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Friday, November 9
Friday’s games— Not a lot of info to go on until teams play some games…….
Green Bay lost 85-63 at Indiana State LY, in game that was tied at half. Sycamores shot 56% inside the arc that nite. Green Bay starts four juniors, one senior, with two starters back from LY’s 13-20 team- they’ve got four JC transfers and a transfer from Marquette- they’re deeper now and they like to play fast. Indiana State starts three seniors, but lost 86-69 at Ball State in its opener; Sycamores have two transfers who aren’t eligible to play until December, so they’re little shorthanded right now.
Arkansas lost 79.6% of its scoring, 64.7% of its rebounding from LY’s 23-12 team that made the NCAAs; they’ve got only three returning scholarship players, so it’ll take time, especially since Hogs usually press a lot and play lot of guys. Razorbacks beat Texas 77-74 in last meeting two years ago. Texas has four starters back from a 19-15 team that made the NCAA’s; Longhorns are only 50-50 in three years under Smart, have strong freshman class- Texas needs to shoot better than it did LY. This game is at Fort Bliss, a neutral site.
Home side won last four Northeastern-Harvard games; Huskies lost last two visits here, by 14-6 points. Harvard has all five starters back, plus the 6th man from LY’s regular season Ivy champs, but they lost in Ivy tournament. Crimson struggled with D-3 MIT in its opener, winning 78-66. Northeastern lost its home opener by 3 to Boston U; Huskies led by 12 with 12:43 left- they start three juniors, two seniors, have all five starters back from a 23-10 team that lost CAA title game. Last three years, Ivy teams are 7-5 vs spread when facing a CAA opponent.
Missouri never trailed and beat Iowa State 74-59 at home in LY’s opener; Mizzou has three starters back from 20-13 that lost to Florida St by 13 in NCAA’s LY. Tigers won opener by 13 over Central Arkansas- they start a freshman, two sophs, and played only eight guys Tuesday. Iowa State was 13-18 LY, after winning 100 games the previous four years. Cyclones are deeper than LY; they beat Alabama State 79-53 in their opener, playing eight guys 14+ minutes. Last three years, SEC teams are 23-18-1 vs spread when playing a Big X opponent.
Long road trip for Stanford, which visits Chapel Hill Monday; Cardinal made 11-15 on arc in its opener, a 96-75 home win over Seattle. Cardinal lost three starters from LY’s 19-16 team- their star Travis bolted to Kentucky as a grad transfer, which leaves Stanford with questions inside. NC-Wilmington area was ravaged by flooding this fall; Seahawks lost their opener 97-93 in OT at Campbell, despite making 15-29 on arc. UNCW went 11-21 LY after winning 54 games the previous two years; they’re picked to finish in middle of CAA this season.
Buffalo beat St Francis 82-67 in its opener, despite going 7-34 on arc; Bulls start three seniors from LY’s 27-9 team that upset Arizona in first round of NCAA’s- they’re picked to finish at top of the MAC this year. West Virginia has three starters back from LY’s 26-11 team that lost in Sweet 16 of NCAA’s, but they lost their top two scorers from LY, Miles/Carter. WVU is thin in backcourt but are loaded up front. Mountaineers are a preseason top 20 team. Last three years, Big X teams are 2-2 vs MAC teams.
Washington was down 9 at half to Western Kentucky in its home opener but won by 18; they were 5-25 on arc, had only 8 turnovers (+8). Huskies have all five starters back from a 21-13 team that lost in 2nd round of NIT- they return 95.9% of their scoring. Auburn forced 22 turnovers (+9), made 18-38 on arc in 101-58 waltz over South Alabama in its opener- Tigers led 52-33 at half, played basically an 8-man rotation. Auburn has three starters back from a 26-8 team that lost in 2nd round of NCAA’s, but starter Purifoy is out for few more weeks.
Cal-Irvine beat Idaho 86-68 in its opener, after being down 4 at halftime; Anteaters start four juniors and a senior- they played nine guys 10+ minutes. Irvine has all five starters and top eight scorers back from an 18-17 team that lost Big West final- they’re deep team that needs to be better on offense this year. Texas A&M lost three starters from 22-13 team that made Sweet 16 LY; Aggies figure to play faster, shoot more 3’s. A&M was 8-38 on arc in their 98-83 opening win over Savannah State (Sav State was 17-54 on arc!!!) Aggies start three sophs, two seniors.
San Diego beat Weber State 83-66 in its opener, after being down 32-25 at half; Toreros have four starters back (3 double digit scorers) from LY’s 20-14 team- they also have a new head coach. USD has a solid PG and the most depth they’ve had in a while. Cal-Davis got waxed 76-42 at home by San Francisco in its opener; Aggies turned ball over 18 times, were 3-19 on arc. Davis has four starters back from a 22-11 team, but that was a bad start. Last 3+ years, WCC teams are 31-26 vs spread when playing a Big west opponent.
Yale-Cal meet in China; Yale has all five starters back from 16-15 team that finished 3rd in Ivy LY- Bulldogs have been besieged by injuries last couple years- their top five scorers are back, and they’re very well-coached. California has three starters back from an 8-24 team that was last in Pac-12. Cal is deeper, more versatile this year; they changed two assistant coaches from LY, too. Bears brought in four freshmen who should help. Long travel to China makes this game a tough one to handicap, especially with an Ivy squad favored over a Pac-12 team.
UCLA won its last three games with Long Beach State by 7-4-37 points; the teams didn’t meet LY. Bruins won last meeting 114-77. 49ers play five Pac-12 teams before Big West play starts; they’ve got four starters back from a 15-18 team, the team’s worst Big West finish (8th) in ten years. UCLA beat Fort Wayne 96-71 in its opener (48-31 at half); Bruins lost couple of frosh to injury- they still start two other frosh and two sophs. Last three years, Pac-12 teams are 25-24-1 vs spread when playing Big West teams.
Wichita State lost its home opener 71-58 to Louisiana Tech; Shockers lost four starters from LY’s 25-8 team- they also lost two assistant coaches last summer, and played seven freshmen in the Tech game- this looks like a rebuilding year. Providence beat Siena by 10 in its opener; Friars made 13-25 on arc, took only 7 foul shots- they start two freshmen, are picked to finish third in Big East. This game is being played in Annapolis, at the Naval Academy. Last three years, AAC teams are 8-12 vs spread when playing a Big East opponent.
Georgia State beat Montana 71-68 at home LY, in brickfest where teams combined to go 10-42 on arc. GSU played four starters 35:00+ in its opener, a 76-68 win over East Tennessee State, a quality win; Panthers have four starters back from LY, start two seniors, two juniors; they outscored ETSU 21-12 on foul line, made 9-24 on arc, were down 4 with 7:24 left in game. Montana has four starters back (and 6 of top 7) from LY’s 26-8 team that made NCAA’s; Griz is clear-cut choice to win the Big Sky this season.
Friday, November 9
Friday’s games— Not a lot of info to go on until teams play some games…….
Green Bay lost 85-63 at Indiana State LY, in game that was tied at half. Sycamores shot 56% inside the arc that nite. Green Bay starts four juniors, one senior, with two starters back from LY’s 13-20 team- they’ve got four JC transfers and a transfer from Marquette- they’re deeper now and they like to play fast. Indiana State starts three seniors, but lost 86-69 at Ball State in its opener; Sycamores have two transfers who aren’t eligible to play until December, so they’re little shorthanded right now.
Arkansas lost 79.6% of its scoring, 64.7% of its rebounding from LY’s 23-12 team that made the NCAAs; they’ve got only three returning scholarship players, so it’ll take time, especially since Hogs usually press a lot and play lot of guys. Razorbacks beat Texas 77-74 in last meeting two years ago. Texas has four starters back from a 19-15 team that made the NCAA’s; Longhorns are only 50-50 in three years under Smart, have strong freshman class- Texas needs to shoot better than it did LY. This game is at Fort Bliss, a neutral site.
Home side won last four Northeastern-Harvard games; Huskies lost last two visits here, by 14-6 points. Harvard has all five starters back, plus the 6th man from LY’s regular season Ivy champs, but they lost in Ivy tournament. Crimson struggled with D-3 MIT in its opener, winning 78-66. Northeastern lost its home opener by 3 to Boston U; Huskies led by 12 with 12:43 left- they start three juniors, two seniors, have all five starters back from a 23-10 team that lost CAA title game. Last three years, Ivy teams are 7-5 vs spread when facing a CAA opponent.
Missouri never trailed and beat Iowa State 74-59 at home in LY’s opener; Mizzou has three starters back from 20-13 that lost to Florida St by 13 in NCAA’s LY. Tigers won opener by 13 over Central Arkansas- they start a freshman, two sophs, and played only eight guys Tuesday. Iowa State was 13-18 LY, after winning 100 games the previous four years. Cyclones are deeper than LY; they beat Alabama State 79-53 in their opener, playing eight guys 14+ minutes. Last three years, SEC teams are 23-18-1 vs spread when playing a Big X opponent.
Long road trip for Stanford, which visits Chapel Hill Monday; Cardinal made 11-15 on arc in its opener, a 96-75 home win over Seattle. Cardinal lost three starters from LY’s 19-16 team- their star Travis bolted to Kentucky as a grad transfer, which leaves Stanford with questions inside. NC-Wilmington area was ravaged by flooding this fall; Seahawks lost their opener 97-93 in OT at Campbell, despite making 15-29 on arc. UNCW went 11-21 LY after winning 54 games the previous two years; they’re picked to finish in middle of CAA this season.
Buffalo beat St Francis 82-67 in its opener, despite going 7-34 on arc; Bulls start three seniors from LY’s 27-9 team that upset Arizona in first round of NCAA’s- they’re picked to finish at top of the MAC this year. West Virginia has three starters back from LY’s 26-11 team that lost in Sweet 16 of NCAA’s, but they lost their top two scorers from LY, Miles/Carter. WVU is thin in backcourt but are loaded up front. Mountaineers are a preseason top 20 team. Last three years, Big X teams are 2-2 vs MAC teams.
Washington was down 9 at half to Western Kentucky in its home opener but won by 18; they were 5-25 on arc, had only 8 turnovers (+8). Huskies have all five starters back from a 21-13 team that lost in 2nd round of NIT- they return 95.9% of their scoring. Auburn forced 22 turnovers (+9), made 18-38 on arc in 101-58 waltz over South Alabama in its opener- Tigers led 52-33 at half, played basically an 8-man rotation. Auburn has three starters back from a 26-8 team that lost in 2nd round of NCAA’s, but starter Purifoy is out for few more weeks.
Cal-Irvine beat Idaho 86-68 in its opener, after being down 4 at halftime; Anteaters start four juniors and a senior- they played nine guys 10+ minutes. Irvine has all five starters and top eight scorers back from an 18-17 team that lost Big West final- they’re deep team that needs to be better on offense this year. Texas A&M lost three starters from 22-13 team that made Sweet 16 LY; Aggies figure to play faster, shoot more 3’s. A&M was 8-38 on arc in their 98-83 opening win over Savannah State (Sav State was 17-54 on arc!!!) Aggies start three sophs, two seniors.
San Diego beat Weber State 83-66 in its opener, after being down 32-25 at half; Toreros have four starters back (3 double digit scorers) from LY’s 20-14 team- they also have a new head coach. USD has a solid PG and the most depth they’ve had in a while. Cal-Davis got waxed 76-42 at home by San Francisco in its opener; Aggies turned ball over 18 times, were 3-19 on arc. Davis has four starters back from a 22-11 team, but that was a bad start. Last 3+ years, WCC teams are 31-26 vs spread when playing a Big west opponent.
Yale-Cal meet in China; Yale has all five starters back from 16-15 team that finished 3rd in Ivy LY- Bulldogs have been besieged by injuries last couple years- their top five scorers are back, and they’re very well-coached. California has three starters back from an 8-24 team that was last in Pac-12. Cal is deeper, more versatile this year; they changed two assistant coaches from LY, too. Bears brought in four freshmen who should help. Long travel to China makes this game a tough one to handicap, especially with an Ivy squad favored over a Pac-12 team.
UCLA won its last three games with Long Beach State by 7-4-37 points; the teams didn’t meet LY. Bruins won last meeting 114-77. 49ers play five Pac-12 teams before Big West play starts; they’ve got four starters back from a 15-18 team, the team’s worst Big West finish (8th) in ten years. UCLA beat Fort Wayne 96-71 in its opener (48-31 at half); Bruins lost couple of frosh to injury- they still start two other frosh and two sophs. Last three years, Pac-12 teams are 25-24-1 vs spread when playing Big West teams.
Wichita State lost its home opener 71-58 to Louisiana Tech; Shockers lost four starters from LY’s 25-8 team- they also lost two assistant coaches last summer, and played seven freshmen in the Tech game- this looks like a rebuilding year. Providence beat Siena by 10 in its opener; Friars made 13-25 on arc, took only 7 foul shots- they start two freshmen, are picked to finish third in Big East. This game is being played in Annapolis, at the Naval Academy. Last three years, AAC teams are 8-12 vs spread when playing a Big East opponent.
Georgia State beat Montana 71-68 at home LY, in brickfest where teams combined to go 10-42 on arc. GSU played four starters 35:00+ in its opener, a 76-68 win over East Tennessee State, a quality win; Panthers have four starters back from LY, start two seniors, two juniors; they outscored ETSU 21-12 on foul line, made 9-24 on arc, were down 4 with 7:24 left in game. Montana has four starters back (and 6 of top 7) from LY’s 26-8 team that made NCAA’s; Griz is clear-cut choice to win the Big Sky this season.
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