My 9* Oddsmaker's Error is on Western Ky at 9:00 ET.

The 20-6 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers and the 16-9 North Texas Mean Green meet in the Conference USA championship game from the Ford Center (Evansville, In) on Saturday night. That Western Ky is here is no surprise, as the Hilltoppers returned all five starters from last year's 20-10 team but North Texas making it this far is a surprise. Yes, North Texas won the C-USA's regular season title last year at 14-4 but the Mean Green ended this year's regular season with THREE consecutive losses. They entered the tourney at 9-5 in league play, leaving them with the West's No. 3 seed. Western Ky owned the league's best record (11-3) and was the East's No. 1 seed.

Five players on North Texas have participated in all 25 games, a trio of guards and the 6-6 Bell (10.4 & 5.6) and the 6-10 Simmons (10.3 & 6.2). The guards are leading scorer Hamlet (14.8-3.3-4.5), Reese (11.0 & 4.3) and McBride (7.0). Western KY's 6-11 center Bassey (17.9 & 11.5) is a dominant force but his only help upfront is from 6-5 SF Williams (7.5 & 5.4). However, the Hilltoppers have excellent depth on the perimeter with Hollingsworth (13.9, Anderson (9.0 & 4.0), Rawls (7.9), Frampton (7.6) and McKnight (6.0-3.8-4.0).

Stepping up in three straight wins for North Texas has been Hamlet (18.0 PPG), plus frontcourt players Bell (11.7 & 4.0) and Simmons (10.3 & 6.0). However, Western Ky's Bassey has dominated in the Hilltoppers two tourney wins, averaging 21.5 & 8.0, while PG McKnight has really come through (11.0-5.0-6.0)! North Texas and Western Ky were scheduled to play Feb 20 and 22 at Denton, Tx but those games were postponed and never made up. The two schools now meet with the C-USA's automatic bid on the line (no at-large bid coming for the loser). North Texas is playing its FOURTH game in as many days and will now have to beat the league's best team during the regular season, one which owns the league's best play (Bassey) and owns 11 wins in its last 13 (one loss at now-No. 7 Houston in a non-conference game and a two-point loss to Old Dominion. Not sure why this game is basically a pick'em? With a salute to Jim McDaniels (star of Western Ky's 1971 Final 4 team), I'll take Western Ky!

Good luck...Larry

My CBB 10* Game of the Month is on Florida St at 8:30 ET.

Ga Tech head coach Josh Pastner is in his fifth season with the Yellow Jackets, after SEVEN years at Memphis. His first four seasons did not go well (just 65-67) and the Yellow Jackets opened this season 0-2, losing home games to Ga State and Mercer. However, the Yellow Jackets finished the regular season 15-8, including 11-6 in the ACC. Think that's NOT a big deal. The Yellow Jackets were more than three games above .500 in ACC play for the first time in 25 years (March 3, 1996)!! "We've now learned how to win," Pastner said. The Yellow Jackets have recorded a winning record in ACC regular-season play in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1989 and 1990."That's 30 years," Pastner added. "That's a great accomplishment for this program, for this team." The Yellow Jackets (No. 4 seed) got a bye into the quarterfinals, where they drew 13th-seeded Miami, off an upset of Clemson. Ga Tech was unimpressive in a 70-66 win but the Yellow Jackets were then able to advance to the ACC championship game when top-seeded UVA dropped out of the tourney on Friday (COVID strikes again!).

Waiting for Ga Tech will be No. 15 Florida St (ACC's No. 2 seed). Florida State was supposed to play Duke in Thursday's quarterfinals but Duke dropped out due to a positive test in the team's program. FSU advanced to take on red-hot UNC, which entered Friday's game averaging 91.0 PPG over a three-game winning streak. Florida State squandered a 13-point lead, then rallied from five down midway through the second half to grind out a 69-66 win. Anthony Polite hit the go-ahead three-pointer with 2:06 left and the 7-1 Koprivica had career highs of 17 points and 11 rebounds for his second career double-double.

Ga Tech lacks depth but has a solid five-man rotation. Returning PG Alvarado (15.4-3.5-4.2) and SG Devoe (14.9-4.4-3.3) have been excellent plus returning 6-9 big man Wright leads in scoring (17.5) and rebounding (8.0). 6-7 USC transfer Usher (11.3 & 4.2) helps out up front plus VMI transfer Parham (6.8) adds to the team's backcourt depth. The 6-7 Moore (4.6 & 3.1) is the lone reserve making any real contributions.

FSU entered this season losing three key players from last year's 26-5 team (more in a bit). PG Forrest (11.6-4.4-4.0), SG Vassell (12.7 & 5.1) and 6-7 swingman Williams (9.7 & 4.0), who were all chosen in the NBA draft. However, guard MJ Walker is back and leads with 12.9 PPG. He's surrounded by a talented and deep group. The 6-8 Gray (12.1 & 6.8) and 6-9 freshman Barnes (10.5-4.3-4.3) join Walker in double digits plus guard Polite (9.4 & 4.4) and the 7-1 Koprivica (9.2 & 5.7) aren't far behind. Guards Calhoun (6.0) and Evans (5.8) plus the 6-9 Osborne (5.6 & 4.5) give this team a deep bench.

Is Ga Tech and Pastner really ready for "primetime?" The Yellow Jackets have reached the ACC title game by beating only a Miami-Fla team that ended the regular season 4-15 in ACC play and 10-17, overall. AND, that "W" came by just FOUR points! Meanwhile. FSU just held a red-hot North Carolina team (averaging 91 PPG its last three) to 66 points on 33.8% shooting on Friday. As for the Seminoles, Florida St head coach Leonard Hamilton has built a championship-caliber program in Tallahassee, one that had produced the THIRD most victories among ACC schools heading into the current season, behind only Duke and Virginia since 2016. The Seminoles were 26-5 and poised to make a Final Four run before the postseason was curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic last year. Could this year "be the year?" FSU couldn't ask for a better title-game matchup. 

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Las Vegas Insider is on Texas at 6:00 ET.

The top two seeds are out of contention in the Big 12 Conference tournament. Top-seed Baylor (No.2 in the AP) was upset last night 83-74 by No. 12 Oklahoma St (No. 5 seed), while No. 11 Kansas (No. 2 seed) dropped out of the tourney due to COVID protocols before its game with No. 13 Texas (No. 3 seed). Cade Cunningham, who many (most) expect to be the NBA's No. 1 pick in the 2021 Draft, ignited a second-half comeback to KO Baylor. Cunningham (19.8 & 6.5) scored 25 points, his sixth game this season with at least 25. As he has been all season, Avery Anderson (11.8 & 4.0) was a strong wing man with 20 points. Those are the ONLY two double digit scorers for the Cowboys but Cunningham and Co. enter this contest having won EIGHT of their last nine games.

Shaka Smart has not led Texas to the kind of success the Longhorn faithful had hoped for and in fact, Texas was in the tournament semifinals for the first time since 2014. The Longhorns were scheduled to meet Kansas for a time this season but the red-hot Jayhawks (winners of EIGHT of nine) but the Jayhawks were forced to withdraw. Would the Longhorns have beaten the Jayhawks for a THIRD straight time? We'll never know. What we do know is that Texas owns an excellent backcourt trio in Andrew Jones (14.7 & 4.7), Ramey (13.0-3.3-4.0) and Coleman (12.7-3.6-4.2) plus a more than solid frontcourt with the 6-9 Brown (10.0 & 6.6), the 6-10 Sims (8.7 & 6.8) and the 6-11 Kai Jones (8.6 & 4.9).

Texas has needed to win just ONE game to reach this year's Big 12 championship game, so just maybe, this is Shaka's time to finally earn a MUCH-needed "big win" as Texas' head coach. Trust me, Texas winning the NIT title in 2019 DOESN'T count! History reveals that at 0-6, the Longhorns have lost more Big 12 championship games than any other team and are taking aim at becoming the first team from the state of Texas to win the event since the league began in 1996-97. The time and place is NOW. Catching Oklahoma St off its upset of Baylor doesn't hurt.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Revenge Rout is on San Diego St at 6:00 ET.

The MWC championship game features San Diego St and Utah St for a THIRD consecutive season. Craig Smith came from South Dakota St prior to the 2018-19 season and his team went 28-7 and 26-8 the last two years, beating San Diego St 64-57 in 2019 and 59-56 last year in the title game. San Diego St went 14-3 during the regular season to claim the no. 1 seed, despite losing both games to Utah St (in Logan back on Jan 14 and 16). Utah St captured the No. 2 seed at 15-4 and both schools have advanced to Saturday's championship game with two wins. SD St is 22-4 overall (ranked 19th in the AP poll) and Utah St is 20-7 (unranked but must be confident with its recent history against the Aztecs).

The 7-0 Queta leads Utah St in scoring (14.8) and rebounding (10.0) and is joined up front by the 6-7 bean (11.2 & 7.2). Guards Anthony (10.2-4.8-3.0), Worster (9.4-3.7-3.6) and Miller (9.0) complete an 'Iron-Five' that all play 27-plus minutes per game. SDSU has five seniors among its top-six contributors, with the 6-10 Mensah (8.2 & 6.0) being the exception (he's a junior). The 6-6 forward Mitchell (15.4 & 5.5) and guard Schakel (14.5 & 4.4) are the lone double digit scorers but guards Gomez (8.8) and Pullman (7.1-3.0-3.5) plus the 6-9 Tomaic (4.6 & 3.4) all contribute.

Smith's done a great job at Utah St but has a ways to go to match SDSU's Brian Dutcher. Dutcher has more than 30 years of coaching experience, including 18 seasons as an assistant to Steve Fisher, first at Michigan and then at San Diego St. Dutcher joined then-interim coach Fisher in 1989 when Michigan won the national championship. Dutcher was named San Diego State's "head coach in waiting" in 2011. Following Fisher's decision to retire, Dutcher was formally named as his replacement on April 11, 2017. The Aztecs won 22 and 21 games in his first two seasons but last season, the team opened 26-0 with impressive road/neutral site wins over BYU, Creighton, Iowa, and Utah State. SD State finished 30-2 and ranked No. 6 when the season shut down.

Of course, last year ended with another loss to Utah St plus as noted, the Aggies swept the two-game season series over a three-day stretch at home in January, winning 57-45 and 64-59. However, San Diego St has won 13 in a row since then and I won't pass up Dutcher and the Aztecs in this HUGE "revenge" situation!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Ultimate Underdog is on Memphis at 5:30 ET.

No one should have been surprised by what Kelvin Sampson has done at Houston, after successful stops at Washington St, Oklahoma and Indiana. His first Houston team went 13-19 (2014-15) but FIVE straight 20-win seasons followed. The Cougars won 27 (2017-18) and 33 (2018-19) games, before going 23-8 in last season's pandemic shortened one. Houston is currently 22-3 (No. 7 in the nation) as it takes on Memphis in the semifinals of the AAC tourney. The Tigers are the No. 3 seed and come in 16-7 after getting past UCF 70-62 on Friday.

Memphis lost center James Wiseman after just three games last season and PF Achiuwa (15.8 & 10.8) after the season (both are now in the NBA as 1st round picks). 6-7 Va Tech transfer Nolley, leads the Tigers in scoring (13.0) and he's joined in the starting lineup by the 6-9 Williams (10.9 & 6.1), guards Ellis (9.4) and Quinones (9.2 & 5.3) plus 6-10 center Cisse (7.0 & 6.6). Coming off the bench is the 6-7 Jeffries (9.6 & 5.2). Penny was an exciting offensive player in college and in the NBA but he's a defense-first head coach. He EXPECTS his team to be one of the nation's top defensive teams. Memphis enters having allowed 62.3 PPG (19th) on 38.4% shooting (4th), including 26.8% on threes (2nd).

Houston guards Grimes (17.7 & 6.1), Sasser (13.5) and Jarreau (10.1-5.5-4.3) are the 'big dogs,' while freshman Mark (8.3) adds depth. The best frontcourt player is the 6-7 Gorham (8.3 & 9.3). Houston also wins with defense, as Sampson's team is allowing only 57.6 PPG, ranking second-best in the nation. The Cougars are holding opponents to 37.0% shooting (1st), including 27.4% on threes (4th)

Houston has been the AAC's best team all season but wound up with the No. 2 seed  (14-3), as Wichita St (11-2) nabbed the top-seed. Will the Cougars feel as if they have something to prove by winning this tourney? Maybe, but Houston is already an NCAA at-large 'lock.' That's NOT the case for Memphis. With two outstanding defensive teams, a low-scoring game is likely, making the points attractive. What's more, the Tigers enter having gone 11-3 over their last 14 games with those three losses coming by three points at Houston (as a 10-point dog), two points at SMU and by ONE point at Tulsa. Taking a 'TD' or more is REALLY attractive and an outright upset (like with Okla St last night), would be no surprise.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* "Best of the Best" CBB Conference Game of the Year (Pac 12 tourney) is on USC at 11:30 ET.

Andy Enfield led Florida Gulf Coast to a 26-11 season in his second at the school, making a Sweet 16 appearance. That gave him the chance to "move on up" to USC but his first two seasons were HUGE disappointments (11-21 and 12-20). However, the Trojans have won 21-plus games in FOUR of the last five seasons, including a 22-9 mark last season before the shut down. USC saw its top-five scorers leave after the 2020 season but finished 15-5 in this season's Pac 12 race, just behind No. 1 seed Oregon (14-4). Tad Boyle is in his 11th season at Colorado and despite losing the 6-7 Tyler Bey (13.8 & 9.0) to the NBA (he played center for the Buffs), the good news was that PG Wright flirted with the NBA draft but returned to Boulder for his senior season. The Buffs finished right behind USC in the Pac 12's regular season at 14-3 (No. 3 seed). Neither team was sharp on Thursday, as USC needed two OTs to get past Utah (8-11 in the Pac 12), while Colorado edged Cal (3-17, a Pac 12 worst!) 61-58

Enfield recruited a "super frosh" in 7-0 freshman Evan Mobley plus brought in SIX transfers. Evan Mobley has been as "good as advertised," averaging 16.4 & 8.6. He joins his brother Isaiah (a 6-10 sophomore), who is adding 9.0 & 7.5. Peterson is a 6-8 swingman from Rice who averages 9.9 & 5.1 plus guards Eaddy (Santa Clara) and White, a grad transfer from Utah Valley St round out the starting-five. Eaddy averages 13.8 PPG and White 7.3. All FIVE starters scored in double digits vs Utah, while Anderson (6.2) added 10 points off the bench.

As expected, PG Wright (15.3-4.3-5.7) is the team leader and is surrounded by veterans, such as the 7-0 Dallas Walton (7.0 & 3.0), the 6-8 Evan Battey (9.9 & 5.3) and the 6-7 Walker (7.7 & 4.4) up front. Backcourt 'helpers' for Wright are Schwartz (8.8 & 4.3) and Parquet (5.5). Yes, Colorado got past Cal but it was an 'ugly' win, as the Buffs connected on just 38.5% of their shots, including 3 of 14 on threes.

The Buffs advanced because Cal just plain STINKS, shooting 38.3%, including 7 of 28 on threes. The Buffs can NOT expect the Trojans to shoot that poorly in this one. Let me remind all that USC's struggles last night were NOT on the offensive end, as SIX players scored in double figures while the Trojans shot 48.3% as a team. Also, the Trojans can't possibly forget that the Buffs beat them TWICE during the regular season. G-R-E-A-T spot for USC!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Game of the Month is on the LA Lakers at 10:35 ET.

The defending champion Lakers won SEVEN straight games from through Feb 12 and stood at 21-6 (only the 21-5 Jazz had a better record). However, in LA's 122-105 loss at Denver on Feb 14, A.D. (22.5 & 8.4) was lost to a right calf strain that has forced him to miss the last nine games. Including the loss to Denver, the Lakers have lost SEVEN of 10 and when they return to the court tonight from the All Star break at Staples Center to face the Indiana Pacers, the 24-13 Lakers are now No. 3 in the West (barely ahead of the 25-14 Clippers), 1 1/2-games back of the Suns and 3 1/2-games back of the No. 1-seeded Jazz. The Pacers were the East's No. 4 seed last year but got swept 4-0 by the Heat in the first round of the playoffs. Indiana's 2020-21 season has been full of stops-and-starts, and enters this contest just 16-19 which puts them in a virtual tie with THREE other teams fighting at the bottom of the East's playoff 'cut line!' The Pavers are opening the second season by playing SIX of the first seven games on the road.

PG Malcolm Brogdon (21.1-4.6-6.2) and PF Domantas Sabonis (20.8-11.1-6.0) are having outstanding seasons. However, TJ Warren averaged 15.5 PPG through the first four games but has not seen the court since. Oladipo was traded away but the player expected to replace him, Levert (18.5 PPG for the Nets), Justin Holiday (11.7 & 4.0) has been starting in the backcourt with Brogdon, while Center Turner (13.5 & 6.5) and SF McDermott (13.2 PPG on 50.6% shooting) join Sabonis up front. has been lost to a medical issue (kidney) is having perhaps his best season as a pro, averaging 20.8 points, 11.1 rebounds and 6.0 assists a contest. Also making 'noise' are Lamb (11.3 PPG in his 21 games since returning from a serious injury last season) and TJ McConell (6.7-3.7-6.8), who averaged 12.5 PPG and 8.5 APG in the four games prior to the break.

The 36-year-old Lebron James (25.8-8.0-7.8 missed just one game the first half of the year for a mild left ankle sprain he's been dealing with since December. Naturally, he played in the All Star game but said that's his only action since (he's well-rested). PG Schroder missed a few games because of COVID protocols but is back and he's been a HUGE addition, averaging 14.9-3.5-4.5. So has PF Harrell, averaging 13.8 & 6.4. Kuzma (11.5 & 6.7) has gotten some starts because of injuries to others, as has Morris (5.4 & 3.8). Caldwell-Pope (8.7) starts alongside Schroder plus Horton-Tucker (7.2) and Caruso (5.8) add depth.

Anthony Davis is expected to return sometime this month but LA needs to "Get its act together" prior to that. Why not start here vs Indiana?

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Las Vegas Insider is on Florida St at 8:30 ET.

North Carolina's legendary head coach Roy Williams is coming off a 14-19 season in which North Carolina players lost 99 games to injury. However, while the Tar Heels opened No. 16 in the AP's preseason poll, the Tar Heels have NOT lived up to their preseason ranking. North Carolina ended the regular season 16-9 overall, including 10-6 in the ACC. However, the Tar Heels followed its season-final rout of Duke (91-73) by crushing Notre Dame 101-59 on Wednesday and then used an impressive second-half performance in an 81-73 win over No, 22 Virginia Tech on Thursday. The Tar Heels are now 18-9 and are averaging 91 points per game over a three-game winning streak, a significant jump from their 74.2 PPG prior to that.

Florida St head coach Leonard Hamilton has built a championship-caliber program in Tallahassee, one that had produced the THIRD most victories among ACC schools heading into the current season, behind only Duke and Virginia since 2016. The Seminoles' 83-73 loss at Notre Dame last week coupled with a Virginia victory over Louisville dropped them to the No. 2 seed for the conference tournament. 15-5 Florida State is ranked 15th in the AP poll and was supposed to play Duke on Thursday but Duke dropped out of the ACC due to a positive test in the team's program.

North Carolina's strength is its depth. SEVEN players are making contributions. Up front it's the 6-10 Bacot (12.2 & 8.0), the 6-10 Brooks (10.4 & 6.8) and the 6-11 Sharpe (9.9 & 7.8), while the backcourt goes four-deep. The group includes Love (10.4 & 3.7 APG), Davis (8.6), Walton (8.1) and Black (5.7 & 5.0). Brooks sat out Wednesday night's game, marking only the second game he has missed across 132 North Carolina games played while he has been on the roster. However, he played 22 minutes last night. Bacot has led the way averaging 18.5 & 13.0 with help up front form Sharpe (12.0 & 7.5) and in the backcourt from Davis (16.5) and Love (11.0).

FSU entered this season losing three key players from last year. PG Forrest (11.6-4.4-4.0), SG Vassell (12.7 & 5.1) and 6-7 swingman Williams (9.7 & 4.0), who were all chosen in the NBA draft. However, guard MJ Walker is back and leads with 13.1 PPG. He's surrounded by a talented and deep group. The 6-8 Gray (12.4 & 6.9) and 6-9 freshman Barnes (10.4-4.3-4.3) join Walker in double digits plus guard Polite (9.6 & 4.2) and the 7-1 Koprivica (8.7 & 5.4) aren't far behind. Guards Evans and Cahoun each average 6.0 PPG plus the 6-9 Osborne checks in at 5.4 & 4.6.

The Tar Heels and Seminoles split their season series with the home team winning each game. However, FSU will surely have the team's loss at UNC on Feb 27 fresh in their minds, as the Seminoles had won NINE of 10 entering that game and along with FSU's season-ending loss to Notre Dame, cost them the ACC's No. 1 seed. UVa got the No. 1 seed but it was just revealed that the Cavs are out of the tourney, much like Duke (COVID strikes again). The winner here will now draw Ga Tech in Saturday's ACC championship game. The Seminoles were 26-5 and poised to make a Final Four run before the postseason was curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic last year. Could this year "be the year?" No looking ahead guys! 

Good luck...Larry

 My 9* Ultimate Underdog is on Oklahoma St at 6:30 ET.

Second-ranked Baylor (No. 1 seed in the Big 12 at 13-1) was pushed more than anticipated during its Big 12 tournament quarterfinal contest, 'escaping' with a 74-68 win over and over ninth-seeded Kansas State (4-14 in Big 12). The Bears will need a MUCH better effort against No. 12 Oklahoma St (No. 5 seed at 11-7 in the Big 12). The Cowboys got past No. 10 West Va (No. 4 seed in the Big 12) on Thursday 72-69, their SEVENTH win in their last eight games (lone loss was that game at Baylor).

Baylor's Scott Drew took over a devastated Baylor program in the 2003-04 season and since 2007-08, has turned the Bears into one of the best programs in the country. Baylor won the NIT in 2013 and has made eight NCAA tourney appearances (26-4 last season would have made nine). Baylor lost 6-9 center Gillespie (9.6 & 9.0) from last year's team but the strength of Baylor's team this season is centered around its guards. Butler's (17.2-3.3-4.9) the best of the group but don't look past Teague (16.1 & 4.1), Mitchell (14.2 & 5.5 APG), Flagler (8.9) or Mayer (8.1) The 6-5 Vital (5.8 & 6.5) plays like a power forward and is considered one of the best defensive players in the nation. Tchatchoua is a 6-8 transfer from UNLV and he's averaged 6.7 & 5.3 plus the 6-10 Thamba adds 3.5 & 4.0.

Mike Boynton took over in Stillwater when Brad Underwood left for Illinois and in his first three seasons, the Cowboys were an underwhelming 51-49. However, led by super-frosh Cade Cunningham, the Cowboys ended the regular season 18-7 and ranked 12th in the nation. The 6-8 Cade Cunningham (19.6-6.4-3.6) has been as good (if not better than advertised). He's joined in the starting lineup by guards Anderson (11.4 & 4.0), Walker (8.0),and Williams (7.8) plus another big guard in the 6-9 Boone (9.7 & 5.6). The 6-5 Likekele (9.8 & 7.0) and the 6-7 Moncrieffe (9.1 & 5.1) are big contributors off the bench.

Baylor won the two regular-season games with the Cowboys but in the most recent meeting won by 11 points at home on March 4. OSU features the likely No. 1 pick in the 2021 NBA draft in Cunningham and if the Cowboys could stay with 11 points of the Bears in Waco, why can't they make it "much closer" here in Kansas City? The simple answer is, "they can!' Take the points.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Situational Stunner is on Seton Hall at 6:00 ET. 

The eighth-seeded Georgetown Hoyas (7-9 Big East) defeated Marquette 68-49 and then stunned top-seeded Villanova 72-71 in the quarterfinals on Thursday, when Dante Harris' two free throws with 4.7 seconds remaining pushed Georgetown into the semifinal round for the first time since 2015. Georgetown will take on 5th-seeded Seton Hall (10-9 Big East), which snapped a season-long four-game losing streak with a hard-fought 77-69 victory over fourth-seeded St. John's 77-69 in overtime.

Patrick Ewing is in his fourth season as Georgetown's head coach (49-46 entering this season) and even with the back-to-back wins, the Hoyas are just 11-12 on the season. The 7-0 Yutseven (15.5 & 9.8) graduated plus McClung (15.7) transferred to Texas Tech, where he's averaged PPG. Ewing features a six-man rotation led by guards Blair (16.0-3.7-3.9), Cary (7.8) and Harris (7.6) plus a frontcourt that features the 6-11 Wahab (12.6 & 7.9), teh 6-9 Pickett (12.4 & 7.6) and the 6-7 Bile (9.8 & 5.0). Harris led the way with 18 points against Villanova, while Wahab added 17, Blair had 14 and Pickett 12 for Georgetown.

Seton Hall's 6-11 Sandro Mamukelashvili shared Big East Player of the Year honors in a three-way split with Villanova's Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and Collin Gillespie but the Pirates ended the regular season with FOUR straight losses, as well as losses in SEVEN of their last 11. However, SEVEN Seton Hall players have participated in all 26 games this season, led by Mamukelashvili (17.9 & 7.5). He gets help up front from the 6-10 Samuel (5.3 & 3.3) and the 7-2 Obiagu (4.8 & 4.4). A quartet of guards are led by Rhoden (14.6 & 6.7) and Cale (11.9 & 3.7) plus PG Reynolds (7.87& 4.3 APG) and Molson (5.3). Seton Hall received balanced production in its win over St John's with Mamukelashvili scoring 20 points and adding 11 rebounds, while Rhoden chipped in a double-double of 19 points and a career-best 16 rebounds. Cale scored 16 points and grabbed eight rebounds, while Obiagu contributed seven points, seven blocked shots and five rebounds. 

HUGE "let down" spot here for Georgetown off the upset of Villanova, as the Hoyas hadn't won a single Big East tournament game since 2016 but now they're searching for their THIRD in a row. Think Georgetown will go 23 of 23 from the FT throw again? Seton Hall has appeared in the Big East tournament final four times in program history and with 'Nova out of the way, should reach the championship game for the FIFTH time. Seton Hall head coach Kevin Willard is a "good one" and said after the St Johns win,  "We can beat anybody. We feel like this is our second home. We definitely have that vibe." I'm 'vibing' right along with Kev!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Daytime Dominator is on Ohio St at 2:00 ET.

Chris Holtmann took over at Butler for Brad Stevens and went 70-31 win three seasons, each ending with an NCAA tourney berth. He took the Ohio St job beginning in 2017-18 and strung together three straight 20-win seasons but was denied a third straight NCAA bid when last season was shut down. Purdue's Matt Painter is in his 16th season with the Boilermakers but his team was just 16-14 last season, coming off a four-year run of averaging 27.3 wins per season. Both schools are already assured of an at-large bid to the "Big Dance" as they meet in this No. 4 (Purdue) vs No. 5 (Ohio St) game in the Big Ten tourney's quarterfinal round from Lucas Oil Stadium.

The Buckeyes defeated 13th seed Minnesota 79-75 on Thursday to end a four-game losing streak, while Purdue will be playing its first game of the tourney. Ohio St was 18-4 (and ranked 4th in the AP poll) before its four-game slide but somehow remained in the AP's top-10 (at No. 9) in Monday's poll. A four-point win over a 14-15 Minnesota team is hardly a 'buy' sign but then again, the Buckeyes have opened a small favorite. SG Washington (15.3) has been solid all season for Ohio St in the backcourt and after missing some time due to torn ligaments in his right hand, PG Walker (9.2 & 4.3 APG) is back and playing well. The frontcourt has five solid contributors led by the team's best player, the 6-7 Liddell (16.0 & 6.5). He's joined on the frontline by the 6-7 Sueing (10.7 & 5.5), the 6-8 Young (8.3 & 5.6), the 6-6 Aherns (6.3) and 6-8 freshman Key (5.5 & 3.6). 

The Boilermakers opened a modest 7-5 this season but Purdue has won 11 of its last 14 games. However, it still ranks just 20th in the AP poll (why so far behind Ohio St?).The 6-10 Williams leads Purdue in scoring (15.2) and rebounding (8.8). He's supported by a well-balanced group of FOUR others who chip in between 8.4 and 10.0 PPG. The group includes guards Ivey (10.0), Stefanovic (9.7), Hunter (9.0) and Newman (8.4). The 6-6 Gillis (5.2), the 7-3 Edey (4.9 & 4.5) and the 6-9 Wheeler (3.9 & 4.7) help Williams up front.

While I respect Purdue, Ohio St is still the better team and Purdue's own website notes that KenPom.com ranks the Boilermakers No. 328 out of 347 Division I teams in experience (1.04 years). Purdue won both games against the Buckeyes this season, 67-60 at home on Dec 16 and a 67-65 thriller in Columbus on Jan 19 when Ivey hit a jumper to break a 65-65 tie with five seconds left. "Those results were in the regular season, so this game means a little bit more," Ohio State forward Justice Sueing said. "We definitely want to make another statement and survive and advance." That's my bet!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* "Best of the Best" Western Conference Game of the Month is on the Por Blazers at 10:05 ET.

The Suns went 8-0 SU & ATS in last year's Orlando 'bubble' and many (most) felt as if Phoenix would seriously contend for a playoff spot in the Western Conference in the 2020-21 season, likely ending a 10-year postseason drought. However, the Suns have exceeded expectations in the first half of the current season by entering the All Star break at 24-11. Only the Jazz own a better record in the entire NBA (Suns are 2 1/2 games back of the Jazz). while Phoenix leads the Lakers by one game and the Clippers by 1 1/2-games. More notably, the suns are also 24-11 ATS, the best pointspread in the entire league. 

The Blazers have been streaky, opening the season just 10-9 through Feb 1. However, Portland then won EIGHT of nine, before losing FOUR in a row. The Blazers did 'right the ship' just before the break, winning THREE in a row at home to enter the All Star break at 21-14 (West's No. 5 seed). Portland has hung tough despite CJ McCollum (26.7-3.9-5.0) being out since Jan 16 (fractured left foot), while center Jusuf Nurkic (wrist) has played just 12 games (9.8 & 7.7) and PF Zach Collins (ankle) has yet to play a single game.

The Suns have been healthy for MOST of the season and Chris Paul (16.0-4.7-8.8) has surely given the Suns all that they had hoped for when they traded for him in the offseason. Devon Booker had averaged 26.6 PPG the two seasons before Paul arrived and still leads the team at  24.9 PPG (very little drop-off). Center Ayton hasn't missed a game while averaging a double-double (14.5 & 11.4) plus SF's Bridges and Johnson (both former 1st round picks) are adding 13.7 & 5.1 and 10.4 & 3.4, respectively. Veteran PF Saric (11.5 & 4.0) and SF Crowder (10.1 & 4.0) give Phoenix SEVEN players in double digits.

Portland's Lillard (29.8-4.3-8.0) is a true superstar plus Trent (15.2) has helped ease the 'pain' of losing McCollum in the backcourt. Kanter (11.9 & 11.9) has been excellent getting more time with Nurkic out plus the ageless Anthony adds 13.9 PPG off the bench. SF Jones (8.1 & 4.8) and PF Covington (7.9 & 6.6) were acquired in the offseason (both are excellent defenders) and while not spectacular, have been very solid.

I'm 'sold' on Phoenix but caution that no one should overlook Portland. The Suns and Blazers are meeting for the second time this season, with the Suns routing the Blazers in Phoenix 132-100 back on Feb 22. It marked the Suns' largest margin of victory this season but note that Portland was in the midst of a four-game losing streak the last time the teams played. Turnabout (here in Portland) is 'fair play.' Take the home dog!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* "Best of the Best" Big 12 Conference Tourney Game of the Year is on Texas at 9:30 ET.

The Big 12 has SEVEN teams in the AP's current top-25 poll, including No. 13 Texas (17-7 / 11-6 Big 12) and No. 20 Texas Tech (17-9 / 9-8 Big 12). Texas is the No. 3 seed but 6th-seeded Texas Tech swept both regular season games. The Red Raiders have won SEVEN of the teams' past eight matchups but that comes on the heels of losing 40 of the previous 46 meetings going back to January 1998.

McClung is a transfer from Georgetown and leads the Red Raiders with 16.1 PPG. He's one of FIVE guards who are joined by the 6-7 Santos-Silva (8.5 & 6.4), Tech's lone frontcourt player of note. Joining McClung on the perimeter are Shannon (12.5 & 4.1), Edwards (10.2 & 4.7), McCullar (10.1) and Peavy (5.8). Texas counters with an excellent backcourt trio in Andrew Jones (14.9 & 4.8), Ramey (13.6-3.4-4.0) and Cole (12.4-3.6-4.2) but the Longhorns own a fairly sizable advantage up front. The 6-9 Brown (10.2 & 6.6z0. the 6-10 sims (8.7 & 6.6) and the 6-11 Kai Jones (8.5 & 4.1) clearly own an edge over Santos-Silva.

Both schools dealt with COVID issues as after a 10-1 start, Texas would go 4-6 plus lose four games to COVID. However, Texas ended the season with three straight ROAD wins to capture the No. 3 seed. As for Tech, the Red Raiders lost three games tp COVID plus went 0-3 in the games they got in from Feb 9 thru Feb 222. Tech then won THREE in a row before losing 88-73 at Baylor this past Sunday.

Shaka Smart and Chris Beard are both excellent coaches but I believe there is more pressure on Smart in this one, whose tenure at Texas has been underwhelming. Texas reached as high as No. 4 in the AP poll back in early January but never sustained the play that got them off to a 10-1 start. The cliche goes that "it's hard to beat a good team three times in one season." I'm not big on cliches but I am "BIG" on Texas in this one, as the Longhorns ARE the better team!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Revenge Rout is on Seton Hall at 3:00 ET.

The Big East tourney opened Wednesday from Madison Square Garden with Georgetown beating Marquette 68-49 and Butler edging Xavier 70-69. The quarterfinals are set for Thursday, including  fourth-seeded St. John's (16-10 / 10-9) facing off against fifth-seeded Seton Hall (12-12 / 10-9). St. John's and Seton Hall boast the Big East top's two scorers in Julian Champagnie (19.9 & 7.3) and Sandro Mamukelashvili (17.8 & 7.3), with the Red Storm earning the tiebreaker by beating the Pirates 81-71 at home this past Saturday. Both teams likely need to make some noise in the Big East tournament to see their NCAA Tournament aspirations become a reality.

Mamukelashvili shared Big East Player of the Year honors in a three-way split with Villanova's Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and Collin Gillespie but the Pirates ended the regular season with FOUR straight losses,

as well as losses in SEVEN of their last 11. SEVEN Seton Hall players have participated in all 25 games this season, led by the 6-11 Mamukelashvili (see above). He gets help up front from the 6-10 Samuel (5.6 & 3.4) and the 7-2 Obiagu (4.7 & 4.4). A quartet of guards are led by Rhoden (14.4 & 6.4) and Cale (11.8 & 3.5) plus PG Reynolds (7.8 & 4.3 APG) and Molson (5.3).

St. John's was picked ninth in the Big East preseason poll but ended the regular season with 10 wins in its last 14 contests, including a six-game winning streak from Jan 18 to Feb 6. The Red Storm slumped a little following the six-game win streak by losing three of four but overcame slow starts with consecutive home wins over Providence and Seton Hall, despite playing their last two games without standout freshman PG Posh Alexander (thumb), who led the Big East with 2.6 steals per game. However, Alexander (11.1-3.5-4.4) said he is feeling better and he will be able to play Thursday. St John's owns a deep backcourt with Williams (9.4), Dunn (9.1 & 4.0 APG), Cole (9.0) and Addae-Wusu (6.3). Joining Champagnie up front is the 6-10 Moore (9.2 & 4.8) and the 6-6 Earlington (6.6 & 4.0).

"It's a one-game season now," St. John's head coach Mike Anderson said Wednesday. "You look at Seton Hall's record over the course of the last two, three years in tournament play, it's been pretty good. So we know we're going to get the best version of Seton Hall. So we got to be at our best version as well." He's right about that, as Seton Hall's Kevin Willard noted by saying, "I'm always excited about the Big East tournament. We've been very successful there the last four years, five years, six years, seven years. I have a lot of confidence in this team; we're just not playing 40 minutes right now and that's really hurting us." Case in point was this past Saturday, when Seton Hall scored the game's first 18 points before getting outscored 53-33 after halftime. R-E-V-E-N-G-E!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Eye-Opener is on Michigan St at 11:30 a.m. ET.

The Big Ten has more ranked teams than any other conference and that adds to the suspense in this week's tournament which began last night with Minnesota beating Northwestern 51-46 and Penn St beating Nebraska 72-66. The league's top-four teams have a bye into Friday's quarterfinals with four games being contested on Thursday. The first game out of the gate is Michigan State (15-11 overall, 9-11 Big 12) vs Maryland (15-12, 9-11 Big 12). The Spartans are seeded No. 9 and Maryland No. 8, as the Terps won the lone meeting between the two schools 73-55 at Maryland on Feb 28.

Michigan St lost 75-65 at Purdue back on Feb 16 and sat 10-9, including 4-9 in the Big Ten. However, the Spartans rebound to go 5-2 down the stretch, including wins over then-No. 5 Illinois, then-No. 4 Ohio St and then-No. 2 Michigan. Izzo has led the Spartans to 22 consecutive NCAA appearances (no tourney last season) and his team's late surge likely has earned Michigan St an at-large berth. Mark Turgeon coached Wichita St for seven years, before leading Texas A&M to four straight NCAA tournaments in four years going 97-40. He joined Maryland when it was still in the ACC but its move to the Big Ten has been good for the basketball program, as over the last six seasons the Terps have won 20-plus games in five seasons (exception was a 19-win season), making four NCAA tourneys (would have been five, as Maryland was 24-7 when the season was shut down last year). Maryland's at-large situation is a little more sky than Michigan St, as the Terps 66-61 home loss to Penn St this past Sunday "didn't help.

The 6-6 Henry leads Michigan St in scoring (15.5), rebounding (5.5) and assists (3.5) and is joined in the frontcourt by the 6-9 Hauser (9.9 & 5.9) and the 6-7 Brown (7.4 & 2.9). The starting guards are Langford (9.8 & 3.4) and Watts (7.8). The Terps have a deep backcourt. Ayala (14.5 & 4.0) and Wiggins (14.0 & 5.8) lead the way, supported by Morsell (8.8 & 3.8) and Hart (7.5 & 3.6). Up front, it's the 6-7 Scott (11.2 & 6.4) and 6-8 BC transfer Hamilton (6.6 & 2.5).

The Terps won FIVE in a row from Feb 14-28 but then lost 60-55 at Northwestern (6-13 in the Big Ten) and then 66-61 at home to Penn St (7-12 in Big Ten). Maybe MSU has already 'punched its ticket' but Izzo's been around too long to let his team come into this game 'flat,' especially with that Feb 28 73-55 loss at Maryland fresh on MSU's mind. The Spartans shot just 33.3% in that game (8 of 28 on threes), while the Terps shot 48.8% (8 of 16 on threes). Michigan St gets the wins and moves to a Friday game with Michigan (uh-oh!).

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Las Vegas Insider is on North Carolina at 9:00 ET.

Notre Dame bounced back from a 14-win season two seasons ago to go 20-12 last year but lost PF Mooney, who averaged 16.2 & 12.7. Mike Brey is now in his 21st season at South Bend but after a 2-2 start to the current season, the Irish have been sub-.500 ever since (finished the regular season 10-14 / 7-11 in the ACC). North Carolina's legendary head coach Roy Williams is coming off a 14-19 season in which North Carolina players lost 99 games to injury. However, while the Tar Heels opened No. 16 in the AP's preseason poll, the Tar Heels have NOT lived up to their preseason ranking. North Carolina is 16-9 overall, including 10-6 in the ACC

Notre Dame (No. 11 seed) rallied from a 16-point second-half deficit to defeat 14th-seeded Wake Forest 80-77 on Trey Wertz's three-pointer at the buzzer on Tuesday. PG Hubb (14.6 & 6.0 APG) and SG Goodwin (12.1 & 5.2) are a solid backcourt duo plus the 6-10 Laszewski adds 13.3 PPG and leads in rebounding (7.4). Stanford transfer Ryan (10.1 & 4.5) and Wertz (8.6 play on the perimeter with Hubb and Goodwin, while 6-11 UConn transfer Durham (10.7 & 5.5) has been a solid complement up front to Laszewski.

Last year's super frosh Anthony lost time to injury last season (played 22 games) but averaged 18.5-5.7-4.0 for the Tar Heels but as expected was a "One and Done!" Also gone is senior guard Robinson and his 11.8 PPG for North Carolina. However, North Carolina's strength is its depth. SEVEN players are making contributions. Up front it's the 6-10 Bacot (11.7 & 7.6), the 6-10 Brooks (10.6 & 6.9) and the 6-11 Sharpe (9.7 & 7.8), while the backcourt goes four-deep. The group includes Love (10.4 & 3.8 APG), Walton (8.3), Davis (8.0) and Black (5.6 & 5.2).

North Carolina was just 5-4 entering Jan and opened 2021 with a 66-65 home win over Notre Dame. That led to an 11-5 finish that was capped by a crushing 91-73 romp over hated-Duke in Saturday night's regular-season finale (a week earlier, the Tar Heels had beaten Florida State, which was in first place at the time). I would NOT be surprised if the Tar Heels made a deep run in this year's ACC tourney, as North Carolina is 40-19 in ACC tournament games held in the Greensboro Coliseum. Notre Dame needed "the luck of the Irish" to escape vs Wake Forest but will have no such luck here. Lay the points.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* "Best of the Best" ACC Conference Tourney Game of the Year is on Duke at 6:30 ET.

Duke last missed the NCAA Tournament back in the 1994-95 season and many believe the Blue Devils (ACC's 10th-seed) would need to win the ACC tournament this week in Greensboro to make this year's NCAA field (note: No team has ever won five ACC tournament games in five days, the feat Duke hopes to accomplish). The Blue Devils  routed 15th-seeded 86-51 Boston College on Tuesday but now takes on seventh-seed Louisville (13-6) on Wednesday.  

Duke opened No. 9 in the AP's preseason poll but the team's Jan 12 loss at Va Tech saw 5-3 Duke (3-1 in the ACC) fall out of the AP poll and the Blue Devils haven't been back. Coach K lost his top-two players to the NBA, the 6-10 Carey (17.8 & 8.8) is with the Hornets and PG Jones (16.2-4.7-6.4) is with the Spurs. Coach K has seamlessly transitioned into the One-and-Done era and freshman guards Stewart (13.2) and Roach (8.7) have played well but 6-9 freshman Johnson (11.9 & 6.5) left the team to prepare for the NBA. 6-9 sophomore Hurt leads the team in scoring (18.2) and rebounding (6.3), while sophomore SF Moore (9.7 & 4.7) and senior guard Goldwire (6.0-3.0-4.0) are solid contributors. The 7-0 Williams (6.4 & 3.8) has been starting lately but averages less than 15 minutes.

Chris Mack took over at Xavier for the 2009-10 season when Sean Miller took the Arizona job. He led the Musketeers to eight NCAA tourneys in nine seasons before moving to Louisville. The Cards went 20-14 in his first season (NCAA bid) and were 24-7 in his second year, when the season was shut down in March (AP ranked them 14th in its final poll). Louisville swingman Jordan Nwora (18.0 & 7.7) is gone from last season's Louisville team but FOUR starters returned. However, it's Carlik Jones who leads the team in scoring, averaging 17.0-4.9-4.6. He's a graduate transfer from Radford and was last season's Big South Conference player of the year. He's joined by returning guard Johnson (12.6-5.5-3.3) in the backcourt. The 6-7 Williamson did little last season but averages 9.9 & 8.1 this season plus 6-9 redshirt freshman Withers is adding 10.3 & 7.9. True freshman guard Davis (7.8) and the 6-8 Slazinski (6.2).

Carlik Jones was an All-ACC first team selection and led the way for Louisville in winning BOTH games against Duke this season. He scored 24 points in a 70-65 win at Louisville on Jan 23 and then had 25 points in an 80-73 overtime victory Feb 27 in Durham. Is the third time a charm for Coach K and the Blue Devils in this one? Duke eased past BC, as no starter played more than 27 minutes, with Duke's bench adding 32 points. Louisville has already 'punched its ticket' to the Big Dance and while I'm NOT predicting that Duke is going to go on a five-game winning spree here in Greensboro, I DO like them in this "double-revenge" spot off two close regular season losses against the Cards.

Good luck...Larry 

My 9* Situational Stunner is on Siena at 5:00 ET.

COVID-19 limited the Iona Gaels to just 13 games during the regular season, Iona was 8-5 overall, including 6-3 in MAAC play (No. 9 seed). The Gaels met 8th-seeded Quinnipiac (9-12 / 7-10 MAAC) in Tuesday's opening round and routed the Bobcats 72-48. Iona advances on Wednesday to play the top-seeded Siena Saints, who didn't play their first game until Jan 3, going 12-4 in a schedule which included only league games. The schools did not meet during the regular season.

I had Iona in Tuesday's contest and noted that followers of college hoops are well aware of the success that Rick Pitino has had as a college basketball head coach but along with that, his "trials and tribulations" are equally well-known. Pitino resurfaced this season at Iona, a team led by an excellent duo of senior guards, Ross (20.1) and Gist (12.2 & 3.8 APG). 6-9 freshman Joseph (11.9 & 7.2), 6-5 JC transfer JeanLouis (8.0 & 5.9), freshman guard Myers (7.1) and 6-9 senior van Eyck (6.8 & 6.7) complete Iona's main contributors.

Shaheen Holloway played four years at Seton Hall (named to the school's Athletic Hall of Fame) and was an assistant under Kevin Willard at Iona and Seton Hall, before being hired as Siena's head coach prior to the 2018-19 season. His first team went 10-22 but he turned the program last year (18-9 / 14-6 MAAC) before the shutdown. As noted above, this year's team won the regular season title at 12-4. The team owns four double-digit scorers, led by 6-7 guard Camper, who leads in scoring (14.6) and rebounding (10.0). Fellow guards Pickett (12.8 & 6.2) and King (12.5) are joined by the 6-9 Stormo (10.6 & 5.7) and 6-7 freshman Golston (5.0 & 3.0) in the starting lineup. The 6-9 Young (6.3 & 3.4) contributes off the bench but guard Hopkins (7.8) has been sidelined with a lower leg injury and has missed the last five games.

Will Pitino bring some of his coaching 'magic' to the MAAC? The jury is still out. Iona's romp over Quinnipiac was fueled by the Bobcats shooting an abysmal 28.1 from the floor, including 7 of 26 on threes. Iona's top-two players (Ross and Gist) combined to shoot just 8 of 22 (36.4%) from the floor. That won't get the job done against a well-balanced Siena team allowing just 63.5 PPG (34th) plus shoots 45.9% from the floor on the offensive end.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Weekly Wipeout is on North Dakota St at 9:00 ET.

The Summit League Tournament is being held at The Pentagon in Sioux Falls, a neutral site. The Summit's top-two seeds, No.1 South Dakota St and No. 2 South Dakota were both eliminated in the semifinals. as No. 4 Oral Roberts beat South Dakota St 90-88 (on a tip-in at the buzzer) and No.3 North Dakota St edged South Dakota 79-75. The two schools met twice during the regular season Feb 5 and 6 at North Dakota St), splitting the pair.

Oral Roberts has been led all season by guard Abmas (24.3) and the 6-8 Obanor (18.0 & 9.5). Guard Glasper averaged 11.0 PPG but hasn't played since Feb 6. What's happened so far in two tourney games has been that Thompson (7.7 PPG) has averaged 19.0 & 4.0, Weaver (5.7 PPG) has averaged 15.0 & 4.5 and Jurgens (4.9 PPG) has averaged 12.0 & 5.0. Where have those efforts been all season? Abmas has averaged 20.0 & 6.5 APG in the tourney but Obanor has been 'off' (11.5 & 4.0), although he had the game-winning tip-in at the buzzer vs South Dakota St.

Kyan Brown is in his seventh season at North Dakota St and last year's team went 25-8. The scoring duo of Shahid (18.4) and Ward (16.9) moved on but a trio of seniors have stepped up this season. The 6-10 Kreuser (15.0 & 7.0) plus guards Griesel (11.7 & 6.3) and Eady (11.4 & 5.) have led all season. Also making contributions have been guard Cook (9.4), the 6-7 Harden-Hayes (9.2 & 5.4), and 6-10 freshman Nelson (6.4 & 3.6).

North Dakota St saw last season end due to the pandemic but after opening this season 0-5, the Bison have a chance to earn that automatic NCAA bid by winning the Summit League tourney. My bet says they do just that. 

Good luck...Larry

My 10* PERFECT STORM is on Bryant at 7:00 ET.

Due to complications caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, only the top four teams in the Northeast Conference were eligible to compete in the conference tournament in 2021. Wagner got the No. 1 seed (13-5) and Bryant the No. 2 seed (10-4), while 9-7 Sacred Heart earned the No. 3 seed over 9-7 Mount St Mary's due to a tiebreaker. The Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers upset Wagner 66-60 last Saturday to advance to Tuesday's championship game at Chace Athletic Center to meet the Bryant Bulldogs, who beat Sacred Heart 85-55 (also last Saturday). Note: The Chace Athletic Center is Bryant's home court.

Mount St Mary's returned its top-two scorers from last season in guards Chung Qui and Gibbs. However, Gibbs placed his name in the NCAA's transfer portal Monday after just four games (was averaging 16.5 & 4.8). Chung Qui (14.9-4.0-5.5) is joined in the backcourt by Morse (10.8), while the 6-9 Opuku (9.9 & 7.0) and the 6-7 Jefferson (8.3 & 7.7) are the team's top frontcourt players.

Bryant's five starters (four guards) all average in double digits. Kiss (17.1-6.0-3.4), Green (16.7-4.0-3.9), Childs (14.1) and Pride (12.6 & 7.1) are the guards, while the 6-8 Elisias (10.6 & 8.0) rounds out the group. However, Bryant had to cancel its final two regular season games against Mount St. Mary's because of positive COVID-19 results within Bryant's Tier 1 personnel and subsequent contact tracing. Bryant's status for the postseason had initially been uncertain but established its intent to compete in the tournament after meeting Rhode Island Department of Health guidelines. Bryant competed in its semifinal game with just SEVEN players, one of whom was a walk-on. 

The Bulldogs sure rose to the challenge, despite Green and Childs not being able to play. Kiss had a line of 19-5-6, Pride 16 & 11 and Elisias 18 & 9.  Reserves Bans (13 & 4) and Hurtado (12-5-5) really came through. Not sure what the status is on Green and Childs but the Bulldogs are full of confidence and playing at home, where they are 10-0 on the season. Bryant averages 84.6 PPG (5th in the nation) and I don't believe Mt St Mary's (63.2 PPG ranks 332nd) can "keep up," especially coming off an upset on top-seeded Wagner on the road.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Situational Stunner is on Iona at 5:00 ET.

Followers of college hoops are well aware of the success that Rick Pitino has had as a college basketball head coach but along with that, his "trials and tribulations" are equally well-known. Pitino resurfaced this season at Iona as COVID-19 has limited his Gaels to just 13 games. Iona is 8-5 overall, including 6-3 in MAAC play. Iona is the league's No. 9 seed and will meet the 8th-seeded Quinnipiac Bobcats who got in 21 games, going 2-12 overall (including 7-10 in league play). Seeding has been confusing for the conference tourneys this season.

The Gaels are led by an excellent duo of senior guards, Ross (20.5) and Gist (1.2 & 4.0 APG). 6-9 freshman Joseph (12.1 & 7.1), 6-5 JC transfer JeanLouis (8.1 & 5.5), 6-9 senior van Eyck (7.3 & 6.5) and freshman guard Myers (7.2) complete Iona's main contributors. Quinnipiac's head coach Baker Dunleavy (yes, Mike Dunleavy's son) was an assistant under Jay Wright at Villanova and is in his fourth season at Quinnipiac. Dunleavy lost his two best players from last season in PG Kelly (16.7 & 4.5 APG) and the 6-8 Marfo (10.2 & 13.3). This season's team relies on balance, with SEVEN players getting 21-plus minutes of "PT." The 6-6 Rigoni leads in scoring (12.0) and rebounding (6.3) and is joined up front by the 7-1 Pinkney (8.2 & 5.0). FIVE guards add between 6.9 and 10.5 PPG, led by Kortright (10.5 & 3.9), Chenery (10.0), and Lewis (8.6 & 4.3).

Quinnipiac won the only meeting against Iona this season (74-70 at home on Feb 17) but Pitino deserves a HUGE edge over Dunleavy on the sideline. The Gaels won three straight in late Dec (right before Christmas but then didn't play again until Feb 12. Iona has won SIX of its last eight games and has averaged 87.3 PPG in its last four wins. I'm not sure Quinnipiac can keep up, as the Bobcats are averaging a modest 68.4 PPG on the season. History tells us that the Gaels are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 neutral site games, while Quinnipiac checks in 1-6 ATS in their last 7 neutral site games. Will Pitino bring some of his coaching 'magic' to the MAAC?  My bet says he will, at least for this game.

Good luck...Larry

Appalachian State opened the year 12-5 but then lost five straight games around a handful of postponements and cancellations (lost six of its final seven). Four guards averaged are averaging in double digits; Forrest (13.0 & 3.4) Delph (19. & 4.4), Almonacy (12.1 & 4.1) and Williams (11.0 & 5.8). The team's lone frontcourt player of note is the 6-8 Lewis (8.7 & 5.3). In this tourney, Forrest is averaging 21.7 PPG, Almonacy (1.83 & 6.3 and Delph 16.3). However, Gregory has fallen to just 6.7 PPG while Lewis has been a non-factor.

'All five of Georgia State's starters are averaging in double digits. A trio of guards lead the way in Allen (15.2 & 4.2), Roberts (13.3-3.7-4.8) and Williams (12.7-3.4-4.2) plus the 6-8 Nsoseme (11.9 & 10.1) and the 6-10 Thomas (10.5 & 6.1) make for a very good frontcourt duo. In the Panthers' two tourney games, Allen is averaging 18.0-4-0-4.0, Roberts 12.5-5.0-4.0, Nsoseme 13.5 & 12.0 and Thomas 10.0 & 5.5.

Georgia St opened 8-2 but then lost back-to-back Games (Jan 22 & 23) at App St, before its next four games were lost to COVID protocols. The Panthers returned to the court on Feb 9 and lost to South Alabama but have since won EIGHT in a row, including beating the Mountaineers 85-71 in Atlanta. The SBC will NOT earn an at-large bid to the "Big Dance" so it's win or else for both of these teams. The Panthers own a backcourt that matches up well with the Mountaineers' plus the frontcourt duo of Nsoseme and Thomas should dominate the paint. Lay the points.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Situational Stunner is on Cleveland St at 6:30 ET.

The Horizon Tourney opened at campus sites for the first two rounds but moves to Indianapolis for the semis and championship game. THREE of the league's top-four seeds remain, the exception being Wright St, which was the No. 2 seed. The Raiders had tied Cleveland St at 16-4 for the Horizon's best record but lost last Tuesday 94-92 in OT at home to the Milwaukee Panthers, who are the No. 8 seed. No. 1 seed Cleveland St is glad to be 'alive,' after needing three OTs to get past Purdue-Ft Wayne 108-104 last Tuesday. The two schools met twice in the regular season, splitting a pair of games on Cleveland State's home court.

Milwaukee had lost five straight before snapping that slide in its final regular season game but has now beaten IUPUI and Wright St to become the 'Cinderella' team of the Horizon Tourney. The Panthers are a guard-oriented team led by Gholston (17.1 & 5.3) and Lucas (15.2-4.7-5.8). That duo led the Panthers past Wright St with Gholston scoring 31 points (along with nine rebounds) and Lucas 25.

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Cleveland St a solid group of four guards in the starting lineup, led by 6-5 senior Patton, who leads in scoring (14/6) and rebound (7.8). Joining him in the starting lineup are fellow guards Hodge (10.3 & 3.4), Gomillion (10.0 & 5.0) and Beaudion (9.5 & 3.3 APG) plus the 6-9 Johnson (5.6 & 5.50. Patton had 30 points and 13 rebounds, while Gomillion added 22-13-6 in the team's triple OT win. However, where would the Vikings be without the 6-8 Eichelberger (6.4 & 3.7), who played 37 minutes off the bench to add 20-6-5?

Cleveland St is the MUCH better team and all Horizon schools know it's win the conference tourney or else, as far as an NCAA berth is concerned. The Panthers are 0-6 ATS in their last six neutral site games and I see no reason to think that record will NOT fall to 0-7 after this one. Cleveland St last made the "Big Dance" back in 2009 and the school's only other appearance was the 1986 team which famously upset Bobby Knight's Indiana team and reached the Sweet 16. How 'sweet' would it be for the Vikings to make the NCAAs this season, after FIVE straight losing seasons of nine, nine, 12, 10 and 11 wins?

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Conf Tourney Game of the Year (Summit) is on North Dakota St at 9:45 ET.

Summit League Tournament is being held at The Pentagon in Sioux Falls, a neutral site. The Summit's top-two seeds, No.1 South Dakota St and South Dakota, advanced on Saturday with wins. The other four teams play Sunday, including No. 6 UMKC and No. 3 North Dakota State. The Roos and Bison met in back-to-back games in KC back on Jan 29 and 30, with each team winning once. UMKC comes in just 11-13 on the season, while North Dakota St, after a 2-6 non-conference start, went 11-5 in Summit League to earn the No. 3 seed and post a 13-11 over record.

Billy Donolon won 20-plus games in THREE of his six seasons at Wright St and is in his second year at UMLC. The Roos were 16-14 last season and this season have lost a number of contributing players during the year like guard Pennington (14.0), plus big men Lamar (11.4 & 6.0) and Roessink (7.6 & 4.0). Guard Nesbitt missed about a month (Jan-Feb) but is back (10.8 & 6.2) to join  fellow guard McKissic (17.5-3.6-3.3) and the 6-8 Allick (14.6 & 5.8) in double digits.

Kyan Brown is in his seventh season at North Dakota St and last year's team went 25-8. However, the scoring duo of Shahid (18.4) and Ward (16.9) have moved on. A trio of seniors have stepped up this season, the 6-10 Kreuser (14.8 & 6.9) plus guards Griesel (11.6 & 6.5) and Eady (11.1 & 5.5). Also making contributions have been the 6-7 Harden-Hayes (9.7 & 5.4), guard Cook (9.4 & 3.1) and 6-10 freshman Nelson (6.4 & 3.5).

It seems to be a given that South Dakota St and South Dakota will meet in the championship game but if there is a 'dark horse' in the Summit, it will be the Bison. North Dakota St ended the regular season with back-to-back games at home vs South Dakota St and at South Dakota, gaining a split in each series. Expect the Bison to win handily here and advance to a semifinal meeting with South Dakota. Lay the points.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Rivalry Rout is on Oregon at 8:00 ET.

Dana Altman spent 16 seasons at Creighton and took the school to seven NCAA tourneys in his last 12 years at the school. He came to Oregon for the 2010-11 season and won the CBI championship in his first season. He's now in his 11th season in Eugene having won 20-plus games in each of his first 10, averaging 25.9 wins per year. Oregon has played in SIX of the last eight NCAA tourneys and it would have been seven if last season's year was not cut short (Ducks were 24-7). The Ducks (18-5 /13-4 Pac-12) rallied from a halftime deficit against UCLA on Wednesday, scoring 45 second-half points of an 82-74 victory. The win moved Oregon into sole possession of first place and marked the Ducks' fourth straight win and NINTH in 10 games. Oregon can claim consecutive outright Pac-12 Conference championships for the first time with a road win Sunday against rival Oregon State in Corvallis.

Oregon State's Wayne Tinkle lost his son Tres (18.5 & 6.8) and center Kelley (11.1 PPG / 5.3 RPFG / 3.5 BPG) from last year's team but heads into this contest on a three-game winning streak with a 14-11 overall mark (10-9 in the Pac 12). All three of those wins, over Cal, Stanford and Utah, have come impressively on the road. However, Oregon State's recent surge followed a stretch where it lost FOUR out of five.

Altman lost key players from last season, most notably Pritchard (20.5-4.3-5.5) but also SG Mathis (8.5) and the 6-7 Juiston (7.9 & 6.3). The 6-6 Eugene Omoruyi, who sat out last year as a transfer from Rutgers is averaging 16.9 & 5.4. The 6-6 Figueroa transferred from St John's and adds 11.9 & 6.4 and the 6-6 Eric Williams (10.5 & 6.4) transferred from Duquesne. That trio gives Oregon a strong frontcourt, even with 6-11 center N'Faly Dante (8.2 & 5.8) suffering a torn ACL in mid-December (out for the season). 6-8 guard Duarte leads the team in scoring (17.7) and is now joined in the backcourt by PG Will Richardson, who is back from a left thumb injury suffered in the preseason. He's averaging 10.0 PPG in 11 games.

Oregon St is led by guard Thompson (15.5-3.4-40) and fellow guard Lucas (12.8) is the only other double digit scorer. That duo is joined in the starting lineup by fellow guard Reichle (7.2-3.3-3.1) plus the 6-7 Alatishe (9.2 & 8.4) and the 7-1 Silva (5.3 & 2.5). Alatishe transferred from Nicholls State and has been a big addition. Oregon State is hoping to build on the positive momentum from THREE straight road wins and can earn a season sweep of Oregon with a win here, something the Beavers last accomplished in the 2018-19 season.

As noted above, an Oregon win means the No. 1 seed in the Pac 12 tourney but if that's NOT enough motivation, the Ducks SURELY remember losing 75-64 in Eugene back on Jan 23. PG Will Richardson did not play in Oregon's first meeting with Oregon State, as he didn't make his season debut until Feb 4 He scored nine of his 15 points in the second half and sank 6 of 8 shots from the floor in the comeback win over UCLA and, as Altman credited for for "taking over" against the Bruins. It's not lost on anyone that the Ducks are 9-2 since Richardson's return. Can you say "Pac 12 champs?" Lay the points.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Weekend Wipeout is on Maryland at 7:00 ET.

Penn St was 21-10 last season but the Nittany Lions went through some turmoil right as practices started when head coach Pat Chambers resigned in late October following an investigation into inappropriate conduct. Penn State is playing this season with interim head coach Jim Ferry and the Nittany Lions play their final regular season game of the current season Sunday at Maryland. Penn St is overall, including in Big Ten play.

Mark Turgeon coached Wichita St for seven years, before leading Texas A&M to four straight NCAA tournaments in four years going 97-40. He joined Maryland when it was still in the ACC but its move to the Big Ten has been good for the basketball program, as over the last six seasons the Terps have won 20-plus games in five seasons (exception was a 19-win season), making four NCAA tourneys (would have been five, as Maryland was 24-7 when the season was shut down last year). Maryland, despite Wednesday's 60-55 loss at Northwestern, has made a nice late-season run to put itself in position to grab an NCAA Tournament at-large bid. The Terps are 15-11 overall, including 9-10 in the Big Ten.

Penn State enters off one of its best games of the season, an 84-65 beatdown of struggling Minnesota at home Wednesday night. The Nittany Lions opened up a 46-28 halftime lead but NO ONE can make much of anything these days of a win over Minnesota (Gophers are 3-12 their last 15 overall and 0-10 on the road this season). Penn St surely misses All-Big Ten forward Lamar Stevens (17.6 & 6.9). The Nittany Lions have two players averaging in double figures, guards Jones (15.5) and Brockington (13.0 & 4.6). However, the team's depth is decent. The 6-7 Seth Lundy (9.4 & 3.8) and the 6-9 Harrar (9.1 & 8.6) are solid frontcourt players, plus guards Dread (7.9), Sessoms (7.9) and Wheeler (6.4-4.4-3.6) add backcourt depth.

PG Cowan (16.3 & 4.7 APG) and big man Jalen Smith (15.5 & 10.5) are gone from last season's Maryland team but the Terps have a deep backcourt. Ayala (14.5 & 3.1) and Wiggins (13.9 & 5.7) lead the way, supported by Morsell (8.8 & 3.8) and Hart (7.7 & 3.6). Up front, it's the 6-7 Scott (11.3 & 6.7) and 6-8 BC transfer Hamilton (6.6 & 2.5). Maryland had won FIVE straight before stumbling at Northwestern, as 15 turnovers and 42 percent shooting 'killed' them. The Terps are playing with revenge from a 55-50 loss at Penn St on Feb 5 but more importantly, a win gets them to 10-10 in Big Ten play, which really improves Maryland's at-large hopes. However, a loss and the Big Ten tourney becomes a potential eliminator for the Terps' NCAA hopes. Lay the points.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Tourney Takedown is on Texas St at 9:00 ET.

All SBC tournament games will played at Pensacola Bay Center & the Hartsell Center at Pensacola State College between March 5–8.The Appalachian State Mountaineers (No. 4 seed East) will take on the Texas State Bobcats (No. 1 seed in West) in quarterfinal matchup from the Pensacola Bay Center on Saturday night. The schools didn't meet in the regular season. Texas St earned a bye into the quarterfinals, while App St is fresh off its opening round 67-60 win over Little Rock on Friday. 

The Mountaineers entered last night's game having lost SIX of 7 but led by Justin Forrest 24 points (matching a career-high). Forrest (11.7) joins three other guards in double digit scoring this season, along with leading scorer Delph (12.4),Gregory (11.6 & 5.3) and Almonacy (11.4 & 3.8), The team's lone frontcourt player of note is the 6-8 Lewis (8.9 & 5.6) but it hardly bodes well that he played 29 minutes last night, scoring two points and grabbing three rebounds.

Texas St last played Feb 27 and has to feel as if it has a great chance to win the tourney and earn an NCAA automatic bid. Guards Harrell (13.7-3.1-3.2), Asberry (13.2 & 4.0) and Adams (6.4 & 4.1) round out the main players in the backcourt, while the 6-8 Small (10.8 & 5.7), the 6-7 Sule (7.8 & 3.3) and Ceasar (5.0 & 2.6) are the frontcourt contributors. 

As noted above, Appalachian State had lost SIX of seven before last night's win but tonight faces a Texas St team that's won 12 of its last 14 games, including SEVEN in a row since losing Jan 29 and 30 to ULL by scores of 62-60 and 74-73. Let me go over that again. Texas State has 12 wins and two losses (by a combined THREE points!) in its last 14 games! Bye-Bye App St!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* play is on St John's at 7:00 ET.

Seton Hall (13-11 / 10-8 Big East) and St John's (15-10 / 9-9 Big East) conclude their respective regular seasons Saturday at Carnesecca Arena in Queens, NY, as both schools try to lock down a top-five seed and the accompanying bye into the quarterfinal round of next week's Big East tournament. Seton Hall dropped a 69-58 decision to UConn on Wednesday and finds itself in its second three-game losing skid of the season. Meanwhile, St John's improved to 10-3 at home this season with an 81-67 victory over Providence on Wednesday, as the Red Storm outscored the Friars 51-26 in the second half.

SEVEN Seton Hall players have participated in all 24 games this season, led by the 6-11 Mamukelashvili. He has five double-doubles this season and leads the Pirates in scoring (17.9) and rebounding (7.2). He gets help up front from the 6-10 Samuel (5.6 & 3.5) and the 7-2 Obiagu (4.5 & 4.3). A quartet of guards are led by Rhoden (14.6 & 6.3) and Cale (11.9 & 3.6) plus PG Reynolds (7.6 & 4.4 APFG) and Molson (5.5).

Swingman Julian Champagnie leads St. John's in scoring (19.8) and rebounding (7.3). He collected 16 and 10 Wednesday for his seventh double-double of the season. The not-so good news is that PG Alexander (11.1-3.5-4.4) is sidelined with a right thumb injury. Alexander averages club-best totals in assists (4.4) and steals (2.6). Rasheem Dunn (9.2 & 4.0 APG) stepped up with a season-high 21 points against Providence. The good news is that St John's owns a deep backcourt with Williams (9.3), Cole (9.0) and Addae-Wusu (6.4). Up front, it's the 6-10 Moore (9.6 & 5.0) and the 6-6 Earlington (6.4 & 3.9).

Back on Dec 11 in the Big East opener, the Pirates won 77-68 at Seton Hall, when Mamukelashvili scored a career-high 32 points. Champagnie scored 24 points for St. John's in one but in this "revenge" spot, look for Champagnie and the Red Storm to earn the 'CA$H!'

Good luck...Larry

My 10* LEGEND Play is on Sam Houston St at 6:00 ET.

Stephen F. Austin lost 63-61 at home to Abilene Christian on Wednesday, just the team's SECOND home loss since the start of last season (Lumberjacks are 24-2). The Lumberjacks travel to Huntsville, Tx on Saturday to take on Sam Houston St, which knows all about winning at home, as the Bearkats are a perfect 12-0 at the Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum. Both teams can score, as SF Austin averages 81.1 PPG (17th) on 52.3% shooting (2nd), while Sam Hou St averages 80.8 PPG (21st).

SF Austin owns a solid trio of guards in Johnson (15.7 & 4.4), Ware (13.4) and Kachelries (11.1 & 4.4 APG) plus a pair of 6-7 sophomores start up front in Kensmil (15.8 & 7.1) and Solomon (7.8 & 4.9). Sam Houston head coach Jason Hooten opened the season having lost four of five starters for the SECOND straight year. The team opened 15-6 last season but was just 18-13 when the season was shut down. Guard Nutall is the lone returning starter and he leads the team averaging 19.3 PPG (adds 5.4 RPG) and while fellow guard Lampley (15.0 & 3.9) is the only other double digit scorer, this year's team enters its final regular season game on quite a roll. The Bearkats were just 3-5 after a Dec 16 loss at Texas but take the court tonight having won 16 of their last 18 games! 

One of those losses was at Sf Austin back on Jan 31 (78-68) and while the Bearkats are looking for revenge from that defeat, that's NOT the most important aspect of this game. Nicholls St has completed its regular season at 14-2 in the Southland but Sam Houston St comes in 13-2 and with a win, can match Nicholls St's record. Better yet, since the Bearkats swept the season series over the Colonels, a win means Sam Houston St earns the No. 1 seed in the conference tourney. Revenge AND playing for the No. 1 seed in the tourney in a game at home where the Bearkats are 12-0. Good enough for me!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Oddsmaker's Error of the Month is on UCLA at 4:00 ET.

Andy Enfield led Florida Gulf Coast to a 26-11 season in his second at the school, making a Sweet 16 appearance. That gave him the chance to "move on up" to USC but his first two seasons were HUGE disappointments (11-21 and 12-20). However, the Trojans have won 21-plus games in FOUR of the last five seasons, including a 22-9 mark last season before the shut down. Mick Cronin coached at Cincinnati for 13 seasons, leading the Bearcats to the "Big Dance" in each of his last nine years, while averaging 26.1 wins per season in that span. His first year as UCLA's head coach ended 19-12, including a 12-6 Pac-12 record, good enough to get the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament. UCLA wouldn’t get their chance to win the tournament though as the Pac-12 tournament and subsequently the NCAA tournament were cancelled on the same day last March. The two LA rivals met tonight at Pauley Pavilion with the visiting Trojans at 14-5 in Pac 12 play and the Bruins at 13-5. The winner would be in position to 'steal' the Pac 12's regular season title from Oregon, IF the 13-4 Ducks lose Sunday at Oregon St. It's simple, the UCLA-USC winner would have more Pac-12 wins than Oregon (and a higher winning percentage), which would give them the No. 1 seed in next week's Pac-12 tournament. Considering Oregon St won 75-64 at Oregon earlier this year, the USC-UCLA winner will have a reasonable rooting interest in Sunday's game in Corvallis.

USC saw its top-five scorers leave after the 2020 season. Onyeka Okongwu left for the NBA, Elijah Weaver transferred to University of Dayton plus seniors Jonah Mathews, Nick Rakocevic, and Daniel Utomi all graduated. However, Enfield recruited a "super frosh" in 7-0 freshman Evan Mobley plus brought in SIX transfers. Evan Mobley has been as "good as advertised," averaging 16.2 & 8.5. He joins his brother Isaiah (a 6-10 sophomore), who is adding 9.1 & 7.7. Peterson is a 6-8 swingman from Rice who averages 9.8 & 5.1 while guards are Eaddy (Santa Clara) and White, a grad transfer from Utah Valley St. Eaddy is averaging 13.9 PPG and White 7.0. The 6-9 Goodwin, a grad transfer from Wofford adds 5.9 & 3.8 off the bench.

UCLA's 6-9 guard Chris Smith averaged 12.6 points and 6.4 rebounds in UCLA's first eight games but was lost for the season with a knee injury. More recently, the 6-10 Jalen Hill (6.1 & 5.5) has not played since Feb 6 (personal reasons). However, the Bruins still have FIVE players averaging in double digits. PG Campbell (10.6 & 5.7 APG) misses Smith but is still surrounded by "big guards" like the 6-6 Zuzang (14.2 & 4.3), the 6-6 Jaquez (11.8 & 6.0) and the 6-6 Bernard (10.0 & 4.5). Without Hill, it's just the 6-9 Riley (10.3 & 5.3) up front.

Both USC and UCLA have stumbled recently and have no one to blame but themselves if they fall short in the final regular season standings. USC had lost THREE of four before routing Stanford 79-42 at home on Wednesday, while UCLA's 82-74 Wednesday loss at Oregon was the team's second straight. Which team "shows up" better on Saturday? I think "revenge" works VERY well here between these two "classic" rivals. Back on Feb 6 at USC, the Trojans won 66-48, as the 48 points UCLA scored marked a season low (Bruins had just 20 points at the half!). UCLA shot just 33.9 percent in that loss, including just 15.8% on threes (3 of 19). The Bruins are shooting 46.2% on the season, including 36.9% on threes. Don't they HAVE to shoot better here in this HUGE game? What's more, UCLA is 11-0 SU at Pauley Pavilion this season, so why are the Bruins the small home dog?

Good luck...Larry

My 9* ACC Showdown is on Louisville at 4:00 ET.

No. 21 Virginia is 16-6 (12-4 in the ACC) and clinched a top-four seed and a double-bye in next week's ACC tournament with its victory over Miami on Monday night. Louisville (15-5 / 8-4 ACC in ACC)  has that same goal in mind when the Cardinals host the Cavaliers on Saturday in the regular-season conference finale for both teams.

Virginia halted a three-game losing streak with its 62-51 win over the Hurricanes on Senior Night in Charlottesville, Va., the final home game for Sam Hauser, Jay Huff, Tomas Woldetensae and Austin Katstra. The 6-8 Houser leads the team in scoring (15.5) plus adds 6.7 RPG, while the 7-1 leads in rebounding (7.1), while adding 13.3 PPG. Woldetensae (4.4) has had a disappointing senior season, while Katstra (0.6 PPG) is a non-factor. SG Murphy (10.8) and PG Clark (9.8 & 4.6 APG) get help on the perimeter from Morsell (4.7) and Beekman (4.7). However, UVA is known for its defense and that's the case once again this season, as the Cavaliers are allowing 60.2 PPG (8th in the nation).

Louisville swingman Jordan Nwora (18.0 & 7.7) is gone from last season's team but FOUR starters returned. However, it's Carlik Jones who leads the team in scoring, averaging 17.6-5.2-4.5. He's a graduate transfer from Radford and was last season's Big South Conference player of the year. He's joined by returning guard Johnson (12.5 & 5.7) in the backcourt. The 6-7 Williamson did little last season but averages 10.0 & 7.9 this season plus 6-9 redshirt freshman Withers is adding 10.1 & 8.0. True freshman guard Davis (7.9 & 3.3) and the 6-8 Slazinski (6.2 & 3.4) round out the main contributors.

Seeding for the ACC tournament will be determined by winning percentage. Louisville enters the weekend in the No. 4 slot with a .667 winning percentage, ranked between Virginia Tech (.692) and Georgia Tech (.625). With a potential double-bye and automatic quarterfinal berth at stake, there is a lot on the line Saturday for the Cards and they proved they can win "when needed" last Saturday at Duke, 80-73 in OT. Jones scored seven of his 25 points in OT, with Withers adding 16 points and nine rebounds and Samuell Williamson posting a double-double with 14 points and 12 boards. UVa has little to play for here and is looking forward to a few days of rest. A win here and Louisville gets those "few days of rest, as well. That's my bet.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* play is on Missouri at 3:00 ET.

The LSU Tigers are 15-8 (10-6 SEC) and the Missouri Tigers are 15-7 (8-7 SEC) as the SEC rivals square off Saturday in Columbia, Mo (only meeting this season). LSU is trying to secure a top-four seed and a double-bye in the league tournament next week. Meanwhile, Missouri will land somewhere between a No. 5 and No. 8 seed in the SEC event, depending on the outcome of games Saturday. Both schools are also looking to improve their seeding for the NCAA Tournament, hoping to avoid the Nos. 8-9 zone in that bracket and the potential of facing a No. 1 seed if they win their first game.

"We need another Quad 1 win," LSU head coach Will Wade said. "We need to try to improve our SEC tournament standing, improve our standing for the NCAA Tournament, all that stuff's important." The Tigers are not a deep team but have a pair of guards and frontcourt players who are top-notch. Thomas (22.8 & 3.4) and Smart (16.0-3.3-4.1) man the backcourt, while the 6-9 Watford (16.0 & 7.4) and the 6-7 Days (11.7 & 7.5) star up front.

In contrast, Missouri has SEVEN players contributing. Three double digit scorers roam the backcourt in Dru Smith (14.0-3.5-3.9), Pinson (14.0-2.9-3.0) and Mark Smith (10.1). Up front, the 6-10 Tilmon (12.9 & 7.6) leads the way, supported by the 6-7 Brown (7.5 & 5.9) and the 6-10 Mitchell Smith (4.8 & 5.0). What's the limit on the number of Smiths allowed on one team?

Missouri had lost FOUR of five games before snapping its late-season slump with a 72-70 victory at Florida this past Wednesday. Getting center Jeremiah Tilmon back in the starting lineup has steadied Missouri. He missed two games (Feb 13 vs Arkansas and Feb 16 vs. Georgia) while mourning the death of his grandmother and the team lost both games. However, in the three games since he returned, the Tigers are 2-1 with Tilmon scoring 39 points, pulling down 19 rebounds and blocking five shots. He MAKES a difference.

LSU is a dangerous team but is just 3-6 SU on the road, winning at Ole Miss (9-8 SEC), A&M (2-7) and Miss St (8-8). Missouri is not currently ranked but had spent 11 straight weeks in the top-25 before falling out in the Mar 1 poll (rose as high as No. 10 back on Feb 8). In a Tigers vs Tigers matchup, I'm siding with Missouri. "Show me!"

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Tourney Takedown (OVC) is on Morehead St at 10:30 ET.

Belmont is the overwhelming favorite to win the OVC tourney but the Eastern Kentucky Colonels and Morehead St Eagles meet tonight from the Ford Center (Evansville, In) and the winner will get its shot against Belmont in the championship game (I'm assuming Belmont gets past Jacksonville in tonight's other OVC semifinal game). The game will feature Eastern Kentucky's offense (82.9 PPG ranks 8th in the nation) up against Morehead State's defense (63.4 PPG allowed ranks 33rd). The two schools have met twice this season but those contests came back in December. Eastern Ky won 71-68 at home (Dec 7) and then lost 75-62 at Morehead St on Dec 14 (I'll get back to these games shortly). 

The Colonels are led freshman PG Green (15.3-3.4-5.1) and 6-9 junior King (15.2 & 6.3). Guard Guard Lewis (11.1 & 5.2) plus the 6-7 Moreno (10.1 & 4.8) also add double digits in points. Green scored 23 points, including clinching free throws with 12 seconds left, as Eastern Kentucky survived a last-gasp try from Austin Peay to edge the Governors 70-67 last night. Austin Peay was just 3 of 17 on three-pointers, allowing Eastern Ky to win despite scoring about 13 points under its season average.

The Eagles have SIX players averaging 25-plus minutes, while chipping in between 7.3 and 13.3 PPG. 6-10 freshman Broome leads in scoring (13.3) and rebounding (8.7) plus juniors guards Devon Cooper (11.7 & 5.1) and Potter (11.4 & 5.7) compromise a VERY good backcourt duo. Ta'lon Cooper (8.3 PPG) came off the bench to score 17 points to carry No. 2 seed Morehead State to a 61-54 win over Southeast Missouri on Wednesday night. Broome had 14 & 11 plus Devon Cooper added 12 points. Morehead St came up big defensively, allowing only 54 points on 35.7% shooting.

Looking back to those two regular season meetings, Eastern Ky averaged just 66.5 PPG against Morehead St, 16 points less than the team's season average. This has been a "breakout season" for Morehead St head coach Preston Spradlin, who went just 46-69 in his first four seasons at the school. He leads his team into this contest having won 17 of its last 18 games, losing only 73-58 at Belmont (note: The Eagles avenged that loss with an 89-82 home win over Belmont). I had a HUGE play on Eastern Ky last night (eked out a win) but will go against the Colonels in this one against the 'hottest' team in the OVC, which also owns an advantage of having played Wednesday, NOT last night like EKU.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Situational Stunner is on UC-Davis at 7:00 ET.

The class of the Big West this season is clearly UC-Santa Barbara, which is 1-4 overall, including 11-3 in league play. The Big West tourney will be played Mar 9-13 in Las Vegas but first there's the final weekend of regular season play. The 10-8 Hawaii Rainbow Warriors (8-8 in Big West) and the 8-6 UC Davis Aggies (5-3 Big West) meet Friday at the Pavilion in Davis, Ca.  

Eran Ganot's Hawaii team is led by two returning players and two transfers. Guard Webster (12.4 & 3.4) and the 6-7 Jardine (11.6 & 5.6) are the top returning players but also note that the 7-0 Colina is averaging 6.0 & 5.4 at center (off the bench), after averaging 1.6 & 1.6 last season. The two key transfers are the 6-8 Jean-Marie (12.3 & 4.7) and guard Madut (10.9 & 4.3). 

Jim Les played and coached at Bradley (nine years) but is in his 10th season at UC-Davis. He won 20-plus games three times in a four-season span (2015-15 thru 2017-18) but the Aggies followed with 11-20 and 14-18 seasons the previous two years. This year's team has been greatly affected by COVID but seems to be coming together (more later). Les was a terrific guard at Bradley (MVC player of the year in 1986) and his current team has FOUR guards averaging in double digits. Manjon (15.9-29.3.4) and Pepper (14.7 & 5.1) are two of the Big West's best guards plus Squire (12.1-3.3-2.8) and Fuller (11.5 & 3.7) are no slouches. The 6-7 Koehler (11.5 & 5.5) and the 6-9 Anigwe (6.5 & 4.9) are the top frontcourt contributors.

Hawaii has been hovering around .500 for most of the year and has had trouble staying on the right side of the 'Mendoza line' UC-Davis did not play from Dec 5 through Jan 24 before of COVID protocols and when the Aggies returned, they lost FOUR of five. However, UC-Davis enters this contest on a FIVE-game winning streak and gets to finish its season at home with back-to-back home games with Hawaii. A 2-0 sweep could earn the Aggies the No. 2 seed in the upcoming Big West tourney. First things FIRST. Expect UC-Davis to win this one and the pointspread means a "W" is almost a guaranteed cover!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* PERFECT STORM of the Month is on Western Michigan at 7:00 ET.

The 2021 Mid-American Conference men's basketball tournament is scheduled to be held at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio, from March 11-13. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, only the top EIGHT teams qualify. Two schools that will NOT be headed to Cleveland are 5-12 Eastern Michigan (2-11 in the MAC) and 5-12 Western Michigan (4-11 in the MAC). Tonight's contest will conclude the current season for both schools. The Eastern Michigan Eagles were scheduled to host the Western Michigan Broncos back on Jan 19 but that game was postponed, meaning this will be the only meeting this season between the rivals.

Eastern Michigan head coach Rob Murphy is in his 10th season(two CIT appearances and one in the CBI but no NCCAA) at Ypsilanti but despite returning four starters, the Eagles will finish with the worst record of his tenure at Eastern Michigan. 6-8 senior Groce leads the team in scoring (15.3) and rebounding (6.6), while junior guard McBride (13.6) and senior guard Montero (12.5 & 5.5) give EMU a solid backcourt duo.

Steve Hawkins spent 17 seasons at Kalamazoo (seven division titles / two NCAA appearances) but was let go after last season's 13-19 finish (Broncos were just 8-24 the year before). His assistant, Thomas Kelley was promoted. Kelley played at Michigan State from 1995-99 and was a part of Izzo's first Final Four team as a fifth-year senior in 1998-99. Obviously, "Season One" has NOT gone well (see above). The Bronco's top-scorer is guard White (14.3), while the 6-9 Lee (12.9 & 7.1) and the 6-8 Wright (8.5 & 5.4) are the best frontcourt players.

Here's the rub. Western Michigan wraps up a very disappointing season with this home game vs Eastern Michigan but the Broncos can finish on an uptick, having won at Northern Illinois on Tuesday. The LAST thing Kelley wants in his first season is to lose at home (in the final game of the season) to rival Eastern Michigan, a team which comes in still looking for its first road win of the season. Bottom line is this. EMU was 4-4 back on Jan 14 but has lost seven games to COVID, while losing EIGHT of the nine games played in that span (win came over Northern Illinois which is 2-16, including 1-12 in the MAC). EMU is 0-8 on the road, losing by an average of 20.3 PPG (closest loss came by 11 points!).

Good luck...Larry

My 10* "Best of the Best" Conference Game of the Year (OVC) is on Eastern Kentucky at 10:30 ET.

Belmont (24-3 / 18-2 in the OVC) is the overwhelming favorite to win the OVC tourney but the Eastern Kentucky Colonels (21-6 / 15-5) could be a surprise team. The Colonels open tourney play against Austin Peay Governors (14-12 / 10-10 in the OVC) Thursday from the Ford Center (Evansville, In). The teams split their two meetings this season, with the road team coming away with the wins.

The Governors are led by the 6-5 Taylor (21.7 & 11.0) and the 6-8 Peake (10.6 & 5.2) in the frontcourt. FIVE guards chip in between 5.4 and 9.6 PPG, led by Adams (9.6), Gee (9.0- am]nd Paez (8.9). The Colonels are led by 6-9 junior King (15.2 & 6.3) and freshman PG Green (15.0-3.4-5.1). Guard Lewis (11.4 & 5.1) plus the 6-7 Moreno (10.4 & 4.7) also add double digits in points.

Speaking of points, Eastern Kentucky ranks 10th in the nation in averaging 82.9 PPG. Austin Peay comes in on a three-game slide, while Eastern Kentucky is playing its best ball of the season, winning SIX of its last seven (scored 80-plus points in all six wins, averaging 87.0 PPG). Eastern Kentucky head coach A.W. Hamilton had a legendary career as a high school coach at Hargrove Military Academy (Google, if interested) and after going 6-12 in OVC play his first year, went 12-6 last year. This year's team is 15-5 in league play and comes in "on a roll." Talk about "heading in the right direction." Want more? At 16-8-1 ATS on the season, Eastern Kentucky is one of the more profitable teams in the country. Cha-Ching!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Ultimate Underdog is on Oklahoma St at 7:00 ET.

Following a long shutdown due to COVID-19, Baylor won 'ugly' against lowly Iowa State on Feb 23 and then suffered its first loss of the season on Saturday at Kansas, falling 71-58. Baylor fell to No. 3 in the new AP poll on Monday (had been No. 2 in EVERY previous poll) but on Tuesday night, the Bears (now 19-1 / 11-2 in the Big 12) looked every bit the part of a national title contender with a gritty 94-89 overtime win at No. 6 West Virginia. Oklahoma St entered the top-25 on Feb 8 at No. 23 for the first time since Feb of 2015. However, the Cowboys fell out of the next two polls, despite not losing. A new poll came out Monday and the Cowboys were ranked 17th. The Cowboys celebrated that night, beating "Bedlam" rival Oklahoma 79-75 in Stillwater (had won at Norman 94-90 in OT on Saturday.

Baylor's Scott Drew took over a devastated Baylor program in the 2003-04 season and since 2007-08, has turned the Bears into one of the best programs in the country. Baylor won the NIT in 2013 and has made eight NCAA tourney appearances (26-4 last season would have made nine). Baylor lost 6-9 center Gillespie (9.6 & 9.0) from last year's team but the strength of Baylor's team this season is centered around its guards. Butler's (16.9-3.2-5.0) the best of the group but don't look past Teague (14.6 & 4.2), Mitchell (13.8 & 5.6 APG), Flagler (10.2) or Mayer (8.1) The 6-5 Vital (5.9 & 6.0) plays like a power forward and is considered one of the best defensive players in the nation. Tchatchoua is a 6-8 transfer from UNLV and he's averaged 7.3 & 5,7 plus the 6-10 Thamba adds 4.0 & 4.4.

Mike Boynton took over in Stillwater when Brad Underwood left for Illinois and in his first three seasons, the Cowboys were an underwhelming 51-49. However, led by super-frosh Cade Cunningham, the Cowboys are 17-6 overall, including 10-6 in the Big 12. The 6-8 Cade Cunningham (19.5-6.3-3.5) has been as good (if not better than advertised). He's joined in the starting lineup by guards Anderson (10.3 & 4.0), Walker (8.9),and Williams (8,0) plus the 6-9 Boone (9.8 & 5.6). The 6-5 Likekele (9.8-6.9-3.7) and the 6-7 Moncrieffe (9.2 & 5.6) are big contributors off the bench.

Drew's run at Baylor has been HUGELY successful and the win at West Va gave the school its first regular season title since 1950 (SWC). The Bears outscored West Virginia 13-8 in overtime while holding the Mountaineers to one made field goal. Drew couldn't wait to celebrate after the victory and jumped on 6-5 senior guard Mark Vital's back before heading to the locker room. Congrats to Baylor but returning home after its HUGE win and laying double digits to an Oklahoma St team that has won FIVE in row (THREE over ranked teams) and owns the likely No. 1 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft seems like a 'bridge too far.' Take those big points!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Revenge Rout (Big South Conf Tourney) is on Campbell at 6:00 ET.

Winthrop (21-1 overall / 17-1 in conference play) is expected to win the Big South Tourney but just maybe the second-seeded Radford Highlanders (12-6) or the third-seeded  Campbell Fighting Camels (11-6) could pull an upset. Both schools won their tourney openers (Mar 1) and will meet for a third time this season Thursday from Dedmon Center (Radford's homecourt).

Campbell had the nation's leading scorer (Chris Clemons at 30.1 PPG) but after opening 9-3, finished 15-16. Clemons is gone but the Fighting Camels enter this game on an EIGHT-game winning streak. The 6-6 Henderson (15.6 & 4.6) plus guard Whitfield (14.6) are the team's top-two point-producers but guard Thompson (8.6) plus two sophomores, the 6-7 Lusane (8.1 & 5.6) and the 6-8 Carralero (7.3 & 3.3) have been regular contributors.

Radford was 21-11 last season, tying Winthrop at 15-3 for the Big South's best conference mark. However, the Highlanders lost all FIVE starters from last year's team. Radford has just ONE double digit scorer and that's PG Ali (10.2 & 3.9 APG) but in all, EIGHT players chip in between 4.6 and 10.2 PPG. The biggest contributors play in the frontcourt. That group includes the 6-8 Mangum (9.6 & 4.4), the 6-9 Djonkam (9.0 & 4.78), the 6-7 Jules (7.5 & 4.0) and the 6-7 Walker (6.9 & 7.6).

There is little doubt that Radford is 'itching' for a shot at Winthrop but my bet says that is trumped by Campbell's motivation to avenge back-to-back tight home losses to Radford back on Jan 19 (97-91 in OT) and Jan 20 (67-61). What has Campbell done since those back-to-back defeats? Just win EIGHT consecutive games, holding opponents to an average of just 59.4 PPG. "Double-Revenge" gets the CA$H in this one!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* PERFECT STORM is on the Por Blazers at 10:05 ET.

The Golden State Warriors owned the NBA's worst record (15-50) last season, after appearing in five straight Finals (winning three titles). However, the Warriors have been one of the NBA's "surprise" teams this season, as they are currently 19-16 (No. 8 seed in the West). Portland opened a disappointing 12-10 this season but then ripped off SIX straight wins (Feb 9-18) to reach 18-10. However, a four-game slide followed, before the Blazers ended their skid with a 123-111 home win over Charlotte on Monday. Each team will be playing the first of two consecutive games to close the NBA's first half. The 19-14 Trail Blazers (current No. 6 seed) will remain home to play Sacramento on Thursday, while the 19-16 Warriors will move on to Phoenix.

The Warriors visit Portland off an 'ugly' 117-91 road loss at the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday. Head coach Steve Kerr called the game "his club's worst effort of the season!" Golden State fell behind 41-21 after the first quarter and never made the game competitive. "There's going to be a handful of games every year that are sort of inexplicable, and this is one you don't spend too much time on," Kerr said. "You flush the toilet, and you move on." Looking for some good news, while Draymond Green sprained an ankle in the second quarter and did not return, he will play Wednesday night according to Kerr. Green plays "wherever needed," leading the team in rebounds (6.0) and assists (8.5). The trio of Curry (29.5-5.4-6.4) , Wiggins (17.1 & 4.5) and Oubre (15.5 & 5.9) have been "constants" but it's sure good news that the team's No. 1 pick from last season's (No. 2 overall pick) is finally back. The 7-1 Wiseman has averaged 11.5 & 4.8 in the last four games, VERY close to his season averages of 12.0 & 5.9). Depth has been provided by the 6-8 Paschall (10.2) plus veteran guards Bazemore (6.5 ) and Lee (6.3).

The Blazers have endured the past 20 games without CJ McCollum (26.7-3.9-5.0), whose fractured foot will be re-evaluated this week. Lillard (29.6-4.3-8.1), as usual. leads the way but he was held to a modest 23 points in the win over Charlotte. However, Carmelo Anthony (13.6) turned back the clock with six 3-pointers and 29 points off the bench, while PF. Robert Covington (7.7 & 6.5) added 21 points, 10 rebounds, two blocks) plus Gary Trent Jr. 17 points came up big. Trent is averaging 15.5 PPG on the season and has done an excellent job of mitigating the loss of McCollum. The same can be said of center Enes Kanter, who is averaging 11.6 & 11.5 on the season, helping ease the loss of starting center Nurkic (9.8 & 7.7), who hasn't played since Jan 14.

These teams split one-sided games in an NBA-style doubleheader early in the season in San Francisco. Damian Lillard led a three-point assault with 6-for-10 accuracy from beyond the arc in a 123-98 Trail Blazers win on Jan 1, while the Warriors rebounded with a 137-122 triumph two nights later behind Stephen Curry's 62 points. The victor tonight  becomes a '20-game winner' and I'm betting Curry 'under' 62 points and taking the Blazers in the game. After all, Portland was a road favorite in both of those early January games in San Francisco but is now a small home dog??

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Under the Radar Rout is on SF Austin at 9:00 ET.

The Abilene Christian Wildcats and Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks meet Wednesday in Southland Conference action at the William R. Johnson Coliseum in Nacogdoches, Tx. It's a logjam atop the Southland with Nicholls St at 13-2 and Sam Houston St at 12-2 plus SF Austin and Abilene Christian both at 11-2. Joe Golding is in his 10th season at  Abilene Christian and his 2017-18 team went 27-7 for his lone NCAA appearance. Kyle Keller was hired as the head coach at Stephen F. Austin, replacing Brad Underwood. Following the discovery of an administrative error in declaring student-athletes eligible, on May 20, 2020, Stephen F. Austin reached an agreement with the NCAA to vacate hundreds of wins across multiple sports from 2013 to 2019, including all 117 men's basketball wins from the 2014–15 to 2018–19 seasons. With that behind the program, the Lumberjacks finished the 2019–20 season with a 28–3 (19–1 Southland) record and the regular season Southland title. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Southland and NCAA tournaments were canceled.

Abilene Christian lost All-Southland guard Ricks (14.3) from last season's team and this year's team is led by a trio of double digit scorers. 7-0 center Kohl leads in scoring (12.1), while the 6-8 Pleasant leads in rebounding (5.5 per game) and adds 11.0 PPG. Guard Mason (10.6) is the third double digit scorer for a team that relies more on defense, as the Wildcats allow 60.9 PPG (9th) on 40.1% shooting (27th).

Keller has put together another strong season at SF Austin and SIX players are averaging 20-plus minutes. FOUR seniors average in double digits, led by the 6-7 Kensmil (15.7 & 7.3) plus guards Johnson (15.5 & 4,3), Ware (13.8) and Kachelries (11.0 & 4.5 APG). 6-7 sophomore Soloman (8.0 &n4.8) and junior guard Hawkins (6.8) round out the main contributors.

Abilene Christian DOMINATED in its home win (Jan 27) over S.F. Austin, 82-62! Holding the Lumberjacks to just 62 points  was an impressive accomplishment, as SF Austin is averaging 82.2 PPG (13th) on 52.6% shooting (2nd) on the season. S.F. Austin is not only playing with revenge but did I mention that the Lumberjacks are 26-1 SU at home since the start of last season!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Situational Stunner is on Oregon at 9:00 ET.

It's the final week of the Pac 12's regular season and UCLA is trying to hang on and win the conference's regular-season title. UCLA is 17-6 overall with it's 13-4 Pac-12 record leaving the Bruins barely ahead of the 12-4 Oregon Ducks and the 13-5 USC Trojans. As fate would have it, UCLA plays at Oregon tonight and then will host the Trojans Saturday night at Pauley Pavilion. This storied UCLA program hasn't won a Pac 12 conference title since the 2012-13 season. The 17-5 Ducks have won EIGHT of their last nine games to close in on UCLA. This will be the first meeting between the Bruins and Ducks this season, although they have been scheduled to play on four previous dates, all postponed because of coronavirus concerns.

Mick Cronin made NINE consecutive NCAA Tourney appearances at Cincy, as his Bearcats posted a 235-78 (.751) record in that span. He moved to Westwood last season and his Bruins got better as the year progressed and were playing their best ball when the season was shut down. UCLA's 6-9 guard Chris Smith averaged 12.6 points and 6.4 rebounds in UCLA's first eight games but was lost for the season with a knee injury. More recently, the 6-10 Jalen Hill (6.1 & 5.5) has not played since Feb 6 (personal reasons). However, the Bruins still have FIVE players averaging between 9.4 and 14.6 PPG. PG Campbell (10.8 & 5.6 APG) misses Smith but is still surrounded by "big guards" like the 6-6 Zuzang (14.6 & 4.4), the 6-6 Jaquez (11.6 & 6.1) and the 6-6 Bernard (9.4 & 4,6). Without Hill, it's just the 6-9 Riley (10.3 & 5.3) up front.

Dana Altman spent 16 seasons at Creighton and took the school to seven NCAA tourneys in his last 12 years at the school. He came to Oregon for the 2010-11 season and won the CBI championship in his first season. He's now in his 11th season in Eugene having won 20-plus games in each of his first 10, averaging 25.9 wins per year. Oregon has played in SIX of the last eight NCAA tourneys and it would have been seven if last season's year was not cut short (Ducks were 24-7). The Ducks have won EIGHT of nine and have a chance to win the regular season title with two wins (close at Oregon St on Saturday). The 6-6 Eugene Omoruyi, who sat out last year as a transfer from Rutgers is averaging 17.0 & 5.4. The 6-6 Figueroa transferred from St John's and adds 11.6 & 6.6 and the 6-6 Eric Williams (10.7 & 6.3) transferred from Duquesne. That trio gives Oregon a strong frontcourt, even with 6-11 center N'Faly Dante (8.2 & 5.8) suffering a torn ACL in mid-December (out for the season). 6-8 guard Duarte (17.4 & 4.9) is now joined in the backcourt by PG Will Richardson, who is back from a left thumb injury suffered in the preseason. He's averaging 9.5 PPG in 10 games.

Both Cronin and Altman are proven winners but I'm siding with the homestanding Ducks. "It's just great to be in this position," Oregon's Altman said. "Through the two pauses (due to COVID-19 protocols earlier this year) and a couple bad losses at home, for them to be resilient and fight back like they have -- they didn't get down. They came back and did a tremendous job. So I want them to have fun; I want them to enjoy this week." I think Oregon will win here handily, especially since the Bruins have gone just 2-9 ATS (that's an 82% "go-against") since mid-January.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* "Best of the Best" Revenge Game of the Year is on Villanova at 8:30 ET.

Creighton, Villanova and Seton Hall finished in a three-way tie for first place in the Big East last season. As the 2020-21 Big East regular season comes to a close this week, Seton Hall is far back at 10-7, with No. 10 Villanova at 10-3 and No. 14 Creighton at 13-5. Here's the rub. With teams playing an uneven amount of games, the Bluejays would capture the Big East regular season title over the Wildcats with a win here (have already beaten Villanova 86-70 back in Creighton on Feb 13) and a home win over Butler on Saturday. Both schools are coming off losses with Creighton losing 77-69 at Xavier on Saturday and Villanova  losing 73-61 at Butler on Sunday.

Creighton was ranked No. 11 in the AP's preseason poll (the highest in school history). Greg McDermott is now in his 11th season at Creighton and after tying for the Big East title last season and finishing 24-7, Creighton was picked to finish second behind Villanova in a preseason poll. Well here the Blue Jays are! Creighton owns an excellent guard trio in PG Zegarowski (14.9-3.9-4.6) plus Mahoney (13.9 & 4.5) and Ballock (10.5). 6-5 SF Jefferson (12.3 & 5.4) and the 6-7 Bishop (11.5 & 5.9) get help up front from 7-0 freshman Ryan Kalkbrenner (6.7 & 3.9).

Villanova's Jay Wright lost Saddiq Bey (16.1 & 4.7) to the NBA (was a first-round NBA draft pick) but four double digit scorers from last year's team returned. Villanova's preseason ranking of No. 3 was its highest since the 1995-96 season. Villanova is considered one of the most dangerous teams in the country for many reasons but offensive balance is at the top of the list. All FIVE starters average in double digits. The 6-9 Robinson-Earl (15.5 & 7.9) leads in scoring and rebounding and is joined up front by the 6-7 Samuels (11.1 & 6.3). That duo is joined in the starting lineup by a trio of double-digit scoring guards, PG Gillespie (14.4 & 4.7 APG), Moore (12.8 & 4.4) and Daniels (10.6). The 6-9 Swider comes off the bench to add 6.2 & 3.3.

'Nova can clinch the Big East regular season crown with a win here AND maybe a No. 2 seed in the "Big Dance," so motivation is hardly an issue. Obviously, Villanova will remember its 16-point loss at Creighton plus the Wildcats can't possibly forget Sunday's HUGELY disappointing loss Sunday at Butler. Villanova shot 2 of 27 on three-pointers, with 14 straight misses to end the game! This is a "big time" game and in the end, it's Villanova which will make the deciding plays.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Happy Hour "Best Bet" is on Syracuse at 5:00 ET.

Clemson was 9-1 and ranked 12th when it welcomed Virginia to Littlejohn Coliseum back on Jan 16. The Tigers were coming off an extended pause due to a positive COVID-19 test and subsequent contact tracing. The 11-day break clearly did not turn out well, as UVa routed Clemson 85-50. That was the first of three straight losses in which the Tigers averaged 58.7 PPG! However, the Tigers have rebounded by winning SIX of seven including FIVE in a row. 15-5 Clemson (9-5 in the ACC) travels to the Carrier Dome to take on a Syracuse team that has won four of six to reach 14-8 (8-7 in the ACC) but more notably, is 12-1 at home!

Clemson head coach Brad Brownell is in his 11th season with the Tigers and his team is poised to make the NCAA tourney for just the THIRD time this season. Clemson returned four starters from last season's team plus Fordham transfer Nick Honor became eligible. The Tigers are led by 6-8 senior forward Simms (13.6 & 6.2). He's joined in the starting lineup by the 6-8 Tyson (6.3 & 4.7) plus guards Honor (9.1), Trapp (7.0 & 5.6) and Hemenway (4.6). Dawes (8.5) and Newman (4.3) come off the bench in the backcourt and the 6-10 Baehre (4.5 & 4.4) in the frontcourt.

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Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim knows all about appearing in the "Big Dance" but his team's at-large resume this season still needs some help. Syracuse has a solid starting-five, with only guard Richmond (6.9-3.1-3.3) contributing off the bench. The Orange own a strong starting frontline in SF Griffin (15.0 & 6.5), the 6-7 Guerrier (14.8 & 9.0) and the 6-10 Dolezag (10.7 & 5.2). SG Buddy Boeheim scored 26 points in Saturday's win over the Tar Heels and now leads the team in scoring (15.9) and is paired in the backcourt by PG Girard (9.7 & 3.1 APG). 

Both teams come in playing well and this late-season showdown has plenty of postseason repercussions. Syracuse can't help but remember suffering a 17-point loss at Clemson back on Feb 6 and the Orange will celebrate "Senior Night" on Wednesday. Syracuse has more 'firepower' than Clemson and a look back at that Clemson win at home on Feb 6 and we find that the Tigers shot 52.9% from the floor, 10 points HIGHER than the team's season FG percentage of 42.5. Syracuse gets a MUCH-needed win!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Oddsmaker's Error of the Month is on the LA Lakers at 10:05 ET.

The Suns went 8-0 SU and ATS in the Orlando 'bubble' but still couldn't sneak into the playoffs. In the offseason, Phoenix acquired longtime All Star PG Chris Paul in an effort to break its 10-year playoff drought. The Suns opened 6-2 but were just 8-8 on Jan 27. However, the Suns visit Staples Center tonight at 22-11, having won 14 of their last 17 games. The Suns currently own the West No. 4 seed just a half-game back of the 24-12 Clippers and ONE game back of tonight's opponent, the 24-11 Lakers. The Lakers won their SEVENTH straight game on Feb 12 and at 21-6, only the 21-5 Utah Jazz owned a better record in the NBA. However, the Lakers then fell into their worst slump of the season (FOUR straight losses and five of six), before winning home games over the Blazers (Fri) and Warriors (Sun) to reach 24-11.

The two Pacific Division rivals are meeting for the first time this season tonight. Devin Booker is a major reason the Suns are among the top teams in the Western, coming off scoring a season-high 43 points in the Suns' 118-99 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday. He has topped 30 points in THREE of his last four and is now averaging 25.5 PPG (has averaged 26.6 PPG each of the last two seasons). Chris Paul (16.4-4.7-6.0) has everything the Suns had hoped for and center Ayton (14.5 & 11.6) has stayed healthy (he has not missed a SINGLE game!) with 19 double-doubles on the season. Head coach Monty Williams moved Frank Kaminsky (7.3 & 3.8) into the starting lineup back on Feb 7 and the Suns are 11-2 (Kaminsky has started 11 of those 13 with Phoenix going 10-1).

A.D. (22.5 & 8.4) is sidelined with an Achilles problem (earliest return is right after the All Star break) and LA has gone just 3-5 since he was hurt at Denver back on Feb 15. Of course, LBJ hasn't missed a SINGLE game (35 minutes per), averaging 25.5-8.1-7.8. However, the return of PG Schroder on Friday was a "big deal." He had been held out the previous four games due to COVID-19 protocols (he tested negative but was held out due to contact tracing). Simply put, the Lakers aren't the same club without Schroder (14.5-3.6-4.3) in the lineup (had gone 0-4 SU & ATS in his absence). LA has won both games in Schroder's return! With A.D. sidelined, PF Harrell (13.7 & 6.4) and SF Kuzma (11.1 & 6.5) get more "PT" plus LA has a deep backcourt in Caldwell-Pope (8.8), Horton-Tucker (6.9), Caruso (5.8) and Matthews (4.5). Morris (4.9 & 3.7) has taken Davis' spot at PF and as he has done all season, Gasol (4.8 & 4.1) starts at center.

I like the way the Suns are playing but I said Friday I expected LA to make a strong "final push" before the All Star break. So far, so good. I've had the Lakers Friday and Sunday and will play them again here. The Lakers were in sync in Sunday's 117-91 blowout of the Warriors with LBJ scoring 19 points to lead six Lakers in double figures. James delivered his damage in a season-low 24 minutes as he and the Lakers' starters rested the entire fourth quarter. The LA bench contributed 55 points! Defense has also played a significant role Sunday. The Lakers limited Stephen Curry, who averaged 29.9 points entering the contest, to 16 points. That defensive effort came on the heels of LA holding Damian Lillard to 11 second-half points after he scored 24 in the first in Friday's victory over the Blazers. Watch out Devin! LA is a "bargain" at this price!

Good luck...Larry

My CBB 10* Game of the Month (Big Ten) is on Purdue at 9:00 ET.

Wisconsin has had a terrific basketball program for decades and Greg Gard is in his sixth season at Madison, having had FOUR 20-win seasons in his first five. The Badgers were 13-4 (7-3 Big Ten) in late January but are just 3-5 since, falling to 16-9 overall and 10-8 in the Big Ten. Wisconsin opened No. 7 in the preseason poll but was ranked 25th in Monday's latest poll (not sure why the Badgers are still ranked?). In contrast, Purdue's Matt Painter (in his 16th season with the Boilermakers) saw his team go just 16-14 last season, coming off a four-year run of averaging 27.3 wins per season. The Boilermaker's opened a modest 7-5 this season but Purdue has won NINE of its last 12 games. Purdue is now 16-8 (11-6 in the Big Ten) and is back in the top-25 as of Monday at No. 23.

Wisconsin is coming off a 74-69 loss at home to now-No. 4 Illinois on Saturday, even though the Fighting Illini were playing without star guard Ayo Dosunmu. Wisconsin starts FIVE seniors, guards Trice (14.1-3.5-9) and Davison (8.8 & 3.5) plus the 6-10 Potter (12.5 & 6.2), the 6-11 Reuvers (8.6 & 3.4) and the 6-8 Ford (8.6 & 4.2). 6-5 freshman Davis (7.1 & 4.4) and 6-9 sophomore Wahl (5.3 & 4.2) both contribute off the bench

The 6-10 Williams leads Purdue in scoring (15.8) and rebounding (9.0). He's supported by a well-balanced group of FIVE others who chip in between 8.0 and 10.0 PPG. The group includes guards Stefanovic (10.0), Hunter (9.8), Ivey (9.3 & 3.6) and Newman (8.8 & 3.5), plus the 7-3 Edey (8.0 & 4.3). 6-6 freshman Gillis is chipping in 5.4 & 4.0 off the bench.

Both teams play excellent D, as Wisconsin allows 63.2 PPG and Purdue 65.7. However, while the Badgers' season is 'crumbling,' the Boilermakers are making a credible run at gaining a No. 4 seed in next month's NCAA Tournament. Purdue is 9-1 SU at home this season, with that LONE loss coming against now-No. 2 Michigan. The Boilermakers are being really UNDERVALUED with this pointspread!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Weekly Wipeout is on Ga Tech at 8:00 ET.

Duke had a season-best four-game winning streak halted in Saturday night's 80-73 overtime home loss to Louisville and will head to Atlanta at 11-9 overall, including 9-7 in the ACC to take on Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets are on a four-game winning streak for the second time this season and welcome the Blue Devils to McCamish Pavilion at 13-8 (9-6 in the ACC) after Saturday's 84-77 home win over Syracuse.

Duke opened No. 9 in the AP's preseason poll but the team's Jan 12 loss at Va Tech saw 5-3 Duke (3-1 in the ACC) fall out of the AP poll. The Blue Devils haven't been back but as noted, were on a four-game winning streak before Saturday's loss .Coach K lost his top-two players to the NBA, the 6-10 Carey (17.8 & 8.8) is with the Hornets and PG Jones (16.2-4.7-6.4) is with the Spurs. Coach K has seamlessly transitioned into the One-and-Done era and freshman guards Stewart (13.1 & 4.0) and Roach (9.3) have played well but 6-9 freshman Johnson (11.9 & 6.5) has left the team to prepare for the NBA. However, Duked was on a FOUR-game run without him. 6-9 sophomore Hurt leads the team in scoring (19.3) and rebounding (6.3), while sophomore SF Moore (9.4 & 4.6) and senior guard Goldwire (6.0-3.1-3.9) are solid contributors. The 7-0 Williams (4.7 & 3.8) and the 6-8 Brakefield (4.1 & 2.8) only average about 12 MPG but have helped at times.

Ga Tech lacks depth but has a solid five-man rotation. Returning PG Alvarado (16.0-3.5-4.2) and SG Devoe (14.7-4.3-3.2) have been excellent plus returning 6-9 big man Wright leads in scoring (17.5) and rebounding (8.0). 6-7 USC transfer Usher (10.9 & 4.2) helps out up front plus VMI transfer Parham (7.3) adds to the team's backcourt depth. The 6-7 Moore (4.6 & 3.0 is the lone reserve making any real contributions.

Ga Tech head coach Josh Pastner is in his fifth season with the Yellow Jackets, after SEVEN years at Memphis. His first four seasons have not gone well (just 65-67) and the Yellow Jackets opened this season 0-2, losing home games to Ga State and Mercer. However, the Yellow Jackets are 13-6 since and at 9-6 in conference play, are three games above .500 in ACC play for the first time in 25 years (March 3, 1996)!! "We've now learned how to win," Pastner said. The Yellow Jackets have clinched a winning record in ACC regular-season play in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1989 and 1990."That's 30 years," Pastner added. "That's a great accomplishment for this program, for this team." Georgia Tech has won 13 of its last 14 conference home games, including a 7-1 record this year. Could Ga Tech go 'dancing' this season while Duke 'stays home?' VERY possible. 

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Rivalry Rout is on Oklahoma at 9:00 ET.

Oklahoma's Lon Kruger came to Norman for the 2011-12 season, after leading Kansas St,  Florida, Illinois and UNLV to NCAA appearances. The Sooners made the "Big Dance" in SIX of his first eight seasons before last year's team went 19-12 before the shut down. Oklahoma was unranked in the preseason but cracked the top-25 (at No. 24) on Feb 24. Then, on Feb 1, the Sooners jumped all the way to No. 9, as Oklahoma beat FOUR ranked teams during the month of January. Oklahoma was No. 7 in the most recent poll (Feb 22) but lost this past week 62-57 at Kansas St (just 7-19 / 3-14 in the Big 12) and then 94-90 (OT) at home to Oklahoma St.

Mike Boynton took over in Stillwater when Brad Underwood left for Illinois and in his first three seasons, the Cowboys were an underwhelming 51-49. However, led by super-frosh Cade Cunningham, Oklahoma entered the top-25 on Feb 8 at No. 23 for the first time since Feb of 2015. For some reason, Okla St fell out of the last two polls, despite not losing. A new poll comes out this afternoon and the Cowboys will SURELY re-enter the top-25, while the Sooners will drop significantly after an 0-2 week. That's the setting for these two "Bedlam" rivals to play for the second time in three days, this time in Stillwater.

Oklahoma's top scorer from last season is gone (forward Doolittle averaged 15.8 & 8.9). Starting guards Reaves (17.5-5.6-5.1), Harmon (13.0) and Gibson (10.4) average in double digits, while Harkless (7.2 & 4.9) and Williams (6.6 & 3.0) add depth in the backcourt off the bench. The 6-9 Manek (9.9 & 4.9) and 6-7 Hill (4.6 & 3.3) start up front with the 6-10 Kuath (6.1 & 4.5) coming off the bench.

Likely "one-and-done" 6-8 standout Cade Cunningham (19.8-6.3-3.5) has been as good (if not better than advertised). He's joined in the starting lineup by guards Anderson (10.2 & 4.1), Walker (9.0),and Williams (7.7) plus the 6-9 Boone (9.5 & 5.4). The 6-5 Likekele (9.8-6.9-3.7) and the 6-7 Moncrieffe (9.2 & 6.7) are big contributors off the bench.

Cunningham was "unstoppable" Saturday in Norman (a career-high 40 points with 11 rebounds) and will now look lead OSU to a sweep of the season series over OU. The winner will bolster its NCAA Tournament resume plus  the game also has plenty of repercussions in the Big 12 (teams are tied for fourth place in the conference). The two rivals have not played in back-to-back games since 1943 and I'm "all over" Oklahoma in this "payback" situation. "Boomer Sooner!"

Good luck...Larry

My 10* PERFECT STORM is on Syracuse at 7:00 ET.

North Carolina's legendary head coach Roy Williams is coming off a 14-19 season in which North Carolina players lost 99 games to injury. However, the Tar Heels opened No. 16 in the AP's preseason poll. However for most of this season, the Tar Heels have NOT lived up to their preseason ranking. That said, just maybe North Carolina has "turned a corner?" The Tar Heels' 78-70 Saturday over No. 11 Florida State was their first victory against a nationally ranked team since November 2019, snapping a 10-game losing streak against ranked opponents. 15-5 North Carolina (9-5 in ACC play) will play its final road game of the season tonight in Syracuse. Jim Boeheim's team is 13-8 (7-7 in ACC play, after losing 84-77 loss at Georgia Tech on Saturday.

Last year's super frosh Anthony lost time to injury last season (played 22 games) but averaged 18.5-5.7-4.0 for the Tar Heels but as expected was a "One and Done!" Also gone is senior guard Robinson and his 11.8 PPG for North Carolina. However, North Carolina's strength is its depth. EIGHT players are making contributions. Up front it's the 6-10 Bacot (11.2 & 7.4), the 6-10 Brooks (10.4 & 7.0) and the 6-11 Sharpe (10.0 & 8.0), while the backcourt goes five-deep. The group includes Love (10.1 & 3.7 APG), Davis (8.1), Walton (8.1), Black (5.8 & 5.3) and Platek (4.2). In contrast, Syracuse has a solid starting-five, with only guard Richmaond (6.9-3.1-3.0) contributing off the bench. The Orange own a strong starting frontline in SF Griffin (15.5 & 6.6), the 6-7 Guerrier (14.7 & 9.1) and the 6-10 Dolezag (10.8 & 5.2). SG Buddy Boeheim (15.3 PPG) is joined in the backcourt by PG Girard (10.0 & 3.3 APG). 

Saturday's win over FSU was notable in that it was the first time in UNC history that all four players to score in double figures in a game were freshmen. The group consisted of Walker Kessler (20 points), Kerwin Walton (13), R.J. Davis (12) and Caleb Love (12). I noted all but Kessler above and that's because even after his 'Herculean' effort vs the Seminoles (9 of 10 from the floor with 8 rebounds and 4 blocks) the 7-1 Kessler is averaging just 4.1 & 2.8 on the season. I 'smell' a let-down spot here for the Tar Heels and while Syracuse fell to 2-7 on the road after Saturday's loss, the Orange are 11-1 SU at home. What's more, Saturday's loss followed a Monday loss at Duke and Syracuse has yet to lose THREE in a row this season. Why start here? Take whatever points you can get with Syracuse, which hung with the Tar Heels all game back in January at Chapel Hill (lost by six).

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Division Game of the Year (Pacific) is on the LA Lakers at 8:05 ET.

All are familiar with the "fall from grace" of the Warriors, going from FIVE straight appearances in the NBA finals (three titles) to the NBA's worst record (15-50) in last year's pandemic-shortened season. However, the Warriors have won SEVEN of 10 and at 19-15, 4 1/2-games inside the playoff cutline (10 teams make this year's postseason). The Los Angeles Lakers won their SEVENTH straight game on Feb 12 and at 21-6, only the 21-5 Utah Jazz owned a better record in the NBA. However, the Lakers were buried in their worst slump of the season (FOUR straight losses and five of six) when they hosted the visiting Portland Trail Blazers on Friday. LA got off the schneid with a 102-93 victory.

Curry (29.9-5.5-6.3), Wiggins (17.5 & 4.6) and Oubre (15.5 & 6.0) have led the way for the Warriors this season. However, the recent "big news" was that the team's No. 1 pick (2nd overall of the 2020 draft), James Wiseman (12.3 & 5.8), has returned (11-game absence caused by a sprained wrist). He's played in three straight (all off the bench), averaging 13.7 & 3.7 in about 17 minutes per game. it may NOT be a coincidence that the Warriors are 3-0 SU & ATS in that span. Joining Curry, Wiggins and Oubre in the starting lineup are center Looney (just returned as well and is splitting time with Wiseman) and Green (5.7-6.1-8.7), who with the return of Wiseman and Looney, is back to his natural position of PF.

A.D. (22.5 & 8.4) is sidelined with an Achilles problem (earliest return is right after the All Star break) and LA has gone just 2-5 since he was hurt at Denver back on Feb 15. Of course, LBJ hasn't missed a SINGLE game (35 minutes per), averaging 25.7-8.2-7.9. I had a HUGE play on LA in Friday's game and noted that PG Schroder had been held out the previous four games due to COVID-19 protocols (he tested negative but was held out due to contact tracing) but was available to return on Friday. Simply put, the Lakers aren't the same club without Dennis Schroder (14.4-3.6-4.2) in the lineup (had gone 0-4 SU & ATS in his absence). Schroder made his presence felt on both ends of the court in Friday's game. He scored 22 points and helped slow Portland's Damian Lillard, who managed 11 points in the second half after scoring 24 in the first. With A.D. sidelined, PF Harrell (13.9 & 6.5) and SF Kuzma (11.1 & 6.4) will see more "PT" plus LA has a deep backcourt in Caldwell-Pope (8.8), Horton-Tucker (6.7), Caruso (5.5) and Matthews (4.7).

I said in taking LA on Friday that I expected a "Big push" from them heading in the All Star break and while I won't project on Tuesday's home with the Suns or Wednesday's road game at Sacramento (LA's final game before the break), I will play the Lakers here. The Warriors returned from FOUR games in six days on a road trip to beat the Hornets in San Francisco on Friday but now it's right back on the road for THREE in a row prior to the break. The Lakers are up first and PRIMED to avenge a 115-113 loss to Golden St here at Staples back on Jan 18, when the Warriors rallied from 14 points down in the fourth quarter to edge LA. In that game, LA was favored by 8 1/2-points but here, it's HALF that!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* "Best of the Best" Conference Game of the Year (MAAC) is on Marist at 4:00 ET.

The Quinnipiac Bobcats and Marist Red Foxes meet Sunday in college basketball action at the McCann Arena and again tomorrow night, wrapping up regular season MAAC play for the two teams. The Bobcats are 8-9 overall (6-7 MAAC) and the Red Foxes are 10-8 (8-8 MAAC). Quinnipiac had lost SEVEN of nine but comes in on a three-game winning streak, Meanwhile, after a 6-1 start, Marist has lost SEVEN of 11.

Quinnipiac's head coach Baker Dunleavy (yes, Mike Dunleavy's son) was an assistant under Jay Wright at Villanova and is in his fourth season at Quinnipiac with modest results (51-40). Dunleavy lost his two best players from last season in PG Kelly (16.7 & 4.5 APG) and the 6-8 Marfo (10.2 & 13.3). This season's team relies on balance, with SEVEN players getting 21-plus minutes of "PT." The 6-6 Rigoni leads in scoring (12.6) and rebounding (6.7) and is joined up front by the 7-1 Pinkney (8.5 & 5.1). FIVE guards add between 6.9 and 10.8 PPG, led by Chenery (10.8 & 4.0), Kortright (9.5-4.2-3.7) and Lewis (8.5-4.2-3.3).

John Dunne spent 10 seasons at St Peter's (overall 153-225 record) and was just 19-42 in his first two seasons with Marist. However, despite losing senior guard Cubbage (11.0 PPG) after just four games, this year's team has played better. FIVE players have participated in all 18 games Starting guards Wright (10.9 & 3.4) and Byrd (8.2) are supported by Sullivan's 9.6 PPG and 3.2 APG off the bench. The 6-8 Jones (9.4 & 5.2) and the 6-7 Bell (7.6 & 4.5) are the team's top frontcourt players. Marist 'plays slow' and that's part of why the Red Foxes are allowing just 62.9 PPG (36th). However, give them credit for holding opponents to 40.1% shooting (30th).

There is little difference between these two teams but in this pandemic-interrupted season, Quinnipiac has played just two games away from home (4 road / two neutral), winning just ONCE, while losing five by an average of 11.2 points! Looking back a little further and you'll find that the Bobcats are 5-11 ATS in their last 16 road games! Why take a 'FG' or less? NOT me. Marist is the play.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Eye-Opener is on Cincinnati at 1:00 ET.

Penny Hardaway was known for his offense as a player but as head coach at his alma Mater, defense has been 'king' at Memphis. The 13-6 Tigers are 9-3 in AAC play due to their defense, which is allowing opponents to score just 62.0 PPG (13th) on 38.4% shooting (5th), including 26.6% on threes (3rd). The Tigers are in Cincinnati on Sunday, coming off a 61-46 win at home over Tulane, a game in which Memphis held the Green Wave to 25.9 percent shooting (a season low for one of its opponents). The disappointing 9-8 Bearcats (7-5 in the AAC) seem like the "perfect foil," as they are averaging a modest 69.2 PPG on 42.7% shooting, including 29.7% on threes (323rd). However, DON'T ignore the fact that Cincy comes in having won SIX of its last seven games.

Memphis lost center James Wiseman after just three games last season and PF Achiuwa (15.8 & 10.8) after the season (both are now in the NBA as 1st round picks). Va Tech transfer, the 6-7 Nolley (13.4 & 3.6), leads the Tigers in scoring. He's joined in the starting lineup by the 6-9 Williams (10.4 & 6.2), guard Quinones (9.2 & 4.8) and the 6-10 Cisse (7.0 & 7.1). Coming off the bench is the 6-7 Jefferson (9.8 & 5.5) plus guards Ellis (8.6) and Lomax (6.3-3.1-4.4).

John Brannen led Northern Kentucky to a 72-30 record in his final three seasons, leading the Norse to the "Big Dance" in two of those three years. He was hired at Cincy on April 14, 2019 when Mick Cronin left for UCLA. The Bearcats went 20-10 in last year's pandemic-shortened season but opened the current season missing guards Jarron Cumberland (15.5) and Jaevin Cumberland (8.8) plus forward Tre Scott (11.4 & 10.5). Guard Keith Williams leads the Bearcats in scoring with 14.4 PPG (4.0 RPG), while fellow guards Jeremiah Davenport (11.1 & 4.8) and David DeJulius (10.0-5.1-4.6) join him in double digits. Throw in Adams-Woods (7.9) and Cincy has a very good backcourt. The problem has been up front, where 7-1 returning center Chris Vogt (5.5 & 3.8) has been a big disappointment after averaging 11.1 & 5.7 last season. The 6-10 6-10 Ivanauskas (6.3 & 5.0) played just seven games (out for the season), leaving the 6-7 Eason (7.6 & 5.7) as the team's best frontcourt player.

However, as noted above, the Bearcats have won SIX of seven with their lone loss in that span coming at No. 12 Houston. Cincinnati shook off that 90-52 drubbing at Houston (Feb 21) by winning back-to-back games against Tulsa (71-69) and Tulane (91-71) this past week. The Bearcats enjoyed a rare blowout victory over the Green Wave, after FIVE of their first six conference victories were decided by three points or less. Brannen's an excellent coach and his team is MORE than capable of winning or at least taking this game to the wire. Home dog 'barks' LOUDLY in this one.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Ultimate Underdog is on Kansas at 8:00 ET.

Baylor carries an 18-0 record (10-0 in the Big 12) into Saturday's matchup against No. 17 Kansas (17-8 / 11-6 Big 12) in Lawrence. Baylor has been No. 2 to 23-0 Gonzaga in EACH weekly AP poll but unlike the Bulldogs (11-10-2 ATS), the Bears are 13-5 ATS. However, the Bears ended a three-week stoppage created by developments related to COVID-19 as well as inclement weather in Texas on Feb 23 and barely escaped (at home!) against last-place Iowa St . Baylor overcame a 17-point deficit to win 77-72 (obviously, not an ATS win!).

Bill Self's Kansas team was ranked No. 1 in the final AP poll after last season's shutdown. Despite losing key players like PG Dotson (18.1-4.1-4.0) and the 6-10 Azubuike (13.7 & 10.5) this year's team opened No. 6 in the preseason poll. Kansas lost its season-opener to No. 1 Gonzaga (Gonzaga has yet to lose) but heading into its Jan 12 game at Oklahoma St, the Jayhawks were 10-2 and still ranked No. 6. However, Kansas lost FIVE of its next seven and on Feb 8, fell out of the top-25 to see its 231-week run as an AP top-25 team end. That said, I guess we shouldn't be shocked that the Jayhawks (with their history) had won FIVE in a row before losing to Texas earlier this week. Kansas is now 17-7 overall record (back in the AP-25 at No. 17), including 11-6 in the Big 12.

Baylor's Scott Drew took over a devastated Baylor program in the 2003-04 season and since 2007-08, has turned the Bears into one of the best programs in the country. Baylor won the NIT in 2013 and has made eight NCAA tourney appearances (26-4 last season would have made nine). Baylor lost 6-9 center Gillespie (9.6 & 9.0) from last year's team but the strength of Baylor's team this season is centered around its guards. Butler's (17.1-3.3-5.1) the best of the group but don't look past Teague (14.7 & 4.0), Mitchell (13.4 & 5.7 APG), Flagler (10.9). or Mayer (7.9 & 3.8) The 6-5 Vital (5.7 & 5.9) plays like a power forward and is considered one of the best defensive players in the nation. Tchatchoua is a 6-8 transfer from UNLV and he's averaged 7.8 & 6.4.

Kansas has FIVE players averaging 10-plus PPG. Guard Aybaji (13.8 & 3.5) leads the way, followed by the 6-10 McCormack (13.0 & 6.0) and the 6-7 Wilson (12.8 & 8.2 up front, plus guards Braun (10.3 & 5.1) and Garrett (10.0-4.43.7), who is considered the team's best perimeter defender. Balance has contributed to Kansas placing five scorers in double figures in each of its last two games and six times this season, as Self whittles his rotation.

Baylor remains perfect but the Bears were clearly "off their game" vs Iowa St after a long break (see above). Although Baylor will not come close to completing its conference schedule, it needs to win just one of its last four games to clinch its first Big 12 regular-season championship. The team's 18-0 start is its best in school history (began the 2011-12 campaign with 17 straight wins) and with a win here in Lawrence, Baylor can join Texas, a 75-72 overtime winner over Kansas on Tuesday, as teams to sweep the Jayhawks this season in a Big 12 home-and-home series. Note that only ONE conference rival had managed a season sweep in Bill Self's previous 17 seasons coaching Kansas. Baylor was never able to shake Kansas back in Waco on Jan 18 (8-point win), so I see no reason to NOT think that the Jayhawks take this game right to the wire here in Allen Fieldhouse. Kansas becomes the first Big 12 team to complete a full, regular season schedule of 18 games and why not celebrate with a B-A-N-G!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Revenge Rout is on Duke at 6:00 ET.

Chris Mack took over at Xavier for the 2009-10 season when Sean Miller took the Arizona job. He led the Musketeers to eight NCAA tourneys in nine seasons before moving to Louisville. The Cards went 20-14 in his first season (NCAA bid) and were 24-7 in his second year, when the season was shut down in March (AP ranked them 14th in its final poll). Louisville was 11-4 (6-3 in the ACC) on Feb 1 but then didn't play again until Feb 20.  The Cardinals returned from a coronavirus-related pause of nearly three weeks and got blown out 99-54 at North Carolina last Saturday. Louisville recovered by defeating Notre Dame 69-57 at home on Tuesday, despite playing without guard David Johnson because of illness.

Duke opened No. 9 in the AP's preseason poll but the team's Jan 12 loss at Va Tech saw 5-3 Duke (3-1 in the ACC) fall out of the AP poll. The Blue Devils haven't been back, as a three-game losing streak left them at 7-8 (5-6 in the ACC) as of Feb 9. However, FOUR straight ACC wins followed that slide )more details shortly) and the Blue Devils welcome Louisville to Cameron Indoor Stadium 11-8 (9-6 in the ACC).

Louisville swingman Jordan Nwora (18.0 & 7.7) is gone from last season's Louisville team but FOUR starters returned. However, it's Carlik Jones who leads the team in scoring, averaging 17.2-5.2-4.5. He's a graduate transfer from Radford and was last season's Big South Conference player of the year. He's joined by returning guard Johnson (12.7-5.9-3.4) in the backcourt. The 6-7 Williamson did little last season but averages 9.7 & 7.7 this season plus 6-9 redshirt freshman Withers is adding 9.8 & 7.9. True freshman guard Davis (9.2 & 3.4) and the 6-8 Slazinski (6.2 & 3.5) round out the main contributors.

Coach K lost his top-two players to the NBA, the 6-10 Carey (17.8 & 8.8) is with the Hornets and PG Jones (16.2-4.7-6.4) is with the Spurs. Coach K has seamlessly transitioned into the One-and-Done era and freshman guards Stewart (13.4 & 4.1) and Roach (9.3) have played well but 6-9 freshman Johnson (11.9 & 6.5) has left the team to prepare for the NBA. One could "good Riddance," as Duke has gone on a FOUR-game run without him. 6-9 sophomore Hurt leads the team in scoring (18.3) and rebounding (6.2), while sophomore SF Moore (9.2 & 4.4) and senior guard Goldwire (6.1-3.1-3.8) are solid contributors. The 7-0 Williams (4.6 & 3.7) and the 6-8 Brakefield (4.2 & 2.9) only average about 12 MPG but have helped at times.

"Over the last four games, we've emphasized defense and we've changed our ball screen defense which has helped us," Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "The last three games, we've really played well on the defensive end of the court and it's made a difference in us winning and losing. We have to keep going." He's right on the money with that quote. After allowing 91 points (to UNC) and 93 (to ND) in back-to-back home games, Duke's won and covered at NC State and Wake plus at home to UVa and Syracuse. Duke has allowed just 62.3 PPG in its four-game surge and now looks to avenge a 70-65 loss at Louisville back on Jan 23, when the Blue Devils were a MUCH different team. Lay the points!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* "Signature" LEGEND Play is on North Carolina at 4:00 ET.

This has NOT been a vintage year for the ACC. The NCAA began seeding the entire field for the 1979 tourney and in every year but ONE (1990), the ACC has had at least one No. 1 or No. 2 seed. The 2021 tourney could make that TWO times since sending began. Then again, Florida State has taken care of business in recent games and that has put the Seminoles back on a clear path toward repeating as the ACC regular-season champions. Florida State was 26-5 and poised to make a Final Four run before the postseason was curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic The 14-3 Seminoles (10-2 ACC) have risen to the top of the standings, with the help of Virginia's three-game losing streak. North Carolina's legendary head coach Roy Williams is coming off a 14-19 season in which North Carolina players lost 99 games to injury. However, the Tar Heels opened No. 16 in the AP's preseason poll. The Tar Heels have NOT lived up to their preseason ranking, as the Tar Heels are 14-5 on the season (only 8-5 in ACC play).

FSU began the season losing three key players from last year's team. PG Forrest (11.6-4.4-4.0), SG Vassell (12.7 & 5.1) and 6-7 swingman Williams (9.7 & 4.0), who were all chosen in the NBA draft. Guard MJ Walker returns and leads with 13.1 PPG and is surrounded by a talented and DEEP group. 6-9 freshman Barnes is listed as a guard and checks in averaging 10.1-3.9-4.4) and returning guard Polite just misses double digits (9.5 & 4.9). The 6-8 Gray (11.7 & 6.9), the 7-1 Koprivica (9.3 & 5.8) and the 6-9 Osborne (5.9 & 5.0)comprise a solid frontcourt. Walker has been in and out of the lineup lately (listed as questionable for this one) but head coach Hamilton has FOUR more guards averaging about 21 PPG!

Last year's super frosh Anthony lost time to injury last season (played 22 games) but averaged 18.5-5.7-4.0 for the Tar Heels but as expected was a "One and Done!" Also gone is senior guard Robinson and his 11.8 PPG for North Carolina. However, like FSU, North Carolina's strength is its depth. EIGHT players are making contributions. Up front it's the 6-10 Bacot (11.4 & 7.5), the 6-10 Brooks (10.7 & 7.1) and the 6-11 Sharpe (10.3 & 8.1), while the backcourt goes five-deep. The group includes Love (10.0), Davis (7.9), Walton (7.9), Black (5.8 & 5.3) and Platek (4.4).

Head coach Leonard Hamilton has built a championship-caliber program in Tallahassee, one that had produced the THIRD most victories among ACC schools heading into the current season. The Seminoles have reached the 10-win mark in regular-season league play for the third consecutive season but this will be their THIRD consecutive road game, while the Tar Heels are playing their FOURTH straight home game. North Carolina had won ALL eight home games before Wednesday night's 83-70 non-conference loss to Marquette (made 19 turnovers and shot 41.7% to Marquette's 51.8%)."We've had a couple of good wins and then we turn around and we think we're a lot better than we really are," Roy Williams said after the game. Great spot for a bounce back by the Tar Heels here, as the last FSU won in Chapel Hill was back in 2010. Don't call this North Carolina win an upset.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Weekend Wipeout is on Wisconsin at 2:00 ET.

Illinois opened No. 8 in the preseason poll but by mid-Jan, the Fighting Illini are a modest 9-5 (5-3 in the Big Ten). However, Illinois visit Madison having won EIGHT of nine (all in the Big ten and sit 17-6 (No. 5 in the latest AP poll), including 13-4 in the Big Ten (2nd to only 12-1 Michigan). Wisconsin has had a terrific basketball program for decades and Greg Gard is in his sixth season at Madison, having had FOUR 20-win seasons in his first five. The Badgers were 13-4 (7-3  Big Ten) in late January but are just 3-4 since, falling to 16-8 overall and 10-7 in the Big Ten (6th-place). Wisconsin opened No. 7 in the preseason poll but is currently just 23rd.

Illinois features one of the top guards in the nation in Dosunmu (21.0-6.3-4-5.3). However, Dosunmu suffered what the team calls a facial injury (reported to be a broken nose) on a hard foul in Tuesday's 81-72 loss at Michigan State. He sat out Thursday's 86-70 win over Nebraska in the team's final home contest. No official timetable has been set for Dosunmu's return. "I'll leave that all up to the doctors," said Illinois head coach Brad Underwood, who indicated there are additional factors regarding Dosunmu's return to the floor. 7-0 center Cockburn (17.7 & 10.0) has built on a successful freshman season and the backcourt features veterans like Frazier (10.6), Curbelo (7.7 & 4.3 APG) and Williams (5.0 & 5.4) plus freshman Miller adds 8.7 PPG. The 6-9 Bezhanishvili (5.7 & 2.7) rounds out the main contributors.

Wisconsin starts FIVE seniors, guards Trice (13.5-3.6-4.0) and Davison (9.3) plus the 6-10 Potter (12.4 & 6.2), the 6-8 Ford (8.8 & 4.2) and the 6-11 Reuvers (8.7 & 3.3). 6-5 freshman Davis (7.2 & 4.4) and 6-9 sophomore Wahl (5.4 & 4.2) both contribute off the bench. The Badgers are 11-4 at home but have lost three of their last four at Madison and will try to avoid losing three straight Big Ten games at home for the first time since the 2017-18 season.

These schools met back on Feb 6 in Champaign, when Dosunmu became the third player in Illinois history to record a triple-double with 21 points, 12 assists and 12 rebounds during the Illini's 75-60 rout of Wisconsin. The Badgers had no answer for Dosunmu in that one but he'll be on the sidelines for this one. History will be on Wisconsin's side in this one as Illinois' Feb 6 win over Wisconsin was just its SECOND in the last 17 meetings between the Big Ten rivals. Go Badgers!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Eye Opener is on Ga Tech at 12:00 ET.

A pair of ACC teams "on the bubble" will try to strengthen their case for the NCAA Tournament on Saturday afternoon when Syracuse visits Georgia Tech in Atlanta. 13-7 Syracuse (7-6 ACC) had its three-game winning streak broken in an 85-71 loss to Duke on Monday. Meanwhile, 12-8 Georgia Tech (8-6 ACC) helped its cause on Tuesday with a 69-53 victory at No. 16 Virginia Tech, giving the Yellow Jackets' THREE straight wins.

Jim Boeheim's Syracuse team has FIVE players in double digits, getting production off the bench from only guard Richmond (7.2) However, the Orange do own a very good starting-five (all are averaging 29 minutes-plus per game). SF Griffin is averaging 15.0 PPG and adds 6.7 RPG. The 6-7 Guerrier is averaging 14.8 PG plus leads in rebounding (9.3). The 6-10 Dolezag completes the frontcourt with 11.3 & 5.4. SG Buddy Boeheim has taken over as the team's leading scorer (15.5 PPG) and he's joined in the backcourt by PG Girard (10.0 & 3.3 APG).

Ga Tech head coach Josh Pastner is in his fifth season with the Yellow Jackets, after SEVEN years at Memphis. His first four seasons have not gone well (just 65-67) and the Yellow Jackets opened this season 0-2, losing home games to Ga State and Mercer. However, the Yellow Jackets are 12-6 since. Much like Syracuse, Ga Tech has a solid five-man rotation but the Yellow Jackets have little depth. Returning PG Alvarado (16.6-3.7-4.1) and SG Devoe (14.6-4.3-3.1) have been excellent plus returning 6-9 big man Wright leads in scoring (16.8) and rebounding (7.6). 6-7 USC transfer Usher (10.5 & 4.1) helps out up front plus VMI transfer Parham (7.5) adds to the team's backcourt depth.

"We want to make the dance," said Georgia Tech captain Jose Alvarado. "We want to go dancing." The Yellow Jackets certainly strengthened their case with Tuesday's win over the Hokies. It was their FOURTH win over a top-25 opponent this season, winning each game by double-digits and an average of 15.5 points. Georgia Tech's win at Va Tech was its first road win against a ranked team since the Yellow Jackets defeated No. 23 Miami back on Jan 28, 2015, breaking a streak of 21 straight losses! As for Syracuse, its road loss at Duke was "nothing new!" Syracuse has won on the ACC road against Boston College (3-13 / 1-9 ACC) and NC State, after it lost its best player in Daniels. In the Orange's other six road games, they've lost at Clemson, Pitt, North Carolina, UVa and Duke of the ACC plus at Rutgers (Big Ten) by an average of 15.0 PPG. Lay the modest points with Ga Tech, which enters having won NINE of its last 10 home games!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* "Signature" 37-Club Play is on the LA Lakers at 10:05 ET.

The Los Angeles Lakers won their SEVENTH straight game on Feb 12 and at 21-6, only the 21-5 Utah Jazz owned a better record in the NBA. However, the Lakers are buried in their worst slump of the season as they enter Friday's matchup against the visiting Portland Trail Blazers. Portland won SIX in a row from Feb 9 through Feb 17 but visit Staples Center on a three-game slide, giving them an 18-13 record.

Starting center Nurkic (9.8 & 7.7) was lost to a broken wrist back on Jan 14 and SG McCollum (26.7-3.9-5.0) was lost to a foot injury two days later (last played Jan 16). Lillard (29.6-4.4-8.0) is having another All Star season for Portland, while Trent (15.3) is filing in for McCollum and Kanter (11.7 & 11.4) for Nurkic. Anthony (13.4) has provided consistent scoring off the bench all season.

No one is surprised that LBJ (25.6-8.1-8.0) has played EVERY game this season but since A.D. (22.5 & 8.4) was sidelined with an Achilles problem, the Lakers have lost FIVE of six. It's also important to note that PG Dennis Schroder has been held out the last four games due to COVID-19 protocols (he tested negative but was held out due to contact tracing) but he is available to return on Friday from a seven-day quarantine. Schroder (14.2-3.6-4.3) has made a big impact for LA this season, as has PF Harrell, who hasn't missed a game while averaging13.8  & 6.4 (both were acquired over the offseason). SF Kuzma (11.3 & 6.2) is getting more minutes with A.D. sidelined plus LA does own a deep backcourt in Caldwell-Pope (8.9), Horton-Tucker (6.8), Caruso (5.3) and Matthews (4.9).

The Lakers are currently 22-11, just behind the 23-11 Clippers but now 4 1/2 games back of the streaking Utah Jazz (26-6) in the West. The All Star break is right around the corner, which will give LA a much needed break, This contest is the first of a three-game homestand, before the Lakers play at Sacramento (Mar 3) before the break. I expect a STRONG push here by LBJ and Co. (getting Schroder back will be HUGE) and I'm laying the points tonight.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Situational Stunner is on the Bos Celtics at 7:35 ET.

The Boston Celtics opened the season as one of the Eastern Conference favorites but after an 8-3 start, the Celtics have looked nothing even remotely like a contender. Boston is  with four games remaining before the All-Star break, after losing EIGHT of 11 (including THREE in a row). Boston and Miami (East champs last season) are both 15-17, meaning they would meet in a 9 vs 10 Play-In game (how the mighty have fallen). The Pacers visit Boston off a 111-107 home OT loss to the Warriors, returning to the court on Wednesday after time off due to games against Houston (weather-related) and San Antonio (COVID-related) being postponed (had six days off). The Pacers have hovered around .500 all season and although they are currently 15-15, their record is good enough for the East's No. 4 seed.

PG Brogdon (21.7-4.8-6.4) and PF Sabonis (21.5 & 11.7) are having excellent seasons, while center Turner (13.2 & 6.6), SF McDermott (13.1 PPG on 50.9% shooting) and guard Justin Holiday (11.3 & 4.2) round out the current starting-five. T.J. Warren (foot surgery) and Caris LeVert (kidney operation) remain sidelined. Backup PG McConnell (5.9 & 6.6 APG) plus SG Lamb are also quality contributors. Lamb's return from injury is a BIG deal. He has averaged 12.2 PPG (on 50.7% shooting) in his 17 games back since tearing his ACL last February. Jayson Tatum (25.6-6.9-4.5) and Jaylen Brown (25.4-5.5-3.9) are both All Stars and while a knee injury has limited PG Walker to just 17 games, he's still averaging 17.3-3.6-4.1). Losing Marcus Smart (13.1 & 6.1 APG) has hurt but rookie guard Pritchard (7.3) plus big men Theis (8.8 & 5.0) and Thompson (7.8 & 8.4) are solid NBA players.

The Celtics and Pacers split their first two meetings this season as part of a back-to-back at Indiana in December. Tonight's game begins FOUR straight on the road for Indiana, before the Pacers wrap up the season's first-half with a home game against the Nuggets (Mar 4). Boston won't leave the TD Garden until after the All Star break (four straight at home) and head coach Brad Stevens opined, "These next four games will tell us a lot about where we can go." My bet says Boston wins here "with room to spare."

Good luck...Larry

My 10* PERFECT STORM is on Purdue at 7:00 ET.

Purdue's Matt Painter is in his 16th season with the Boilermakers but his team was just 16-14 last season, coming off a four-year run of averaging 27.3 wins per season. The Boilermaker's opened a modest 7-5 this season but Purdue has won EIGHT of its last 11 games. Penn St was 21-10 last season but the Nittany Lions went through some turmoil right as practices started when head coach Pat Chambers resigned in late October following an investigation into inappropriate conduct. Penn State is playing this season with interim head coach Jim Ferry and the Nittany Lions welcome Purdue to State College with an 8-12 overall record (5-11 in the Big Ten).

The 6-10 Williams leads Purdue in scoring (16.0) and rebounding (9.1). He's supported by a well-balanced group of FIVE others who chip in between 8.0 and 9.8 PPG. The group includes guards Hunter (9.8 & 3.2 APG), Stefanovic (9.8), Newman (9.2) and Ivey (9.0 & 3.5) plus the 7-3 Edey (8.0 & 4.2). Penn St surely miss All-Big Ten forward Lamar Stevens (17.6 & 6.9) but the Nittany Lions have three players averaging in double figures; guards Jones (15.8) and Brockington (13.4 & 4.7) plus the 6-7 Seth Lundy (10.1 & 3.8). The 6-9 Harrar (9.0 & 8.8)  plus guards Sessoms (8.3), Dreda (8.0) and Wheeler (6.1-4.3-3.5) round out the main contributors.

It's true that four of Penn St's five Big Ten wins have come at home but the Nittany Lions enter having just ended a four-game losing streak by winning 86-83 at Nebraska. Is that a 'buy' sign? Hardly, as the Cornhuskers are 5-17 overall, including 1-14 in the Big Ten. Meanwhile, Purdue has won EIGHT of 11 and is making a run at gaining at least a No. 4 seed in next month's NCAA Tournament. Penn St is making just 41.0% of its FG attempts (311th) and allows opponents to make 47.0% of their FG attempts (321st).

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Revenge Rout is on Stanford at 9:00 ET.

Dana Altman spent 16 seasons at Creighton and took the school to seven NCAA tourneys in his last 12 years at the school. He came to Oregon for the 2010-11 season and won the CBI championship in his first season. He's now in his 11th season in Eugene having won 20-plus games in each of his first 10, averaging 25.9 wins per year. Oregon has played in SIX of the last eight NCAA tourneys and it would have been seven if last season's year was not cut short (Ducks were 24-7). Oregon is 14-5 overall (9-4 in the Pac 12). Stanford head coach Jerod Haase may be feeling some pressure, as he replaced Johnny Dawkins at Stanford, who earned the title "King of the NIT," leading the Cardinal to NIT titles in 2012 and 2015. However, no school gets much credit these days for an NIT championship. Haase is just 82-70 (.539) in his first four-plus years at Stanford without an NCAA bid and his lone NIT appearance ended in the second round. Stanford is 14-9 overall this season, including 10-7 in the Pac 12).

Oregon and Stanford met back on Jan 2 in Eugene where the Ducks notched a 73-56 blowout win. NCAA Tournament positioning could be at stake Thursday when Oregon visits Stanford for a critical Pac-12 matchup. Oregon is off a 72-58 loss Monday at USC, falling behind 15-0 at the start of the game. The Ducks had won FIVE straight going into USC game but still has work to do down the stretch. The 6-6 Eugene Omoruyi, who sat out last year as a transfer from Rutgers, the 6-6 Eric Williams who transferred from Duquesne and 6-6 Figueroa from St John's, give Oregon a strong frontcourt, even with 6-11 center N'Faly Dante (8.2 & 5.8) suffering a torn ACL in mid-December (out for the season). Omoruyi is averaging 16.8 & 5.3,17.2 PPG (adds 5.4 RPG), Williams is adding 11.2 & 6.5 and Figueroa 10.9 & 6.4.  6-8 guard Duarte (16.8 & 4.9) is now joined in the backcourt by PG Will Richardson, who is back from a left thumb injury suffered in the preseason. He's averaging 10.4-3.3-3.0 in seven games.

6-9 center Oscar da Silva leads Stanford in scoring (18.8) and rebounding (6.8) and has been a steadying presence amid a rash of injuries. He is the ONLY member of the Cardinal to play in all 23 games .6-8 forward Ziaire Williams was expected to be the star of the freshman class and is now back after missing some time, playing in each of the last four games. He's averaging 10.9 & 5.0. Two solid defensive guards returned in Davis and Wills. Both have missed time with injuries but BOTH are back. Davis is averaging 12.1-3.6-3.4 and Wills 7.7 & 3.6. Delaire, a 6-9 junior, has played 20 of 22 games and has been solid all season in averaging 12.9 & 4.0.

Oregon is in the middle of an eight-game stretch spanning just 18 days due to COVID-19-related hiatuses. The Ducks played poorly at USC and take on a Stanford team seeking another quality win for its at-large resume. The Cardinal are as healthy as they've been all season and are primed to hand Oregon a second straight loss, while avenging that Jan 2 loss.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* "Best of the Best" Conference Crusher (Big Sky) is on Idaho St at 9:00 ET.

When Wayne Tinkle left to take the job at Oregon State University, Montana hired Travis as its head coach (May 31, 2014). DeCuire played at Montana and the PG was named All Big Sky in his junior and senior seasons. He led his alma mater to 26 wins in both the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons (NCAA berths) but the Grizzlies fell to 18-13 in last year's pandemic-shortened season and Montana is just 9-12 this season (5-9 in the Big Sky). Ryan Looney spent 15 seasons as a head coach in the lower divisions (330-132, .714) and in his final season at Point Loma (2018-19) the school was the runner-up in the Division II playoffs. His first season at Idaho St went poorly (8-22 / 4-16 in the Big Sky) but the Bengals welcome Montana to Holt Arena Thursday night 12-7 (7-3 in the Big Sky).

Montana has SEVEN players averaging between 7.4 and 11.7 PPG. The 6-8 Owens leads in scoring (11.7) and rebounding (5.7). He's joined up front by the 6-10 Steadman (9.9 & 5.4) and the 6-9 Bannen (8.4 & 5.3). The backcourt goes "four-deep" with Beasley (10.3), Whitney (10.0), Parker (8.3 & 4.8 APG) and Vazquez (7.4). Idaho St has seen SIX players participate in all 19 games (21-plus minutes). A trio of players average in double digits, led by guards Cook (14.6) and Ford (10.9) plus SF Parker (10.7 & 5.5). The 6-foot Ford leads the team in rebounding at 7.3 and fellow guard Smellie adds 9.2 PPG. 

Montana opened 0-4 but was back to 8-8 on Feb 4, before losing FOUR of five, including THREE in a row entering this contest. Idaho St also opened 0-4 but in stark contrast to Montana, has gone 12-3 since Dec 23. Not sure why Montana is the road favorite here, as the Grizzlies are 5-9 in Big Sky play while the Bengals are 7-3. I'm "all over" the home dog!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Situational Stunner is on Utah at 8:00 ET.

Mick Cronin made NINE consecutive NCAA Tourney appearances at Cincy, as his Bearcats posted a 235-78 (.751) record in that span. He moved to Westwood last season and his Bruins got better as the year progressed and were playing their best ball when the season was shut down. The Bruins are 16-5 this season and at 12-3 in the Pac 12, are challenging USC (13-3) for the conference championship while on the bubble for an NCAA Tournament berth. Larry Krystkowiak led Montana to back-to-back NCAA berths in his two seasons at his alma mater and then took the Utah job to begin the 2011-12 season. He had losing seasons in his first two years but then led his team to an average of 23.4 wins per season over the next five with postseason berths in each one (3 NIT and 2 NCAA). However, the Utes opened this season off seasons of just 17 and 16 wins. Utah is just 9-10 overall so far and at 6-9, has plummeted toward the bottom of the Pac 12 standings and would need a March Madness miracle to earn an NCAA invite.

UCLA's 6-9 guard Chris Smith averaged 12.6 points and 6.4 rebounds in UCLA's first eight games but was lost for the season with a knee injury. More recently, the 6-10 Jalen Hill (6.1 & 5.5) has not played since Feb 6 (personal reasons). However, the Bruins still have FIVE players averaging between 9.1 and 13.8 PPG. PG Campbell (11.1 & 5.7 APG) misses Smith but is still surrounded by "big guards" like the 6-6 Jaquez (13.8 & 4.2), the 6-6 Juzang (11.9) and the 6-6 Bernard (9.1 & 4,6). Without Hill, it's just the 6-9 Riley (10.3 & 5.5) up front.

Utah lost Both Gach to Minnesota (transfer) but returned four starters. The 6-6 Allen led the team in scoring last season and leads in scoring (17.2) and rebounding (6.3) this season. Guard Alfonso Plummer (13.0) is the only other double digit scorer. Utah really misses the 6-8 Jantunen (8.5 & 4.1), who last played on Feb 11, but the 7-0 Carlson (8.9 & 4.6) and the 6-9 Battin (6.5 & 3.7) are solid players up front. Gach liked to play PG and his leaving opened that role up to Jones (4.9 & 4.1 APG) but he now has an arm injury. Freshman Larsson (7.8) was coming off the bench but now starts.

UCLA is the better team but remember, the Bruins were only able to eke out a 72-70 win over Utah at Pauley Pavilion back on New Year's Eve. The Bruins are 6-3 since Jan 16 but four of those wins have come by a combined margin of just 14 points, hence UCLA's 1-8 ATS mark in that span. Yes, a "W" will mean a cover for UCLA here but the team's overall 'shaky' play leads me to believe the Utes will get the SU win.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* "Best of the Best" Conference Game of the Year (SEC) is on Arkansas at 9:00 ET.

Nate Oats went 96-43 in four years at Buffalo, winning 27 and 32 games in his final two seasons (won 1st round NCAA game each one) He took over at Alabama last season (16-15) but his team is 18-5 in the current season, including 13-1 in the SEC. The Crimson Tide are No. 6 in the latest AP poll (highest since being ranked No. 4 in the 2006-07 season) and their "breakthrough season" could hit another milestone this week with a chance to clinch at least a share of the conference's regular-season title for the first time in 19 years! Eric Musselman had a forgettable three-year stint as Golden State's head coach (108-138 / zero playoff appearances) but he had quite a run coaching Nevada, capturing the CBI title in his first season, then winning 28, 29 and 29 games making the "Big Dance in each of his final three seasons. He was 201-2 last season (1st at Arkansas) but  his Razorbacks are 17-5 (9-4 in the SEC), right behind Alabama in second place tied with LSU.

Alabama owns a terrific trio of guards in sophomore Shackelford (14.5 & 4.), senior Petty (13.0 & 5.1) and freshman Quinerly (11.7). 6-8 senior Jones (11.7 & 5.7) is the team's top frontcourt player. Arkansas also features four double-digit scorers in 6-6 freshman Moody (16.2 & 5.6) plus guards Notae (12.5) and Tate (11.1-3.6-4.3). The 6-9 Smith (11.8 & 6.4) is a graduate transfer from Indiana and is the team's top frontcourt player.

Back on Jan 16 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama routed Arkansas 90-59 but since then, Arkansas has won all SEVEN of its SEC games (6-1 ATS). Revenge works here!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Game of the Month is on the Mia Heat at 8:05 ET.

It's the Raptors and Heat tonight in Miami. Toronto won the NBA title two years ago and last season had the second-best regular season record next to Milwaukee. However, Toronto has been forced to play its 'home' games in Tampa due to COVID travel restrictions with Canada and the Raptors opened 2-8. They were still just 7-12 through Jan 29 but despite a 'home' loss to Philly last night, are 9-4 their last 13 games (now 16-16 on the season). Miami made it to the NBA Finals last year after bonding in the playoff bubble, posting the best pointspread mark of any playoff team (16-5 ATS). However, a three-game winning streak (all on the road) still leaves the Heat at just 14-17 (12-18-1 ATS). Miami is currently 10th in the East, which would allow them to 'sneak into' the NBA's postseason "Play-In" round

Philadelphia ended Toronto's four-game win streak with a 109-102 win in Tampa. The Raptors played a fourth straight game without Kyle Lowry (17.7-5.4-6.4), who has a sprained left thumb. Norman Powell (17.3) led the Raptors with 24 points and Pascal Siakam (20.6-7.7-4.8) added 22. VanVleet (19.8-4.5-6.7) was left off the All-Star Game reserves roster on Tuesday snub?) but frontcourt players Anunoby (13.9 & 5.90 and Boucher (13.3 & 6.5) has been strong contributors all season.

Adebayo (19.6-9.5-5.5) and Butler (19.1-7.6-7.6) also got snubbed, leaving Miami without an All-Star for the first time since 2017 (both were All-Stars last year). The bigger news is that Herro (16.9-6.1-3.8) missed Miami's last game with a hip injury and is listed as questionable. Vet Goran Dragic (14.4 & 5.3) has an ankle injury and hasn't played since Feb 5 but is listed as questionable for the Raptors game. Both could play.

However, even without Dragic and Herro (as well as Avery Bradley and Meyers Leonard, who are both out longer term), the Heat have shown they have enough firepower to win big games, such as their victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night. Tough spot for Toronto off two games in three nights vs Philly and now playing a third game in FOUR nights at Miami. I feel that the Heat are starting to "come together" and I expect them to win handily here.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Weekly Wipeout is on the Ind Pacers at 7:35 ET.

All are familiar with the "fall from grace" of the Warriors, going from FIVE straight appearances in the NBA finals (three titles) to the NBA's worst record (15-50) in last year's pandemic-shortened season. The 17-15 Warriors visit 15-14 Indiana playing for the FOURTH and final time on a six-day trip. All three Golden State games in the past five days have gone to the wire, including the Warriors' 114-106 victory in New York on Tuesday. The Pacers are back on the court for the first time since Feb 17.

Curry (30.2-5.4-6.2), Wiggins (17.6 & 4.8) and Oubre (15.1 & 6.0) have led the way for the Warriors this season. Curry led ten way with 37 points against the Knicks (Oubre and Wiggins combined for 35) but the best news was that the team's No. 1 pick (2nd overall of the 2020 draft), James Wiseman (12.2 & 5.9), returned for the first time since Jan 30 (11-game absence caused by a sprained wrist). He played just 16 minutes but scored 14 points. Draymond Green (7-12-9) also bounced back effectively after his late ejection against the Hornets contributed to the narrow defeat last Saturday.

The Pacers' unexpected time off was due to games against Houston (weather-related) and San Antonio (COVID-related) being postponed. Head coach Nate Bjorkgren was happy to give his guys a break while also using additional practice time to fine-tune an offensive attack that had averaged 120.5 points in winning THREE of its previous four games. PG Brogdon (21.6-4.8-6.6) and PF Sabonis (21.5 & 5.7) are having excellent season, while center Turner (13.2 & 6.6), SF McDermott (13.1 PPG on 51.1% shooting) and guard Justin Holiday (11.5 & 4.2) round out the current starting-five. T.J. Warren (foot surgery) and Caris LeVert (kidney operation) remain sidelined. Backup PG McConnell (5.8 & 6.6 APG) plus SG Lamb are also quality contributors. Lamb's return from injury is a BIG deal. He has averaged 12.4 PPG (on 50.8% shooting) in his 16 games back since tearing his ACL last February.

These teams met back on Jan 12 in San Francisco under polar-opposite circumstances. On that night, Indiana was the side enduring a back-to-back on the road while Golden State was well rested, having spent two straight weeks at home. However, the Pacers won 104-95 that night and I believe will win just as easily tonight.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* PERFECT STORM is on Missouri at 9:00 ET.

Kermit Davis is in his third season at Ole Miss. His first team won 20 games but last season's team won just 15, going 6-12 in the SEC (12th of 14 teams). Davis was critical of his team saying that it couldn't close out games. "We had seven games in SEC play where we had leads but couldn't hold them." Ole Miss is 12-9 (7-7 SEC) as it visits Columbia, Mo tonight to take on the Missouri Tigers. Cuonzo Martin's were coming off back-to-back losing seasons of 15-17 and 15-16 but are 14-6 this season and Ranked No. 24, although they are only 7-7 in SEC play.

Ole Miss had a four-game winning streak snapped Saturday, losing a rematch to rival Miss St 66-56 at home in Oxford 66-56. The loss stalled the Rebels' late push for an at-large berth in the NCAA Tournament. "We just didn't have our best edge, and we didn't play like a team that was desperate chasing the (tournament) bubble tonight," head coach Kermit Davis said. PG Shuler (15.7 & 3.5 APG) leads the team in scoring, with just two others chipping in double digits. They are 6-8 Arizona graduate transfer Romello White (10.8 & 5.4) and junior guard Joiner (10.8).

Missouri's starting-five includes leading scorer Pinson (14.6-3.0-3.1), three Smiths (not related) and the 6-7 Brown (7.7 & 6.0). Guards Dru Smith (14.1-3.7-3.6), and Mark Smith (10.0) plus the 6-7 Mitchell Smith (4.3 & 5.) round to the Smith 'delegation.' 6-10 center Jeremiah Tilmon returned after missing two games due to a death in his family and scored 17 points on 5-for-5 shooting from the floor and 7-for-7 from the free-throw line. Tilman (13.1 & 7.6) will likely return to the starting lineup shortly, as is the team's best frontcourt player.

While Ole Miss was having its four-game winning streak snapped on Saturday, Missouri ended a three-game slide with a 93-78 rout at South Carolina. Here, the Tigers will look to avenge their worst loss of the season, as they fell 80-59 at Ole Miss back on Feb 10, getting outscored 38-22 in the second half. That's my bet!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Situational Stunner is on Louisville at 7:00 ET.

Notre Dame rolled into Syracuse averaging 81.4 points during their previous five games (only loss being a two-point setback at Georgia Tech two weeks ago when they blew a 17-point lead) and suffered a similar fate as it did back in Atlanta on Feb 6. The Fighting Irish led Syracuse 55-35 with 16:49 to go, in the game but managed just 12 points the rest of the way in a 75-67 loss. Notre Dame (9-11 / 6-8 in the ACC) visits Louisville (11-5 / 6-4 in the ACC), as the Cardinals are looking to 'shake off' a 99-54 rout at North Carolina on Saturday.

Notre Dame bounced back from a 14-win season two seasons ago to go 20-12 last year but lost PF Mooney, who averaged 16.2 & 12.7. Mike Brey is now in his 21st season at South Bend but this year's team has struggled, until its recent spurt. PG Hubb (13.7 & 6.2 APG) and SG Goodwin (12.5 & 5.3) are a solid backcourt duo plus the 6-10 Laszewski leads the team in scoring (15.0) and rebounding (7.8). Stanford transfer Ryan (10.1) and Wertz (7.8) play on the perimeter with Hubb and Goodwin, while 6-11 UConn transfer Durham (10.2 & 5.2) has been a solid complement up front to Laszewski.

Chris Mack took over at Xavier for the 2009-10 season when Sean Miller took the Arizona job. He led the Musketeers to eight NCAA tourneys in nine seasons before moving to Louisville. The Cards went 20-14 in his first season (NCAA bid) and were 24-7 in his second year, when the season was shut down in March (AP ranked them 14th in its final poll). Louisville swingman Jordan Nwora (18.0 & 7.7) is gone from last season's Louisville team but FOUR starters returned. However, it's Carlik Jones who leads the team in scoring, averaging 17.1-5.3-4.5. He's a graduate transfer from Radford and was last season's Big South Conference player of the year. He's joined by returning guard Johnson (12.7-5.9-3.4) in the backcourt. The 6-7 Williamson did little last season but averages 9.6 & 7.6 this season plus 6-9 redshirt freshman Withers is adding 9.8 & 7.6. True freshman guard Davis (7.9 & 3.4) and the 6-8 Slazinski (6.0 & 3.4).

Not sure how Notre Dame bounces back from its COMPLETE co;;apse at Syracuse, while the Cards should have an extra 'bounce in their step' in returning to their home arena, after allowing North Carolina to shoot 60.9% on Saturday, Louisville's first action in 19 days due to COVID-19 concerns within the program. Louisville shot just 32.8% at Chapel Hill, including 1 of 16 on threes. That WON'T repeat itself here! Lay the points.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Oddsmaker's Error is on Va Tech at 7:00 ET.

Ga Tech head coach Josh Pastner is in his fifth season with the Yellow Jackets, after SEVEN years at Memphis. His first four seasons have not gone well (just 65-67) and the Yellow Jackets sit 11-8 (7-6 in the ACC) with four games left in their regular season. Va Tech head coach Mike Young is in his second season with the school, after a record-setting 17-year tenure as the head coach at Wofford. The Terriers posted a 30-5 overall record in 2018-19, including a perfect 18-0 mark in Southern Conference play, and registered a convincing 84-68 win over Seton Hall in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Tournament. Young built the Terriers into one of the Southern Conference's preeminent programs and a perennial NCAA Tournament participant. He guided Wofford to five NCAA Tournament berths over his last 10 seasons and five Southern Conference championships. The Hokies were just 16-16 overall in Young's first season at Blacksburg, losing almost two-thirds of their ACC games (7-13), but are currently 14-4 (8-3 in the ACC) and ranked 16th in the nation.

Georgia Tech is hoping to earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2010 but the Yellow Jackets will need a strong finish. Ga Tech has a solid five-man rotation but the Yellow Jackets have little depth. Returning PG Alvarado (16.7-3.7-4.2) and SG Devoe (13.7-4.4-3.1) have been excellent plus returning 6-9 big man Wright (16.3 & 7.5) present an excellent trio. 6-7 USC transfer Usher (10.7 & 4.3) helps out up front plus VMI transfer Parham (7.7) adds to the team's backcourt depth.

Landers Nolley was selected to the ACC All-Freshman Team in leading the Hokies in scoring (15.5 PPG) last season but after the season he announced he was transferring to Memphis. More bad news came when the 6-6 Horne (7.6 & 4.2) also transferred. Sophomore guard Tyrece Radford (10.2 & 6.2) was both the team's leading returning scorer AND rebounder! Radford is averaging 11.1 & 6.3 RPG and the 6-9 Alleyne (9.9) has made excellent progress in his sophomore season. Two 6-7 transfers start up front The 6-7 Keve Aluma (15.7 & 7.6) followed Young from Wofford and is Va Tech's best player this season, while 6-7 Delaware transfer Justyn Mutts (8.9 & 6.6) has been solid. Returning guards Cone (9.2), Cottoor (9.2) and Bede (4.4 & 3.0 APG) have all added valuable contributions.

Radford was suspended back in late January (no date of return, if any) and Cone is dealing with an ankle injury for Va Tech. Ga Tech is coming off an impressive win against Miami, leading 48-18 at halftime and winding up with a 27-point victory, its largest margin of victory in an ACC road game in program history. However, the Yellow jackets have won just TWO road games this game (the other was at a 5-15 Nebraska team. Also note that Miami is a funk, having lost SEVEN of eight. Winning at Va Tech is a 'horse of a different color!' Va Tech is 9-1 at home this season, losing only in a shocking 75-55 upset at the hands of Penn St back on Dec 8. Tech has won SEVEN straight at home since, including three wins over ranked teams, highlighted by an impressive 65-51 win over then-No. 8 UVa. The Hokies have had their last three games postponed because of COVID-19 issues (last played Feb 6) and hopefully, Cone's ankle has had time to heal. Even if he's a "no-go," the "PRICE is RIGHT" on Va Tech here at home. Ga Tech doesn't win away from home vs this class of opponent!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* PERFECT STORM is on USC at 9:00 ET.

Dana Altman spent 16 seasons at Creighton and took the school to seven NCAA tourneys in his last 12 years at the school. He came to Oregon for the 2010-11 season and won the CBI championship in his first season. He's now in his 11th season in Eugene having won 20-plus games in each of his first 10, averaging 25.9 wins per year. Oregon has played in SIX of the last eight NCAA tourneys and it would have been seven if last season's year was not cut short (Ducks were 24-7). Oregon is 14-4 overall (9-3 in the Pac 12)

as it visits Los Angeles to take on USC. Andy Enfield led Florida Gulf Coast to a 26-11 season in his second at the school, making a Sweet 16 appearance. That gave him the chance to "move on up" to USC but his first two seasons were HUGE disappointments (11-21 and 12-20). However, the Trojans have won 21-plus games in FOUR of the last five seasons, including a 22-9 mark last season. USC saw its top-five scorers leave after the 2020 season but despite seeing its seven-game winning streak snapped on Saturday against Arizona (lost 81-72), the Trojans are 18-4, including 12-3 in the Pac 12 (tied with UCLA for first place).

PG Payton Pritchard (20.5-4.3-5.5) was a HUGE loss for Oregon plus Altman also lost SG Mathis (8.5) and 6-7 SF Juiston (7.9 & 6.3). Coming to the rescue for Oregon this season have come three transfers. The 6-6 Eugene Omoruyi, who sat out last year as a transfer from Rutgers, the 6-6 Eric Williams who transferred from Duquesne and 6-6 Figueroa from St John's. Omoruyi leads the team with 17.2 PPG (adds 5.4 RPG), Williams is adding 11.0 & 6.1 and Figueroa 10.7 & 6.4. That's a strong frontcourt, even with the loss of 6-11 center N'Faly Dante (8.2 & 5.8), who suffered a torn ACL in mid-December. 6-8 guard Duarte (17.1 & 4.9) is now joined in the backcourt by PG  Will Richardson, who is back from a left thumb injury suffered in the preseason. He's averaging 11.3-3.3-3.3 in six games, the last five being Oregon wins!

Enfield recruited a "super frosh" in 7-0 freshman Evan Mobley plus brought in SIX transfers. Evan Mobley has lived up to the hype, averaging 17.1 & 8.8. He joins his brother Isaiah (a 6-10 sophomore), who has added 9.6 & 7.7. Peterson (9.1 & 4.7) is a 6-8 swingman from Rice and joins guards Eaddy (Santa Clara) and White, a grad transfer from Utah Valley St. Eaddy is averaging 13.8 PPG and White 7.2. Guard Goodwin (6.0 & 4.0) comes off the bench to give USC a solid six-man rotation.

USC had won 12 of 13 before losing to Arizona and it's "bounce-back" time here. This contest is the only matchup between Oregon and USC in the regular season, and it was rescheduled from Jan 30 due to COVID-19 protocols. The Ducks have three fewer wins than UCLA and USC but have the same amount of Pac 12 losses (three).This is a BIG game, as USC looks for at least a share of its first conference title since 1985. The 81 points USC allowed to Arizona on Saturday was the most the Trojans have allowed in regulation in 2020-21. The Trojans are allowing just 64.4 PPG on the season on 38.5% shooting, which ranks 4th-best in the nation. USC gets this all-important "W."

Good luck...Larry 

My 10* Division Game of the Year (Southwest) is on the Dal Mavericks at 8:35 ET.

Memphis opened just 2-6 but then ran off FIVE in a row before five straight games were postponed due to COVID. The Grizzlies returned and won two more (now a seven-game win streak) to reach 9-6 but have since fallen back to 13-13 by losing SEVEN of 11. Dallas was expected to be a solid playoff contender this season (broke a three-season playoff drought by going 43-32 last season) but that hasn't been the case. The Mavericks lost SIX straight from the end of January into the beginning of February to fall to 8-13. However, Dallas finally got its full complement of players back and won FIVE of six (including FOUR straight) before losing 121-118 at home to Portland on Feb 14. The Mavericks haven't played since due to inclement weather in the state of Texas. They had a home game against Detroit and a one-game trip to Houston postponed. Dallas comes in 13-15 and hasn't been at the break-even mark being 8-8 on Jan 23.

Memphis gave regulars Brandon Clarke (12.9 & 5.6), Grayson Allen (10.1) and Kyle Anderson (13.8 & 6.2) the night off against the Suns on Saturday and lost 128-97!  PG Morant (18.9 & 7.8 APG), center Valanciunas (16.2 & 11.0) and SG Brooks (15.8) are all having good years. There's no lack of talent for Dallas, as starting alongside PG Doncic (29.1-8.6-9.4) and center Porzingis (20.5 & 8.2) are guard Richardson (12.5) plus forwards Finney-Smith (9.1 & 4.8) and Kleber (7.1 & 5.4). SF Hardaway comes off the bench to average 16.7 PPG plus guards Brunson (11.7) and Burke (8.0) add more 'punch' off the bench.

Dallas is well-rested and as noted, has its full complement of players back on the court. I still maintain that the Mavs are ready to go on a run. Lay the points in this one.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Weekly Wipeout is on Duke at 7:00 ET.

Syracuse rallied from 20 points down to defeat visiting Notre Dame 75-67 on Saturday, marking the Orange's biggest comeback since a victory over Rutgers in January 2005. Jim Boeheim's team has won SIX of its last eight games and is now 13-6 overall (7-5 in the ACC). Duke's Mike Krzyzewski took over at Duke for the 1980-81 season and did not make the NCAA tourney in his first three seasons. However, the only TWO times Duke has missed the "Big Dance" since then was in the 1994-95 season and last season, when Duke was 25-6 but COVID shut down the season. Back in that 94-95 season, coach K coached the first 12 games of the season (9-3) before leaving the team for back surgery and to recover from exhaustion. Pete Gaudet took over as interim head coach and compiled a record of 4–15 with a mark of 2–13 in conference play. Duke finished the season with a record of 13–18 overall and in ninth place in the ACC at 2–14. Duke was 7-8 through Feb 9 this season but has won three straight, on the road at NS State and Wake Forest, plus beating No. 7 UVA this past Saturday, 66-65. Duke is 10-8 (8-6 in the ACC)

Jim Boeheim's Syracuse team has FIVE players in double digits, getting production off the bench from only guard Richmond (6.7) However, the Orange do own a very good starting-five (all are averaging more than 30 minutes per game). SF Griffin is averaging 15.2 PPG and adds 6.6 RPG. The 6-7 Guerrier also averages 15.2 PG plus leads in rebounding (9.4) and adds 15.5 PPG. The 6-10 Dolezag completes the frontcourt with 11.2 & 5.4. SG Buddy Boeheim had a career-high 29 points in the win over Notre Dame and is also averaging 15.2 PPG. He's joined in the backcourt by PG Girard (10.5 & 3.5 APG).

Duke opened No. 9 in the AP's preseason poll but the team's Jan 12 loss at Va Tech saw 5-3 Duke (3-1 in the ACC) fall out of the AP poll on Monday. As noted above, Duke is currently 10-8, hardly worthy of top-25 consideration. Coach K lost his top-two players to the NBA, the 6-10 Carey (17.8 & 8.8) will play this season for the Hornets and PG Jones (16.2-4.7-6.4) was taken by the Spurs. Coach K has seamlessly transitioned into the One-and-Done era and freshman guards Stewart )12.9 & 4.1) and Roach (9.0) have played well but 6-9 freshman Johnson (11.9 & 6.5) has left the team to prepare for the NBA. One could "good Riddance," as Duke has gone on a three-game run without him. 6-9 sophomore Hurt leads the team in scoring (18.5) and rebounding (6.4), while sophomore SF Stevens (12.9 & 4.1) and senior guard Goldwire (6.3-3.1-3.8) round out Duke's main contributors.

"Over the last three games, we've emphasized defense and we've changed our ball screen defense which has helped us," Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "The last three games, we've really played well on the defensive end of the court and it's made a difference in us winning and losing. We have to keep going." Here's the deal. Syracuse has won on the ACC road against Boston College (3-13 / 1-9 ACC) and NC State, after it lost its best player in Daniels. In the Orange's other five road games, they've lost at Clemson, Pitt, North Carolina and UVa of the ACC plus at Rutgers (Big Ten) by an average of 15.2 PPG. Lay the points with Duke.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* PERFECT STORM is on the Den Nuggets at 7:35 ET.

The Denver Nuggets earned the title of "Comeback Kids' in last season's playoffs in the 'bubble' but opened the current season just 1-4. Denver then won 11 of 15 and ended January at 12-8. However, the Nuggets are just 4-5 in February and at 16-13 sit 7 1/2-games back in the West (No. 7 seed). If the playoffs were to begin today, Denver would be in the "Play-In" round (seeds 7 thru 10). The Hawks entered the current season off a three-year mark of 73-158 (.316) and will take the court tonight having lost FIVE losing of their last six games/ Atlanta is a modest 12-17, a record that would leave them a half-game outside of the East's No. 10 seed.

Denver's Jamal Murray is fresh off a career-high 50-point performance in Friday's 120-103 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. It was a timely performance since it helped the Nuggets end a two-game losing streak and now the team has a chance to break even on its four-game East Coast road trip. Denver has as much quality depth as any team but SG Gary Harris (10.1) and PF Paul Millsap (10.4 & 5.2) are out. Center Jokic (27.0-11.2-8.6) is a star and just became the first Denver player voted to start the NBA All-Star Game since Carmelo Anthony in 2011 (he owns a league-high 26 double-doubles). Murray (20.6-4.4-4.4) has become an All Star caliber player. The 6-8 Porter (14.1 & 6.2) has come into his own (was a high school phenom) while swingman Barton (11.5-3.7-3.2) and guard Morris (10.6) regularly contribute. PF Green (9.1 & 6.0 in just 20 MPG) should get more "PT" with Millsap sidelined.

The Hawks have a bevy of young stars led by Young (26.6 & 9.3 APG), who is joined by PF Collins (17.8 & 7.4), SF Hunter (17.2 & 5.4) plus SGs Huerter (11.7-3.6-3.8) and Reddish (11.4 & 4.0). Former Houston center has been everything Atlanta has hoped for, averaging 14.7 & 14.0. Veteran Gallinari adds 10.6 PPG but has missed 12 games (he's active now). However, Hunter remains out with a knee injury (last played on Jan 29).
 
Atlanta fell behind by 27 points on Friday against the Celtics (would lose 121-109) and its defensive woes continue to mount. The Hawks beat the Clippers 108-99 in Atlanta back on Jan 26 but have since allowed 118.3 PPG (no opponent has been held under 100 points in that stretch) in going 3-9 in their last 12 games. Denver, led by Jokic and Murray, comes in averaging  115.5 PPG (4th) on 48.3% shooting (5th) and I'm laying the 'short' number!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* "Best of the Best" Conference crusher (Northeast) is on Merrimack at 4:00 ET.

Not many pay too much attention to the NEC, so here's something few, if any, will be aware of. Merrimack College was in its first season as a Division I member last season and was picked dead-last in the preseason poll. However, the Warriors would go 20-11 overall and 14-4 in conference play, becoming the first program ever to win an outright conference regular season title in its first season reclassifying to Division I. A show of hands for all who knew this?

COVID has taken its toll on the NEC this season and last night in Springfield , RI, the homestanding Bryant Bulldogs eked out a 60-58 win over the visiting Warriors. Michael Green had 16 points as Bryant won its seventh consecutive home game, holding off Merrimack 60-58 on Saturday. Bryant is now 11-5 overall and 7-4 in NEC play. Merrimack fell to 8-5 and the Warriors have ONLY played conference games this season.

Bryant is a high scoring team (86.4 PPG) with SIX players competing in all 16 games this season. A quartet of guards are led by Kiss (17.0-5.6-3.4) and PG Green (16.8-4.-4.2), who are joined by Childs (15.0) and Pride (13.1 & 7.1). The 6-8 Elisias plays center and just misses double digits (9.2 PPG) but leads the team in rebounding at 7.4 per game. For Merrimack, SEVEN players have competed in all 13 games, with FIVE averaging 28-plus minutes. The 6-8 Minor leads in scoring (12.6) and rebounding (9.1), while PG Watkins (12.2-4.0-4.2) is the only other player scoring in double digits. Guards Reid (9.8 & 5.2), Jensen (8.5) and Derring (7.8) round out the remaining top contributors.

I noted that Bryant is a high scoring team (see above) but it should NOT have gone unnoticed that the Bulldogs were held to 60 points on their homecourt by Merrick (season-low in points for a single game). Let me add that it shouldn't have been a surprise, as Merrimack opened the season just 1-3 but before Saturday's loss, had won SEVEN of eight, holding opponents to 59.6 PPG. Head coach Joe Gallo (NEC coach of the year last season) preaches defense and late this afternoon, gets a quick rematch with Bryant, this time in North Andover, Mass on the Warriors' homecourt (Hammel Court). Wagner leads the NEC at 9-4 with Bryant at 7-4 and Merrimack at 8-5. Some quick "payback" here by the Warriors moves them ahead of Bryant, 9-5 to 7-5. That's the bet!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* "Best of the Best" Pac 12 Game of the Year is on Washington at 10:00 ET.

California (8-16 overall, 3-14 Pac-12) and Washington (4-17, 3-13) play Saturday night in Seattle, with the loser taking over last-place in the Pac-12 heading into the last week of the regular season. Cal's Mark Fox had an excellent five-year run at Nevada (averaged 24.6 wins per season with three NCAA bids) but his nine-year stay at Georgia ended with just two NCAA tourneys in nine years (18.1 wins per season). He surfaced at Cal last season and the Bears were 14-18. Mike Hopkins was a longtime assistant to Jim Boeheim and he took over at Washington prior to the 2017-18 season, going 21-13 and 27-9. However, the team was just 5-17 before last season's shutdown and the current season has been a 'nightmare!'

Neither team has shown ANY ability to sustain success. Cal's Brady (18.9 & 4.5) is joined in the backcourt by Betley (9.8 & 3.5) and Foreman (8.4). A pair of 6-8 forwards contribute up front in Kelly (10.2 & 6.8) and Anticevich (9.3 & 4.6). The Huskies have a solid quartet of backcourt players in Green (14.8-3.0-3.5), Tsohonis (10.5), Bey (9.4) and Stevens (9.2) but the 6-9 Wight (5.7 & 4.2) and the 6-10 Roberts (5.3 & 5.8) have underachieved up front,

Here's the rub. Cal has won just ONCE in 11 away games, while Washington owns Pac12 home wins over Utah and Colorado plus "close calls" at home to Oregon and UCLA (both were three-point losses). In this 'Battle to stay out of the Basement.' I'm taking the Huskies.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Situational Stunner of the Month is on the LA Lakers at 8:35 ET.

The Los Angeles Lakers welcome the Miami Heat to Staples Center on Saturday, as the teams square off for the first time since LA beat Miami 106-93 in Game 6 of last season's NBA Finals. Miami made a great run last season in the Orlando 'bubble,' reaching the NBA Finals before losing four games to two against the LA Lakers. The Heat's 16-5 ATS record was easily the best of any team in the postseason. However, the current season has not gone smoothly, as the Heat are not only just 12-17 but their 10-18-1 ATS record (35.7%) is the second-worst mark in the NBA.

The Lakers own the NBA's second-best record at 22-8 (13-3 road record is an NBA-best) but were soundly beaten by the Brooklyn Nets 109-98 here in Staples on Thursday (no K.D. for Brooklyn). LBJ had 32 points, eight rebounds and seven assists for the Lakers but they played without Dennis Schroder due to the NBA's health and safety protocols. They are also missing Anthony Davis (22.5 & 8.4), who missed his second contest after suffering a calf strain Sunday against the Denver Nuggets. A.D. isn't expected to return for at least a month.

The Heat snapped a three-game losing streak with 118-110 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Thursday. Tyler Herro had 27 points on 12-of-17 shooting as SIX Miami players scored in double figures. Jimmy Butler had 13 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds for his third straight triple-double. The 6-9 Bam Adebayo also recorded a triple-double with 16 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists. Adebayo (19.8-9.3-5.5) leads Miami in scoring, although Butler (19.1-7.8-7.7) is close behind. However, Butler has played in just 17 of Miami's 29 games. Herro (17.4-6.2-3.90 is the team's third-leading scorer but Miami really misses vet PG Dragic (14.4 & 5.3 APG) plus its best defensive guard Bradley (8.5). BOTH remain sidelined.

Obviously, Davis' absence is a big deal and Schroder (14.2-3.6-4.3) has been a HUGE plus this season for LA. However, no one is surprised that LBJ (25.9-8.2-7.9) hasn't missed a single game and the Lakers will give more "PT" up front to PFs Harrell (13.2 & 6.2) and Morris (4.4 & 3.4) plus SF Kuzma (11.0 & 6.0) with A.D. out. Not sure who will start alongside Caldwell-Pope (8.5) in the backcourt but Vogel can choose between Horton-Tucker (6.8), Caruso (5.4) and Matthews (5.0).

VERY tough "situation" for Miami here, playing its SIXTH contest (in 10 days) of a seven-game road trip (Miami's last home game was Feb 9) against the defending champs coming off an embarrassing home loss to the Nets (on TNT for all to see). Lay the points with LA!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* ACC Showdown is on North Carolina at 6:00 ET.

To say the least, it has NOT been a vintage year for the ACC. The NCAA began seeding the entire field for the 1979 tourney and in every year but ONE (1990), the ACC has had at least one No. 1 or No. 2 seed. The 2021 tourney could make that TWO times since sending began. Louisville (11-4 / 6-3 ACC) and North Carolina (13-7 / 7-5 ACC) will likely make the NCAA field but are certainly not 'locks' to get it. The schools meet tonight in Chapel Hill for the only scheduled meeting between the two teams this regular season.

Louisville will be playing just its second game of February, as the Cardinals have not played since posting a 74-58 victory over Georgia Tech back on Feb. 1. Their last four scheduled games were postponed because of COVID-19 issues in the program (even head coach Chris Mack was sidelined). Mack took over at Xavier for the 2009-10 season when Sean Miller took the Arizona job. He led the Musketeers to eight NCAA tourneys in nine seasons before moving to Louisville. The Cards went 20-14 in his first season (NCAA bid) and were 24-7 in his second year, when the season was shut down in March (AP ranked them 14th in its final poll). Louisville swingman Jordan Nwora (18.0 & 7.7) is gone from last season's Louisville team but FOUR starters returned. However, it's Carlik Jones who leads the team in scoring, averaging 17.4-5.6-4.9. He's a graduate transfer from Radford and was last season's Big South Conference player of the year. He joined by returning guard Johnson (13.1-6.1-3.4) in the backcourt. The 6-7 Williamson did little last season but averages 9.6 & 7.5 this season plus 6-9 redshirt freshman Withers is adding 10.1 & 7.6. True freshman guard Davis (8.2 & 3.5) and the 6-8 Slazinski (6.0 & 3.5) all contribute.

North Carolina's legendary head coach Roy Williams is coming off a 14-19 season in which North Carolina players lost 99 games to injury. However, the Tar Heels opened No. 16 in the AP's preseason poll. The Tar Heels have NOT lived up to their preseason ranking. Last year's super frosh Anthony lost time to injury last season (played 22 games) but averaged 18.5-5.7-4.0 and as expected was a "One and Done!" Also gone is senior guard Robinson and his 11.8 PPG for North Carolina. The Tar Heels' strength is their depth. Up front it's the 6-10 Bacot (11.7 & 7.6), the 6-10 Brooks (10.3 & 7.4) and the 6-11 Sharpe (9.8 & 7.8), while the backcourt goes five-deep. The group includes Love (10.5-2.6-3.6), Davis (7.9), Walton (7.4), Black (6.2 & 5.3) and Platek (4.6).

North Carolina draws a Louisville team that hasn't played in almost THREE weeks with some players possibly dealing with COVID issues. North Carolina remains unbeaten at home (7-0) and I'm willing to lay the points!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Ultimate Underdog is on Pittsburgh at 4:00 ET.

Florida St head coach Leonard Hamilton has built a championship-caliber program in Tallahassee, one that had produced the THIRD most victories among ACC schools heading into the current season, behind only Duke and Virginia since 2016. Florida State was 26-5 and poised to make a Final Four run before the postseason was curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic last March but entered this season losing three key players from a team.PG Forrest (11.6-4.4-4.0), SG Vassell (12.7 & 5.1) and 6-7 swingman Williams (9.7 & 4.0), who were all chosen in the NBA draft. However, guard MJ Walker is back and leads with 13.9 PPG and he's surrounded by a talented group. Pittsburgh's Jeff Capel is in his third season with Panthers and is off years of just 14 and 16 wins. Pitt comes in just 9-8 (5-7 in the ACC) and enters having SIX of its past seven games.

No. 16 Florida St is 12-3 (8-2 in the ACC), after an 81-60 rout of No. 7 Virginia, which gave another glimpse of how dangerous the Seminoles could be this March Joining Walker as the main contributors are the 6-8 Gray (11.4 & 6.5) and 6-9 freshman Barnes (10.2-3.7-4.3), who is listed as a guard. The 7-1 Koprivica (9.1 & 5.6) hadn't played since Jan 30 but returned from an ankle injury and finished with nine points against UVa. Returning guard Polite just misses double digits (9.6 & 4.2) plus the 6-9 Osborne adds 5.7 & 4.8. 

Pittsburgh is led by the 6-6 Justin Champagnie, who averages 18.7 & 11.5 (he'll be the best player on the floor). PG Johnson (14.1 & 5.9 APG) has two solid backcourt partners in Toney (14.4 & 5.9) and Horton (9.8). Here's the rub. Pitt has NOT played well recently but is capable. It's 3-1 SU its last four as a home underdog, winning outright over Syracuse, Duke and Va Tech. The Panthers are catching FSU off its HUGE win over UVa (24th straight home win over an ACC opponent) but note that with COVID-19 issues shuffling the Seminoles' schedule multiple times, they have played only THREE road games and gone 1-2. "Upset Alert!"

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Daytime Dominator is on Syracuse at 2:00 ET.

Syracuse is 12-6 (6-5 ACC) was looking for a third straight on Wednesday but its visit to Louisville was postponed hours before the opening tip. It was the fifth game this season Syracuse had postponed. 9-10 Notre Dame (6-7 in the ACC) will visit Syracuse Saturday and has closed within one game of .500 on the season by winning FOUR of its last five games.

Notre Dame bounced back from a 14-win season two seasons ago to go 20-12 last year but lost PF Mooney, who averaged 16.2 & 12.7. Mike Brey is now in his 21st season at South Bend but this year's team has struggled, until its recent spurt. PG Hubb (14.0 & 6.0 APG) and SG Goodwin (12.4 & 5.3) are a solid backcourt duo plus the 6-10 Laszewski leads the team in scoring (15.2) and rebounding (7.5). Stanford transfer Ryan (10.3 & 3.9) and Wertz (7.1) play on the perimeter with Hubb and Goodwin, while 6-11 UConn transfer Durham (10.2 & 5.3) has been a solid complement up front to Laszewski.

Much like Notre Dame, Jim Boeheim's Syracuse team has FIVE players in double digits, getting production off the bench from only guard Richmond (6.8) However, the Orange do own a very good starting-five (all are averaging more than 30 minutes per game). SF Griffin leads in scoring (15.9 PPG) and adds 6.8 RPG. The 6-7 Guerrier leads in rebounding (9.1) and adds 15.5 PPG. The 6-10 Dolezag completes the frontcourt with 10.8 & 5.4. The backcourt is SG Buddy Boeheim (14.3) and PG Girard (10.8 & 3.6 APG).

I realize that the Fighting Irish are averaging 81.4 points during their last five games (only loss being a two-point setback at Georgia Tech two weeks ago when they blew a 17-point lead), but I'm still on Syracuse in this one. The Orange are 10-1 SU at home and at this 'price,' a "W" almost ensures a cover. 

Good luck...Larry

My 10* "Best of the Best" Conference Game of the Year (MAC) is on Toledo at 9:00 ET.

Tod Kowalczyk (was the head coach at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay from 2002–10, before accepting the head coaching position at Toledo on March 30 2010. This marks his 11th season at Toledo, having won 20 games or more four times (high of 27 in the 2013-14 season) and has captured four MAC-West titles. However, the Rockets have never won the MAC tourney under Kowalczyk, therefore they've never received an NCAA bid. This season, that may just change. Nate Oates came to Buffalo for the 2015-16 season and he led the Bulls to 27 wins and 32 wins in his final two seasons (advanced to the second round of the Big Dance each season) but then left for Alabama. The Tide went 16-15 last season but currently the Tide are 17-5 (SEC-best 12-1) and ranked 8th in the nation. Taking over for Oates was his assistant Jim Whitesell, who was head coach at Loyola-Chicago from 2004-11. The Bulls surprised last season going 20-12 before the shutdown but are just 9-6 (7-4 in the MAC).

Toledo is currently 17-6 and 12-3 in MAC play. There are no East/West divisions this season and the MAC tourney (in Cleveland) will feature just EIGHT teams. Toledo has the inside track for the No. 1 seed (Akron is 11-3 and Ken St 10-4) and head to Buffalo Friday night for the lone regular season meeting between the two teams. The Rockets average 80.7 PPG with all five starters in double digits. Toledo starts a trio of guards in Jackson (17.2-5.6-6.0), Littleson (13.6) and Rollins (13.3 & 5.6), while the 6-7 Shumate (12.5 & 4.4) and the 6-6 Millner (12.3 & 6.4) start up front. Guard Saunders (7.40 and the 6-8 Acunzo (6.1 & 3.4) are the top reserves.

Buffalo has seen two games canceled and four postponed this season (note: in contrast, Toledo has had just ONE game postponed) but comes in on a three-game winning streak in which the Bulls have won by 20, 24 and 32 points (more in a bit). The Bulls do NOT have Toledo's depth but do have a quality 'Core 4' in forwards Williams (17.9 & 7.4) and Mballo (14.8 & 9.8) plus guards Graves (15.0-5.7-3.7) and Segu (13.9). No other player averages more than 6.5 PPG but Buffalo can score with Toledo, averaging 82.2 PPG.

I noted Buffalo's three straight wins by impressive margins but will add here that those victories have come over 7-10 Ball St, 8-9 Miami-Ohio and 4-13 Western Michigan. I see this as Toledo's breakthrough season under Kowalczyk and that fact that this team has avoided the COVID issues that die]disrupted so many schools' seasons, is another "good sign" that I may just be right. 

Good luck...Larry

My 10* PERFECT STORM is on the Bos Celtics at 7:35 ET.

The Atlanta Hawks ended a four-game losing streak by beating the Celtics 122-114 on Wednesday in Boston. PG Trae Young scored 16 of his 40 points in the fourth quarter, eight of which came after the Celtics cut the lead to six with 2:38 remaining. Boston PG Kemba Walker did not play ("load management") and center Daniel Theis missed his second game with a sprained right index finger. The two teams are right back at it tonight at TD Garden.

The Hawks entered the current season off a three-year mark of 73-158 (.316) and will take the court tonight at a modest 12-16 (.429). The Hawks have a bevy of young stars led by Young (26.5 & 9.3 APG), who is joined by PF Collins (18.2 & 7.6), SF Hunter (17.2 & 5.4) plus SGs Huerter (12.0-3.6-3.8) and Reddish (11.5 & 4.0). Former Houston center has been everything Atlanta has hoped for, averaging 14.3 & 14.0.

Boston's 'Dynamic' duo of Brown and Tatum had been the team's top-two producers, with Brown (25.9-5.5-3.6) currently slightly ahead of Tatum (25.8-7.0-4.7) entering this contest. PG Kemba Walker didn't get on the court this season until Jan 17 and while he's averaged 16.4-3.7-4.0 in 13 games, Boston is only 5-8 in that span. Boston really misses Smart (13.1 & 6.) but has depth in the backcourt and the frontcourt.

On the injury front, Atlanta's Hunter remains with a knee injury. On the Boston side, Theis remains questionable but Walker is expected to be back. Brown scored 22 points Wednesday but he is dealing with knee soreness (??). Predicting (guessing?) which players "play or don't play" in situations like Brown is an impossible task (often are game-time decisions). I'll back Boston in this bounce-back spot, as Atlanta's Wednesday win ended a SEVEN-game losing streak against the Celtics and was the first Atlanta win in Boston since April 8, 2018.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Game of the Week is on the LA Lakers at 10:05 ET.

The Brooklyn Nets played without Durant (hamstring) and Irving (back) in Tuesday's 128-124 win at the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday. It was the team's fourth straight win and at 18-12, the Nets have moved past the slumping Bucks, who have lost four in a row to fall to 16-12. Brooklyn is now with 1 1/2-games on the East-leading 76ers 19-10) as they visit Staples Center to take on the defending champion Lakers. LA lost back-to-back road games at Philly and Detroit (Jan 27 & 28) but have since won EIGHT of nine which leaves them at 22-7 (behind only the Jazz, who NEVER lose!).

KD (29.0-7.3-5.3) and Kyrie (28.3-4.6-5.7) have missed 11 and 10 games. They are both listed as day-to-day, which is at best, questionable. However, their absence didn't prevent Harden from leading a big second-half rally Tuesday at Phoenix. Harden (24.3-8.4-11.8 in his 16 games with the Nets). Harden had 38 points, hitting five 3-pointers, with 11 assists and seven rebounds. Joe Harris (14.9) added 22 points, Jeff Green (9.7 & 3.7) collected 18 points and eight rebounds and Tyler Johnson (4.5) also converted five 3-pointers to chip in 17 points.

The Lakers welcome the Nets to town without A.D. (22.5 & 8.4), who is expected to be sidelined until after next month's All-Star break. The Lakers won 112-104 on Tuesday against the Minnesota Timberwolves as LBJ (25.7-8.2-7.9) had 30 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists, while the team's off-season additions PG Dennis Schroder (14.2-3.6-4.3) and PF Montrezl Harrell (13.3 & 6.3) contributed 24 and 17 points, respectively. Kuzma (10.8 & 6.0) took AD's spot in the starting lineup and as usual, Gasol (4.2 & 4.2) started at center and Caldwell-Pope (8.5) at shooting guard. A trio of guards (Horton-Tucker, Caruso and Matthews) combine to average 17.5 PPG plus PF Morris adds 4.6 & 2.5.LA is BETTER than it was last season! Lakers head coach Frank Vogel believes the Lakers' depth will help overcome Davis' absence.

The Nets trailed by as much as 24 points against Phoenix but outscored the Suns 74-49 in the second half. The Nets trailed 124-116 after a three-pointer by Chris Paul with 2:48 remaining but Harden and Green sparked a 12-0 run to clinch the victory. This just in. The Suns are NOT the Lakers. The Lakers are holding opponents to 105.8 PPG (2nd) on 44.9% shooting (4th), including 34.8% on threes (3rd). The Nets are the top-scoring team in the NBA at 121.7 PPG (also lead by making 50.2% of their FGs) but will VERY likely be short-handed. The Nets allow 117.9 PPG (28th), which is 12 PPG more than the Lakers. I WON'T buck the Lakers here!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Weekly Wipeout is on the Mil Bucks at 7:35 ET.

The Toronto Raptors won 124-113 at Milwaukee on Tuesday, led by 33 points from Fred VanVleet (20.4-4.2-6.4) and 23 from Pascal Siakam (20.6-7.8-4.5). PG Kyle Lowry (17.7-5.4-6.4) chipped in with 18 points in just 22 minutes before calling it a night early in the third quarter because of pain in his left ankle. He is listed as questionable for this rematch on Thursday night. For the Bucks, they won FIVE straight (also 5-0 ATS) to open February and many (most?) felt that the team was starting to find the form that led to Milwaukee owning the NBA's best record in each of the last two regular seasons. However, starting with a 125-124 loss in Phoenix on Feb 10, the Bucks will take the court on a FOUR-game losing streak (also 0-4 ATS) and at 16-12, have fallen behind both Brooklyn (18-12) and Philly (19-10) in the East.

Toronto won the NBA title two seasons ago and last season, only Milwaukee owned a better regular season record than the Raptors. However, the team opened the current season 2-8 and while the Raptors have gone 11-7 since that awful start, the team is still an underachieving 13-15 on the season as the All Star break approaches. The good news is the SF Anunoby is back after missing 10 games and his 14.6 PPG and 5.9 RPG are needed. The 6-9 Boucher (13.6 & 6.8) is having his "best season" (he averaged just 6.6 PPG last season, his previous high) plus Powell (16.3) has played both SG and SF.

The Bucks played without Jrue Holiday (16.4-4.8-5.4) on Tuesday, as he missed his fifth straight game in COVID-19 protocol (Bucks are 1-4 in those games). He is eligible to play on Thursday but that doesn't mean he will. Forbes (9.5) has stepped into his starting role to average 12.4 PPG but his scoring off the bench has been missed. Milwaukee has all the talent needed in starters Antetokounmpo (28.2-11.4-5.8), Middleton (20.3-5.8-5.8), Lopez (10.8 & 5.1) and DiVincenzo (9.9 & 4.5) plus the 6-10 Portis (11.8 & 7.3) as been excellent off the bench. Forbes will start again if Holiday is a "no-go" or will join fellow reserves Connaughton (6.0 & 3.8) and Augustin (5.9) off the bench. 

I've had a 'hit or miss' relationship with the Bucks this season but this one sure seems to have "B-L-O-W-O-U-T written all over it." I'm laying the points with Milwaukee.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* PERFECT STORM is on Wichita St at 7:00 ET.

No one should have been surprised by what Kelvin Sampson has done at Houston, after successful stops at Washington St, Oklahoma and Indiana. His first Houston team went 13-19 (2014-15) but FIVE straight 20-win seasons followed. The Cougars won 27 (2017-18) and 33 (2018-19) games, before going 23-8 in last season's pandemic shortened one. Houston is currently 17-2 (11-2 in the AAC) and ranked 6th in the latest AP poll. No other AAC team is ranked but when the Cougars visit 12-4 Wichita St tonight, they are WELL aware that the Shockers only have two conference losses as well (albeit nine wins).

Houston beat Wichita State 70-63 back on Jan 6 at home but never shook the Shockers. Houston guards Grimes (16.9 & 6.5) and Sasser (15.1) are the 'big dogs,' joined on the perimeter by Jarreau (10.0-5.3-4.3) and freshman Mark (8.5 & 3.0). The best frontcourt player is the 6-7 Gorham (8.2 & 10.1). Houston wins with defense, as Sampson's team is allowing only 57.3 PPG, ranking second-best in the nation. The Cougars are holding opponents to 36.5% shooting (1st), including 25.5% on threes (also 1st).

Wichita St's season was marred before it got started, as head coach Gregg Marshall resigned as coach of Wichita State after multiple allegations of verbal and physical abuse spanning years on November 17, 2020. Marshall's success started at Winthrop (seven NCAA berths in nine years) and continued at Wichita St, winning the NIT title in 2011 then winning 30-plus games in three straight seasons, including a Final 4 appearance in 2013. Lead assistant Isaac Brown was named interim head coach and has done an excellent job, despite losing center Echenique (11.3 & 7.1) plus guards Stevenson (11.1 & 4.7( and Burton (10.3-3.5-3.4). However, the Shockers are a deep team this season, led by a quartet of guards in Etienne (17.3), UConn transfer Gilbert (10.2-3.1-3.7) and Dennis (8.6 & 3.8) and Council (7.5 & 4.5). The top frontcourt performers are the 6-8 Udeze (9.8 & 3.6), the 6-6 Wade (6.3 & 5.7) and 6-7 JUCO transfer Jackson (5.6 & 4.4).

Wichita St was picked seventh in the league in the preseason and as interim coach Isaac Brown noted, "I think the guys took that in a way that we're going to show everyone that we're better than that. I think having nobody on the preseason all-conference list, that stuff motivates those kids. It gets them to play harder. It gets them to buy in and it gets them to want to prove the point to everybody." Wichita St 'hung with the Cougars in Houston (seven-point loss as an 11-point dog) and Getting a 'TD' or more of points here at home makes them a very 'LIVE' home underdog.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Oddsmaker's Error Game of the Month is on the GS Warriors at 10:05 ET.

The Miami Heat made a great run last season in the Orlando 'bubble,' reaching the NBA Finals before losing four games to two against the LA Lakers. The Heat's 16-5 ATS record was easily the best of any team in the postseason. However, the current season has not gone smoothly, as the Heat are not only just 11-6 but their 9-17-1 ATS record (34.6%) is an NBA-worst! Golden State's story is well-known, as after FIVE straight appearances in the Finals, the Warriors lost Kevin Durant and Andre Iguodala to sign-and-trades, Shaun Livingston retired and Klay Thompson sat out the entire season with a knee injury. The result was the NBA's worst record (15-50). Thompson then blew out his Achilles this offseason while rehabbing from knee surgery, so expectations were again low. However, the Warriors have been a pleasant surprise by going a respectable 15-13. 

The Heat basically returned their entire roster intact from last year's run to the Finals but Miami will visit Golden State (fourth contest of a SEVEN-game road trip) with only the East's 10th-best record. Miami had one game canceled in January and struggled to suit up the NBA-minimum number of healthy bodies several other times but currently has no players absent due to COVID reasons. However, guards Dragic (14.4 & 5.3 APG) and Bradley (8.5 PPG and an excellent defender) are both out with ankle and calf injuries, respectively. Butler (19.9-7.4-7.1) has excellent numbers but has missed 12 games but he's back in the lineup now and joined by FIVE more double digit scorers. The best of the bunch are the 6-9 Adebayo (19.8-9.4-5.3) and second-year guard Herro (17.3-5.8-3.9), who was terrific down the stretch in last season's playoffs. That said, Miami remains 11-16 and 9-17-1 ATS.

The Warriors are coming off a 129-98 home beatdown of the Cavs on Monday, as Steph Curry had 36 points in 30 minutes and Draymond Green recorded a career-high-tying 16 assists to pace the win. Curry's (30.1-5.3-5.9) is having a terrific season and Green (5.2-5.6-8.3) has lately started at center with 1st-round pick James Wiseman (12.2 & 6.1) sidelined with a wrist injury. SF Wiggins (17.5 & 4.6) has found a 'home' in the Bay Area plus fellow SF Oubre (13.9 & 4.6) has lately been more of a SG, paired in the backcourt with Curry. Joining Monday's starting lineup with the above four was Toscano-Anderson (6.9 & 4.9) plus second-year forward Paschall (10.0) plus vets Lee (6.5) and Bazemore (6.4) contributed off the bench.

Curry admitted after the romp over Cleveland that he's frustrated by the fact that the Warriors keep beating the league's weaker clubs (10-2 against teams under .500) yet struggle against the heavyweights (5-11 against teams .500 and above). For the Warriors to make and survive in the playoffs that will have to change but for the HERE and NOW, don't the Heat fall into the category of "one of the league's weaker teams?" See above for a reminder.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Revenge Rout is on Butler at 6:30 ET.

The Marquette Golden Eagles are 9-12 (5-10 Big East) and will visit Butler to take on the Bulldogs, who are struggling and by going 7-11 overall (6-9 in the Big East). Marquette head coach Steve Wojciechowski lost Markus Howard, who led the nation in scoring last season at 27.8 PPG plus fellow senior Scar Anim, who added 13.1 PPG. However, he welcomed an impressive freshman to his roster, the 6-11 Dawson Garcia (31.9 & 9.7 last year in high school) plus has surrounded him with a deep supporting cast (to no avail?).

LaVall Jordan is in his fourth season at Butler and last year's team was 22-9 before the shutdown (would have made the NCAAs for a fifth time in six seasons). However, Butler lost key players from that team, including leading scorer Baldwin (16.2) and three-point shooter McDermott. Butler has mostly struggled this season.

Garcia (12.6 & 6.7) has been good but not great for Marquette but the Golden Eagles do own a solid Core 6.' Ohio St transfer Carton (12.9-3.6-3.5) is joined by McEwen (12.00 in the backcourt, while the 6-7 Cain (9.9 & 5.8), the 6-9 John (8.3 & 5.8) and 6-7 freshman Lewis (8.1 & 6.0) support Garcia up front. The 6-5 Bo Hodges (transfer from ETSU) just became eligible recently at Butler and in five games has averaged team highs of 11.4 PPG and 8.2 RPG. He joins a trio of guards, all averaging in double digits; Bolden 911.2), Thompson (10.8 & 4.8 APG) and Harris (10.8). Up front, the 6-7 Nze adds 10.7 & 7.7 and the 6-9 Golden 9.1 & 4.4.

Both of these teams SHOULD be better than their current records but I'll back Butler, looking to avenge a 70-67 loss at Marquette on Feb 2. That victory was Marquette's ONLY win in its last SEVEN games and now plays its third contest of a SIX-game road trip. Butler takes this one "with room to spare!"

Good luck...Larry 

My 10* "Best of the Best" Conference Game of the Year (Big South) is on Radford at 6:00 ET.

Radford was 21-11 last season, tying Winthrop at 15-3 for the Big South's best conference mark. However, the Highlanders lost all FIVE starters from last year's team. Meanwhile, Gardner-Webb was 16-16 (11-7 in the Big South). I can make this 'short and sweet.' Gardner-Webb is currently just 8-14 (7-10 Big Couth), while Radford checks in at 13-9 but 12-4 in the Big South.

The Bulldogs are a guard-oriented team, as only the 6-6 Reid (6.1 & 4.2) and the 6-8 Dufeal (4.1 & 4.6) making any contributions up front, PG Cornwell leads in scoring (14.0)and assists (4.0) plus Williams adds 11.5 PPG off the bench. Three other guards average between 6.8 and 9.5 PPG. Lance Terry averaged 15.5 PPG through Dec 30 but just returned from an injury for Gardner-Webb's last two games, scoring a total of just SEVEN points. Radford has just ONE double digit scorer and that's guard Ali (10.5 PPG) but SIX others chip in between 7.0 and 9.6 PPG. Radford will own a big advantage up front, as two players have really made big 'jumps this season. 6-5 SF Walker averaged just 3.1 PPG last season but is averaging 7.4 PPG and a team-high 8.0 RPG. The 6-9 Djonkam averaged 2.8 & 2.3 but this season he's up to 9.0 & 5.2. Throw in the 6-8 Mangum (9.6 & 4.2) and expect the Highlanders to dominate inside.

Here's the rub. Radford was a perfect 7-0 at home this season plus owned an 11-3 ATS record since Dec 15 before hosting the Big South's most dominant team, Winthrop, for back-to-back home games on Feb 11 and 12. Winthrop 'spanked' Radford 80-49 in the first meeting and then won again in a low-scoring game, 55-47.Now, Radford welcomes Gardner-Webb to Dedmon Center for back-to-back games Wednesday and Thursday to wrap up its regular season. A pair of wins will clinch the Big South's No. 2 seed for the tourney and note that Gardner-Webb 'limps' in just 1-10 on the road for the season (lone win was back on Dec 31). The price is sure manageable and I look for Radford to win handily.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* PERFECT STORM is on the Bos Celtics at 7:05 ET.

The Denver Nuggets earned the title of "Comeback Kids' in last season's playoffs in the 'bubble' but opened the current season just 1-4. Denver then won 11 of 15 and ended January at 12-8. However, the Nuggets opened February with THREE straight losses, before winning three in a row after its impressive 122-105 home win over the Lakers on Sunday. However, the 15-11 Nuggets are no closer to the West's No. 3 seed (Clippers), as they are ahead of the West's No. 14 seed (Rockets). Denver is 4 1/2 back of the LA Clippers and 4 1/2 games ahead of Houston (14th of 15 West teams).

The Nuggets open a four-game road trip Tuesday in Boston against the Celtics. Boston opened the current season 8-3 but are just 5-10 since and at 13-13 has fallen behind the East's No. 1 seed (Philly) by four games, while leading the East's No. seed (Chicago) by just two games. Boston's fast start has long faded and a team that was considered a real contender to win the Eastern Conference is .500 and mulling trade options as the deadline approaches.

Denver has as much quality depth as any team but SG Gary Harris (10.1) has missed straight  with a left adductor strain, PJ Dozier (hamstring) will likely miss a few more games with his hamstring, swingman Barton (11.6-3.7-3.2) didn't play Sunday for personal reasons plus starting PF Paul Millsap (10.4 & 5.2) missed the second half of the Lakers game with a left knee sprain. Center Jokic (26.3-11.5-8.7). Jokic had his sixth triple-double in the win, PG Jamal Murray (18.5-4.4-4.4) had 25 points and SF Porter, who missed 10 games from late-Dec through late-Jan is back contributing 14.5 & 6.9 on the season.

Boston's 'Dynamic' duo of Brown and Tatum had been the team's top-two producers, with Brown (26.0-5.7-3.4) currently slightly ahead of Tatum (25.6-7.1-5.4) entering this contest. PG Kemba Walker didn't get on the court this season until Jan 17 and while he averaged 16.3-9-4.0 in 12 games, Boston is only 4-8 in that span. Boston really misses Smart (13.1 & 6.) but has depth in the backcourt and the frontcourt.

Boston is a disappointment but is NOT a .500 team. Perfect spot to step up tonight against the Nuggets, coming off that big wo=in over the Lakers!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* PERFECT STORM is on UConn at 6:30 ET.

UConn moved to the AAC for the 2013-14 season and made an improbable run to the Final Four and won a national championship. However, it has spent the last six seasons going just 110-90, with just two seasons of 20-plus wins and one NCAA tourney appearance. The Huskies have fallen out of the national 'picture' but a return to the Big East this season had expectations running high in Storrs. UConn opened 7-1 this season  and were ranked 23rd when it lost 74-70 at home to St John's. UConn welcomes Providence to Stoors having lost FOUR of six, to give them a record (in the Big East).

Ed Cooley of Providence is in his 10th season at the school. After a slow start to last season, Providence earned FIVE, top-25 wins in February, ending with a 12-6 Big East record. Nothing too surprising there, as the Friars have 10-plus Big East wins in SIX of the last seven seasons. However, this year's team is a modest 11-109 (7-8 in the Big East). Diallo (14.1 & 7.8) led Providence in scoring last season  but the big guard graduated, as did fellow guard Pipkins (10.8). The 6-10 Nate Watson was a fan favorite last season (9.0 & 4.6) and is gaining in popularity by averaging 17.2 & 6.8 plus PG Duke (leads the tram in scoring and assists (17.4-6.3-4.9). Fellow guard Reeves adds 9.9 &n 3.9  currently, no other healthy Friar is averaging as much as six PPG.

Losing the 6-5 Bouknight (20.3 & 5.3) after six games on Jan 5 due (to an elbow injury), has been HUGE but guards Martin (12.1 & 7.4) and Cole (9.3 & 3.7 APG) have begun to step up. UConn had lost four of five prior to Saturday's 80-72 win at Xavier, as Cole scored a season-high 24 points, making 7 of 14 from the floor and hitting five 3-pointers to go with his season-high seven assists. Up front it's three 6-9 players, Polley (8.7), Whaley (8.3 & 6.4) and freshman Sanogo (6.4 & 4). UConn lost 70-59 at Providence on Feb 10, as the Huskies made just 4 of 20 three-pointers, while getting outscored 18-5 on the Ft line. That should change here at home (fans or no fans). Lay the points.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* "Best of the Best" Division Game of the Year (Central) is on the Ind Pacers at 7:05 ET.

The Indiana Pacers ran into the Miami Heat in the first round of last season's playoffs and got swept 4-0 by the team that would make it all the way to the NBA Finals. As for the Chicago Bulls, they failed to even make the Orlando 'bubble' with a 22-43 record prior to the shut down. Even more troubling was the fact that last season's winning percentage (.338) was better than Chicago's previous full season, when the team went 22-60 (.268) and 27-55 (.329). The last three seasons have been quite a fall from grace for a franchise that had made 11 playoff appearances in its previous 13 seasons.

Chicago opened the current season 7-8 but owned the NBA's best ATS record (11-4) during that 15-game start. However, Chicago enters this contest on a 3-7 SU & ATS run. Zach LaVine (28.1-5.4-5.3) and second-year PG White (15.6-4.6-5.4) form an outstanding backcourt, with LaVine entering this contest having led the Bulls in scoring in each of the team's previous SIX games (32.7 PPG!). Chicago's most recent game was a 125-106 loss in LA vs the Clippers and injuries have taken a toll on this team. The 6-10 Wendell Carter Jr. (12.8 & 8.0) hasn't played since Jan 18 because of a bruised right quad. SF Otto Porter Jr. (11.6 & 6.3) has missed SIX consecutive games with back spasms and the 7-0 Lauri Markkanen (19.1 & 6.1) has missed his four straight games with a right shoulder sprain. All FIVE of the above-mentioned players are first-round draft picks!

Oladipo (20.0 PPG) is gone in a trade and his expected replacement (LeVert) has a medical issue that will keep him out for the remainder of the season plus SF Warren, who averaged 15.5 PPG in the season's 1st four games, has not played since. However, the Pacers but there is still enough talent to go around. PG Brogdon (21.1-4.3-6.3) and PF Sabonis (20.8-11.5-5.6) are playing at an All Star level plus center Turner averages 13.5 & 6.8, while leading the NBA in blocks (3.4 per). McDermott is now starting and averaging 13.3 PPG on 51.5 percent shooting. The Holidays, Justin (11.4 & 4.0) and Aaron (7.3) have both been solid plus Lamb's return from injury is a BIG deal. He has averaged 12.1 PPG (on 50.9% shooting) in his 14 games back since tearing his ACL last February.

Indiana scored 41 points in the fourth quarter on Saturday night to rally to a 125-113 road win over the Atlanta Hawks and now look for a third straight win tonight against the Bulls, who as noted earlier, are FAR from 100 percent healthy. The Pacers have yet to go on a 'run' and even so, their 14-13 record gives them the East's current No. 4, just TWO games back of the second-seeded Bucks. Watch out for this Indiana team.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* PERFECT STORM is on Florida St at 7:00 ET.

Tony Bennett's record is among the best in CBB. He came to Charlottesville to begin the 2009-10 season and in his first two years at the school went 15-16 and 16-15. Enough of that! It's been NINE straight seasons of 20-plus wins since, including four seasons of 30-plus wins. Bennett and UVa lost to UMBC in the opening round of the 2018 NCAA tournament, becoming the first time since expansion in 1985 that a No. 1 seed lost to a No. 16 one, However, the Cavs came back to win the title in 2019, as ESPN called Virginia's championship run "the most redemptive season in the history of college basketball." UVa was 23-7 when the season was shut down last March. As for Florida St head coach Leonard Hamilton, he has built a championship-caliber program in Tallahassee, one that had produced the THIRD most victories among ACC schools heading into the current season, behind only Duke and Virginia since 2016. How many knew that? 

UVa lost the 6-9 Diakite (13.7 & 6.8) and 6-8 big guard Key (9.9 & 7.4) from last season. However, three starters are averaging in double digits, while PG Clark (9.8 & 4.6 APG) just misses. This year's team is led by 6-8 Marquette transfer Sam Hauser (15.1 & 7.1), the returning 7-1 Huff (13.4 & 6.7), the 6-9 Trey Murphy (11.5). Beekman (5.4) has been the team's fifth starter with fellow guard Morell adding 5.1 PPG off the bench. Bennett's teams always are known for their defense and the Cavs are holding opponents to 58.8 PPG (4th).

Florida State was 26-5 and poised to make a Final Four run before the postseason was curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic but entered this season losing three key players from a team.PG Forrest (11.6-4.4-4.0), SG Vassell (12.7 & 5.1) and 6-7 swingman Williams (9.7 & 4.0), who were all chosen in the NBA draft. However, guard MJ Walker is back and leads with 13.7 PPG and he's surrounded by a talented group. Unfortunately, the 7-1 Koprivica (9.2 & 5.8) hasn't played since Jan 30 but the 6-8 Gray (11.1 & 6.6) and the 6-9 Osborne (5.6 & 5.0) plus 6-9 freshman Barnes checks in averaging 10.5-3.8-4.2). He's listed as a guard, much like UVa' Key from last season (see above). Returning guard Polite just misses double digits (9.8 & 4.6).

Florida St knows something about playing defense as well, holding opponents to 40.4% shooting (UVa allows 40.8%) but is allowing 69.5 PPG (11 more than UVa). However, FSU is averaging 79.1 PPG, NINE points more per game than UVa. The Cavaliers have won FOUR straight and 11 of their last 12, entering this contest 15-3, and 11-1 in the ACC (first-place). The Seminoles are 11-3 overall (7-2 in the ACC) but own a school-record 23-game Atlantic Coast Conference home winning streak! FSU's ACC home winning streak is the second-longest in league history behind Duke's 26-game run from 1997-2000. FSU hasn't lost at the Donald L. Tucker Center since Jan 12, 2019, against the then-No. 1 Blue Devils. Can you say 24 straight home wins?

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Western Conference Game of the Month is on the Den Nuggets at 10:05 ET.

The Los Angeles Lakers sit atop the Pacific Division at 21-6, two games up on the Clippers and four up on the Suns. Yes, LA has won seven in a row but things have hardly gone smoothly for the Lakers plus the defending champs also find themselves one game behind the blistering hot Utah Jazz (Jazz have won 18 of 19 and are 22-5). The Denver Nuggets earned the title of "Comeback Kids' in last season's playoffs in the 'bubble,' but opened the current season just 1-4. Denver then won 11 of 15 and ended January at 12-8. However, the Nuggets opened February with THREE straight losses, before posting back-to-back wins. They welcome the Lakers to Pepsi Center at 14-11, leaving them as the West's No. 7 seed and dangerously close to the postseason 'cut line!'

The Lakers began a seven-game road trip back on Jan 21 and won the first three games, before losing 107-106 at Philly, ending their 10-0 start to the season on the road. LA finished that road trip 5-2 (winning the final two games) and returned home to beat the Nuggets 114-93 on Feb 4. FOUR more home wins followed, so LA will take a seven-game winning streak into Denver (more in a bit). LBJ (25.8-7.9-7.9) hasn't missed a game, while A.D. (22.9 & 8.6), the other Half of LA's "Dynamic Duo," has missed five. He was back on the court (Achilles' issue) on Friday and scored 35 points. The Lakers have gotten a HUGE boost from PG Schroder (14.1-3.8-4.4) and PF Harrell (13.5 & 6.3 in 25 MPG off the bench). Those off-season additions are joined by returning guard Caldwell-Pope (8.6 ) and SF Kuzma (10.7 & 6.0), who continue to be regular contributors.

Denver is led by center Jokic (26.7-11.3-8.6) who gets better each season. He's surrounded by one of the NBA's deepest rosters, led by PG Murray (18.3-4.0-4.4). PF Porter (14.9 & 6.2) missed 10 games because of health protocols but is back. Swingman Barton (11.6-3.7-3.3), PG Morris (11.0 & 3.4 APG), PF Green (10.1 & 6.3 in 21 MPG off the bench), PF Millsap (10.4 & 5.2) and SG Harris (10.1) all score in double digits. All but Harris (adductor strain) are "good to go" in this one.

I mentioned things not going smoothly for LA and let me explain. The Lakers returned from their road trip to beat the Nuggets 114-93 but trailed by 12 at the half, before outscoring Denver by 33 points in the second half. That game was followed by a double-OT win over then sad-sack Pistons, then back-to-back OT wins over OKC. A quick glance at Friday's 115-105 win over Memphis does NOT reveal that LA fell behind the Grizzlies 22-2 (yes, that's right!) to open the game! Denver HAS to view this as a "statement game" plus who knows when Anthony Davis' sore Achilles will act up and force him to miss a game? A.D> or not, I'm backing the small home dog.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Weekend Wipeout is on the Dal Mavs at 7:35 ET.

The Portland Trail Blazers have won THREE in a row and FIVE of their last six as they open a three-game road trip Sunday in Dallas, facing a Mavericks' team coming in on its own hot streak. The Mavericks have won FOUR straight and FIVE of six. The Blazers are 15-10 (current No. 5 seed in the West) and the Mavs are 13-14, still ONE game back of the No. 8 seeded Warriors.

The Trail Blazers remain without CJ McCollum (26.7 PPG), who last played on Jan 16 due to a foot injury. Post players Zach Collins and Jusuf Nurkic (9.8 & 7.7 in 12 games) are also out with ankle and wrist injuries, respectively. Lillard (29.0-4.4-7.2) leads the way with Trent (14.8) starting in the palace of McCollum and Kanter (11.5 & 11.1) stepping in for Nurkic. Then there is Carmelo Anthony (13.5 PPG), who continues to provide excellent scoring off the bench. 

Dallas finally has its full complement of players on the roster again after the return of Maxi Kleber (7.0 & 5.3), who had missed 11 games in health and safety protocols. Starting alongside Doncic (28.5-8.7-9.4) and Porzingis (20.7 & 8.3) are guard Richardson (12.8) plus forwards Finney-Smith (8..8 & 4.9) and Kleber. SF Hardaway comes off the bench to average 16.8 PPG plus guards Brunson (11.7) and Burke (8.2) add more 'punch' off the bench. 

The Mavericks lost six straight from the end of January into the beginning of February as noted above, have won five of six, including FOUR straight. I had Dallas in its 143-130 Friday win over New Orleans and wrote the following, "It's hard for me to understand why Dallas is just 12-14 but there are REAL signs that things are about to change!" Dallas has averaged 130.5 PPG in its four-game winning streak and I'm 'riding' them again here!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* "Best of the Best" Conference Game of the Year (MEAC) is on Morgan St at 2:00 ET.

The Norfolk State head coach Robert Jones is in his eighth season coaching the Spartans and he opened the current season in much better shape than his situation last year. That team featured 10 newcomers and the Spartans finished just 16-15, although they were 12-4 in MEAC play. Norfolk St entered this season with a pair of excellent guards, as both Bishop (15.6 & 3.5) and Whitley (10.1 & 5.2) graduated. PG Devante Carter leads the team in scoring (15.6), rebounding (5.3) and assists (3.8), while fellow guards Bryant (11.2 & 4.1) and Hawkins (9.2 & 5.2) give him solid perimeter support. The Spartans' lone frontcourt performer of note is the 6-9 Mathews (9.2 & 5.2).

Morgan St's Kevin Broadus took the job last season and it had been nearly a decade since his previous head coaching gig. His first season saw the team go 15-16 (9-7 in MEAC play) but the good news was, FOUR starters returned. Morgan St has two solid frontcourt players in the 6-9 Baxter (16.6 & 4.7) and the 6-8 Grantsaan (15.5 & 5.2), A four-guard rotation provides excellent depth on the perimeter led by Ware (15.5 & 5.2 off the bench) and starter Miller (13.4) plus a team-high 8.6 RPG.

Norfolk St won at Morgan St 74-69 on Saturday, as Carter had 20 points, while Bryant and Hicks (7.9) each had 18. Bryant and Hicks combined to make SEVEN of 13 threes.  Meanwhile, Morgan St's two big men were MIA. Grantsaan took just TWO shots (5 points / 4 rebounds), with Baxter scoring 13 points but shooting 3 of 14 from the The loss was Morgan St's first since Jan 17! the team had seen FOUR postponements since that game but was on a 5-0 run entering Saturday's contest. In this "instant payback" situation, expect the Bears to win and win HANDILY, as a win means Morgan St would move to 7-3 in the MEAC North, 1 1/2 games ahead of (including TWO in the loss column) Norfolk St. Double digit win expected!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Situational Stunner is on Wisconsin at 1:00 ET.

Michigan's Juwan Howard's first season as head coach saw his team open 7-0, then go 6-9 over its next 15 games. A six-game win streak followed but Michigan lost three of four before the shutdown (19-11 finish). However, Howard's sophomore year at Michigan has grabbed everyone's attention! 13-1 Michigan rose to No. 4 in the AP poll on Jan 24 but the basketball team (like every sport at Michigan) was put on a COVID-19 pause for two weeks. Idle since a Jan 22 win at Purdue (70-53), the Wolverines get back on the court Sunday at Wisconsin, ranked No. 3. Wisconsin has had a terrific basketball program for decades and Greg Gard is in his sixth season at Madison, having had FOUR 20-win seasons in his first five. The Badgers enter this game 15-6 (9-5 in the Big Ten) and currently ranked 21st in the latest AP poll.

Gone from Michigan's team last season are PG Simpson (12.9-4.5-7.9) and the 7-1 Teske (11.6 & 6.7). 6-7 senior Livers led Michigan in scoring last season and is averaging 14.6 & 6.0 this season. The Wolverines have an experienced group but their leading scorer is 7-1 freshman Hunter Dickinson (15.1 & 7.2). Experience comes in guards Wagner (12.0 & 7.1), Brown (8.8), Brooks (8.8) and Smith (8.4). Michigan is averaging 79.7 PPG (35th) on 50.9% shooting (7th), while holding opponents to 65.4 PPG (61st) on 37,4% shooting (3rd).

Wisconsin starts FIVE seniors, guards Trice (13.5-3.5-3.8) and Davison (8.9 & 3.3) plus the 6-10 Potter (11.8 & 6.1), the 6-11 Reuvers (9.5 & 3.7) and the 6-8 Ford (9.0 & 4.2). 6-5 freshman Davis (7.0 & 4.3) and 6-9 sophomore Wahl (5.6 & 4.3) both contribute off the bench. Wisconsin is scoring about nine PPG (70.8) less than Michigan but can match the Wolverines on the defensive end, allowing just 62.4 PPG (20th).

Juwan Howard confirmed that Michigan's first practice after a mandatory 14-day break looked like the workout of a team that hadn't touched a ball in two weeks. "There were some turnovers being made," he said. "There was some excessive fouling. There were some wobbly legs." Isaiah Livers compared that practice to the start of a new season. One big difference in the start of an actual season and a restart to a pandemic season is that the Wolverines don't get to ease into things but instead are in Madison Sunday, then return home to face No. 25 Rutgers on Wednesday and back on the road to visit No. 4 Ohio State on Feb 21.

Wisconsin is 11-2 at home and how CAN'T the Badgers remember getting routed 77-54 at Michigan back on Jan 12, a game that featured a mind-boggling 43-6 run spanning the halves by the Wolverines. Head coach Greg Gard said he is not focused on revenge games but a "W" here for Wisconsin would feel pretty 'sweet!' That's my bet.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Bailout Blowout is on St Mary's at 8:00 ET.

The Saint Mary’s Gaels and the Pepperdine Waves meet in Malibu on Saturday night. St Mary's was 11-5 after a 67-63 win at San Francisco on Jan 23 but has NOT played since, as FIVE games have been postponed. Pepperdine checks in at 9-8, as the Waves welcome the Gaels to the Firestone Fieldhouse. Randy Bennett has been head coach at St Mary's since the 2001-02 season and entered this season with a 440-1982 (.707) record. The Gaels posted their 13th season of 20-plus wins last year, as they were 26-8 when COVID shut things down. Would the Gaels have gotten an NCAA bid? Bennett and his various teams know all about NCAA snubs, as SIX times in the previous 12 seasons, his team had been denied an NCAA bid despite seasons of 28, 25, 23, 21, 29 and 30 wins. No Kidding! Lorenzo Romar began his coaching career at Pepperdine in the late 90s but left for St Louis and then Washington. He led the Huskies to six NCAA berths in his first nine seasons but then NONE in his final six (was fired after a 9-22 season). He's back at Pepperdine but like in his first stint, has been basically a .500 coach.

Is St Mary's too rested (rusty)? We'll see but the Gaels have "all hands on deck." Guards Kushe (14.3-3.6-5.4), Johnson (11.6) and Ducas (10.9) make up an excellent backcourt, plus the 6-10 Tass (10.3 & 5.0) and the 6-7 Fotu (8.7 & 4.4) are solid players. Pepperdine owns a terrific inside/outside duo in the 6-8 Edwards (17.1 & 7.1) and PG Ross (17.2-3.9-7.5) but not much else.

St Mary's has been a quality program for the entire tenure on Bennett and ATS history is on the road team's side in this series (road team is 24-8-1 ATS in the last 33 meetings between these two teams).Also note that St Mary's is 14-5 ATS in their last 19 road games against a team with a winning home record. A win means a cover and I'm looking for St Mary's to NOT make me 'sweat' this one down the stretch.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* "Best of the Best" Conference Game of the Year (MVC) is on Missouri St at 6:00 ET.

Brain Wardle (currently in his sixth season at Bradley) entered the 2020-21 season off THREE straight 20-win seasons. That included back-to-back MVC tourney titles (2019 and 2020), marking the first time in school history that the Braves had accomplished that feat! With Loyola returning all five starters from last season, Bradley was not expected to be the MVC's top teams this season but Bradley was sure expected to be better than its current record of 11-11, including 5-8 in conference play. Dana Ford is in his third season at Missouri St and the team was expected to contend last year. However, the Bears finished 16-17 (9-9 in MVC play).

The Braves 'limp' into Springfield, Mo. for tonight's game having lost SEVEN of eight (the two teams will meet again Sunday at JQH Arena). Bradley has a trio of solid frontcourt players in the 6-7 Childs (14.2 & 8.3), the 6-6 Henry (10.7 & 4.7) and the 6-9 Mast (7.1 & 5.4), The backcourt features Nolan (11.2), Tahvanainen (8.00 and East (8.4 & 4.0 APG). However, Missouri St counters with 6-5 forward Mosley (20.8 & 6.8) and the 6-8 Prim (14.8 & 8.9) plus four more solid contributors. Guard Black (9.7), the 6-8 Ridder (8.1) plus two JC transfers, Sharp (8.0) and Hervey (7.5 & 4.5).

The Braves are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 road games and 1-6-2 ATS in their last 9 games overall. Note that Missouri St didn't play its first game until Dec 16 but then opened 9-1. FOUR straight losses followed but those defeats came against 17-3 Loyola and 19-1 Drake! Should that be held against them? The Bears have rebounded with THREE straight wins (2-0-1 ATS) and are 12-5 overall, including 8-5 in MVC play (behind only Loyola and Drake. 'Cheap' price here!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* play is on Villanova at 5:00 ET.

Creighton was ranked No. 11 in the AP's preseason poll (the highest in school history) and after a 3-0 start is up to No. 8 as the Bluejays visit No. 7 Kansas, which is 4-1. Greg McDermott is now in his 11th season at Creighton and after tying for the Big East title last season and finishing 24-7, Creighton was picked to finish second behind Villanova in a preseason poll of league coaches. Villanova's Jay Wright lost Saddiq Bey (16.1 & 4.7) to the NBA (was a first-round NBA draft pick) but four double digit scorers from last year's team returned. Villanova's preseason ranking of No. 3 was its highest since the 1995-96 season. The 13-2 Wildcats (8-1 Big East) are currently ranked No. 5 (COVID issues have cost the team numerous games) and will visit 15-5 Creighton (11-4 Big East), which is currently ranked No. 19. 

Villanova is one of the most dangerous teams in the country for many reasons but offensive balance is at the top of the list. All FIVE starters average in double digits. The 6-9 Robinson-Earl (16.1 & 7.3) leads in scoring and rebounding and is joined up front by the 6-7 Samuels (11.1 & 6.5). That duo is joined by a trio of double-digit scoring guards, PG Gillespie (14.5 & 5.2 APG), Moore (12.9 & 4.7) and Daniels (11.2). The 6-9 Swider comes off the bench to add 6.7 & 3.4. The Bluejays match up well vs 'Nova, with a trio of guards in Mahoney (14.5 & 4.7), PG Zegarowski (14.4-4.0-4.3) and Ballock (10.4). 6-5 SF Jefferson (12.2 & 5.2) and the 6-7 Bishop (11.6 & 5.6) get help up front from 7-0 freshman Ryan Kalkbrenner (6.7 & 3.9).

This is a "big time" game and in the end, it's Villanova which will make the deciding plays. My bet says that Creighton is VERY good but not quite in the "same class" as 'Nova!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* PERFECT STORM is on the Pho Suns at 3:05 ET.

The Philadelphia 76ers are playing their third contest of a four-game road trip when they visit the Suns this afternoon in Phoenix. Philly opened the trip with a win in Sacramento but lost 118-114 at Portland on Thursday and now finished the trip Saturday in Phoenix and Monday in Utah. The Jazz are currently the NBA's 'hottest' (best?) team, with a 212-5 record after winning 17 of their last 18. However, looking past the Suns would be a mistake, as Phoenix is 15-9 after winning SEVEN of eight, including FOUR straight.

Joel Embiid used a strict offseason conditioning program and it seems to have worked well. He has missed five of the 26 games but has been dominant when on the court, averaging 29.4 & 10.9. PF Harris (20.1 & 7.4) joins him as a 20-point scorer plus while Simmons' scoring is slightly down (14.0 PPG), his overall game has been very good (8.3 RPG and 8.0 APG). Rookie Maxey (8.8) plus vets Danny Green (8.7) and center Dwight Howard (5.8 & 7.7 in 17 MPG) have each played all 26 games, while Seth Curry (12.8) is back healthy. However, Philly could be missing guard Milton (14.0) due to an ankle injury.

The Suns surprised all with their 8-0 SU & ATS performance in the Orlando 'bubble' to end last season and made a key offseason move designed to put an end to the team's 10-season playoff drought by signing PG Chris Paul. The Suns opened 5-1 but in games played through Jan 27 were just 8-8. However, Phoenix is back playing well and enters this contest winners of SEVEN of its last eight and at 15-9, the Suns currently own the West's No. 4 seed. Devin Booker missed a handful of games with a hamstring injury but he's back (23.8-3.7-4.3 on the season). Paul missed his first game of the season last Monday but returned the next game to score 28 points in a win over Milwaukee. The vet is averaging 16.9-4.5-8.1 on the season (EXACTLY as Phoenix had hoped. 6-11 center Ayton (14.1 & 12.6) has been both consistent AND healthy, delivering 15 double-doubles. Former first round picks Bridges (14.5 & 5.5) and Johnson (11.3 & 3.8) have made HUGE strides this season. SF Crowder was another key off-season addition and is averaging 10.1 & 5.0.

Philly is a dominant 11-2 at home but just 7-6 on the road and as noted, the Suns are playing VERY well. An "under the radar move" should be noted, as PF Frank Kaminsky was inserted into the starting lineup four games ago with the Suns going 4-0 SU and ATS. Kaminsky has averaged 11.8 & 6.8 in those four games plus in the last two, has also handed out 13 assists. I'm 'riding' the Suns to another "W."

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Eye-Opener of the Month is on Drake at 12:00 ET.

Bradley has won the last two MVC tourneys (1st time in school history by the way) but Loyola returned all five starters from last year's 23-11 team and Porter Moser's Ramblers were the preseason pick to win the conference in the 2020-21 season. Drake head coach Darian DeVries led the Bulldogs to 24 and 20-win seasons in his first two seasons at Drake but was a middle-of-the-pack preseason pick in the MVC. However, as the two teams get set to meet for the first time this season (and play again on Sunday vs each other), Loyola has met expectations with a 17-2 record (12-1 MVC) but Drake has surprised all by going 19-1 (10-1 MVC). Loyola Chicago's main focus this weekend will be to keep Drake from supplanting it atop the MVC standings, a task made more difficult as BOTH games will be played in Des Moines at Drake's Knapp Center.

Loyola will be playing as a ranked regular-season team for the first time in 36 years and riding its longest winning streak in three seasons, the No. 22 Ramblers look for an 11th straight victory on Saturday, with the last time the school has won at least 11 in a row was when it reached the Final Four in 2018. 6-9 senior center Krutwig (15.5 & 6.1) is the lone Loyola player in double digits but the Ramblers are a well-balanced team with SEVEN more players getting 13-plus minutes of playing time, including FIVE getting 21-plus minutes. Loyola is shooting 52.1 percent during its 10-game winning streak (that dates to its 58-48 win at Indiana State on Jan 11), while holding opponents to an average of 51.3 PPG on 38.2-percent shooting.

Drake has NINE players that have participated in each of the team's 20 games this season. The top performers are the 6-6 Hemphill (14.1 & 6.3), PG Penn (12.4 & 5.6 APG) and guard Wilkins (10.1). Joining those three in the starting lineup are the 6-6 Murphy (9.4 & 5.1) and the 6-10 Brodie (7.2 & 7.3). While Loyola is currently "The King of the Hill" in the MVC, it was Drake that was 18-0 and ranked 25th in the country before shooting a season-low 36.5 percent during a 74-57 loss at Valparaiso last Sunday. However, Drake bounced back behind 18 points each from Tremell Murphy and Joseph Yesufu (8.8) and a 47.6-percent team-shooting effort in Wednesday's 80-59 home win over Northern Iowa.

Drake's a MONEY-MAKING 15-3 ATS on the season and I'm taking them as a home dog in this one.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* "Signature" 37-Club Play is on the Mil Bucks at 9:05 ET.

The Milwaukee Bucks have owned the NBA's best regular season in each of the last two seasons, going 60-22 and 56-17. However, the Bucks have flopped in the playoffs each time. Milwaukee had won FIVE in a row (had scored at least 123 in each of its victories while winning by an average margin of 20.8 points) before its Wednesday game in Phoenix. The Bucks scored 124 points that game but allowed 125 to the Suns. Milwaukee is now 16-9, second-best in the East (1 1/2 games back of Philly which is 18-8) but its winning percentage of .640 is nowhere near the .748 of the last two regular seasons. 

The Utah Jazz lost back-to-back games on Jan 5 and 6 and were just 4-4. However, beginning on Jan 8 (more on this game later), the Jazz would rip off 11 consecutive wins (also going 11-0 ATS) before losing 128-117 at Denver on Jan 31. Utah did not let that loss linger, as the Jazz have opened February with FIVE straight wins and the team's lone ATS loss in that span was when they beat the Pistons by 12 points while laying 12 1/2-points! Doing the math, the Jazz welcome the Bucks to Salt Lake City's Vivint Arena 16-1 SU and 15-2 ATS their last 17 games!

The Bucks starting-five has been excellent, led by forwards Antetokounmpo (28.1-11.1-5.6) and Middleton (20.7-6.0-6.2). Jrue Holiday (16.4-4.8-5.4) has made all forget about Bledsoe plus center Lopez (10.7 & 5.2) is rounding into form while DiVincenzo (9.7 & 4.5) has been a solid complement in the backcourt to Holiday. The 6-10 Portis averages 11.1 & 7.5 in about 22 minutes off the bench, while guards Forbes (9.4), Augustin (6.0) and Connaughton (5.5 & 3.7) give this team excellent backcourt depth. The Bucks came VERY close to bringing a six-game winning streak into Utah but lost 125-124 to the Suns on Wednesday, when Giannis Antetokounmpo's jumper went awry at the buzzer. Antetokounmpo finished with 47 points to lead the Bucks, who were playing without Jrue Holiday. The guard missed his second game in a row due to the NBA's health and safety protocols for COVID-19. According to head coach Mike Budenholzer, "He's in a good place and he's taking care of himself," the Bucks coach said about Holiday. "But he has an eye on the team, too." Forbes has taken his place in the starting lineup and has averaged 16.0 PPG!

The Jazz might also be without one of their key players in PG Mike Conley (16.5-3.7-6.8), who has missed two consecutive games with a strained right hamstring and is considered day-to-day. However, Like Milwaukee, Utah has the depth needed to 'cover' Conley's absence. Stepping into the starting lineup has been Ingles, who is averaging 10.7-3.6-4.6 on the season. All Star guard Mitchell (24.0-4.3-5.1) leads Utah in scoring and the trio of Bogdanovich (15.9 & 4.0), Gobert (13.4 & 13.5) and O'Neale (7.9 & 6.6) complete the starting-five. Sixth-man Clarkson (17.4 & 4.3) has been terrific all season and the return of PF Favors (6.0 & 5.7) has been a nice bonus.

When these teams met last season in Utah, the game was decided on the final play. Joe Ingles faked a pass to his right and then threw it to Bogdanovic near the left corner, one of his favorite spots. Ingles raised both his arms before the three-pointer even settled into the net, as Utah beat the Milwaukee Bucks 103-100. The defeat added to Milwaukee's woes in Utah, where the bucks have lost 18 consecutive games since their last road win over the Utah Jazz back on Oct 30, 2001. So why take the Bucks in this one? Getting back to Utah's Jan 8 win that began the team's current 16-1 SU (14-2 ATS) run came in Milwaukee, as the Jazz won 131-118. Utah shot 50.5% for the game, including making 25 three-pointers on 53 attempts! The Bucks shot just 44.9 percent, including an awful 31.0 percent on 42 three-point attempts. Milwaukee is off a hard-luck loss and HAS to view this contest as a "statement" game. Milwaukee is the NBA's top-scoring team (121.4 PPG) plus ranks second in both overall FG percentage (49.4%) and three-point percentage (40.2%). I had Denver over Utah on Jan 31 (Utah's ONLY loss in its last 17 games) and I'm "all over" Milwaukee in this one!

Good luck...Larry