Thursday 1-11-18 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Spurs vs. Lakers Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats10:30 PM
by Gracenote on 01/10/2018

The Los Angeles Lakers knew the Ball family drama would follow them when they drafted Lonzo Ball No. 2 overall last summer, and they've become adept at brushing away some of the things Lonzo's father, LaVar, has to say about the state of the team. The Lakers will try to move to 3-0 since LaVar Ball said the team didn't want to play for coach Luke Walton when they host the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday.

Lonzo Ball and Walton both brushed off LaVar Ball's comments at the time, but other players were quick to stand up for the coach, including rookie forward Kyle Kuzma, who voiced his support before a 99-86 win over the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday. "Luke is my guy," Kuzma said, according to the Los Angeles Daily News. "I love playing for him. I'm sure most of us love playing for him, too. ... A lot of times you have losing streaks, you can go home and listen to people and let them be in your ears, but the people who really matter are the people in the Lakers organization. We stand by Luke. I know the front office does." The Spurs don't have anyone calling for the ouster of their coach, Gregg Popovich, who continues to guide the team to wins despite being without star forward Kawhi Leonard. The former Defensive Player of the Year is expected to sit out again with a shoulder strain on Thursday and played in just eight of the team's first 42 games.

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, TNT

ABOUT THE SPURS (28-14): San Antonio earned a 107-100 win at Sacramento on Monday without Leonard by using the same formula that has carried the team without its star all season -- leaning on LaMarcus Aldridge. The veteran power forward scored 31 points on 13-of-20 shooting and added 12 rebounds in his second straight 30-point double-double. Aldridge got some help on Monday from an unlikely source in small forward Davis Bertans, who is trying to earn some extra playing time in the absence of Leonard and exploded for a career-high 28 points on 11-of-15 shooting in 31 minutes off the bench.

ABOUT THE LAKERS (13-27): Ball continues to struggle with his shooting stroke and went 2-of-10, including 1-of-7 from 3-point range, in the win over Sacramento on Tuesday, but he also collected 11 rebounds, 11 assists and five steals to draw praise from Walton after the contest. "He impacted (the game) on both ends," Walton told reporters of Ball. "He creates our pace for us, he makes winning plays for us, he gets other people easy shots ... and was a big part of why we won tonight." The Lakers are getting an uptick in production from another young player in power forward Julius Randle, who recorded his fourth double-double in six games with 22 points and 14 rebounds on Tuesday.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Spurs PG Tony Parker (ankle) left Monday's game and is questionable for Thursday.

2. Kuzma is 1-of-13 from 3-point range over the last three games.

3. Los Angeles snapped an eight-game losing streak in the series with a 102-95 win at San Antonio on April 5.

PREDICTION: Spurs 109, Lakers 99

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Blue Jackets vs. Sabres Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 01/10/2018

The Columbus Blue Jackets are battling for first place in the Metropolitan Division while the Buffalo Sabres are buried in the basement of the Atlantic, so it's hardly surprising both head coaches have divergent viewpoints of their respective teams. Columbus goes for its third straight victory when it visits the skidding Sabres on Thursday night.

The Blue Jackets responded to a three-game slide by winning three of four, rallying from a two-goal deficit in the final five minutes to post a 3-2 overtime victory at Toronto on Monday. "That's a good win for us as far as going through some of the crap we've been going through," Columbus coach John Tortorella said. "I really respect how they kept their head up and kept on playing." Conversely, Buffalo was pierced for a season-worst seven goals by visiting Winnipeg on Tuesday to suffer its fifth straight defeat (0-4-1) and draw the ire of first-year coach Phil Housley. "There's a lot of cheat in our game," Housley said of his players after the 7-4 loss to the Jets. "They think that points are more important than playing solid defense, and you can see the results that are coming."

TV: 7 p.m. ET, Sportsnet, FS Ohio (Columbus), MSG-Buffalo

ABOUT THE BLUE JACKETS (25-16-3): After collecting one goal and one assist in a 14-game span, captain Nick Foligno has scored in back-to-back games to provide a much-needed spark to an injury-depleted lineup. The Blue Jackets will get a boost with the return of center Alexander Wennberg, who was activated off injured reserve after sitting out the past eight games. Sergei Bobrovsky is 10-3-1 versus the Sabres, including winning both starts this season.

ABOUT THE SABRES (10-24-9): Robin Lehner, who was pulled in Tuesday's loss, has allowed at least three goals for the fifth time in six games. "We've got to take strides," Lehner said. "We've got to do things better as a team here. I'll look at myself in the mirror first. ... "It's very frustrating. It must be very frustrating for the fans of Buffalo." Jack Eichel scored twice Tuesday and has 15 points and four multiple-goal games over the past 11 contests.

OVERTIME

1. Eichel, named to the All-Star team Wednesday, has two goals and seven points in eight games versus Columbus.

2. Blue Jackets D Seth Jones was named to the All-Star team.

3. Buffalo has killed off only 11 of 19 penalties over the past six games.

PREDICTION: Blue Jackets 4, Sabres 3

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Hurricanes vs. Capitals Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 01/10/2018

The Washington Capitals have ascended to the penthouse in the Metropolitan due in large part to their success at home while the Carolina Hurricanes are venturing toward the division's basement. Washington vies for its 11th straight victory at Capital One Arena on Thursday when it plays the opener of a home-and-home series against Carolina.

John Carlson has played an integral role in Washington's five-game winning streak, collecting two goals and five assists in that stretch after recording one of each in Tuesday's 3-1 victory versus Vancouver. The defenseman was held off the scoresheet in the Capitals' 5-4 overtime win over the Hurricanes on Jan. 2, but captain Alex Ovechkin stepped up by capping a two-goal performance with a tally 1:57 into the extra session. Cam Ward was on the wrong end of the three-time Hart Trophy winner's scoring outburst, as he has answered a sizzling 7-0-1 stretch in December by turning aside just 71 of 83 shots this month en route to a 1-2-1 mark with a 3.89 goals-against average. All told, Carolina has dropped four of five (1-3-1) on the heels of winning seven of its previous eight.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, NHL Network, FS Southeast (Carolina), NBCS Washington

ABOUT THE HURRICANES (19-15-8): Sebastian Aho didn't look the worse for wear after exiting Saturday's contest against Boston with a leg injury, scoring his team-leading 14th goal in Tuesday's 5-4 loss to Tampa Bay to increase his point total to 11 (seven goals, four assists) in his last eight games. The 20-year-old has 34 points to reside one shy of the club lead held by fellow Finn Teuvo Teravainen, who had two assists against the Lightning to extend his point streak to four games (two goals, four assists). Prior to that stretch, Teravainen had been held off the scoresheet in seven of the previous 10 contests.

ABOUT THE CAPITALS (27-13-3): Nicklas Backstrom continued his torrid stretch by setting up Carlson's late first-period goal to extend his point streak to four games (two goals, six assists) while giving him 27 assists, two shy of the defenseman for the team lead. The 30-year-old Backstrom also set up a pair of goals in the first encounter versus Carolina to increase his point total to 55 (14 goals, 41 assists) in 50 career matches with the team. Braden Holtby made 34 saves in the first meeting to continue his run of dominance versus the Hurricanes that sees him sport a 12-4-0 career mark with two shutouts, a 1.85 goals-against average and .943 save percentage.

OVERTIME

1. Ovechkin will be appearing in his seventh NHL All-Star Game, Holtby his third, and Carolina D Noah Hanifin will make his first appearance in the exhibition contest, the league announced Wednesday.

2. Hurricanes C Victor Rask tallied twice in the first encounter with the Capitals before being held off the scoresheet in the first three outings of the team's four-game road trip.

3. Washington has yielded at least one power-play goal in all three games this month after finishing December by thwarting all 12 short-handed situations over the final four contests.

PREDICTION: Capitals 5, Hurricanes 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Flames vs. Lightning Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 01/10/2018

The Calgary Flames have pushed their way back into serious playoff contention with four straight wins and look to continue that trend when they begin a three-game, four-day stretch at the NHL-best Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday. The Flames have won four straight one-goal decisions after defenseman Dougie Hamilton's overtime tally gave them a 3-2 victory at Minnesota on Tuesday.

"These last 40-some games are extremely important, and we've put ourselves in a good spot to push to make playoffs here," Calgary right wing Johnny Gaudreau, who was named to the All-Star Game on Wednesday, told reporters. "If we keep playing the way we've been playing the last few games here, we can go (through) the road trip and into the (upcoming) break feeling pretty good about ourselves." The task will be a tough one against the Lightning, who have earned points in 18 of their 21 games at home this season (17-3-1) after edging visiting Carolina 5-4 on Tuesday. Tampa Bay Nikita Kucherov leads the league with 60 points, but fellow forward Tyler Johnson has been a major factor of late while putting up 12 goals and 11 assists with a plus-18 in his last 17 games after scoring a hat trick Tuesday. "We made a switch with lines and I've found chemistry to (Brayden) Point and (Ondrej) Palat," Johnson said. "Things have just kind of taken off and it's really fun playing with those guys."

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, TVA, Sportsnet West (Calgary), FS Sun (Tampa Bay)

ABOUT THE FLAMES (22-16-4): Goaltender Mike Smith, who spent parts of four seasons with Tampa Bay, has not allowed more than three goals in the last 12 games and stopped 33 of 35 shots in Tuesday's victory. "I don't think we're in these games if it's not for him," Hamilton told reporters of Smith, who owns a .921 save percentage overall. "He played great again (Tuesday). ... We just have to keep rolling." Gaudreau has put up eight assists during the winning streak and tops the team with 49 points - 10 more than Sean Monahan, who boasts three goals to go along with four assists in the last four games.

ABOUT THE LIGHTNING (31-9-3): Defenseman Victor Hedman recorded 16 of his 33 points in the last 14 games and boasts a plus-22 rating since Dec. 1 to be named to the All-Star Game along with Kucherov, captain Steven Stamkos and goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy (NHL-best 27 wins). Kucherov, who shares the NHL lead with Alex Ovechkin at 27 goals, has built a four-game point streak and Stamkos owns three assists in that span to push his season total to a team-high 35. Defenseman Daniel Girardi is day-to-day after sitting out Tuesday with a neck injury he sustained blocking a shot in the win at Detroit on Sunday.

OVERTIME

1. The Lightning have not enjoyed a power play in the last two games and are 4-for-33 with the man advantage over the past 10 contests.

2. Calgary LW Micheal Ferland has posted a goal and an assist in each of his last three contests.

3. The Flames won 3-2 in their last visit to Tampa Bay in 2016-17 with three points from Hamilton (goal, two assists).

PREDICTION: Lightning 4, Flames 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Tulsa vs. Houston Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 01/10/2018

Visiting Tulsa and Houston both look to bounce back from tough losses when they meet Thursday night in American Athletic Conference action. A win will also help one of them keep pace with league leaders Cincinnati and Wichita State.

Thursday's meeting features two of the top scorers in the league with Houston's Rob Gray and Tulsa's Junior Etou. The Cougars, who have won seven straight home games at nearby Texas Southern while their home arena gets a $60 million renovation this season, rank second in the league in scoring but will be challenged by Tulsa. The Golden Hurricane have held their last nine opponents to 66.9 points after allowing 96 points to Texas-San Antonio in late November. Tulsa has won seven of 10 against Houston but was swept last year.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPNU

ABOUT TULSA (10-6, 3-1 AAC): Etou, a senior forward, has scored in double figures in 15 straight games and leads the Golden Hurricane with 17.1 points per contest. Guard Sterling Taplin adds 11.9 points and 3.9 assists while forward Martins Igbanu is averaging 12.8 points in league play after averaging 6.6 points in non-conference. Junior wing DaQuan Jeffries (10.0 points, 5.3 rebounds) has nine total points in his two games back from a hand injury.

ABOUT HOUSTON (12-3, 2-1): Gray's 18.6-point average leads the Cougars and is ranked second in the league but he has been held to 10.7 in AAC play. Forward Devin Davis adds 11.5 points and a team-best 6.7 rebounds while guard Corey Davis Jr. chips in 11.1 points and a 43.2-percent clip from behind the 3-point line. Sophomore center Chris Harris Jr. (2.1 points, 3.1 rebounds) made his first career start in place of junior Breaon Brady (5.8 points, 5.4 rebounds), who missed the Wichita State game with an ankle injury.

TIP-INS

1. Tulsa senior G Corey Henderson Jr. (8.9 points) is averaging 4.7 points in Tulsa's six losses and was held scoreless twice.

2. Houston was outscored in the paint 38-18 against LSU and 20-10 against Wichita State, its two more recent losses.

3. Gray (1,315 points) is 22nd on Houston's list of all-time scorers and needs 17 to tie Hakeem Olajuwon for 20th place.

PREDICTION: Houston 78, Tulsa 70

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Maryland vs. Ohio State Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 01/10/2018

Ohio State validated its surprising start to the Big Ten season last time out with talented junior Keita Bates-Diop leading the way again, and looks to avoid a letdown when Maryland pays a visit Thursday night. Bates-Diop poured in 32 points and was named the Big Ten Player of the Week for the second time this season as the Buckeyes pulled away from then-No. 1 Michigan State for an 80-64 victory Sunday at home.

"We all knew we could do it, and that's where it started," Ohio State senior forward Jae'Sean Tate told reporters of the Buckeyes, who have won all four of their Big Ten games by an average of 15.3 points. "You can't (play) a team like Michigan State and not believe it's possible to win." Ohio State, which missed the NCAA Tournament the past two seasons and Chris Holtmann replaced Thad Matta as coach last summer, won eight of its last nine and Maryland has matched them after rolling over Iowa 91-73 on Sunday. The Terrapins' only loss in their run was by 30 points at Michigan State on Thursday, but they had a positive response. "It was tough to lose by 30. It was embarrassing," Maryland center Bruno Fernando, who was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week on Monday, told the Washington Post. "But it doesn't stop us from thinking we're a great team."

TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN2

ABOUT MARYLAND (14-4, 3-2 Big Ten): Fernando poured in a season-high 21 points against Iowa and is making good use of more playing time since leading rebounder Justin Jackson (8.1) was lost for the season with a shoulder injury. Sophomore guard Anthony Cowan was limited to 4-of-11 shooting Sunday against Iowa, but matched a season high with seven assists and is averaging 21.2 points in five Big Ten games. Cowan leads the team in scoring (16.2) - with fellow sophomore guard Kevin Huerter next at 14.1, assists (4.6) and steals (1.4) while shooting 87 percent from the free-throw line.

ABOUT OHIO STATE (13-4, 4-0): Bates-Diop is averaging 26 points over his last four outings to push his season mark to 20.0 and tops the team in rebounding (8.8) while shooting 52.5 percent from the field. Tate is averaging 16.8 points in five career games against Maryland and ranks third on the team in scoring (12.9) behind junior guard C.J. Jackson (13.5, team-high 4.2 assists), who is 17-for-30 from the field the last three games. Freshman forward Kaleb Wesson (11.5) is one of five regulars shooting at least 50 percent from the field at 54.6, trailing only Tate (57.2) and senior guard Andrew Dakich (66.7).

TIP-INS

1. Maryland junior G Dion Wiley, who is averaging 5.8 points with 23 makes from 3-point range, suffered a concussion against Iowa and is not expected to play Thursday.

2. Ohio State senior G Kam Williams has drained 8-of-11 from 3-point range in the last three games and shoots 46.3 percent from beyond the arc overall.

3. Maryland leads the series 6-5, including a pair of victories last season by a combined 15 points.

PREDICTION: Ohio State 76, Maryland 66

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Iowa vs. Illinois Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 01/10/2018

Two teams still searching for their first Big Ten Conference win of the season square off Thursday night as Iowa visits Illinois. The Hawkeyes are coming off back-to-back subpar defensive efforts in losses to Ohio State and Maryland, while the Fighting Illini look to rebound from consecutive 10-point road losses to Minnesota and Michigan.

Iowa coach Fran McCaffery's early-season frustrations finally boiled over in Sunday night's 91-73 defeat at the hands of the Terrapins, as he was handed consecutive technical fouls and subsequently ejected for arguing a traveling call. "What you have to do in situations like this, you have to take responsibility," he told reporters after the game. "I didn't want to get tossed, and I don't think you ever want to put your team in that position where you give them four free throws. But at the end of the day, we're fighting. I'm fighting. I'm going to fight for my guys, so that's what I did." The Illini put up their own fight against the Wolverines on Saturday, leading by three at the half before falling apart after the break en route to a 79-69 defeat. "That's a really good Michigan basketball team," Illinois coach Brad Underwood said after the game. "We took them out of everything."

TV: 8 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1

ABOUT IOWA (9-9, 0-5 Big Ten): The Hawkeyes' ball movement has been a thing to behold so far this season as they rank fifth in the nation in assists at 19.2 per game, with Jordan Bohannon leading the way with five per contest and eight other regulars averaging between one and two assists. Tyler Cook paces the team in scoring (14.7) and rebounds (6.3), but was held to just seven points in 27 foul-ridden minutes against Maryland after averaging 24.5 points over his previous two games. Free-throw shooting has been a significant sore sport for the Hawkeyes in 2017-18, as they rank just inside the top 300 in overall success rate (66.7 percent) and went just 6-of-10 from the line in the loss to Maryland.

ABOUT ILLINOIS (10-7, 0-4): For all that has gone wrong for the Illini this season, particularly in conference play, there are actually reasons for optimism - starting with the fact that Illinois comes into Wednesday ranked sixth in the nation in turnovers forced per game (18.7). They are also just outside the top 25 among Division I schools in average turnover differential (plus-3.9) despite struggling to hold on to the basketball themselves. Leron Black leads the team in scoring at 14.3 points per game but was limited to just seven in 20 largely ineffective minutes against the Wolverines while Michael Finke (10.6) is the only other Illinois player averaging in double figures, although he was limited to nine combined points in the losses to Minnesota and Michigan.

TIP-INS

1. Iowa and Illinois are the only Big Ten teams without a conference victory this season.

2. The Hawkeyes rank 29th in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.39), while the Illini sit 231st (0.96).

3. Bohannon has dished out 15 assists over his past two games.

PREDICTION: Illinois 76, Iowa 73

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Oregon State vs. Arizona Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 01/10/2018

Arizona looked as if it had found its groove with a nine-game win streak but hit a speed bump last Saturday in an 80-77 loss at Colorado. The 21st-ranked Wildcats now will try to get back on track Thursday night when they host Oregon State in Pac-12 play.


Against the Buffaloes, Arizona fell behind early, trailed 45-29 at the half and saw a late-game surge fall short in a game it never led. Colorado outshot the Wildcats 54.7 to 38.4 percent from the field as Arizona never recovered from a 30-percent showing in the first half and possibly brought some deeper issues to the surface. "You always want your team to play for you as the coach, and our guys they really struggle playing for me - they really do," Arizona coach Sean Miller said in his postgame news conference. "I can't get them to play hard. We do it for a while. I know we've had a win streak, and we also have a good team. We have a lot of talent. With our team, it's really hard to get our guys to run as fast as they can. That's not them. That's me. I have hard time reaching our guys. I can't reach them - I really can't."

TV: 9 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network


ABOUT OREGON STATE (10-5, 2-1 Pac-12): A dismal 1-17 in conference play a season ago, the Beavers already have doubled that win total three games into the Pac-12 season with victories over Colorado (76-57) and rival Oregon (76-64). Both of those games were at home, though, and Oregon State now plays five of its next seven on the road, starting with two games in three nights against the ranked Arizona schools. Forward Tres Tinkle (18.3 points, team-leading 7.1 rebounds per game), guard Stephen Thompson Jr. (16.5 points) and forward Drew Eubanks (13.8 points, 6.8 rebounds) are the leading scorers for the Beavers, who rank third in the conference in field-goal percentage (48.0) and are tops in scoring defense (68.6 points).

ABOUT ARIZONA (12-4, 2-1): Seven-foot-1 freshman Deandre Ayton scored a game-high 26 points against Colorado and has scored at least 23 in four of his last five games but his five rebounds in the contest marked a season low for the big man, who is pacing the Pac-12 with 11.6 per game. Second-leading scorer Allonzo Trier also had his struggles Saturday, finishing with eight points and has totaled only 15 over his last two games after entering last week's road trip averaging a team-best 21.3 per outing. Guard Rawle Alkins (15.6 points) and center Dusan Ristic (10.3, 6.6 rebounds) also are averaging double figures for Arizona, which leads the conference in field-goal percentage (50.4) and ranks second in 3-point accuracy (38.3).


TIP-INS

1. Arizona has won three straight in the series, including a 71-51 road win in last season's only meeting, to up its overall lead to 61-21.

2. The Wildcats have won 78 of their last 80 games in Tucson, while the Beavers are 1-18 in road/neutral-site games since the start of last season, including a 1-3 mark this year.

3. The 6-8, 220-pound Tinkle is the only Pac-12 player to rank in the conference's top 15 in scoring (seventh), rebounding (14th), assists (14th) and steals (sixth).


PREDICTION: Arizona 85, Oregon State 71

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Wichita State vs. East Carolina Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 01/10/2018

After dominating the Missouri Valley Conference for most of the past decade, Wichita State made the move to the American Athletic Conference this season. And it hasn't taken long for the fifth-ranked Shockers, who begin a two-game road trip on Thursday night at East Carolina, to make a strong impression.

The Shockers, who are tied for first place with 13th-ranked Cincinnati, have hit the ground running in conference play, opening with a 10-point victory at Connecticut (72-62) and then cruising to easy home wins over Houston (81-63) and South Florida (95-57). During the AAC's coaches' conference call on Monday, USF coach Brian Gregory said Wichita State is "as good of a team as there probably is in the country" while Houston coach Kelvin Sampson added, "Wichita State completely changes the dynamic of this league. This is their year." East Carolina, meanwhile, begins a three-game homestand that also includes a Sunday date with Houston. "Now we are going to see the elite amongst the elite in Wichita State and Houston this upcoming week," Pirates coach Michael Perry said.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, ESPN2

ABOUT WICHITA STATE (13-2, 3-0 AAC): The Shockers lead The American in scoring offense (85.1 points per game), field goal percentage (49.0), rebounding margin (plus-10.5), assists (18.6), assist-to-turnover ratio (1.5) and 3-pointers (9.8). Sophomore guard Landry Shamet leads the team in scoring (16.1) and assists (4.7), has connected on 39-of-74 3-pointers (52.7 percent) and is considered a potential first round NBA pick. Shaquille Morris, a 6-8, 279-pound senior, is second in scoring (12.2) and leads the team in blocks (29) while senior Darral Willis Jr. is also averaging in double figures (11.6) .

ABOUT EAST CAROLINA (7-8, 1-3): Perry was elevated to interim head coach when Jeff Lebo resigned on Nov. 29 after a 2-4 start and has piloted the Pirates to a 5-4 record since including a 67-65 victory at South Florida on Jan. 3 for their only conference win. ECU leads the AAC in 3-point field goal defense (30.5 percent) and is led offensively by senior guard B.J. Tyson who leads the team in scoring (15.7) for the third time in four seasons. Isaac Fleming, a senior transfer from Hawaii, is second in scoring (12.7) while averaging a team leading 4.8 assists while junior swingman Kentrell Barkley also is averaging double digits (12.4) and is second on the team in rebounding (6.4) behind 6-10 senior forward Jabari Craig (6.9).

TIP-INS

1. Wichita State's nine-game road winning streak is the longest in the nation, and the Shockers own the most road wins (44-6) and highest road winning percentage (88.0 percent) in Division I since the start of the 2013-14 season.

2. The Shockers leads the AAC and rank 14th nationally in 3-point shooting percentage (41.3) and have made at least 12 3-pointers in all three of their conference games.

3. Tyson needs 105 points to pass former SMU guard Nic Moore (1,462 points) to become the leading scorer in American Athletic Conference history.

PREDICTION: Wichita State 85, East Carolina 73

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Clemson vs. North Carolina State Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 01/10/2018

Fresh off an upset over Duke, North Carolina State looks to take down a second consecutive ranked opponent when it hosts No. 17 Clemson on Thursday. The Tigers are riding a 10-game winning streak and have won their first three ACC games for the first time since 2006-07, and only the sixth time in history.


Clemson has won three straight against the Wolfpack, including a 78-62 home win on Dec. 30 to open conference play. Big man Elijah Thomas posted a double-double and recorded a career-high six blocks in the first meeting, and Donte Grantham was one rebound shy of a double-double as the Tigers dominated inside. The Wolfpack followed that game with an ugly 88-58 loss at Notre Dame, but they rebounded for a 96-85 home win over the then-No. 2 Blue Devils on Saturday. It was the second major upset of the season for N.C. State, which also beat then-No. 2 Arizona on Nov. 22, but the inconsistent Wolfpack also had a head-scratching 81-76 home loss to UNC Greensboro on Dec. 16.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, ESPN


ABOUT CLEMSON (14-1, 3-0 ACC): Coach Brad Brownell's teams typically are known for their stingy defense, but all five of the Tigers' starters average double-digit scoring. Guard Marcquise Reed (15.9 points) and forward Grantham (14.6 points, 7.3 rebounds) lead the balanced attack. The Tigers still get after at the defensive end, though, ranking 21st in scoring defense (63.5 points per game) and 46th in field goal defense (40.2 percent).

ABOUT N.C. STATE (11-5, 1-2): The Wolfpack also boast five double-digit scorers, which is to be expected in first-year coach Kevin Keatts' up-tempo style. Guards Allerik Freeman (15.3 points) and Torin Dorn (13.4 points, 7.3 rebounds) lead the charge, but freshman guard Braxton Beverly has increased his output to 12.3 points per game during ACC play. The frontcourt had a tough time defending the Tigers in the first meeting, but 7-0 Omer Yurtseven (11.7 points, 6.9 rebounds) had a double-double.


TIP-INS

1. Reed is one of 15 players in the nation who average at least 15.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, three assists, and 1.5 steals.

2. The Wolfpack forces 16.1 turnovers per game, which ranks in the top 45 nationally.

3. Brownell is tied with Oliver Purnell for third on Clemson's all-time list with 138 wins.


PREDICTION: Clemson 76, N.C. State 72

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Portland vs. Gonzaga Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 01/10/2018

Gonzaga has won its first four West Coast Conference games by an average of 32.8 points and looks for another easy victory when it hosts Portland on Thursday. The No. 14 Bulldogs are tied for first place in the conference with Saint Mary's as they look to defeat the Pilots for the ninth consecutive time.

Senior power forward Johnathan Williams is emerging as a go-to player after contributing 30 points and 10 rebounds in last Saturday's 85-66 victory over Loyola Marymount. Williams was 13-of-18 shooting against the Lions while posting his second-highest scoring output of the campaign and coach Mark Few is hoping to see those types of performances more often. "He's been wildly inconsistent," Few told reporters. "He's had games with two and four points. I'm hoping we're rounding him to where we can count on him for double-digit points and hopefully double-digit rebounds." Portland has opened WCC play with four straight losses, including last Saturday's 70-68 setback at Santa Clara.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, ROOT

ABOUT PORTLAND (6-11, 0-4 WCC): Senior center Philipp Hartwich has seven double-digit rebounding efforts this season and will be counted on heavily against the Bulldogs. The 7-foot-2 Hartwich has rejected 47 shots and averages a team-best 8.9 rebounds but he scores just 6.3 points per game despite shooting 65.7 percent from the field. Sophomore forward Josh McSwiggan averages a team-leading 13.2 points while freshman guard Marcus Shaver Jr. and sophomore guard Franklin Porter average 11.2 apiece.

ABOUT GONZAGA (14-3, 4-0): The Bulldogs have maintained a superior edge in the interior and outscored their first four conference foes 176-86 in the paint. Williams paces the squad in scoring (14.5) and rebounding (7.3) while sophomore forward Killian Tillie has emerged with averages of 12 points and 6.1 rebounds to help Gonzaga average 9.5 more rebounds per game than its opponents. Junior guard Josh Perkins excels from outside with a team-best 52 3-pointers and he is averaging 13.5 points and team-high 5.6 assists.

TIP-INS

1. Gonzaga last lost to the Pilots during the 2013-14 season -- 82-73 in Portland.

2. Five Portland players have made more than 20 3-pointers, led by McSwiggan's 44.

3. Perkins had 12 points and 10 assists against Loyola Marymount for his first career double-double.

PREDICTION: Gonzaga 87, Portland 53

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Stanford vs. Washington State Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 01/11/2018

Having survived a challenging non-conference slate that included losses to North Carolina, Florida and Kansas, Stanford has emerged as a possible contender in the competitive Pac-12. The Cardinal look to build on back-to-back wins Thursday against host Washington State, which has opened league play with three straight losses.

Stanford is riding a wave of momentum following last Sunday's 77-76 win over USC, which ended when freshman guard Daejon Davis hit a 50-foot shot at the buzzer. One of four freshmen in the Cardinal rotation, Davis has cut down on his turnovers from the point-guard spot and has averaged 10.9 points over his last nine games. "A lot of people could obviously see the struggles he had at the start of the season," forward Reid Travis told reporters. "But for me, he just needed more game reps. It's a tough position to be in, to basically take over a team at the college level. He deserves moments like (Sunday's game-winning shot)." After playing eight straight games in the state of California, Stanford hits the road to face the Cougars, who began the season with six straight wins but started league play by averaging 16 turnovers in losses to UCLA, USC and Washington.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, ESPNU

ABOUT STANFORD (8-8, 2-1 Pac-12): The future is now for Stanford, which had Davis on the court with fellow freshmen Kezie Okpala, Isaac White and Oscar da Silva at the same time during several key stretches against USC. Okpala, a 6-8 forward from Los Angeles, has moved into the starting lineup and is averaging 31 minutes and 10.3 points since making his season debut four games ago. Coach Jerod Haase continues to rely heavily on his veteran frontcourt of Travis and Michael Humphrey, who average a combined 33.5 points and 16.0 rebounds per game.

ABOUT WASHINGTON STATE (8-7, 0-3): Forward Robert Franks averages 17.9 points and 7.3 rebounds to lead the Cougars, who have lost seven of their last nine games and rank last in the Pac-12 with a minus-1.8 average rebounding margin. Coach Ernie Kent has been pleased by the leadership of graduate transfer Drick Bernstine, who averages a team-most 7.5 rebounds and recorded 10 points and seven boards in last Saturday's 70-65 loss to Washington. Guard Malachi Flynn, the team's second-leading scorer at 14.9 points per game, looks to bounce back after being held to five points on 1-of-9 shooting against the Huskies.

TIP-INS

1. Stanford has won nine of the last 12 meetings and holds a 76-60 lead in the series.

2. Washington State G Carter Skaggs is 22-for-42 from 3-point range over his last five games.

3. Stanford is 3-15 on the road in Pac-12 play over the last two seasons.

PREDICTION: Stanford 77, Washington State 72

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Oregon vs. Arizona State Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 01/10/2018

Arizona State has hit some bumps since its 12-0 start and the No. 11 Sun Devils look to regain their stride when they host Oregon on Thursday in Pac-12 play. The Sun Devils have lost two of three games since their strong start but have been strong at home, winning all eight games this season.

Arizona State is playing at home for the first time since Dec. 22 and coach Bobby Hurley said there is no reason to panic after the recent slide. "We're still No. 11 in the country. It's not that bad," Hurley said at a press conference. "Eleven has been pretty good to me. I like 11, so that's fine. We're excited with where we are and what we've done. There is still a lot of basketball left to be played." Oregon is trying to find its stride and an inconsistent season got rougher with Saturday's 76-64 loss to Oregon State. "The way we've been losing, we feel like we've been letting games slip away from us and not putting our best foot forth," junior forward Paul White said afterward. "It hurts. ... We just need to find our identity."

TV: 10 p.m. ET, FS1

ABOUT OREGON (11-5, 1-2 Pac-12): The Ducks have a totally revamped roster compared to last season's Final Four squad and the dropoff was again evident in the double-digit loss to Oregon State. "They just outworked us; there's no other way to put it," Oregon coach Dana Altman said afterward. "We've got a lot of work to do. ... We're making some of the same mistakes we made in the second, third game of the season. We just haven't made the improvement I thought we would." Oregon is averaging 81.6 points per game with sophomore guard Payton Pritchard averaging a team-high 15 points, senior guard Elijah Brown averaging 12.9 and freshman forward Troy Brown contributing 12.3 points and a team-best 7.6 rebounds.

ABOUT ARIZONA STATE (13-2, 1-2): Senior guards Tra Holder (Pac-12 leading 21.4 scoring average) and Shannon Evans II (16.9) have paved an attack producing 89.3 points per game with Holder compiling eight 20-point outings and Evans hitting the mark seven times. The Sun Devils are averaging 9.5 3-pointers per game with Evans (43), Holder (40) and senior guard Kodi Justice (39 with a 13.7 average) doing most of the damage. Freshman forward Romello White has been a force in the interior by making 65 percent of his field-goal attempts while averaging 12.8 points and 8.2 rebounds.

TIP-INS

1. Oregon has won nine of the past 10 meetings.

2. Elijah Brown is shooting 94.3 percent from the free-throw line.

3. Holder (1,536 career points) need four points to pass No. 9 Seabern Hill (1967-70) and 14 to pass No. 8 Steve Beck (1984-87) on the Sun Devils' all-time scoring list.

PREDICTION: Arizona State 95, Oregon 83

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Utah vs. UCLA Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 01/10/2018

UCLA shook off a crushing loss two nights earlier with a season-high 107 points Saturday in a 23-point rout of host California and finds itself all alone atop the early Pac-12 standings. The Bruins will try to maintain their catbird seat as they tip off a two-game homestand Thursday night against Utah.


Against host Stanford last Thursday, UCLA frittered away a 13-point lead with nine minutes remaining in regulation and wound up surrendering a combined 71 points in the second half and overtime of a 107-99 double-OT loss. The Bruins did respond in fine fashion, though, versus Cal, shooting a season-high 58.2 percent from the field, including 17-of-30 from 3-point range, as all five starters scored in double figures. "We averaged 103 points on this trip, and we got a split," UCLA coach Steve Alford said in his postgame news conference. "When you average 103, you should get two wins. So it's still a growing process, and these guys are still learning." Utah, meanwhile, is coming off back-to-back home losses to nationally-ranked Arizona (94-82) and Arizona State (80-77) after opening Pac-12 play with consecutive road wins for the first time since it joined the conference in 2011.

TV: 11 p.m. ET, ESPN2


ABOUT UTAH (10-5, 2-2 Pac-12): The Utes hung tough with both the Wildcats and Sun Devils but couldn't find a way to close out a win in either contest. Guards Justin Bibbins and Sedrick Barefield scored a combined 80 points in the two losses and are second and third on the squad with scoring averages of 13.7 and 12.2, respectively. Forward David Collette is averaging a team-most 13.8 points, but freshman forward Donnie Tillman, averaging 10.2 points and 6.2 rebounds, has missed five of the last six games with a foot sprain.

ABOUT UCLA (12-4, 3-1): Aaron Holiday leads the Bruins in scoring 19.4 per game, and the junior guard has stepped things up in Pac-12 play with a 24.8-point average, including a 12-of-21 performance from 3-point range in the four contests. Freshman backcourt mate Kris Wilkes is averaging 13.6 points while senior forward Thomas Welsh, who has worn a protective face mask since taking a blow to the nose Dec. 29 against Washington, is averaging 12.8 and a team-leading 11.1 rebounds after notching his 10th double-double (19 points-14 rebounds) of the season Saturday. Guards Jaylen Hands (11.8 points) and Prince Ali (10.6) also are averaging double figures for UCLA which ranks second in the Pac-12 and 21st nationally with 85.6 points per outing.


TIP-INS

1. The teams have split the last six meetings, but UCLA leads the series 9-7, including a 6-3 mark in L.A.

2. Utah ranks second in the conference in scoring defense (69.4 points) and is tops in the league at defending the 3-point arc with opponents shooting 30.5 percent.

3. The Utes play five of their next seven on the road before closing out the regular season with five of their final seven in Salt Lake City.


PREDICTION: UCLA 77, Utah 75

[Can'tPickAWinner]

California vs. Washington Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 01/11/2018

California's Wyking Jones and Washington's Mike Hopkins are the two newest coaches in the Pac-12, but that's about all the two have in common. Jones and the Bears look to put two ugly losses behind them Thursday when they visit the surprising Huskies, who have already matched their conference win total from last season.

Freshman guard Jaylen Nowell averages a team-high 16.3 points to lead the Huskies, who opened league play with three straight road games and sandwiched wins over USC and Washington State around a 21-point loss to UCLA. Washington finished 9-22 overall and 2-16 in the Pac-12 last season but showcased its new-found depth in last Saturday's 70-65 win over Washington State as sophomore guard Carlos Johnson scored 10 points in 14 minutes off the bench. "We promote the 'Tougher Together' theme, and I think it showed," Hopkins told reporters. "You got guys who, on any given night, can come off the bench and they're buying in and they're winning." The Huskies play five of their next seven games at home, beginning with Thursday's matchup against a Cal team that ranks last in the conference in scoring defense at 81.4 points per game.


TV: 11 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network

ABOUT CAL (7-9, 1-2 Pac-12): The Bears opened Pac-12 play with a win over Stanford but were then swept in a home series against the league's Los Angeles schools for the first time since 2007. Junior guard Don Coleman averages 18.9 points to lead the Bears, who recorded season worsts in field-goal percentage allowed (58.2) and three-pointers allowed (17) in last Saturday's 107-84 loss to UCLA. "We showed a lot of toughness, fight and aggressiveness," Jones told reporters. "Unfortunately, we only did when we were down 21. We've got to be able to put together 40 minutes of that kind of effort and attack, that kind of aggressiveness and fight."

ABOUT WASHINGTON (12-4, 2-1): Guard Matisse Thybulle scored a team-high 17 points in the win over Washington State while point guard David Crisp added 15 points and three assists. Crisp is averaging a team-high 37.7 minutes per game but now has a capable backup in freshman Michael Carter III, who returned to face the Cougars after missing 11 games with a fractured wrist and scored two points in 11 minutes. The undersized frontcourt is led by junior forward Noah Dickerson, who is averaging 15.1 points and a team-best 7.7 rebounds while shooting 60.4 percent from the field.

TIP-INS

1. Cal has won six straight games against Washington and holds an 84-78 lead in the series.

2. Washington is averaging a league-best 9.0 steals per game.

3. Cal forward Justice Sueing is averaging 14.0 points in the second half of his last three games.

PREDICTION: Washington 83, Cal 67