My 9* Weekly Wipeout is on Ohio St 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 interim head coach Jim Ferry led the Nittany Lions to a 3-4 start through Dec 31 but the team's first four games of 2021 were postponed due to COVID-19 issues. Penn St returned on Jan 17 and lost at Purdue and two days later at Illinois. The Nittany Lions have rebounded with two straight wins last week and now take a 5-6 record into this game with No. 13 Ohio St (12-4) in Columbus.

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. Ohio State saw a three-game winning streak end a week ago Tuesday night when Purdue's Jaden Ivey drilled a stepback three-pointer with five seconds to secure a 67-65 decision in Columbus but rebounded with a wire-to-wire, 74-62 win at then-No. 10 Wisconsin on Saturday.

Penn St surely misses All-Big Ten forward Lamar Stevens (17.6 & 6.9) but the Nittany Lions have four players averaging in double figures; the 6-7 Izaiah Brockington (14.7 & 4.8) and the 6-7 Seth Lundy (12.7 & 4.5) plus guards Myreon Jones (15.9) and Sam Sessoms (11.3). Sessoms has come off the bench, with the 6-9 Harrar (7.2 & 8.2) and PG Wheeler (5.0-4.1.4-0) starting alongside Jones and the two 6-7 forwards. Guard Washington (15.3) leads Ohio St in scoring and had been paired with PG Walker (8.7 & 4.1 APG). The frontcourt has four solid contributors led by arguably the team's best player, the 6-7 Liddell (14.5 & 6.8). He's joined on the frontline by the 6-7 Sueing (10.4 & 5.0), the 6-8 Young (8.0 & 5.9), 6-8 freshman Key (6.4 & 3.8) and the 6-6 Aherns (6.8).

The Buckeyes got a boost with the return of senior starting point guard CJ Walker, who missed four games because of torn ligaments in his right hand. He had eight points, three assists, two rebounds and a steal in 24 minutes of playing time in the win at Wisconsin. Having him back is HUGE and note that Ohio St is 7-1 at home (only blemish a two-point loss to Purdue). Yes, Penn St has won back-to-back games but the wins came over Rutgers (2-6 since a 6-0 start) and Northwestern (0-7 after a  6-1 start). Prior to those wins, the Nittany Lions started 0-5 in league play and are 1-4 overall on the road. Lay the points!

Good luck...Larry

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

Greg McDermott has won 20-plus games in NINE of his first 10 seasons at Creighton and the Bluejays were ranked 11th in the AP's preseason poll, the school's highest-ever preseason ranking. Creighton is 11-4 (7-3 in Big East) entering this game at Seton Hall, ranked 17th. Seton Hall believed it could have made a run to the Final Four behind All-American guard Myles Powell (21.0 & 4.3) last season before COVID-19 shut things down. The Pirates were 21-9 and ranked 15th in the country after finishing tied for first in the Big East with a 13-5 record. Powell is now in the NBA but the Pirates are a disappointing 9-6 this season (6-3 in the Big East).

Creighton brought back all starters except leading scorer Alexander (16.9 & 5.0) and this season's starting-five is a strong group. A trio of guards start, along with the 6-7 Bishop (11.3 & 5.2) and 6-5 SF Jefferson (13.0 & 4.9). Denzel Mahoney (15.4 & 4.5), PG Zegarowski (14.4-4.0-4.5) and Ballock (9.1) comprise an impressive backcourt, while the 7-0 Kalkbrenner (7.1 & 4.3) comes off the bench.

The Pirates have SEVEN players who have participated in all 15 games. The 6-11 Mamukelashvili leads the team in scoring (18.4) and rebounding (7.0). Wing Jared Rhoden adds 15.8 & 6.9 and fellow wing Myles Cale (11.6) is the team's third double-digit scorer. PG Reynolds (7.9 & 4.5 APG) and Molson (6.5 & 3.2) are solid backcourt performers, while the 7-2 Obiagu (5.4 & 5.6) starts and the 6-10 Samuel (6.2 & 3.3) comes off the bench to aid Mamukelashvili up front.

Creighton lost 70-66 in OT at Butler and then 74-70 at home to Providence (both schools own losing Big East records), before shooting 51.1 percent from the floor on Saturday in a 74-66 home victory against then-No. 23 UConn (3rd straight ATS loss). Creighton enjoyed its best shooting performance of the season in a rout of Seton Hall back on Jan 6, shooting 59.6 percent; including 13 of 24 from three-point range in an 89-53 home win against Seton Hall. Kevin Willard and his team will remember that one and are eager to get back on the court after overcoming a nine-point deficit with 7:21 left to pull even against No. 3 Villanova, only to fall just 76-74 on Jan 19. Creighton is a good team but I believe overrated and falls to the Pirates in this one.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* AAC Game of the Year is on Memphis at 7:00 ET.

13-1 Houston is now ranked No. 6 in the latest AP poll and with an 8-1 record in the AAC is unquestionably the league's dominant team.8-2 SMU, 8-5 Memphis and 8-4 Wichita St are all 4-2 in conference. The SMU Mustangs are 3-0 on the road for the first time since starting 5-0 in 2015-16 and will look to extend that streak on Tuesday at Memphis. Tim Jankovich took over after Larry Brown once again left a program in tatters and in his first full season (2016-17) went 30-5. However, the Mustangs were just a combined 51-44 the previous three seasons. Jankovich was running a low-grade fever and two other assistants were back in Dallas as part of contact tracing when SMU won 78-65 at UCF on Saturday.

Penny Hardaway is in his third season coaching at his alma mater. He went 22-14 in his first season and the Tigers were 21-10 last season before the season was shut down. Memphis its first three games of 2020 postponed due to COVID issues but the Tigers own a pair of blowout wins over Wichita State and East Carolina. The Tigers have held their last FIVE opponents under 60 points, the longest such streak since a run of seven consecutive games in January 2008.

The Mustangs returned the outstanding guard duo of Davis and Jolly but Jolly's been battling personal issues and made his first appearance of the current season in Saturday's win at UCF (scored five points in minutes). Will he contribute the rest of the way? TBD. PG Davis (19.3-4.6-7.8) has been great and three other starters are averaging in double digits. The group includes guard Bandoumel (11.8) plus a pair of 6-9 forwards in Hunt (12.2 & 8.6) and Chargois (10.1 & 6.1).

Memphis lost centr James Wisman 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 (12.8 & 3.5) leads the Tigers in scoring. He's joined in the starting lineup by the 6-9 Williams (10.5), guard Quinones (10.1 & 5.2) and the 6-10 Cisse (7.5 & 7.6). Coming off the bench is the 6-7 Jefferson (10.4 & 6.2).

Penny was an exciting offensive player in college (Memphis) 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 61.8 PPG (20th) on 37.7% shooting (7th), including 27.2% on threes (9th). FYI, Memphis allowed opponents to shoot 36.1%, including 28.0% on threes last season. I'm on Penny and the Tigers.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Late-Breaker is on West Va at 9:00 ET.

"Greed, for lack of a better word, is good." So said Michael Douglas as Gordon Gekko in the 1987 movie "Wall Street," In the world of college basketball, "Routine is Good." However, NOTHING has been "routine" in CBB 2020-21. The 12th-ranked Texas Tech Red Raiders (11-4, 4-3 in Big 12) visit Morgantown on Monday to take on the No. 14 West Va Mountaineers (10-4, 3-3 Big 12). Both schools have seen their routines interrupted. Tonight's game will be Texas Tech's first since Jan 16 after both of the Red Raiders' scheduled matchups last week were postponed due to COVID-19 protocols at TCU and Iowa State. West Virginia just returned from a two-week pause on Saturday with a 69-47 road victory at Kansas State.

Chris Beard went 30-5 at Arkansas St in 2015-16 and was able to land the Texas Tech job as a reward. In his second season, the Red Raiders won 27 games and made the Elite 8 and then followed that up by winning 31 games in the 2018-19 season, where they lost to UVa in the national championship game. Last year's 18-13 season was seen as a major slump but Tech opened at No. 14 in the AP preseason poll. Georgetown transfer McClung (16.3) leads Tech in scoring and is joined in the starting lineup by guards Edwards (10.1 & 5.4) and freshman Peavy (5.9 & 3.0). The 6-7 Santos-Silva (8.9 & 6.3) is Tech's tallest starter, although the 6-6 Shannon (12.8 & 5.0) who comes off the bench, and 6-6 starter McCullar (11.2 & 7.2) are bigger producers. The Red Raiders' calling card remains defense, allowing 59.9 PPG (10th) on 39.4% shooting (33rd).

Bob Huggins had a legendary 16-year stint at Cincinnati, leading the Bearcats to NCAA berths in each of his final 14 seasons. He returned to his alma mater for the 2007-08 season and has led the Mountaineers to the Big Dance in NINE of his 13 seasons (21-10 LY would have made 10 but COVID took care of that). FOUR of five starters are back from last season but the 6-9 Oscar Tshiebwe (11.2 & 9.2 last season) opted to transfer to Kentucky in mid-season, forcing a complete change of basketball philosophy for Huggins. The 6-10 Culver (13.4 & 10.7) is now the main focus inside, as Huggins now relies on his perimeter people. Guards McBride (15.3-3.4-4.1), Sherman (12.2) and McNeil, plus 6-7 SF Matthews (7.7 & 2.9) are the main contributors.

It's true that Texas Tech has opened 3-0 on the Big 12 road (just the second time the Red Raiders have done so since the league began in 1996-97) but as we've seen many times this season, teams have struggled after a layoff. Winning at WVU Coliseum has NEVER been easy and Huggins-coached teams know plenty about playing defense, as well. West Virginia's defense got back to work in style after the two-week hiatus by limiting Kansas State to 38.1 percent shooting (16 of 42) and forcing 28 turnovers, the most by a Big 12 team this season Home team is the play.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Ultimate Underdog is on the Det Pistons at 7:05 ET.

The Philadelphia 76ers won 114-110 at Detroit on Saturday, The Pistons have the NBA's worst record at 3-13 but head coach Doc Rivers said he's happy with any road vic0rty. Philly struggled on the road last season and are just 3-4 away from home this season, although Philly owns the East's best record at 12-5.  As for the Pistons, they are coming off a frustrating week in which they went 0-4 when they could have easily gone 4-0. They squandered a 19-point lead to Miami, then blew a 17-point, fourth-quarter lead at Atlanta. Det dropped a one-point decision to Houston before the Sixers came to town and won by four points on Saturday.

Embiid used a strict offseason conditioning program and it seems to have worked well, as he is averaging 27.7 & 11.5). PF Harris (19.4 & 6.6) and PG Simmons (12.9-8.7-8.1) have contributed nicely, while rookie Maxey (9.6) plus vets Danny Green (9.3) and Dwight Howard (6.6 & 8.1 in just 15.5 MPG) have all played in each of Philly's 17 games. Seth Curry (16.5) scored 14 points on Saturday, playing his second game since sitting out two weeks due to the league's health and safety protocols. Milton is adding 15.4 PPG off the bench.

Jerami Grant (24.3 & 6.4) has been Detroit's best player all season but the Pistons could also use a bounce-back game from him. Grant was just 3 of 19 from the floor (11 points) on Saturday, after scoring 20 or more points for 14 consecutive games. Detroit's two former All Stars, Rose (14.8 & 4.1 APG) and Griffin (12.8-6.3-4.2) both missed Saturday's game but they are expected to play on Monday. Starting along with Grant in Saturday's game were guards Ellington (11.1) and Wright (8.0-4.1-4.1) plus center Plumlee (8.3 & 8.5) and rookie SF bey (8.1 & 3.3). The silver lining for Detroit on Saturday was the play of young reserves Svi Mykhailiuk (7.6) and Sekou Doumbouya (4.3). The duo combined for 28 points, eight rebounds, four assists and two steals.

Detroit gets a second chance (in three days) against the 76ers (at best, a mediocre road team) and note that while Detroit is an NBA-worst 3-13, it is 8-7-1 ATS, Home dog 'barks' LOUDLY in this one.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* PERFECT STORM of the Month is on the Ind Pacers at 7:05 ET.

The Toronto Raptors were the 2019 NBA champions and last season, entered the postseason as the East's No. 2 seed with a 53-19 record, despite losing Kawhi Leonard to the Clippers as a free agent. Note that the Raptors' record last season put them just 2 1/2-games back of the Bucks and was a half-game BETTER than the West's No. 1 seed, and eventual NBA champion Lakers! However, the Raptors opened the current season 2-8 (3-7 ATS) but after winning 107-102 Sunday afternoon at Indiana, have gone 5-1 SU (still just 3-3 ATS), since that terrible start.

Indiana Pacers first-year coach Nate Bjorkgren will try to gain a split with his former boss and Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse Monday night when the teams complete a two-game set at Indianapolis. Bjorkgren played at South Dakota when Nurse was an assistant coach there and was an assistant coach for Nurse with the Raptors for the last  two seasons before he took over at Indiana this season. The Pacers enter this game just 1-3 SU its last four but 0-4 ATS.

The Raptors won on Sunday but were without Kyle Lowry (infected toe) and Pascal Siakam (left knee swelling). Siakam averages 18.6-8.1-4.7 and Lowry 18.2-6.5-7.1. Their status for Monday is uncertain. VanVleet (19.1-4.5-6.4) has developed into an All-Star caliber player plus Anunoby (14.9 & 5.9), Boucher (14.6 & 6.5) and Powell (12.9) all averaging in double digits.as. Oladipo (20.0 PPG) is gone in a trade and his expected replacement (LeVert) has a medical issue. SF Warren (15.5) remains out with a foot injury for the Pacers but there is still enough talent to go around. PG Brogdon (21.9-3.9-7.1) and PF Sabonis (20.9-12.9-5.8) are playing at an All Star level plus center Turner averages 14.0 & 6.8, while leading the NBA in blocks (4.2 per). McDermott is averaging 12.9 PPG on 49.4% shooting off the bench. The Holidays, Justin (11.1) and Aaron (6.3)  have both been solid plus Lamb's return from injury is a BIG deal. He has averaged 15.0 PPG in his three games back since tearing his ACL last February.

The Raptors held Malcolm Brogdon to 12 points on 5-for-22 shooting from the floor and Domantas Sabonis, who had 10 points and 19 rebounds, did not score in the second half, going 0-for-7 on FGs. All that, and Sunday's game was tied at 102 with 1:09 to play! Quick turnaround (at home, no less) really favors the Pacers. Expect Brogdon and Sabonis to bounce back and who knows about the status of Lowry and Siakam.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Situational Stunner is on Virginia at 7:00 ET.

Syracuse's victory against No. 16 Virginia Tech on Saturday was its first against a ranked opponent in more than a year, the last one a 63-55 overtime win at Virginia on Jan 11, 2020. The victory gives the Orange a 9-4 overall record (3-3 in the ACC) as they visit the No. 13 Cavaliers (10-2, 6-0 in the ACC) at Charlottesville on Monday The Orange have little depth but all five starters are averaging more than 30 minutes. The 6-7 Guerrier leads in scoring (16.9) and rebounding (9.5), SF Griffin checks in at 15.7 & 7.2 plus the 6-10 Dolezag adds 11.2 & 5.5. The backcourt is Buddy Boeheim (15.1) and PG Girard (10.8 & 4.1 APG). UVa lost the 6-9 Diakite (13.7 & 6.8) and 6-8 big guard Key (9.9 & 7.4). Four starters are averaging in double digits, led by 6-8 Marquette transfer Sam Hauser (14.5 & 7.4), the returning 7-1 Huff (13.3 & 5.8), the 6-9 Trey Murphy (10.4) and PG Clark (10.2 & 4.1 APG). Guard Morell (6.9) is the best producer off the bench.

I noted that Syracuse won 63-55 in overtime at Virginia on Jan 11, 2020 but this Virginia team is riding a six-game winning streak and has won 14 consecutive ACC games dating back Feb 8, 2020. Since losing to No. 1 Gonzaga back on Dec 26, the Cavs have held their last six opponents to 57.8 PPG (season average is 59.6 PPG to rank 6th in the nation). Jim Boeheim is a Hall of Fame coach but since coming to Virginia, 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," and NBC Sports took it a step further by calling it "the greatest redemption story in the history of sports." UVa was 23-7 when the season was shut down last March. UVa is the more complete team and wins "with room to spare" here at John Paul Jones Arena.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Weekend Wipeout is on the Mil Bucks at 8:05 ET.

The Atlanta Hawks have a bevy of young stars and have won three straight games to reach 8-7, as they head to Milwaukee. The Bucks have owned the NBA's best regular season record in each of the last two seasons but have fallen short in each of the last two postseasons. Milwaukee is off back-to-back losses, 125-123 at Brooklyn and 113-106 at home vs the Lakers, and find themselves just 9-6. The team's .600 winning percentage is FAR below the .748 win percentage the Bucks have had the last two seasons in going a combined 116-39.

Trae Young scored 43 in Atlanta's 116-98 Friday win at Minnesota, emerging from a mini-shooting slump that had seen him score 50 points over a three-game stretch. He now has 81 points over the last two games, upping his average to 25.3 PPG (ha hands out 8.7 APG, as well). Young is the brightest star of Atlanta's young talent but don't discount Hunter (16.3 & 5.9), Collins (15.9 & 7.5), Reddish (12.4 & 4.7) and Huerter (11.9). Then there is former Houston center Clint Capela, who is coming off his first career triple-double (13 & 19 plus 10 blocks! He's averaging 14.5 & 14.2 on the season.

Giannis (27.0-10.3-5.1) has won the last two MVP awards and has quite a sidekick in SF Middleton, who is averaging 22.9 & 6.2. Jrue Holiday (16.1-4.3-5.2) has taken over for the departed Bledsoe plus guard DiVincenzo (10.1) and center Brook Lopez (9.9 & 5.3) round out the starting lineup. The 6-10 Portis comes off the bench and has been a HUGE addition in averaging 10.9 & 8.1 in about 23 MPG. Forbes, Connaughton and Augustin add a combined 19 PPG.

While Atlanta is young, Milwaukee's starting lineup averages nine years of experience. For all its youthful talent, Atlanta's three-game 'surge' has them just 8-7 on the season. Looking closer at that 'surge' and you'll note the Hawks own two wins over Minnesota and one over Detroit, two teams with a combined win percentage of .226. Off back-to-back losses, expect the Bucks to R-O-L-L!

Good luck...Larry

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

The Boston Celtics have dropped three straight, a stretch during which they have been without star forward Jayson Tatum as he recovers from COVID-19. Tatum was considered 50-50 to play in the team's last game but did not, as Boston lost its third in a row, 122-110 at Philadelphia. Conversely, the Cavaliers are in the midst of their best stretch of the young season, having beaten the Brooklyn Nets in back-to-back meetings to extend their winning streak to three. 

"Break up the Cavs," who are now 8-7 and currently own the East's No. 6 seed (Cavs last made the playoffs in 2018, going 19-63 and 19-46 the last two seasons). The key to Cleveland's turnaround has been third-year guard Collin Sexton (16.7 & 20.8 PPG in his first two), who has scored at least 20 points in each of the 10 games he has played this season. Sexton poured in a career-high 42 points in a double-overtime win over the Nets on Wednesday and enters this contest averaging 26.8 & 4.2 APG. More good news for Cavaliers came with guard Darius Garland (16.9 & 5.9 APG) returning from eight games missed with a shoulder injury to score 11 points in Friday's win. Center Drummond (18.8 & 15.1) has become a nightly double-double plus newly acquired Prince (15.5 & 5.0) and Allen (15.5 & 8.5) have been better than advertised in their two games since coming from the Nets.

Jaylen Brown had 42 points and nine rebounds during the losing effort on Friday and has flourished during Tatum's absence. He's averaging 26.9 & 6.0 on the season, pulling even with Tatum (26.9 & 7.1). Smart (13.8 & 5.6 APG) is the team's best perimeter defender and undersized center Theis (6.7 & 8.3) has performed well. Getting PG Walker back (he's averaged 15.7 & 5.0 APG in three games) is good news but the problem is, Boston's lost all three. Ex-Cav Thompson (6.7 & 8.3) has been fine but has NOT had the breakout season he and the Celtics expected. 

Again, when Tatum gets back is still unsure but with Boston having won its last EIGHT meetings vs Cleveland, I look for the Celtics to end their current three-game slide against the Cavs off their back-to back wins over the Nets.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Weekend Wipeout is on Miami-Fl at 6:00 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 this year's team has struggled, going 4-8 overall, including 1-5 in the ACC. Jim Larranaga will likely always be remembered for taking George Mason to the 2006 Final 4 but in SIX of his first seven seasons at Miami, won 20-plus games with four NCAA appearances. However, the 'Canes are coming off back-to-back seasons of 14 and 15 wins and enter this game at 6-7 (2-6 in the ACC).

Notre Dame PG Hubb (13.7-3.1-5.0) ) and SG Goodwin (13.3 & 4.7) are a solid backcourt duo plus the 6-10 Laszewski leads the team in scoring (16.7) and rebounding (7.7). Stanford transfer Ryan (9.4-4.4-3.1) comes off the bench and 6-11 UConn transfer Durham (8.3 & 5.2) has been a solid complement up front with Laszewski. Miami really misses PG Lykes (15.5-4.0-5.5), who is out indefinitely with an ankle injury. However, the 'Canes have excellent backcourt depth. Wong (17.5 & 5.8) is joined in the starting lineup by Olaniyui (9.2- and Beverly (8.1-5.5-3.5) plus McGusty (10.0) and Timberlake (9.3 & 5.0) come off the bench. The 7-0 brooks (7.2 & 6.6) and the 6-0 Walker (7.2 & 3.3) start up front.

Miami is coming off an ugly 83-57 loss to Syracuse on Tuesday but faces a Notre Dame team that hasn't played since snapping a four-game losing streak with an 80-70 home win over Boston College on Jan 16. Notre Dame's lone road win this season (1-4) came back on Dec 12 64-63 at Kentucky, part of the Wildcats' season-opening 1-6 start. Road win No. 2 is NOT coming here!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* "signature" LEGEND Play is on the Pho Suns at 9:05 ET.

15 games into the season Denver center Nikola Jokic is averaging 25.5-11.3-9.9, just a fraction under a triple-double. He finished with 31 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists last night, in Denver's 130-126 OT win at Phoenix. The Suns led by as many as 14 but Denver rallied to tie it late in the fourth quarter, then won it in overtime. The Nuggets are now 8-7, the first time this season Denver is above .500. As for the Suns, they fell to 8-6, after a 7-3 start.

The Nuggets got a boost Friday with the return of Michael Porter Jr., who had missed 10 games due to coronavirus issues. Porter had seven points and six rebounds in 20 minutes off the bench in his first action since Dec. 29. Porter is averaging 17.0 & 6.6. Swingman Barton missed all 'bubble' games last season with an injury but has played in all 15 games this season (11 starts), averaging 11.8-4.2-3.1.Morris (11.7) and Harris (11.1) contribute in the backcourt alongside Murray (19.1). Millsap (10.7 & 5.1) and Green (10.3 & 6.5) give Jokic support.

The Suns are a perfect 8-0 SU & ATS in the Orlando 'bubble' and added Chris Paul (13.3 & 8.7 APG) in hopes of becoming a real playoff contender. He teams with Booker, whose scoring has been slightly down this season (22.9 PPG from 25.6 PPG each of the last two season). However, the Suns are likely to NOT have Booker (31 points last night) for this immediate rematch, as was injured late in overtime during a scramble for the ball. After the game, coach Monty Williams said Booker hurt a hamstring, leaving him doubtful for the Saturday contest. Obviously, I'd prefer to have Booker but I'm "all over" the Suns anyway. Former first round picks Bridges (15.4 & 5.9) and Johnson (11.4) have made HUGE strides this season plus 6-11 center Ayton is averaging a double-double on the season (14.9 & 12.1).

Denver has been an underachiever so far this season and I don't trust them at all in trying for a two-game road sweep at Phoenix (on back-to-back nights), whether Booker plays or not!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* play is on Tennessee at 8:30 ET.

The Tennessee Volunteers were No. 12 in the AP's preseason poll and the Vols were 10-1 and ranked 6th when they lost 75-49 at Florida to the Gators on Tuesday, Head coach Rick Barnes promised to try a different in Saturday's home game against the surprising Missouri Tigers, who are 9-2 and ranked 19th. Coming off back-to-back losing seasons of 15-17 and 15-16, the Tigers opened 6-0, their best start to a season since they opened 10-0 in 2013.

Missouri's 6-0 start was ended when the Volunteers won 73-53 back on Dec 30 in Columbia. Tigers center Jeremiah Tilmon had nine points and four rebounds in that game but has become a force in conference play, scoring 74 points and grabbing 37 rebounds in his last four games. Tilmon's averaging 12.8 & 8.0 and is Missouri's lone big man of note, as Missouri's next four scorers are guards Pinson (12.9), Dru Smith (12.1), Mark Smith (11.6) and Pickett (7.6). Tennessee is loaded with perimeter plays. Guards Bailey (11.6), Springer (11.0), Vescovi (9.8), Johnson (9.1), James (8.1) and Pons (7.3) are quite a group. The 6-9 Fulkerson averages 12.2 & 6.2). The Vols have plenty of offensive balance, averaging 74.8 PPG but Barnes' team thrives on its defense, holding opponents to 58.7 PPG (5th).

Missouri head coach Counzo Martin needs more consistency from his guards. Xavier Pinson has as many turnovers (nine) as points in his last two games. Dru Smith averaged 14.6 points in his first five games, then scored just six points in each of his next three games. Mark Smith averaged 17.3 points in his first four games before scoring just 6.8 points per game in his next six. That hardly bodes well against an OUTSTANDING Tennessee defensive team, looking to bounce back from an 'ugly' loss to Florida. In the first meeting at Missouri, Tennessee shot 50.0% and held Missouri to 36.1% shooting and to a season-low 53 points. No revenge here! 

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Oddsmaker's Error of the Month is on Kentucky at 6:00 ET.

LSU (10-3, 5-2) entered its home game with No. 18 Alabama (Tuesday) on a four-game winning streak and had a chance to tie the league-leading Tide with a win. Instead, the Tigers allowed the most points in Will Wade's four seasons as head coach in a 105-75 loss (Alabama finished with an SEC-record 23 three-pointers). Kentucky was ranked No. 10 in the AP preseason poll but its 1-6 start took care of that. However, the Wildcats won three straight to open SEC play, after a 76-58 at Florida on Jan 9. Hope was alive in Lexington THREE straight losses have followed. Kentucky welcomes LSU to Rupp Arena 4-9, including 3-3 in SEC play.

Freshman guard Thomas (22.0) leads the Tigers in scoring, joined by fellow guard Smart (14.9-3.8-4.0) to give LSU one of the SEC's top backcourt duos. The 6-9 Watford (18.1 & 7.1), the 6-7 Days (12.9 & 8.2) plus SF Wilkerson (4.9 & 3.6) start up front. It's no surprise that Calipari relies on freshmen, including leading scorer Boston (12.0 & 5.4), who is joined in the backcourt by freshman Clarke (10.7) and Askew (7.5) plus senior Mintz (9.5). 7-0 senior Wake Forest transfer Sarr (10.0 & 6.1)  has help up front from 6-10 freshman Jackson (6.5 & 6.4) and now the 6-7 Brooks. The sophomore has been back on the court for the last four games, averaging 10.5 & 4.8. However, his return has been mitigated by Clarke being sidelined with an ankle injury.

The Wildcats had a six-point lead at Georgia with two minutes remaining Wednesday night but Kentucky didn't score again. The Bulldogs scored the final SEVEN points in winning 63-62 on a last-second layup by P.J. Horne. "We should have won the game," Wildcats coach John Calipari said after his team lost its third straight. "I'm discouraged." Coach Cal's season is on the brink of being a 'lost cause' and this game with LSU is the ONLY one in the next five for the Wildcats that is not against a ranked team. Win here, or "pack it in!"

Good luck...Larry

My 9* play is on Wisconsin at 4:00 ET.

Wisconsin has had a terrific basketball program for decades and Greg Gard enters his sixth season at Madison, having had FOUR 20-win seasons in his first five. Wisconsin got blown out at 77-54 Michigan on Jan 12 but has allowed 54 and 52 points, respectively, in conference wins over Rutgers and Northwestern since the Michigan game. 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. Ohio State (11-4, 5-4) saw a three-game winning streak end Tuesday night when Purdue's Jaden Ivey drilled a stepback three-pointer with five seconds to secure a 67-65 decision in Columbus.

The Buckeyes led by five points with 2:08 left but didn't manage a field goal for the game's remainder. Ohio State hit just 37.7 percent from the floor against Purdue. "Give Purdue credit; I thought they made a few more plays and got to a few more loose balls than we did," Chris Holtmann said. "It was a super-physical game. We have to be tougher with the ball in a game like this. That's my fault." Guard Washington (15.1) leads the team in scoring and had been paired with PG Walker (8.7 & 4.2 APG). However, Walkers is now out with torn ligaments in his right hand. The frontcourt has four solid contributors led by arguably the team's best player, the 6-7 Liddell (14.1 & 6.8). He's joined on the frontline by the 6-7 Sueing (10.5 & 5.2), the 6-8 Young (8.0 & 6.1), 6-8 freshman Key (6.7 & 3.7) and the 6-6 Aherns (6.6)

The Badgers start FIVE seniors, guards Trice (14.8-3.2-3.3) and Davison (9.8) plus the 6-10 Potter (12.1 & 6.7), the 6-11 Reuvers (9.1 & 3.9) and the 6-8 Ford (9.4 & 4.2). 6-5 freshman Davis (6.5 & 4.6) and 6-9 sophomore Wahl (5.5 & 4.1) both contribute off the bench. I love the way Wisconsin plays and Ohio St is typically vulnerable away from Columbus. Lay the points.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Play is on North Carolina at 2:00 ET.

My 9* Eye-Opener is on Kansas at 12:00 ET.

When last season was shut down because of COVID, the Kansas Jayhawks were the AP's No. 1-ranked team. Key losses for Kansas entering this season were PG Devon Dotson (18.1-4.9-4.0) and the seven-foot Udoka Azubuike (13.7 & 10.5). The Jayhawks opened the current season losing 102-90 to No. 1 Gonzaga but then won EIGHT in a row before a shocking 84-59 home loss to Texas on Jan 2 (the Longhorns owned just one previous win in 17 tries at Lawrence). The Jayhawks enter this game in Norman at 10-4 (4-3 Big 12), having lost back-to-back games for the first time in two seasons and two consecutive conference games for the first time since 2013. 

Lon Kruger's Oklahoma team is 8-4 overall and like Kansas, 4-3 in the Big 12. The Sooners lost 63-59 at Kansas back on Jan 9, although the Sooners played without forwards Brady Manek (12.5 & 4.1) and Jalen Hill (3.9 & 3.5) due to COVID-19 protocols. Manek and Hill returned in Tuesday night's 76-50 win over Kansas State, each coming off the bench and scoring six points apiece.

The 6-8 Jalen Wilson has bounced back after suffering a broken ankle as a freshman last season to average 13.1 & 7.6 for Kansas this season. Junior Ochai Agbaji (14.8 & 4.4) leads the team in scoring and senior Marcus Garrett (9.2 & 4.3-3.9) is one of the nation's top defenders. Sophomore guard Braun (10.7 & 5.5) and 6-10 junior David McCormack (10.6 & 5.9) round out Self's main contributors. Oklahoma's top scorer from last season is gone (forward Doolittle averaged 15.8 & 8.9). Guards Reaves (15.2-5.5-5.3), Harmon (12.0) and Williams (8.4) are joined by big men like the 6-9 Manek (12.5 & 4.1), the 6-10 Kuath (8.1 & 4.9) and the 6-7 Iwuako (5.6 7 4.0).

Oklahoma's playing with revenge but the Jayhawks have had just TWO three-game losing streaks in 18 seasons under Self! I'm backing Kansas.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Situational Stunner of the Month is on the Bos Celtics at 7:35 ET.

The first game of Friday's ESPN doubleheader is 8-5 Boston playing at 10-5 Philadelphia. These teams met Wednesday in Philly, with Embiid's 42 points leading the way to a 117-109 win (Sixers outscored the Celtics 31-17 in the 4th quarter). Boston has lost two straight after a five-game winning streak and the 76ers are 8-1 at home. Boston's Tatum has been out due to COVID-19 protocols but head coach Brad Stevens said Tatum has a "50-50 chance" of playing Friday.

The Celtics played well for large stretches on Wednesday night, led by Jaylen Brown's (25.8 & 5.8) 26 points and  25 from Marcus Smart (13.3 & 5.5 APG). However, they clearly missed Jayson Tatum (26.9 & 7.1). The Celtics did receive a huge lift from PG Kemba Walker, who hit five 3-pointers and scored 19 points in just his second game back from a knee injury (Celtics are 0-2 in his return). Rookie Pritchard (8.3) and FA signee Teague (7.1) give Boston depth on the perimeter. Undersized center Theis is shooting 69.1% from the floor, while averaging 9.6 PPG over his last 10. He's now getting help inside from former Cav Thompson, who is averaging 6.9 PPG and a team-high 8.5 RPG.

Embiid used a strict offseason conditioning program and is averaging 26.4 & 11.3. His 42-point effort makes him just the second player to have two, 40-point games this season, joining Washington's Bradley Beal. PF Harris (19.3 & 6.8) and PG Simmons (12.2-9.2-8.0) have contributed nicely, while rookie Maxey (11.6) plus vets Danny Green (9.7) and Dwight Howard (6.9 & 7.9) have all played in each of Philly's 15 games. SG Milton is adding 16.8 PPG off the bench.

Obviously, it would be GREAT to get Tatum back but note that the Celtics hung with Philly all game on Wednesday, with no Tatum and Embiid scoring 42 points. Tatum or not, the Celtics (Boston swept Philly 4-0 in last season's playoffs) plus the points is the play in this one.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Weekly Wipeout is on Purdue at 7:00 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). Howard's sophomore year at Michigan has everyone's attention! Michigan started the season with 11 consecutive victories before falling 75-57 at Minnesota last Saturday but routed Maryland 87-63 in a game they never trailed on Tuesday. The win came even though Michigan's leading scorer Hunter Dickinson (15.7 PPG) only took three shots and scored three points. The Boilermakers welcome Michigan to Mackey Arena on a current four-game winning streak that began when they rallied from 17 points down against Michigan State back on Jan 8. The Boilermakers have outscored opponents by a combined 39 points in the second half over the last four games. and are 11-5, including 6-0 at home. 

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 14.1 & 5.7 this season. The Wolverines have an experienced group but their leading scorer is 7-1 freshman Hunter Dickinson (15.7 & 7.5). Experience comes in guards Wagner (12.3 & 7.2), Smith (8.6 & 5.8 APG), Brown (9.2), Brooks (8,6 & 3.8 APG). Michigan is averaging 80.5 PPG on 51.4% shooting (10th), while holding opponents to 66.3 PPG on 37.9% shooting (11th).

Purdue's Matt Painter is in his 16th season with the Boilermakers and his team was just 16-14 last season, coming off a four-year run of averaging 27.3 wins per season. Purdue is 11-5 this season, including 6-3 in Big Ten. Painter's lone loss of note from last season's team was the 7-3 Haarms (8.6 & 4.6), who went to BYU as a graduate transfer. The team's "Big Three" are all returning players, senior PG Hunter (10.5 & 3.3 APG) plus juniors like the 6-10 Williams (15.4 & 9.65 and SG Stefanovic (11.1). 7-4 freshman Edey (8.1 & 3.9) has made all forget about Haarms plus freshman guard Newman (9.1) gives Purdue five players averaging between 8.1 and 15.4 PPG. Depth is provided by four players chipping in a combined 21 PPG.

Michigan delivered an emphatic response to its first loss of the season against Maryland but winning here at Purdue is a tough assignment. Trevion Williams has scored in double figures in 11 consecutive games (he's averaged 19.3 points during the Boilermakers' current four-game winning streak) but it was reserve freshman guard Jaden Ivey (7.2) who made the game-winning shot. He knocked down a three-pointer with five seconds left and finished with a career-high 15 points in Purdue's 67-65 win at Ohio St. It was Ohio State's first home loss of the season (had opened 7-0), as Purdue's  defense held the Buckeyes to 37.7 percent shooting. The home dog barks LOUDLY in this one.

Good luck...Larry

My 8* Las Vegas Insider is on Washington St at 10:00 ET.

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 enters this game just 5-6, including 2-5 in the Pac. Kyle Smith was at Columbia for SIX seasons and in his final one, led the Lions to a 25-10 record and a CIT championship. He spent three seasons at San Francisco, winning 20, 22 and 21 games. He was named head coach at Washington St on March 27, 201 and led the Cougars to a 16-16 record. No big deal? It was the team's best since 2011-12!.

Utah lost Both Gach to Minnesota (transfer) but returned four starters. 6-6 forward Allen led the team in scoring last season and is averaging 17.3 & 5.8. Guard Alfonso Plummer (13.0) is the only other double digit scorer. Joining Allen up front are the 6-8 Jantunen (9.5 & 4.5), the 7-0 Carlson (6.4) and the 6-9 Battin (5.4 & 34.5). Gach liked to play PG and his leaving has opened that role up to Jones (5.7 & 4.1 APG), who joins Plummer in the starting backcourt, while freshman Larsson (8.0) comes off the bench.

Washington St guards Bonton (18.9-4.5-4.00 and Williams (12.0) lead the way, joined in the starting lineup by the 6-10 Abogidi (9.9 & 8.2), the 6-8 Jakimovski (7.6 & 5.0) and the 6-10 Jackson (5.2 & 3.5) More size up front comes with the 6-8 Kunc (5.3 & 3.2) off the bench.

Utah is coming off 72-63 home loss Saturday to California, which entered the game with one conference win. The Utes blew a12-point halftime lead, allowing 50 second-half points. The Utes have lost FIVE of six coming and while the Cougars are 1-4 since their 8-0 start, just ONE of those five games during that stretch came at home (86-82 OT loss to Arizona). The Cougars are 8-1 SU at home this season and will handle the Utes in this one.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* WCC Game of the Year is on Santa Clara at 10:00 ET.

San Francisco went 22-12 last season in head coach Todd Golden's first season and enters this contest 9-7. The Dons lost two key players from last season in leading scorer Mineland (14.4 & 4.7) and huge center Lull (11.9 & 7.6). This year's team revolves around senior PG Bouyea (17.4-3.4-3.8 APG), junior SG Shabazz (15.6-4.1) and 6-9 junior Ryuny (10.3 & 6.0). The Dons are on the road tonight in Santa Clara to face the Broncos. The Broncos are coached by Herb Sendek (NC State and Arizona St), who after going 44-51 in his first three seasons with Santa Clara, went 23-13 last season and has opened this season 8-3.  

San Francisco shocked UVA 61-60 way back in late-Dec but has been a .500 team since. Joining the above-mentioned double digit scorers in the starting lineup are the 6-9 Jurkatamm (6.5 & 3.0) and the 6-8 Kunen (3.9 & 5.1). Guards Rishwain (6.9) and Milstead (5.5) come off the bench. Santa Clara is led by the 6-9 Vrankic (14.3 & 8.5) and the 6-7 Justice (11.0 & 5.8), who are joined by guards Carlyle (9.1), Williams (8.3 & 3.7) and Caruso (6.8 & 3.7) The 6-8 Mitchell (5.7 & 4.8) and 60-10 Bediako (5.7 & 6.1) come off the bench.

No crowds have blunted Santa Clara's success at home, as the Broncos are a perfect 5-0 at Leavey Center. What the Broncos could use more of is, MORE home games. Santa Clara opened the season 6-0, going 5-0 at home but due to COVID cancelations and postponements, haven't played at home since Dec 15. The Dons are in the WRONG place at the WRONG time in this one and any points we get will be a bonus.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* play is on the Mil Bucks at 7:35 ET.

The LA Lakers are 11-4, tied with the Clippers for the NBA's best record. However, the Lakers own the NBA's best point-differential (plus-10.2), with the Clippers checking in at plus-7.1, No team has been better on the road than the Lakers, who take a perfect 7-0 SU run into their game tonight at the Bucks, who are 9-5 (6-1 at home) and own the league's second-best point differential at plus-9.8. Both teams are coming off losses, the Lakers 115-113 at home to the Warriors and the Bucks 125-123 at Brooklyn.

The good news for NBA fans is that in this 'Year of COVID,' both teams come in healthy. The Lakers blew a 14-point, fourth-quarter lead against the Warriors, with LBJ missing a last-second three-pointer. The Lakers are led by the dynamic duo of LBJ (23.7-7.9-7.5) and A.D. (21.3 & 9.0) plus have to added two terrific players in PG Schroder (14.8-4.2-4.7) and PF Harrell, who comes off the bench to add 14.0 & 7.4  in 24 1/2 minutes per game). Giannis (27.2-10.2-5.23) has won the last two MVP awards and has quite a sidekick in SF Middleton, who is averaging 22.1-6.3-3.6. Jrue Holiday (15.7-4.2-5.1) has taken over for the departed Bledsoe plus guard DiVincenzo (10.1 & 3.9) and center Brook Lopez (9.7 & 5.4) round out the starting lineup. The 6-10 Portis comes off the bench and while his numbers are a little shy of Harrell's, he's been a HUGE addition in averaging 10.9 & 8.1 in 23 MPG.

Which team to take off a loss? The Lakers are the better defensive team (105.1 PPG ranks third) but Milwaukee is averaging 120.4 PPG (2nd) on 48.5% shooting (5th), including 40.3% on threes (2nd). Beating the defending champs is something the Bucks almost NEED to do. That's my bet.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Late-Breaker is on Houston at 8:00 ET.

Frank Haith has had stops at Miami-Fl and Missouri before coming to Tulsa for the 2014-15 season. His teams have averaged 19.3 wins per year in his first six seasons, including going 21-10 before COVID shut down the 2019-20 season. However, Haith's biggest win at Tulsa came when it stunned No. 5 Houston 65-64 back on Dec 29. It was the program's first win over a top-5 opponent in 24 years (Golden Hurricane beat a ranked UCLA team back in 1995!). After opening 1-3, Tulsa has gone 7-1 to enter this rematch with Houston at 8-4.

Kelvin Sampson had a great run at Oklahoma (nine NCAA tourneys in 10 seasons, including a Final 4 appearance in 2002) but then ran into off the court issues in a two-year stay at Indiana. He was away from CBB for a few years but resurfaced at Houston for the 2014-15 season. It took him a while to build the program but his teams won 27 and 33 games in back-to-back seasons before going 23-8 in last year's pandemic-shortened season. The Cougars opened 7-0 this season, rising to No. 5 in the latest AP poll but lost their first game of the season 65-64 at Tulsa. The Cougars have won all four games since that loss to the Golden Hurricane and enter this rematch 11-1 and ranked No. 8 in the latest AP poll.

The Golden Hurricane are led by a quartet of guards in Rachal (14.6 & 7.2), Joiner (9.8-5.1-3.8), Embery-Simpson (7.9) and Jackson (7.3). The 6-9 Idowu (8.5 & 4.8) is the team's best frontcourt player. Tulsa is scoring a modest 67.8 PPG, which is NOT helped by the team making just 64.3% of its free throws (307th). However, Tulsa does play defense, allowing 60.9 PPG (16th) while holding opponents to 37.4% from the floor (7th).

Houston guards Grimes (17.8 & 6.5) and Sasser (15.5) are the 'big dogs,' joined on the perimeter by Jarreau (8.8-6.0-3.7) and freshman Mark (7.9). The best frontcourt player is the 6-7 Gorham (7.7 & 9.1). Houston is not a high scoring team (73.3 PPG) but Sampson's team can sure play "D," allowing only 56.5 PPG, ranking second-best in the nation. The Cougars are holding opponents to 37.1% shooting (4th), including 25.6% on threes (also 4th-best).

Houston is 8-0 at home with an average margin of victory of 21.0 PPG and wins this one "with room to spare!" Lay it!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Weekly Wipeout is on the Ind Pacers at 7:05 ET.

The 6-7 Dallas Mavericks visit Indianapolis to take on the 8-8 Pacers stuck in their first three-game losing streak since late in the 2018-19 season. Dallas lost 116-93 to Toronto on Monday to open a three-game trip. Tonight's contest is the second of a brutal stretch of five games in seven days for Dallas. The Pacers are coming off an 'ugly' 129-96 at the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday, which concluded an extended road trip that saw the Pacers play four games (a fifth was postponed) from Jan 11-17. Tonight's game begins a four-game homestand for Indiana.

Luka Doncic (27.2-9.9-9.3) had 36 points, 16 rebounds and 15 assists in a 117-101 home loss to Chicago on Sunday but the Raptors held him to 15 points, seven rebounds and nine assists in Monday's loss. Jalen Brunson returned to the lineup after missing the previous four games due to the NBA's health and safety protocols but the Mavericks still are without Josh Richardson, (13.8), Dorian Finney-Smith (.3 & 5.0), Maxi Kleber (7.4 & 5.3) and Dwight Powell (5.0 & 3.6). The 7-3 Porzingis returned four games ago after recovering from an injury but while he's averaged 18.5 & 7.8, the Mavs have lost THREE of those four games.

The Pacers are not 100 percent either, as Oladipo (20.0 PPG) is gone in a trade and his expected replacement (LeVert) has a medical issue. SF Warren (15.) remains out with a foot injury and center Turner (12.4 & 6.8), who also leads the NBA in blocks, is sidelined with a right-hand injury suffered in Indiana's 111-87 win over Portland last Thursday. However, PG Brogdon (22.2-4.0-7.5) and PF Sabonis (21.7-12.8-5.8) are playing at an All Star level. McDermott (2.6 PPG on 51.3% shooting) has played well all season off the bench and the Pacers are getting solid contributions from three more guards. The Holidays, Justin (11.0 & 3.5 APG) and Aaron (5.9 & 2.5 APG) will get increased "PT" plus so will Sumner (6.7).

Neither team is 100 percent but the Pacers are the play here at home, as the Mavs continue to struggle, despite Luka's brilliance.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Situational Stunner is on Clemson at 7:00 ET.

9-1 Clemson was ranked 12th when it welcomed Virginia to Littlejohn Coliseum on Saturday. 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 for its 11th consecutive win over the Tigers. Clemson (9-2) dropped to No. 20 in Monday's AP poll and will travel to Atlanta to take on a 6-3 Georgia Tech team.

Brad Brownell came to Clemson for the 2010-11 season, after so-so stints at UNC-Wilmington and Wright St (not a single NCAA bid) and has produced a modest four, 20-win seasons and just two NCAA berths in his tenure. However, he returned four starters plus Fordham transfer Nick Honor is now eligible. The Tigers are led by 6-8 senior forward Aamir Simms (11.6 & 5.7) and senior guard Clyde Trapp (7.2 & 5.1). Simms was a preseason All-ACC first-team and Trapp is surrounded by guards Honor (10.3) and Dawes (8.8). 

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 this year's team is 6-3 and similar to Clemson this past Saturday, enters tonight's contest having had four consecutive games postponed and haven't played since Jan 3. Returning PG Alvarado (18.1-3.7-3.8) and SG Devoe (14.2-4.9-3.2) have been excellent plus returning big man Wright (17.0 & 7.1) present an excellent trio. 6-7 USC transfer Usher (9.7 & 5.2) helps out up front plus VMI transfer Parham (9.7 & 3.7) adds to the team's backcourt depth. That's a solid five-man rotation but the Yellow Jackets have little depth.

The Yellow Jackets aren't likely to be at full strength against the Tigers, although Pastner did not identify which of his players he expects to miss Wednesday night's game. Georgia Tech had won four straight games before the interruption but so had Clemson prior to facing Virginia. The "situation" is just right for a Clemson bounce-back against a Ga Tech team playing for the first time in 2 1/2-weeks.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* play is on Duke at 9:00 ET.

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. It ended the nation's second-longest streak of consecutive weeks in the top-25 at 91. The Blue Devils have been idle since that Jan 12 loss and will travel to Pittsburgh 7-2 / 3-1 ACC) to take on the Panthers. Pittsburgh has played just TWO games across a 25-day period, BOTH against Syracuse, winning each time fueled by second-half comebacks. 

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 guard Stewart has opened averaging 14.0 & 5.0, while 6-9 freshman Johnson is averaging 9.6 & 6.6 The 6-9 Hurt (9.7 & 3.8 last season) leads the team this season with 19.6 PPG and 8.3 RPG. Guards Goldwire (7.5-3.4-4.3) and Roach (11.1) plus SF Moore (6.5 & 3.9) and 6-8 freshman Brakefield (5.4 & 3.5) are also contributors.

Pitt will have standout Justin Champagnie in the lineup when it hosts Duke. He's back in action after a knee injury, scoring 24 points and grabbing 16 rebounds in last Saturday's win over Syracuse. The 6-6 Champagnie is averaging 18.7 & 12.9 in seven games and along with the outstanding guard duo of Toney (15.9 & 6.1) and Johnson (15.1-4.4-5.6) give the Panthers a terrific trio. The only other significant contributor is guard Horton (9.4).

The Blue Devils are tied with Wake Forest for the fewest games of any ACC team (each with eight) and this is the second contest of a three-game road trip (at Louisville is next). Coach K badly needs a win here and I'll back the Blue Devils, even if  Jalen Johnson misses with that foot injury.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* play is on LSU at 9:00 ET.

Alabama head coach Nate Oats was 96-43 at Buffalo, leading the Bulls to three NCAA tourneys in his four years, including going 27-9 and 32-4 in his last two seasons. 'Bama was just 16-15 last season and guard Lewis (18.5-4.8-5.2) left after one year for the NBA. Alabama has won SEVEN in a row (6-0 in SEC puts them in 1st-place) and at 11-3, just entered the top-25 for the first time this season on Monday (No. 18). LSU head coach Will Wade has been surrounded by controversy but his Tigers enter on a four-game winning streak and at 10-2 (5-1 SEC), can tie Alabama atop the SEC with a home win tonight.

Alabama's backcourt is strong, with PG Quinnerly (12.5 & 3.5 APG), Shackleford (13.6 & 4.3), Petty (13.5 & 5.3) and Primo (7.6 & 3.4), while the 6-8 Jones (12.6 & 5.9) had been joined up front by he 6-10 Brunner (7.8 & 5.3), who is a rare Yale graduate transfer. However, Brunner is out until mid-Feb with a knee injury. Freshman guard Thomas (22.1) leads the Tigers in scoring, joined by fellow guard Smart (15.2-4.0-4.0) to give LSU one of the SEC's top backcourt duos. The 6-9 Watford (18.7 & 7.0), the 6-7 Days (13.7 & 8.6) plus SF Wilkerson (4.8 & 3.7) start up front.

Alabama is off to its best start in SEC play since 1987 and its seventh consecutive win was a 90-59 rout of visiting Arkansas on Saturday. That victory came just four days after an 85-65 victory against Kentucky LSU 85-80 home win against South Carolina on Saturday saw the Tigers hold the Gamecocks without a field goal for more than SEVEN minutes to take control. South Carolina missed 11 consecutive shots and made just one of its last 13. I respect Alabama but LSU is a perfect 8-0 SU at home and with this pointspread, a "W" is a cover!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Conference Game of the Month (SEC) is on Mississippi St 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 just 6-6 (1-4 SEC) and enters this game having lost three in a row. However, the Rebels have won 10 of the last 14 meetings against Mississippi State. Ben Howland's MSU team went 20-11 last season, its third consecutive 20-win season. The Bulldogs were on a roll (had won 11 of their last 15) and finished with an 11-7 mark in SEC conference play, earning the No. 4 seed in the conference tournament, earning a bye to the quarterfinals. However COVID-19 had other plans and the conference tournament was canceled. The Bulldogs are 9-5 (4-2 SEC), after a 72-69 win over visiting Florida on Saturday.

Ole Miss lost by 14 to LSU, by nine to Florida and despite 24 points and eight assists from Devontae Shuler, lost to Georgia 78-74, at home this past Saturday. PG Shuler (14.1 & 4.3 APG) leads the team in scoring and the Rebels' only other double digit scorer is 6-8 Arizona graduate transfer Romello White (11.2 & 5.8). The returning 6-7 Buffen (9.8 & 4.6 just misses double digits, as do guards Joiner (9.90 and Rodriguez (8.2 & 6.9). Howland lost his four best players in the 6-10 Reggie Perry (17.4 & 10.1), plus guards Tyson Carter (13.9), Robert Woodard (11.4 & 6.5) and Nick Weatherspoon (11.6-3.5-4.1). However, returning guard DJ Stewart is averaging 17.4 PPG plus the 6-11 Abdul Ado has added 5.9 & 6.5). 5.7 & 6.7). The surprise has been sophomore guard Molinar, who averaged only 5.9 PPG last season, but leads the team with 18.4-4.4-3.4. Howland had high hopes for 6-6 forward Jalen Johnson (a transfer from Louisiana who averaged 15.5 points and 6.6 rebounds last season) but he has disappointed by averaging 7.4 PPG. That said, 6-10 Tolo Smith (via Western Ky) is averaging 13.8 & 8.9.

Tuesday will be the first meeting of the season between the rivals and the Bulldogs and guard Iverson Molinar has scored in double figures in all 11 games he has played this season, while the 6-10 Smith leads the SEC in rebounding. Ole Miss just doesn't match up well here and note that the Bulldogs beat the Rebels 69-44 last season at Humphrey Coliseum. The price seems cheap. Lay it!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* play is on Illinois at 8:30 ET.

Brad Underwood made a big 'splash' at S.F. Austin and then made a one year 'pit stop' at Oklahoma St, before landing in Champaign-Urbana. The Fighting Illini were just 14-18 and 12-21 in his first two seasons but had a breakout year in going 21-10 before last season was shut down. Illinois opened the current season No. 8 in the AP's preseason poll but so far, it has NOT been 'smooth sailing.' The Illini opened 3-0 but was just 5-3 before a four-game winning streak from Dec 23 through Jan 7. However, a 66-63 home loss to Maryland on Jan 10 ended that winning run and after sitting on that loss to Maryland for six days, Illinois promptly fell behind 10-2 and 37-19 in the first half against Ohio St, of an eventual 87-81 defeat in Champaign.

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 interim head coach Jim Ferry has led the Nittany Lions to an unimpressive 3-5 start, after an 87-85 overtime loss at Indiana on Dec 30. Penn State had been idle since Dec 30 (FOUR straight postponements due to COVID-19 concerns within the program) but returned to the court on Sunday in an 80-72 loss at Purdue. The Nittany Lions were predictably rusty in the first half, scoring just nine points in the first 10 minutes.

Penn St surely misses All-Big Ten forward Lamar Stevens (17.6 & 6.9) but the Nittany Lions have four players averaging in double figures; the 6-7 Izaiah Brockington (14.8 & 5.3) and the 6-7 Seth Lundy (11.9 & 3.5) plus guards Myreon Jones (15.4) and Sam Sessoms (11.5). Sessoms has come off the bench, with the 6-9 Harrar (7.9 & 7.5) and PG Wheeler (5.0-4.3.4-1) starting alongside Jones and the two 6-7 forwards. Penn St allied to take a lead later in the half against Purdue and trailed only 33-32 at intermission, but the Boilermakers started the second half with an 18-5 spurt that was simply too much for Penn State to overcome. Myreon Jones led Penn State with a career-high 23 points, while senior John Harrar enjoyed the best game of his career with 14 points and 14 rebounds.

The loss to Ohio St dropped coach Brad Underwood's team to 9-5 overall and 5-3 in the conference, and after the game, he sounded like a man who has seen enough. "I'm getting really frustrated with really poor, lack of emotion, non-competitive starts," he said to the Champaign News-Gazette. "You can't come out of a locker room and can't come out of a pregame huddle and be down 10-2. "You can't have guys not show up and not be assignment-sound and not be dialed in mentally. Right now we have that. We've got to put five guys on the floor who will be competitive, not just ride the emotional waves of good or bad. Just play." Illinois features one of the top guards in the nation in Dosunmu (22.4-6.7-4.9) plus 7-0 center Cockburn (17.1 & 10.1) has built on a successful freshman season. Dosunmu is joined in the backcourt by veterans Curbelo (8.8 & 4.4 APG), Frazier (8.4) and Williams (6.2 & 5.6) plus freshman Miller adds 9.6 PPG. The 6-9 Bezhanishvili (5.9 & 2.9) rounds out the main contributors.

Somehow, Illinois remained in the top-25 in Monday's new poll (22nd) but the Illini won't remain for long without a big (quick) turnaround. With four or five potential pros on its roster and perhaps a couple of future NBA All-Stars, No. 22 Illinois was expected to challenge for the Big Ten Conference title back in November and potentially make a deep NCAA Tournament run. It sure doesn't look like that now. That said, I don't doubt this team's talent. Lay the points.

Good luck...Larry

My NBA 10* Game of the Month is on the Mil Bucks at 7:35 ET.

It's safe to say that James Harden's Brooklyn debut will be remembered for some time. Two days after the Nets officially acquired him from Houston in a massive deal that cost them Jarrett Allen and Caris LeVert, Harden started slowly and wound up with 32 points, 14 assists, and 12 rebounds in 40 minutes. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, his 14 assists broke the franchise record set by Kevin Porter in 1977 for most assists in a Nets debut. Harden posted his 47th career triple-double and became the seventh player to get a triple-double in his debut with a new team. Brooklyn's 122-115 win over the Magic was its season-high third straight win and Kevin Durant sure din't seem to mind 'sharing the stage' with Harden, as he scored a season-high 42 points. The question on Monday (MLK Day) is can Harden can produce an impressive sequel when the Milwaukee Bucks visit Brooklyn for a nationally televised contest between teams many think will meet in the Eastern Conference finals?

Milwaukee heads to Brooklyn after getting a 112-109 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Friday. Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 31 points on 14-of-21 shooting but also missed nine of his 10 free throws. Antetokounmpo is having another terrific season (26.8-10.0-5.2) but is shooting a career-worst 57.5 percent from the line. SF Khris Middleton (21.8-6.5-5.7) is on pace for a career-season and added 25 points and hit two clutch three-pointers in the final two-plus minutes after Milwaukee squandered a 14-point lead against the Mavs. Bledsoe is gone but Jrue Holiday (15.2-4.2-5.0) has filled his role VERY well. Guard DiVincenzo ((10.3 & 4.1) and center Brook Lopez (9.3 & 5.3) join the above three in the starting lineup. A trio of guards add about 20 PPG off the bench plus the 6-10 Portis (11.5 & 8.2) has been a HUGE addition in his role of coming off the bench.

Giving up LeVert (18.5-3.3-6.0), Allen (11.2 & 10.4) and Prince (8.1) plus losing Dinwiddie (20.6 & 6.8 APG last season) after just three games to an ACL are no small losses. Then there is Kyrie (27.1-5.3-6.1) "situation." Irving missed his sixth straight game (against Orlando) due to personal reasons and health and safety protocols. The Nets are 4-3 without Irving this season, while Durant is averaging 34.5 points in four games since returning from missing three games due to protocols. Milwaukee comes in on a four-game winning streak and is 7-1 in its last eight games, a stretch where the Bucks are averaging 119.0 PPG. Milwaukee owns the East's best point-differential (plus-10.7), a GREAT indicator of the strength of a team. "Statement Game" here for the Bucks!

Good luck...Larry

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

Leonard Hamilton has built a championship-caliber program at Florida St, one that has produced the THIRD most victories among ACC schools behind Duke and Virginia since 2016. Florida State went 14 days in a row without playing due to COVID-19 interruptions but the Seminoles beat North Carolina 82-75 on Saturday for their second consecutive victory after losing two of the previous three games. The now 7-2 Seminoles shot 48.0 percent against North Carolina, after making a blistering 70.7 percent of their shots during a 105-73 rout of North Carolina State on Wednesday.

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 entered the weekend riding a FIVE-game winning streak and was tied with Virginia atop the ACC. However, a 3-for-20 three-point shooting performance and Miami's 49.2-percent effort from the floor sent the Cardinals to a 78-72 road loss on Saturday. Louisville trailed by 12 at halftime and never found a rhythm offensively.

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) were all chosen in the NBA draft. Guard MJ Walker is back and leads with 16.3 PPG plus is surrounded by a talented group. Frontcourt veterans like the 7-1 Koprivica (9.4 & 5.7), the 6-8 Gray (8.3 & 5.4) start, while the 6-9 Osborne (3.9 & 4.7) comes off the bench. 6-9 freshman guard Barnes averages 11.1-3.8-4.1 but he's questionable with an ankle issue. Returning guard Polite (9.6 & 4.6) just misses double digits

Louisville swingman Jordan Nwora (18.0 & 7.7) is gone from last season's Louisville team but FOUR starters returned. However, Carlik Jones leads the team in scoring, averaging 18.0-6.2-4.9. He's a graduate transfer from Radford and was last season's Big South Conference player of the year. He joins returning guard Johnson (12.9-5.6-4.1) in the backcourt. The 6-7 Williamson did little last season but averages 10.0 & 7.2 this season. True freshman guard Davis (8.9 & 6.2) and the 6-8 Slazinski (6.6 & 4.3) plus 6-9 redshirt freshman Withers (8.9 & 6.2) all contribute.

Florida State won its 20th straight ACC home game on Saturday but now plays its THIRD game over a SIX-day stretch after going 14 in a row without playing (see above). Let me also note that the Seminoles lost 77-67 at Clemson on Dec 29 in their ONLY other true road game of the season and in Louisville, FSU is playing a ranked team for the FIRST time this season. The No. 16 Cardinals (9-2 / 4-1 ACC) look to rebound from their first Atlantic Coast Conference defeat and avoid losing back-to-back games for the first time this season. Louisville has won its last six home games, outscoring opponents on average, 74.3-to-60.3 PPG. VERY tough spot for the Seminoles. "PERFECT" spot for the Cards!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Oddsmaker's Error is on the Por Blazers at 3:05 ET.

The Portland Trail Blazers have won FIVE of their last six and have upped their record to 8-5. They will look to continue their winning ways Monday afternoon at Moda Center when they welcome the 7-6 San Antonio Spurs to Portland. The Spurs have won FIVE of seven and the team's 7-6 record is good enough to lead the Southwest Division (we don't reference divisions much these days). Portland's 8-5 record leaves them one game back of the Jazz in the Northwest. Overall, Portland is the No. 5 seed and San Antonio the No. 6 seed.

The Spurs came off an impressive 4-1 road trip but despite leading the roster-depleted Rockets 99-90 with 4:39 to play, got outscored 19-6 the rest of the way to lose. However, the Spurs rebounded from that loss in Saturday's rematch. However, the Rockets, despite suiting up just eight players (the league-mandated minimum), were up to the task until the final five minutes. DeMar DeRozan scored 24 points in Saturday's win, while Jakob Poeltl and Dejounte Murray added double doubles, as the Spurs were at their best when fatigue finally got to Houston. SEVEN Spurs are averaging in double digits, with guards DeRozan (20.7-5.7-6.7) and Murray (15.8-7.3-5.2) leading the way.

While the Spurs came back from a double-digit first-half deficit to beat short-handed Houston 103-91, Portland was forced to mount its own comeback against the Hawks without CJ McCollum (26.7-3.9-5.0), who scored 16 first-half points but did not play in the second half due to a sprained left foot. The Blazers limited Atlanta to 20 points in each of the final two quarters and roared back after trailing by seven at halftime to win 112-106. Damian Lillard (27.6-4.8-6.8) led the way vs Atlanta with 36 points. Melo (13.0) and Gary Trent (11.5) have been productive off the bench and center Kanter made his first start of the season, as Nurkic (9.8 & 7.7) is out with a broken hand. Kanter has 12 points and 15 rebounds in 29 minutes and has been a great addition, averaging 10.8 & 9.4 on the season. Other new additions like SF Jones (7.0 & 4.2) and PF Covington (6.5 & 5.9) have underperformed but Jones scored 10 points vs the Hawks, while Covington had 10 rebounds.

Nurkic will be missed (out at least EIGHT weeks) but McCollum underwent an MRI and his injury was just a sprain. He will be a game-time decision Monday.  Portland is being VERY undervalued here and I say "The PRICE is RIGHT!"

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Situational Stunner is on the LA Clippers at 10:05 ET.

The defending champion Lakers own the NBA's best record at 11-3 but their Staples Center co-tenants, the Clippers, look to stay within striking distance when they host the Indiana Pacers tonight. The Clippers have won FIVE of their last seven contests, after they crushed the Kings 138-100 on Friday (15th consecutive win at Sacramento!) to reach 8-4 The Pacers are also 8-4, after routing the Portland Trail Blazers 111-87 on Thursday. The win snapped an 11-game losing streak at Portland, where the Pacers hadn't won since 2007.

The Pacers' scheduled game Saturday at the Phoenix Suns was postponed, due to the league's health and safety protocols. The Suns didn't have the NBA's required eight players available because of contract tracing. The Pacers announced on Saturday that they had acquired guard Caris LeVert from the Houston Rockets for guard Victor Oladipo. The trade was reported to be in the works earlier in the week after LeVert was shipped to Houston by the Brooklyn Nets in a deal involving James Harden. However, Levert will be out indefinitely after an MRI revealed a small mass on his left kidney during a physical prior to finalizing the four-team trade. Brogdon (22.8-4.2-7.4) and Sabonis (21.9-12.8-5.8) are off to great starts but the will not have Oladipo (traded), LeVert (see above) and SF Warren (15.5 PPG), who hasn't played since Dec 29 with a foot injury.

The Clippers beat the Kings without starting guard Patrick Beverley (personal reasons) and 6th-man Lou Williams (hip). It isn't clear if they will play Sunday. However, the dynamic duo of Paul George (25.3-6.1-5.2) and Kawhi (25.0-4.9-6.0) are ready to go. New additions Ibaka (11.8 & 6.2) and Batum (9.8-5.4-2.9) have started all 13 games, while Marcus Morris Sr. is back healthy, adding 18 points off the bench in Sacramento.

Note that George (50.3%), Kawhi (48.3%), Ibaka (51.6%) and Batum (49.4%) all shott right around 50% on the season, while the Clippers are the NBA's best three-point shooting team (43.6%) and FT-shooting team (83.9%).This is Indiana's FOURTH road game in nine days and I'm "all over" the Clippers in this one.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Weekend Wipeout of the Month is on Purdue at 1:00 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 interim head coach Jim Ferry led the Nittany Lions to an unimpressive 3-4 start, after an 87-85 overtime loss at Indiana on Dec 30. However, the Nittany Lions have been idle since that game, as Penn State has had FOUR straight postponements due to COVID-19 concerns within the program and enters on a three-game losing streak. Purdue's Matt Painter is in his 16th season with the Boilermakers and his team was just 16-14 last season, coming off a four-year run of averaging 27.3 wins per season. Purdue is coming off a four-game road trip that included meetings with THREE ranked schools and the Boilermakers return home (where they are 5-0 SU) with a 9-5 overall record (4-3 Big Ten).

Penn St surely misses All-Big Ten forward Lamar Stevens (17.6 & 6.9) but the Nittany Lions have four players averaging in double figures; the 6-7 Izaiah Brockington (15.1 & 4.7) and the 6-7 Seth Lundy (12.6) plus guards Myreon Jones (14.3) and Sam Sessoms (12.6). Sessoms has come off the bench, with the 6-9 Harrar (7.0 & 6.6) and PG Wheeler (5.3-4.0.4-3) starting alongside Jones and the two 6-7 forwards. Head coach Jim Ferry declined to offer specifics on which players would still be out due to quarantining but said the Nittany Lions would have enough players Sunday as they begin a stretch of four games in seven days.

Matt Painter's lone loss of note from last season's team was the 7-3 Haarms (8.6 & 4.6), who went to BYU as a graduate transfer. The team's "Big Three" are all returning players, senior PG Hunter (10.4 & 3.5 APG) plus juniors like the 6-10 Williams (15.5 & 9.6) and SG Stefanovic (10.5). 7-4 freshman Edey (8.2 & 3.7) has made all forget about Haarms plus freshman guard Newman (9.5 & 3.6) gives Purdue five players averaging between 8.2 and 15.5 PPG. Depth is provided by four players chipping in a combined 21 PPG, including Wheeler (4.2 & 5.0), who leads the team in assists.

Purdue is coming off a win at Indiana,  the Boilermakers EIGHTH straight win over the Hoosiers. Trevion Williams has asserted himself in Purdue's last two games, combining for 48 points to spur road victories against then-No. 23 Michigan State and in-state rival Indiana. He has now scored in double figures in NINE straight games, averaging 18.6 points and 9.1 rebounds during that stretch. Purdue is 5-0 at home and Penn St is off to an 0-3 start in the big Ten. BOTH of those streaks continue here, as the Boilermakers roll to a win "with room to spare!"

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Weekend Wipeout is on the SA Spurs at 5:05 ET.

The 4-6 Houston Rockets and the 6-6 San Antonio Spurs square off for the second time in three days Saturday, with the Rockets looking to build on their first road win of the season. The Rockets needed just nine angry, intense players, none of them named James Harden (24.8-5.1-10.4 or John Wall (18.6-4.7-5.1), to beat San Antonio 109-105 on Thursday in their first game since they traded Harden to Brooklyn in a blockbuster four-team deal. The trade is still being finalized and will eventually net Houston Victor Oladipo (from Indiana), Dante Exum (from Cleveland) and Rodions Kurucs (from Brooklyn, but none were in uniform on Thursday, nor will they be in the lineup on Saturday. What's more, Wall, Gordon (14.3) and House (7.5 & 4.5) are at best, game-time decisions .

The Spurs returned home from an impressive 4-1 road to take on the Rockets Thursday night and led 99-90 with 4:39 to play but the Rockets outscored the Spurs 19-6 the rest of the way. Christian Wood (23.1 PPG and 10.1 RPG on the season) had 27 points and grabbed 15 rebounds. The Spurs wasted a career-high 29 points from Keldon Johnson (14.8 & 7.3), who is one of SEVEN Spurs averaging in double digits. Guards DeRozan (20.4-5.5-7.0) and Murray (15.7-7.1-5.4) lead the way.

I refuse to overthink this. "The Rockets had something to prove, and they played like it," Spurs guard Lonnie Walker IV said. "They felt disrespected. That energy and animosity was built up inside of them. They were definitely ready to play." Added head coach Gregg Popovich, "It's got nothing to do with defense, offense -- it has to do with between the ears, being ready to play. We had four or five guys who were out to lunch." Lay the points!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Big 12 Game of the Year is on Baylor at 4:00 ET.

FIVE of the Big 12's 10 teams rank among the top-15 in the latest Associated Press poll, including THREE in the top six. No. 4 Texas and No. 15 Texas Tech met Wednesday night in Austin. Texas scored 48 points in the first half (10-point lead) against a team allowing just 58.0 PPG but while the Longhorns led almost the entire game, Tech's Mac McClung made a long jumper with THREE seconds left to give No. 15 Texas Tech a 79-77 win, ending the Longhorns' 4-0 start in the Big 12. Tech returns home to Lubbock on Saturday but "there's no rest for the weary," as No. 2 Baylor comes to town with its 11-0 record (9-2 ATS). Fresh off its first road victory against a top-five opponent in program history, Texas Tech now hosts Baylor, a contest marking the first game between the two schools in which BOTH are ranked in the top-15.

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 better 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) but Tchatchoua is a 6-8 transfer from UNLV and he's averaged 9.0 & 7.2. The 6-5 Vital plays like a power forward, averaging 5.2 & 5.3 and is considered one of the best defensive players in the nation. The strength of Baylor's team is centered around its four guards, all scoring in double digits. Butler's (16.4-3.5-5.4) the best of the group but don't look past Teague (15.6 & 4.2), Mitchell (11.5 & 6.5 APG) or Flagler (10.1).The Bears (11-0, 4-0 Big 12) have been off for several days after their game against No. 13 West Virginia was postponed because of COVID-19 concerns in the Mountaineers' program. Baylor's last outing was Jan 9, when the Bears throttled TCU 67-49 in Fort Worth, for its fourth league win by double digits!

Chris Beard went 30-5 at Arkansas St in 2015-16 and was able to to land the Texas Tech job as a reward. In his second season, the Red Raiders won 27 games and made the Elite 8 and then followed that up by winning 31 games in the 2018-19 season, where they lost to UVa in the national championship game. Last year's 18-13 season was seen as a major slump but Tech opened at No. 14 in the AP preseason poll. Georgetown transfer McClung (15.8) leads Tech in scoring and is joined in the starting lineup by guards Edwards (10.4 & 5.4) and freshman Peavy (5.9). The 6-7 Santos-Silva (8.9 & 6.0) is Tech's tallest starter, although the 6-6 Shannon (13.6 & 5.0, who comes off the bench, and 6-6 starter McCullar (11.4 & 6.6) are bigger producers. The Red Raiders' calling card remains defense, allowing 59.4 PPG (9th) on 39.2% shooting (36th).

However, here's the rub. Baylor KNOWS more than a little about playing defense too, holding opponents to 61.2 PPG (29th). On the offensive end, Baylor is averaging 89.0 PPG (5th), which is about two 'TDs' more than Texas Tech (75.8 PPG), while shooting 50.9% (14th), including 42.3% on threes (3rd). Maybe Baylor will get tripped up somewhere in its 'travels' through the Big 12 but NOT here, as after 'escaping' at Austin, the Red Raiders will fail here at home to the Bears.

Good luck...Larry 

My 9* Revenge Rout-Part 2 is on Minnesota at 2:00 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). Howard's sophomore year at Michigan has everyone's attention! Michigan got some extra time to prepare for the No. 9 Badgers on Tuesday, as its scheduled game at Penn State last Saturday was postponed due to COVID-19 issues within the Nittany Lions' program. Fueled by a suffocating defense, the No. 7 Wolverines routed Wisconsin 77-54 on Tuesday to remain the Big Ten's only undefeated team. Michigan held Wisconsin to 30.8% shooting, while making 51.6% themselves. Michigan led the Badgers by as much as 40 points and now faces No. 23 Minnesota (10-4, 3-4 Big Ten) for the second time in three games. Richard Pitino is in his eighth season at Minnesota. He led the Gophers to the NIT championship in his first season (2013-14) but over the last six seasons, Minnesota has made just two NCAA appearances (2017 and 2019), while going a combined 56-71 (.441) over the other four. The Gophers opened 9-1 in Pitino's 8th season but have lost THREE of four entering this game.

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 13.8 & 5.5 this season. The Wolverines have an experienced group but their leading scorer is 7-1 freshman Hunter Dickinson (17.5 & 7.9). Experience comes in guards Wagner (12.5 & 7.1), Smith (9.2 & 5.4 APG), Brown (9.0), Brooks (8.7 & 3.6 APG). Michigan is averaging 82.0 PPG on 52.4% shooting (8th), while holding opponents to 65.8 PPG on 36.9% shooting (8th).

Minnesota PG Carr (20.9-3.9-5.5) ranks with the best in the nation and has been aided by THREE transfers, 7-0 Liam Robbins (13.7 & 7.2) from Drake, the 6-6 Gach (10.5-5.3-3.0) from Utah and the 6-8 Johnson (8.1 & 6.0) from Western Michigan. Plus, don't dismiss returning junior guard Kalescheur, who's adding 9.8 PPG. Carr finished with a modest 14 points (made just 5 of 16 FG attempts) when Michigan routed Minnesota 92-57 in Ann Arbor on Jan 6. Michigan's Dickinson scored a career-high 28 points and had eight rebounds that night, as Michigan shot 56.9 percent from the floor.

So what's the difference here? Minnesota's at home in Williams Arena where the Gophers are 10-0, averaging 85.5 PPG. The Gophers have beaten then-No. 4 Iowa (102-95), then-No. 17 Mich St (81-56) and then-No. 25 Ohio St (77-60) in this venue! Now-No. 7 Michigan suffers a similar fate! Take the points!

Good luck...Larry

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

Chris Holtmann took over at Butler for Brad Stevens and went 70-31 in 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. Ohio St opened 6-0 in non-conference play but has gone 4-3 in the rugged Big Ten. However, the Buckeyes are off back-to-back conference wins at Rutgers and a Wednesday home win over Northwestern, avenging a 71-70 loss to the Wildcats in Evanston.

Brad Underwood made a big 'splash' at S.F. Austin and then made a one year 'pit stop' at Oklahoma St, before landing in Champaign-Urbana. The Fighting Illini were just 14-18 and 12-21 in his first two seasons but had a breakout year in going 21-10 before last season was shut down. Illinois opened the current season No. 8 in the AP's preseason poll but so far, it has NOT been 'smooth sailing.' The Illini opened 3-0 but was just 5-3 before a four-game winning streak from Dec 23 through Jan 7. However, a 66-63 home loss to Maryland on Jan 10 ended that winning run. Illinois is currently ranked 14th as it welcomes No. 21 Ohio St to the State Farm Center.

Missing from the lineup in Ohio St's 10-point win over Northwestern were starting point guard CJ Walker (8.7 & 4.2 APG) and backup Jimmy Sotos because of injuries. One would expect that leading scorer, the 6-7 E.J. Liddell (13.3 & 6.7), would step up for the Buckeyes but he went 0 of 6 from the floor, scoring just SIX points by going 6-for-8 at the free-throw line. Instead, it was 6-7 junior forward Justice Sueing (10.8 & 5.2) who made his first career start at PG, and had 13 points and seven rebounds Junior guard Duane Washington Jr. (15.7 PPG) led four Buckeyes in double figures with a career-high 23 points.

Illinois features one of the top guards in the nation in Dosunmu (22.4-6.9-4.8) plus 7-0 center Cockburn (17.3 & 10.1) has built on a successful freshman season. Dosunmu is joined in the backcourt by veterans Curbelo (9.3 & 4.6 APG), Frazier (8.4) and Williams (6.5 & 5.9) plus freshman Miller adds 9.3 PPG. The 6-9 Bezhanishvili (5.3 & 3.2) rounds out the main contributors.

Illinois (9-4, 5-2 Big Ten) was supposed to play at Nebraska on Wednesday but the game was postponed because the Cornhuskers paused full-team activities due to positive COVID-19 results in the program. The unexpected open date prevented the Illini from getting on the court to erase memories of a 66-63 loss to Maryland on Sunday. Illinois led 59-56 with 7:30 left, but the Illini scored just FOUR points the rest of the game! I see this as a great bounce-back spot for Illinois and note that the Buckeyes haven't been to the State Farm Center in more than four years (last played there back on Jan 1, 2017!). Me thinks that after this one, Ohio State will want to take another FOUR years off between visits to Champaign-Urbana. Lay the points!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* East/West Conference Game of the Month is on the Mil Bucks at 7:35 ET.

Luka Doncic collected 34 points, 13 rebounds, nine assists and a career-high four blocks in Dallas' 104-93 win over the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday, leading the Mavericks to their FOURTH straight victory. More good news came in the form of Kristaps making four 3-pointers to highlight his 16-point performance in his season debut. The 7-foot-3 Porzingis (20.4 & 9.5 LY) was playing for the first time since tearing his meniscus in his right knee during the Mavericks' playoff setback to the Los Angeles Clippers back in August. The now 6-4 Mavs travel to Milwaukee on Friday to take on the Bucks, who have had the league's best record in each of the last two regular seasons. Milwaukee opened 2-3 this season but enters this game having won SIX of seven to reach 8-4 on the season.

It's GREAT news that Porzingis is back to join Doncic (27.4-9.6-8.3) but here's what the injury list looks like for the Mavericks. Maxi Kleber: out (health and safety protocols), Jalen Brunson: out (health protocols), Dorian Finney-Smith: out (health protocols), Dwight Powell: out (health protocols), Josh Richardson: out (health protocols). Going down the line. Kleber is averaging 7.4 & 5.3, Brunson 11.1, Finney-Smith 9.3 & 5.0, Powell 5.0 & 3.6 and Richardson 13.8.

The two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo is averaging 26.2-10.1-5.5 and SF Middleton (21.6-6.3-5.7) is off to  a terrific start. Jrue Holiday has been a big addition (no one misses Bledsoe), averaging 15.2 PPG and 5.0 APG. The 6-10 Portis (11.8 & 7.8) has also been  a strong addition, while returning guard DiVincenzo (10.7 & 4.2) and center Brook Lopez (9.2 & 4.8) have both started all 12 games.

Milwaukee may be "just" 8-4 and only owns a 6-6 ATS mark but the Bucks own the NBA's best point-differential at plus-11.4 PPG. That is as good an indicator as any as to the strength of a team. Lay the points here, against a Dallas team nowhere near 100%!

Good luck...Larry 

My 8* Las Vegas Insider is on St Mary's at 11:00 ET.

The BYU Cougars and Saint Mary's Gaels meet Thursday in WCC action in Moraga, Ca. ALL schools in the WCC play in the 'shadow' of Gonzaga but the Cougars and Gaels each have a long history of excellent basketball teams. Both enter with 9-3 records on the season.

Mark Pope had an excellent first season at BYU (came from Utah Valley St), going 24-8. However, gone are PF Childs (22.2 & 9.0) plus guards Toolson (15.2-4.8-3.9) and Haws (14.0 & 5.8 APG). Guard Barcello (9.3 PPG last season) is leading the way in averaging 16.3-4.7-4.8  and the 7-3 Haarms (Purdue graduate transfer) has chipped in 11,2 & 3.7. BYU has a ton of depth, as EIGHT more players are averaging between 11 and 26 MPG. Guard Averette leads in scoring (10.2 in that group, while 6-9 Lohner (6.5) and the 6-11 Harvard (4.6) are the best rebounders. Randy Bennett has been head coach at St Mary's since the 2001-02 season and entered this season with a 440-182 (.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.

Gone from last year are guard Ford (21.9), forward Fitts (16.5 & 7.1) and guard Krebs (9.1). However, after dropping their season opener, 73-56, to Memphis at Sioux Falls, SD back on Nov 25, St Mary's won EIGHT in a row before losing to SD State. Senior Guard Kushe, who averaged just 5.9 PPG last season, is averaging 14.8-4.0-5.7 so far this season. Junior guard Johnson (1.4 PPG last season) is averaging 11.0 & 3.6, while returning players like the 6-10 Tass (10.1 & 5.3) and the 6-7 Fotu (7.3 & 4.4) are holding up their ends. Aussie guard Ducas averaged just 3.6 PPG last season but adds 10.9 & 5.3.

BYU was 9-2 when it ran into some postponements due to COVID plus Gonzaga was facing the same issues. The schools both decided to play each other a month early back last Thursday but BYU's long layoff (previous games was Dec 23) was evident early, as the Cougars committed five turnovers in the first four minutes to fall behind 16-2. Gonzaga made seven of its first nine shots, while Cougars made only two of their first 12 shots to trail 30-7 with just over nine minutes gone in the first half (would lose 86-69). This trip to St Mary's is BYU's first game since the Gonzaga contest and will take on a St Mary's team in need of a win after losing TWO of their last three games. However, stealing a line from Broadway's Annie Get Your Gun, "Anything BYU can do, St Mary's can do better!" St Mary's Gaels has won SEVEN of the last 10 meetings against BYU and makes it EIGHT of 11 here!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Weekly Wipeout is on the Den Nuggets at 10:05 ET.

The Golden St Warriors lost K.D. to free agency last season and Klay Thompson to injury and went 15-50, the worst record in the league. Thompson again re-injured himself before the start of the current season (Achilles this time) and will miss a second straight season, All things considered, the Warriors' 6-5 start isn't bad. The Denver Nuggets have had an uneven start to this year, after coming out of the gates last season with a 12-2 record. Injuries and COVID-19 protocols have been a major  factor, as the Nuggets return home with a 5-6 record to host Golden St.

Without Thompson and with Durant in Brooklyn, teams are focused on stopping Curry but Steph has averaged 27.8-5.1-6.4. Wiggins (17.9 & 4.8), a former No. 1 overall pick, has found a home in San Francisco  plus James Wiseman (2nd pick of the 2020 Draft) has avenged 10.6 & 6.4). FA acquisition Oubre (10.8 & 5.5) has disappointed and after missing some early games, Green has returned to average a modest 4.4-5.1-6.6. He looks nowhere-near the 'force' he once was.

Denver center Jokic (24.3-10.9-10.6) has been great but Michael Porter Jr. (19.5 & 6.8) has missed SEVEN games due to issues with the coronavirus, and his return last week was delayed after sitting out three games. Hours before he was to return against Dallas he was ruled out with what coach Michael Malone said Tuesday was due to COVID. The Nuggets were also without Gary Harris (10.6) on Tuesday for personal reasons, a defensive presence that would have helped in the loss to the Nets. Denver had opened its road trip 2-0 but couldn't hold an 18-point lead at Brooklyn.

Obviously, Porter and Harris (team's best perimeter defender) are missed but the Nuggets still own excellent depth. Murray (19.7) was terrific in last year's 'bubble' and swingman Barton is back healthy averaging 11.6-4.3-2.8. The 6-8 Green comes off the bench to average 11.4 & 6.4 in about 20 minutes and backup PG Morris (11.4 & 3.2) is a quality reserve. Curry's been held to just 31 points combined in the last two games so watch out but Denver is a VERY good team, even with some missing starters. The Nuggets play their next three games at home and can kick-start their season with some good play. The Warriors are on the road for the FIRST time since Dec 29, coming off a SEVEN-game homestand! I say it's a Blowout Alert!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Rivalry Game of the Month is on Indiana at 7:00 ET.

The Indiana Hoosiers football team and the Purdue Boilermakers football team play annually for The Old Oaken Bucket. There is no trophy in basketball but that doesn't mean an Indiana/Purdue basketball game is not a bitter rivalry. Both schools play solid defense with Purdue allowing 66.2 PPG and Indiana 66.6 PPG. Indiana ranks 14th nationally per KenPom in adjusted defensive efficiency, while Purdue ranks 36th. Purdue is 8-5 (3-3 in the Big Ten) and Indiana  has the exact same record overall and in Big Ten play.

Purdue head coach Matt Painter's lone loss of note from last season's team was the 7-3 Haarms (8.6 & 4.6), who went to BYU as a graduate transfer. The team's "Big Three" are all returning players, senior PG Hunter (10.3 & 3.4 APG) plus juniors like the 6-10 Williams (15.0 & 9.5) and SG Stefanovic (10.7). 7-4 freshman Edey (8.8 & 4.0) has made all forget about Haarms plus freshman guard Newman (9.3) gives Purdue five players averaging between 8.8 and 15.0 PPG. Depth is provided by four players chipping in a combined 21 PPG.

Archie Miller spent six years at Dayton, winning 20-plus games in five seasons. Over his final four at the school, the Flyers averaged 25.5 wins per season and went to four straight NCAA tourneys. He got the Indiana job beginning with the 2017-18 season and was just 16-15 and 19-16. However, last year's team was 20-12 before the season was "called off!" Gone from that team are Devontae Green (13.5 & 8.4) who graduated and the 6-7 Justin Smith (10.4 & 5.2), who transferred to Arkansas. This year's Indiana team is led by the 6-9 Jackson-Davis (20.1 & 9.3) and the 6-8 Thompson (9.5 & 6.6) up front plus in the backcourt, it's sophomore Franklin (12.7 & 4.2), senior Durham (11.1-3.8-3.3) and junior Phinisee (8.0). The bad news for the Hoosiers is that Franklin is out indefinitely with an ankle injury. That will give some extra minutes to the 6-7 Hunter (5.2 & 3.2) and guard Galloway (5.0), who started for Franklin in the last game.

Purdue has won SEVEN straight in the rivalry between the two schools but the Boilermakers are coming off a dramatic, 55-54 win at Michigan State. In that game, Purdue rallied from down 15 points at halftime to win on a short jumper by Trevion Williams with 4.5 seconds remaining. As for Indiana, it enters with THREE wins in its last four, losing only in double-OT at the-No. 8 Wisconsin. Jackson-Davis has posted double-doubles in three straight games (against Maryland, Wisconsin and Nebraska) and I expect that the Hoosiers are primed to end their SEVEN-game slide against the hated-Boilermakers, who have averaged just 59.6 PPG in five road games this season. That's the play!

Good luck...Larry

 My 10* Underdog of the Month is on the Sac Kings at 10:05 ET.

The Portland Trail Blazers made it all the way to the Western Conference Finals two seasons ago but last year needed a strong run 'in the bubble' to sneak into the postseason. Led by 'Bubble' MVP Lillard, the Blazers were a 'sexy' pick to upset the Lakers in the first round but after a 100-93 upset in Game 1, Portland lost FOUR in a row. The Blazers have won THREE straight and are 6-4 as they welcome the Sacramento Kings to Moda Center (I miss the Rose Garden) on Wednesday. Luke Walton begins his second season with the Kings, having gone 31-41 in last year's pandemic-shortened season. Walton's in good company, as the Kings opened this season on a run of 14 consecutive losing seasons and non-playoff appearances. Just a thought. Think Sacramento fans feel that it may have been a mistake to fire Rick Adelman after EIGHT straight winning and playoff seasons because he was never able to deliver an NBA championship? Probably a rhetorical question, right?

5-6 Sacramento's starting-five are all averaging in double digits, led by the Kings' excellent guard duo. PG Fox (18.3 & 5.4 APG) and Hield (14.7 & 4.2) lead the way, while three Sacramento frontcourt players are producing as well. The Kings don't have a true center, as that frontcourt trio includes 6-8 SF Barnes (17.9 & 6.9) plus 6-8 PF Holmes (13.2 & 7.7) and 6-11 PF Bagley (12.7 & 8.0). Rookie PG Haliburton ((12,1 & 5.3 APG) from Iowa St has stepped right in and looks like he'll be a quality NBA player. More depth is provided by four players chipping in between 6.4 and 7.8 PPG.

Speaking of backcourts, Portland believes it owns the NBA's best in Lillard and McCollum. McCollum is off to a great start, leading Portland in scoring (28.1 PPG), while adding 4.1 RPG and 5.0 APG. Lillard's numbers are slightly down (26.1-4.9-6.4) but the fact that one can say that with a straight face, proves what type of player he is. Portland expected to be healthier this season plus acquired Robert Covington and Derrick Jones Jr. to shore up defense. Neither Covington (6.6 & 6.0) nor Jones (6.4 & 3.5) have been as good as hoped for, with both players starting all games. The problem has been no player is even HALF as much as either McCollum or Lillard. Carmelo Anthony (13.0) has added a scoring 'punch' off the bench, as have backup center Kanter (11.2 & 9.3) and guard Trent (10.8). Starting center Nurkic (9.5 & 7.2) has underperformed and is currently listed at day-to-day (quad) while PF Collins (ankle) has yet to play a game this season.

The Blazers routed the Kings 125-99 this past Saturday and that memory is still fresh in the Kings' memory. Sacramento enters the rematch with a bit of momentum, after producing a convincing 127-122 home win over the Indiana Pacers on Monday. Portland recovered from a 17-point deficit and still trailed by 14 with 9 1/2-minutes remaining in the game but 'escaped' with a 112-11 home win over Toronto (NBA-worst record of 2-8 ) on Monday. no comeback here, as the Kings get some quick 'revenge.'

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Revenge Game of the Month is on Ohio St at 7:00 ET.

Chris Collins took over at Northwestern back in the 2013-14 season and won 20 games in the 2015-16 season. The very next season, he led the Wildcats to a 24-12 year, as Northwestern finished with its first winning Big Ten Conference record in 49 years (10-8) and earned its first NCAA Tournament appearance in school history (Wildcats even won their first game). It was NO small accomplishment, as Northwestern had been the only member of a power conference to have never made the "Big Dance." However, three straight losing seasons followed. However, with four starters back for this season, the Wildcats won SIX of their first seven, including a 3-0 start in the Big Ten. Northwestern won its first THREE conference games for the first time since the 1967-68 season (note: Northwestern was 3-17 in the Big Ten last season!) and entered the AP poll on Dec 28th (No. 19) for the first time this season but hardly told the whole story. Northwestern's No. 19 ranking was its highest this late in a season since 1969!  However, the Wildcats have lost THREE in a row since.

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. Ohio St opened 5-0 and was ranked 20th in the AP poll before a 67-60 road loss at Purdue on Dec 16. A 77-70 win over UCLA (in Cleveland) plus an 80-68 home win over then-No. 11 Rutgers came next. However, the Buckeyes lost 71-70 at Northwestern, pounded visiting Nebraska 90-54 and lost 77-60 at Minnesota. The Buckeyes produced a 22-4 burst while building a 42-30 halftime lead at Rutgers on Saturday and won 79-68. Ohio St is back in the latest AP poll at No. 21.

I noted that Northwestern has lost three straight but last Thursday's defeat is worthy of note. The Wildcats held a 15-point halftime over visiting Illinois last Thursday but were outscored 53-13 in the second half while shooting 2 of 24 from the floor, leading to an 81-56 loss. A major conference school had not been outscored by 40 points in a half since Kentucky was 43 points better in the second half vs Vanderbilt on March 5, 2003. The 6-7 Kupp (13.8) leads Northwestern in scoring. Guard Audige (11.7), the 6-10 Nance (11.4 & 5.8) and PG Buie (10.3& 5.0 APG) join Kupp in double digits. The 6-10 Young (9.0 & 6.1) and the 6-9 Beran (7.6 & 3.5) contribute off the bench, as does freshman guard Berry (7.1).

SG Washington (15.1) leads the team in scoring and has been paired with PG Walker (8.7 & 4.2 APG). However, he is expected to be lost for multiple games due to torn ligaments in his right hand. The frontcourt has four solid contributors led by arguably the team's best player, the 6-7 Liddell (14.0 & 6,4). He's joined on the frontline by the 6-7 Sueing (10.7 & 5.0), the 6-8 Young (7.9 & 6.3), 6-8 freshman Key (6.9) and the 6-6 Aherns (5.3).

Coming off a total collapse against Illinois does not bode well for the Wildcats here in Columbus, where Ohio St is 6-0 (average margin of victory 20.7 PPG) and 'itching' for revenge from that 71-70 at Northwestern back on the day after Christmas. Lay the points!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* (ACC Game of the Year is on Florida St at 7:00 ET.

Florida State(5-2 / 1-1 in ACC) just dropped out of the AP top-25 on Monday and tonight, will end its longest in-season layoff since a holiday break during the 1956-57 season when it plays host to North Carolina State (6-3 / 2-2) in Tallahassee. COVID-19 positive tests and contact tracing within the program led to three postponed games. NC State lost four games due to COVID but opened 6-1 (2-0 ACC) before losing its last two games to Clemson and Miami in ACC play.

Head coach Kevin Keatts took over at NC State for Mark Gottfried beginning in the 2017-18 season, after leading UNC-Wilmington to 25-8 and 29-6 records in his final two seasons (both teams earned NCAA tourney bids). He's won 21, 24 and 20 games his first three seasons in Raleigh and while he lost leading scorer Bryce (13.3 & 6.3) plus PG Johnson (12.8-4.4-6.8) from last season's team, the Wolfpack have plenty of talent and depth this season. Guard Daniels (15.9 & 5.2) and 6-7 wing Hellems (11/2 & 5.1) are averaging in double digits, as is the 6-10 Funderburk (13.0 & 5.5z), who comes off the bench. Hayes (7.7) and Beverley (6.4) start in the backcourt along with Daniels, while the 6-11 Bates (9.4 & 5.4) starts up front with Hellems.

Leonard Hamilton is now in his 19th season with FSU and he's been greatly underappreciated (more later). 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) were all chosen in the NBA draft. Guard MJ Walker is back and leads with 15.3 PPG plus is surrounded by a talented group. Frontcourt veterans like the 7-1 Koprivica (9.9 & 5.90, the 6-8 Gray (7.0 & 6.0) start, while the 6-9 Osborne (3.6 & 5.1) comes off the bench. Freshman Barnes, a 6-9 guard averages 11.1-3.9-4.3) and returning guard Polite (10.9 & 5.1) are both double digit scorers.

Here's the bottom line. Hamilton has built a championship-caliber program at Florida St, one that has produced the THIRD most victories among ACC schools behind Duke and Virginia since 2016. How many knew that? "We missed those practices," Hamilton said about the team's layoff. "We are kind of still a team, like most teams right now. We are still growing and developing." My bet is that Hamilton's crew "won't miss a beat!"

Good luck...Larry

My 8* Las Vegas Insider is on North Carolina at 9:00 ET.

Syracuse (7-2, 1-1 ACC) will visit Chapel Hill tonight to take on North Carolina (7-4, 2-2 ACC). Both teams are used to close games, as Syracuse has seen FOUR games decided by six points or less (another game went into overtime), while SEVEN of North Carolina 11 games have been decided by six points or less.

The Orange have little depth, as all five starters are averaging more than 30 minutes. The 6-7 Guerrier leads in scoring (15.7) and rebounding (9.3), SF Griffin checks in at 15.6 & 7.3 plus the 6-10 Dolezag adds 12.0 & 6.3. The backcourt is Buddy Boeheim (15.2) and PG Girard (11.6 & 4.6 APG). 6-5 forward Richmond (7.2 & 3.8) is the lone producer off the bench. North Carolina's strength is its depth. Up front it's the 6-10 Bacot (11.0 & 7.6), the 6-10 Brooks (10.2 & 7.7) and the 6-11 Sharpe (9.8 & 8.2), while the backcourt goes four-deep. The group includes Love (9.5 & 3.5 APG), Davis (8.3),  Black (7.7 & 6.4) and Platek (5.9).

North Carolina has dominated this series recently, as its regular-season road victory stretched its winning streak in the series to NINE games. However, Syracuse won in an ACC tournament blowout in what became the last game played, because the rest of the event was canceled at the start of the current COVID-19 pandemic. The Tar Heels are beginning to "find themselves," as Roy Williams puts last season's 14-19 'nightmare' behind him. Lay the points.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* PERFECT STORM of the Month is on Kentucky at 9:00 ET.

The lead in the Southeastern Conference will be at stake when Alabama visits Kentucky on Tuesday in Lexington. That the Tide and Wildcats are atop the standings even this early in the season is somewhat of a surprise since both teams struggled in non-conference play. Alabama went a modest 5-3, while Kentucky opened 1-6, its worst start to a season since the 1926-27 Wildcats lost eight of nine. However, Alabama is 4-0 to open SEC play and Kentucky 3-0 (note: the only other unbeaten team in the SEC is 1-0 South Carolina!).

Alabama head coach Nate Oats was 96-43 at Buffalo, leading the Bulls to three NCAA tourneys in his four years, including going 27-9 and 32-4 in his last two seasons. 'Bama was just 16-15 last season but guard Lewis (18.5-4.8-5.2) left after one year for the NBA. The starting backcourt is strong, with PG Quinnerly (13.0 & 3.4 APG), Shackleford (13.1 & 4.8), Petty (12.4 & 5.5) and Primo (7.7 & 3.3), while the 6-8 Jones (12.9 & 6.5) is joined up front by he 6-10 Brunner (7.8 & 5.6), who is a rare Yale graduate transfer. 

Kentucky was ranked No. 10 in the AP preseason poll but its 1-6 start took care of that. Not surprisingly, Calipari again relies on freshman and transfers. Three Wildcats are averaging double digits thus far, freshmen Brandon Boston (12.8 & 5.3), 7-0 Wake Forest transfer Sarr (11.2 & 5.6) and Creighton transfer Mintz (10.3 & 7.3). Freshman  guards Askew (7.7) and Allen (7.1) plus 6-10 freshman Jackson (5.7 & 7.2) are getting their 'sea legs.' Then there is 6-7 sophomore Keion Brooks Jr., playing his first game after missing the first nine with a left calf injury. He scored 12 points plus has six rebounds and four assists in Kentucky's impressive 76-58 win at Florida this past Saturday.

Did anyone really think Kentucky would just fold after that 1-6 start? Alabama PG PG Quinnerly has NOT played in the team's last two games and there is no indication he's expected to play here. Either way, I'm "all over" Kentucky here, as the Wildcats open 4-0 in the SEC. 

Good luck...Larry

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

The new AP poll was released on Monday and the Big Ten has SEVEN teams in the top-25, including THREE in the top-10. TWO of those schools square off Tuesday as No. 7 Michigan (10-0 / 5-0 Big Ten) welcomes No. 9 Wisconsin (10-2 / 4-1 Big Ten) to Crisler Arena. 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). In his sophomore year, Michigan is off to even a better start. Wisconsin has had a terrific basketball program for decades and head coach Greg Gard enters his sixth season at Madison, having had FOUR 20-win seasons in his first five.

The Badgers start FIVE seniors, guards Trice (14.8-3.3-3.7) and Davison (10.0) plus the 6-10 Potter (12.5 & 7.0), the 6-11 Reuvers (10.3 & 4.3) and the 6-8 Ford (9.8 & 4.1). 6-5 freshman Davis (7.3 & 4.8) and 6-9 sophomore Wahl (4.9 & 3.6) both contribute off the bench. 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 13.9 & 5.4. The Wolverines, like the Badgers, have an experienced group but their leading scorer is 7-1 freshman Hunter Dickinson (18.0 & 9.1) and scored a career-high 28 points in Michigan's last game, an 82-57 romp of Minnesota on Wednesday. Experience comes in guards Wagner (12.2 & 6.), Brown (9.2), Brooks (9.1 & 3.8 APG) and Smith (8.1 & 5.3 APG).

Michigan got some extra time to prepare for the Badgers as its scheduled game at Penn State on Saturday was postponed due to COVID-19 issues within the Nittany Lions' program. The Wolverines have defeated their last four opponents by double digits through a combination of a suffocating defense and a very efficient offense (Michigan is shooting 52.5% on the season). However, Wisconsin knows all about playing defense, allowing just 61.5 PPG (24th) on 38.9% shooting (26th). The Badgers went into Breslin Center back on Dec 25 and beat Michigan St 85-76 by shooting 52.9%. It was Wisconsin's first win in East Lansing since 2004 (had lost 12 straight!). Why can't (won't) the Badgers win here in Ann Arbor? Take the points!

Good luck...Larry

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

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). The team lost key players from that team, including leading scorer Baldwin (16.2) and three-point shooter McDermott. Butler is struggling so far, going 3-6 overall (2-4 in the Big East). St John's is coached by Mike Anderson, who is in his second season in Queens. He's had success wherever he's been, going 89-41 in four years at UAB, 111-57 in five years at Missouri and 169-102 in eight years at Arkansas. Anderson took over a recently struggling St John's program last season and went 17-15, giving him his 18th consecutive winning season as a head coach (zero losing seasons). Could that streak end this season? St John's is just 6-6, including 1-5 in the Big East.

Senior guards Thompson (14.3 & 4.5 APG) and Bolden (13.0 & 4.1) lead the but fellow guards N\Harris (11.1) and Tate (7.9) contribute. Up front, it's just the 6-7 Nze (9.9 & 6.6) and the 6-9 Golden (9.9 & 5.3). Anderson lost LJ Figueroa (14.5 & 4.5) to Oregon but THREE newcomers have already made HUGE contributions. Vince Cole is a 6-5 two-time junior-college All-American and is averaging 10.5 PPG, freshman PG Posh Alexander averages 9.3 & 4.4 APG and 6-10 JC transfer Isaih Moore (but with a 7-6 wingspan) comes off the bench to average  9.7 & 5.8. There's all sorts of depth in the backcourt with Williams (11.8), Dunn (7.3) and freshman Addae-Wusu (5.8). However, the team's star is 6-8 wing Julian Champagnie, who averages 21.0 & 7.9.

The bottom line is that this contest is a 'battle' of styles. Butler enters Tuesday averaging 63.7 PPG, which is not only is the worst scoring average in the 11-team Big East but also marks the Bulldogs as the only team below 70 per game. Conversely, the Bulldogs are allowing 69.0 PPG, which is the fourth-best figure in the league. In stark contrast, St John's is second in the Big East with 80.5 PPG (39th nationally) but is allowing 80.8 PPG (327th in the nation). The team that "plays its game" wins and I believe that's St John's here at home. Butler has averaged 60.3 PPG away from home, while St John's has averaged 83.2 PPG at home. Blowout Alert!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Situational Stunner is on Utah at 6:00 ET.

The Colorado Buffaloes (8-3, 2-2 Pac-12) and the Utah Utes (4-4, 1-3) meet Monday in Salt Lake City. It was originally scheduled for March 6 but was moved up after Colorado's game with the Beavers was postponed due to COVID-19 concerns within the Oregon State program. The Utes are fitting this game in between Saturday's loss to the Oregon Ducks and Thursday's game against Stanford. Both teams are coming off home games against Oregon, with different results. The Buffs beat the Ducks 79-72 on Thursday (the 10th straight time they've defeated Oregon in Boulder), Utah fell 79-73 to the Ducks on Saturday.

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), Colorado is off to an 8-3 start. The good news was that PG Wright flirted with the NBA draft but returned to Boulder for his senior season. Wright (16.0-5.0-5.2) is the team leader and is surrounded by veterans, such as the 6-8 Evan Battey (9.9 & 5.2) and the 7-0 Dallas Walton (9.6 & 3.0) plus the 6-7 Jeriah Horn (a Tulsa graduate transfer) adds 11.3 & 5.8. Depth is provided by FIVE players combining to average 33 PPG. 

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 lost Both Gach to Minnesota (transfer) but returned four starters. 6-6 forward Allen led the team in scoring last season and is averaging 15.4 & 5.6, just ahead of guard Alfonso Plummer (13.4). Joining Allen up front are the 6-8 Jantunen (10.3 & 4.9), the 7-0 Carlson (6.3) and the 6-9 Battin (6.3 & 3.0). Gach liked to play PG and his leaving has opened that role up to Jones (6.8 & 4.8 APG), who joins Plummer in the starting backcourt, while freshman Larsson (8.3) comes off the bench.

Colorado has played strong defense (62.6 PPG ranks 31st) and is scoring 75.6 PPG. Utah's defense is decent (65.8 PPG) but its offense averages less than 70 PPG (not good). However, this is NOT a good "situation" for Colorado. This contest was supposed to be in the middle of a four-game homestand for the Buffs but instead of resting after a game against Oregon State, the Buffaloes will be on the road. Utah had been 4-0 at home before its loss to Oregon and has scored 70-plus points in all FIVE home games this season (75.6 per). This will be the 20th meeting between the teams since the Buffaloes joined the Pac-12 before the 2011-12 season and they have split the last six games, with the home teams winning EACH time. Make that SEVEN straight wins by the home team in this series and as a bonus, we get about a 'FG!'

Good luck...Larry

My 10* AAC Game of the Year is on Wichita St at 4:30 ET.

The Cincinnati Bearcats and the Wichita State Shockers have each been regular NCAA tourney participants but their respective 2020-21 seasons have NOT begun well. 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). The Bearcats were one of the last teams in Division I to start their season, not taking the floor until Dec 2. The Bearcats are coming off a 76-69 win at Tulsa on Jan 7 but that snapped a FIVE-game losing streak. Cincy is just 3-6 entering this contest.

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.

Guard Keith Williams leads the Bearcats in scoring with 15.1 PPG, while fellow guard Jeremiah Davenport has 10.6 & 4.1 to give Cincy a pair of double digit scorers. Guards Mike Adams-Woods (8.6) and David DeJulius (8.2-4.7- 5.1_ round out a strong backcourt. The frontcourt offers little, with 7-1 returning center Chris Vogt (5.4 & 3.6) being the biggest disappointment, coming off a season in which he averaged 11.1 & 5.7. The 6-7 Eason (7.6 & 5.7) and the 6-10 Ivanauskas (6.7 & 5.0) have been Cincy's top frontcourt performers.

Center Echenique (11.3 & 7.1) plus guards Stevenson (11.1 & 4.7( and Burton (10.3-3.5-3.4) are all gone from last year's 23-8 team (top-3 scorers). However, the Shockers are a deep team this season, led by a trio of guards in Etienne (17.9 & 3.8), UConn transfer Gilbert (10.8-3.4-3.3) and Dennis (8.3 & 3.3). The top frontcourt performers are the 6-8 Udeze (7.2 & 2.6(, 6-7 JUCO transfer Jackson (5.7 & 4.8) and the 6-6 Wade (5.6 & 5.7).

Wichita St is 6-3 but all three losses have come against quality opponents, losing to now-No. 13 Missouri, a solid 8-3 Oklahoma St team and this past Wednesday to No. 11 Houston. That loss snapped the team's FIVE-game winning streak. Wichita St opened 1-2 SU & 0-3 ATS but has gone 5-1 SU since, including 4-0 ATS with two games with no pointspread. In contrast, before Cincy won at SMU on Thursday, the Bearcats were 1-7 ATS on the season and had lost their previous five games. Home games are not what they used to be this season but the Charles Koch Arena has always been good to the Shockers and this season's Cincy team is just NOT very good. Off a surprising road win at SMU, expect the Bearcats to lose in Wichita to a Shockers team that has played excellent opponents well so far and should have no problem with this Bearcat team. Double digit win expected here!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Signature 37-Club Play is on Arizona at 9:00 ET.

UCLA (8-2, 4-0 Pac-120 has won two games without injured Chris Smith and will go for three in a row when the Bruins play the Arizona Wildcats (9-2, 3-2) tonight in Tucson. 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 lost its opener at San Diego St (Nov 25) and its only other loss came 77-70 to Ohio St in Cleveland back on Dec 19. Sean Miller is in his 12th season with the Wildcats and has had more than a few off the court issues the last few years. He saw THREE freshmen from last year go the 'One and Done' route in PG Mannion (14.0 & 5.3 APG), Green (12.0 & 4.6) and big man Nnaji (16.1 & 8.6) but Arizona had opened a surprising 9-1, before losing 87-73 Thursday night at home to USC.

UCLA's 6-9 Smith averaged 12.6 points and 6.4 rebounds in eight games but is now out for the season with a knee injury. However, the Bruins still have SIX players averaging between 8.4 and 12.8 PPG. PG Campbell (10.6 & 7.0 APG) is still surrounded by "big guards" like the 6-6 Jaquez (12.8 & 5.7), the 6-6 Juzang (10.7) and the 6-6 Bernard (10.1 & 5.6). Up front it's the 6-9 Riley (10.2 & 5.8) and the 6-10 Hill (8.4 & 6.1). Cody Riley scored a career-high 22 points in UCLA's 81-75 OT win Thursday at ASU plus guard David Singleton, who had averaged just 4.3 points through the first nine games, drained two 3-pointers in overtime and finished with 14 points.

Arizona saw its four-game winning streak snapped on Thursday by USC, as the Wildcats were the Trojans' overall length and ability to chase them off the three-point line. In fact, starting guards James Akinjo (12.9 & 5.2 APG) and Jemarl Baker (12.7) made 1 of 16 from the floor and finished with a total of three points!! The good news was that 6-11 freshman Azuolas Tubelis (10.5 & 5.9) finished with 31 points, 18 above his previous career high. 6-7 freshman Bennedict Mathurin (from Canada) is averaging 10.6 & 6.5, after averaging 16.0 PPG over Arizona's last three games. The 6-11 Jordan Brown (10.0 & 5.7) is a Nevada transfer and 7-1 sophomore Christian Koloko (4.6 & 5.2) both make solid contributions. More depth is provided by guard Terrell Brown (8.3-3.2-3.3) and the 6-8 Lee (4.7 & 4.8).

UCLA has won three straight Pac 12 games since losing in Cleveland to Ohio St but ALL have been 'squeakers.' The Bruins have edged Utah 72-70) and Colorado (65-62) at home, then won in OT at ASU a couple of nights ago. My bet says their 'luck' runs out tonight at McKale Center!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* East/West Game of the Month is on the Ind Pacers at 7:05 ET.

No one was quite sure that the Suns' 8-0 SU & ATS run in the Orlando bubble would carry over to the 2020-21 season, as the Suns opened the regular season having not made the postseason since the 2009-10 season. Phoenix showed it was serious about ending its playoff drought by acquiring 10-time All-Star point guard Chris Paul from the Thunder. The Pacers had a solid season last year but got swept by the red-hot Miami heat in the playoffs. Both teams have looked good early on, with the Suns taking a 6-3 record into this game with the 6-2 Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse

The Suns are coming off a 110-105 overtime loss to Detroit on Friday night but have looked like a solid playoff contender so far. PG Paul (13.0-4.9-8.3) is doing what's expected of him and while Booker's (21.7-3.3-4.4) are down slightly from the last two seasons (he's averaged 26.6 PPG in each of the last two), no one is worried. The 6-11 Ayton (18.2 & 7.5 in 38 games last season) is currently the team's second-leading scorer (13.4) and leading rebounder (11.4), while two former first-round picks are coming into their own. The 6-6 Bridges is adding 13.1 & 5.7 plus the the 6-8 Johnson 12.8 & 7.00. SF Crowder was an off-season addition (like Paul) and is averaging 10.9 & 4.4.

Indiana SF Warren became a big time score "in the bubble" but is currently sidelined (was averaging 15.5 PPG). Malcolm Brogdon has turned in career-high scoring performances in each of his last two games at home. He boasts team-best averages in points (23.6) and assists (7.0), has padded those numbers by averaging totals of 29.7 and 8.3, respectively, over the last three games. He's had 33- and 35-point performances in his last two at home. Sabonis (20.8-11.4-6.4) is now a bonafide All Star and Oladipo (20.4-6.0-4.3) looks to be back at full-strength, giving Indiana THREE 20-point scorers. Center Turner is averaging 11.9-5.5-4.1 BPG) plus SF McDermott (10.9) and guard Holiday (10.5) add excellent depth.

I would have preferred the Suns coming off a win last night at Detroit but this remains a tough spot, playing at Indiana team off a game the previous night, where the Suns haven't won since Nov 18, 2016.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Situational Stunner is on Seton Hall at 2:00 ET.

Seton Hall believed it could have made a run to the Final Four behind All-American guard Myles Powell (21.0 & 4.3) last season before COVID-19 shut things down. The Pirates were 21-9 and ranked 15th in the country after finishing tied for first in the Big East with a 13-5 record. Powell is now in the NBA but OUTSTANDING head coach Kevin Willard has plenty to work with as this season. The Pirates (8-5, 5-2 Big East), saw their three-game winning streak end with a T-H-U-D in a 36-point loss at No. 7 Creighton on , shooting a season-low 33.3 percent. Seton Hall heads to DePaul on Saturday looking to bounce back.

DePaul head coach Dave Leitao is in his second stint at the school and it's been a LONG time since DePaul has had a relevant basketball program. The last time the Blue Demons made the NCAA tourney was 2004 and 2007 was the last time the program was relevant, playing in the NIT. DePaul finished 20-14 that season and hasn't won 20 games since. DePaul became the final major-conference team to make its debut with a 91-72 win over Western Illinois back on Dec 23 and has played just THREE games  (1-2 / 0-2 Big East).

"We've got to regroup," said Seton Hall head coach Kevin Willard, whose team absorbed its most one-sided defeat in his 11 seasons at Creighton. "We've got to recover. Every once in a while, you get smacked down and you've got to pick yourself up. This group has done that." The 6-11 Mamukelashvili leads the team in scoring (18.3) and adds 6.8 RPG. Wing Jared Rhoden adds 15.4 and a team-high 7.2 RPG. Fellow wing Myles Cale (11.7) is the team's third double-digit scorer. PG Reynolds (7.8 & 4.6 APG) and Molson (7.1) are solid backcourt performers, while the 6-10 Samuel (6.1 & 3.2) and the 7-2 Obiagu (5.4 & 5.0) aid Mamukelashvili up front.

Guards Charlie Moore (16.3-3,7-5.3) and Javon Freeman-Liberty (13.7-5.7-4.0) are the only major players to participate in all three of DePaul's modest total of three games. The 6-7 Weems (13.5 & 4.0), the 6-7 Hall (10.0 & 8.0) and guard Lopez (10.0-4.0-3.5) have all played two games. Seton Hall is by FAR the better team with all things being equal. However, that's NOT the case here, with DePaul starting late (see above) and then playing just THREE games over the last 19 days. Meanwhile, Seton Hall is 7-2 after a 1-3 start and is coming off a 36-point embarrassment at Creighton. BLOWOUT Alert!

Good luck...Larry

My Las Vegas Insider is on Rutgers at 12:00 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. Ohio St opened 5-0 and was ranked 20th in the AP poll before a 67-60 road loss at Purdue on Dec 16. A 77-70 win over UCLA (in Cleveland) plus an 80-68 home win over then-No. 11 Rutgers came next. However, the Buckeyes lost 71-70 at Northwestern, pounded visiting Nebraska 90-54 and lost 77-60 at Minnesota.

Steve Pikiell spent 11 years at Stony Brook, winning 20-plus games in his final five seasons. He led the Seawolves to an NCAA berth in 2015-16 and a 26-7 record. His first three seasons at Rutgers saw the Scarlet Knights go just 15-18, 15-19 and 14-17. Rutgers was 20-11 last season before the year was shut down. Rutgers won its first five games by double digits and opened league play with a 74-60 win at Maryland on Dec 14. The Scarlet Knights improved to 6-0 by pulling out a 91-88 win over then-No. 13 Illinois on Dec 20 (rose to No. 11 in the AP poll). However, Rutgers followed with an 80-68 loss at Ohio St, edged Purdue but then lost back-to-back to Iowa (two-point game) and Michigan St (got rolled!).

The Buckeyes (8-3, 2-3 Big Ten) visit Rutgers (7-3, 3-3 Big Ten) for a 12 noon ET tip. SG Washington (14.9) leads the team in scoring and is paired with PG Walker (8.7 & 4.2 APG). The frontcourt has four solid contributors led by arguably the team's best player, the 6-7 Liddell (143.9 & 6,4) He's joined on the frontline bb the 6-7 Sueing (10.5 & 4.5), the 6-8 Young (7.5 & 6.4) and 6-8 freshman Key (6.8). Rutgers has a STRONG backcourt in Harper (21. & 6.4), Young (15.2 & 4.8), Mathis (14.1 & 3.8) and Baker (9.4-3.0-3.0). Bakers is questionable with an ankle injury but that means Mulcahy (6.4-4.1-3.6) could get more time, which is NOT a bad thing. 6-11 freshman Omoruyi (5.3 & 5.8) is out indefinitely with a knee injury but the 6-11 Johnson (7.4 & 8.5) has been solid all season inside.

Speaking of injuries, Chris Holtmann announced Thursday that starting point guard C.J. Walker will be out indefinitely with torn ligaments in his right hand. He was injured during the first preseason scrimmage and it got progressively worse. Ohio St is 0-3 on the Big Ten road, averaging only 63.3 PPG, almost two 'TDs' less than the Gophers average in all games (76.3 PPG). Ohio St is visiting "The  RAC" (Rutgers Athletic Center) at the WRONG time. The Scarlet Knights are not only playing with revenge from that earlier loss in Columbus but are also coming off a bad beating at East Lansing vs Michigan St (lost 68-45). The momentum and positive national image achieved by No. 15 Rutgers' best Big Ten start (won its first two conference games for the first time since joining the Big Ten in 2014) would take a HUGE hit if the Scarlet Knights can't find a way to win here (have gone 1-3 in the big Ten since that 2-0 start). Rutgers has gone a 'sweet' 24-3 SU at home since the start of last season. Lay the reasonable price!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Weekly Wipeout is on the Mil Bucks at 8:05 ET.

Milwaukee has had the NBA's best record in each of the last two seasons but did not make it to The Finals either time. Milwaukee's 130-115 home victory over Detroit on Wednesday ups the Bucks' record to 4-0 home, even while playing in an empty arena because of COVID-19 restrictions. However, the Bucks are just 1-3 on the road, leaving them with a modest 5-3 overall record (THREE teams from the East have six wins and Philly has seven). The 4-4 Utah Jazz will visit Fiserv Forum on Friday, coming off a game in MSG in which they blew an 18-point lead early in the second half of a 112-100 loss to the New York Knicks on Wednesday night. The Jazz sputtered on offense and defense in the third quarter and eventually the Knicks took control in the final minutes, scoring 68 points in the second half.

The Jazz don't lack for talent with SIX players averaging in double digits. Guards Mitchell (21.3-3.6-5.0) and Conley (17.4-4.1-5.1) start, while Clarkson (15.5) comes off the bench. Center Gobert is averaging a double-double at 13.9 & 13.1. The Bucks are led by forwards Antetokounmpo (26.1-10.8-5.4) and Middleton (21.1-6.1-6.1) plus newcomers Jrue Holiday (14.8-4.1-5.4) and Bobby Portis (11.4 & 8.0) have made an immediate impact. Both teams have excellent depth.

Defensive lapses and strings of careless turnovers are becoming a recurring problem for Utah. The Jazz have been roasted on a regular basis by hot-shooting guards this season and teams are no longer fearing Rudy Gobert around the basket as they have in past seasons. It all adds up to a team that has NOT held an opponent under 100 points so far this season and has allowed 116 points per game in its four losses (lost by an average of 15.5 PPG). Yes, Milwaukee is a modest 5-3 but take note that the Bucks own the best point-differential of any NBA team at plus-13.7, 4.9 PPG above the next beat team. Milwaukee averages a league-best 125.3 PPG, while shooting 50.5% from the floor, including 43.7% on threes (both percentages also rank No. 1 in the NBA). W-I-P-E-O-U-T Alert!

Good luck...Larry

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

Michigan State lost its first three Big Ten games for the first time since 2001-02 but broke through with its first conference win with an 84-77 victory at Nebraska on Saturday. That win hardly meant that Tom Izzo's Spartans "were back," as the Cornhuskers are 0-4 to open Big Ten play this season. However, Michigan St (8-3 / 2-3 Big Ten) followed that contest with an impressive 68-45 home win over the No. 15 Rutgers Scarlet Knights on Tuesday. Visiting East Lansing  Friday night will be Purdue (7-5, 2-3), which has lost THREE of its last four games. The Boilermakers haven't played since falling at Illinois 66-58 on Saturday. Their home game against Nebraska on Tuesday was postponed due to coronavirus issues within the Cornhuskers program.

Purdue head coach Matt Painter's lone loss of note from last season's team was the 7-3 Haarms (8.6 & 4.6), who went to BYU as a graduate transfer. The team's "Big Three" are all returning players, senior PG Hunter (10.8 & 4.0 APG) plus juniors like the 6-10 Williams (14.1 & 9.6) and SG Stefanovic (11.3). 7-4 freshman Edey (9.1 & 4.1) has made all forget about Haarms plus freshman guard Newman (9.9) gives Purdue five players averaging between 9.1 and 14.1 PPG. Depth is provided by four players chipping in a combined 21 PPG.

Michigan St lost its two best players from last season's team to the NBA Draft, as PG Winston (18.6 & 5.9 APG) was taken by the Wizards and the 6-8 Tillman (13.7 & 10.3) by the Grizzlies. The team's top-two players so far this season have been 6-9 junior forward Joey Hauser, a transfer from Marquette, and 6-6 returning forward Aaron Henry. Henry's recent play, a career-high 27 points vs Nebraska followed by 20 points, eight rebounds, four blocks and two steals in the rout of Rutgers, has pushed him slightly ahead of Hauser as the team's top scorer. Henry checks in with a line of 14.0-5.5-3.8 with Hauser posting 12.0 PPG and a team-high 8.5 RPG. Sophomore PG Watts (9.9 & 3.6 APG) has stepped in for Winston plus veteran guards Langford (8.8) and Loyer (5.6) join him on the perimeter. Two returning 6-7 forwards, Brown (8.2) and Hall (6.2 & 5.5) give MSU a deep bench.

Purdue has lost all FOUR road games, while averaging a meager 60.8 PPG. Izzo's teams have always played excellent D and the Spartans are coming off a game in which they held Rutgers to 30.5 percent shooting. "I thought that was one of our better defensive performances in a couple of years," Izzo said. Michigan St was ranked 13th in the AP preseason poll and I believe are headed on a path to be ranked among the nation's top-10 teams shortly. The price is 'cheap!'

Good luck...Larry

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

Luka Doncic (33-16-11) recorded his first triple-double of the season in Dallas' road win at Houston on Monday night, a day after sitting out a loss to the Bulls in Chicago. Nothing Doncic does these days is a surprise. After all, in four of his other five games, he has averaged 28 points, 9.0 rebounds and 6.7 assists. The problem for Dallas so far has been the absence of Porzingis, who averaged last season. The 3-4 Mavs head to Denver to take on the 3-4 Nuggets tonight, as both teams look to get their respective seasons back on track. The Mavericks are coming off a playoff appearance in last season's Orlando bubble, which has raised expectations for this season. Denver knows all about high expectations after its run to the Western Conference finals in the bubble.

Doncic is joined by two other double digit scorers in Hardaway (17.0 & 4.0) and Richardson (13.7). Denver's Nikola Jokic is playing at an MVP level, averaging a triple-double this season, joining Washington's Russell Westbrook as the only players to do that early in the season. The 7-footer actually leads the NBA in assists (11.9 per game), is fifth in rebounding (11.7) and 16th in scoring (24.1). Only Westbrook and Oscar Robertson have averaged a triple-double for an entire season, but Jokic has that capability. Unlike the Mavs, the Nuggets have great depth with PG Murray (22.2) coming off a breakout performance in last season' playoffs. Porter (19.5 & 6.8) moved into the starting lineup this season but hasn't played since Dec 29 but is listed as probable for tonight's game. Excellent swingman Barton (11.3-4.7-3.0) is back healthy and has played in all seven games (three starts).

The Pepsi Center has always been a tough venue and even without fans, I expect the Nuggets to be an OUTSTANDING home team this season. How about starting right here, Denver? That's my bet.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Game of the Week is on Arizona at 9:00 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. 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. USC has opened 6-2 (1-1 in Pac 12). Arizona's Sean Miller is in his 12th season with the Wildcats and has had more than a few off the court issues the last few years. He saw THREE freshmen from last year go the 'One and Done' route in PG Mannion (14.0 & 5.3 APG), Green (12.0 & 4.6) and  big man Nnaji (16.1 & 8.6). However, Arizona has opened a surprising 9-1, including 3-1 in Pac-12 play.

Evan Mobley has wasted little time in showing his value for USC, averaging 15.0 & 8.0. He joins his brother Isaiah (a 6-10 sophomore), who has added 8.9 & 7.9. Peterson (10.5-4.9-3.1) 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 12.8 PPG and White 7.0 Guard Goodwin (7.4 & 4.9) and Baumann (5.9) come off the bench.

Arizona also features a first-year player making a big 'splash' recently. 6-7 freshman Bennedict Mathurin (from Canada) led the team in scoring in both games of a road sweep at the Washington schools last week. He was chosen the Pac-12 Freshman of the Week, averaging 18.5 points and 8.5 rebounds in those two games. He's now averaging 10.6 & 4.9 on the season. Georgetown transfer James Akinjo (14.2 & 5.1 APG) and fellow guard Jemarl Baker (13.7) are the top scorers. The 6-11 Jordan Brown (10.2 & 6.0) is a Nevada transfer plus 6-11 freshman Azoulas Tubelis (8.4 & 5.7) and 7-1 sophomore Christian Koloko (4.9 & 5.5) both make solid contributions. 

Enfield has a good team at USC and a strong frontline but the Trojans have NOTHING of this surprising Arizona team that is on the verge of cracking the top-25. McKale Center has always been one of the nation's toughest home floors and even without fans, beating Arizona on its home floor will always be quite a challenge. Tough time in Tucson for USC tonight.

Good luck...Larry

My 8* Las Vegas Insider is Colorado at 5:00 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. PG Payton Pritchard (20.5-4.3-5.5) was a HUGE loss plus Altman also lost SG Mathis (8.5) and 6-7 SF Juiston (7.9 & 6.3). Oregon lost its season opener back on Dec 2 (in Omaha) 83-75 to Missouri but has won EIGHT in a row since (now No. 17 in the latest AP poll). 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. Colorado will welcome Oregon to Boulder with a 7-3 record (1-2 Pac 12).

The Ducks are coming off a 73-56 win over Stanford and will look to make it NINE straight wins vs the Buffs. 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 18.7 PPG (adds 4.7 RPG), Williams is adding 12.7 & 6.9 and Figueroa 9.5 & 7.5 (he averaged 14.4 and 14.5 the last two seasons for the Red Storm). Some not so good news for Oregon is that starting center N'Faly Dante (8.2 & 5.8) has suffered a torn ACL and hasn't played in any of the last three games. Figueroa has been promoted to the starting lineup and let's NOT forget returning 6-6 senior Duarte (16.7 & 4.8), who is also off to a strong start.

PG Wright (15.5-4.5-5.2) is the team leader and is surrounded by veterans, such as the 7-0 Dallas Walton (9.6), the 6-8 Evan Battey (897 & 4.7) and the 6-7 Jeriah Horn (a Tulsa graduate transfer), who adds 10.7 & 5.8. Depth is provided by FIVE players combining to average 33 PPG. Colorado opened 6-1, losing only at now-No. 7 Tennessee 56-47. Colorado returns home after losing TWO of three on the road, falling 88-74 at Arizona and 65-62 at UCLA, while winning 72-62 at USC.

Colorado has spent most of the season on the road or at neutral sites, having played only two games at the CU Events Center so far. The Buffs were scheduled for four straight home games but Saturday's game against Oregon State has been postponed due to COVID-19 issues within the Beavers' program. Yes, the CU Events will be empty and pretty quiet but the Buffs are 143-27 at home in their 11 seasons under Boyle. The Price is sure Right on Colorado in this one.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Game of the Week is on the Pho Suns at 9:05 ET.

The Toronto Raptors were the 2019 NBA champions and last season, entered the postseason as the East's No. 2 seed with a 53-19 record, despite losing Kawhi Leonard to the Clippers as a free agent. Note that the Raptors' record last season put them just 2 1/2-games back of the Bucks and was a half-game BETTER than the West's No. 1 seed, and eventual NBA champion Lakers! How QUICKLY things can change. The Raptors lost Monday night at their temporary home in Tampa 126-114, falling to 1-5. They now open a four-game Western Conference swing Wednesday night at the 5-2 Phoenix Suns, who are enjoying their best start since the 2009-10 season. I'm pretty sure most (all?) remember that the Suns surprised all with their 8-0 SU & ATS performance in the Orlando 'bubble' to end last season.

The Raptors started well Monday against Boston and led by as many as 13 during the first quarter but the Celtics dominated in the second quarter (38-14) and by the fourth quarter, Boston led by as many as 26. Fred VanVleet (21.8-5.5-5.5) has been one of the bright spots for the Raptors and scored 35 points Monday (has reached at least 25 in three consecutive games). Kyle Lowry (18.7-4.5-7.7) gives Toronto an All-Star backcourt but breakout star Siakam has struggled this season. "We've got to get these guys playing to their capabilities," Raptors head coach Nick Nurse said. "I think they're better players than that, so we as coaches, and our leaders of our team, need to. ... get these guys together and get them playing."

The Suns haven't made the postseason since the 2009-10 but acquired 10-time All-Star point guard Chris Paul from the Thunder in hopes of ENDING that drought. He is teamed with All-Star shooting guard Devin Booker, who has averaged 26.6 PPG in each of the past two seasons. Phoenix also added veteran forward Jae Crowder (VERY underrated) in addition to Paul and are hoping that 6-11 Ayton (18.2 & 7.5 in 38 games last season) will stay healthy all season. SIX players are averaging in double digits. Booker's scoring (21.1-4.1-4.4) is down but Paul has stepped into his role of team-leader averaging 8.3 APG plus has added 13.4 PPG. Ayton has opened by averaging a double-double (13.7 & 10.7) plus as noted above, Crowder (10,0 & 4.7) is underrated. The 6-8 Cameron Johnson averaged just 8.8 PPG as a rookie (No. 1 pick from North Carolina in 2019) but is up 12.7 PPG to start this season. The team's No. 1 pick from 2018, Villanova's 6-6 Bridges, is adding 14.1 & 5.6 after averaging 8.7 PPG his first two seasons.

I'm not so sure Toronto is going to get things turned around soon with no true home court for at least HALF the season. The Raptors' 1-5 record is their worst start since they lost their first NINE games of the 2005-06 season. The Suns lost 112-107 at home to the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday but after trailing by 31 points, got back in the game late. "I love the way we scrapped and battled," Suns head coach Monty Williams said. "We know we can beat that team because we've done it before. We've just got to get off to a better start than we did tonight." The 5-2 Suns are enjoying their best seven-game opening to a season since they were 6-1 in 2009-10, the last time the franchise made the postseason. Phoenix is the play!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* ACC Game of the Month is on Louisville at 6:30 ET.

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. However, the Hokies were just 16-16 overall in Young's first season at Blacksburg, losing almost two-thirds of their ACC games (7-13). 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 (NCAA bid) but were 24-7 in his second year, when the season was shut down in March (AP ranked them 14th in its final poll).

Va Tech's 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! However, Young liked his team's chance to improve in the 2020-21 season because of some key experienced graduate transfers. Radford is averaging 10.8 & 5.9 RPG and the 6-9 Alleyne (11.1) has made excellent progress in his sophomore season plus two 6-7 transfers start up front The 6-7 Keve Aluma (16.0 & 6.7) followed Young from Wofford and is Va Tech's best players this season, while  6-7 Delaware transfer Justyn Mutts (6.6 & 5.9) has been solid. Returning guards Cone (10.3) and Bede (5.7) have both added valuable contributions.

Swingman Jordan Nwora (18.0 & 7.7) is gone from last season's Louisville team but FOUR starters returned. However, Carlik Jones leads the team in scoring, averaging 16.4-6.6-5.1. He's a graduate transfer from Radford and was last season's Big South Conference player of the year. He joins returning guard Johnson (14.4-6.3-4.0) in the backcourt. The 6-7 Williamson did little last season but averages 10.0 & 6.2 this season. True freshman guard Davis (9.1) and the 6-8 Traynor (5.4 & 3.3) plus 6-9 redshirt freshman Withers adds 9.0 & 6.9.

8-1 Va Tech comes in as the ranked team (No. 24) but has benefited from playing seven games at home in Blacksburg, with two on a neutral court. The game at Louisville will be the Hokies' first game away from Blacksburg since Nov 29 and their first true road game of the current season. 7-1 Louisville's ONLY loss this season has come at now-No. 8 Wisconsin. What's more, a check of the history book reveals that  Louisville has won 16 straight games against Virginia Tech, most recently 68-52 at home on March 1, 2020. The last Virginia Tech win over Louisville was back in February 1991 in Blacksburg, 72-56. Is tonight the night Va Tech ends its losing streak? NOT in my opinion!

Good luck...Larry

My 8* Las Vegas Insider is on Kansas at 9:00 ET.

When last season was shut down because of COVID, the Kansas Jayhawks were the AP's No. 1-ranked team. Signs do not point to No. 6 Kansas as the favorite to capture the Big 12 championship. Key losses for Kansas entering this season were PG Devon Dotson (18.1-4.9-4.0) and the seven-foot Udoka Azubuike (13.7 & 10.5). The Jayhawks opened the current season losing 102-90 to No. 1 Gonzaga but then won EIGHT in a row before Saturday's shocking home loss to Texas. The Longhorns owned just one previous win in 17 tries at Lawrence but routed the Jayhawks 84-59, ending a 17-game conference win streak by Kansas. It marked the most lopsided defeat for head coach Bill Self in his 18 seasons coaching the Jayhawks and it matched the largest margin of defeat for ANY Kansas team in the 65-year history of the Phog Allen Fieldhouse. Other than that, it was "just another loss."

Jamie Dixon had a great run at Pittsburgh, leading the Panthers to 13 postseasons in his 13 years at the school. 11 were NCAA berths plus the other two were a CBI championship and a trip to the NIT. He returned to his alma mater (TCU) for the 2014-15 season and led the Horned Frogs to the NIT championship. He followed with two NCAA berths and an NIT 'Final 4' the next three seasons but last season's team was just 16-16 when the shut down came.

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Coming off that humbling defeat to Texas, Kansas (8-2 / 2-1 Big 12)  fell three spots in the polls (from No. 3 to No. 6) and travels to Fort Worth to take on TCU (9-2, 2-1). Kansas was an abysmal 3-for-23 from three-point range, just 11 days after scorching West Virginia with 16 triples. Kansas managed to shoot just 30.8 percent overall vs the Longhorns, while falling into a third-place tie with TCU behind Big 12 co-leaders Baylor and Texas. The 6-8 Jalen Wilson, who has bounced back after suffering a broken ankle as a freshman last season, has been excellent (15.1 & 7.8). Two 6-5 guards are back, junior Ochai Agbaji (14.4 & 4.7) and senior Marcus Garrett (9.1-4.6-3.6), who is one of the nation's top defenders. Sophomore guard Braun (11.1 & 5.9) and 6-10 junior David McCormack (9.6 & 5.9) round out Self's main contributors.

RJ. Nembhard returned from a one-game absence stemming from a sore hip to score 21 points Saturday as TCU beat Kansas State 67-60. Nembhard (18.9-4.3-4.4) leads the team in scoring, followed by fellow guard Miles (14.8-3.4-3.6). The 6-11 Samuel (10.2 & 10.2) averages a double-double plus Dixon has SIX more players chipping in between 4.8 and 6.8 PPG.

Not much was expected of TCU this season and here's what Nembhard had to say after the win over Kansas St. "We were picked ninth, but we haven't done anything yet," he said. "One win, two wins, two conference wins, so what? Onto the next game. All these games are personal. We want to put the conference and the nation on notice that we're legit." TCU's start has been better than expected but the Horned Frogs are in the  WRONG place at the WRONG time with the Jayhawks coming off their humiliating home loss to the Longhorns. Lay the points with Kansas.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Situational Stunner Game of the Month is on Michigan St at 9:00 ET.

Michigan State lost its first three Big Ten games for the first time since 2001-02 but broke through with its first conference win with an 84-77 victory at Nebraska on Saturday. That win hardly means that Tom Izzo's Spartans "are back," as the Cornhuskers are 0-4 to open Big Ten play this season. Steve Pikiell spent 11 years at Stony Brook, winning 20-plus games in his final five seasons. He led the Seawolves to an NCAA berth in 2015-16 and a 26-7 record. His first three seasons at Rutgers saw the Scarlet Knights go just 15-18, 15-19 and 14-1 but Rutgers was 20-11 last season before the year was shut down. This year's team won its first five games by double digits and opened league play with a 74-60 win at Maryland on Dec 14. The Scarlet Knights improved to 6-0 by pulling out a 91-88 win over then-No. 13 Illinois on Dec 20 (rose to No. 11 in the AP poll) but was unable to duplicate that performance when it lost 80-68 at then-No. 23 Ohio State. Rutgers opened last week with a home win over Purdue but then lost an agonizing 77-75 decision at home to now-No. Iowa on Saturday. The Hawkeyes made three free throws in the final 17 seconds, sandwiching a Scarlet Knights turnover by Myles Johnson with five seconds remaining.

Rutgers is ranked 15th in the AP's latest poll (Jan 4) as the Scarlet Knights visiting East Lansing on Tuesday. This is a very good team, led by senior guards Harper (22.1 & 7.0) and Young (15.7 & 5.2 APG). Junior guard Mathis adds 15.3 & 4.1 plus two 6-11 centers, Johnson (8.0 & 8.7) and Omoruyi (5.3 & 5.8), give Rutgers a strong inside presence. A problem for Rutgers is that standout freshman Omoruyi has missed THREE straight games with a knee injury (listed as out indefinitely).

Michigan St lost its two best players from last season's team to the NBA Draft, as PG Winston (18.6 & 5.9 APG) was taken by the Wizards and the 6-8 Tillman (13.7 & 10.3) by the Grizzlies. The team's top-two players so far this season have been 6-9 junior forward Joey Hauser, a transfer from Marquette, and 6-6 returning forward Aaron Henry. Henry's (13.4-5.2-4.1) recent play (career-high 27 points vs Nebraska) has pushed him slightly ahead of Hauser (12.3 & 7.9as the team's top scorer, while Hauser remains the team's top rebounder. Sophomore PG Watts (9.8 & 3.9 APG) has stepped in for Winston plus veteran guards Langford (8.6) and Loyer (6.2) join him on the perimeter. Two returning 6-7 forwards, Brown (8.6) and Hall (6.3 & 5.7) give MSU a deep bench.

Michigan St has 'cost me' a couple of times this season but I sure like them in this spot. C'mon Tom, get your team playing up to its potential!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Big East game of the Month is on Marquette at 9:00 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, along with the hiring of Dan Hurley as its head coach, had expectations running high in Storrs. Hurley spent six seasons at Rhode Island, winning 25 and 26 games in his final two years, ending with NCAA bids. However, he went 14 -19 and 16-17 in his first two seasons with UConn, before going 19-12 in last season's pandemic-shortened one. Marquette opened the current season without Markus Howard, who led the nation in scoring last season at 27.8 PPG. Also gone was fellow senior Scar Anim, who added 13.1 PPG. However, head coach Steve Wojciechowski welcomed an impressive freshman to his roster, the 6-11 Dawson Garcia (31.9 & 9.7 last year in high school) plus has been able to surround him with a deep supporting cast.

Connecticut has played just five games so far (4-1 / 1-1 Big East), earning its first conference win last Wednesday night with an 82-61 romp over visiting DePaul. Rhode Island transfer Tyrese Martin collected 22 points and 10 rebounds for his first double-double with the Huskies. Martin is averaging 10.3 & 9.3 and is joined on the perimeter by leading scorer Bouknight (23.2 & 5.4) and PG Cole (10.6 & 3.8 APG). Up front, the 6-9 Whaley (8.2 & 5.8), 6-11 Carlton (6.0 & 6.5) and the 6-9 Polley (4.8 & 3.) are the main contributors.

Marquette opened 4-1, including an impressive home victory over then-No. 4 Wisconsin (67-65) but comes into this game just 6-5 (2-3 in the Big East). Marquette fell behind Georgetown by 18 points early in the second half Saturday night at Washington, DC and it sure looked like the Golden Eagles were headed for a FOURTH straight Big East Conference loss. However, senior Jamal Cain led a huge comeback that eventually erased a 38-20 deficit, leading to his three-pointer with less than 20 seconds remaining that sealed a 64-60 victory. The 6-7 Cain (11.5 & 6.5) scored a game-high 25 points. 6-11 freshman Garcia added nine points and 13 rebounds, winning him Big East Freshman of the Week honors. He is second on the team in scoring at 12.4 PPG and leads the team in rebounding (7.3 per). Senior guard McEwen (13.5-3.5-2.5), sophomore guard Carton (11.4-3.4-3.9), 6-7 freshman Lewis (8.5 & 6.3) and 6-9 senior John (7.9 & 5.8) give Marquette a solid 'Core 6.'

This is UConn's first true road game and if Marquette can beat Wisconsin here on its home floor (Fiserv Forum), the Golden Eagles should be 'golden' here against the Huskies. I'm convinced Marquette is SIGNIFICANTLY better than its record and will prove just that in this contest. "The Price is sure Right!"

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Conference Game of the Month (MWC) is on SD State at 9:00 ET.

Niko Medved spent four years at Furman and one at Drake, and had an overall record of 79-087 when Colorado St tabbed him as its next head coach. He went 12-20 in his first season but turned things around by 20-12 last season, before the shut down. His Rams have opened 6-1 this season, including a 70-67 upset of San Diego St Saturday at the Viejas Arena at Aztec Bowl (Rams were a nine-point underdog).

Brian 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. He is credited for having a central role in recruiting the Fab Five to Michigan and for bringing Kawhi Leonard to San Diego St. 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. The Aztecs opened 5-0 this season (including good wins over UCLA and Arizona St) and was ranked 18th when it lost 72-62 at home to BYU.

Colorado St fell behind by 26 points in the first half Saturday night against the Aztecs but came all the way back to win 70-67, representing the largest come-from-behind win in MWC history. They miss the 6-11 Carvacho (1.29 & 10.8) but four starters are back from last season.PG Stevens led all scorers last season but the 6-5 Roddy leads this season with 16.0 PPFG and 9.9 RPG (also a team-high). Stevens (13.9-4.1-6.1) checks in right behind him with guard Moore (10.1) and the 6-6 Thistlewood (9.6 & 3.7) just missing double digits. Depth is provided by FIVE other players appearing in all seven games and combining to average about 23 PPG.

Matt Mitchell flirted with the NBA draft but returned and leads the Aztecs with 15.3 PPG (adds 4.3 RPG). Guard Schakel (12.9) and the 6-10 Mensah (9.4 & 7.5) are also returning players. In this 'Year of COVID' we are seeing teams playing back-to-back game against each other in the same venue and that's the case here. After a historic comeback (see above), the Rams are in the WRONG place in the WRONG time against SD St, which entered this season 41-6 SU at home the previous three seasons. Yes, the Aztecs have a margin to overcome but I'm laying the points!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Oddsmaker's Error of the Month is on the NO Pelicans at ET.

The 4-2 Indiana  Pacers and the 4-2 New Orleans Pelicans meet tonight in New Orleans in a East vs West. The Pacers opened 3-0 but have lost TWO of three since, while the Pelicans come in off back-to-back wins. The Pacers come in off a loss to Boston, a win over Cleveland and a loss to the Y Knicks, all at home. This marks just the team's second road game of the season and first since December 26. The Pelicans routed the Thunder 113-80 in OKC (Dec 31) and then on Saturday night, blew a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter before battling back to edge Toronto 120-116.

Indiana's Brogdon (22.2-4.0-6.3) is off to a great plus PF Sabonis (20.8-11.3-6.7) and Oladipo (20.0-5.6-4.4) are both healthy and looking like the All Stars they've become. SF Warren (15.2) is out with a foot injury but center Turner (12.7-6.2-3.7 BPG) and 6th-man McDermott (11.7 & 4.2) have both played well. For New Orleans, Ingram (24.0-6.8-5.3) gets better by the game and of course Zion (19.7 & 8.2) gets as much coverage (hype) as any player in the league. The Pelicans have added guard Bledsoe (12.4 & 4.2 APG) and center Adams (10.0 & 9.0) this season plus Lonzo Ball (12.3-4.5-4.5) and Hart (9.0 & 8.2) joined the team last season along with Ingram in the A.D. trade.

What I like most about New Orleans in the early going is the team's defense. New Orleans has held opponents to 102.0 PPG (3rd) on 43.1%) shooting (4th). "The Price is Right" in this one. Take the home team.

Good luck...Larry

My 8* Las Vegas Insider is on Houston at 7:00 ET.

Kelvin Sampson had a great run at Oklahoma (nine NCAA tourneys in 10 seasons, including a Final 4 appearance in 2002) by then ran into off the court issues in a two-year stay at Indiana. He was away from CBB for a few years but resurfaced at Houston for the 2014-15 season. It took him a while to build the program but his teams won 27 and 33 games in back-to-back seasons before going 23-8 in last year's pandemic-shortened season. The Cougars opened 7-0 this season, rising to No. 5 in the latest AP poll but lost their first game of the season 65-64 at Tulsa this past Tuesday. The Cougars get another tough game on Sunday, playing at 6-0 but unranked SMU.

Houston made just 35.7 percent of its shots, including 4 of 21 from three-point range but still lost by just ONE point at Tulsa. The team's defense always comes to play, as it enters this contest allowing 55.9 PPG (4th) on 37.4% shooting (19th). Guards Grimes (18.5 & 7.3) and Sasser (15.0) are the 'big dogs,' joined on the perimeter by freshman Mark (10.1) and Jarreau (8.5 & 5.5). The best frontcourt contributors are the 6-7 Gorham (6.0 & 7.5) and the 6-9 Chaney (4.6).

Tim Jankovich took over after Larry Brown once again left a program in tatters and in his first full season (2016-17) went 30-5. However, the Mustangs were just a combined 51-44 the previous three seasons, before opening 6-0 this season. The Mustangs are led by excellent PG Davis (19.7-4.3-7.2). He's joined by fellow guard Bandoumel (12.8), the 6-8 Hunt (12.0 & 7.5) and the 6-9 Chargois (11.5 & 7.7) in the starting lineup, while guard McNeill averages 10.4 PPG off the bench. SMU is allowing a solid 64.3 PPG but its offense is leading the way by averaging 84.2 PPG (29th).

SMU could sneak into the top-25 come Monday but I wouldn't 'celebrate' just yet Mustang supporters. Houston's solid 64-53 over then-No, 14 Texas Tech on a neutral floor leads me to bet that the Cougars bounce-back off that loss to Tulsa.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Big Ten Game of the Month is on Minnesota at 5:30 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. Ohio St opened 5-0 and was ranked 20th in the AP poll before a 67-60 road loss at Purdue on Dec 16. A 77-70 win over UCLA (in Cleveland) plus an 80-68 home win over then-No. 11 Rutgers came next. However, the Buckeyes lost 671-70 at Northwestern, before closing 2020 by pounding visiting Nebraska 90-54 on Wednesday. The now-No. 25 Buckeyes (8-2, 2-2 Big Ten) take on the No. 21 Minnesota Golden Gophers (9-2, 2-2) Sunday at Williams Arena.

Richard Pitino is in his eighth season at Minnesota. He led the Gophers to the NIT championship in his first season (2013-14) but over the last six seasons, Minnesota has made just two NCAA appearances (2017 and 2019), while going a combined 56-71 (.441) over the other four. Season No. 8 has begun well but while Minnesota had hoped to build off wins against Iowa (102-95 in overtime) and Michigan State (81-56), it instead trailed by 26 points at Wisconsin on Thursday, before a surge in the final minutes made the 71-59 final look respectable (it wasn't!).

The Buckeyes saw five players score in double figures in their blowout of Nebraska and the 90 points was their highest point total in a conference game since defeating Penn State 106-74 back on Dec 7, 2019. The 6-7 Liddell (14.4 & 6,4) is Ohio State's best player. Guard Washington (14.3), the 6-7 Sueing (11.0 & 4.5), PG Walker (9.4 & 4.4 APG), the 6-8 Young (7.7 & 6.7) and 6-8 freshman Key (7.1 & 4.0) round out the main contributors

Minnesota PG Carr (22.7-3.9-6.2) ranks with the best in the nation and has been aided by THREE transfers, 7-0 Liam Robbins (13.0 & 7.0) from Drake, the 6-6 Gach (11.1 & 5/7) from Utah and the 6-8 Johnson (8.9 & 6.0) from Western Michigan. Plus, don't dismiss returning junior guard Kalescheur, who's adding 9.8 PPG. Not much went right for anyone for Minnesota at Madison and Carr was NO exception. He entered the game fourth nationally with 24.0 points per game but needed five points in the final minutes to finish with 10 points on 3-of-13 shooting.

This set up as a great bounce-back spot for Minnesota which is 9-0 at home, outscoring opponents on average, 86.4-to-71.9 PPG! LOVE this price!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* PERFECT STORM is on UCLA at 8:00 ET.

My 9* Situational Stunner is on USC at 4:00 ET.

The Utah Utes are 4-2 (1-1 Pac-12) and the USC Trojans 5-2 (0-1 Pac12), as both enter this contest off conference losses. The Utes saw their comeback fall short in a 72-70 loss at UCLA on Thursday, while the Trojans lost their Pac-12 home opener 72-62 to Colorado on the same night. 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. 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.

Utah lost Both Gach to Minnesota (transfer) but returned four starters. 6-6 forward Allen led the team in scoring last season and is averaging 15.8-5.3-3.0 this season, just behind guard Alfonso Plummer (16.0 & 3.7), who scored a season high 22 points at UCLA. Joining Allen up front are the 6-8 Jantunen (8.8 & 5.2), the 7-0 Carlson (7.7 & 2.8) and the 6-9 Battin (6.2 & 4.0). Gach liked to play PG and his leaving has opened that role up to Jones (7.8 & 4.5 APG), who joins Plummer in the starting backcourt, while freshman Larsson (7.7) comes off the bench.

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 wasted little time in showing his value, averaging 16.7 & 8.4. He joins his brother Isaiah (a 6-10 sophomore), who has added 9.9 & 8.3. Peterson (10.1-4.0-3.3) 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 12.0 PPG and White 6.3 & 3.6. Guard Goodwin (6.9 & 4.9) and Baumann (6.4) come off the bench.

USC is the more complete team at this stage of the season plus while Utah gave a 'close but no cigar' effort at UCLA, the fact remains that the Utes have now lost 11 consecutive games on the Pac 12 road. Utah has not won on the road in league play since beating Washington State 92-79 back on Feb 23, 2019. The Utes ATS record in that span is 2-9 or an 82% "go-against" Fight On USC!!

Good luck...Larry

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

Frank Haith has had stops at Miami-Fl and Missouri before coming to Tulsa for the 2014-15 season. His teams have averaged 19.3 wins per year in his first six seasons, including going 21-10 before COVID shut down the 2019-20 season. However, Haith's biggest win at Tulsa came this past Tuesday when it stunned No. 5 Houston 65-64. The victory was clinched when Brandon Rachal hit two free throws with 0.1 seconds remaining. It was the program's first win over a top-5 opponent in 24 years (Golden Hurricane beat a ranked UCLA team back in 1995!). 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). The Bearcats were one of the last teams in Division I to start their season, not taking the floor until Dec 2, and limp into this contest against 5-3 Tulsa just 2-5. 

The Golden Hurricane are led by a quartet of guards in Rachal (14.5 & 7.0(, Embery-Simpson (9.3), Joiner (9.0-5.3-4.1) and Jackson (7.1 & 4.0). The 6-9 Idowu (8.4 & 4.8) is the team's best frontcourt player. Tulsa is scoring a modest 71.5 PPG, which is NOT helped by the team making just 60.6% of its free throws (314th). However, Tulsa does play defense, allowing 60.6 PPG (26th) while holding opponents to 36.7% from the floor (15th).

Not much has gone right for Cincy so far, as the Bearcats enter on a four-game skid. The Bearcats lost 75-70 at UCF on Dec 22 in their most recent outing, despite getting the first career double-double from Keith Williams (19 points, 10 rebounds) and a career-high 15 points from Zach Harvey. Williams (15.1 & 4.3) is the team's LONE double digit scorer. Big things were expected from the 7-1 Chris Vogt (11.0 & 5.9 LY) but he's off to a poor start (6.4 & 4.1).

However, here's the rub. As noted, Tulsa's off its first win over a top-5 team since 1996 and now faces a desperate for a win Cincinnati team which enters having won its last seven meetings with Tulsa, with a MOV of 16 PPG. "W-I-P-E-O-U-T Alert!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* PERFECT STORM is on the GS Warriors at 10:35 ET.

The Portland Trail Blazers made it all the way to the Western Conference Finals two seasons ago but last year needed a strong run 'in the bubble' to sneak into the postseason. Led by 'Bubble' MVP Lillard, the Blazers were a 'sexy' pick to upset the Lakers in the first round but after a 100-93 upset in Game 1, Portland lost FOUR in a row. As for the Golden St Warriors, after FIVE consecutive trips to the NBA Finals (3-2), the Warriors finished with an NBA-worst 15-50 record (you know the reasons why).

These Western Conference rivals have gone head-to-head in the playoffs in THREE of the past five seasons and are scheduled to play two games in three days, both in San Francisco. Portland has opened 2-2 against a tough schedule that has featured all Western Conference playoff teams from last season. The Trail Blazers got veteran forward Carmelo Anthony back from COVID-19 issues when made his season debut in Wednesday's 128-105 road loss to the Clippers (had 125 points in 25 minutes). That followed a 115-107 win at Staples Center against the Lakers two nights before. Portland is led by its dynamic guard duo of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum. The Blazers also brought back Enes Kanter and Carmelo Anthony to give the Blazers some scoring punch off the bench when Lillard and McCollum aren't on the floor. Notably, Jusuf Nurkic and Rodney Hood are back after serious injuries kept one or the other off the floor for lengthy stretches last season. Hood re-signed with the Blazers as a free agent during the offseason. Portland acquired Robert Covington and Derrick Jones Jr. to shore up defense. However, Lillard (23.0 PPG) is off to a slower than expected start, shooting just 40%, including 28.9% on threes. McCollum has been great, averaging 28.0-3.5-6.3, while shooting 44.3% and 47.8% on threes! Nurkic (9.8 & 7.5) has started slow but Kanter has added 11.5 & 10.2 as a backup center. Neither Covington (5.5 & 5.3) nor Jones (6.5 & 3.8) have started well.

The Warriors started the season with blowout losses at Brooklyn and Milwaukee but with road wins at Chicago and Detroit. Tonight, Golden St becomes the LAST team in the NBA to host a home opener. Golden State was at its season-best both offensively and defensively in Tuesday's 116-106 win at Detroit, shooting 50 percent from the floor and limiting the Pistons to 38 percent. It's NO surprise that Steph Curry has been the driving force in the Warriors' offensive improvement. He averaged 19.5 points and shot 4-for-20 on three-pointers against the Nets and Bucks, games in which Golden State was held to 99 points apiece. However, Curry made 10 of his 24 threes, while averaging 33.5 PPG, as the Warriors scored 129 points against the Bulls and 116 against the Pistons. Somewhat surprising is that the Warriors' No. 1 pick, James Wiseman, scored 37 points and added 14 rebounds in the team's two losses but just 13 points and nine rebounds in the two wins (how does that make sense?).

All things considered, Golden State head coach Steve Kerr is happy where his team sits. "I think coming into this trip, when the season schedule came out, we all looked at it and we all thought if we could go 2-2, that'd be a really successful trip," he said after the win in Detroit. "Especially given the length of our offseason and everything going on with our team: Draymond being out, Draymond missing camp, all that." The good news is that Draymond Green expects to play for the first time after he missed the first four games following a positive coronavirus test and a subsequent strained right foot. He's a defensive ace and makes a HUGE difference.

As noted, it's Golden State's FIRST home game and it comes on the FIRST day of a much-needed "New Year." Expect the home dog to 'bark' LOUDLY in this one.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Game of the Week is on the Ut Jazz at 9:05 ET.

The Phoenix 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. The Suns acquired 10-time All-Star point guard Chris Paul from the Thunder and will pair him with All-Star shooting guard Devin Booker, who has averaged 26.6 PPG in each of the past two seasons. Phoenix also added veteran forward Jae Crowder (VERY underrated) in addition to Paul and are hoping that 6-11 Ayton (18.2 & 7.5 in 38 games last season) will stay healthy all season. The Utah Jazz are well aware that only a FEW plays separated the Jazz from a potential run to the 2020 Western Conference Finals in what turned into first-round loss to the Nuggets (Jazz led the series 3-1, then lost THREE in a row!). Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert both agreed to contract extensions before the new season and Jordan Clarkson re-signed with Utah on a four-year deal after emerging as the team's sixth man last season. Bringing back Derrick Favors represented the biggest free agent addition for the Jazz. Favors spent 8 1/2 seasons in Utah before being traded to New Orleans a year ago.

The Suns opened with a home win over Dallas but then lost by three points at Sacramento. However, they rebounded to beat the Kings (again in Sacramento) and then routed the Pelicans at home. Phoenix looks to win three in a row for the first time since ending the 2019-20 season with that eight-game winning streak in the NBA bubble this summer. SIX players are averaging in double digits, although Booker's scoring (19.0-4.8-3.5) is down about a 'TD' per game. Paul has stepped into his role of team-leader averaging 9.5 APG plus has added 11.8 PPG. Ayton has opened by averaging a double-double (11.5 & 11.8) plus as noted above, Crowder (11.5 & 5.5) is underrated. The 6-8 Cameron Johnson averaged just 8.8 PPG as a rookie (No. 1 pick from North Carolina)but is up 15.5 PPG to start this season. The team's No. 1 pick from 2018, Villanova's 6-6 Bridges, is adding 15.5 & 6.0, after averaging 8.7 PPF his first two seasons.

However, the Suns have nothing on the Jazz when it comes to frontline players or in the depth department. Mitchell (20.3 & 5.0 APG) is not off to a strong start but NO ONE is worried. The good news is that PG Conley (19.3-6.3-5.0) IS off to a strong start, as is 6th-man Clarkson (18.0 &n 4.7) and center Gobert (16.7 & 14.3). Bogdanovich (17.7 & 5.23) gives Utah FIVE players averaging 15-plus points. Starting guard O'Neale (4.7 & 8.7) is one gritty player plus PF Favors (7.0 & 5.3) is thrilled to be back in SLC. No team wants to travel on New Year's Eve and surely not in "The Year of COVID." The Jazz are 2-1 but lost their lone home game to the T-wolves. Enough of that. I expect a VERY comfortable Jazz win!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Pac 12 Game of the Month is on UCLA at 7:00 ET.

My 9* Conference Crusher (Pac 12) is on UCLA at 7:00 ET.

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. 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 were 19-12, including a 12-6 Pac-12 record, good enough to get the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament.

Utah lost Both Gach to Minnesota (transfer) but returned four starters. 6-6 forward Allen led the team in scoring last season and is doing so again so far, at 15.4 & 5.2). Joining him up front are returning starters like the 7-0 Carlson (8.8 & 3.4) and the 6-9 Battin (6.4 & 4.0). Gach liked to play PG and his leaving has opened that role up to Jones (8.2 & 4.6 APG), who is joined in the starting backcourt by Plummer (14.8 PPG). Cronin's Bruins feature SEVEN players averaging at least nine points per game. 5-11 PG Campbell (11.1 & 6.9 APG) is surrounded by a bevy of "big guards," including the 6-6 Jaquez (13.7 & 6.0), the 6-9 Smith (12.1 & 6.7), the 6-6 Juzang (10.7) and the 6-6 Bernard (9.6 & 5.1). Up front it's the 6-9 Riley (9.7 & 5.0) and the 6-10 Hill (9.0 & 7.0).

UCLA lost its opener at San Diego St but then won FIVE in a row, before losing 77-70 to Ohio St in Cleveland on Dec 19. UCLA led for most of the second half against the Buckeyes but gave up a big run in the final five minutes ending the team's five-game winning streak. The Bruins were to make a 'pit stop' in Eugene to play reigning league champion Oregon on Dec 23 but the contest was postponed due to a referee testing positive for COVID-19. The Bruins return to action here for the first time in almost two weeks. Utah knows something about "off time" as well, as the Utes haven't played since Dec 18. Utah is 4-1 but note that the wins have come in Salt Lake City, while the loss came 82-64 at BYU. Struggling on the road is NOT new, especially in the Pac 12. Utah enters this game without a conference road victory since February of 2019. The Utes went 0-9 in Pac-12 games away from Salt Lake City last season and enter on a 10-game road losing streak in Pac 12 play, going 1-9 ATS. Why should that change here?

Good luck...Larry

My 10* PERFECT STORM is on Wisconsin at 4:30 ET.

Richard Pitino is in his eighth season at Minnesota. He led the Gophers to the NIT championship in his first season (2013-14) but over the last six seasons, Minnesota has made just two NCAA appearances (2017 and 2019), while going a combined 56-71 (.441) over the other four. However, Season No. 8 has begun well, as the Golden Gophers are now 9-1 after beating then-No. 4 Iowa 102-95 in OT on Christmas plus routing then-No. 17 Michigan St 81-56 this past Monday. Wisconsin opened the Week 8-1 (ranked No. 6 in Monday's latest AP poll) and took a 10-game Big Ten winning streak into its Monday home game with Maryland. However, the Terps beat the Badgers 70-64. The two conference rivals wrap up the 2020 portion of the current season late this afternoon in Madison.

PG Carr (24.0-3.8-6.1) ranks with the best in the nation and has been aided by THREE transfers, 7-0 Liam Robbins (13.1 & 6.8) from Drake, the 6-6 Gach (11.7 & 6.3) from Utah and the 6-8 Johnson (8.6 & 5.7) from Western Michigan. Plus, don't dismiss returning junior guard Kalescheur, who's adding 9.3 PPG. Wisconsin has had a terrific basketball program for decades and Greg Gard enters his sixth season at Madison, having had FOUR 20-win seasons in his first five. The Badgers start FIVE seniors, guards Trice (14.2-3.2-3.2) and Davison (10.6) plus the 6-10 Potter (12.2 & 6.9), the 6-11 Reuvers (10.3 & 3.9) and the 6-8 Ford (9.6 & 4.2). 6-5 freshman Davis (7.4 & 4.6) and 6-9 sophomore Wahl (4.4 & 4.1) are both averaging about 21 MPG off the bench. 

Minnesota entered the top-25 for the first time this season on Monday (T-21) and while its win over Michigan St was proof it belonged, the Golden Gophers face a tough matchup here at Kohl Center. There is NO rest for the weary in the Big Ten, which placed a record NINE teams in the latest AP poll. In fact, Minnesota's visit to Wisconsin marks the third game in a rugged stretch of SEVEN straight games against teams currently ranked. Wisconsin plays stifling defense and entered its game with Maryland holding opponents to 57.5 PPG on 36.2 percent shooting overall. Maryland didn't exactly 'light up the scoreboard (70 points) but the Terps did shoot 50% from the floor. Meanwhile, Wisconsin's 64 points were a season-low. It's bounce back time here for the Badgers and note that Minnesota has played just one true road game so far, getting crushed in a 92-65 loss at Illinois. Note: The Illini are coming off a three-point loss at Missouri in the schools' Braggin' Rights game. Sound familiar? Lay the points!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Conference Shocker (SEC) is on Missouri at 9:00 ET.

The Tennessee Volunteers were No. 12 in the AP's preseason poll so the Vols' 6-0 start and No. 7 ranking under Rick Barnes is no surprise. However, Missouri head coach Cuonzo Martin has his team off to a 6-0 start, after back-to-back losing seasons of 15-17 and 15-16. The Tigers are enjoying their best season start since they opened 10-0 in 2013, as they welcome the Vols to Mizzou Arena on Wednesday night, in the SEC opener for both schools.

Guards Bailey (13.2), James (10.0 & 6.5), Pons (7.5 & 6.5) and Vescovi (8.0 & 4.7 APG) start with the 6-9 Faulkner (11.8 & 6.3) Freshman guard Springer (11.5) is the top-scorer off the bench. Tennessee averages 86.8 PPG but its defense has been the star, holding opponents to just 52.7 PPG (2nd) on 36.2% shooting (10th). Missouri has relied heavily on its seniors this year. Guards Xavier Pinson (14.3-4.2-3.7), Mark Smith (13.8) and Dru Smith (13.2) plus the 6-10 Jeremiah Tilmon (8.2 & 7.8). The 6-7 Brown (7.0 & 6.2) joins them in the starting lineup, while guard Pickett (8.0) and the 6-10 Mitchell Smith (5.3 & 5.7) come off the bench.

This is Tennessee's FIRST road game and I expect the Vols to find this visit to Columbia, "NOT to their liking." Just ask No. 15 Illinois, which lost here 91-88 back on Dec 12. I'm calling for the OUTRIGHT win but will take those points "as insurance!"

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Weekly Wipeout is on the Brk Nets at 7:35 ET.

The Atlanta Hawks missed the playoffs for the THIRD straight season when it finished 20-47 but Trae Young increased his scoring average from 19.1 PPG in his rookie season to 29.6 PPG in his 'sophomore' season. When free agency began, the Hawks were among the more aggressive teams, adding Bogdan Bogdanovic, Rajon Rondo, and Danilo Gallinari to join Young and Clint Capela, who was acquired from Houston at last season's trade deadline. The Hawks have not been at full health in the early going but they are averaging 124.7 PPG (2nd-best) in opening 3-0 SU and 2-1 ATS. They'll attempt to improve to 4-0 Wednesday night when they visit the Brooklyn Nets for the first of two consecutive games (something new this season due to COVID protocols).

The Nets signed Kevin Durant as a free agent prior to the 2019-20 season knowing he wouldn't be ready until the 2020-21 season. The Nets opened the season impressively by getting big games from stars Durant and Kyrie Irving in nationally televised blowout wins over Golden State and Boston. However, Brooklyn has followed up those wins with a two-point loss at Charlotte on Sunday, followed by a 116-111 overtime loss at home to Memphis on Monday. The Nets played Monday after learning Spencer Dinwiddie would be lost for the season due to a knee injury. The Nets also rested Durant and Irving for the first time this season against Memphis, after the duo played 95 minutes apiece in the first three games.

Young (34.0-4.0-7.3) has been great and this season will be surrounded by a talented cast of characters. The 6-9 Collins (averaged 21.6 & 10.1 plus 19.5 & 9.8 the last two seasons) and has opened averaging 14.0 & 6.3 his first three games. Huerter (13.7) is in his third season plus second-year pros Hunter (12.3 & 6.7) and Reddish (10.3 & 5.3) both look good. Bogdanovic (13.0 & 7.0) has been a quality scorer for years, as has been Gallinari. However, Gallinari has played just ONE game and is out here with a foot injury. PG Rondo finally saw action Monday (12 & 8 assists), as did center Capela (7 & 9).

No doubt that Dinwiddie (20.6-3.5-6.8) will be missed but the Kryrie (29.3-4.3-6.0) and Durant (26.7-4.0-3.) make the Nets a legitimate contender in the East. LeVert is chipping in 17.0-4.8-5.8 and fellow guard Harris (11.5 & 4.5) is a solid NBA player. Also, don't forget about center Allen (8.3 & 11.8), who quietly comes to work each game and is HIGHLY underrated!

Sure, Atlanta is 3-0 but the wins have come over a trio of opponents with a combined 3-9 record, including East teams Chicago (1-3) and Detroit (0-4). The Nets took three of four meetings last season from Atlanta and are 12-2 in the last 14 meetings. Both Kyrie (shooting 61.1%) and Kevin (53.2%) got their 'rest' and both are back here and the result will be a Brooklyn W-I-P-E-O-U-T!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Oddsmaker's Error Game of the Month is on Georgia at 7:00 ET.

Mississippi State's Ben Howland lost his four best players from last season's 20-11 team in the 6-10 Reggie Perry (17.4 & 10.1), plus guards Tyson Carter (13.9), Robert Woodard (11.4 & 6.5) and Nick Weatherspoon (11.6-3.5-4.1). Tom Crean spent nine seasons at Marquette and nine more at Indiana, before landing in Georgia. The Bulldogs went 11-21 and 16-16 in his first two seasons, plus lost guard Edwards (19.1 & 5.2) and forward Hammonds (12.8 & 7.4) to the NBA off last year's team. Edwards was the NBA's overall No. 1 pick. It's Bulldogs vs Bulldogs tonight in Athens, when 7-0 Georgia hosts 5-3 Mississippi State in the SEC opener for both teams.

Guard DJ Stewart returned for Howland, as did  the 6-11 Abdul Ado. Stewart leads the team at 18.3 PPG, while Ado is averaging modest totals of 5.4 & 6.1. Howland was counting on 6-6 forward Jalen Johnson, a transfer from Louisiana who averaged 15.5 points and 6.6 rebounds for the Ragin’ Cajuns last season, to be a big part of this year's team but he's been a disappointment (7.0 & 2.5). A BIG surprise has been 6-10 sophomore Smith, who is averaging 13.9 & 8.9 after averaging 3.3 & 2.6 last season.

Sophomore PG Wheeler (13.7-3.9-7.4) is off to an excellent start and is joined in the backcourt by George Mason transfer Kier (12.0-4.8-4.0) and junior guard Fagan (11.0 & 5.3) 6-8 sophomore Camara (14.8 & 8.3) is joined up front by 6-6 Stony Brook transfer Garcia (10.6 & 3.7) and 6-6 Va Tech transfer Horne (9.0 & 4.3)

Miss St is 5-0 SU (4-1 ATS) at home against a 'so-so' schedule of opponents but has lost all THREE neutral site games to Clemson, Liberty and Dayton. This marks its first true road game and it comes against a Georgia team which looks "really good." What Crean has done at Georgia is recruit well and create interest in the program, as Georgia set a school record with 11 crowds of more than 190,000 fans last year. Of course, home crowd-size is moot this season but what SHOULD catch one's attention is that Georgia is 7-0 SU at home, outscoring opponents on average, 81.1-to-64.7 PPG. Not sure why Georgia is such a small favorite here but I'm "all in" on the Bulldogs from Georgia!

Good luck...Larry

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

Chris Collins took over at Northwestern back in the 2013-14 season and won 20 games in the 2015-16 season. The very next season, he led the Wildcats to a 24-12 year, as Northwestern finished with its first winning Big Ten Conference record in 49 years (10-8) and earned its first NCAA Tournament appearance in school history (Wildcats even won their first game). It was NO small accomplishment, as Northwestern had been the only member of a power conference to have never made the "Big Dance." However, three straight losing seasons followed. However, with four starters back, Northwestern is 'making news' again! More in a bit. Iowa head coach Fran McCaffrey came to Iowa City from Siena, where he led the Saints to THREE straight NCAA appearances and a 77-26 record. He's been at Iowa since the 2010-11 season. He's led Iowa to SIX 20-win seasons the last eight seasons, getting four NCAA bids (would have been five last year but the NCAA tourney was canceled). Iowa returned all FIVE starters from last year, including the Preseason P-O-Y. (Luka Garza).

The 6-7 Kupp (15.1) leads Northwestern in scoring and is joined in the starting lineup by guards Buie (14.4 & 5.3 APG), Audige (12.9 & 4.3) and Gaines (3.9 & 4.7) plus the 6-10 Nance (10.6 & 6.9). Freshman guard Berry (8.3) plus frontcourt players like the 6-10 Young (8.9 & 6.4) and the 6-9 Beran (6.7 & 3.4) contribute off the bench. Garza (28.8 & 10.0) is shooting 62.7% to lead the Hawkeyes. Two senior guards join him in the starting lineup in Wieskamp (15.8 & 6.9) and Bohannon (6.9 & 4.3 APG). The 6-11 Nunge (8.4 & 5.9) comes off the bench plus FIVE more players contribute regularly, led by sophomore guard Fredrick (10.4).

So what's going on in Evanston, Illinois? The Wildcats (6-1, 3-0) have won their first THREE conference games for the first time since the 1967-68 season (note: Northwestern was 3-17 in the Big Ten last season!). The Wildcats entered the AP poll yesterday (No. 19), for the first time this season but hardly tells the whole story. Northwestern's No. 19 ranking is its highest this late in a season since 1969! Iowa fell from No. 4 to No. 10 on Monday, after it lost 102-95 (OT) at Minnesota last Friday. Iowa was up 80-73 on the Golden Gophers with 44 seconds remaining but Minnesota came back to tie the game at 83-83. Iowa's only other loss has come 99-88 to No. 1 Gonzaga in a neutral-site setting.

This is an EXCELLENT Iowa team and the jury is still out on Northwestern (in my opinion). A check of the record book reveals that Northwestern now owns THREE straight wins over ranked opponents. The streak started at the end of last season with a win over then-20 Penn St and has continued this season in wins over then-No. 4 Michigan St and then-No. 23. However, Northwestern has NEVER won four in a row over ranked AP opponents (AP rankings began in Jan 1949). Yes, the Wildcats can lose but still cover with this pointspread but my bet says it's an Iowa W-I-P-E-O-U-T!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Situational Stunner is on the Mil Bucks at 7:35 ET.

The Milwaukee Bucks are coming off an embarrassing loss Sunday night, falling 130-110 to the NY Knicks. The Bucks have now opened 1-2 and try to get on the winning track tonight in Miami against the Heat. One would think ALL the motivation lies with Milwaukee, as the Heat knocked the Bucks out of last year's postseason four games-to-one! What's more, Miami may be without Jimmy Butler, who is doubtful with a sprained right ankle.

SF Middleton is off to a great start, averaging 26.7-7.3-6.0. Of course, Milwaukee's best player (the NBA's as well?) is Giannis, who checks in averaging 25.7-13.0-3.7. Center Brook Lopez (16.8 & 6.4 in his career) is off to a slow start (7.0 & 3.0) but Jrue Holiday has been an excellent addition, averaging 15.0-4.7-4.7. Adebayo had a breakout year last season and leads Miami in scoring (21.0) and rebounding (7.5) after two games. Vet PG Dragic has welcomed his role of coming off the bench and is averaging 19.0 PPG and a team-high 8.0 APG. Last year's 1st-round pick from Kentucky, Herro, is settling in as a starter (12.0-4.0-3.5) plus this year's 1st-rounder, the 6-8 Achiuwa from Memphis, is averaging 9.5 PPG in just 16 1/2-minutes per game. Butler has ankle issues and is averaging 11.5-6.0-4.0.

Butler missed the second half of Miami's home-opening win against the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday and Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra announced Monday afternoon that his star swingman is doubtful for this game with the Bucks. A key for the Bucks will be getting more secondary scoring beyond their two stars, while also doing a much better job on defense. Milwaukee's been the NBA's best team in each of the last two seasons and losing streaks have been RARE! How rare? Beginning at the start of the 2018-19 season, the Bucks had gone a remarkable 29-1 SU and 23-7 ATS after a loss, BEFORE losing three straight right before the shutdown. Then, the Bucks seemed disinterested in the eight-game conclusion to the regular season in the 'bubble,' then fell flat against the red-hot Heat in the second round. The Bucks lost a one-point game at Boston to open the season but "right on cue," routed the Warriors 138-99 in their next game. Losing to the sad-sack Knicks was a HUGE embarrassment plus the Heat offer great motivation after beating Milwaukee in the last season's playoffs. Lay the points!

Good luck...Larry 

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

The Boston Celtics blew a 17-point lead entering the fourth quarter in their season-opener against the Bucks at home (won 122-121) and then, after holding a three-point halftime lead at the "New & IMPROVED" Brooklyn Nets, got  blitzed 72-41 in the second half on Christmas Day. Boston visited Indiana on Sunday to take on a Pacers team that had opened with a 121-107 Wednesday home win over the New York Knicks and followed with a convincing 125-106 road victory over the Chicago Bulls. Sunday's game saw the Pacers eke out a 108-107 victory that improved their record to 3-0 (Celtics fell to 1-2). Domantas Sabonis converted the game-winning layup with just 8.4 seconds remaining, giving the Celtics the ball back down one after he missed a free throw that would have made it a three-point play. Jayson Tatum's three-point attempt with 1.8 seconds to go clanked off the back of the rim, sealing the result.

Gordon Hayward opted-out of his contract to sign with the Hornets (you will LOVE losing in Charlotte, Gordon) and Boston is still waiting for PG Kemba Walker to get healthy. However, Boston has a strong starting-five with Brown (26.0-5.0-3.7) joined in the backcourt with Smart (9.0 & 6.3 APG). Smart took the place of an injured Hayward in LY's postseason, starting 16 of 17 games and averaging 14.5-5.2-4.6. He is also the team's best defender. PF Tatum (25.0 & 8.7) blossomed into a star last season and is joined up front with Theis (5.3 & 4.0) and the newly-acquired Tristan Thompson (9.0 & 8.0). Thompson averaged a double-double in each of his last two seasons at Cleveland (10.9 & 10.2 and 12.0 & 10.1). Boston also signed PG Teague (9.3) and he's very capable of easing the pain until Walker returns (he's averaged double digits in each of his last NINE seasons!).

The Pacers have a good team led by the 6-11 Sabonis (24.3-11.0.5-7.0) and the now-healthy SG Oladipo (22.0 & 5.0). SF Warren led the team in scoring last season (19.8) and has averaged 15.0 PPG after three games. Brogdon (21.3-4.7-6.3) teams with Oladipo for an outstanding backcourt plus the 6-11 Turner (9.7 & 6.7) is a solid center, who is also averaging 5.7 blocks per game! McDermott comes off the bench and has averaged 13.7 & 5.0 in the first three games.

Teams playing two games in three nights against each other with both contests being held in the same city is an adjustment that's been made due to COVID-19. Maybe I'm gullible but I just DON'T see the Pacers winning back-to-back games against the Celtics but rather, it sets up as a 'PERFECT STORM.' Go Celts!

Good luck...Larry 

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

Rutgers won its first five games by double digits and opened league play with a 74-60 win at Maryland on Dec 14. The Scarlet Knights improved to 6-0 by pulling out a 91-88 win over then-No. 13 Illinois on Dec 20 (rose to No. 11 in the AP poll) but was unable to duplicate that performance last Wednesday, losing 80-68 at the-No. 23 Ohio State. Rutgers (6-1 / 2-1 in Big Ten) dropped to No. 14 in the latest AP poll (out yesterday) and will welcome unranked Purdue (7-3 / 2-1) to Piscataway, NJ on Tuesday. The Boilermakers rebounded from a 70-55 loss at Iowa on Tuesday by posting a 73-70 home win over Maryland on Friday.

Purdue head coach Matt Painter's lone loss of note from last season's team was the 7-3 Haarms (8.6 & 4.6), who went to BYU as a graduate transfer. The team's "Big Three" are all returning players, senior PG Hunter (12.8 & 4.0 APG) plus juniors like the 6-10 Williams (13.4 & 9.5) and SG Stefanovic (11.3). 7-4 freshman Edey (9.9 & 4.2) has made all forget about Haarms plus freshman guard Newman (10.1) gives Purdue four double digit scorers  Depth is provided by four players chipping in a combined 22 PPG.

Steve Pikiell spent 11 years at Stony Brook, winning 20-plus games in his final five seasons. He led the Seawolves to an NCAA berth in 2015-16 and a 26-7 record. His first three seasons at Rutgers saw the Scarlet Knights go just 15-18, 15-19 and 14-17. Rutgers was 20-11 last season before the year was shut down. This year's team looks REALLY good, led by senior guards Harper (23.4 & 7.1) and Young (15.9 & 5.6 APG). Junior guard Mathis adds 14.3 & 3.9 plus two 6-11 centers, Omoruyi (5.3 & 5.8) and Johnson (7.7 & 8.6) give Rutgers a strong inside presence.

Pikiell could be without standout freshman Omoruyi, who missed the last game with a knee injury plus Myles Johnson played 15 minutes before fouling out. However, I expect Rutgers to be PRIMED to bounce back (especially here at home), after holding a 38-28 lead at halftime at Ohio St and leading by 16 points in the second half, before going EIGHT minutes without a FG while enduring a 20-1 run by the Buckeyes. Purdue enters this game with the second-lowest scoring offense in the league at 72.5 PG and has yet to score more than 75 points in any Big Ten game. Purdue lost at then-No. Iowa on Dec 22 and this contest will mark the SECOND of three games over a four-game stretch against a ranked opponent (No. 15 Illinois is up next). 

'That's a tough 'ask!'. Catching Rutgers off its 'collapse' vs Ohio St puts Purdue in the WRONG place at the WRONG time, even if the Scarlets Knights are a little short-handed. Rutgers has made "the RAC" (Rutgers Athletic Center) ONE tough venue, having gone a 'sweet' 23-2 SU since the start of last season. Lay the reasonable price!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* CBB Oddsmaker's Game of the Month is on Arizona at 9:30 ET.

Tad Boyle is in his 1th season at Colorado and despite losing the 6-7 Tyler Bey (13.8 *& 9.0) to the NBA (he played center), Boyle has his Buffs off to a 6-1 start as Colorado opens its Pac 12 schedule with this game in Arizona against the Wildcats. While Colorado is a veteran team, the 6-1 Wildcats, who lost their Pac 12 opener 78-75 at Stanford on Dec 19, have FIVE new starters.

PG Wright flirted with the NBA draft but returned to Boulder and is averaging 16.3-4.7-5.9. Wright is surrounded by veterans, such as the 7-0 Dallas Walton (10.3), the 6-8 Evan Battey (8.7 & 4.9) and the 6-7 Jeriah Horn (a Tulsa graduate transfer), who adds 11.4 & 6.0. A quartet of guards combine to add about 26 PPG. Sean Miller has had some off the court issues the last few seasons and saw THREE freshmen from last year go the 'One and Done' route. PG Mannion (14.0 & 5.3 APG), Green (12.0 & 4.6) and  big man Nnaji (16.1 & 8.6). Arizona is led by guard Jemarl Baker (15.4 PPG /  45.5 percent from three-point range) and Georgetown transfer James Akinjo (13.4 & 4.7 APG). The 6-11 Jordan Brown (10.7 & 6.9) is a Nevada transfer. Miller made a lineup change against Montana (most recent game, taking out 7-footer Christian Koloko (4.1 & 5.3) and inserting the more offensive-minded Azoulas Tubelis (7.6 & 5.0). The 6-11 freshman was a force on both ends with eight points, nine rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocks. Newcomer Mathurin (from Canada) has added 9.9 & 4.6 off the bench.

Here's the bottom line. The Buffs won't have to face the usual sold-out crowd at McKale Center, as Arizona is playing without fans as part of its COVID-19 protocols. However, since joining the Pac 12 in for the 2011-12 season, the Buffs have NEVER won at McKale Center. Why should it be any different here and at this price, an Arizona win almost GUARANTEES a cover. That's my bet!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Game of the Week is on Michigan St at 8:00 ET.

Michigan State opened as the AP's No. 8 team in its preseason poll and began the season 6-0, a start which included an impressive 75-69 win at then-No. 6 Duke. However, after that undefeated start in non-conference play, the Spartans have dropped their first two conference games. They got blindsided by Northwestern 79-65 on Dec 20 and then got outplayed in the second half of an 85-76 home loss to No 9 Wisconsin this past Friday. The now 12th-ranked Spartans (new poll comes out later today and MSU will SURELY drop) play at Minnesota (8-1 / 1-1 in Big Ten) in Minneapolis on Monday. The Golden Gophers have cracked the 90-point mark in THREE of their last four outings, including a 102-95 upset of No. 4 Iowa in overtime on Friday. 

Michigan State trailed by double digits throughout the second half against Northwestern and was outscored 43-34 in the second half by Wisconsin. "We did do some really good things," Spartans head coach Tom Izzo said. "We played harder, and were, I thought, much more in-tune to the game. We just made some mistakes when it was a two to three point game in those last four minutes and just couldn't get it done. So I'm disappointed, but I feel like we took a step forward." Michigan St lost its two best players from last season's team to the NBA Draft, as PG Winston (18.6 & 5.9 APG) was taken by the Wizards and the 6-8 Tillman (13.7 & 10.3) by the Grizzlies  6-9 junior forward Joey Hauser, a transfer from Marquette, leads the team averaging 14.0 & 8.6. and was terrific in the loss to Wisconsin, with 27 points and seven rebounds. Joining him in the frontcourt are two returning players, the 6-7 Brown and the 6-6 Henry. Brown has averaged 9.5 PPG, while Henry has chipped in 12,0-5.5-4.6. Sophomore PG Watts (10.9 & 4.6 APG) steps in for Winston plus veteran guard Langford (8.1) joins him on the perimeter. Langford is FINALLY healthy and is back on the court this season, having last played in December of 2018. 6-7 sophomore Hall averages 6.5 & 5.5 and guard Loyer adds 6.4. MSU is NOT lacking for talent!

Richard Pitino is in his eighth season at Minnesota. He led the Gophers to the NIT championship in his first season (2013-14) but over the last six seasons, Minnesota has made just two NCAA appearances (2017 and 2019), while going a combined 56-71 (.441) over the other four. However, Season No. 8 has begun well, as the Golden Gophers are now 8-1 after their win over No. 4 Iowa. Marcus Carr scored 30 points and Brandon Johnson had 26 off the bench, including an 8-for-9 performance on three-pointers. "He was just confident and came in ready to go," Pitino said of Johnson. "He got a lot of rhythm shots and he knocked them down with confidence. That confidence and that momentum built. He is a very skilled player and he's just been a little bit hobbled with injuries, but he is getting healthy. He provided in a huge way for us." PG Carr (24.6-3.8-6.2) ranks with the best in the nation and has been aided by THREE transfers, 7-0 Liam Robbins (12.6 & 6.6) from Drake, the 6-6 Gach (12.3 & 6.0( from Utah and Johnson (8.5 & 5.5) from Western Michigan. Plus, don't dismiss returning junior guard Kalescheur, who's adding 9.4 PPG.

Minnesota is a 'tough 'out' at Williams Arena and while it's still only December, I view this as a "must win" for Izzo and his team.  We all know that "must win" doesn't always translate to "will win" but in this case, it DOES!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Eastern Conference Crusher is on the Bos Celtics at 8:05 ET.

The Boston Celtics opened its season with a 122-121 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks (blew 17-point 4th-quarter lead but avoided OT when Giannis short-armed his second FT) but then got 'rolled' by the "new and improved" Nets on Christmas Day. The Celtics held a three-point halftime lead but were blitzed 72-41 in the second half!" We know we have a lot of work to do, that's very clear," Boston head coach Brad Stevens said after the loss to the Nets. "And we know who we have to shoot for, that's good to know. I thought our guys gave a good effort at the start, and then it just got away from us in the fourth."

The Indiana Pacers welcome the Celtics to Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Sunday, with the teams meeting again on Tuesday. Indiana has won its first two games, opening with a 121-107 Wednesday home win over the New York Knicks and following with a convincing 125-106 road victory over the Chicago Bulls on Saturday night. Boston has won NINE of the last 13 meetings, although the teams split two games last season.

Gordon Hayward opted-out of his contract to sign with the Hornets (you will LOVE losing in Charlotte, Gordon) and Boston is still waiting for PG Kemba Walker to get healthy. However, Boston has a strong starting-five with Brown (30.0-6.5-3.5) joined in the backcourt with Smart (9.8 & 6.5). Smart took the place of an injured Hayward in LY's postseason, starting 16 of 17 games and averaging 14.5-5.2-4.6. He is also the team's best defender. PF Tatum (25.0 & 7.5) blossomed into a star last season and is joined up front with Theis (6.0 & 6.5) and the newly-acquired Tristan Thompson (10.0 & 8.0). Thompson averaged a double-double in each of his last two seasons at Cleveland (10.9 & 10.2 and 12.0 & 10.1). Boston also signed PG Teague (9.5 & 3.0 APG) who will help ease the pain until Walker returns (he's averaged double digits in each of his last NINE seasons!).

The Pacers have a good team led by the 6-11 Sabonis (27.0-11.5-8.)0) and now-healthy SG Oladipo (22.0 & 5.5). SF Warren led the team in scoring last season (19.8) and has averaged 14.0 PPG after two games. Brogdon (19.5-4.5-7.0) teams with Oladipo for an outstanding backcourt plus the 6-11 Turner (9.5 & 6.5) is a solid center, who already has 12 blocked shots. McDermott comes off the bench and has averaged 12.5 & 7.0 in the first two games.

The Pacers have opened 2-0 but please, the wins have come over the Knicks and Bulls, who went 21-45 and 22-43 last season, respectively. Meanwhile, the Celtics have beaten Milwaukee (best record in the NBA the last two seasons) and lost to VERY improved Nets. "The benefit of playing these two games against two great teams is we can be better, we can assess the bar, and now you know what you have to strive for," Smart told reporters. "It's a good way to test us as a team to see where we're at and where we have to get to. Like I said, there's definitely things we can clean up. It's only the second game, but we can't lose any sleep over it." I agree. Boston wins by double digits!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* PERFECT STORM is on the Was Wizards at 7:05 ET.

The Magic had an excellent season-opener on Wednesday in beating the defending East Champs (Miami Heat) 113-107 in Orlando. Starters Fournier (25), Gordon (20 & 7), Vucevic (15 & 11) and Fultz (15) all played well plus as he did last year, Ross scored 19 points off the bench. The Magic travel to Washington D.C. for a Saturday game with the Wizards, a team they swept 4-0 during last season, scoring at least 120 points in each game.

The Wizards opened the season the same night, losing 113-107 at Philadelphia, despite Bradley Beal's 31 points and Russell Westbrook's triple-double (21-11-15) in his Washington debut. The Wizards will go only as far as their dynamic backcourt duo will take them this season but a pair of 6-10 big men are on the verge of becoming more than just "complementary" players. Bertans spent three seasons in San Antonio, averaging just 6.2 PPG, playing about 15 minutes per game. However, in his first season with Washington (2019-20), he averaged almost 30 minutes per game while averaging 15.4 PPG plus shot 42.4% on threes. Fellow big man Bryant had a breakout season last year, averaging 13.2 & 7.2 in his third NBA season. Bertans had 14 points on Wednesday and Bryant 10 & 5.

"Not good enough. Honestly, I'm kind of disappointed in myself," Westbrook said after the loss at Philly. "I had some mishaps and plays where I could have been better and had a better game to try to win. I don't like moral victories at any point in my career. I always like to go out and try to win the game. I've gotta be better and I'll be better next game." Beal averaged 34.3 points in three games last season vs Orlando, including a 42-point performance in a 127-120 loss on Dec 3. Forget last season's results, the Wizards get a comfortable win in their home opener.

Good luck...Larry

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

No. 1 Gonzaga (6-0) will take on No. 16 Virginia (4-1) late Saturday afternoon in Fort Worth, Tx. Issues with COVID-19 have wiped out Virginia's opportunities to test itself against perennial powers Michigan State, Villanova and Florida but this game with the Bulldogs will provide an even bigger test. Gonzaga knows all about virus issues as well, as the Bulldogs had a 17-day layoff due to COVID-19 concerns, before their 99-88 win over then-No. 3 Iowa last Saturday. The nation's top team then played back-to-back home games Monday and Tuesday against Northwestern State, winning by a combined 55-points (note: Gonzaga was 0-2 ATS!). This non-conference neutral-site game was added to the schedule on Dec 17.

Mark Few has done everything but win a national championship since taking over the Gonzaga program for the 1999-2000 season. He has led the Bulldogs to the NCAA Tournament in every season during his tenure as head coach and holds the record for the most consecutive tournament appearances since starting as head coach at 21! His career record at Gonzaga was 599-124 (.828) entering this season, which is an average of 28.5 wins per season. Is this Gonzaga's year to "win it all?"  UVa's Tony Bennett HAS "won it all!" 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," and NBC Sports took it a step further by calling it "the greatest redemption story in the history of sports." UVa was 23-7 when the season was shut down last March.

The Bulldogs hated to see Filip Petrusev (17.5 & 7.9), last season's West Coast Conference Player of the Year, decide to forgo his final two years of eligibility to pursue a professional career overseas but SF small Corey Kispert (13.9 & 4.0), a preseason All-American, and guard Joel Ayayi (10.6-6.3-3.2) both return. Few has recruited a talented freshman class, one which includes guard Jalen Suggs, a top-10 prospect who is the program's highest-ranked recruit ever. Kispet is averaging 20.8 & 5.0. Ayayi 9.7 & 7.5 and freshman Suggs has been "as good as advertised," with a line of 16.3-5.7-5.8. 6-10 sophomore Timme (9.8 & 5.4 LY) has blossomed (20.3 & 7.5 TY) plus Florida transfer Newbhard (9.7-3.7-3.8) has been a great addition in the backcourt.

UVa lost the 6-9 Diakite (13.7 & 6.8) and 6-8 big guard Key (9.9 & 7.4) but this year's team has NINE players who have participated in all five games, chipping in between 4.6 and 13.4 PPG. Three are averaging in double digits, 6-8 Marquette transfer Sam Hauser (13.4 & 6.0), the returning 7-1 Hall (11.6 & 6.2) and 6-9 Trey Murphy (11.6). 6-11 freshman Kadin Shedrick had 10 points and a team-high seven rebounds in 14 minutes off the bench in UVa's 76-40 home victory against William & Mary this past Tuesday, as the Cavaliers returned from an 18-day layoff. 

The Cavaliers have won three straight since that shocking loss to San Francisco and are once again playing their signature brand of defense, holding opponents to just 54.0 PPG on 36.3 percent shooting so far this season. However, how will it match up against a Gonzaga team that ranks third in the nation with 94.7 PPG and is shooting 55.1 percent from the floor? Let's ask Bennett. "When you play a team as talented and explosive as Gonzaga, I don't know what prepares you for that," Bennett said. "I know how good they are, and I know what we'll have to do at a very high level to be in a game like that and make it competitive and hopefully be successful." FYI...When Bennett coached at Washington State from 2006-09, his Cougars were 2-1 against Gonzaga. Upset Alert? Maybe that's a stretch but I am sure taking the points!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Weekend Wipeout is on Illinois at 4:00 ET.

Archie Miller spent six years at Dayton, winning 20-plus games in five seasons. Over his final four at the school, the Flyers averaged 25.5 wins per season and went to four straight NCAA tourneys. He got the Indiana job beginning with the 2017-18 season and was just 16-15 and 19-16. However, last year's team was 20-12 before the season was "called off!" Gone from that team are Devontae Green (13.5 & 8.4) who graduated and the 6-7 Justin Smith (10.4 & 5.2), who transferred to Arkansas. Brad Underwood had a great three-year run at SF Austin (three straight NCAA bids) before making a one-year 'pit stop' in Stillwater, where he led Oklahoma St to an NCAA bid. Illinois "came calling" in March of 2017 when it fired John Groce and Underwood's first two seasons were duds (14-18 and 12-21). However, behind outstanding guard Dosunmu and 7-0 freshman Cockburn, the Illini were 21-10 when last season was shut down. Illinois opened the current season No. 8 in the AP's preseason poll but so far, it has NOT been 'smooth sailing.' More in a bit.

This year's Indiana team is led by the 6-9 Jackson-Davis (21.1 & 8.6) and the 6-8 Thompson (10.5 & 6.8). The backcourt is led by sophomore Franklin (12.3), senior Durham (8.7-4.3) and junior Phinisee (7.0). With just 11 weeks to complete their 20-game league schedules, there's precious little time for Big Ten teams to celebrate victories and, more important, solve problems that spring up during defeats. Case in point is Indiana. Barely 10 hours after suffering a 74-67 home loss to Northwestern in their Big Ten opener on Wednesday, the Hoosiers (5-3, 0-1) were back on the practice floor at 9 a.m. Christmas Eve, before taking a bus ride on Christmas Day for today's 4 p.m. ET game at No. 18 Illinois (6-3, 2-1). In Dosunmu (23.4-7.8-5.2), Illinois features one of the top guards in the nation plus center Cockburn's sophomore season is going great, as he's averaging 17.4 & 9.3.Dosunmu is joined in the backcourt by veterans Curbelo (10.4 & 4.3 APG), Frazier (9.6) and Williams (6.4 & 5.3) plus freshman Miller (9.8). The 6-9 Bezhanishvili (7.1 & 3.7) rounds out the main contributors.

Here's what I said about Illinois in taking them on Wednesday as my Game of the Week. "Illinois completes a rollercoaster 22-day span (Dec 2-23) in which the Fighting Illini lost to No. 2 Baylor, won at then-No. 10 Duke, lost their Braggin' Rights game at now-No. 14 Missouri (5-0) and now plays a dangerous Penn St team in Happy Valley. It's time for Illinois to 'step up' and prove it's a top-10 team!" The Illini did just that pulling away from Penn St in the second half for a 98-81 win. The Fighting Illini, like the Hoosiers, are back on the court after Wednesday games but Illinois was able to come back home and have Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 'at home' in Champaign-Urbana, while the Hoosiers practiced Christmas Eve morning and then took that Christmas Day bus ride, "B-L-O-W-O-U-T" Alert!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* NBA Game of the Month is on the LA Lakers at 8:05 ET.

LBJ, A.D. and the rest of the Los Angeles Lakers opened their title defense Tuesday night and lost at Staples Center to co-tenants, the LA Clippers. The Lakers celebrated their NBA title with a ring ceremony (often a jinx as I pointed in taking AND winning with the Clippers!), then trailed by as many as 22 points early on against the Clippers before rallying but eventually losing 116-109. Luka Doncic led the Mavericks to the playoffs last season to end the franchise's three-season absence but Dallas lost to the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round. The Mavs opened their season Wednesday night but lost 106-102 to the Suns, who picked right up where they left off from last year's Orlando 'bubble' (Suns were 8-0 SU & ATS).

Luka Doncic (who enters his third season) is being touted as an MVP candidate, after averaging 28.8 points, 9.4 rebounds and 8.8 assists in 61 games last season and already has 25 triple-doubles in just 133 career regular-season games. Doncic had a "typical" game Wednesday night, scoring 32 points with eight rebounds and five assists. However, NO other teammate was able to score more than 12 points. Doncic is just 21 and according to him, is still working his way into shape. "It's true I'm not in my best shape," Doncic said. "I will get there for sure. But, you know, I've never been a muscular guy, so what can I say?" After the game, head coach Rick Carlisle added, "He's still getting his game legs under him. That will get there. But he understands the game as well as any 21-year-old I've ever been around. He'll make the adjustments that are necessary." With Doncic's sidekick (the 7-3 Kristaps Porzingis) still recovering from right knee surgery, stemming from tearing his meniscus in mid-August during the series with the Clippers, I'll be VERY wary of playing on the Mavs in the early going. Porzingis isn't expected back until January.

Many believe (and count me among them) that the defending champs have improved during the offseason with the additions of reigning Sixth Man of the Year and former Clippers big man Montrezl Harrell, the Sixth Man runner-up in guard Dennis Schroder, veteran center Marc Gasol and guard Wesley Matthews. Schroder started against the Clippers and had a line of 14-12-8, while Harrell came off the bench to add 17 & 10. Kuzma, who just signed an extension with LA, came off the bench to score 15 points. Anyone seriously worried that LBJ and A.D. won't hold up their end this season? This is a great opportunity for the Lakers to quickly wipe out the sour taste left by Tuesday's season-opening loss and expect the Mavs to play the perfect foil! Lay the points.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Situational Stunner is on Purdue at 2:30 ET.

he NBA has 'owned' Christmas Day in recent years but the Big Ten has decided in this 'Year of COVID' to 'crash the party.' In fact, COVID sparked the move. Typically, the NCAA upholds a rule requiring three days off around Christmas but the organization waived the regulation as various teams remain on campus amid the COVID-19 pandemic. So, Big Ten hoops will play FOUR Christmas games that feature four ranked teams. The lone game without a ranked opponent in this Christmas 'grand slam' is 5-2 Maryland visiting West Lafayette to take on 6-3 Purdue. Maryland is 0-1 to open Big Ten play and Purdue is 1-1.

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). PG Cowan (16.3 & 4.7 APG) and big man Jalen Smith (15.5 & 10.5) are gone but the Terps have a deep backcourt, Ayala (14.6) and Hart (10.6) lead the way, supported by Wiggins (10.0-4.6-3.1) and Morsell (7.8 & 5.1). Up front, it's the 6-7 Scott (12.7 & 7.1) and 6-8 BC transfer Hamilton (8.3 & 3.4).

Purdue head coach Matt Painter's lone loss of note from last season's team was the 7-3 Haarms (8.6 & 4.6), who went to BYU as a graduate transfer. The team's "Big Three" are all returning players, senior PG Hunter (12.2 & 4.0 APG) plus juniors like the 6-10 Williams (13.8 & 9.7) and SG Stefanovic (12.2 & 4.0 APG). 7-4 freshman Edey (10.3 & 3.9) has made all forget about Haarms plus freshman guard Newman (9.3) just barely misses double digits in scoring. Depth is provided by four players chipping a combined 21 PPG.

Maryland is coming off a win over La Salle on Tuesday but that hardly 'wipes away' the team's back-to-back losses to Clemson and Rutgers. The Terps were routed  67-51 at Clemson in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge and then lost 74-60 at home to now-No. 11 Rutgers 74-60 in its Big Ten opener. Purdue saw a three-game winning streak end at No. 4 Iowa on Tuesday, losing 70-55 to the Hawkeyes. I had Iowa in that one and noted that Purdue was in the WRONG place at the WRONG time, as Iowa was coming off a loss to No.1 Gonzaga.

This is a HUGE game for Purdue, as it plays THREE of its next four games (all in the Big Ten) on the road. The Boilermakers will be on the road at No. 11 Rutgers and then at No. 18 Illinois, before getting a home game with Nebraska and then going back on the road at No. 12 Michigan St. The LAST thing Purdue needs here is a home loss to Maryland to kick off that stretch. Maryland has been AWFUL in its two biggest tests this season so far, averaging just 55.5 PPG on 36.9% shooting in losses to Clemson and Rutgers. What changes here in a Christmas Day visit to Mackey Arena? I say NOTHING!

Goods luck...Larry

My 10* Big Ten Game of the Year is on Michigan St at 12:30 ET.

Big Ten basketball has 'taken over' Christmas Day with a 'grand slam' of games, featuring FOUR ranked teams. The '4-pack' tips off at 12:30 ET with No. 9 Wisconsin (7-1, 1-0 Big Ten) heading to East Lansing to take on No. 12 Michigan State (6-1 / 0-1 Big Ten). Wisconsin lone loss has come 67-65 at Marquette and owns a home blowout win 85-48 over then-No. 23 Louisville on Dec 19 (Cards only loss this season). Michigan St earned a 75-69 'marquee' win at then-No. 6 Duke back on Dec 1 but came into this contest off an embarrassing 79-65 at Northwestern this past Sunday.

Wisconsin has a had a terrific basketball program for decades and Greg Gard enters his sixth season at Madison, having had FOUR 20-win season in his first five. The Badgers start FIVE seniors, guards Davison (11.3), and Trice (11.0) plus the 6-10 Potter (13.4 & 7.3), the 6-11 Reuvers (10.9 & 3.9) and the 6-8 Ford (9.1 & 4.0). 6-5 freshman Davis (7.9 & 5.1) and 6-9 sophomore (4.8 & 4.5) are both averaging about 21 MPG off the bench. Wisconsin plays stifling defense, holding opponents to 57.5 PPG on 36.2 percent shooting overall.

You may just have heard of MSU head coach Tom Izzo, who was disgusted with his team's performance at Northwestern. The Spartans were dominated by the unheralded Wildcats, 79-65, trailing by double digits throughout the second half. "Obviously still disappointed, not by the loss but just by how we played," Izzo said. "And yet, I'm going to look myself in the mirror and say, ‘You know what, there's going to be some ups and downs and there's going to be some mind-boggling days when you just say, ‘What's going on?' " Michigan St lost its two best players from last season's team to the NBA Draft, as PG Winston (18.6 & 5.9 APG) was taken by the Wizards and the 6-8 Tillman (13.7 & 10.3) by the Grizzlies. 6-9 junior forward Joey Hauser, a transfer from Marquette, leads the team averaging 12.1 & 8.9. Joining him in the frontcourt are two returning players, the 6-7 Brown and the 6-6 Henry. Brown has averaged 10.6 PPG, while Henry has chipped in 12,0-5.4-4.9. Sophomore PG Watts (11.7 & 4.3 APG) steps in for Winston plus veteran guard Langford (8.2) joins him on the perimeter. Langford is FINALLY healthy and is back on the court this season, having last played in December of 2018. 6-7 sophomore Hall averages 6.7 & 6.0, so Michigan St matches up well with the Badgers.

Best of all, what team would want a Christmas Day visit to Breslin Center to face an Izzo-coached team off an embarrassing loss. I know Wisconsin will put on a 'brave face' but this just in, the Badgers have dropped 12 straight in East Lansing, with their last victory there coming back to 2004. No margin to cover here and it's Michigan St by double digits!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Eye-Opener is on the Mia Heat at 12:05 ET.

New Orleans head coach Stan Van Gundy will be back on familiar turf Friday when his Pelicans face the Miami Heat, the team that gave him his start coaching in the league in 1995. The Pelicans won their season opener on Wednesday, 113-109 at Toronto (Raptors are playing their 'home' games in Tampa). Ingram just missed a triple-double (24-9-11) with 'King' Zion adding 15 & 10. The game also marked the Pelicans debuts of Eric Bledsoe (18 points) and Steven Adams (eight points, a game-high four steals and two blocks).

While the Pelicans were beating the Raptors, the defending East champs were losing 113-107 in Orlando. "We have to be more precise," Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra said when asked about his team's 22 turnovers against Orlando. "Our spacing has to be a lot better, and we have to be willing to work the offense." The turnovers came primarily from Bam Adebayo (seven), Jimmy Butler (six) and Tyler Herro (four). Then again, Adebayo had 25 & 11, Butler 17-7-7 and Herro, who blossomed into a start in last year's 'bubble,' started and had a line of 13-6-4. Goran Dragic had 20 points and seven assists, continuing his role as super sub. "I told 'Spo' that however he wants to use me, I'm here for the team," said Dragic, a 2018 All-Star back in his days as a starter. "I'm already feeling comfortable with this (backup) role."

New Orleans shot 52.5% vs Toronto but DON'T expect a repeat performance here against an excellent defensive team like the Heat. The Heat actually made 50.6% from the floor in the loss at Orlando and I'm looking for them to bounce back in a big way here. The Heat opened last season's playoff run 7-0 SU & ATS and finished 14-7 SU and with a playoff-best 16-7 ATS record. Heat 'came together' last postseason and will be a tough team to beat all of this season, especially at home and off a loss no less! 'Cheap' price. A win over ex-head coach Van Gundy would be 'icing on the cake.'

Good luck...Larry

My 8* Las Vegas Insider is on the Pho Suns at 10:35 ET.

The Phoenix 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. The Suns acquired 10-time All-Star point guard Chris Paul from the Thunder and will pair him with All-Star shooting guard Devin Booker, who has averaged 26.6 PPG in each of the past two seasons. Phoenix added veteran forward Jae Crowder (VERY underrated) in addition to Paul and are hoping that 6-11 Ayton (18.2 & 7.5 in 38 games last season) will stay healthy all season.

Luka Doncic (who enters his third season) is being touted as an MVP candidate. He averaged 28.8 points, 9.4 rebounds and 8.8 assists in 61 games last season and already has 25 triple-doubles in just 133 career regular-season games. He led the Mavericks to the playoffs last season to end the franchise's three-season absence but Dallas lost to the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round. Doncic is just 21 and according to him, is still working his way into shape. "It's true I'm not in my best shape," Doncic said. "I will get there for sure. But, you know, I've never been a muscular guy, so what can I say?" It's also NOT good news for Dallas sidekick, the 7-3 Kristaps Porzingis, isn't ready for the start of the season. He is still recovering from right knee surgery, stemming from tearing his meniscus in mid-August during the series with the Clippers.

The Suns went 3-1 against the Mavericks last season, including two victories in the bubble, 117-115 on Aug 2 and 128-102 on Aug 13. By year's end, it's likely that the Mavs will be a better team than the Suns but that's NOT the case here in Game 1 for both teams.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Division Game of the Month (Northwest) is on the Por Blazers at 10:05 ET.

Utah Jazz are well aware that only a FEW plays separated the Jazz from a potential run to the 2020 Western Conference Finals and what turned into first-round loss to the Nuggets (Jazz led the series 3-1, then lost THREE in a row!). The Portland Trail Blazers made it all the way to the Western Conference Finals two seasons ago but last year needed a strong run 'in the bubble' to sneak into the postseason. Led by 'Bubble' MVP Lillard, the Blazers were a 'sexy' pick to upset the Lakers in the first round but after a 100-93 upset in Game 1, Portland lost FOUR in a row.

Both teams should be solid contenders this season. Donovan Mitchell (24.0-4.4-4.3) and Rudy Gobert (15.1 & 13.5) both agreed to contract extensions before the new season and Jordan Clarkson (15.6) re-signed with Utah on a four-year deal after emerging as the team's sixth man last season. Bringing back Derrick Favors represented the biggest free agent addition for the Jazz. Favors spent 8 1/2 seasons in Utah before being traded to New Orleans a year ago. "We need to hold ourselves to a high standard," Mitchell told the Deseret News. "You know, we blew a 3-1 lead. We lost in the first round, and there's no time for that. There's no time for slow starts." Added Gobert after signing his new deal, "I'm here to stay, and I'm here to WIN a championship. I'm here to win with my brothers, I'm here to win with coach (Quin Snyder) and I'm here to win with you, Utah."

Portland is led by its dynamic quard duo of Damian Lillard and CJ MCcollum, who averaged 30.0-4.3-87.0 and 22.2-4.2-4.4 last season, respectively. They also brought back Enes Kanter and Carmelo Anthony to give the Blazers some scoring punch off the bench when Lillard and McCollum aren't on the floor. Notably, Jusuf Nurkic and Rodney Hood are back after serious injuries kept one or the other off the floor for lengthy stretches last season. Hood re-signed with the Blazers as a free agent during the offseason. Portland acquired Robert Covington and Derrick Jones Jr. to shore up defense.

Frankly, I like BOTH teams this season but in this pre-Christmas opener, I MUCH prefer the home team which avoids traveling, ESPECIALLY at this price!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Game of the Week is on Illinois at 6:30 ET.

Brad Underwood had a great three-year run at SF Austin (three straight NCAA bids) before making a one-year 'pit stop' in Stillwater, where he led Oklahoma St to an NCAA bid. Illinois "came calling in March of 2017 when it fired John Groce and Underwood's first two seasons were duds (14-18 and 12-21). However, behind outstanding guard Dosunmu and 7-0 freshman Cockburn, the Illini were 21-10 when last season was shut down. Illinois opened the current season No. 8 in the AP's preseason poll but so far, it has NOT been 'smooth sailing.' Penn St was also 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 interim head coach Jim Ferry led the Nittany Lions to an impressive 75-55 road win over then-No. 15 Virginia Tech on Dec 8 but this past Sunday lost 62-58 at Michigan (Wolverines are 6-0 and ranked 25th).

Dosunmu (22.6-8.0-5.30 is one of the top guards in the nation and Cockburn's sophomore season is going great, as he's averaging 16.8 & 9.8.Dosunmu is joined in the backcourt by freshman Miller (10.4) plus fellow guards Frazier (9.9), Curbelo (9.9-3.4-3.9), and Williams (6.9 & 5.8). The 6-9 Bezhanishvili (7.0 & 3.8) completes the main contributors. Penn  St surely misses All-Big Ten forward Lamar Stevens (17.6 & 6.9) but the Nittany Lions have four players averaging in double figures; the 6-7 Seth Lundy (14.4) and 6-7 Izaiah Brockington (14.0 & 5.6) plus two guards that can play the point, Sam Sessoms (11.8 & 3.5 APG) and Myreon Jones (11.8 & 3.3 APG), when PG Wheeler (5.8-4.0-4.6) needs a break. The 6-9 Harrar (7.6 & 7.0) is the team's leading rebounder.

Illinois completes a rollercoaster 22-day span (Dec 2-23) in which the Fighting Illini lost to No. 2 Baylor, won at then-No. 10 Duke, lost their Braggin' Rights game at now-No. 14 Missouri (5-0) and now plays a dangerous Penn St team in Happy Valley. It's time for Illinois to "step up" and prove it's a top-10 team (despite a 5-3 record, Illinois is still ranked 18th) or it will be a sad Christmas in Champaign-Urbana. I'm in.

Good luck...Larry

My NBA 10* 'Battle 4 LA' is on the LA Clippers at 10:05 ET.

After the shortest offseason in league history, the Lakers will open defense of their NBA title by hosting the Clippers. Of course, both teams call Staples Center home. Conventional wisdom seems to be that the defending champs have improved during the offseason with the additions of reigning Sixth Man of the Year and former Clippers big man Montrezl Harrell, the Sixth Man runner-up in guard Dennis Schroder, veteran center Marc Gasol and guard Wesley Matthews. Hard to argue with the team's additions but the Lakers' success in the end will depend on the play of LBJ and A.D. James won his fourth NBA title Oct 11 when the Lakers beat the Miami Heat in six games, averaging 25.3 points, 7.8 rebounds and a league-high 10.2 assists per game during the 2019-20 regular season. Davis won his first title and averaged a team-high 26.1 points with 9.3 rebounds and finished third in the league in blocks at 2.3 per game. Davis just recently agreed to a five-year, $190 million maximum contract to stay with the defending champs.

After the Clippers blew a 3-1 series lead against the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference semifinals which prevented a much-anticipated showdown with the Lakers, they parted ways with Doc Rivers, replacing him with former assistant Tyronn Lue. BTW...What makes so many think Doc Rivers is a "great" coach? The Clippers' fortunes again will depend on Kawhi Leonard (27.1 & 7.1) and Paul George (21.5 & 5.7). Like Davis, George recently signed a HUGE contract to remain with the Clippers. However, unlike A.D, George was a flop in last season's playoffs. Lou Williams averaged 18.2 points and 5.6 assists during the regular season and will again be a big part of the team. Forward Marcus Morris, guard Patrick Beverley and center Ivica Zubac are again expected to be key contributors. So is forward Serge Ibaka, who the Clippers signed as a free agent to fill the void left by Harrell. Ibaka averaged 15.4 points and 8.2 rebounds per game last season with the Toronto Raptors and was part of the Toronto team of two years ago that won the NBA title (as was Kwahi). Nicolas Batum has long been a solid NBA player and joins the Clippers along with Luke Kennard, who averaged 15.8 PPG on 40% shooting on threes in a 25-game injury-filled season last year with Detroit.

Here's the bottom line. It's 'Ring Night' for the Lakers and that's often been distracting for home teams plus the Lakers cruised through an abbreviated preseason 4-0, which included TWO wins over the Clippers, who lost all three preseason contests. ALL the motivation is with the Clipps tonight and I'm taking the points.

Good luck...Larry

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

The Iowa Hawkeyes won their first six games by an average of 32 points but were outclassed by top-ranked Gonzaga (99-88) this past Saturday at Sioux Falls, SD. Iowa's (6-1) first loss of the current season only dropped them one spot in the AP poll, from No. 3 to No. 4. Iowa welcomes Purdue (6-2) to Hawkeye-Carver Arena tonight well-aware that the Boilermakers may be unranked but they are dangerous.

Purdue (6-2, 1-0 Big Ten) enters tonight's game with the momentum of three straight victories, including Wednesday's 67-60 home triumph over then-No. 20 Ohio State in its Big Ten opener and Saturday's 78-68 victory over Notre Dame on a neutral floor in Indianapolis. Head coach Matt Painter's lone loss of note from last season's team was the 7-3 Haarms (8.6 & 4.6), who went to BYU as a graduate transfer. The team's "Big Three" are all returning player in senior PG Hunter (14.3 & 3.8 APG) plus juniors like the 6-10 Williams (13.8 & 9.8) and SG Stefanovic (12.5).7-4 freshman Edey (11.3 & 4.3) has made all forget about Haarms plus freshman guard Newman (9.1) just barely misses double digits in scoring. Depth is provided by four players chipping in between 5.0 and 6.7 PPG.

Iowa's 6-11 Luka Garza was named Preseason P-O-Y by many and hasn't disappointed. He's averaging 29.3 PPG, 9.1 RPG and 2.3 blocked shots while shooting 69.6 percent from the floor. He had 30 points on 13-of-18 shooting, 10 rebounds and three rejections against the Bulldogs. Garza has four 30-points efforts this season with a high of 41. Two senior guards join him in the starting lineup in Wieskamp (15.9 & 6.3) and Bohannon (6.6 & 4.9 APG). The 6-11 Nunge (10.6 & 6.8) comes off the bench plus FIVE more players contribute regularly, led by sophomore guard Fredrick (9.3).

Purdue is a solid defensive team in allowing just 65.0 PPG but will attempt to slow down an Iowa attack scoring 98.7 PPG (1st in the nation) on 50.3% shooting. The Hawkeyes have topped 100 points three times already and their 88 against Gonzaga represents a season low. Purdue is a perfect 5-0 when its defense holds opponents to a field goal percentage of 41.3 percent or less and my thought here is, "good luck with that at Iowa." The Hawkeyes have turned the ball over on just 12.7 percent of their possessions, the fourth-lowest mark in all of Division I. Great bounce-back spot for Iowa here and don't think that the Hawkeyes are NOT aware that the Boilermakers are seeking their FIFTH consecutive victory over the Hawkeyes. Lay the points and expect an Iowa R-O-U-T!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Non-Conference Game of the Year "Best of the Best" is on San Diego St at 9:00 ET.

The St Mary's Gaels dropped their season opener, 73-56, to Memphis at Sioux Falls, SD back on Nov 25 but will take on San Diego Tuesday night on an EIGHT-game winning streak. The San Diego St Aztecs opened their season 5-0 and reached No. 18 in the AP poll but a 72-62 Friday night home loss to BYU saw SDSU fall from the new AP rankings, which were released yesterday. 

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!

Gone from last year are guard Ford (21.9), forward Fitts (16.5 & 7.1) and guard Krebs (9.1). However, is "winning as usual" for 8-1 St Mary's, as senior Guard Kushe, who averaged just 5.9 PPG last season, is averaging 15.4-3.8-6.3 so far this season. Junior guard Johnson (1.4 PPG last season) is averaging 8.2 & 3.8, while returning players like the 6-10 Tass (10.2 & 4.3) and the 6-7 Fotu (7.9 & 4.9) are holding up their ends. Aussie guard Ducas averaged just 3.6 PPG last season but adds 10.9 & 5.3 so far this season.

Brian 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. Dutcher brought in transfers Malachi Flynn, Yanni Wetzell, K.J. Feagin, and Trey Pulliam, to mesh with returnees Matt Mitchell, Jordan Shackel, Nathan Mensah, and Adam Sieko, as the Aztecs put together one of their best seasons in program history last year. However, the Aztecs lost MWC player-of-the-year Malachi Flynn (17.6-4.5-3.1) to the NBA while Yanni Wetzell (11.6 & 6.5) transferred to Vandy and Feagin (9.1) has finished up his time with the program. 

The good news for Dutcher is that Matt Mitchell (12.2 & 4.8) flirted with the NBA draft but returned and is averaging 16.3 & 3.8. Jordan Schakel is second with 13.2 PPG, as NINE players are averaging between 5.0 and Mitchell's team-leading 16.3 PPG. The 6-10 Mensah (8.8 & & 7.2) and the 6-6 Arop (5.6 & 4.4) have been the top frontcourt contributors. Mitchell did all he could for San Diego State in the defeat against BYU. The Aztecs trailed by as many as 17 points and were down by 14 with 5:20 remaining, but Mitchell scored a career-best 35, including a dunk with 1:57 to play to make the score 61-61. However, San Diego State scored just ONE more point the rest of the way.

St Mary's is obviously no pushover but other than Memphis (lone loss) and Northern Iowa, the Gaels' early schedule has hardly been challenging. St Mary's is in the WRONG place at the WRONG time tonight, catching SDSU off its first loss. That game is being played on the Cal State San Luis Obispo campus (neutral site) but that won't help. Aztecs bounce-back in a "big way."

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Situational Stunner is on Minnesota at 8:30 ET.

The Minnesota Golden Gophers (6-1, 0-1 Big Ten) will host the St Louis Billikens on Sunday in Minneapolis. The Golden Gophers are looking to bounce back from losing their Big Ten opened 92-65 at No. 13 Illinois on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the Billikens are coming off of an 80-69 victory over North Carolina State on Thursday, giving them a 6-0 start to the season. Travis Ford spent eight seasons at Oklahoma St and had five seasons of 20-plus wins (also five NCAA tourney appearances) but after the Cowboys went 12-20 (3-15 in the Big 12) in 2015-16, he and school mutually decided to part ways. He replaced Jim Crews at St Louis, which was coming off an 11-21 season. Not much changed in Year 1 (12-21) but after a 17-16 sophomore season, Ford's Billikens have gone 23-13 and 23-8 the last two seasons. All FIVE starters are back this season. Richard Pitino is in his eighth season at Minnesota. He led the Gophers to the NIT championship in his first season (2013-14) but over the last six seasons, Minnesota has made just two NCAA appearances (2017 and 2019), while going a combined 56-71 (.441) over the other four. However, Season No. 8 opened 6-0, before catching Illinois at the WRONG time Place (had just lost 81-78 to Missouri in its Braggin' Rights series).

St Louis is led by a quartet of excellent guards. Perkins is averaging 19.5 PPG, Goodwin 15.7 PPG and despite being just 6-3, leads the team in rebounding with 11.0 per game (both are seniors). Sophomore guard Jimerson adds 13.2 PPG plus PG Collins runs the show, adding 7.5 PPG but 7.3 APG. 6-7 senior French did not play the first two games but is rounding back into form (averaged 12.4 & 10.4 last season), averaging 8.3 & 8.3. St Louis is shooting 'lights' out' at 52.7% (8th), while averaging 87.8 PPG (21st).

Minnesota PG Carr (22.7-4.0-5.9) ranks with the best in the nation but while the Gophers won their first six games in getting big contributions from freshman Jamal Mashburn Jr. and transfers Both Gach, Liam Robbins and Brandon Johnson, that group shot a combined 6 of 32 shots (18.8%) from the floor vs Illinois. However, Illinois is a VERY good team, so let's give them a 'pass.' After all, the 6-6 Gach is averaging 13.3-5.7-3.6, the 7-0 Robbins 12.1 & 6.9 and the 6-8 Johnson 7.0 & 5.7. Don't dismiss junior guard Kalescheur, who's adding 9.3 PPG.

St Louis is "hitting on all cylinders" but is on the road for the FIRST time this season and note that Minnesota is a perfect 6-0 at Williams Arena this season. The Billikens beat Indiana State at home 78-59 on Tuesday night, then hastily prepared to host North Carolina State on Thursday. That game was a last-minute addition to the schedule, replacing a COVID-19 cancellation. This trip to Minneapolis comes at the end of a BUSY week and with the Gophers looking to "make amends" for their shellacking at Illinois, it's the "perfect situation" to take Minnesota (a few points are just a bonus).

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Conference Game of the Year (Big East) is on St John's at 6:30 ET.

Georgetown-St. John's has been a GREAT rivalry but the last time the two schools played on their respective campuses was in the 1980-81 season (when the teams moved on to big arenas). That was THEN and this is NOW! 40 years later in the era of COVID-19 and a limit on crowd size, the two longtime rivals have gone home. These two played a wild game a week ago at Georgetown's McDonough Arena and will conclude the season series Sunday night at Carnesecca Arena on the campus of St. John's in Jamaica, NY. St. John's held a seven-point lead with less than three minutes left in regulation on Dec 13, but needed to force overtime on a layup by Greg Williams. The Red Storm took a four-point lead in overtime before allowing a game-ending 8-1 run to lose 97-94.

Patrick Ewing is in his fourth season as Georgetown's head coach (49-46 entering this season) and the Hoyas are off to an uneven start (3-3, 1-1 Big East). The 7-0 Yutseven (15.5 & 9.8) has moved on plus McClung (15.7) transferred to Texas Tech, where he's averaging 5.0 PPG. Ewing's 'Core 4' are playing between 27 and 37 MPG and doing almost all the work. Returning seniors Blair (18.7-4.3-3.20 and the 6-8 Pickett (13.3 & 9.0) lead in scoring and rebounding, respectively. 6-1 sophomore Wahab (12.2 & 7.8) has really improved from last season plus 6-5 graduate transfer (from Siena) Cary is averaging 9.8 & 5.2. Georgetown is averaging a modest 75.3 PPG but allows almost the same amount (73.0 PPG).

St John's is coached by Mike Anderson, who is in his second season in Queens. He's had success wherever he's been, going 89-41 in four years at UAB, 111-57 in five years at Missouri and 169-102 in eight years at Arkansas. Anderson took over a recently struggling St John's program last season and went 17-15, giving him his 18th consecutive winning season as a head coach (zero losing seasons). Anderson lost LJ Figueroa (14.5 & 4.5) to Oregon but THREE newcomers have already made HUGE contributions. Vince Cole is a 6-5 two-time junior-college All-American and is averaging 11.1 PPG, freshman guard Posh Alexander averages 10.1 & 4.3 APG and 6-10 JC transfer Isaih Moore (but with a 7-6 wingspan) has chipped in with 10.2 PPG and 5.8 RPG. There's all sorts of depth in the backcourt with Williams (11.4) and freshman Addae-Wusu (5.7). However, the team's star is 6-8 wing Julian Champagnie (9.9 & 6.5 last season). He missed the first games but is averaging 20.3 & 7.3 over the last seven. St John's is averaging a healthy 81.3 PPPG but when a team is allowing 80.0 PPG (304th), its 5-4 start is NOT surprising.

Anderson's teams are typically known for defense and allowed 71.6 PPG in the 2019-20 season. "We are still waiting to get the blue collar out of our basketball team," said Anderson. "Our guys last year, they took pride in their defense. Truth be told, we have got some of the same guys and we just need them to get all connected." It's time to 'connect' right here, after losing at Georgetown in a game St John's 'had in hand!' That loss and the team's 0-3 start in Big Eats should be a HUGE motivating factor. Expect St John's to roll!

Good luck...Larry