over is 6-2 in Oilers last 8 following a loss of 3 or more goals. Under is 11-4-1 in Oilers last 16 games playing on 2 days rest. Over is 5-2 in Oilers last 7 after allowing 5 goals or more in their previous game.

St. Louis

Under is 4-1 in Blues last 5 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400. Over is 4-1 in Blues last 5 when their opponent allows 5 goals or more in their previous game. Under is 20-5-3 in Blues last 28 vs. a team with a winning % below .400. Under is 5-2 in Blues last 7 Tuesday games. Over is 7-3 in Blues last 10 vs. Western Conference. Under is 9-4-2 in Blues last 15 vs. Pacific. Under is 15-7 in Blues last 22 games following a win. Under is 27-13-4 in Blues last 44 games playing on 2 days rest.

HEAD TO HEAD

Under is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings. Oilers are 7-20 in the last 27 meetings. Oilers are 3-10 in the last 13 meetings in St. Louis.

[New York Knight]

Oilers have lost 4 of their last 5 overall & 10 of their last 11 games when playing with 2 days of rest.

Blues are 9-2 in their last 11 home games & 10-3 in their last 13 at home vs EDM.


EDM +127 / STL -140

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Montreal Canadiens at Dallas Stars Preview

Alexander Radulov revived his NHL career in Montreal last season and now gets to face his former team for the first time when the Dallas Stars host the sliding Canadiens on Tuesday night. Montreal closed out a six-game homestand with a three-game winless drought (0-2-1), capped by a 6-1 drubbing by the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night.

The Stars halted a three-game skid with a 6-3 win over Edmonton as Radulov scored a goal and set up another to boost his season total to seven tallies and 19 points in 20 games. Radulov returned from four seasons in Russia and recorded 18 goals in 54 points last campaign with the Canadiens, earning him a five-year, $31.25 million contract with Dallas. Montreal certainly could use the offensive skills of Radulov, ranking 30th in the league in scoring with 2.38 goals per game. There is some hope for optimism on the injury front with No. 1 netminder Carey Price, sidelined since Nov. 2, set to accompany the team on its two-game road trip to Dallas and Nashville.

TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, TSN2, RDS (Montreal), FSN Southwest (Dallas), NHL.TV

ABOUT THE CANADIENS (8-11-2): Charlie Lindgren will make his eighth consecutive start in net, but after not allowing more than two goals in his first eight NHL appearances, he has been dented for five goals in each of the past two games. Price, dealing with a lower-body injury, faced Montreal's top power-play unit during Monday's practice as he inches closer to a return. "It's a first step," Canadiens coach Claude Julien said. "It's encouraging. Carey will make the trip. We'll take things day by day."

ABOUT THE STARS (10-9-1): Two days after Kari Lehtonen was pulled from Saturday's start against the Oilers, Dallas announced the veteran netminder will be unavailable indefinitely due to personal reasons. Already plagued with injuries, the Stars also announced Monday that defenseman Marc Methot, who missed the past five games, will be out four to six weeks after undergoing arthoscopic knee surgery. In addition, forward Martin Hanzal (hand) is expected to be sidelined for three to seven days.

OVERTIME

1. Montreal is 1-for-15 on the power play in the past seven games while Dallas has allowed at least one man-advantage tally in four straight.

2. The Stars recalled D Julius Honka and G Mike McKenna from Texas of the American Hockey League.

3. Canadiens D David Schlemko practiced Monday for the first time since suffering a hand injury in training camp.

PREDICTION: Stars 5, Canadiens 4

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Trends - Montreal at Dallas

W/L TRENDS

Montreal

Canadiens are 16-5 in their last 21 games following a loss of 3 or more goals. Canadiens are 19-7 in their last 26 games following a home loss of 3 or more goals. Canadiens are 8-3 in their last 11 games playing on 2 days rest. Canadiens are 5-2 in their last 7 when their opponent scores 5 goals or more in their previous game. Canadiens are 6-13 in their last 19 after allowing 5 goals or more in their previous game. Canadiens are 9-22 in their last 31 vs. Central. Canadiens are 4-10 in their last 14 after scoring 2 goals or less in their previous game. Canadiens are 3-8 in their last 11 vs. Western Conference. Canadiens are 1-4 in their last 5 overall.

Dallas

Stars are 7-1 in their last 8 vs. a team with a winning % below .400. Stars are 7-1 in their last 8 home games. Stars are 38-16 in their last 54 home games vs. a team with a losing road record. Stars are 5-11 in their last 16 games playing on 2 days rest. Stars are 15-36 in their last 51 games following a win. Stars are 2-5 in their last 7 when their opponent allows 5 goals or more in their previous game. Stars are 2-6 in their last 8 vs. Atlantic. Stars are 2-11 in their last 13 after scoring 5 goals or more in their previous game.

OU TRENDS

Montreal

Over is 4-0-1 in Canadiens last 5 after allowing 5 goals or more in their previous game. Over is 6-1 in Canadiens last 7 road games. Under is 5-1-1 in Canadiens last 7 overall. Over is 5-1 in Canadiens last 6 following a loss of 3 or more goals. Under is 4-1 in Canadiens last 5 following a home loss of 3 or more goals. Over is 4-1 in Canadiens last 5 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600. Under is 14-4-4 in Canadiens last 22 when their opponent scores 5 goals or more in their previous game. Under is 10-3 in Canadiens last 13 Tuesday games.

Dallas

Over is 4-0 in Stars last 4 overall. Under is 7-0 in Stars last 7 when their opponent allows 5 goals or more in their previous game. Over is 4-0-1 in Stars last 5 vs. Atlantic. Over is 6-1-1 in Stars last 8 vs. Eastern Conference. Over is 4-1 in Stars last 5 when their opponent scores 2 goals or less in their previous game. Over is 13-4-1 in Stars last 18 home games vs. a team with a losing road record. Over is 5-2 in Stars last 7 games following a win. Over is 5-2 in Stars last 7 after scoring 5 goals or more in their previous game. Over is 20-9-1 in Stars last 30 home games.

HEAD TO HEAD

Home team is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings. Over is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings in Dallas. Canadiens are 4-1 in the last 5 meetings. Canadiens are 3-7-1 in the last 11 meetings in Dallas.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Iowa Hawkeyes at South Dakota State Jackrabbits Preview

Iowa will have to regroup from its first loss of the season when it takes on South Dakota State on Tuesday in the consolation bracket of the Cayman Islands Classic. The Hawkeyes couldn't climb all the way out of a 24-point hole in an 80-71 loss to Louisiana and will need to defeat the Jackrabbits for a chance at fifth place.

The Hawkeyes played much better in the second half against the Ragin' Cajuns, but not nearly well enough to complete what would have been the largest comeback in school history. The traits that were present in their three victories - solid defense and shooting, particularly from 3-point range, and sharing the basketball - were lacking against Louisiana, although a steep rise in competition was partly to blame. Luka Garza struggled for the first time in an Iowa uniform as the freshman forward was held scoreless in 12 minutes of action. Junior Mike Daum, who had 73 points and 37 rebounds in the previous three games, was held to 10 points and nine boards as the Jackrabbits fell to Wyoming 77-65 in the opening round.

TV: Noon ET, No TV

ABOUT IOWA (3-1): Jordan Bohannon and Isaiah Moss combined for 45 points against Louisiana, but even they didn't shoot all that effectively for the Hawkeyes. "We missed 20 shots in the first half. You have to be able to get more than three back (through offensive rebounds)," coach Fran McCaffery told the media. "Twenty points is a lot to overcome." The Hawkeyes, who are 40-4 against Summit League teams - including 7-2 against South Dakota State, made only seven field goals in the first half against Louisiana.

SOUTH DAKOTA STATE (3-2): It's not often that Daum, the Summit League Preseason Player of the Year, gets held in check, as the 6-9 forward has produced 14 career double-doubles and 13 30-point games in his career, including a career-high of 51 points. Daum, who had 21 points and 11 rebounds in last week's loss to No. 2 Kansas, made just 2-of-12 from the field and the Jackrabbits finished with more made 3-pointers (nine) than two-point baskets (eight). Reed Tellinghuisen has 16 points for South Dakota State, which won the last meeting with Iowa 79-69 in 2010.

TIP-INS

1. Iowa's starting frontcourt had six points against the Ragin' Cajuns, all by Tyler Cook.

2. After registering 20 or more assists in their first three games, the Hawkeyes finished with 10 assists and 15 turnovers against Louisiana.

3. The largest comeback by the Hawkeyes was 23 points against Gardner-Webb in 2012.

PREDICTION: South Dakota State 79, Iowa 77

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Marquette Golden Eagles at Wichita St. Shockers Preview

Sixth-ranked Wichita State survived a scare in its opening game of the Maui Jim Maui Invitational and hopes for a more complete effort when it meets Marquette in Tuesday's semifinals at Lahaina Civic Center. The Shockers recovered from an 18-point, second-half deficit to produce a 92-82 victory over California on Monday, while Marquette advanced with a 94-83 win over Virginia Commonwealth.

Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall was exasperated over his team's first-half play, impressed with the second-half rebound and wary of the Golden Eagles. "Well, it should be a great game. I know they're going to play hard," Marshall told reporters after the triumph. "They've got some really good sharpshooters. ... Whoever wins has a chance to play for a championship, so I'm anticipating a really good game." Marquette coach Steve Wojciechowski sees a tall task standing in front of his squad. "Gregg has built an elite-level program," Wojciechowski told reporters. "I think at this time of the season, because of their experience, they're as good as any team in the United States. It will be an incredible test for our young team."

TV: 1:30 p.m. ET, ESPN

ABOUT MARQUETTE (2-1): Sophomore Markus Howard helped fuel the victory over VCU by scoring 18 of his 22 points in the second half, stating that he hit the "restart button" at halftime. "I think just not really getting discouraged and letting the game come to me," Howard told reporters regarding the difference. "I mean, I missed a couple shots and I can't really even think about it. I have to move on to the next play." Howard's 19-point average ranks second on the team behind senior guard Andrew Rowsey, who scored 20 against the Rams and averages 22.7.

ABOUT WICHITA STATE (3-0): Senior center Shaquille Morris scored a career-best 25 points while also recording seven rebounds and four blocked shots in a solid performance against Cal. Morris, who is averaging 19.7 points, moved into fourth place on the school's all-time blocks list with 106, passing former NBA star Xavier McDaniel (103 from 1981-85) and Gene Wiley (105 from 1959-62). Sophomore guard Landry Shamet (16.7) matched his career high of 23 points on 8-of-10 shooting.

TIP-INS

1. Marquette holds a 4-3 series edge, but the teams have not met since the 1977-78 season.

2. Golden Eagles sophomore G/F Sam Hauser contributed 20 points and nine rebounds against VCU, raising his season averages to 12 and a team-leading 7.7.

3. Shamet was 4-for-4 from 3-point range against Cal while the rest of the Shockers were 2-for-21.

PREDICTION: Wichita State 91, Marquette 84

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Pittsburgh Panthers at Oklahoma State Cowboys Preview

The ACC schedule is still weeks away for Pittsburgh, but it needs to figure some things out before the non-conference slate becomes a wash. The Panthers will try to bounce back from another embarrassing defeat when they take on Oklahoma State on Tuesday in the consolation game of the Progressive Legends Classic in Brooklyn, N.Y.

After suffering early losses to Navy and Montana before squeaking past UC Santa Barbara, Pitt was outclassed from the outset in an 85-54 loss to Penn State in Monday's nightcap at the Barclays Center. Jared Wilson-Frame scored 17 points while no other Panther reached double figures and the squad shot 31 percent from the floor against the Nittany Lions. The Cowboys were even worse in that department, shooting 29.9 percent in their 72-55 loss to No. 19 Texas A&M in the opener of the event. Oklahoma State averaged 84 points during its 3-0 start.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPNU

ABOUT OKLAHOMA STATE (3-1): Brandon Averette led the Cowboys with 10 points against the Aggies and the 5-11 sophomore has hit double digits in his first four games, although he was held without a 3-pointer for the first time Monday. Oklahoma State had just 10 turnovers and got the line 13 times more than Texas A&M, but it simply could not make enough shots or get enough stops to keep it close. "A lot of their run was that we had breakdowns defensively," coach Mike Boynton told reporters. "We just didn't execute. I don't know from a schematic standpoint there was anything to adjust."

ABOUT PITTSBURGH (1-3): Wilson-Frame was 5-for-12 from beyond the arc but just 1-for-7 inside it and failed to get to the foul line for the first time this season. Senior forward Ryan Luther entered the contest with back-to-back double-doubles while making 13-of-24 shots, but he was limited to six points on 2-of-11 and nine boards. After leaving Brooklyn, the Panthers will play their next nine games in Pittsburgh.

TIP-INS

1. The teams combined to make 20-of-36 free throws in their semifinal losses.

2. The Cowboys made at least nine 3-pointers in their first three games before going 3-for-24 from long range Monday.

3. Pitt is 6-4 against Oklahoma State, winning the last three meetings in 2007, 2009 and 2011.

PREDICTION: Oklahoma State 77, Pittsburgh 69

[Can'tPickAWinner]

VCU Rams at California Golden Bears Preview

California appeared to lack a go-to scorer entering the season, but junior guard Don Coleman has settled that issue. Coleman will look to score 30-plus points for the fourth time this season when the Golden Bears face Virginia Commonwealth on Tuesday in the consolation round of the Maui Jim Maui Invitational at the Lahaina Civic Center.

Coleman scored 35 points in Monday's 92-82 loss to sixth-ranked Wichita State and is averaging 28 per game. "Yeah, well, I felt kind of hot," Coleman told reporters after the defeat. "I felt like I was going to have a good game. Once I hit a couple 3s in a row, I knew I had my rhythm going." VCU dropped a 94-83 decision to Marquette in its first-round contest and still is adjusting to new coach Mike Rhoades. "We have a lot of fight, and we can score the ball," Rhoades told reporters. "We're leaving a lot of points here since we got together, but we've got to guard."

TV: 4 p.m. ET, ESPN2

ABOUT VCU (2-2): Sophomore guard Malik Crowfield produced the best performance of his career with 17 points and five 3-pointers against Marquette after averaging just six points over his first three games. Senior forward Justin Tillman matched his season average by scoring 15 points, but sophomore forward Issac Vann (12.5 points) struggled with seven points and zero rebounds. The Rams' "Havoc" defense did force the Golden Eagles into 17 turnovers that led to 24 points.

ABOUT CALIFORNIA (2-2): Freshman Justice Sueing scored a season-best 20 points to raise his average to 13.5 as he continues to impress first-year coach Wyking Jones. Sueing was behind due to a stress fracture in his leg, and Jones admitted it was a mystery how much the forward would be able to contribute. "He was out for so long, my staff and I kind of forgot what he really did for us or what he provided for us," Jones told reporters after Monday's setback. "So we're all kind of seeing it like you all are seeing it, what he was able to bring to the table, night in and night out. He plays with a lot of poise and lot of confidence."

TIP-INS

1. Cal won the lone previous meeting 66-57 at the 1997 Golden Bear Classic.

2. Tillman is shooting 58.1 percent and leads the Rams in rebounding at 8.3 per game.

3. Golden Bears freshman G Darius McNeill is averaging 16.5 points over his last two games after averaging only four over the first two contests.

PREDICTION: VCU 83, Cal 81

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Penn St. Nittany Lions at Texas A&M Aggies Preview

Robert Williams showed no rust in his season debut for No. 19 Texas A&M and he gives his team plenty to feel good about entering Tuesday's matchup with Penn State in the title game of the Progressive Legends Classic in Brooklyn, NY. Williams, who sparkled as a freshman last season before choosing to forgo the NBA draft and return to College Station, served a two-game suspension to start this campaign but hit the ground running in Monday's 72-55 win over Oklahoma State.

The 6-10 forward hit his first five shots and finished with his 12th career double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds as the Aggies spread the wealth and never trailed. "Our biggest strength is our depth," Aggies coach Billy Kennedy told reporters at the Barclays Center. "We can play big. We can play small. We have a lot of guys who can score the basketball." The Nittany Lions had no issues advancing to the championship contest with an 85-54 rout of Pittsburgh in the nightcap Monday. Tony Carr returned from a one-game layoff due to a sprained ankle to score 16 points on 6-of-9 shooting as Penn State opened 5-0 for the first time since 2008.

TV: 6 p.m. ET, ESPN2

ABOUT PENN STATE (5-0): Josh Reaves, who shot 55.6 percent while averaging 14.7 points in the first three games, also missed the previous contest with a sprained ankle and returned Monday to provide 10 points and three steals. Senior Shep Garner followed up a season-high 26 point effort with 13 points and sophomore Lamar Stevens chipped in 10 points and a team-high eight rebounds. Stevens is averaging 15.3 points and seven boards over his last four games for the Nittany Lions.

ABOUT TEXAS A&M (3-0): Junior forward D.J. Hogg held down the fort with Williams out and continued to carry a heavy load in Monday's win, making 4-of-5 from 3-point range in the first half and winding up with a game-high 18 points. Freshman T.J. Starks continued to provide a boost off the bench with nine points, six rebounds and four assists in 23 minutes, while senior center Tonny Trocha-Morelos chipped in a season-high 12 points. The Aggies have made 30-of-65 from behind the 3-point arc on the season while holding their three opponents to an 18-of-81 showing.




TIP-INS

1. Williams has blocked at least one shot in a school-record 32 straight games.

2. Carr hit all four of his 3-point tries Monday and is 8-for-12 from long distance.

3. Texas A&M has won the first three meetings but the teams have not met since 2005.

PREDICTION: Texas A&M 75, Penn State 70

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Southern Illinois Salukis at Louisville Cardinals Preview

No. 18 Louisville might have an unblemished record, but its play through two games has been anything but perfect. The Cardinals will look to straighten things out Tuesday night as they host Southern Illinois.

Following an uninspiring 72-61 win over George Mason to open the season, Louisville burst out to a 15-point halftime lead against winless Omaha before allowing 53 second-half points and holding on for a nine-point triumph. Deng Adel had 21 points and Ray Spalding added a career-best 19 points and 11 rebounds in a game that left interim head coach David Padgett crestfallen. "We played 20 minutes of pretty darn good basketball, and we played 20 minutes of embarrassing basketball," Padgett told reporters afterward. "We've got to find a way to play with a lead." Look for the Cardinals to do a better job of that against the Salukis, who are also unbeaten but had little margin for error in a 69-64 win over Division II Illinois-Springfield last time out.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, ACC Network Extra

ABOUT SOUTHERN ILLINOIS (2-0): Four Salukis players average at least 12.5 points per game, led by Armon Fletcher and his 14 ppg. Junior center Kavion Pippen is next in line at 13 ppg and has been the team's anchor on defense, averaging a team-best 8.5 rebounds while recording three blocks in each of his first two games this season. The team's top five scorers are all shooting better than 52 percent from the floor, but starting guard Sean Lloyd Jr. isn't one of them after missing all eight of his field-goal attempts en route to a zero-point showing against Illinois-Springfield.

ABOUT LOUISVILLE (2-0): Padgett has plenty to work on moving forward, but he might want to start with ball movement; the Cardinals have just 25 assists on 54 made field goals, with their 12.5 assist-per-game average ranking outside the top 240 in Division I. Adel, who averaged 12.1 points as a sophomore, is at 20.5 ppg through two games on 64-percent shooting after going 7-of-8 from the field against Omaha. Seven-foot Egyptian forward Anas Mahmoud has also been a solid contributor, averaging eight points, 8.3 rebounds and five blocks; he swatted eight shots in just 22 minutes in the win over Omaha.

TIP-INS

1. Louisville blocked 15 shots vs. Omaha, its highest single-game total since 2003.

2. The Cardinals have won their last 20 home games vs. non-conference opponents.

3. Mahmoud has 17 blocked shots over his past five games dating back to last season.

PREDICTION: Louisville 80, Southern Illinois 67

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Houston Baptist Huskies at Virginia Tech Hokies Preview

With the exception of a one-game blip, Virginia Tech has been one of the most productive offensive teams in the nation in the early part of the season. The Hokies hope to continue that trend when they host Houston Baptist on Tuesday in the final game of the 2K Classic.



After suffering their first defeat of the season - a 77-71 loss to St. Louis on Thursday at Madison Square Garden, the Hokies bounced back to hammer Washington 103-79 the following day. Virginia Tech has reached triple digits in all three of its wins, which have come by an average of 31.7 points. The Hokies ranked third in the nation in scoring (104.2 points), fourth in field-goal percentage (57.3) and sixth in 3-point percentage (47.6 percent) through Sunday. The Huskies lost their first two games in the tournament, falling to Belmont (93-88) and Detroit Mercy (116-109 in overtime).

TV: 7 p.m. ET, ACC Network Extra



ABOUT HOUSTON BAPTIST (1-3): The Huskies like to play an up-tempo game and have four players averaging double digits in points, with guard Braxton Bonds (9.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.8 assists) right on the cusp. The offense runs through the post and big men Josh Ibarra (18 points, 10 rebounds) and David Caraher (16.8, 6.5), but the backcourt duo of Jalon Gates (12.3 points) and freshman Ian DuBose (13.3, 5.8 rebounds) also can fill it up. The Huskies don't shoot particularly well from 3-point range (32.3 percent), but they rely on getting to the foul line as they've shot 107 free throws in four games.

ABOUT VIRGINIA TECH (3-1): The Hokies have five players averaging double digits in points, including three who score at least 19 per game. The backcourt duo of Justin Bibbs (22.5 points) and Ahmed Hill (22, five rebounds) leads the way, while freshman swingman Nickeil Alexander-Walker (19.3 points) is off to a great start to his collegiate career. Hill has gone 15-for-25 from 3-point range to lead a Hokies team that is lighting it up from beyond the arc.



TIP-INS

1. Virginia Tech's three performances of at least 100 points are its most since 1988-89.

2. After outrebounding their first two opponents by 43, the Hokies are minus-9 on the boards in their last two contests.

3. Gates has re-established his career high for scoring in consecutive games with 15 points against Belmont and 18 versus Detroit Mercy.



PREDICTION: Virginia Tech 103, Houston Baptist 86

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Bryant Bulldogs at Rutgers Scarlet Knights Preview

Undefeated Rutgers continues the soft non-conference portion of its schedule when it hosts Bryant on Tuesday. The Scarlet Knights have won three of their first four games by at least 25 points.



Steve Pikiell's team was ranked first in the nation in scoring defense entering Monday, allowing 45.5 points per game. Only Central Connecticut State, which Rutgers defeated 71-67, has managed more than 39 points against the defensive-minded Knights. Corey Sanders leads the team in scoring at 11.9 points per game, but was removed from the starting lineup in the last contest. The Bulldogs have been tested with road losses against Georgia and North Carolina State before losing their last game at home against Navy.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network Plus

ABOUT BRYANT (0-3): The Bulldogs were picked to finish fifth in the Northeast Conference preseason poll and brought back three starters from last year's squad which went 12-20. Adam Grant is one of the returners and he leads the team in scoring 20.7 points. Australian Bosko Kostur went 0-for-8 from the floor in Bryant's season opener, but he's hit 14 of his last 21 attempts and scored a game-high 25 points the Bulldogs' 79-71 loss to Navy.
ABOUT RUTGERS (4-0): Despite the promising results, Pikiell managed to send a message to his star player, Sanders, last game by bringing him off the bench. "I'm really trying to raise our standards in practice; I'm very hopeful that this may motivate him to utilize practice a little bit better," Pikiell said. The only worry about the Knights thus far has been their shooting statistics as they ranked 347th in 3-point shooting percentage (20.5) and 338th from the free-throw line (57.1) among the 351 Division I teams in the nation.

TIP-INS
1. Rutgers F Eugene Omoruyi led the team in scoring with 19 points, eight rebounds and three assists in 25 minutes of a 64-39 victory over Coppin State last time out.
2. Bryant has been hammered on the boards this season, and are pulling down 30 rebounds per game, which was tied for 330th.
3. Rutgers' first seven games are at home.

PREDICTION: Rutgers 70, Bryant 53

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Richmond Spiders at Cincinnati Bearcats Preview

It's not often that Gary Clark leads No. 13 Cincinnati in scoring, but he did Monday to send his team to the semifinals of the Cayman Islands Classic, where the Bearcats will play Richmond on Tuesday. Clark had 24 points, one shy of matching his career high, and recorded his 20th career double-double with 14 rebounds as the Bearcats beat Buffalo 73-67 to earn a date against the Spiders.

Clark has been consistent as they come throughout his four seasons with the Bearcats, particularly in the rebounding department, where he's averaged 7.2 boards or better every season. The 6-8 senior forward, who won his 99th game in a Bearcats uniform, has 32 contests with double-digit rebounds. "I'm a huge lead by example guy, whether its diving on the floor or just dominating the whole possession," Clark, who notched his fourth career 20-point game, told the media. "Showing the younger guys that it takes years of putting in the work." Grant Golden put up 26 points as the Spiders earned their first victory of the season 63-50 over UAB in the opening round.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, No TV

ABOUT RICHMOND (1-2): Golden scored a total of 19 points in his first two games, including 13 last week against Jacksonville State. The redshirt freshman entered the game with UAB as the Spiders' fourth-leading scorer and left it as their top scorer at 15 points per game. De'Monte Buckingham isn't far behind at 14.3 points per contest while Jacob Gilyard and Nick Sherod gives coach Chris Mooney four players who average double figures.

ABOUT CINCINNATI (4-0): Jarron Cumberland had 14 points and six rebounds, the first time in his career he has scored double figures in four straight games, but also turned the ball over seven times against Buffalo. The sophomore, who averaged 8.3 points as a freshman, was coming off his best game with 19 points and nine rebounds in a victory over Coppin State. Kyle Washington also hit for double figures Monday, and he and Clark combined to make 17-of-19 from the foul line.

TIP-INS

1. The Bearcats, who won 30 games last season, are 99-27 in Clark's four seasons.

2. The winner takes on Wyoming or Louisiana in Wednesday's championship game with the losers playing in the consolation.

3. Cincinnati won all four meetings with Richmond with the last coming in 2001.

PREDICTION: Cincinnati 71, Richmond 64