Cover The Number » NCAA Basketball

Missouri hosts Kansas in Big-12 Showdown

Glenn Andrew — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 11:00:25 +0000

The Missouri Tigers will host the Kansas Jayhawks in what will be one of the biggest games in the Big-12 conference this season. Both teams are highly ranked, and are making a case for being considered a number 1 seed in the NCAA tournament at the end of the year. The Tigers are currently ranked 4th with the Jayhawks occupying the 8th position, but Kansas has the advantage on several statistical categories. NCAA basketball experts had Kansas as the team to beat in the Big-12 conference this season, but Missouri is doing all they can to make that prediction look bad.

Many basketball experts are under the impression that Missouri has benefited from a soft pre-conference schedule as well as playing the bottom tier of Big-12 thus far. However, a team that averages well over 80 points per game always has a chance to win if their offense is hitting on all cylinders. Marcus Denmon and Ricardo Ratliffe completely dominate both sides of the court for the Tigers as they average close to 32 points and 12 rebounds per game. They will have their hands full Saturday when the big front court of the Jayhawks comes to town. Missouri’s field goal percentage is the 5th best in the country, but when they shoot well they find themselves in trouble as they are just 244th in rebounding.

Rebounding is actually the weakest link for the Jayhawks as well, but they are still talented enough to be 55th in the nation. Kansas may be the most well-rounded team in the country as they are within the top 40 in the country in points per game, assists and field goal percentage. They may be playing slightly below expectations thus far, but losses to Kentucky and Duke aren’t anything to hang your head about. The one glaring issue with this Jayhawks squad is their focus from game to game. Their other 2 losses were against Davidson and Iowa St as heavy favorites. They will need to play at a high level from here on out if they are to overtake the Tigers in the Big-12, and capture the conference title.

Kansas has the athletes to dominate both inside and out offensively. Thomas Robinson has been a beast on the boards with a 12 rebound per game average, and is leading the team in scoring with over 17 point per contest. Tyshawn Taylor is the premier guard on the Jayhawks, and is the reason why they rank so highly in field goal percentage as he distributes the ball in a way to get the best shot possible.

The over/under for this game is set at 147.5 which would indicate that scoring will be at a fast and furious pace. This may look to benefit the Tigers, but they’d better be careful what they wish for as the Jayhawks have shown the ability to light it up when given the opportunity. College basketball handicappers have Missouri listed as slight 2.5 point favorites at home, but they are clear underdogs on paper. Tune in Saturday as two of the best teams in the Big-12 and in the country go head to head in a battle of top-10 programs.

Murray St faces test against talented Redhawks

Glenn Andrew — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:00:11 +0000

The Murray St Racers have a 2 game lead in the Ohio Valley conference standings, and are in great position to represent this league in the NCAA college basketball tournament. However, the real challenge for this Racers squad will be whether or not they can navigate their entire regular season schedule without a blemish. They managed to take care of all the teams they faced prior to the start of their conference schedule including a 4 point win over 20th ranked Memphis, but this is the time of the season when teams tend to let their guard down. Murray St had better be ready to go Thursday when they take on a Southeast Missouri St Redhawks team that is on an 8-2 run following a 3-game slosing streak in mid-December.

College basketball experts feel as though this Racers team is a bit over-rated due to their strength of schedule. While that may very well be the case, they are starting to believe that their one of the best teams in the country, and that could make them very dangerous come tournament time. Isaiah Canaan leads the Murray St offense with a 18.7 scoring average. This squad may rank 38th in the nation with a 75.4 scoring average, but they are head and shoulders above the teams in the Ohio Valley conference. The guard combination of Canaan and Donte Poole average over 33 points per game, and shoot over 83% from the line and 42% from 3 point land. They are difficult to contain, but the Redhawks will be looking to do just that as they fight to hand the Racers their first loss of the year.

Southeast Missouri St may have 9 losses, but they’ve faced far better competition this season. The experience that they gained from games against high-powered offenses like Missouri and Oregon may give them an advantage versus Murray St. Statistically the Redhawks are actually better in several categories including field goal percentage and assists. Unlike the Racers, Southeast Missouri St relies heavily on the play of their forwards to win games. Tyler Stone and Leon Powell do a tremendous job on both sides of the ball from the forward position as they average almost 27 points and close to 15 rebounds per game. This could cause the Murray St some problems if they aren’t shooting their best.

NCAA basketball handicappers have listed the Racers as large 16 point favorites over the Redhawks, but this game has the potential to fall well inside of that number. Tune in Friday night as the Racers and Redhawks go head to head in an Ohio Valley conference battle.

Hoyas host Connecticut in Big East Showdown

Glenn Andrew — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 11:00:33 +0000

The Georgetown Hoyas and Connecticut Huskies come into this match-up in completely different positions then they were in when the season started. UCONN is fresh off of a National Championship, and despite losing their best player (Kemba Walker) were ranked as the 4th best team in the country by NCAA basketball experts before the season started. Six losses in their first 20 games has many analysts and experts reconsidering their early season expectations, and has taken this Huskies team clear out of the top-25. Georgetown began the year on the outside looking in, but a 16-4 start that has included wins over 3 ranked teams has them currently ranked 16th, and rising quickly.

It would be hard to figure out how this Hoyas team has been successful by looking at their statistics, but they put so much effort and hard work into their defense that everything else seems to be secondary. Point guard Jason Clark leads Georgetown with a 15.6 point per game average. His .495 shooting percentage is his biggest contribution to this team as they rely heavily on setting up their offense to get the best shot possible. Forward Hollis Thompson is second on the team in scoring, but is shooting over 50% from the floor and has been an important part to why this team is exceeding expectations this season.

No one knew how much this Hoyas team would struggle without their leader and best player from last season, but college basketball experts didn’t think it would affect them as much as it has. Jeremy Lamb is playing at an incredibly high level, and will more than likely parlay his success into the NBA draft after the season is over. However, he isn’t receiving the help that he was expected to from all of the “Blue Chip” players that are surrounding him. Sophomore Shabazz Napier has made significant contributions offensively this season, but he still has a long way to go before becoming a well-rounded player. The lack of development form Ryan Boatright and Tyler Olander have held this squad back from getting to the next level, and unless they get things straightened out quickly, they will have difficulty navigating the remainder of their Big East schedule.

NCAA basketball handicappers have listed Georgetown as 3.5 point favorites for Wednesday’s match-up against the Huskies. Based on the small total of 126, this looks to be a typical Big East battle that will come down to the final minute. Tune in as the Huskies look to knock off Georgetown and end their 3 game losing streak.

Golden Eagles host Pirates in Big East Battle

Tony Bravo — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:00:53 +0000

Just like the SEC conference in college football, the Big East is considered the most dominate conference in college basketball. There have been several teams in this 16 team conference that are off to solid starts, but NCAA basketball experts are smart enough to recognize which ones are legitimate and which ones aren’t. A perfect example of that comes in the form of the Seton Hall Pirates.

Seton Hall got off to a phenomenal start as they won 15 of their first 17 games including a 12 point beat-down of the 8th ranked Connecticut Huskies. However, not being ranked in the pre-season top-25 by college basketball experts turned out to be a good decision as the Pirates have lost 4 in a row in Big East play. Most of their early season opponents were weak as the goal was to try to build the teams confidence heading into conference match-ups, but it looks as though the philosophy of not playing higher competition has backfired.

Seton Hall’s schedule doesn’t get any easier as they visit the Marquette Golden Eagles for what will be their second consecutive game against a ranked opponent. Statistically, the Pirates are rather average in most categories, but they do have a pair of talented seniors that are leading the way this season. Guard Jordan Theodore and forward Herb Pope are averaging 32 points per game combined, and are setting good examples for the younger players as this team tries to become more cohesive over the second half of the season.

It will take an incredibly cohesive performance Tuesday for the Pirates to keep pace with a Marquette team that is slowly making a claim as one of the best teams in the country. Four losses in a 6 game stretch had many people scratching their heads in regards to where this team was at, but 6 consecutive wins in Big East play has everyone believing that this team has the potential to be a legitimate threat down the stretch.

The Golden Eagles have hit another gear with their offensive output, and are currently ranked 34th in the nation with a 76.5 point per game average. Their ball distribution is what keeps them so hard to defend, but they inevitably rely on defense to win games. Lacking in the rebounding and shooting percentage categories doesn’t affect the outcome of their games, because they pay more attention to holding down the opposition. Only seniors Darius Johnson-Odom and Jae Crowder average double-digits in points for the Golden Eagles, but there are 6 other players that contribute between 5-9 points per game. The ability to distribute the ball is one of the key factors in Marquette’s success this season, and will need to be relied on of they intend to make a deep run in the NCAA tournament at the end of the year.

Marquette has been listed as solid 9 point favorites by college basketball handicappers for Tuesday’s showdown. This number looks to be spot on based on stats and record, but the Pirates have a dangerous squad that could make this one much closer than expected. Tune in as the Golden Eagles host the Pirates in another compelling Big East battle.

Longhorns look to make statement against Missouri

Glenn Andrew — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 11:00:00 +0000

The Missouri Tigers haven’t been relevant in college basketball in years, but they are making a serious case for being considered the best team in the country this season. At 19-2, the Tigers are playing at a level that will give perennial Big-12 powerhouses like Kansas a run for the conference championship. NCAA basketball experts still believe that choosing the Jayhawks as the 5th best team in the country in the pre-season rankings will shine through before the season is over, but Missouri is adding to their already solid resume’ a game at a time.

It’s obvious that the Tigers rely on scoring to win basketball games, but they’ve played well against a handful of good defenses and can beat any team at any pace of play. Despite having wins over 3 ranked teams (Cal, Illinois, Baylor), they may have shown what their made of the most in their last outing against a Texas Tech team that managed to slow they down and hold them to just 63 points. It’s easy to bad mouth their defense due to all the points they allow, but that comes with the territory when you play such an up-tempo style of basketball.

It takes several solid scorers on a team to average over 80 points per game in college basketball, and that’s exactly what Missouri has. Marcus Denmon leads the Tigers with a 17 point per game average. While his shooting percentage from the field may be down slightly this season, he’s more than made up for it with his increase in assists, rebounding and free throw percentage. This experienced Mizzou squad is led by a junior and a pair of talented seniors. Forward Ricardo Ratliffe is more than capable of taking care of business in the paint, while Kim English compliments Denmon in what may be the best guard tandem in the nation. This trio combines for close to 47 points and 16 boards per game, and will need to be at their best Monday against a talented Texas Longhorns team that is eager to get a signature win to motivate them to a strong second half.

The Longhorns had a rough start to the season with losses to Oregon St and N.C. St in back to back games, but things have been much tougher over the last 2 weeks as they’ve lost 4 out of 5 in conference play. Having to play 3 ranked teams during this recent slide may account for some of the blame, but this program has been at or near the top of the Big-12 for a long time and expects to win every time they take the court. A game at home against the 2nd ranked team in the country serves as the perfect opportunity for this Texas team to put themselves back in the mix and gain the attention and respect of college basketball experts.

J’Covan Brown is a loose cannon with an itchy trigger finger, but at nearly 20 points per game can be a thorn in the side of any defense. The glaring problem with this seasons Longhorns team is their inexperience. Three of their top four scorers are freshman with limited playing time, but their up-side is enormous. Julien Lewis, Sheldon McClellan and Myck Kabongo all have the potential to be big time players, but they will need to refine their games in order to do so. Despite having the 145th best shooting percentage in division 1 basketball, Texas averages nearly 75 points per game, and can do much more if they are hitting on all cylinders.

This may look like a serious mismatch based on records and statistics, but the Longhorns will be focused and prepared to do battle when they take on the Tigers Monday night. It’s obvious that NCAA basketball handicappers are aware of how dangerous this Texas team can be as they have listed the 2nd ranked Tigers as short 1 point favorites. Tune in Monday as two of the best teams in the Big 12 conference go head to head in what should be an epic showdown.

Gators host Bulldogs in SEC Battle

Glenn Andrew — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 11:00:05 +0000

The SEC has several teams that are vying for a spot in the top-25, but currently only 3 teams have that honor. Two of them will go head to head Saturday when the Florida Gators host the surprising Mississippi St Bulldogs in what should be an intense battle. College basketball experts had a premonition that the Gators would be successful this season as they returned many of the players that took them into the Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament last year, but MSU has been a total shock to everyone.

The Bulldogs have shown the ability to adapt their game to the situation, and will need to play aggressively on offense if they hope to give Florida a run for their money. Ranking inside of the top 80 in field goal percentage, points per game and rebounding may not make this team look to good on paper, but they have been able to play defense on a consistent enough level to compete against the best teams in the country.

The balance that the Bulldogs maintain with their inside/ outside game has helped them get to a 17-4 mark and ranked 16th in the country. Forward Arnett Moultrie and guard Dee Bost combine for 33 points, almost 15 rebounds and close to 6 assists per game. They have made it extremely difficult for defenses to shut them down as they can beat you in almost every way imaginable. They will both need to be on their game against the Gators if this team is to have a chance to pull off what would be a big upset.

Florida has been a national powerhouse under Billy Donovan, and is once again in position to compete for a national championship. Losses to Ohio St and Syracuse earlier this year were almost to be expected, but its been their last 2 defeats that have NCAA basketball experts scratching their heads. Rutgers isn’t exactly known for basketball, and the Volunteers haven’t been relevant in years, yet both of these teams had success against a Gators squad that was supposed to be dynamic offensively.

Having the 7th best scoring offense in the country speaks volumes about how talented this Florida team is, but their occasional lack of focus on “D” has cost them in several games. Depth may not be a strong suite for this seasons Gators team, but they have 6 players that they can rely on game after game. Kenny Boykins leads the offense with an 18 point per game average, but it’s been the distribution of the ball that makes this team so hard to beat.

College basketball handicappers have listed the Gators as rather large 9.5 point favorites at home, but a solid effort by the Bulldogs could make for a closely contested battle. Tune in as two of the best teams in the SEC square off in an SEC showdown.

Wisconsin hosts Indiana in Big Ten Showdown

Glenn Andrew — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 11:00:30 +0000

The Wisconsin Badgers and Indiana Hoosiers find themselves falling quickly out of the top-25, but they have got to this point in tow totally different ways. The Badgers were expected to contend for a Big Ten title as they were listed as the 15th ranked team in the country prior to the start of the season. Indiana on the other hand got off to a phenomenal 12-0 start, including a win over #1 Kentucky to sky-rocket up the rankings. However, both teams have gone through tough a tough stretch over their last 7 games, and are now a loss or two from dropping out of the AP top-25.

NCAA basketball experts still feel strongly about Wisky’s ability to compete at a high level throughout the remainder of the season, but the jury on the Hoosiers is still out. It’s been the way the Hoosiers are winning that’s more surprising then the fact that they are. At nearly 80 points per game this offense is exceeding expectations by an alarming rate. The addition of freshman Cody Zeller has not only made Indiana a legitimate threat offensively, but has made them a national powerhouse overnight. Zeller is a serious threat in the paint, and has shown the ability to score from away the basket as well. This season may be a culmination of several pieces coming together, but Zeller is certainly the sparkplug that makes this offense run.

The old Hoosiers philosophy of winning was attributed to solid defense and being selective with their shots. This team isn’t as attentive on the defensive end of the floor, but they are shooting 50% as a team offensively. Wisconsin will more than likely lower that shooting percentage before Thursday mights game is over, but they will need to improve their offense if they are to pull out the much needed win at home.

Wisconsin’s statistics are well below average across the board offensively, but those numbers are skewed due to the slow pace of play that they use. There’s no question that they possess one of the most potent defenses in college basketball, but they are lacking scorers offensively. Guard Jordan Taylor leads the Badgers in scoring with a 14 point per game average, but he has a meager .396 shooting percentage from the field. Wisconsin will need to hold Indiana well below their season average in scoring as well as exceed their average in order to win this one. College basketball handicappers have the Badgers listed as 7 point favorites at home, and the over/under of 126.5 indicates that they believe Wisky will set the pace of play. Tune in Thursday night as two of the best teams in the Big Ten and the country square off in what should be a very competitive battle.

Spartans vs. Golden Gophers in Big Ten Showdown

Glenn Andrew — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 11:00:53 +0000

The Michigan St Spartans are one of the best teams in the country despite being ranked 10th in the country. Of their four losses, three of them are to top-25 opponents, and the other was at the hands of a much improved Northwestern squad. Now they will take on an over-achieving Minnesota Golden Gophers team that recently beat 8th ranked Indiana on the road. College basketball experts still figure this Spartans team to be at or near the top of the difficult Big-10, and potentially make a deep run in the NCAA tournament. Games like this one will really show how focused and determined this Michigan St team is.

What makes MSU so hard to beat it their balance on both sides of the ball. They play tremendous defense, but are ranked 38th in the country in scoring, 14th in assists and 22nd in field goal percentage. Forward Draymond Green may be the anchor of this squad, but the play of sophomore Keith Appling is what is allowing the Spartans to run the floor with the best teams in the country. Appling is 2nd on the team in scoring with a 12.6 ppg average, and leads them with 4 assists per contest. It will take a mistake free effort on Wednesday to hold off a Minnesota team that relies heavily on guard play.

Trevor Mbakwe is sidelined due to injury which has forced Minnesota’s back court to take over on offense. Julian Welch and Austin Hollins are averaging just under 20 points per game, but they are very meticulous in their shot selection, and make them at a very high rate. Both are shooting well over 80% from the free throw line, and over 45% from the field. It will be imperative that they keep the MSU defense honest by knocking down shots from the perimeter.

The disparity in points per game between these teams can be directly contributed to the Golden Gophers slow pace of play. However, the tremendous advantage that the Spartans have rebounding will play a crucial part in this game if Minny is unable to make shots at a high percentage. NCAA basketball handicappers have listed Michigan St as heavy 10.5 point home favorites, but as the Hoosiers found out, Minnesota can be a handful. Tune in Wednesday for what promises to be a competitive Big-10 battle.

Syracuse looks to Bounce Back against Cincinnati

Glenn Andrew — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 19:30:20 +0000

The Cincinnati Bearcats have been trying to prove that they belong in the top-25 since their first game. A 15-5 record and wins over UCONN, Georgetown and Pittsburgh have not been enough to get them there, but a win Monday over Syracuse certainly would. The Syracuse Orange were the number 1 team in the country for a few weeks as they began the year without a blemish until a shocking loss on Saturday to Notre Dame. College basketball experts had anticipated that the Orange would be a national powerhouse this season, but this will be their first true test as they try to bounce back from their first loss.

The Bearcats are coming off of a loss of their own as the Mountaineers hung on to beat them in overtime of what was a typical Big East battle. Cincy has a talented squad, but has been unable to gel as half of their team is made up of freshman. Dion Dixon and Sean Kilpatrick are a dynamic pair of guards that have shown their leadership all year long. However, they will be taking on one of the most well rounded teams in the country, and will need the rest of their squad to step it up if they are to hand the ‘Cuse their second straight loss.

Syracuse has a solid starting five, but it’s the depth off of their bench that makes them so difficult to beat. Kris Joseph leads the team with a 13.6 point per game average, and is shooting the ball extremely well from behind the arc and from the free throw line. Having a leading scorer that averages under 14 ppg seems surprising for a team that is 22nd in the country in scoring, but the Orange have 8 players that put up over 7 points per game. This should be a routine win for Syracuse, but they have never had to play following a loss.

Cincinnati would love nothing more than to get a signature win to impress basketball experts, and surprise NCAA basketball handicappers, but it will take a complete team effort. Tune in Monday as Syracuse and Cincinnati meet in what should be another hard fought Big East showdown.

Duke host Florida St in ACC Showdown

Glenn Andrew — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 19:46:14 +0000

The Florida St Seminoles may be just 12-6, but they’ve shown the ability to play with the best when their on the game. A win over North Carolina last Saturday was an example of why college basketball experts were so high on this team at the start of the season. They played a nearly perfect game in beating the Tar Heels as they held one of the top scoring teams in the country to just 57 points while they lit up the scoreboard for 90! FSU will need to have a similar type performance on Saturday as they face a Duke Blue Devils team that has the ability to knock down 3-pointers from everywhere.

Duke’s only two losses where on the road to teams that play tremendous defense. Both Temple and Ohio St play hard on the defensive end, and like to slow down the pace of a game offensively. This is the perfect game plan against a Duke team that loves to get out in space and shoot. Despite losing Kyrie Erving to the NBA, this years’ Blue Devils haven’t lost much on offense. Austin Rivers and Seth Curry have picked up where Irving left off, and are averaging nearly 27 points per game while crushing teams from the perimeter. The Plumlee brothers do more than their fair share in terms of rebounding to give Duke a solid threat against bigger and stronger teams. The Seminoles will hope utilize their strength in the paint to their advantage and not allow Duke to get the second chance opportunities that they thrive on to bury teams.

Averaging 72 points per game is more than enough offense to back a FSU defense that is filled with big powerful forwards. Bernard James and Terrance Shannon are each big bodied forwards that play a physical style of defense that can frustrate their opponents. They will need to push the envelope Saturday in their physicality and hope that their guards can make shots and distribute the ball well enough to get the high percentage shots that the Seminoles will need to keep this one close.

College basketball handicappers have listed the Blue Devils as 10 point favorites at home over FSU, but the Seminoles have shown that they can take on the best teams in the country when they are at their best. Tune in as these two ACC rivals do battle in what should be a highly competitive showdown.