My 10* ONE & ONLY CBB Game of the Year is on Duke at 8:49 ET.

Everyone knows the set-up by now. The UNC-Duke rivalry is over 100 years old but the schools have never gone head-to-head in the NCAA tournament until now. It comes in Mike Krzyzewski's final season, While Coach K is in his 13th Final Four (most of any coach in NCAA history) his "opposite number" will be UNC's Hubert Davis. He is the first first-year head coach to make the Final Four since Bill Guthridge, who also did so with UNC after taking over for Dean Smith in 1998. You can't make this stuff up!

28-9 North Carolina is the lowest seed at No. 8 but the Tar Heels have already spoiled Coach K's homecourt goodbye (94-81 back on Mar 5) in a game Hubert Davis believes flipped the switch for what he felt was an underachieving team up to that point. When Carolina takes the court Saturday in New Orleans, the Tar heels will take a 10-1 run (9-2 ATS) into the contest. 32-6 Duke opened the season No. 9 in the AP's preseason poll and for most of the season, were the lone ACC team ranked in the top-25 (Blue Devils finished 9th in the AP's final regular season poll). North Carolina is 4-0 ATS in the tournament so far, while after beating CS-Fullerton by 17 points (as an 18 1/2-point favorite), Duke covered in its wins over Michigan St, Texas Tech and Arkansas,

North Carolina has an excellent frontcourt duo in the 6-10 Bacot (16.5 & 12.8) and 6-9 Oklahoma transfer Manek (15.2 & 5.9). It was a trio, but 6-11 Marquette transfer Garcia (9.0 & 5.5) left the team in mid-January and has not returned. Sophomore guard Love (15.7-3.4-3.7) teams with freshman Davis (13.4-4.0-3.7) in the backcourt, with Black (4.9 & 4.3) starting in Garcia's place. Manek has been great in the tourney by averaging 21.5 & 8.0 and Bacot his usual self (16.5 PPG but also an impressive 15.8 RPG!). Love scored just FIVE points vs Baylor but has averaged 22.3 PPG in the other three. Davis stepped up with 30 points vs Baylor and is averaging 13.8 & 6.0 in the tourney.

Duke has had three freshmen make major contributions. The 6-10 Paolo Banchero (17.1 & 7.7), guard Keels (11.3) and the 6-6 Griffin (10.5 & 3.9). That trio has started for most of the season along with junior SF Moore (13.5-5.2-44) and 7-0 sophomore center Williams (11.3 & 7.5). Guard Roach (8.6) has mostly come off the bench. In the tourney, Bacot (18.5 & 7.0), Williams (14.5 & 8.8) and Moore (13.5-3.5-3.5) have all reached double digits in all four games. Griffin has averaged 11.5 & 4.8 plus Roach (12.3 & 3.8 APG) has replaced Keels in the starting lineup, scoring in double digits in three of the four (nine points in the other one). Keels' minutes have been reduced and he's averaging a modest 6.8 PPG in the tourney.

Neither school has much depth but both are playing great. Kudos to the job that Davis has done but Coach K's ]magical' last season run WON'T run here. When all is said and done, Duke's loss to North Carolina in Coach K's final regular season game may have been "just what the doctor ordered" for the Blue Devils. See you Monday in the championship game.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* TBC Game of the Year is on Coastal Carolina at 6:00 ET.

Justin Hutson is in his fourth season as head coach of the Fresno St Bulldogs, He won 23 games in his first season but entered the current season off 11-and 12-win seasons. However, this year's team did return all FIVE starters.  The MWC was a tough league this season, as FOUR schools got NCAA bids, and Fresno finished just 8-9 in conference play. After losing its second game in the MWC tourney,19-13 Fresno has made the most of its postseason in TBC by winning THREE home games. However, Fresno is off to Conway, SC for the championship game of TBC to take on Coastal Carolina.

The Chanticleers' head coach is Cliff Ellis, who is in his 48th season and his 15th at Coastal Carolina. The Chanticleers were just 8-8 in the SBC and lost their first game of the SBC tourney. They entered TBC at 16-13 but three games later (two home wins and a 69-68 OT win at South Alabama), get to host TBC championship game in their home gym (HTC center).

Fresno St is led by 7-0 center Robinson (19.4 & 8.2) but what was a deep backcourt has been weakened by injuries. Hill (10.1) and Holland (9.6) have been steady all season but Holland has missed the last two games with a hamstring issue (questionable here). Baker averaged 12.0 PPG last season but made it through just FIVE games this season. Another guard, Ballard (5.3), hasn't played since the MWC tourney with an undisclosed issue. Coastal Carolina features a solid trio in guards Cole (15.4) and Williams (14.5 & 4.1) plus 6-9 center Mostafa (13.2 & 9.6). Four more players combine to add about 27 PPG. 

Fresno St is on the road for the first time in this tourney and one can't ignore that Bulldogs have averaged just 63.2 PPG in road games this season. Coastal Carolina is 3-0 SU & ATS in this tourney and enters having covered SIX of its last seven, overall. A closing thought. This marks Ellis' 29th postseason tourney (10th with Coastal Carolina) and he has yet to win one. His 2017 Coastal Carolina team was the CBI runner-up, as was last season's team. Isn't it about time he wins one of these? My bet is Y-E-S!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* NIT Game of the Year is on Xavier at 7:00 ET.

St Bonaventure entered  the season as the defending Atlantic 10 regular season and tournament champions and were ranked No. 23 in the AP's  preseason poll, the school's first ranking in the media poll since January 1971 (Can you say Bob Lanier?). Head coach Mark Schmidt had all five starters back and expectations were high in Olean, NY. The Bonnies were just 12-7 in early February but finished the regular season on an 8-1 run to finish 4th in the A-10 at 12-5 (20-8 overall). However, St Louis beat them 57-56 in their first A-10 tourney game. There was no NCAA berth for St Bonaventure this season but the Bonnies have earned their spot in this year's semifinals with three road wins at Power 5 opponents over a one-week span, beating Colorado, Oklahoma and Virginia.

Xavier head coach Travis Steele was badly in need of a 20-win season entering the 2021-22 season. He took over from Chris Mack (23.9 wins per season with NINE straight Big Dance bands), who took over from Sean Miller (24 wins per season and NCAA bids in his last four seasons of his five-year stint). The Musketeers had won just 51 games (17 per) in Steele's first three seasons, without an NCAA bid. The Musketeers were feeling pretty good about the current season, as they were 14-3 (4-2 in Big East) through Jan 19. However, Xavier stumbled to a 4-9 finish and then lost its first Big East Tourney game 89-82 (OT) to Butler. Steele's team got an NIT bid and THREE home games, beating Cleveland St, Florida and Vanderbilt.

St Bonaventure features a STRONG starting-five but little else. The 6-10 Osunnyi (11.3 & 7.7) is joined by four guards. Adaway (15.7 7 5.9) leads the way, followed by Holmes (13.4-5.0-3.6), Lofton (12.7-3.6-5.7) and Welch (11.9 & 6.0). Xavier is almost a 'mirror image' of St Bonaventure as its starting-five also features five double-digit scorers. The 7-0 Nunge (13.3 & 7.3) and the 6-9 Freemantle (10.3 & 5.7) are joined by a backcourt trio of Scruggs (11.7-4.2-4.1), Jones (11.2 & 7.4) and Johnson (10.4). However, Xavier also gets contributions from guards Kunkel (8.6) and Odom (6.0).

Obviously, winning a NIT title pales in comparison to winning March Madness but it IS a "big deal" for these two schools. They are pretty similar but it's clear that St Bonaventure has had a more impressive run to get here, winning three ROAD games, while Xavier was HOME for its three wins. That said, maybe St Bonaventure is being asked to do too much. In the end, I like Xavier's TWO big men vs Osunnyi, plus Xavier throws SIX guards against St Bonaventure's four.

Historical notes: This marks the first appearance for the Bonnies in the NIT semifinals since 1977, when they won the event. Xavier won the 1958 NIT title, beating St. Bonaventure in the semifinals and then Dayton in the championship game. Second verse, same as the first. Take the Musketeers.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Situational Stunner is on South Alabama at 8:00 ET.

Two SBC rivals meet tonight in The Basketball Classic from Mitchell Center in Mobile, Al. The Coastal Carolina Chanticleers finished 8-8 in league play this season and the South Alabama Jaguars finished 9-7 but both lost their first game in the SBC Tourney. Both teams have been given home games in TBC and each have advanced by winning those contests. However, while Coastal Carolina is 2-0 ATS, South Alabama is 0-2 ATS.

Cliff Ellis is in his 48th season as a head coach and his 15th at Coastal Carolina. He's a solid trio in guards Cole 15.4) and Williams (14.4 & 4.2) plus 6-9 center Mostafa (13.3 & 9.6). Four more players combine to add about 27 PPG. South Alabama's top-two scorers on the season have been guards Manning (15,4-3.8-3.6) and Chandler (15.3) but Chandler hasn't played since late February and Manning, after scoring 10 points in USA's first win, scored just two points (in eight minutes) in its second. However, the 6-7 Franklin and guard Jones have come up HUGE in TBC. Franklin (12.0 & 7.7 on the season) has gone for 28 & 7 and 17 & 14 in the two wins. Jones was hurt early and didn't get back on the court until late January, but has played PG and scored 45 points with 13 assists in three tourney games (one in SBC and two in TBC). Also note that Franklin has solid help in the frontcourt with the 6-8 Goncalves (7.4 & 4.0), the 6-6 Smith (7.0 & 3.8) and the 6-6 Anderson (6.1 & 3.3)

Coastal is playing with revenge (lost 71-68 at home on Feb 17 and has the veteran head coach but USA's Richie Riley went 54-39 in his first three seasons as South Alabama's head coach and now has his team at 21-11, including 15-2 at home (losses came against the SBC's top-two teams, Texas St and App St). Home court "wins the day" here, over "revenge!"

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Elite 8 Game of the Year is on North Carolina at 5:05 ET.

Head coach Shaheen Holloway was just 42-45 in his first three seasons at St Peter's but his team's NCAA run has made him a shooting star in the coaching ranks. His counterpart, Hubert Davis, took over at North Carolina (an NCAA blueblood) for the retiring Roy Wiliams and after a modest start (by Carolina standards), has his alma mater ONE win away from a Final 4 appearance.

Holloway led St Peter's to a tourney championship in the MAAC, which earned the peacocks an automatic bid (15th-seed). St Peter's has beaten Kentucky, Murray State and Purdue in the NCAA Tournament, as the Peacocks are now the lowest seed ever to advance this far in NCAA Tournament history. NINE players chip in between 4.5 and 11.5 PPG, with the team's only double digit scorers being junior guard Banks (11.5) and 6-7 senior forward Ndefko (10.5 & 6.1). It's hard to imagine this roster accomplishing what it has but seeing is believing. Kentucky scored 79 points against St Peter's in OT but since then, the Peacocks have held Murray St to 60 points (snapping the Racers' 21-game winning streak) and Purdue to 64 (the Boilermakers were rated the most efficient offense in the country by KenPom.com entering the game).

The Tar Heels were ranked No. 19 in the preseason but spent much of the year outside of the top-25. However, the Tar Heels spoiled Mike Krzyzewski's final home game as the coach at Duke with a 94-81 stunner on March 5, a contest that's been part of a prolonged stretch in which the Tar Heels have won 15 of 18 games, including taking down defending national champion Baylor in the tourney's second round and UCLA (a Final 4 team from last year) in the Sweet 16. North Carolina has an excellent frontcourt duo in the 6-10 Bacot (16.4 & 12.6) and 6-9 Oklahoma transfer Manek (15.1 & 5.9). It was a trio, but 6-11 Marquette transfer Garcia (9.0 & 5.5) left the team in mid-January and has not returned. Sophomore guard Love (15.7-3.4-3.7) teams with freshman Davis (13.5 & 4.0) in the backcourt, with Black (4.9 & 4.3) making minor contributions.

Either Holloway or Davis will take his program to the Final Four in improbable fashion when the 22-11 Peacocks and 27-9 Tar Heels meet on Sunday in the East Region's Elite Eight game. It is widely expected that Holloway will be offered the vacant coaching job at his alma mater, Seton Hall, but will not address what he calls "rumors." A 15-seed in the Final 4 would be an incredible story but how about a North Carolina-Duke meeting in the Final Four in New Orleans? The rivals have NEVER played one another in the NCAA Tournament. That's my bet and I realize the Tar Heels need to win by a margin but I'm laying the points. Cinderella goes home (to Jersey City) and so does Shaheen Holloway (to Seton Hall).

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Situational Stunner is on Kansas at 2:20 ET.

Jim Larranaga entered this season having led the Hurricanes to six, 20-win seasons in his 10 years, to all three of the school's 25-win seasons and to two of the school's three Sweet 16 appearances. By the way, I could also throw in him leading unheralded George Mason to a Final 4 appearance back in 2006. The 'Canes were awful last season (10-17 / 4-15 in the ACC), but this year's team contended for the ACC title during the regular season, before losing in the ACC semifinals to top-seeded Duke. Now, the 10th-seeded Miami Hurricanes are taking on Kansas (No.1 seed in the Midwest), looking to continue a historic run that has vaulted the program to its first-ever Elite Eight appearance. Bill Self's Jayhawks began the current season ranked No. 3, tied Baylor for the regular season title but then won the Big 12 tourney to enter the Big Dance as one of four No. 1 seeds. Ho-hum!

Miami forced 18 Cyclones turnovers and held Iowa State to 4-of-22 shooting from three-point distance in Friday's 70-56 win. 26-19 Miami is led by a quartet of guards. The group includes McGusty (17.8 & 4.9), Wong (15.3 & 4.3), Moore (12.6 & 4.7 APG) and Miller (10.3 & 6.0). Miami's lone big man of note is the 6-10 Waardenburg (8.6 & 4.3), although the 6-9 Walker contributes 5.0 & 2.4 in just 14 MPG. Wong and Moore were held scoreless in the first half against 11th-seeded Iowa State, but McGusty and Jordan Miller teamed with forward Sam Waardenburg to score each of the team's 32 points as the Hurricanes took a three-point edge to intermission. McGusty finished with a game-high 27 points, Moore had 16 and Waardenburg posted 13 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three blocks to help the Hurricanes pull away for a 70-56 victory.

31-6 Kansas features two big guards in Agbaji (18.9 & 5.2) and Braun (14.3 & 6.5) but PG Martin, an ASU transfer that was named the Big 12's preseason POY), had a shaky regular season and he never really gained Self's complete trust on running the attack. Up front, it's the 6-7 Wilson (11.3 & 7.3) and the 6-10 McCormack (10.0 & 6.9). However, in Kansas' 66-61 Sweet 16 victory over fourth-seeded Providence, Martin had a game-high 23 points. He's now led Kansas in all THREE of its NCAA tourney games (19.3-5.0-3.7) and CLEARLY has Self's trust now. Agbaji, a Naismith Player of the Year finalist, had five points against the Friars, on 2-for-8 shooting, by far his lowest output of the tournament. That said, Self indicated the team isn't panicking. Agbaji had four blocks, four boards and two steals while helping to steady a defense that held Providence to 33.8% shooting, including a 4-for-23 effort from three-point range. The 6-7 Wilson contributed 16 points and 11 rebounds against Providence.

Kansas is the more balanced team and with the resurgent Martin teaming with Agbaji and Braun, Kansas can match Miami's dazzling guard play. Up front, it's all Kansas with Wilson and McCormack plus the 6-8 Lightfoot (4.6 & 2.8), who played well during the season when McCormack had some struggles. As noted above, Larranaga led unheralded George Mason to a Final 4 appearance back in 2006 but he will NOT make a 'return visit' with Miami here in 2022. Rather, it will be Kansas advancing to its first Final 4 since 2018. That seems like a 'drought' for the winningest team in college basketball history. Lay the points.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Situational Stunner is on Duke at 8:49 ET.

Eric Musselman is in his third season at Fayetteville, after four OUTSTANDING seasons at Nevada. He won the CBI title in his first season, then went to three straight NCAA tourneys (4-year record of 110-34!) with the Wolf Pack. He was 20-12 in his first season at Arkansas, then went 25-7 last season (Elite 8 appearance). His Razorbacks (No. 4 in the West) just took down the No. 1 overall seed of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday (beat Gonzaga 74-68) and 28-8 Arkansas is in the Elite Eight for the second straight season. Another upset will elevate the Hogs to their first Final Four since 1995. Standing in the way is 31-6 Duke (No. 2 seed), which advanced with a 78-73 win over third-seeded Texas Tech to send Mike Krzyzewski to the Elite Eight for the 17th time. The victory was the 100th in NCAA Tournament competition for Krzyzewski, and a win over Arkansas would send Coach K to his 13th Final Four in his 42 seasons at Duke.

Arkansas is led by a trio of guards, all scoring in double digits. The group includes Notae (18.5-4.6-3.7), Umude (11.8 & 4.7) and Toney (10.7 & 5.3). The 6-10 Williams adds 10.7 & 9.8 and is really the lone frontcourt player of note. Guards Davis (8.3) and Lykes (7.8) round out what has basically been a six-man rotation. Notae's line vs Gonzaga was 21-6-6, while Williams (15 & 12) and Umude (15 & 7) both played well. However, the game's 'MVP' was the Arkansas defense (remember "40 Minutes of Hell?"), as Gonzaga was held to 68 points on 37.5% shooting (Gonzaga entered leading the nation in scoring at 87.8 PPG).

Duke has relied on three freshmen this season, the 6-10 Paolo Banchero (17.2 & 7.8), guard Keels (11.3 & 3.6) and the 6-6 Griffin (10.3 & 3.9). That trio has started along with 7-0 sophomore center Williams (11.3 & 7.4) and junior SF Moore (13.5 -5.3-4.5). Guard Roach (8.5) has come off the bench. I'm not sure why (haven't read anything), but Keels did not start and played just 14 scoreless minutes. Duke's five starters all scored in double digits against Texas Tech. Roach took over for Keels and had a line of 15-4-5. Banchero led with 22 points, Williams had 16 & 8, Moore had 12 points and Griffin 11 & 7. Duke shot 71% from the floor in the second half and made its final EIGHT shots.

It's Musselman's turn to end the coaching career of Duke legend Mike Krzyzewski but Duke has won 12 of 14 and looks as if it is ready to send Coach K back to his 13th Final Four. I'm laying the points and going against Arkansas off its upset on the top-seeded Bulldogs.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Weekend Wipeout is on Villanova at 6:09 ET.

Kelvin Sampson had a great run at Oklahoma (11 NCAA berths in 12 seasons but at Indiana, ran into recruiting issues and lasted just two seasons. No one really expected him to get another major job, but he resurfaced at Houston for the 2014-15 season. His first team went 13-19 but it's been nothing but 20-win seasons since. 32-5 Houston (No. 5 seed) moved into the Elite Eight with an impressive 72-60 win over top-seeded Arizona on Thursday, as the Cougars never trailed and pulled away late. The Cougars are ONE win away from their second straight Final Four berth. 29-7 Villanova (a No. 2 seed) fought past No. 11 seed Michigan 63-55 on Thursday to reach the Elite Eight for the third time in the past six tournaments, and the fifth time in 21 seasons under coach Jay Wright. The Wildcats won national championships in 2016 and 2018.

This may be Sampson's best-ever coaching job. Starting guard Mark (10.1) was lost just seven games into the season and then Houston's best player, Sasser (17.7), saw his season end in late December, after just 12 games. However, here the Cougars are. They are down to basically their starting-five, but ALL average in double digits. Edwards (14.1 & 6.9) leads a trio of guards that includes Moore (10.3 & 4.7) and Shead (10.1 & 5.9 APG). Up front, it's the 6-8 White (12.8 & 5.7) and the 6-11 Carlton (11.8 & 6.3). The Cougars never trailed against Arizona and pulled away late. Jamal Shead poured in 21 points and Kyler Edwards added 19. A concern may be that White and just 4 & 5. However, it was the Houston defense that was the difference. Arizona was averaging 84.7 PPG on 49.5% shooting but was held to 60 points on 33.3% shooting, including 7 of 22 on threes!

Villanova was ranked 4th in the AP's preseason poll but was an early season disappointment but the key to Villanova's late-season success started with a record-breaking early season 57-36 loss at Baylor on Dec 12. It set a mark for the fewest points scored in Wright's 21-year tenure as coach of the Wildcats. 'Nova lost by 20 points in their next game (at Creighton) and stood just 7-4. However, the Wildcats will take the court tonight having won 22 of their last 25 games, after knocking off Michigan. 'Nova goes no more than six-deep. PG Gillespie (15.9-3.8-3.3) and fellow guard Moore (15.0 & 4.9) start in the backcourt, while it's the 6-7 Samuels (11.0 & 6.4), the 6-8 Dixon (9.2 & 6.4) and the 6-7 Slater (8.4 & 3.6) up front. The Wildcats do have a very good 6th-man (and part-time starter) in Daniels (10.2 & 3.7). Samuels led Villanova with 22 points against Michigan, while Moore added 15 points and Gillespie 12. Samuels also drew the defensive assignment on Michigan star center Hunter Dickinson and while Dickinson had 15 points and 15 rebound, he made just 6 of 16 shots. Wright's Villanova team knows more than a little about defense too, holding Michigan to 55 points on 34.4% shooting.

I have nothing but admiration and praise for Sampson and his Houston team but since losing 71-169 at UConn in Feb 22, Villanova has won EIGHT in row. In its SIX Big East and NCAA tourney games, the Wildcats have held its opponents to just 58.2 PPG. Villanova is back in the Elite Eight for the third time in the last six seasons. The other two appearances? They won the title. Not sure why Houston is favored in this one, as I see the Wildcats pulling away to win comfortably.

Good luck...Larry

 My 10* Sweet 16 Game of the Year is on UCLA at 9:39 ET.

North Carolina and UCLA were supposed to meet last December in Las Vegas, but the game was canceled when UCLA had a COVID-19 outbreak. Instead, the college basketball blue bloods will meet in a 'makeup' game Friday night in Philadelphia after the East Region's other game between Purdue and St Peter's. 26-9 North Carolina is a No. 8 seed and 27-7 UCLA a No. 4 seed. Roy Williams retired after last season and Hubert Davis stepped into his shoes. The Tar Heels were ranked No. 19 in the preseason but spent much of the year outside of the top-25. However, an 11-2 run to close the regular season (including an upset of Duke in Mike Krzyzewski's last home game before retirement) allowed North Carolina to sneak into the top-25 right before the ACC tourney. However, a loss to Va Tech in its second game, saw the Tar Heels drop out of the final AP poll. UCLA made that great run to the Final 4 last season and opened No. 2 in the AP poll. It's hard to say the Bruins underachieved this season but they ended the season 11th in the final AP poll and with no better than a No. 4 seed.

We don't often see North Carolina as a No. 8 seed but one could argue that the Tar Heels are a MUCH better team than that right now. North Carolina has an excellent frontcourt duo in the 6-10 Bacot (16.4 & 12.5) and 6-9 Oklahoma transfer Manek (15.1 & 5.8). It was a trio, but 6-11 Marquette transfer Garcia (9.0 & 5.5) left the team in mid-January and has not returned. Sophomore guard Love (15.3-3.4-3.7) teams with freshman Davis (13.5-3.9-3.7) in the backcourt, with Black (5.0 & 4.3) as the only other North Carolina player averaging as much as 5 PPG. UCLA is led by a 'Core 4' of guards. Juzang (15.7 & 4.8) leads the way, followed by Jaquez (14.0 & 5.7) and Bernard (12.7 & 4.7). All three are 6-7 and 5-11 PG Campbell (11.8 & 4.2 APG) runs the show. Centers Riley (7.4 & 3.9) and Johnson (3.6 & 5.4) have been serviceable plus the 6-5 Clark (6.9 & 4.8) has played well after getting a late start due to nagging injuries and health issues. Guard Singleton also chips in 4.8 PPG.

A closer look reveals that UCLA is the MUCH deeper team but Jaquez, UCLA's second-leading scorer and one of the Bruins' most indispensable players, suffered an apparent ankle injury in the second half of the Bruins' 72-56 romp over Saint Mary's last Saturday night. UCLA coach Mick Cronin said regarding Jaquez, "He's had so many sprained ankles, I don't know how much he can sprain it anymore." He added, "I'll tell you if anyone can deal with it, it's him. He's the epitome of physical and mental toughness." Jaquez is Cronin's kind of player, a paragon of grit and toughness, which has defined Cronin's coaching career. Cronin led Cincinnati to the Big Dance in his final NINE seasons with the school, before coming to UCLA. His first team went 19-12 (no postseason due to COVID) but then came last year's Final Four run and now this year's team is two wins away from back-to-back Final 4 appearances.

In the end, I want Cronin over Davis (first-ever season as a head coach), especially with North Carolina coming off its upset of Baylor. The "Price is sure Right" on UCLA!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Weekly Wipeout is on Texas Tech at 9:39 ET.

When Chris Beard left Texas Tech to take the Texas job, his assistant (Mark Adams) elected to stay in Lubbock as the Red Raiders' head coach. It's safe to say that Texas Tech AND coach Adams are more than just a little pleased with how things have turned out. Texas Tech didn't miss a beat this season and at 25-9, earned a No. 3 seed in the West Region. The Red Raiders routed Montana State and rallied to beat Notre Dame (Tech ended the game on a 10-1 run!) to reach the Sweet 16. Waiting for the now 27-9 Red Raiders will be the region's No. 2 seed, Duke. The 30-6 Blue Devils are in the Sweet 16 for the 28th time as a program, after defeating Cal State Fullerton and Michigan State.

Just a quick coaching comparison before moving on. When Mark Adams got his first head coaching job back in 1981, Mike Krzyzewski was getting ready for his second season at Duke. While Krzyzewski was winning five NCAA titles, three Olympic gold medals and setting records for most wins by a men's coach in Division I, Adams was slogging his way through junior college, NAIA, Division II and low-level Division I with a brief hiatus running a minor league hockey team. Coach K brings the more acclaimed roster into this game with several top NBA prospects led by star freshmen Paolo Banchero, A.J. Griffin and Trevor Keels, along with big man Mark Williams and forward Wendell Moore Jr., However, Texas Tech has the more experienced team with several transfers on a roster that lacks the heralded recruits that the Blue Devils

Texas Tech is starting a pair of 6-8 players in Williams (13.9 & 4.2) and Obanor (10.0 & 5.4), along with three big guards. That trio consists of the 6-6 Shannon (10.5), the 6-6 McCullar (9.9 & 4.6) and the 6-5 Arms (8.4 & 4.3). The first player off the bench is another 6-6 guard in Warren (9.7), while the 6-7 Santos-Silva (4.8 & 4.2) adds depth in the front court. Let me start with the Duke freshman. The 6-10 Paolo Banchero averages 17.0 & 7.9, guard Keels 11.7 & 3.7 and the 6-6 Griffin 10.3. That trio starts along with 7-0 sophomore center Williams (11.2 & 7.4) and junior SF Moore (13.5 & 4.4). Guard Roach (8.4) comes off the bench and gets plenty of "PT" (28.5 MPG).

Duke is averaging 80.3 PPG on the season but faces a Texas Tech team that allowed 60.7 PPG on the season and now 57.5 points in its two NCAA wins. Duke owns all (most?) of the history but take note of what this Texas Tech program has recently achieved. Texas Tech has been to three Sweet 16s since 2018 (lost the title game to UVa in 2019) and is an impressive 11-3 over the past four NCAA Tournaments. Here's something to ponder. The Mamas and the Papas were California Dreamin' but California and the West Coast have not been kind to Coach K in the NCAA Tournament. The Blue Devils have lost all three tournament games they have played in the state and are 0-5 overall on the West Coast during Krzyzewski's career. Duke lost in the Sweet 16 in Anaheim to Kansas in 2003, Arizona in 2011 and Oregon in 2016. Their only other games out West came in 1984 when the Blue Devils lost in the second round to Washington in Pullman, Washington, after getting a first-round bye and in the Final Four to Seton Hall in Seattle in 1989.

First-year Texas Tech head coach Mark Adams gets the opportunity to be the spoiler and become the answer to a trivia question: "Which coach beat Duke in Coach K's final game?" The Red Raiders win and like in Coach K's final regular season game at home vs UNC, the game does not end 'pretty! for the Dookies!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Situational Stunner is on Villanova at 7:29 ET.

Michigan was the No. 6 team in the AP's preseason poll coming off a 23-5 year in which Michigan made it to the Elite. Villanova opened the year as the AP's 4th-ranked team, after going 18-7 with a loss in last year's Sweet 16. Tonight's South Regional opens with No. 11 Michigan (19-14) taking on No. 2 Villanova (28-7). Michigan beat No. 6 Wyoming 75-63 in the first round and then upset No. 3 Tennessee 76-68. Villanova beat Delaware (No. 15) 80-60 and then No. 7 Ohio State 71-61.

Michigan's starting-five includes 7-1 center Dickinson (18.7 & 8.4) and the 6-11 Diabate (9.1 & 6.0) up front, plus a trio of guards. Brooks (12.3), PG Jones (10.4-4.5-4.6) and Houstan (10.2 & 4.0). No other player is averaging as much as five PPG. Vilanova's starting five is PG Gillespie (16.0-3.8-3.4) and fellow guard Moore (15.0 & 4.9). Up front, it's the 6-7 Samuels (10.7 & 6.4), the 6-8 Dixon (9.3 & 6.3).and the 6-7 Slater (8.7 & 3.6). The Wildcats do have a very good 6th-man (and part-time starter) in Daniels (10.3).

Many questioned whether Michigan deserved an at-large bid, as the Wolverines were one of the more underachieving teams during the regular season. However, Michigan got its invite and is now playing with a chip on its shoulder. "Making it to the Sweet 16 is, as literal as it is, is sweet because nobody believed in us," Dickinson said. "Everybody thought we shouldn't be in the tournament. And now people that were hating us are going home and about to watch us (this) week." Villanova was an early season disappointment but the key to Villanova's late-season success started with a record-breaking early season 57-36 loss at Baylor on Dec 12. It set a mark for the fewest points scored in Wright's 21-year tenure as coach of the Wildcats. 'Nova lost by 20 points in their next game (at Creighton) and stood just 7-4. However, the Wildcats will take the court tonight having won 21 of their last 24 games, with two of those losses coming to Marquette (?). 

In the final analysis I believe that Villanova is just the better team and I'll take Wright over the sucker-punching Howard in a coaching 'chess match' anytime. Lay the points.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* NIT Showdown (Cougars vs Cougars) is on Washington at 9:00 ET.

One team of Cougars will be headed to NYC's Madison Square Garden for its version off a 'Final Four,' after tonight's NIT quarterfinal game (in Provo, Utah) between 21-14 Washington State and 24-10 BYU.

Kyle Smith won the CIT championship and finished 25-10 in his final season at Columbia. That led to a three-year stint at San Francisco, where his teams went 63-40. He left for Washington St but his first two years were disappointing (16-16 and 14-13). However, the Cougars finished 11-9 in the Pac 12 this season and after back-to-wins in the NIT (more in a bit), are one win away from a trip to MSG.

Mark Pope is also in just his third season at BYU but entered this season having delivered a 44-15 two-year record. BYU was 17-4 through Jan 22 but after a loss to San Francisco in the WCC tourney, finished on a 5-6 run its final 11 games. However, after two DOMINATING home wins in the NIT (more in a bit), this group of Cougars is ONE win away from visiting the Big Apple.

Wash St has a nice guard rotation in Flowers (14.1), Roberts (11.3), Williams (9.7) and Bamba (7.9). Up front, it's the 6-10 Abogidi (8.1 & 5.7) and the 6-11 Gueye (7.6 & 5.2). BYU owns a very good guard duo in Barcello (16.9-3.8-3.3) and Lucas (10.6 & 4.8 APG) plus a frontcourt that features the 6-6 Traore (9.3 & 8.5), the 6-6 George (8.9 & 5.1) and the 6-8 Lohner (6.9 & 6.2).

BYU is a terrific offensive team and in its two NIT wins (both at home), scored 93 and 90 points, while shooting 53.7% from the floor. In contrast, Wash St won at home vs Santa Clara (held the Broncos to 50 points!) and then won 75-63 at SMU, which entered the game a perfect 16-0 at home on the season. BYU gets a THIRD straight game at home (has to be considered an advantage) but doesn't the old axiom go, "Defense wins championships?" Wash St has allowed an average of just 56.5 PPG on 33.9% shooting in its first two NIT wins. I'm taking the points.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* CBB Game of the Week is on Southern Utah 9:00 ET.

The 22-11 Southern Utah Thunderbirds and the 20-13 UTEP Miners meet Tuesday in The Basketball Classic from the Don Haskins Center in El Paso. Todd Simon is in his sixth season (1st was 2016-17) with the Thunderbirds and he has now put together back-to-back 20-win seasons, after going 20-4 last year (the school we just 6-27 in that 2016-17 season). Jeff Golding led the Abilene Christain Wildcats into the Big Dance in both 2019 and 2021 (upset Texas in the first round) but decided to take the job at UTEP. The Miners were just 12-12 last year, so 20 wins (and counting) has made for a solid start for Golding's return to his alma mater.

The 6-7 big guard Jones (14.6 & 4.7) was Southern Utah's top scorer but he was lost for the season at the beginning of March  However, the Thunderbirds still own a strong perimeter group. Knight (14.5-4.2-4.2) and Marin (10.9) are the top producers, while fellow guards Butler and Moody combine for 14.9 PPG. 6-6 forward Fausett (12.2 & 8.1) and 6-11 center Spurgin (8.0 & 4.9) are Southern Utah's top frontcourt players. UTEP also owns a strong backcourt in Boum (16.5 & 7.5), Kennedy (14.0 & 5.5 and Bieniemy (13.0-3.5-4.0. The 6-9 Verhoven (8.5 & 8.5) is the top frontcourt player, joined by forwards Sibley and Hollins (combined 10.4 & 7.1).

I believe Southern Utah is underappreciated and expect them to win here, ending Golding's first season at his alma mater on a down note. Take the points.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* NIT Showdown is on St Bonaventure at 7:00 ET.

St. Bonaventure was ranked 23rd in the AP's preseason poll, coming off an NCAA appearance and a 16-5 record. Virginia snuck in as the AP's No. 25 in that poll, coming off an 18-7 season after a first-round NCAA loss to 13th-seed Ohio U. Both schools have underachieved during the regular season but will have a chance to salvage their 2021-22 campaigns, as the winner of tonight's game will head "off to MSG" for the NIT's version of its 'Final Four!' St Bonaventure is 22-9 and visits 21-13 Virginia in Charlottesville, Va.

Both teams basically rely on their respective starting five! Adaway (15.9 & 6.1) leads the way for a guard quartet that also includes Holmes (13,5-5.0-3.7), Lofton (12.8-3.5-5.5) and Welch (11.9 & 5.8). The 6-10 Osunniyi is averaging 11.3 & 7.7. PG Clark (10.2 & 4.3 APG) is the lone returning starter for UVA. Guard Beekman (8.3 & 5.1) was back, as was the 6-11 Shedrick (6.9 & 5.0), but UVA's two-most important players are transfers. The 6-6 Gardner comes from East Carolina and leads in scoring (15.4) and rebounding (6.64 plus guard Franklin comes via Indiana and chips in 11.0.

Gardner (16.5) and Beekman (13.5-5.0-7.5) have been UVA's top performers through two NIT wins, while St Bonaventure's guards have all been solid, with big man Osunniyi delivering back-to-back double-doubles (13 & 10 plus 14 & 10). UVA's two wins have been by THREE and TWO points, while St Bonaventure has already won at Colorado and Oklahoma, so why not at UVA. Take the points.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* CBI Game of the Year is on Ohio U at ET.

The Abilene Christian Wildcats and the Ohio Bobcats meet Monday in second round CBI Tournament action from Ocean Center in Daytona, Fl. Ohio (25-9) won its first-round game 65-64 over Rice on Saturday, while Abilene Christian (24-10) won its first-round game 82-70 over Troy. The Bobcats are coached by Jeff Boals (in his third season at Ohio), while Abilene Christian's Brette Tanner is in his first season. Jeff Golding led the Wildcats into the Big Dance in both 2019 and 2021 (upset Texas in the first round) and decided to take the job at UTEP. Tanner, the school's associate head coach (started at the program in 2013), replaced him. The Bobcats played in last year's Big Dance as well and also delivered an upset of its own, beating 4th-seeded Virginia 62-58.

Ohio guard Preston (15.7-7.3-7.3) left for the NBA (1st Ohio player picked in the draft since Brandon Hunter in 2003) but PG Sears (19.1-6.0-4.1) has stepped up big time. He's joined by fellow guards Brown and Schmock, who combine to chip in 13.4 PPG. The Ohio U frontcourt features the 6-8 Carter (14.1 & 6.9), the 6-8 Vander Plas (14.1 & 6.6) and SF Roderick (6.8 & 3.1). Sears came to the rescue against Rice, making the game-winning layup with just FOUR seconds left. He led the way with 26 points, while Carter added 26 & 12 and Vander Plas 13 & 6. The Wildcats feature a trio of double-digit scorers in SF Simmons (11.8 & 5.5) plus guards Mason (11.8) and Moore (10.9). FIVE more players average between 5.8 and 8.8 PPG, led by the 6-8 Steele (8.8 & 3.9). Mason had a team-high 19 points in the win over Troy, while Steele came up big off the bench with 18 & 7.

Ohio 'limped' into the CBI on a 1-4 slide but Saturday's last-second win should be a momentum builder. Matchup wise, the Bobcats own a strong edge in the frontcourt with the 6-8 Carter and the 6-8 Vander Plas plus Sears will be the best guard on the floor in tonight's game. Ohio also owns a slight scheduling edge, having played Saturday, while Abilene Christian played Sunday. Bobcats roll!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* NCAA 2nd Round Game of the Year is on Texas at 8:40 ET.

Both Texas and Purdue were upset last year in the first round. The Longhorns, as a No. 3 seed, lost 53-52 to 14th-seeded Abilene Christian. As for the Boilermakers (a No. 4 seed), they lost to 13 seeded North Texas. Texas (22-11) topped Virginia Tech 81-73 for its first NCAA Tournament win since 2014 on Friday, while Purdue (28-7) defeated Yale 78-56. With those first-round hurdles safely in the rearview mirror, No. 3 Purdue and No. 6 Texas will meet Sunday in a second-round game in the East Region at Milwaukee.

Chris Beard left Lubbock (Texas Tech) and its beloved fan base last April to take over the Texas program for the current season, replacing Shaka Smart. Texas was ranked No. 5 in the preseason but it was far from smooth sailing in the brutal Big 12. The Longhorns opened 12-2 but entered the Big Dance having lost five of their past eight games, including THREE in a row. Texas was hoping for HUGE seasons from transfers Allen (6-6 forward who averaged 17.2 & 6.4 at Utah) and Carr (Minnesota PG averaged 19-4.4.0-4.9). However, both players failed to live up to expectations. Allen has averaged 12.4 & 6.5 and Carr 11.0 & 3.3 APG. Guards Jones (11.1) and Ramey (9.5 & 3.5) are solid contributors, but the 6-9 Mitchell (8.7 & 4.0) has been out since Feb 15, leaving the 6-7 Bishop (6.9 & 5.5) to be Allen's best 'helper' up front. The Longhorns had all FIVE starters score in double digits in the win over Va Tech, led by Andrew Jones' 21 points (Carr had 15 and Allen 14 & 6).

Matt Painter is in his 17th season at Purdue and it's been one of his best. 7-4 sophomore Edey (14.6 & 7.8) teams with 6-10 senior Williams (11.6 & 7.4), the 6-6 Gillis (6.4 & 4.7) and 6-10 freshman Furst (4.1 & 3.3 ) up front. The perimeter is led by Ivey (17.6 & 4.9) and Stefanovic (10.5), while Hunter (6.3) and Newman (4.8) add depth. Ivey had 22 points and Zach Edey added 16 & 9, as Purdue built a 13-point halftime lead over Yale. The Boilermakers then took control with a 15-0 run in the second half, pushing the lead to 63-39. Texas was No. 5 in the preseason poll and Purdue was No. 7. The Boilermakers have had the better season but Chris Beard was brought to Texas to end the Longhorns' poor recent past in the Big Dance. I noted Friday's win was Texas' first since 2014 but will add that Texas also lost in the first round in 2015, 2016 and 2018. Texas just may be ready to 'make some noise' here in 2022. Va Tech was 'Step 1,' and now Purdue is 'Step 2!'

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Tourney Takedown is on Auburn at 7:45 ET.

No. 10 seed Miami (24-10) has won EIGHT of its last 11 after edging seventh-seeded USC 68-66 in Friday's first round, 68-66. Meanwhile, second-seeded Auburn (28-5) eased past Jacksonville St (No. 15 seed) 80-61. The teams meet Sunday night in the NCAA Tournament's second round at Greenville, SC with a Sweet 16 berth in the Midwest Region on the line.

Jim Larranaga entered this season having led the Hurricanes to seven, 20-win seasons in his 11 years, to all three of the school's 25-win seasons and to two of the school's three Sweet 16 appearances. By the way, I could also throw in him leading unheralded George Mason to a Final 4 appearance back in 2006. The 'Canes came into the season off an 'ugly 10-17 season (4-15 in the ACC) but this year's team contended for the ACC title, before losing in the ACC semifinals to top-seeded Duke. Miami is led by the guard trio of McGusty (17.4 & 4.9), Wong (15.4 & 4.4) and Moore (12.7 & 4.5 APG). Miller is a fourth guard and adds 10.0 & 6.1. Miami's lone big man of note is the 6-10 Waardenburg (8.5 & 4.2). In the two-point win over USC, Wong led with 21 points, while Moore added 16 and McGusty 12.

Bruce Pearl made a HUGE 'splash' when took over at Tennessee for the 2005-06 season. He would go 145-61 (.704) with the Vols, leading them to NCAA berths in each of his six seasons in Knoxville, including two Sweet 16s and an Elite 8. However, he was let go and was given a three-year ban for allegations surrounding lying to NCAA investigators. He returned to the SEC with Auburn in 2014-15 and after going just 26-40 in his first two seasons, led the Tigers to 26-wins, 30 wins (Final 4 appearance) and 25 wins (NCAA tourney was canceled because of COVID). The Tigers suffered a 'meltdown' on the court last season (13-14) but have turned things around with the help of FOUR freshmen. The 6-10 Smith leads in scoring with 17.2 PPG (adds 7.2 RPG), while the 7-0 Kessler leads in rebounding (8.2), while adding 11.7 PPG. Green (12.0 & 5.1 APG) and Johnson (12.3) are the top backcourt producers. Auburns' two big men, the 6-10 Smith (20 & 14) and the 7-0 Kessler (13 & 10) led the way vs Jacksonville St.

Friday's two-point win over USC was Miami's first March Madness triumph since 2016 and I do NOT believe the 'Canes have an 'answer' to the duo of Smith and Kessler. Auburn rose to No. 1 in the AP poll this season, for the first time in school history. However, Auburn lost four of nine entering the tournament, slipping back to No. 8 in the final regular-season AP Top-25. The Tigers have been eyeing this part of the season for months, given their success and rise in the rankings. I just don't see Miami getting in Auburn's way. Lay the points.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Tourney Takedown is on Arkansas at 8:40 ET.

It's 12th-seeded New Mexico State (27-6) going up against 4th-seeded Arkansas from Buffalo, NY in a Saturday night Western Regional game. The WAC champion Aggies upset fifth-seeded UConn 70-63 on Thursday, while the 26-8 Razorbacks had their hands full with 13th-seeded Vermont, eking out a 75-71 victory. New Mexico St has pretty much dominated the WAC since joining in the 2005-06 season, winning 10 WAC conference tourneys (2020 tourney was canceled in a year in which the Aggies were 25-6 / 16-0 in the WAC). Eric Musselman is in his third season at Fayetteville, after four OUTSTANDING seasons at Nevada. He won the CBI title in his first season, then went to three straight NCAA tourneys (4-year record of 110-34!) with the Wolf Pack. He was 20-12 in his first season at Arkansas, then went 25-7 last season (Elite 8 appearance). "When we saw our name on Sunday in the tournament, we came here to win," Musselman said after Thursday's win. "We expected it to be a hard-fought game. We'll go into that same mentality Saturday. Fear nobody. Respect everybody."

The Aggies have an excellent guard duo in Allen (top scorer and top rebounder at 19.9 & 6.8) plus Rice (12.1 & 5.2). That duo gets little help, as Henry (5.3) is the only other guard averaging more than five points. The frontcourt does have depth (but no major producers) in the 6-7 MCants (8.4-5.2), the 6-10 McNair (6.6 & 4.8), the 6-7 Tillman (6.4 & 3.4), and the 6-11 Alok (4.8). Allen erupted for 37 points for New Mexico State against UConn but the four other starters combined for only 26 points, while three reserves chipped in just seven. Arkansas is led by a trio of guards in double digits. The group includes Notae (18.4-4.5-3.3), Umude (12.1 & 4.7) and Toney (10.8 & 5.3). The 6-10 Williams adds 10.6 & 9.6 and is really the lone frontcourt player of note. Guards Davis (8.5) and Lykes (8.0) round out what has basically been a six-man rotation. Umude (21-9-9) led the way vs Vermont, while Notae added 17 points, Williams 13 & 10 plus Davis scored 14 points off the bench.

Current New Mexico St head coach Chris Jans said this after the Aggies beat the Huskies, "I know our fan base has not been hungry for it. They've been starving for it." He's referring to the fact that the victory was New Mexico State's first NCAA Tournament win since topping Nebraska in the first round in 1993. The Aggies had lost 12 straight NCAA tourney games before the upset of the Huskies! Talk about a coming 'let down!' Arkansas opened 9-0, then lost FIVE of six, but enters this contest having won 16 of its last 19, while going 14-4-1 ATS. Lay the points!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Weekend Wipeout is on Providence at 6:10 ET.

Providence won the Big East regular season title but lost in the conference tourney, so the fourth-seeded Friars felt they had something to prove in the first round of the NCAA Tournament against No. 13 South Dakota State on Thursday. The Jackrabbits came in on a 21-game winning streak and were a popular pick to spring the tournament's first upset. However, Providence came away with a 66-57 win. South Dakota State came into the game shooting nearly 45% from long range, best in Division I in 28 years. However, the Jackrabbits were just 7 for 23 on threes. The 26-5 Friars now take on 12th-seeded Richmond (24-12) on Saturday evening in the second round of the Midwest Regional at Buffalo. Richmond earned its way into the NCAA Tournament by winning the Atlantic-10 tournament and an automatic bid. The Spiders upset No. 5 Iowa (Hawkeyes had just won the Big Ten tourney) 67-63, giving the school its first NCAA victory since the 2010-11 team beat Vanderbilt and Morehead State to reach the Sweet 16. No. 12 Richmond's victory over Iowa was the Spiders' NINTH win as a 12-seed or lower, five more than any other team since seeding began in 1979 (more in a bit).

SIX players have participated in all 36 of Richmond's games this season and three of the team's top-four scorers are frontcourt players. The 6-7 Burton (16.4 & 7.8) leads the way, followed by the 6-10 Golden (13.8 & 6.1) and the 6-7 Cayo (8.9 & 4.7). PG Gilyard (13.6-3.5-5.4) runs the show and had a line of 24-6-6 in the upset of Iowa. Burton added 19 & 11 and Cayo 15 points. The Friars are led by the 6-10 Watson (13.6 & 5.4), with guards Durham (13.3) and Bynum (12.7 & 4.1 APG) joining him in double digits. Depth is provided by the 6-8 Horchler (9.7 & 8.3)  and the 6-7 Minaya (6.5 & 5.6) up front plus Reeves (9.6) in the backcourt.

Ed Cooley arrived in Providence for the 2011-12 season and led the Friars to FIVE straight NCAA tournaments from 2014-2018. However, Providence was coming off a mediocre 13-13 season last year, before this year's bounce-back season! A victory over Richmond would give the Friars a spot in the Midwest Regional semifinals March 25 in Chicago. Providence hasn't advanced past the first weekend of the NCAAs since reaching the Elite Eight under coach Pete Gillen back in 1997. Getting back to Richmond and its successes as a 12-seed or lower. Note that the Spiders' current head coach is Chris Mooney, who is his 17th season. However, this is just Richmond's SECOND appearance in the Big Dance under the Princeton grad, so Thursday's win is the ONLY victory (among those many upsets) that has come under his guidance. One more thing to consider. Richemond finished in 6th-place in the A-10 regular season, before winning the conference tourney. Providence wins "going away!"

Good luck...Larry

 My 10* NIT 2nd Round Game of the Year is on VCU at 4:00 ET.

Second-seeded Wake Forest (24-9) hopes to continue one of the winningest seasons in school history when it hosts third-seeded VCU (22-9) in the second round of the NIT on Saturday in Winston-Salem, NC. Wake Forest is coming off a 74-64 victory over visiting Towson on Wednesday, marking the Demon Deacons' first postseason win since 2010. The victory was Wake Forest's 24th of the season, its most since posting the same number of wins during the 2008-2009 season and just the SEVENTH time in school history it has won at least two dozen games in a season (Wake Forest won 27 games during the 2004-05 season). However, Wake will be tested by VCU, which is coming off 90-79 win over visiting Princeton on Tuesday. The Rams shot a season-high 58.1 percent (36 of 62) from the floor and scored 51 points in the second half, the most they've scored in any half this season.

Steve Forbes was hired as head coach at Wake Forest for the 2020-21 season, replacing Danny Manning (good riddance!). His team suffered through a 6-16 'disaster' last year, but Forbes was named the ACC Coach of the Year for 2021-22. The Demon Deacons feature three double digit scores in guard Williams (18.8-6.8-5.2), the 6-8 LaRavia (14.9 & 6.6) and guard Williamson (12.1) but it was guard Walton (9.0 & 4.9) who led the away vs Towson by scoring 17 points. Fellow guard Monsanto (7.5 & 3.5) chipped in 14 points and the 6-8 Mucius (9.6 & 3.2) added 12 points. I guess Forbes has to be happy that his team won by 10, in a game his three double digit scores combined for only 22 points.

One HAS to be impressed by the job Forbes has done, but VCU's Mike Rhoades led the Rams to two NCAA tourneys in his first four seasons, prior to this year's 22-9 team. In stark contrast to Wake, VCU's three double digits scorers led the way for the Rams in their 90-79 win over Princeton. The 6-6 Williams (13.6 & 5.9) had a line of 17-11-6, while PG Baldwin (11.7 & 5.6 APG) and fellow guard Curry (11.1), each scored 23 points! VCU has a deep squad, as SIX more players chip in between 4.0 and 8.3 PPG.

Wake is an excellent offensive team (79.5 PPG ranks 18th) and I'm sure the team's top scorers will bounce back but in VCU, Wake faces a team that can shut down an opponent with its defense. VCU allows 60.8 PPG (16th) on 38.8% shooting (12th), including just 26.8% on threes (2nd). With numbers like that, it's NOT any surprise that the Rams ere 8-2 ATS as an underdog this season. Take the points.

Good luck...Larry

My 9*Late Breaker is on Seton Hall at 9:57 ET.

Jamie Dixon's teams used to be regular guests at the NCAA Tournament when he coached at Pittsburgh, but he returned to his alma mater back for the 2016-17 season. He led TCU to the NIT title that season, then won 21 and 23 games the following two seasons, However, he came into this season off 16-16 and 12-14 seasons. However, TCU (20-12) muscled its way into the dance by earning upsets over Texas Tech, Kansas and Texas down the stretch in the loaded Big 12. TCU has its first NCAA berth since 2018 and its second in Dixon's six seasons at the helm. TCU is the No. 9 seed in the South Region and will face off against No. 8 Seton Hall in a first-round game Friday night in San Diego. Head coach Kevin Willard is now in his 12th season at the helm and it's the program's fifth trip to the NCAA Tournament under Willard (note: The Pirates are 1-4 in the NCAA Tournament in the Willard-era).

TCU features a guard duo of Miles (15.1 & 3.6 APG) and Baugh (10.7-4.3-4.4), while the 6-7 Miller (10.3 & 6.3) and the 6-7 O'Bannon (9.2 & 4.1) surround 6-11 center Lampkin (6.5 & 6.0). The top reserve is Peavy (6.3 & 4.1). 6-6 swingman Rhoden lead Seton Hall in scoring (16.2), while adding 6.8 but fellow guard Aiken (14.5) has been out since Jan 15, so Rhoden is the only player in double digits. Cale (9.8 & 4.0), Richmond (9.0 & 4.1 PG) and Harris (7.8) are all guards. The 6-8 Yetna adds 8.4 PPG and a team-high 7.8 rebounds, while two 6-10 players, Samuel (7.4 & 5.3) and Jackson (7.0 & 3.5) join Yetna up front.

TCU plays in the brutally tough Big 12 (where it was just 8-10 in conference games) and Dixon recently told reporters, "We're picked eighth (in the Big 12 preseason poll). We're not picked to be in the NCAA Tournament. That's what it is at the start of the year. And if you looked at all the things that were put out and because no one here has been in the NCAA Tournament, we're young, we've got 11 new players, but we proved a lot of people wrong." As for Seton Hall, the Pirates opened 9-1 but a two-week break without a game (COVID issues) in mid-to-late December, broke the team's momentum. However, Seton did end the regular season on an 8-2, before eking out a 57-53 win over Georgetown and then losing to UConn (by 10 points) in the Big East tourney. Dixon says his team is looking to do some damage but the fact remains that TCU last won an NCAA tournament game back in 1987, when Dixon was a senior point guard with the program. The winner will advance to take on Arizona. It's called one-and-done but it's Seton Hall, not TCU, that gets the 'ONE!'

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Tourney Takedown is on LSU at 7:20 ET.

T.J. Otzelberger came from UNLV to take over an Iowa St team that went 2-22 last season (0-18 in the Big 12). The Cyclones opened 12-0 and were ranked No. 8 thru Dec 21 but did not play again until Jan 1, at then-No. 1 Baylor. The Cyclones played the Bears close, losing 77-72 but that loss set in motion Iowa St going just 8-12 the rest of the season to enter the tourney at 20-12. Iowa St is the No. 11 seed in the Midwest Region and will take on 22-11 LSU (No. 6 seed) in Milwaukee at Fiserv Arena. LSU fired head coach Will Wade amid more NCAA violations, and the Tigers will be led by assistant coach Kevin Nickelberry (named interim head coach).

A trio of guards lead the way for Iowa St, starting with standout Izaiah Brockington, who leads the team in scoring (17.2) and rebounding (7.1). He's joined on the perimeter by PG Hunter (10.8 & 4.9 APG) and Kalscheur (19.3). The team's frontcourt rotation is led by the 6-8 Kunc (6.2 & 3.9) and the 6-9 Conditt (5.0 & 3.5). Guards Grill (6.5) is the first player off the bench. LSU lost guard Thomas (22.8), forward Watford (17.0 & 7.4) and guard Smart (16.8-5.2-4.2) to the NBA and others to the transfer portal, leaving just FOUR returning players. Like Iowa St, LSU opened 12-0, but couldn't keep up that pace. The 6-7 Days decided to return and he's averaging 13.7 & 7.7 and is part of a strong frontcourt that includes the 6-8 Eason (16.9 & 6.7), a Cincy transfer, and 7-0 freshman Reid (6.3 & 4.3). The backcourt is led by Missouri transfer Pinson (10.1 & 4.1 APG), Murray (10.1) and Gaines (9.3).

I'm not concerned at all with the LSU coaching situation and will point to the fact that the Tigers are allowing opponents to make just 38.4% on FG attempts (9th), including 27.7% on threes (5th). Iowa State enters this tournament with three straight losses and having lost its last five games by an average of 10.2 points, while shooting 41.2 percent from the floor. LSU's aggressive defense is hardly what the Cyclones need to see. Add to that, the fact that the Tigers win in the role of a favorite role by an average of 13.8 PPG. Lay it!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* 1st Round Game of the Year is on Texas at 4:30 ET.

The Hokies engineered a remarkable turnaround to their season after a dismal start that saw them open 10-10 through late-January. Virginia Tech lost SEVEN of its first nine conference games but then responded by winning NINE of 11 ACC games to finish 19-12, including 11-9 in the ACC. Virginia Tech head coach Mike Young knew his team's postseason fate was uncertain entering the ACC tourney (down year for the league), so the Hokies took the 'guesswork' out of the equation by beating Clemson, Notre Dame, UNC and Duke to claim the ACC's automatic bid. This will be the FIFTH straight season the Hokies have played in the NCAA Tournament, extending Virginia Tech's longest streak of tournament berths, which previously was two (1979-80 and 1985-86). Even with the late stretch of success, the Hokies got an 11-seed, which surprised Virginia Tech coach Mike Young.

The Hokies will meet AP No. 25 Texas (21-11) which got a six-seed. Chris Beard left Lubbock (Texas Tech) and its beloved fan base last April to take over the Texas program, replacing Shaka Smart. Texas was ranked No. 5 in the preseason but it's been far from smooth sailing in the brutal Big 12. The Longhorns opened 12-2 but have lost five of their past eight games, including THREE in a row. The most recent of those losses was a 65-60 defeat against TCU in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 tournament in a contest it led by 20 points late in the first half before spitting the bit. In fairness, the other two losses in Texas's season-ending three game slide came against Baylor and Kansas, which both ended up as No. 1 seeds.

Va Tech has EIGHT players who have participated in all 35 games this season. The 6-9 Aluma (15.8 & 6.5), the 6-7 Mutts (10.1 & 7.4) and guard Cattor (10.0 & 4.1). The other top producing guards are Alleyne (9.8) and Murphy (8.1). Maddox (6.40 is the first player off the bench. Texas was hoping for HUGE seasons from transfers Allen (6-6 forward who averaged 17.2 & 6.4 at Utah) and Carr (Minnesota PG averaged 19-4.4.0-4.9). The duo were the team's top-two scorers but their numbers dropped. Allen has averaged 12.3 & 6.5 and Carr 10.9 & 3.2 APG. Guards Jones (10.7) and Ramey (9.5 & 4.0) are solid contributors but the 6-9 Mitchell (8.7 & 4.0) has been out since Feb 15, leaving the 6-7 Bishop (6.8 & 5.6) to be Allen's best 'helper' up front.

Virginia Tech is on its hottest stretch of the season, while Texas will look to regain the swagger it had by opening 12-2. The Longhorns have not won a game in the NCAA Tournament since 2014 and was one of the main reasons Texas wanted Beard, and he wanted Texas. "I think the Big 12 has prepared us, battled-tested us," Texas coach Chris Beard said. Texas plays GREAT defense (59.5 PPG ranks 9th) and it's that 'D" will carry the Longhorns into the second round over the surprising ACC tourney champs.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Oddsmaker's Error is on USC at 3:10 ET.

Miami head coach Jim Larranaga entered this season having led the Hurricanes to seven, 20-win seasons in his 11 years, to all three of the school's 25-win seasons and to two of the school's three Sweet 16 appearances. By the way, I could also throw in him leading unheralded George Mason to a Final 4 appearance back in 2006. The 'Canes came into the season off an 'ugly 10-17 season (4-15 in the ACC) but this year's team is 23-10 and the No. 10 seed in Midwest Region. Its first-round game in Greenville, SC comes against seventh-seeded Southern Cal (26-7), whose head coach is Andy Enfield (who will ever forget Florida Gulf Coast's "Dunk City" Sweet 16 team in 2013!).

Miami (23-10) contended for the Atlantic Coast Conference title this season but lost in the ACC semifinals to top-seeded Duke. Miami is led by the guard trio of McGusty (17.6 & 4.8), Wong (15.2 & 4.3) and Moore (12.6 & 4.5 APG). Miller is a fourth guard and adds 10.2 & 6.1. Miami's lone big man of note is the 6-10 Waardenburg (8.6 & 4.2). USC lost Evan Mobley to the NBA draft (3rd overall pick) but opened the current season 13-0 and in the Jan 10 AP poll, was ranked No. 5. It was the school's highest ranking since also being No. 5 way back in December of 1974! Mobley's 6-10 older brother Isaiah leads in scoring (14.3) and rebounding (8.5) and is joined by the 6-9 Goodwin (11.0 & 6.5) and the 6-9 Agbonkpolo (7.8 & 3.4) in the frontcourt. Ellis (12.8), and Peterson (12.3 & 6,2) make for an excellent backcourt duo. USC also lost in its conference semifinals (Pac 12) to crosstown rival UCLA.

It has been a process for Miami and USC to reach this phase of the season feeling so good about themselves. "We've run into some walls," Hurricanes guard Kameron McGusty said. "We've faced adversity and we've seen what we're made of. We're so locked in and we've grown so much as a group and we look to continue to grow and take it to the tournament." About USC, Trojans coach Andy Enfield said. "We won a lot of close games this year. I really credit our players for learning how to win on the road, especially tight games. We hope that carries over to the NCAA Tournament.

USC set a school record with 25 regular season wins and despite losses in three of its past four games, is ONE win away from setting a program record. You've heard all season that the ACC has had a down year and for most of the season, Duke has been its lone ranked school. Meanwhile, the Pac 12 entered the Big Dance with No. 2 Arizona, No. 11 UCLA and No. 22 USC in the AP's top-25. "The Price is Right" for USC to earn that ONE more win right here!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Late-Breaker is on Murray at 9:40 ET.

The Murray State Racers entered the AP poll back on Jan 24 (at No. 23), for the first time since a one-week stay in March of 2015. At the time, Murray St had won 13 in a row since a Dec 22 loss at Auburn. By the way, Auburn won the SEC regular-season title and spent a fair chunk of conference play as the No. 1 team in the country. The 30-2 Racers kept on winning and will carry a 20-game winning streak into their Thursday night East Region matchup against the San Francisco Dons in Indianapolis as a No. 7 seed.  The 24-9 San Francisco Dons earned a much-deserved at-large bid from the WCC, even though they finished fourth behind Gonzaga, Saint Mary's and Santa Clara. This is the Dons' first NCAA tourney appearance since 1998, and they are aiming for their first tournament victory since 1979, when Bill Cartwright was their star player.

San Francisco's Todd Golden worked as an assistant under Kyle Smith and when Smith left for Washington St, took over as head coach. The Dons went 22-12 in his first season (2019-20) but last season's team was hurt by a 17-day stint away from the court due to COVID and finished just 11-14. SIX San Francisco players have participated in all 31 games this season for the Dons, while the 6-9 Massalski played in 32. Guard Bouyea (16.7-5.1-4.0) is the top scorer, followed by guard Shabazz (14.0). Shabazz is averaging 19.9 points, with five games of 21 points or more in his last eight. Center Massalski (13.5 & 9.4) sat out the loss to Gonzaga with a knee injury sustained in a March 5 win over BYU but is ready to go here.

The 6-10 Williams leads Murray St in scoring (18.2) and rebounding (8.6), while SG Brown (16.9 & 5.5) and PG Hill (13.6 & 2.0 APG) join him in double digits. Guard Hannibal (8.9 & 5.0), the 6-7 Burns (4.9 & 6.5) and guard Collins (4.4) join the three double digit scorers in playing all 32 games so far this season for the Racers. San Francisco averages 77.3 PPG and Murray St 79.3 but note that the Racers are allowing only 61.7 PPG (210 on 40.7% shooting (43rd). That means Murray St is outscoring opponents by just under 18 PPG on the season.

I guess when you win 30 games (including the last 20 in a row) but play in the OVC, a No. 7 is as good as it gets. Murray State head coach Matt McMahon knows full well that a win here will make for a meeting with Kentucky on Saturday, which would be the ultimate "cause game" for the Racers against the big state school. No lookahead, as the Racers win "with room to spare!"

Good luck...Larry

My 10* 'signature' 38-Club Play is on SD State at 7:27 ET.

It's an 8-seed vs a 9-seed in the first round of the NCAA Tournament's Midwest Regional on Thursday in Fort Worth, Tx. No. 8 SD State is 23-8 and 22-11 Creighton is the No. 9 seed. The Aztecs are coming off a 53-52 loss on Saturday to Boise State in the Mountain West tournament final, while the Bluejays fell 54-48 the same day to Villanova in the Big East championship game. The Aztecs are experienced, with nine players who appeared in last year's first-round NCAA loss to Syracuse. In contrast, the Bluejays lost all five starters from last season's 22-9 Sweet 16 team.

Creighton head coach Greg McDermott is in his 12th season with the Bluejays and he has now won 20-plus games in 11 of the 12. It was supposed to be a rebuilding year for McDermott but he has rebuilt Creighton quickly. The starting guards this season have been freshman Nembhard (11.3 & 4.4 APG) and O'Connell (3.4 PPG last year), who is averaging 11.5 & 5.3 this season. 7-1 center Kalkbrenner returned (5.9 & 3.5 LY) and is a 'new man,' averaging 13.0 & 7.6. The 6-7 Hawkins is a Div II transfer and leads in scoring (13.9) and rebounding (7.8). 6-7 freshman Kaluma adds 9.9 & 5.1 plus freshman guard Alexander chips in 6.4 & 3.7. However, it was a big blow for Creighton to lose Nembhard for the season in late-February to a broken wrist.

Brian Dutcher was a longtime assistant under Steve Fisher (beginning in Michigan) and lasting through all of Fisher's great teams at SD St. Fisher stepped away and Dutcher took over in the 2017-18 season, going 22-11, 21-13, 30-2 and 23-5 the previous four years. So, San Diego State's 23-8 record this season is just "business as usual!" The Aztecs added Matt Bradley (a transfer from Cal) and he leads the team with 17.0 PPG (adds 5.4 RPG). However, he is the team's LONE double digit scorer. Pulliam (8.5 & 3.4 APG) and Butler (7.5) join Bradley in the starting backcourt, while the 6-10 Mensah (7.3 & 7.1) and the 6-7 Johnson (7.2 & 4.6) start up front. The 6th-man is guard Seijko (5.3).

Creighton misses Nembhard (he was named the Big East freshman of the year) and while Crighton is a very good defensive team (allows 66.7 PPG and has held 11 opponents under 60 points this season), SD State plays defense as well as ANY team in the nation. The Aztecs are allowing 58.3 PPG (2nd) on 37.9% shooting (4th), while holding TWENTY opponents to less than 60 points this season (that's 65% of their games!). NO 1st-round exit (like last year) this season!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Situational Stunner is on Marquette at 4:30 ET.

The eighth-seeded North Carolina Tar Heels (24-9) and ninth-seeded Marquette Golden Eagles (19-12) will meet in an East Region first-round contest Thursday at Fort Worth, Tx. Both have first-year head coaches, Hubert Davis took over at North Carolina for the retiring Roy Williams and Shaka Smart at Marquette. After six disappointing years at Texas (not a single NCAA win), Smart left (before he was booted) to replace Steve Wojciechowski. North Carolina is trying to parlay some late-season success into a postseason run (Carolina has won eight of its last 10), while Marquette has lost five of its last eight. Marquette's season was highlighted by three victories against top-25 teams in consecutive games from Jan 15 through Jan 23.

Marquette has a deep eight-man rotation, led by 6-7 freshman Lewis (17.1 & 7.9) and Maryland transfer, Morsell (13.5). Joining that duo in the starting lineup are freshman guard Kolek (6.8 & 5.7 APG) plus frontcourt players like the 6-8 Prosper (6.3 & 3.3) and the 6-10 Kuath (5.6 & 3.9), Guards Jones (7.5) and Elliott (7.3), plus 6-9 freshman Ighodaro (5.5 & 3.4) add depth. North Carolina has an excellent frontcourt led by the returning 6-10 Bacot (16.5 & 12.5), 6-9 Oklahoma transfer Manek (14.4 & 5.7) and 6-11 Marquette transfer Garcia (9.0 & 5.5). Sophomore guard Love (15.4-3.4-3.8) teams with freshman Davis (13.3-3.8-3.4) in the backcourt, with Black (5.0 & 4.2) and Walton (3.6) adding support. 

The Marquette and North Carolina met in a hastily scheduled non-conference game in January 2021, with Marquette winning 83-70 in Chapel Hill plus the matchup has some other connections. North Carolina's Brady Manek and Marquette's Kur Kuath are former Oklahoma teammates plus Dawson Garcia transferred from Marquette to North Carolina for this season. However, Garcia took a leave from the team because of a family medical situation back in January and hasn't returned. Despite North Carolina's legendary history, it largely will be a first-time situation for most of the Tar Heels. "Now, everyone other than Leaky (Black), who was a freshman when we played in the Sweet 16 (in 2019), will get to experience a real NCAA Tournament," Davis said. "I'm just really excited about that opportunity for them." Davis gets a tough coaching matchup with Smart, who famously led VCU to the 2011 Final Four. Smart is back in the state of Texas and a "W" here would mean a lot. "We're motivated to play our best basketball," Smart said. "We play one of, if not the, best program in the history of college basketball." I'm taking any points I can get.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Weekly Wipeout is on Boise St at 1:45 ET.

Penny Hardaway's Memphis Tigers won the NIT last season and began the year ranked 12th in the AP's preseason poll but started 9-8! However, Memphis finished the season strong with a 12-1 run that didn't end until the Tigers lost 71-53 to Houston in Sunday's American Athletic Conference title game. 21-10 Memphis (No. 9 seed) got an at-large selection for the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2014. As for Boise St, head coach Leon Rice is in his 12th season, having produced EIGHT 20-win seasons in his first 11, including two NCAA teams (the most recent coming back in 2015). Last year's team went 19-9, before losing in the NIT quarterfinals, just missing a ninth, 20-win campaign. However, Rice easily earned his ninth, 20-win campaign in 2021-22! Boise State is enjoying the best season in program history, as the Broncos have set a school record for victories (27-7) and have won 24 of their past 27 games. They were the Mountain West regular season and conference tournament champions.

Memphis hasn't had 6-9 freshman Bates (10.4 & 3.5) in the lineup since late-January, but the Tigers were hitting on all cylinders without him prior to the loss vs Houston. 6-11 freshman Duren (12.2 & 8.1), 6-9 senior Williams (10.9 & 5.8) and 6-8 freshman Minott (6.8 & 3.8) form a solid frontcourt. FIVE guards chip in between 4.9 and 10.1 PPG, led by Quinones (10.1) and Nolley (8.9). PG Lomax (5.9 & 4.0 APG) runs the show. Boise St has depth issues but owns a strong starting-five. The backcourt has been missing Doutrive (9.4 & 4.6), who last played on Nov 30 but Shaver (13.6) and 6-8 guard Akot (10.7) form a quality duo. Up front, it's the 6-7 Kijab (14.7 & 5.8), the 6-7 Degenhart (9.9) and the 6-10 Armus (7.2 & 7.9). Defense is Boise's 'bread-and-butter,' as the Broncos are allowing 60.8 PPG (15th).

As noted, the Broncos are having the best season in program history but without at least ONE win in the "Big Dance," the year would hardly be complete. A historical fact overshadowing the team's success is that the Broncos have never won an NCAA Tournament game in SEVEN previous attempts. However, I will file that under, "That was THEN and this is NOW." The MWC has FOUR schools in the Big Dance in 2022 and Boise St is the best of the group. Rice and his Broncos will also likely remember Memphis and Boise State meeting in the NIT quarterfinals last season, with the Tigers prevailing 59-56 en route to winning the crown. Boise is getting points here but that's just a bonus. B-L-O-W-O-U-T Alert!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* 'Big Dance' Tip-Off is on Colorado St at 12:15 ET.

The field of 64 is set and the first game to tip off will be No. 11 Michigan and No. 6 Colorado St in the South Region (game is in Indianapolis). Juwan Howard's Wolverines were 23-5 last year and opened the year as the nation's No. 6 team in the AP's preseason poll. Michigan has to rate among the nation's most disappointing teams and there was more than just a little debate over whether the 17-14 Wolverines deserve to be in the field at all. That's NOT the case with Colorado St and its head coach Niko Medved. He's in his fourth season at Fort Collins and CSU was one of the teams that felt it deserved a First Four bid in 2021.There were no such issues in 2022, as after a 25-5 season, the Rams earned a No. 6 seed.

Juwan Howard's season has NOT gone as planned, to say the least! Michigan blew a 17-point lead to lose in the first round of the Big Ten tourney to Indiana. It was Howard's first game back from a five-game suspension for throwing a punch -- as the losing coach in a postgame handshake line at Wisconsin. Michigan's starting-five includes 7-1 center Dickinson (18.3 & 8,3) and the 6-11 Diabate (9.0 & 5.9) up front, plus a trio of guards. Brooks (12.3, PG Jones (10.7-4.6-4.6) and Houstan (10.5 & 4.0). CSU's 6-5 David Roddy leads the Rams in scoring (19.4) and rebounding (7.6), on his way to being named Mountain West Player of the Year. PG Isaiah Stevens averages 14.9 PPG and a team-high 4.8 APG this season. A trio of guards chip in to account for a little over 21 PPG plus the 6-9 Thomas (5.4 & 3.2) and the 6-10 Moors (4.1 & 2.40 will be tasked with slowing down Dickinson.

Michigan reached the Elite Eight last season, beating Florida State in the regional semifinal before a loss to UCLA. Will it have a chip on its shoulder today, knowing many felt the team was undeserving of a bid? "Thought it was well-deserving," head coach Howard said. Colorado State's Niko Medved signed a contract extension through 2029 on Selection Sunday, and hopes to have another year with Roddy and PG Isaiah Stevens (both are juniors). However, CSU knows this is a 'big moment" for the school, which is 4-11 in its NCAA Tournament history. "I think this is definitely just the beginning," Roddy said this week. "The sky's the limit for this team and this program." I agree and expect CSU to put an end to Michigan's troubled season right here!

Good luck...Larry

Mike Brey is in his 22nd season at Notre Dame. His team goes six-deep. Guards Wesley (14.6 & 3.6) and Goodwin (13.9 & 4.8) are the top-two scorers, joined by Hubb (9.1 & 4.0 APG) and Ryan (8.4 & 4.9). The 6-9 Atkinson (12.3 & 7.0) and the 6-10 Laszewski (9.2 & 6.6) are the best (only?) frontcourt players. Steve Pikiell came to Rutgers (from Stony Brook) for the 2016-17 season and his 2019-20 team won 20 games (NCAA tourney was canceled) and then got the Scarlet Knights into the "Big Dance" last season, winning a game before losing in the round of 32. Rutgers has a starting lineup consisting of four guards and the 6-11 Omoruyi (11.8 & 7.9). Baker (12.4) entered the season with 101 starts on his resume and 6-6 guard Harper (15.6 & 5.9) can be a 'nightmare' matchup issue for many teams. PG Mulcahy (9.0-4.1-5.3) and fellow guard McConnell (6.5 & 5.2) are the final two starters, while the 6-6 Hyatt (4.4 & 2.8) is the 6th-man.

Consecutive losses to DePaul, Lafayette and UMass in November appeared to torpedo the Scarlet Knights' season before it could really begin. However, after a 79-78 OT loss at Northwestern on Feb 1, Rutgers beat then-No. 12 Michigan St, then-No. 16 Ohio St, then-No.14 Wisconsin and then-No. 12 Illinois in consecutive games. A three-game losing streak followed, before Rutgers won its final two games. However, Rutgers 1st Big Ten tourney game was against Iowa, which went on to win the tourney title.

The Big Ten got NINE tourney bids (most of any conference) and how could Rutgers be anything but thrilled, as the school is 'dancing' for the second straight year after a 30-year drought from 1991-2020. Mike Brey does NOT have a strong NCAA tourney resume and this marks Notre Dame's first tournament appearance since 2017. Brey's led Notre Dame to 12 previous NCAA tourneys, making it past the second round just THREE times. Wednesday night, he doesn't even make it to the Opening Round.

Good luck...Larry    

My 9* Tourney Takedown (NIT) is on Virginia at 7:00 ET.

Mississippi State is denying reports that Ben Howland has been fired, as the Bulldogs get set to play at Virginia in a first round NIT matchup. in the National Invitation Tournament. Howland's had excellent success at Pitt and UCLA (led Bruins to THREE straight Final Fours from 2006-08) but his tenure at Miss St has had few notable moments (Bulldogs did finish second in last year's NIT). Tony Bennett's UVA team won a national championship in 2019 and from the 2013-14 season through the championship season of 2018-19, the Cavs avenged 29.7 wins per season. The Cavs ended last season 18-7, after a first-round NCAA loss to 13th-seed Ohio U. It's been a very uneven season for the Cavs, who welcome 18-15 Miss St to John Paul Jones Arena at 19-13.

The Bulldogs' leading scorer is PG Molinar (17.6-3.1-3.6) but the team's strength is a frontcourt that features the 6-11 Smith (14.1 & 6.3), the 6-9 Brooks (10.3 & 6.6) and the 6-7 Jeffries (9.2 & 4.23). Smith missed more than 10 games from early December to mid-January but is back in fine form (he's averaged 19.5 PPG his last six games).The only returning starter from last year's UVA team is PG Clark (10.3 & 4.2 APG). Guard Beekman (7.9-3.8-5.0) is back, as is the 6-11 Shedrick (7.2 & 5.2), but UVA's two-most important players are transfers. The 6-6 Gardner comes from East Carolina and leads in scoring (15.3) and rebounding (6.6) plus guard Franklin comes via Indiana and chips in 10.9. UVA gets some extra help up front from the 7-0 Caffaro (4.3 & 4.7).

John Paul Jones Arena is one tough venue for visiting teams and with Howland's status 'up in the air,' UVA is a bargain at this price.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Big Dance Opener is on Wyoming at 9:10 ET.

Indiana lost its final six games of last season and the Hoosiers fired head coach Archie Miller. Mike Woodson (former Indiana player under Bob Knight) was hired to lead the team in the 2021-22 season, Indiana opened 6-0 and was 16-5 (7-4 in Big Ten) through the end of January. However, Indiana would lose SEVEN of nine to finish 18-12, including 9-11 in Big Ten play. Woodson talked about the NCAA Tournament as a goal during the course of the season and the Hoosiers achieved that objective by putting together a run in the Big Ten tournament that included back wins over Michigan and Illinois (No. 1 seed) in the Big Ten tournament, before falling to eventual Big Ten tourney champion Iowa 80-77 on a last-second shot.

Jeff Linder came from No. Colorado where he won 26 (CIT champion), 21 and 22 games in his final three years, earning him the Wyoming gig. His first team went 14-11 but this year's team has made quite a 'leap!' 25-8 Wyoming finished fourth in the Mountain West Conference under second-year coach Jeff Linder and are coming off a 68-61 loss to Boise State in the MWC tournament semifinals. The Cowboys are making their 16th NCAA Tournament appearance in school history and first appearance since 2015 (just their second since 2002).

Both schools are solid defensive teams, as Indiana has allowed 65.5 PPG and Wyoming 65.7. The 6-9 Jackson-Davis (17.5 & 8.3) is the team's best player, joined up front by the 6-8 Thompson (11.5 & 7.6). Guard Johnson (12.3-3.8-5.0) is the only other player averaging more than 6.4 PPG. Jackson-Davis, who was named to the All-Big Ten tournament team (25.3 & 8.7 over the three games), while Johnson averaged 16.7-5.3-7.3 and Thompson 8.7 & 6.7. Again, no other player averaged as much as 7.0 PPG during Indiana's three-game run.

The 6-9 Ike (19.6 & 9.6) and 6-7 PG Maldanado (18.4-5.8-6.3) make for quite a duo. They are joined in the starting lineup by guards Jeffries (10.5 & 5.3) and DuSell (7.8) plus the 6-9 Oden (7.9 & 4.6). Ike averaged 14.5 & 9.5 in two MWC tourney games, while Maldonado averaged 14.0-6.5-8.0 and Jeffries 12.5 & 5.5. One could almost consider this as almost a three-on-three "game within a game!"

Indiana is a "blueblood" program with five national titles but is making its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2016. That said, this current Indiana team doesn't get credit for its school's history. is played on the court, Wyoming's Ike can match up with Indiana's Jackson-Davis and while Indiana PG Johnson has scored in double figures in eight straight games (has averaged 18.1 points and 6.8 assists during that stretch), Wyoming's 6-7 Maldonado is a 'nightmare' of a matchup for any team. I want the points.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Las Vegas Insider is on Missouri St at 7:00 ET.

The Mo State Bears returned all FIVE starters from last year's 17-7, most notably the duo of big guard Mosley and the 6-9 Prim. That duo led the way and the 23-10 Bears are in the NIT vs the Big 12's Oklahoma. The season didn't go as planned for head coach Porter Moser (of Loyola-Chicago fame) in his first season at Norman. The Sooners opened 11-2 but then lost 12 of 15 to fall to 14-14 (only 4-11 Big 12). However, the Sooners ended the regular season with three straight wins and then upset Baylor in the Big 12 tourney (one of four No. 1 seeds in TY's Big Dance), before losing just 56-55 to Texas Tech. The Sooners just missed the cut, placing second on the "first four out" list behind Dayton. Instead, Oklahoma is a No. 1 seed in the NIT and will host Missouri State on Tuesday night.

‎ Mosely is averaging 20.1 & 56.1 for Missouri St and Prim adds 16.4 & 8.0. Four more guards are chipping in between 7.6 and 8.7 PPG (the group combines to average 33-plus PPG). The 6-9 Groves (11.8 & 5.6) is joined by the 6-6 Hill (9.1 & 5,9) up front, while Gibson (12.5) and Goldwire (10.5 & 3.4 APG) are the backcourt mainstays, now that Harkless (10.4 & 4.1) was lost for the season. Goldwire (10.1 & 3.4 APG) and Harkless (10.0 & 4.1) comprise an excellent guard trio. However, Harkless was lost for the season back in February due to injury. ‎

"This group has the DNA of an NCAA Tournament team," Moser said. "They're resilient. They've stayed together, and we've won these games late." Personally, I think he's giving his team too much credit. The Sooners have missed the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2017 and just the second time in nine seasons (not counting the canceled 2020 tournament). Oklahoma in the NIT? That hasn't happened since 2004. As for Missouri State, it is making its first postseason appearance in any tournament since 2014, when it played in the CIT (the Bears are in the NIT for the first time since 2011). Missouri St had its eyes on the program's first NCAA bid since 1999, but an overtime loss to Drake in the MVC semifinals ended those hopes. My 'gut' tells me the Bears are much more motivated for this NIT matchup and I believe the Bears can win outright. DEFINITELY, take the points.

‎ Good luck... Larry‎

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

The 25-7 Belmont Bruins and the 17-16 Vanderbilt Commodores square off in a first round NIT game at Vanderbilt University Memorial Gym in Nashville. Belmont is used to winning, having won 20-plus games in 16 of the last 17 seasons (exception was a 19-win season), with EIGHT trips to the Big Dance. The Bruins returned all five starters from last season's 26-4 team. Many will remember Jerry Stackhouse from his days at Duke but he opened his head coaching career at Vandy just 20-37 in his first two seasons. Stackhouse got great news when Pippen decided to pull himself out of the NBA Draft and return to Nashville and this year's 17-16 record has the 'Dores in the NIT.

The 6-11 Nick Muszynski (15.0 & 5.2) is Belmont's lone big man of note, while guards Sheppard (16.4 & 3.8) and Richard (11.8 & 5.9) being the best of a deep perimeter group (three more guards combine to add 22 PPG). Vandy's Pippen (20.2-3.4-4.3) and 6-6 forward Wright (12.2 & 6.5) make for an excellent duo but no other player reaches double digits. That said, the 6-7 Stute averaged 13.3 & 5.0 in three SEC tourney games plus guard Chatman, who played only 10 regular season games, returned to play all three tourney games (averaged 9.0 PPG).

Vandy is at home but Belmont will travel less than a mile for this road game, as it is also located in Nashville. As noted above, Belmont is a postseason regular, while Vandy last played in the postseason back in 2017. Vanderbilt was a good ATS team this season (21-12) but watch out for Belmont. "I'm really excited for our players that our season is still going," head coach Casey Alexander said. "I think we've got a good team, and nobody's excited about how we finished in the OVC (53-51 loss to Morehead St in the OCVC tourney). As a Nashville guy, I'm excited about the chance to play the local team in Vanderbilt." Note that Belmont shot 39.2% in that two-point loss (2 of 12 on threes), but has made 49.2% of its FG attempts on the season. What's more, Belmont comes in a PERFECT 6-0 SU & ATS following each of its first six losses this season. Make it a lucky 7-0 after tonight!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Weekend Wipeout is on Tennessee at 1:00 ET.

Buzz Williams led Marquette to four NCAA bids in his five years at the school and then led Va Tech to three NCAA berths in another five-year run. However, he entered the current season just 24-24 in his first two years at Texas A&M. The Aggies went 20-11 in the regular season but a 9-9 SEC record left the Aggies as the No. 8 seed in a tourney that would feature FOUR of the nation's top-15 schools (according to the latest AP poll)  Now, after an 83-80 OT win against Florida plus back-to-back wins over No. 4 Auburn (No. 1 seed) and No. 15 Arkansas (No. 4 seed), the Aggies are playing in the SEC championship game vs No. 9 Tennessee (No. 2 seed) on Sunday afternoon.

Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes has been a winner at every stop, with three NCAA berths at Providence, three in four years at Clemson and 16 in 17 years at Texas. This is his seventh season at Tennessee, and he's led the Vols to three NCAA berths the last four years (exception was when COVID shut down the postseason). No. 9 Tennessee just might be the SEC's top team. Tennessee held off fifth-ranked Kentucky 69-62 in the final minutes Saturday to reach the SEC Tournament final for the third time in the last five years. The 25-7 Vols have won 11 of 12 and six in a row, including victories against fourth-ranked Auburn, 15th-ranked Arkansas and now the Wildcats in the last two weeks. They're one win away from a championship and potentially a No. 1 seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.

Texas A&M has three double digit scorers on the season in guards Jackson (14.0) and Radford (10.2 & 5.8) plus the 6-7 Coleman (11.2 & 6.3), who is really the team's only quality frontcourt player. That trio has been terrific in the tourney, with Jackson averaging 17.0 PPG, Coleman 16.0 & 7.3 and Radford 14.3 & 6.0. Tennessee's top scorers on the season are guards Chandler (13.8 & 4.5 APG) and Vescovi (13.3-4.6-3.0). In the current tourney, the Vols have received excellent balance from the backcourt AND frontcourt. Guards Chandler (15.0 & 4.0 APG), James (13.0-4.5-3.5), Zeigler (11.0 & 4.5 APG and Vescovi (9.5) have been terrific. The three-frontcourt players chipping in are the 6-10 Huntley-Hatfield (9.0 & 4.5), the 6-9 Fulkerson (5.5 & 4.5) and the 7-0 Plavsic (5.0 & 6.0).

This is Texas A&M's FOURTH game in four days and now draws the toughest opponent yet. Note the size advantage Tennessee has over the Aggies plus the Vols' backcourt depth ranks with the nation's top backcourts. Then there is the Tennesse defense, which held Miss St to 59 points and high-scoring Kentucky to 62. This one has "B-L-O-W-O-U-T" written all over it!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Marquee Classic is in UCLA at 9;00 ET.

UCLA made that great run to the Final 4 last season and with a 'TON' of talent back, the Bruins began the season ranked No. 2 in the AP's preseason poll. It's hard to say Mick Cronin's team underachieved this season, as it enters the Pac 12 championship game 25-6 and ranked 13th in the nation. However, when Sean Miller was fired after 12 seasons with the Wildcats, Tommy Lloyd (a longtime assistant under Gonzaga's Mark Few), got his first head coaching gig. Expectations were NOT high for Arizona but after winning the Pac 12 regular season title (18-2), the Wildcats meet UCLA for the tourney title at 30-2 and ranked No.2 in the nation.

UCLA is led by a 'Core 4' of guards. Juzang (16.0 & 4.7) leads the way, followed by Jaquez (13.8 & 5.6) and Bernard (12.6 & 4.7). All three are 6-7 and 5-11 PG Campbell (11.4 & 4.2 APG) runs the show. Centers Riley (7.7 & 3.8) and Johnson (3.9 & 5.7) have been serviceable plus the 6-5 Clark (7.4 & 4.2) has played well after getting a late start due to nagging injuries and health issues. The Wildcats own four double digit scorers, led by 6-6 guard Mathurin's 17.1 PPG (he adds 5.7 RPG). The 6-7 Tubelis averages 14.7 & 6.5 and the 7-1 Koloko adds 12.1 & 7.0 plus PG Kriisa is good for 10.1 PPG and 4.9 APG. Four more Arizona players chip in between 7.0 to 7.4 PPG.

The Wildcats average 84.7 PPG (3rd in the nation) and will test Mick Cronin's defense, which led the Pac 12 in scoring defense (64.3 PPG). UCLA has not played in the Pac 12 championship games since 2014, when it beat Arizona. That's EIGHT years ago and as a TV show once said, "Eight is Enough!" The Bruins held Arizona to a season-low 59 points at home and haven't allowed more than 68 points in their last 10 games. "If you defend, you always got a chance," UCLA coach Mick Cronin said. "The thing about it is, you get to March, you can't rely on shooting to win." I'm on the Bruins.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Tourney Takedown in on Memphis at 5:00 ET.

It's an AAC semifinal meeting on Saturday between the Memphis Tigers (No. 3 seed) and SMU Mustangs (No. 2 seed). Penny Hardaway's Memphis Tigers won the NIT championship last season and opened the 2021-22 season ranked No. 12 in the AP's preseason poll. Memphis opened the year 5-0 but was just 9-8 after 17 games. However, the Tigers have won 11 of 12 since, including five in a row entering this game (now 20-9). SMU's Tim Jankovich is just two years removed from severe sanctions that SMU faced due to none other than Larry Brown (great coach but one who knows how to leave a program in the dust!). SMU won 19 games before the 2019-20 season was shut down and then went 11-6 in a season that limited this team to 17 games. The Mustangs have had strong season, entering this contest having won SEVEN of nine to reach 23-7 on the season.

Memphis hasn't had 6-9 freshman Bates (10.4 & 3.5) in the lineup since late-January but as I note up top, the Tigers are hitting on all cylinders without whim. 6-11 freshman Duren (12.3 & 8.0), 6-9 senior Willaims (11.1 & 5.6) and 6-8 freshman Minott (7.1 & 4.1) form a solid frontcourt. FIVE guards chip in between 4.7 and 10.2 PPG, led by Quinones (10.2) and Nolley (10.1). Returning guards Davis (19.7-3.9-4.6) and Bandoumel (11.0 are a solid duo plus a great story is the reuniting of the Weathers' twins, who last played together at Mia-O back in the 2016-17 season. The two took different paths from there but are now 'one big family' at SMU. SF Marcus is averaging 12.7 & 7.5, while guard Michael adds 10.6 & 5.7. Fellow guard Nutall chips in 6.8 & 3.7 plus the 6-10 Clark is a Baylor transfer. He was averaging 14.6 & 6.4 in the 2018-19 season before a serious knee injury forced him to the sidelines. This his last hurrah and he's adding 4.4 & 3.3 in 15 minutes.

Memphis advanced with an easy 85-69 win over UCF and SMU with an equally easy 83-58 win over Tulsa. I noted that Memphis has won 11 of 12 and that lone loss came to SMU, which also beat Memphis in the schools' first meeting. Yet, Memphis has opened a favorite. I agree with the linemakers. Lay the points!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* "Signature" LEGEND Play is on Purdue at 3:30 ET.

Michigan State began the current season unranked but opened 13-2 (4-0 in Big Ten) to reach No. 10 in the nation, However, the Spartans would finish on a 7-9 run (all in the Big Ten). The Spartans nearly blew a 20-point, second-half lead before surviving with a 76-72 victory Thursday vs Maryland/. MSU then took down No. 12 Wisconsin, and the Big Ten's No. 2 seed 63-58 on Friday (more in a bit). No. 9 Purdue owns the highest ranking of any Big Ten school but came into the tourney as the No. 3 seed. Purdue (now 26-6) scored the final seven points to hold off 11th-seeded Penn State 69-61 on Friday night, becoming the only seed among the top four to advance after receiving the double bye

Tom Izzo's Spartans do not have a 'big gun,' as the team's leading scorer is the 6-8 Brown (11.3 & 3.9). He's the ONLY one in double digits, although SEVEN players chip in between 6.5 and 9.5 PPG. Just missing are guard Christie (9.5 & 3.4), the 6-8 Hall (9.4 & 4.7), and 7-0 center Bingham (9.2 & a team high 6.1 RPG). Bingham had 19 points and 11 rebounds vs Wisconsin and PG Walker (8.4 & 4.4) was the only other Spartan in double digits with 11 points. NINE of Walker's 11 points came in the final 1:33 as the Spartans pulled away from a 58-58 tie.

Matt Painter is in his 17th season at Purdue and it's been one of his best. 7-4 sophomore Edey (14.8 & 7.5) teams with 6-10 senior Williams (11.5 & 7.3), the 6-6 Gillis (6.5 & 4.6) and 6-10 freshman Furst (4.1 & 3.3 ) up front. The perimeter is led by Ivey (17.2 & 4.8) and Stefanovic (11.1), while Newman (5.3) and Thompson (4.5) add depth. Purdue led Penn St 56-44 with 8:15 remaining before the Nittany Lions rallied within 62-61. Jaden Ivey hit two free throws and then turned a long rebound into a breakaway layup to make it 66-61 with 44 seconds left. Ivey finished with 17 points and a team-high seven rebounds. Zach Edey added 15 points in 18 minutes.

Painter and Purdue are in the semifinals for the first time since 2018, while Izzo's Spartans have reached the semifinals for the NINTH time in the last 12 seasons I called MSU's upset of Wisconsin and noted that tourney time is 'Izzo Time' but I want NO part of the Spartans here. Johnny Davis of Wisconsin was the unanimous Big Ten Player of the Year, after averaging 20.0 & 8.1 this season. However, he was hurt in the team's regular season finale. He vowed to play and opined, "do we really know how effective he can be?" Davis was CLEARLY 'not himself, shooting 3 of 19, including 0-5 on threes. Purdue is arguably the Big Ten's best team and comes in healthy AND with a 'scare' against Penn St for focus. These schools met just once in the regular season, when Walker's three-pointer with three seconds left propelled Michigan State past Purdue 68-65 at home on Feb 26. Think Purdue remembers? Lay the points.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Situational Stunner is on Wyoming at 9:30 ET.

The MWC has seen its top-four seeds advance to the semifinals in Las Vegas with the Wyoming Cowboys (No 4 seed) meeting the Boise State Broncos (No. 1 seed) in the first of two games from the Thomas and Mack Center. Both schools own 25-7 records and in two meetings during the regular season, each won on its opponents' home court. Jeff Linder came from No. Colorado where he won 26 (CIT champion), 21 and 22 games in his final three years, earning him the Wyoming gig. His first team went 14-11 but this year's team has made quite a 'leap!' Boise St's Leon Rice is in his 12th season, having produced EIGHT 20-win seasons in his first 11, including two NCAA teams (the most recent coming back in 2015). Last year's team went 19-9, before losing in the NIT quarterfinals, just missing a ninth, 20-win campaign but this year's gave Rice his ninth, 20-win campaign.

The 6-9 Ike (19.9 & 9.6) and PG Maldanado (18.7-5.8-6.1) make for quite a duo. They are joined in the starting lineup by guards Jeffries (10.4 & 5.3) and DuSell (8.0) plus the 6-9 Oden (8.1 & 4.5). Guard Wenzel (5.0) is the sixth-man. Like Wyoming, Boise St has depth issues as well but owns a strong starting-five. The backcourt is missing Doutrive (9.4 & 4.6), who last played on Nov 30 but Shaver (13.9) and 6-8 guard Akot (10.3) form a quality duo. Up front, it's the 6-7 Kijab (14.7 & 4.9), the 6-10 Armus (7.0 & 7.8) and the 6-7 Degenhart (10.2). Defense is Boise's 'bread-and-butter,' as the Broncos are allowing 60.8 PPG (15th), although the Cowboys are solid on the defensive end as well, allowing 65.7 PPG..

Both schools struggled to advance last night, as Wyoming edged 5th-seeded UNLV just 59-56, while Boise got "all it wanted" from 8th-seeded Nevada, before winning 71-69. I noted above that Boise is a terrific defensive team, but also that Wyoming is no slouch in that department, either. Wyoming is the slightly better offensive team (73.8-to-69.2 PPG) and is the team getting points. As good as Rice has been, I really like Wyoming's Linder (via Northern Colorado) and I'm taking any points offered.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Las Vegas Insider is on Ohio U at 7:30 ET.

The MAC tourney has seen all four top seeds advance to Friday's semifinals. The second game of tonight's doubleheader features 23-8 Ohio (No. 3 seed) going up against 22-9 Kent St. The two teams split the season series, each winning at home. Jeff Boals is in his third season with Ohio, which finished a modest 9-5 in MAC play last season but surprised most by winning the MAC tourney and then upset 4th-seed Virginia 62-58 in the first round of the "Big Dance." Ohio would lose its next game 72-58 to Creighton but no one was complaining in Athens. Rob Senderoff is in his 11th season at Kent and at 22-9, has led the Golden Flashes to 20 wins SEVEN times but his lone NCAA appearance came back in 2017.

Ohio guard Preston (15.7-7.3-7.3) left for the NBA (1st Ohio player picked in the draft since Brandon Hunter in 2003) but PG Sears (19.4-5.8-4.3) has stepped up big time. He's joined by three guards combining to add 21 PPG. The Ohio U frontcourt features the 6-8 Vander Plas (13.9 & 6.7), the 6-8 Carter (13.6 & 6.3) and SF Roderick (7.1 & 3.3). Sears had 24-10-5 and Carter 20 & 18 in Ohio's 10-point win Thursday over Ball St. Guards Carry (18.7-4.5-4.8) and Jacobs (12.0 & 7.6) are Kent's top scorers, although FIVE more players average between 5.1 and 8.8 PPG. This is a guard-oriented team, with the 6-11 Hamilton (8.2 & 6.4) being the top frontcourt player. Kent also won Thursday by 10 points (over Mia-Oh), led by Jacobs' 21 & 11 and Hamilton's 15 & 9.

In this neutral-site setting (the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in downtown Cleveland), I favor the Bobcats, who own a much stronger inside game and a perimeter game equal to Kent's. As noted, Senderoff has only led Kent St to just ONE conference tourney title in his tenure, while Boals did so in just his second season at Ohio and could repeat here in 2022. First things first. Take Ohio here to advance to Saturday's title game.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Tourney Takedown (Big Ten) is on Michigan St at 6:30 ET.

Tom Izzo and his Spartans started at No. 13 at the opening of the 2020-21 season and struggled in the regular season. Mich St made the NCAA tourney at 15-12 but was eliminated in a First Four game by UCLA. Michigan State began the current season unranked but opened 13-2 (4-0 in Big Ten) to reach No. 10 in the nation, However, the Spartans would finish on a 7-9 run (all in the Big Ten) and now off an unimpressive effort over 10th-seeded Maryland last night (the 21-11 Spartans nearly blew a 20-point, second-half lead, before surviving with a 76-72 victory), will face Wisconsin. The Badgers were also unranked in the preseason but enter this contest (off a double-bye) ranked No. 12 at 24-6 (Big Ten's second seed).

The Spartans do not have a 'big gun,' as the team's leading scorer is the 6-8 Brown (11.5 & 3.9). He's the ONLY one in double digits, although SEVEN players chip in between 6.5 and 9.6 PPG. Just missing are the 6-8 Hall (9.6 & 4.7), guard Christie (9.3 & 3.4) and 7-0 center Bingham (8.9 & a team high 6.0 RPG). Greg Gard is now in his seventh season at Madison, taking over when Bo Ryan retired. The "big story" for Wisconsin was the play of Johnny Davis (7.0 & 4.1 LY), who was the unanimous Big Ten Player of the Year, after averaging 20.0 & 8.1 this season. Guard Davison began the season with 124 career starts and has averaged 14.2 & 4.1 and is joined by freshman guard Hepburn (8.1), who has just 36 turnovers in 30 games! Rounding out the starting-five, after limited playing time last season, are the 6-9 Wahl (11.6 & 5.8) and the 7-0 Crowl (9.1 & 4.1).

Wisconsin 'held its breath' in the regular-season finale on Sunday, as Davis went down in a heap under the Wisconsin basket, with a Nebraska player landing on top of him, drawing a flagrant foul. However, two days later, Davis allayed those fears, pronouncing himself good to go for the Big Ten tournament. The Badgers are the better team, but tourney time has always been 'Izzo time.' He surely saw the film in which the Badgers' defense gave up a season-worst 53.7 percent shooting against Nebraska. Davis says he's fine, but we'll see. I'm taking the pints.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Conf Tourney (Big Sky) Game of the Year is on No. Colorado at 10:00 ET.

The Eastern Washington Eagles and Northern Colorado Bears are both 18-14 but Northern Colorado had the better conference record (13-7) and grabbed the No. 3 seed and a first-round bye. The Eagles had their hands full with No. Arizona last night, winning 78-75 over the Big Sky's 11th seed. It's a quarterfinal matchup tonight from the Idaho Central Arena. Both schools come in playing well, as Eastern Washington has won SEVEN of nine, while Northern Colorado comes in having won EIGHT of 11. The teams split their season series, with the road team winning each game. 

Both schools have very solid starting-fives, although the Eagles have more size. Guards Venters (16.4 & 3.9) and Bergersen (13.2-4.9-4.4) are joined in the starting line up by the 6-6 Acliese (6.2 & 7.3), the 6-7 Allegri (12.3 & 6.6) and the 6-10 Price (10.1 & 4.7). The Bears have just one frontcourt starter in the 6-9 Jongkuch (8.8 & 8.3). He's joined by guards Kountz (20.9 & 4.0), Johnson (14.9), Hume (11.3 & 5.9) and Kuxhausen (11.2).

Is it an advantage for Eastern Washington to have played last night, or does the edge go to the well-rested Bears (last played on Mar 5)? Eastern Washington has been a formidable underdog play this season but the linemakers KNOW that and still made No. Colorado a small favorite. In this case, I'm following their lead. Take the Bears.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Las Vegas Insider is on UConn at 9:30 ET.

The sixth-seeded Seton Hall Pirates escaped last night with a 57-53 win over Georgetown by closing on an 11-3 run. The game finished past midnight on the East Coast but there is no rest for the weary, as the Pirates meet 22-8 UConn, which is ranked 20th in the latest AP poll and is the Big East's No. 3 seed. The teams split a pair of games in the regular season.

The Pirates opened the season 9-1 but a two-week break without a game (COVID issues) in mid-to-late December, broke the team's momentum. Seton Hall would go just 6-8 its next 14 games but last night's win (unimpressive as it was), represented the Pirates sixth consecutive victory. 6-6 swingman Rhoden leads in scoring (16.2), while adding 6.8 but science fellow guard Aiken (14.5) has been out since Jan 15, he is the only player in double digits. Cale (9.5), Richmond (8.8)) and Harris (7.8) are all guards. The 6-8 Yetna adds 8.4 PPG and a team-high 7.8 rebounds, while two 6-10 players, Samuel (7.7 & 5.4) and Jackson (7.2 & 3.6) join Yetna up front.

Dan Hurley had a nice run at Rhode Island (won 25 & 26 games his last two seasons with NCAA bids) which got him the UConn job. He's in his fourth season and last year got UConn into the NCAAs. UConn has won SIX of its last seven games and has enjoyed its return to the Big East (prior to the 2020-21 season). Guards Gole (15.8 & 4.1 APG), Martin (13.4 & 7.6) and Jackson (6.7 & 7.1) start in the backcourt, along with the 6-9 Sanogo (15.3 & 8.6) and Whaley (7.8 & 4.8). The 6-9 Polley (7.7) is the top reserve.

Seton Hall was lucky to escape against Georgetown, which went winless thi season in the Big East. The Pirates won't be so fortunate against a UConn team ranked second in the Big East in scoring offense (76.1 points per game) and scoring defense (65.7). Lay the points.

Good luck...Larry

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

The Utah State Aggies will play the Colorado State Rams in the second round of the MWC tourney tonight. The 18-14 Aggies were the No. 7 seed and routed 10th-seeded Air Force by 27 points last night. Utah St now faces the No. 2 seeded Rams, who are 24-4 on the season. CSU won both meetings during the regular season.

Utah St head coach Ryan Odom is in his first season at Logan, coming from UMBC. The Aggies are led by the 6-7 Bean (17.8 & 9.8) and the 6-10 Horvath (13.6 & 6.4). The other main contributors are perimeter players like Bairstow (9.4), Ashworth (8.5), Eytle-Rock (8.5) and Jones (6.8). CSU's head coach, Niko Medved, is in his fourth season at Fort Collins. Big guard David Roddy leads the Rams in scoring (19.5) and rebounding (7.6), while PG Isaiah Stevens averages 14.9 PPG and a team-high 4.9 APG this season. John Tonje (9.7) comes off the bench, while guards Moore (6.7) and Jacobs (5.6 & 4.2) join the 6-9 Thomas (5.6 & 3.7) to complete the starting-five. Lake, Rivera and Moors combine to contribute 11.5 PPG.

Yes. CSU won both regular season meetings but the frontcourt of Bean and Horvath (duo combined for 34 points and 16 rebounds vs Air Force), could create matchup issues for the Rams. The Aggies are 5-1 ATS in their last six neutral site games and I'm taking the points.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Afternoon Delight is on Marquette at 2:30 ET.

The 20-11 Creighton Bluejays are the Big East's No. 4 seed and they will take on 19-11 Marquette, the No. 5 seed. Creighton got the best of a competitive two-game regular-season series with Marquette, earning a 75-69 double-overtime win on the road Jan 1, before securing a narrow 83-82 victory at home on Feb 20.

Shaka Smart was booted out of Austin after a disappointing six-year run at Texas but has done quite a good job at Marquette, which did not return a SINGLE starter from last season's disappointing 13-14 team. Marquette has a deep eight-man rotation, led by 6-7 freshman Lewis (17.1 & 8.0) and Maryland transfer, Morsell (13.3-3.6). The other six regular contributors are guards Eliott (7.5), Jones (7.5) and freshman PG Kolek (6.8-3.5-5.7), along with the 6-8 Prosper (6.2 & 3.4), the 6-10 Kuath (5.7 & 4.0) and 6-9 freshman Ighodaro (5.6 & 3.4).

Creighton head coach Greg McDermott is in his 12th season with the Bluejays and he has won 20-plus games in 11 of the 12. However, Creighton lost all FIVE starters from last year's 22-9 team that made a Sweet 16 appearance. It was supposed to be a rebuilding year for McDermott but he has rebuilt Creighton quickly. The starting guards this season have been freshman Nembhard (11.3 & 4.4 APG) and O'Connell (3.4 PPG last year), who is averaging 11.5 & 5.4 this season. 7-1 center Kalkbrenner returned (5.9 & 3.5 LY) and is a 'new man,' averaging 12.2 & 7.5. The 6-7 Hawkins is a Div II transfer and leads in scoring (14.3) and rebounding (7.7). 6-7 freshman Kaluma adds 9.5 & 5.0 plus guard Alexander (6.4 & 3.7). A big blow for Creighton recently came with Nembhard being lost for the season in late-February to a broken wrist.

Not much to choose between these two schools but with Creighton PG Nembhard out and Marquette playing with double revenge (see scores above), my bet says it's the Eagles who come up 'Golden' in this one. Marquette will advance to the semis on Friday, where it will almost assuredly face Providence (good luck!).

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Conf Tourney (Pac 12) Game of the Year is on Utah at 11:30 ET.

It will take FOUR wins in FOUR days for either Utah (11-19 / 4-16 Pac 12) or Washington (16-4 / 11-9 Pac 12) to make the NCAA Tournament. Nothing to it! The first step to that improbable journey would be surviving a first-round game Wednesday night in Las Vegas. The Utes come in as the 11th-seed (only 1-19 Oregon St was worse in the Pac 12 this season), while Washington closed the regular season with a home sweep of the Oregon schools to finish 11-19 and grab the 11th-seed. The Huskies won 74-68 at Utah on Jan 6 and also beat the Utes in double overtime, 77-73, at home on Jan 29.

Craig Smith is in his first season as Utah's head coach (had a great three-year run at Utah St in going 74-24) and led the Utes to a 5-0 start but at 8-4 entering a Dec 30th contest, Utah's season unraveled. The Utes would lose 10 straight Pac 12 games, before winning 84-59 over Oregon St on Feb 3. Utah saw its best player Timmy Allen (17.2 & 6.4) transfer to Texas. The 7-0 Carlson (13.6 & 6.0) was the best returning player plus guards Anthony (8.8 & 7.2) and Worster (7.7 & 4.4) followed Smith from Utah St. Guard Jenkins (8.6) came via UNLV. Gach, who started at Utah but moved on to Minnesota, returned this year to play for Smith (9.0).

Mike Hopkins was a longtime assistant to Jim Boeheim and won 21 and 27 games in his first two seasons in Seattle but the Huskies fell to 15 wins in his third season and then had a 'nightmare' season last year, going 5-21 (4-16 in the Pac 12). It's been a COMPLETE makeover (turnover) for Washington this season, losing players right and left to the transfer portal but also the team was able to bring in a similar group of transfers, themselves. Guard Brown (21.7-4.1-4.2) and the 6-7 Matthews (11.7 & 4.8) are both transfers. Brown is a first-team all-conference selection who led the Pac-12 in both scoring (21.7) and steals (2.1). He is the first player in the league to do that since Arizona's Jason Terry in 1998-99. FIVE more players chip in between 5.1 and 9.0 PPG.

Utah's four conference victories are the fewest since going 3-15 in its first year in the Pac-12 in 2011-12. "You just gotta hit reset," first-year coach Craig Smith said. "The only way you can win in the postseason is everybody's gotta be all-in, you've got to believe it." The winner of this game will move on to face No. 3 seed USC (25-6) in Thursday's quarterfinals. The Trojans beat Utah twice and Washington once during the regular season, all by double figures. The winner of this game is likely going home but I'm going with the double-avenging Utes, who are more talented than their record indicates and have an excellent young coach in Craig Smith.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Under the Radar Rout is on Fairfield at 9:30 ET.

Rick Pitino's 25-6 Iona Gaels are the class of the MAAC (17-3) but 16-11 St Peter's) finished 14-6 in league play and enters the tourney as the No. 2 seed. The Peacocks' first game comes against 15-17 Fairfield (No. 10 seed), which won last night 72-50 over Canisius (No. 10 seed). St Peter's beat Fairfield 70-59 back on Feb 18 and then 57-41 on Mar 5 (regular season finale for both schools).

Fairfield is a guard-oriented team with guards Benning (10.8 & 4.3), Wojcik (9.5), Cruz (9.1) and Green (7.6) being joined by the 6-9 Cook (10.0 & 8.3). Fairfield handled Canisius easily, despite Cook scoring just TWO points (0-6 FGs). Guards Cruz (19), Benning (15) and Green (10-4-6) led the way. Cook did have nine rebounds. Shaheen Holloway (remember him at Seton Hall where he averaged 13.7 PPG in four years? is in his fourth season (just 42-45 in his first three). This is his best team, led by guard Banks (11.2) and Edert (8.9) plus the 6-7 Ndefo (10.3 & 6.2) and the 6-7 Drame (7.2 & 6.9).

I like the way Fairfield recovered from its 'ugly' regular season ending loss at St Peter's (team shot 15 of 58, including 4 of 22 on threes), with a very nice game vs Canisius (made 45.6%, including 7 of 15 threes), despite Cook going 0-for-6. Expect him to bounce back tonight and I'm calling for a Fairfield upset. Take the points.

Good luck...Larry

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

The ACC tourney moves to its second day with 10th-seeded Clemson (17-15), after a 70-64 win over 15th-seeded North Carolina State on Tuesday, taking on 7th-seeded Virginia Tech (19-12). The only meeting between the schools came this past Saturday (regular season finale for both), when Clemson eked out a 63-59 home win over Ga Tech.

Clemson's best player is the 6-10 Hall (15.4 & 5.7), who is joined up front by the 6-8 Tyson (10.1 & 5.3). The remaining key contributors are guards Dawes (11.4), Collins (10.3 & 6.9) and Honor (7.6). Hall had 18 & 10 in the win over NC State, while Honor added 13, Dawes 12 and Collins 7 & 10. Va Tech has eight players who have participated in all 31 games this season. The 6-9 Aluma (15.4 & 6.5), the 6-7 Mutts (10.3 & 7.5) and guard Alleyne (10.2) score in double digits. The other top producing guards are Cattor (9.7 & 4.1) and Murphy (7.6).

Clemson head coach Brad Brownell reflected on his team's Saturday win over Virginia Tech while looking ahead to the rematch. "Our guys fought like crazy in that (Saturday) game," Brownell said. "We're going to have to play with maximum effort and shoot the ball probably better than we did (Tuesday) to beat a really good team." The Hokies engineered a remarkable turnaround to their season after a dismal start in conference play. Virginia Tech lost SEVEN of its first nine conference games but then responded by winning NINE of 11 games since to creep into the NCAA Tournament picture. Virginia Tech head coach Mike Young knows the team's postseason fate is uncertain, so a win over Clemson is almost a "MUST!" I love the Hokies in this spot.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* SEC Showdown is on Ole Miss at 6:00 ET.

The SEC has THREE of the Ap's top-9 teams but this first round game of the SEC tournament in Tampa will feature the 13-18 Ole Miss Rebels (No. 13 seed) and the 11-20 Missouri Tigers (No. 12 seed). The winner is likely out on Thursday, when it faces 5th-seeded LSU. The question that needs to be answered tonight is, can Missouri continue this season's mastery of Ole Miss? The Tigers defeated the Rebels 78-53 on the road back on Jan 18, then 74-68 at home on Feb 12.

Ole Miss guard Ruffin (12.6) hasn't played since Feb 1 but Joiner (13.2) and Murrell (11.9) are a solid backcourt duo. The 7-0 Brown (10.0 & 7.5) and the 6-8 Brakefield (7.8 & 4.2) are the top two frontcourt players. The 6-7 Brown leads Missouri in scoring (12.6) and rebounding (7.8) and gets help up front from the 6-6 Degray (8.2 & 4.7). Pickett (11.1) is the best of a guard trio that also includes Davis (9.2) and Coleman (8.9).

Amari Davis led Missouri with 36 points in the two victories over Ole Miss and Kobe Brown scored 28. The Tigers shot 62.7 percent from the floor in the first game and 53.8 percent in the second. Anyone seriously think that this 11-20 team can repeat those percentages? Meanwhile, Ole Miss didn't have leading scorer Jarkel Joiner (13.2 points per game) for its first game against the Tigers due to injury, but he had 13 points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals in the rematch.  On the coaching sidelines, I'll take Ole Miss' Kermit Davis in 'a heartbeat' over Missouri's Cuonzo Martin. Surely, in this double-revenge situation. There is a reason the twice-defeated Rebels are favored!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Conf Tourney (Summit League) Game of the Year is on North Dakota St at 9:00 ET.

The North Dakota State Bison will play the South Dakota State Jackrabbits in the championship game of the Summit League Tournament tonight in Sioux Falls. Eric Henderson was named head coach of the Jackrabbits prior to the 2019-20 season, replacing T. J. Otzelberger, who accepted the head coaching position at UNLV. After going 37-17 in his first two seasons, this year's team is 29-4 (18-0 regular season in Summit play), and on the cusp of making the Big Dance. Standing in the Jackrabbits' way is the Bison, who are led by head coach David Richman, who in eight seasons has gone 159-96 (.624), including 23-9 his season.

The Bison are led by two excellent big men in the 6-10 Kreuser (15.8 & 8.0 and the 6-11 Nelson (11.2 & 4.7) plus a pair of guards in Griesel (13.5-6.4-29) and Eady (10.3 & 4.9. In two impressive wins in this tourney, Kresser has averaged 19.0 & 5.5 and Nelson 17.0 & 6.0. Griesel has a line of 18.5-7.5-8.0 and Eady has chipped in 11.5 & 7.0. The Jackrabbits have been the "class of the league" this season, led by the trio of guards Scheierman (16.2-8.3-4.6) and Freidel (15.1) plus the 6-7 Wilson (16.0 & 5.2). Freidel had been sidelined since Feb 17 but tried to play the last game but lasted just two minutes. In SDSU's two tourney wins, Wilson has been dominant (21.5 & 7.5), while Scheierman (19.0-4.0-4.0) has been his usual self.

South Dakota State has beaten NDSU twice this season but the margin of victory in each contest has been just FOUR points. Throw in the Jackrabbits' two tourney wins and they are 20-0 vs Summit League foes this season, Can they make it a 'lucky 21-0?' Maybe but I am SURE taking the points with the Bison!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Las Vegas Insider is on Ga Tech at 7:00 ET.

Louisville held off Georgia Tech 67-64 in Atlanta back on Jan 2 and then beat Pittsburgh on Jan 5. That gave the Cardinals a 10-4 overall record, including a 4-0 start in the ACC. However, Louisville would win just TWICE more, ending the regular season by losing 14 of 16 to finish 12-18 overall and 6-14 in the ACC (11th seed). The Cardinals will meet Ga Tech, the ACC's 14th seed, in this opening round matchup in the ACC tourney. The Yellow Jackets are 12-19 overall, including 5-15 in the ACC.

However, Georgia Tech enters on somewhat of a high, thanks to an 82-78 overtime win Saturday over Boston College that saw senior guards Jordan Usher and Michael Devoe combine for 48 points. Devoe has averaged 18.0 & 5.0 on the season, while Usher has added 14.6 & 6.5. Joining that duo in the starting lineup are guard Sturdivant (7.5) and Moore (5.2 & 3.4) plus the 6-10 Howard (6.6 & 5.1). Louisville plays lots of guys, as 10 players chip in between 4.7 and 9.5 PPG. The team's top-two scorers are guard Locke (9.5) and the 6-11 Williams (9.3 & 7.7). The team's third and fourth leading scorers both come off the bench (Ellis at 8.7 PPG and Davis at 6.9 PPG).

The ACC playing its conference tourney in Brooklyn just doesn't seem right but here's the bottom line. Louisville fired head coach Chris Mack back on Jan 26 but nothing has stopped the team's slide under interim head coach Mike Pegues. Meanwhile, quoting Ga Tech head coach Josh Pastner after his team's win over BC, "Good win for us," the Yellow Jackets coach said. "We found a way to get a win in a situation where the lead evaporated for us. The momentum shifted, but we found a way to get it done." Georgia Tech won the ACC tournament last March, toppling Florida State in the final and earning its first NCAA Tournament bid under Pastner. There's no ACC tourney title in store for Pastner and Ga tech this season but I expect them to have little trouble here with the sad-sack Cardinals.

Good luck...Larry

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

The Georgia State Panthers (17-10) face the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns (16-14) Monday night in the Sun Belt Conference championship game from the Pensacola Bay Center. The Panthers topped ULL 65-58 in the regular-season finale at home and also won 68-64 in Lafayette back on Jan 27. The schools meet for the third time tonight, with the winner earning an NCAA automatic bid. 

Ga St has had the better season but ULL has 'caught fire' in the tourney, despite missing the 6-6 Julien (12.7 & 4.0). His bothersome knee has kept him out of all three games but the Ragin' Cajuns have won THREE straight games, including knocking off the SBC's regular season champions, Texas St (12-3). ULL has a pair of 6-11 players in Brown (15.0 & 8.8) and Akwuba (9.1 & 8.1). Both have played well in the three wins, Brown averaging 15.0 & 7.0 and Akwuba 10.0 & 7.7. More notably, guards Williams (5.9) and Dalcourt (5.6) have come up HUGE, with Williams averaging 14.3 & 6.3 and Dalcort 10.3.

Ga St guards Allen (13.5) and Williams (12.4-4.1-3.9) have raised their games in two tourney wins, chipping in 20.0 and 15.5 PPG, respectively. The 6-8 Nsoseme (8.9 & 9.4) and the 6-10 Thomas (7.4 & 6.2) have maintained their regular season efforts, as well. The Panthers lost in the SBC championship game last season and my bet says it's "deja vu all over again" this season!

Good luck...Larry

My Weekly Wipeout is on Furman at 7:00 ET.

The 21-11 Furman Paladins and the 26-7 Chattanooga Mocs meet Monday in the Southern Conference championship game from US Cellular Center (Ashville, NC). The Paladins beat Samford on Sunday, while the Mocs Chattanooga are coming off a win over Wofford (also on Sunday).

Furman is more of a guard-oriented team, led by Bothwell (15.4-4.0-3.1), Hunter (13.5), Garrison (9.8 & 4.1) and Foster (8.6 & 5.0). The 6-7 Clawson (14.7 & 7.5 is pretty much the lone frontcourt player of note. As for Chattanooga, guards Smith (20.3 & 6.6) and Jean-Baptiste (14.6) are the 'big guns,' but the 6-7 De Sousa (11.2 & 6.8) and the 6-8 Banks (8.4 & 4.9) are solid up front.

Slawson has been excellent in the tourney, averaging 14.7 & 7.5, while Bothwell, Hunter and Garrison have combined to average 38.5 PPG. Smith (22.0) and Jean-Baptiste (17.0) have dominated for Chattanooga but I think the Mocs can be had (linemakers sure think so with this number). Furman has had a couple of bad stretches this year, but overall it has stayed pretty consistent. The Paladins are 5-1 in their last six games and while they lost both matchups this year vs Chattanooga, the final scores were 71-69 and 64-58. The Mocs are 13-3 over their last 16 games but half of those contests have been decided by two possessions-or-less.

I 'smell' an upset (if one could call it that) and don't be surprised if the Paladins win handily!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Conference Tourney (CAA) Game of the Year is on Delaware at 6:00 ET.

The Delaware Blue Hens and the Towson Tigers meet Monday in a CAA semifinal matchup from the Entertainment & Sports Arena in Washington DC. Delaware was limited to just 15 games last (7-8) but enters this game 20-12. Towson was an awful 4-14 last season but the Tigers rebounded to go 15-3 in CAA play (tied UNC-Wilmington for first place) and will take the court with a 25-7 record.

All five starters were back this season for Delaware and SEVEN players chip in between 7.7 and 14.0 PPG. Nelson (14.0 & 5.1) leads a trio of guards in double digits, joined by Allen (12.1) and Anderson (10.9 & 3.6 APG). The 6-10 Painter (12.7 & 6.9) is joined up front by the 6-9 Carr (9.7 & 4.7) and 6-7 Davis (8.7 & 3.7). Similarly, Towson has SEVEN playing scoring between 6.5 and 14.3 PPG. It's a guard-oriented team with the 6-7 Thompson (10.9 & 6.7) being the best of a weak frontline group. However, Towson's perimeter game has served the team well, led by the duo of Timberlake (14.3 & 4.4) and Holden (13.6 & 8.7).

Like so many conferences (outside of 'big-boy' status), the only path to the Big Dance is through a conference tourney title. Despite 25 wins, Towson is well aware there will be no at-large bid. Towson did beat Delaware twice (back-to-back games on Jan 24 and 27) but the Blue Hens own an advantage inside and can hold their own on the perimeter. No pressure here on Delaware that's my pick.

Good luck...Larry

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

The South Dakota Coyotes and UM Kansas City Roos meet Sunday in a Summit League quarterfinal contest from the Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls. South Dakota St dominated the league by going 18-0, while 19-11 UMKC (12-6) finished ONE game better than 18-11 South Dakota (11-7) in league games. The difference being the Roos beating the Coyotes twice turning the regular season. 

My 10* Conf Tourney (Patriot League) Game of the Year is on Boston U at 4:00 ET.

The Boston University Terriers and the Navy Midshipmen meet Sunday in conference tourney play (Patriot League) from Alumni Hall (Navy's home court). Three schools from the league have had 20-win seasons, Colgate, Navy and Boston U. Colgate is the regular season champs (16-2), Navy was second (12-6) and BU third (11-7). Navy won both regular season meetings between the two schools and will go a three-game sweep, with the advantage of being at home.

The Terriers punched their ticket to the conference semifinals with a 76-64 win over Loyola-Maryland, as Javante McCoy (17.3) had 26 points on 11 of 14 shooting. Fellow guard Whyte (13.0 & 5.9) had 19 points and the 6-10 Mathon (15.1 & 10.3) added 17 & 12. Navy reached the semis with a 71-64 win over American. John Carter, Navy's lone double-digit scorer at 13.3 PPG, led the way with 21 points. Navy has six players averaging between 5.1 and 8.6 PPG but the team's other four starters combined for only 15 points in the win over American. Guard Summers (8.5 & 4.8) came off the bench to score 13 points but Navy's best frontcourt player, the 6-6 Nelson (8.6 & 4.5), had just TWO points and ONE rebound.

Yes, Navy won both regular season meetings with Boston (AND is playing at home) but note that Navy is 3-7 ATS in its last 10 games overall and 1-7 ATS in its last eight home games. Boston University is 11-5-2 ATS in its last 18 road games and 7-3 ATS in its last 10 games against a team with a winning percentage above .600. BU's McCoy is just as good (maybe better) than Navy's Carter plus the Midshipmen have no one to match up with BU's 6-10 Mathon. No season sweep by Navy, even while playing at home. Boston's U's 'cry' is "We want Colgate!"

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Las Vegas Insider is on Rutgers at 12:00 ET.

The Nittany Lions won't be 'dancing' in their first year under coach Micah Shrewsberry, as after losing THREE of four, they'll head to Piscataway, NJ at just 12-15 (7-12 Big Ten) to take on Rutgers (17-12 / 11-8 Big Ten). Schools finishing 11 through 14 will have to play on the first day (Wednesday) of the Big Ten tournament in Indianapolis next month. The Nittany Lions enter today's game tied with Maryland for the 10th-seed (Terps are at Michigan St). In contrast, Rutgers has an outside chance at the No. 4 seed. It must beat Penn State but also have and have No. 23 Ohio State AND No. 24 Iowa lose their finales.

Pickett (13.0-4.0-4.3) leads a trio of guards for Penn St, along with Sessoms (11.3) and Dread (6.1). The 6-6 Lundy (12.3 & 5.2) leads the way up front, along with the 6-9 Harrar (10.4 & 10.0) and the 6-9 Lee (7.7 & 6.3). Rutgers has a starting lineup consisting of four guards and the 6-11 Omoruyi (11.8 & 8.0). Baker (12.2 & 3.8 APG) entered the season with 101 starts on his resume and 6-6 guard Harper (15.8 & 6.1) can be a 'nightmare' matchup issue for many teams. Mulcahy (8.9-4.0 & 5.1) and McConnell (6.5 & 5.2) are the final two starters, while the 6-6 Hyatt (4.5 & 2.9) is the 6th-man.

After a rough start to the season with three bad non-conference losses, Rutgers forced its way onto the NCAA Tournament bubble in February with FOUR straight wins over top-25 teams (Scarlet Knights own six Quadrant 1 wins). Penn State handled Rutgers 66-49 back on Jan 11 but that was in University Park Penn St is a sad 1-9 on the road, the worst mark in the Big Ten. Steve Pikiell came to Rutgers (from Stony Brook) for the 2016-17 season and his 2019-20 team won 20 games (NCAA tourney was canceled) and then got the Scarlet Knights into the "Big Dance" last season, winning a game before losing in the round of 32. Pikiell has made "The RAC" (Rutgers Athletic Center) a brutal venue for visiting teams. Rutgers is 13-3 at home this season and enters 41-9 (.820) at home the last two-plus seasons. I'm laying the points.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Conference Tourney (WCC) Game of the Year is on BYU at 10:30 ET.

Mark Pope is in just his third season at BYU but has delivered a 44-15 two-year mark, including 20-7 last season. BYU got off to its best start under Pope, beating four NCAA Tournament teams from a season ago, Cleveland State, San Diego State, Oregon and Texas Southern. The Cougars did not begin the season ranked but moved to No. 18 in the AP poll, before rising to No. 12 (after the Utah win on Nov 27), the school's highest ranking that far into the season in 40 years. BYU was 17-4 through late-January but a four-game skid saw them fall to 17-8 and only 5-5 in WCC play). San Francisco's Todd Golden worked as an assistant under Kyle Smith and when Smith left for Washington St, took over as head coach. The Dons went 22-12 in his first season (2019-20) but last season's team, hurt by a 17-day stint away from the court due to COVID, finished just 11-14. However, the Dons are "back this year." The Dons opened 10-0 and finished the regular season 23-8 (10-6 in WCC). The teams split their two meetings this season, as the road team won each contest. They meet again Saturday in Paradise, Nv (adjacent to Las Vegas).

BYU lost guard Averette (11.7 PPG / 2nd-leading scorer) and the 7-3 Haarms (11.3 & 5.0) but got the unexpected return of guard Barcello (16.1-4.7-4.2 LY). He leads in scoring at 17.2 PPG and fellow guard Lucas adds 10.7 PPG and 4.7 APG. The frontcourt features the 6-6 Traore (9.2 & 8.4), the 6-6 Knight (7.4 & 3.4) and the 6-8 Lohner (6.7 & 6.3). SEVEN San Francisco players have participated in all 31 games this season for the Dons. Guards Bouyea (17.0-5.0-4.1) is the top scorer, followed by the 6-9 Massalski (13.6 & 9.4), guard Shabazz (13.4) makes it three double digit scorers. The other four 31-game participants are guards Stefanni (9.7) and Rishwain (7.1) plus the 6-10 Tape (4.9 & 4.3) and the 6-8 Kunen (4.1 & 3.2).

BYU had to play last night (SF had a bye) but the Cougars had little trouble dispatching Loyola Marymount 85-60. Barcello had 22 points, Traore 15 & 11 and Lohner 6 & 10. No doubt that these teams are pretty evenly matched, but I actually see it as advantage that BYU played last night and expect the Cougars to roll that positive 'mojo' over into tonight's contes.

Good luck...Larry

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

Saturday marks the first meeting of the season between Marquette and St John's, after the two teams' first contest scheduled for Dec 29 was canceled due to COVID-19 protocol.

Mike Anderson (no connection at all to St John's or the Big East) was a surprise choice as the Red Storm's head coach after Chris Mullen left and the 'jury is still out' in his third season. The 6-8 Champagnie is listed as a guard and leads St John's in scoring (19.0) and rebounding (6.0). The 6-9 Wheeler (10.2 & 4.7) and the 6-11 Soriano (6.3 & 5.7) are the Red Storm's lone big men of note. Guards Alexander (14.9-4.7-5.3), Addae-Wusu (8.3-4.1-4.1), Mathis (8.4 & 3.7) and Smith (6.2) give St John's a deep perimeter group. Shaka Smart was booted out of Austin after a disappointing six-year run at Texas but has done quite a job at Marquette, which did not return a SINGLE starter from last season's disappointing 13-14 team. However, Marquette has a deep eight-man rotation, led by 6-7 freshman Lewis (16.8 & 8.0) and Maryland transfer, Morsell (13.1-3.5). Joining that duo in the starting lineup are freshman guard Kolek (7.1 & 5.7 APG) plus frontcourt players like the 6-8 Prosper (6.4 & 3.4) and the 6-10 Kuath (5.5 & 3.9), Guards Jones (7.8) and Elliott (7.4), plus 6-9 freshman Ighodaro (5.6 & 3.4) add depth. Note: Elliot has recently been sidelined (no real big deal).

While Marquette has dropped its last five road games, the Golden Eagles are going for an EIGHTH consecutive home win. Marquette hasn't lost at home since a double-overtime loss to Creighton back on Jan 1. During Marquette's seven-game home winning streak, it has beaten No. 9 Providence and No. 11 Villanova, the Big East's top-two teams. St John's is NOT in that class. Lay the points.

Good luck...Larry

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

The Boise St Broncos and Colorado St Rams meet Saturday at the Moby Arena in Fort Collins. It's the regular season finale for both schools. Bosie is 24-6 and at 15-2 in MWC play, has secured the No. 1 in the upcoming tourney. CSU is 23-4 overall, including 13-4 in MWC) play, giving them a half-game lead over SD St for the No. 2 seed. These schools met back on Feb 13 in Boise, with the Rams coming away with a 77-74 OT win.

Boise St's Leon Rice is in his 12th season, having produced EIGHT 20-win seasons in his first 11, including two NCAA teams (the most recent coming back in 2015). Last year's team went 19-9, before losing in the NIT quarterfinals, just missing a ninth, 20-win campaign. The Broncos opened just 3-4 but have won 21 of 23 since, giving Rice a ninth 20-win season in 12 years. Boise St has depth issues but has a very solid starting-five. The backcourt misses Doutrive (9.4 & 4.6), who last played on Nov 30 but Shaver (124.0 & 3.8) and 6-8 guard Akot (10.5) form a quality duo. Up front, it's the 6-7 Kijab (14.7 & 5.9), the 6-7 Degenhart (10.3 & 3.9) and the 6-10 Armus (6.9 & 7.9). The 6-7 Smith (5.1) comes off the bench. Defense is Boise's 'bread-and-butter,' allowing 50.4 PPG (14th).

CSU's head coach Niko Medved is in his fourth season at Fort Collins, coming off a 20-8 record last season in which the Rams finished fourth in the NIT. Colorado State opened 11-0 and lost just ONE of its first 17 games but then lost B2B games to UNLV and Wyoming. However, the rams come into this game having won SEVEN of eight. David Roddy leads the Rams in scoring (19.4) and rebounding (7.7), while PG Isaiah Stevens averages 14.9 PPG and a team-high 4.9 APG this season. John Tonje (9.7) comes off the bench, while guards Moore (6.2) and Jacobs (5.9 & 4.3) join the 6-9 Thomas (5.8 & 3.3) to complete the starting-five. Lake, Rivera and Moors combine to contribute about 12 PPG.

The Rams are 14-1 at home but Boise is playing with revenge plus is a 'sweet' 9-2 SU on the road (Note: Only Duke, Southern California, Wisconsin, VCU Miami and Davidson join Boise with at least nine road wins and two or fewer losses!). I'm "all over' the Broncos!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Weekend Wipeout is on Arizona St at 3:00 ET.

I'm looking at this Pac-12 game between Stanford (15-14 / 8-11) and Arizona St (13-16 / 9-10) and see teams heading in opposite directions. Stanford won the previous meeting 79-76 back on Jan 22 at Palo Alto and today's meeting is in Tempe, as both schools conclude the regular season,

Jerod Haase had a nice four-year run at UAB (80-53) and got the Stanford job when it fired Johnny Dawkins. He won two NIT titles while at Palo Alto but the school and fans wanted NCAA tourney wins. Haase may be on the 'hot seat' after going 82-74 in his first five years, with just one postseason invite in 2018, to the NIT (Cardinal lost their first game). FIVE of Stanford's top-six scorers are frontcourt players. PG O'Connell (7.3 & 3.5 APG) runs the show but the team's main production comes from the 6-7 Jones (10.9 & 4.3), the 6-9 Delaire (10.6 & 4.0), the 6-8 Ingram (10.6 & 6.5), the 6-8 Angel (7.3 & 3.0) and the 6-9 O'Keefe (5.1 & 4.7). Stanford is coming off an 81-69 loss at No. 2 Arizona on Thursday, but coach Jerod Haase took some positives from the game. The Cardinal led at halftime and were in the game midway through the second half when Arizona went on an 8-0 run to take a 67-58 lead.

Bobby Hurley, a member of "the famous Coaching Hurleys," is in his seventh season at ASU but after three straight 20-win seasons, his team fell to 11-14 (7-10 in the Pac 12) last season. The Sun Devils were just 7-15 (3-9 Pac 12) through Feb 19 but have won SIXof seven since! Arizona State's scoring issues have suffered because returning guard Bagley (10.8 PPG) was lost to a knee injury after just THREE games (was averaging 10.4). Guard Horne (12.3) and the 6-6 Lawrence (10.4 & 6.6) have been ASU's most consistent performers. Hurley was really counting on Toledo grad transfer Jackson, who was the MAC player-of-the-year last season, averaging 18.1-6.2-5.9 but despite a recent surge, he's averaging just 10.0-3.8-4.0 this season. The other two starters are the 6-9 Graham (9.9 & 3.4.9). and guard Muhammad (5.4). Heath comes off the bench to add 10.7 PPG.

The Sun Devils have gone from being in last place in the Pac-12 on Feb 10 to entering their final regular season game in eighth. Stanford is in ninth place. Over Arizona State's last seven games (6-1), opponents have averaged only 57.3 points, almost 10 points fewer than its season average of 66.7. Everything points to an Arizona St "B-L-O-W-O-U-T!"

Good luck...Larry

My 9* ACC Game of the Month is on Syracuse at 1:00 ET.

It's the regular-season finale for both the Miami Hurricanes (21-9, 13-6 ACC) and the Syracuse Orange (15-15, 9-10). Miami escaped with an 88-87 home win over Syracuse in their previous meeting on Jan 5 and the 'Canes take a 9-2 road record into today's contest. Only Boise St, Duke, Southern California, Wisconsin, VCU and Davidson join Miami with at least nine road wins and two or fewer losses. Meanwhile, after a Sweet 16 run last season, Syracuse is just a .500 team in the current season (11-4 at home). The game will be decided by which team's starting-five plays better.

Miami head coach Jim Larranaga has led the Hurricanes to seven, 20-win seasons in his 11 years, to all three of the school's 25-win seasons and to two of the school's three Sweet 16 appearances. By the way, I could also throw in him leading unheralded George Mason to a Final 4 appearance back in 2006. The 'Canes came into the season off an 'ugly 10-17 season (4-15 in the ACC) last year but have 'righted the ship.' Miami is led by the guard trio of McGusty (17.4 & 4.9), Wong (15.5 & 4.3) and Moore (12.5 & 4.2 APG). Miller is a fourth guard and adds 9.3 & 5.8. Miami's lone big man of note is the 6-10 Waardenburg (8.8 & 4.1).

Jim Boeheim is in his 46th season as a head coach and is coming off another Sweet 16 run in last year's "Big Dance" (The Orange finished 18-10). However, it's been 'tough sledding' for the Orange this season. Boeheim relies wholly on his starting five, with son Buddy averaging 19.0 PPG. His backcourt partner Girard (13.3 & 4.2 APG) returned at PG from last season. However, two key transfers have made major impacts. Swider, a 6-9 transfer from Villanova, is averaging 13.7 & 6.6 plus Boeheim's oldest son Jimmy (a 6-8 graduate transfer from Cornell), is adding 13.3 & 6.1. The 6-11 Edwards returns up front and chips in 12.0 & 6.1. Depth has been an issue all season, but that's the case with Miami as well.

Miami's headed to the "Big Dance" but the only way Syracuse makes it is to win the ACC tourney. However, the motivation here is all on the side of The Orange, as it is the team's final home game and the team can't possibly forget losing at Miami (by ONE point!), after leading by 18 points in the first half! The 'Cuse rolls!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Conference Tourney (MVC) Game of the Year is on Southern Illinois at 9:30 ET.

The Southern Illinois Salukis are 16-14 (9-9 MVC) and the Drake Bulldogs are 22-9 (13-5 MVC) as the two schools get set to meet Friday. The Missouri Valley Tournament is known as "Arch Madness," as it's held in St Louis. The two schools have met twice during the regular season but while Drake won both n]meetings, the Bulldogs had their hands full with the Salukis.

Southern Illinois has had its ups and downs this season, including a 3-8 run in January/February. However, the Salukis had won four straight before losing their season finale to Drake, The 6-6 Domask (15.0 & 5.1) is the team's best player, joined by guards Jones (14.7), Coupet (11.1 & 4.7) and Verplancken (6.8). no other player averages as much as 5 PPG.

Drake's Darian DeVries is in his fourth season in Des Moines (70-29 his first three) and you may remember Drake opening 18-0 last season. However, the Bulldogs lost in the MVC tourney (Arch Madness) but the Bulldogs still went 'dancing,' earning the first at-large bid in program history (Drake also finished at 26-5). Head coach DeVries had the inside track on recruiting his son Tucker (Gatorade POY in Iowa) and he has delivered by leading the team in scoring at 13.6 PPG. Three more guards join him in the starting lineup, the 6-3 Sturtz (11.0 PPG and a team-high 7.5 RPG), Penn (10.6) and Wilkins (10.3). The 6-6 Hemphill (9.8 & 5.3), the 6-6 Murphy (8.8 & 5.) and the 6-10 Brodie (6.3 & 4,6) are the frontcourt contributors.

There is no doubt that Drake is the better team but the Bulldogs won just 60-59 at SIU on Jan 17 and then only beat the Salukis 62-60 at home in the season finale for both teams (Feb 26). There will be no at-large bid this season for Drake, so all the pressure is on them to win this tourney. My bet is that Drake could very well lose right here. Take the points!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Weekly Wipeout is on Kent St at 6:00 ET.

The Buffalo Bulls and Kent State Golden Flashes meet Friday at the M.A.C. Center in Kent, Oh. Both schools come in playing VERY well, as Buffalo had won NINE straight before losing its last game 92-76 to Toledo (Bulls have won 13 of their last 16). Meanwhile, Kent comes in having won 11 straight (8-2-1 ATS) since falling Jan 21 at Buffalo (64-51). This is the final game of the regular season. Kent St is 15-4 is just one game behind 1st-place Toledo but the Rockets are home to Bowling Green (13-17 / 6-12).

Jim Whitesell is in his 27th season as a head coach, including his THIRD at Buffalo. He was named the head coach at Buffalo in April of 2019, filling the void left by Nate Oats when he resigned to take the head coach job at Alabama. The Bulls returned four starters from last season's 16-9 team and this year's team will be one of eight MAC schools (12-team league) heading to Cleveland for the MAC tourney (opens a week from Thursday). Buffalo's starting-five is very good. 6-5 SF Williams (19.2 & 5.0) is joined in the frontcourt by the 6-7 Mballo (13.6 & 8.8) and the 6-10 Skogman (8.1 & 6.4). PG Segu (15.3 & 5.3) is joined in the backcourt by Jack (9.7 & 4.6). Brewton (5.5) adds depth in the backcourt and the 6-8 Fagan (4.1 & 4.3 in the frontcourt.

Rob Senderoff is in his 11th season at Kent and at 20-9 so far, has led the Golden Flashes to 20 wins SEVEN times. Guards Carry (18.7-4.5-4.7) and Jacobs (11.9 & 7.6) are the team's top scorers. Five more players average between 5.2 and 8.7 PPG. This is a guard-oriented team, as fellow guards Garcia and Santiago each average 8.7 points. The 6-11 Hamilton (8.3 & 6.50 is the top frontcourt player.

Buffalo's nine-game winning streak ended with a THUD, falling 92-76 at home vs Toledo. Now, the Bulls meet the revenge-minded Golden Flashes on their home court, who have at least an outside chance at tying Toledo for 1st in the MAC. The Golden Flashes have won 11 straight since that loss at Buffalo, going 8-0-1 ATS before falling to cover their last two, laying big points. No real impost to worry about here. Make it an even DOZEN straight wins on Friday night.

Good luck...Larry

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

The Big South tourney continues on Friday from Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, when the High Point Panthers (No. 7 seed) will meet the Winthrop Eagles (No. 2 seed) in the quarterfinals. The Panthers (now 14-17) were able to advance to the quarterfinals after defeating the 10-seed Hampton Pirates, 84-77 in OT on Wednesday. The Eagles finished their regular season with an overall record of 21-8 and earned the 2-seed after finishing conference play with a 14-2 record (Longwood led the Big South with a 15-1 conference record).

High Point's head coach is Tubby Smith, who returned to coach his alma mater. This marks his 31st season as a head coach but entered this season just 34-53 in his first three seasons at High Point. The Panthers are led by an excellent trio consisting of guards Wright (18.5-4.3-3,4) and House (11.8 & 4.2) plus 6-5 SF Austin (14.5 & 7.8). Austin was terrific vs Hampton (24 & 16), while House added 19. That said, High Point needed OT to beat a Hampton team that finished its season just 9-19.

Winthrop entered this season having averaged 21.8 wins over the previous eight seasons, including a 23-2 season last year. Mark Prosser is in his first year as the school's head coach but had previously worked at Winthrop as an assistant. The 6-9 Burns (15.3 & 4.6), the 6-7 Hightower (11.5 & 5.6) and guard Good (11.) lead the way. The 6-7 Talford (8.8 & 4.7) and guard Anumba (7.4 & 3.8) are both regular contributors, while four more guards combine to chip in 21 PPG.

Winthrop comes in having won 15 of its last 17 games (since Dec 31) and has run off EIGHT straight wins since losing 92-88 at Longwood (see above) on Jan 29. The ONLY other loss in the team's last 17 games came in a 65-56 loss at High Point. Winthrop WILL remember and this efficient offensive team (48.9% shooting ranks 8th in the nation) has too much firepower here for Tubby's team. Lay it!

Good luck...Larry

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

The Big Ten features five top-25 schools (tied for most with the SEC) and No. 24 Iowa (21-8 / 11-7 Big Ten) is on the road tonight in Ann Arbor to take on Michigan, arguably the Big Ten's biggest disappointment. The Wolverines were ranked No. 6 in the preseason poll but enter this game 16-12 (10-8 Big Ten) and with a suspended head coach in Juwan Howard.

Fran McCaffrey is in his 12th season at Iowa City and he's delivered seven, 20-win seasons in his first 11 (now 8 in 12). The 6-8 Murray twins (Keegan and Kris) were freshmen last season at Iowa. Keegan gained playing time as the year wound down but Kris was lost in the shuffle. This season, Keegan leads the team in scoring (23.3) and rebounding (8.6) while his brother Kris chips in 9.9 & 4.5. Returning players like the 6-9 Patrick McCaffrey (10.7 & 3.8) and guard Bohannon (11.0) have both played well. The 6-9 Rebraca (6.0 & 5.8), guards Perkins (6.6 )and Toussaint (4.6-3.6 APG) plus 6-7 freshman Sandfort (4.8) round out a deep group.

To say the least, Juwan Howard's season has NOT gone as planned (Wolverines were 23-5 last year). Howard is currently serving a five-game suspension for his role in a postgame skirmish at Wisconsin on Feb 20, with Phil Martelli stepping in as the acting head coach. Michigan's starting-five includes 7-1 center Dickinson (18.3 & 8.4) and the 6-11 Diabate (9.2 & 5.5) up front, plus a trio of guards. Brooks (11.9) and Houstan (10.9 & 4.1) score in double digits, while PG Jones (10.1-4.9-4.5) runs the offense. The two most reliable reserves are forwards Williams and Johns, but they combine for the modest totals of 8.0 PPG and 4.6.

Michigan has won two of three without Howard, including an 87-70 rout Tuesday over Michigan State, as leading scorer Hunter Dickinson scored a career-high 33 points. That likely kept the Wolverines on the right side of the NCAA bubble. However, few better teams have played than Iowa over the past month. The Hawkeyes have won four in a row and seven of eight games. The lone blemish in that stretch was a 84-79 home loss to Michigan on Feb 17. Iowa shot just 4 of 18 from three-point range in that game plus the Hawkeyes couldn't stop Michigan freshman Moussa Diabate, who scored a season-high 28 points.

Considering that Iowa averages 83.7 PPG (5th-best in the nation), don't expect them to shoot that poorly again and as for Diabate, he averages only 9.2 PPG on the season (his effort at Iowa was 19 points higher than his average). Iowa gets its revenge, as the Hawkeyes have no margin for error in earning the No. 4 seed for the Big Ten tourney (tied at 11-7 with Ohio St), that comes with a double-bye.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Conf Tourney (Horizon) Game of the Year is on No. Kentucky at 7:00 ET

The Detroit Titans and the Northern Kentucky Norse meet Thursday in Horizon League Tournament college action from BB&T Arena the Norse's home court). Mike Davis took over at Detroit for the 2018-19 season and inherited a mess (school was off B2B eight-win seasons). His Titans were just 31-53 in his first three seasons but this team has improved slightly (currently 14-14). Darrin Horn took over at Northern Ky when John Brannen left for Cincinnati. His first team went 23-9 but the Norse fell to 14-11 in his second. This year's team is 18-11, including 14-6 in league (finished just a half-game behind regular season leaders Cleve St and PFW.

Detroit started off the season at an ugly 0-6, so getting back to 14-14 is pretty good. Detroit won 79-62 at home in an opening round game over Green Bay. Leading scorer Davis (24.2-3.6-4.5) 'carried' the Titans with 38 points. The team's only other double digit scorer, the 6-7 Alec (12.9 & 7.1), returned from an illness to play 16 minutes but went scoreless. McAdoo (7.4) had 14 points off the bench and starting guard Harvey (8.0 & 5.4) had 10 points.

Northern Kentucky didn't get off to a good start (6-9) but the Norse finished the regular season going 12-2 over their final 14 games (more in a bit!). The team is led by a trio of guards in double digits, led by Warrick (16.0) plus Faulkner (11.8) and Vinson (11.8-4.4-3.3). Up front, the 6-8 Nelson (6.8 & 7.5) starts and the 6-8 Brandon (5.3 & 7.1) comes off the bench.

Here's the bottom line. Northern Kentucky enters this game 12-2 SU and ATS. Believe it or not, BOTH losses (SU & ATS) have come against Detroit! That simply "makes no sense!" I say No. Ky wins with "room to spare" here in this double-revenge situation against a Detroit team that can only reasonably count on Davis. Lay the points!

Good luck...Larry

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

No. 18 UConn (21-7, 12-5 Big East) will visit Omaha tonight to take on Creighton (19-9, 11-6). Both teams look to bolster their potential seeding in the upcoming Big East Tournament (both schools are likely at-large NCAA tournament teams).The Huskies have won five in a row for the third time this season and are coming off victories over Villanova and Georgetown. Creighton is coming off an ugly 72-51 loss at then-No. 11 Providence that snapped a six-game winning streak.

Dan Hurley had a nice run at Rhode Island (won 25 & 26 games his last two seasons with NCAA bids) which got him the UConn job. He's in his fourth season and last year got UConn into the NCAAs. Guards Gole (16.1-3.5-4.2), Martin (13.3 & 7.4) Jackson (6.8 & 7.2 start in the backcourt, along with the 6-9 Sanogo (14.9 & 8.2) and Whaley (7.9 & 4.8). The 6-9 Polley (7.8) is the top reserve.

Creighton head coach Greg McDermott is in his 12th season with the Bluejays and has won 20-plus games in 10 of his first 11. However, Creighton lost all FIVE starters from last year's 22-9 team that made a Sweet 16 appearance. It was supposed to be a rebuilding year for Coach McDermott but he has rebuilt Creighton quickly. The starting guards are freshman Nembhard (11.3 & 4.4 APG) and O'Connell (3.4 PPG last year), who is averaging 12.0 & 5.2 this season. 7-1 center Kalkbrenner returned (5.9 & 3.5 LY) and is a 'new man,' averaging 12.2 & 7.4. The 6-7 Hawkins is a Div II transfer and leads in scoring (14.3) and rebounding (7.8). 6-7 freshman Kaluma adds 9.3 & 5.0 plus guard Alexander (6.3 & 3.7) comes off the bench.

The Bluejays beat the Huskies 59-55 back on Feb 1 in Storrs, so revenge is on UConn's side. More importantly, a victory over the Bluejays would clinch at least the No. 3 seed for UConn in next week's Big East tournament. Making that 'job' easier is that Creighton freshman Ryan Nembhard just underwent wrist surgery. He had started all 27 games (see stats above)! UConn looks poised to make the NCAA Tournament in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2011-12, when it was still coached by the legendary Jim Calhoun. There is MUCH to play for UConn and the Huskies are the play!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Conf Tourney (Big South) Game of the Year is on Campbell at 8:00 ET.

The Presbyterian Blue Hose and the Campbell Camels meet in Big South tourney action from the Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte. Both schools returned all five starters from the previous season but Presbyterian comes into the conference tournament as the #11 seed, finishing with a record of 12-19 including 4-12 in conference play and Campbell comes in as the #6 seed, with a record of 15-12 including 8-8 in conference games.

Presbyterian has SEVEN players who have played 30 or 31 games (team has played 31), led by guard Harrison (17.0) and the 6-7 Hill (11.9 & 6.4). Campbell has SIX players getting 24-plus minutes while averaging between 7.0 and 14.1 PPG. That group includes five guards plus the 6-8 Carralero (9.3 & 5.3). The Camels have three guards scoring in double digits, led by Henderson (14.1 & 5.6) and followed by Whitfield (11.0) plus Clemons (10.1 & 5.1).

The Camels were expected to be better than 15-12 but the Blue Hose have really underachieved, at 12-19 and 4-12 in conference play. Campbell IS the better team and is playing with revenge, having lost 64-58 at Presbyterian in the teams lone meeting of the regular season. Campbell "gets it right" here, on a neutral court.

Good luck...Larry

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

The Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders and the Charlotte 49ers meet Wednesday C-USE play from Halton Arena in Charlotte. Middle Tennessee has rebounded from a 5-18 season (3-13 C-USA) to 22-7 so far this year, leading the East Division at 13-3. Charlotte is 15-13 on the season, including 8-8 in league games.

Middle Tennessee was just 9-6 back in early January, but they’ve only lost ONE game since then. In fact, the Blue Raiders come in on a eight-game winning streak, with ATS wins in their previous SEVEN games. Four players average 25-plus minutes per game, led by guards Jefferson (14.7 & 3.2), Lawrence (10.7 & 4.2) and Sims (10.6 & 4.1) plus 6-6 forward Dishman (8.7 & 4.7). 

It's been a choppy year for Charlotte but the 49ers match up well in this contest. Guard Young (19.9-5.8-3.6) will be the best player on the court, joined by fellow guards Butler (12.4 & 5.8) and Trapp (9.0 & 5.1). Charlotte owns some size inside in the 6-7 Braswell (8.5) and the 6-11 Khalifa (7.5 & 4.2), which could give MTSU some problems.

No doubt that MTSU is the better team but Charlotte is 10-4 SU at home and this marks the 49ers' final home game of the season. MTSU knows that its ONLY path to an NCAA bid is by winning the upcoming conference tourney, so I'm going to grab the points with the home dog, which just may be a little more motivated.

Good luck...Larry

NOTE: I made a slip of the mouse and selected Arizona. instead of USC. The play is on the Trojans.

My 10* Conf Game of the Month (Pac 12) is on USC at 11:00 ET.

The top-six AP teams all lost last Saturday. No. 1 Gonzaga remained No. 1 and Arizona remained No. 2. The connection between those two schools is that first-year Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd was a longtime assistant under Gonzaga's Mark Few, before he accepted the job in Tucson when Sean Miller was fired after 12 seasons with the Wildcats. 25-3  Arizona (15-2 Pac-12) travels to LA to take on 25-4 USC, which is second in the Pac 12 at 14-4, a half-game ahead of crosstown rival UCLA.

Arizona can clinch the Pac-12 regular-season title win at No. 16 USC and is also trying to solidify a top seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Wildcats are coming off Saturday's 79-63 loss at Colorado but hope to repeat a 72-63 win at home over USC back at Arizona on Feb 5. The Wildcats own four double digit scorers, led by 6-6 guard Mathurin's 17.1 PPG (he adds 5.7 RPG). The 6-7 Tubelis averages 15.4 & 6.6  and the 7-1 Koloko adds 11.7 & 7.3 plus PG Kriisa is good for 10.2 PPG and 5.0 APG. Four more Arizona players chip in between 6.5 to 7.4 PPG. The Wildcats average 84.4 PPG (3rd in the nation).

USC was 25-8 last season (made the Elite 8) but head coach Andy Enfield (who will ever forget Florida Gulf Coast!) has retooled the Trojans quickly after losing Evan Mobley to the NBA draft (3rd overall pick). USC opened the current season 13-0 and in the Jan 10 AP poll, was ranked No. 5. It was the school's highest ranking since also being No. 5 way back in December of 1974! Mobley's 6-10 older brother Isaiah leads in scoring (14.6) and rebounding (8.4) and is joined by the 6-9 Goodwin (11.6 & 6.7) and the 6-9 Agbonkpolo (8.0 & 3.) in the frontcourt. Ellis (12.3), and Peterson (12.5 & 6,4) make for an excellent backcourt duo.

Here's the rub. The Trojans have won SIX consecutive games following their Feb 5 loss at Arizona and are making a habit of winning close contests, including a 70-69 victory at Oregon on Saturday. Four of their past five victories -- UCLA, Washington State, Oregon State (in double overtime) and Oregon -- came by a total of NINE points. That makes them a very ;live' underdog in this contest. When USC lost at Arizona, Drew Peterson made just 1-of-13 FG attempts (0-of-6 on threes). However, he comes into the rematch full of confidence after scoring 20 points and hitting the go-ahead three-pointer with 11.5 seconds left against Oregon. He's been USC's best player during its six-game winning streak, averaging 18.8 points in the streak. Bow Wow! Take the home dog.

Good luck...Larry

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

The 23-6 Toledo Rockets and 19-8 Buffalo Bulls square off on Tuesday in MACtion from the UB Alumni Arena, as the MAC plays its final week of the regular season. Toledo is 15-3, one game better than Ohio and Kent St, who are both 14-4. As for Buffalo, the Bulls are 13-4. When these two teams met back on January 25, Toledo walked away with an 86-75 win (Rockets are 12-1 at home). 

Tod Kowalczyk is in his 12th season at Toledo and lost his best player from last year in PG Jackson (18.1-6.1-5.9), who transferred to Arizona St. Three-point shooter Littleson (47.2% on threes last season) also left to play in Belgium. However, three double-digit scorers returned in guard Ryan Rollins plus frontcourt players like the 6-6 Millner and the 6-7 Shumate. Rollins (19.2 & 6.1) leads the way plus Shumate (15.5 & 6.2) and Millner (14.7 & 5.9) have also fulfilled expectations. Boise St transfer Dennis (12.5 & 6.0) and Moss (8.7 & 5.5) join Rollins in the backcourt to round out an excellent starting-five.

Jim Whitesell is in his 27th season as a head coach, including his THIRD at Buffalo. He was named the head coach at Buffalo in April of 2019, filling the void left by Nate Oats when he resigned to take the head coach job at Alabama. The Bulls returned four starters from last season's 16-9 team and this year's team will be one of eight MAC schools (12-team league) heading to Cleveland for the MAC tourney (opens a week from Thursday). Buffalo's starting-five can match Toledo's. 6-5 SF Williams (19.3 & 5.1) is joined in the frontcourt by the 6-7 Mballo (13.7 & 8.7) and the 6-10 Skogman (8.1 &6.5). PG Segu (15.1 & 5.3) is joined in the backcourt by Jack (9.6 & 4.6). Brewton (5.6) adds depth in the backcourt and the 6-8 Fagan (4.2 7 4.4) in the frontcourt.

Toledo has had an excellent season (s 20-7-1 ATS) but I'm going with the Bulls. As noted, Buffalo lost at Toledo back on Jan 25 and then lost its next game at home to Ohio. However, the Bulls enter this game having won NINE in a row while averaging a whopping 85.9 PPG.

Good luck...Larry

 My 10* Conf Game of the Year (SWAC) is on Texas Southern at 8:30 ET.

The Alcorn State Braves opened 1-11 in non-conference play but have gone 11-4 in SWAC games. Texas Southern knows the feeling," as the Tigers were just 2-7 in non conference action, before turning their season around with a 12-4 record in the SWAC. Both schools play in the North Division, so the winner of this contest will end the night in first place. Alcorn St still has two left (both at home), while Texas Southern will have just one game remaining after this one. 

Landon Bussie is in just his second season with the Braves (his first head coaching gig) and he's authored an impressive turnaround, after Alcorn St was only 6-13 last season (shortened by COVID). The Braves have a deep team, with NINE players averaging 19-plus minutes. The backcourt is led by Thomas (10.2-3.5-3.9), Montgomery (9.7) and Brewton (8.8 & 5.0) plus two 6-8 players, Agnew (8.7 & 4.7) and Henry (8.1 7 5.) are the two top frontcourt performers.

Texas Southern's Johnny Jones has been around for quite awhile. He spent 11 seasons at North Texas and five at LSU before coming to Texas Southern five years ago. The Tigers are also deep, with 10 players averaging between 18 and 25 minutes and between 4.8 and 9.5 PPG. Two 6-9 players, Nicholas (9.5 & 5.8) and Walker (9.4 & 4.5) are the top frontcourt performers, while Henry (8.1) and Etienne (8.1) headline a deep backcourt.

These teams met back on Jan 15 in Lorman, Ms, with the Braves coming away with a 73-72 win. However, let me note that Alcorn St, a team that's making only 41.1% of its FG attempts on the season (317th in the nation), connected on 51%. The Braves WON'T repeat that here in Houston. Here's something one can't overlook. Texas Southern began this season with a 152-41 (.788) record in SWAC games the previous 11 seasons and are now 12-4 this year. 

Just a reminder as to why I like Texas Southern here, the Tigers won 69-54 at then-No. 20 Florida 69-54 back on Dec 6. Lay the points!

Good luck...Larry

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

The Maryland-Eastern Shore Hawks and Morgan State Bears meet Monday in MEAC action college at the Hill Field House in Baltimore. Both the Hawks and Bears are 10-13 this season, with the Hawks going 6-7 in league play, while the Bears are 5-6. Maryland-Eastern Shore comes in off back-to-back wins, after losing four of its previous four. As for Morgan St, it has won three of four, with its lone loss coming by just two points to Howard (Howard is the league's second-nest team at 8-4).

The Hawks have six players averaging 20-plus minutes and between 8.1 and 10.1 PPG. It's a guard-oriented team, with 6-5 SF Pollard (9.0 & 6.7) serving as the team's lone frontcourt player of note. A bevy of guards are led by London (10.9) and Styles (10.2). The Bears are similar in that six players average 20-plus minutes and between 7.0 and 12.3 PPG. Morgan St does have three double digits scorers, guards Miller (12.3 & 8.5) and Ware (10.0 & 5.2) plus the 6-8 Grantsaan (10.5 & 5.7)

Morgan St is playing with revenge from a 79-72 loss at Maryland-Eastern Shore (back on Jan 31) and I'm sure would like to keep its "mini-run" of three wins in four games going. The Bears are 7-3 at home, while the Hawks are 5-9 on the road. Maryland-Eastern Shore's head coach Jason Crafton went just 47-108 while coaching Division II Nyack and his first season here (2019-20), saw him go 5-27. The school canceled its season last year and is now 10-13 in the current season and looking towards next season. So is Morgan St but it has four returning starters from last season plus averages EIGHT more points per game than Maryland-Eastern Shore (76.0-68.2). Lay the small points.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Situational Stunner is on Harvard at 12:00 ET.

The 20-5 Princeton Tigers and 13-11 Harvard Crimson meet Sunday in Ivy league play from the Lavietes Pavilion. The Tigers have won FIVE straight to move to 10-2 in the Ivy standings. They got some help Saturday from Cornell, who beat Yale, dropping Bulldogs to 10-3. Princeton and Yale are fighting for the Ivy's No. 1 seed and a Princeton win would give the Tigers a one-game lead (both have just one game remaining). Harvard is just 5-7 but it puts them just a half-game back of 6-7 Brown. That's notable, as only the Ivy's top-four teams make the league tourney and with Princton, Yale and Penn having locked up the top-three seeds, a Harvard win means both the Crimson and Bears would be tied at 6-7 heading into next Saturday, when Harvard hosts Dartmouth (a VERY winnable contest!), while Brown plays at Yale (good luck Bears!).

The Tigers own the Ivy's best trio in Guards Wright (15.2 & 7.2) and Llewellyn (15.0 & 4.1) plus the 6-8 Evbuomwan (15.0-6.2-4.9). Llewellyn had a season-high 29 points as Princeton beat Harvard 74-67 on Friday night and now the teams meet again, although this time in Cambridge. Harvard began the season with two excellent 6-7 players in forward Ledlum and big guard Kirkwood. That duo had started along with guards Sakota and Tretout plus the 6-6 Catchings. However, Ledlum (16.7 & 9.3) has not played since Jan 7 but Kirkwood 17.9 & 5.8) has had an excellent season. Sakota (11.6), Tretout (8.1) and Lesmond (8.5) join him on the perimeter. Catchings (8.9 & 3.9) has recently begun to get help from the 6-8 Forbes, who has averaged 9.7 & 6.0 in seven February games.

There is little doubt that Princeton is the better team (Tigers average 80.3 PPG, 11th-best in the nation) but if only it was that easy when it comes to 'picking winners!' Case in point, consider this: Look what happened yesterday. For the first time in college basketball history, SEVEN top-10 teams lost on the same day. No. 1 Gonzaga, No. 2 Arizona, No. 3 Auburn, No. 4 Purdue, No. 5 Kansas, No. 6 Kentucky and No. 9 Texas Tech all lost, surpassing the previous record of six top-10 teams in the Associated Press poll losing in one day. Saturday was also the first time the top-six teams in the top-25 poll all lost on the same day, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.

Princeton didn't actually have an easy time with Harvard Friday night on its homecourt, winning by SEVEN points as a 7 1/2-point favorite. I expect Harvard to go "all out" here, as if the Crimson can sneak into the Ivy tourney, it will be held right here on Harvard's homecourt, the Lavietes Pavilion. Let's 'bark' with the home dog!

Good luck...Larry

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

No. 16 Southern California heads to Eugene, Or. on Saturday with a 24-4 overall record, including 13-4 in the Pac 12. Arizona (15-1) leads the Pac 12 but USC, UCLA (12-5) and Oregon (11-6) are all looking to nail down a top-4 seed for the Pac 12 tourney. USC has won FIVE straight, after escaping with a 94-91 double-overtime win at Oregon St (Beavers are last in the conference), while Oregon (18-10 / 11-6) comes off an impressive 68-63 home win over UCLA on Thursday.

USC was 25-8 last season (made the Elite 8) but head coach Andy Enfield (who will ever forget Florida Gulf Coast!) has retooled the Trojans, after losing Evan Mobley to the NBA draft (3rd overall pick). USC opened the current season 13-0 and in the Jan 10 AP poll, was ranked No. 5. It was the school's highest ranking since also being No. 5 way back in December of 1974! Mobley's 6-10 older brother Isaiah leads in scoring (14.5) and rebounding (8.5) and is joined by the 6-9 Goodwin (11.8 & 6.8) and the 6-9 Agbonkpolo (8.0 & 3.6) in the frontcourt. Ellis (12.4), and Peterson (12.3-6.3-3.4) make for an excellent backcourt duo. However, Ellis was a late scratch due to an ankle injury sustained in practice on Thursday (listed as questionable here) but note that Ethan Anderson (5.0 & 2.2 APG) started in his place and scored 12 points and dished six assists.

Oregon's Dana Altman has been a HUGE winner in his coaching career and Oregon was ranked 13th in the AP's preseason poll. However, the Ducks opened just 6-6 and then, after a 10-1 run, had lost THREE of four into Thursday's game with UCLA. Oregon beat the Bruins with a 13-3 run down the stretch. Josh Richardson (15.1-3.5-3.5) is Oregon's leading scorer, while fellow guards Young (11.1) and Harmon (10.8) join Richardson in double figures. 6-11 center Dante (8.1 & 5.9) plus the 6-7 Guerrier (9.2 & 5.0) typically start, while the 6-6 Williams (7.8 & 4.9) and the 6-11 Kepnang (4.8 & 3.0) come off the bench.

USC is an at-large 'lock,' while Oregon is still looking to build its resume. "The top three teams in the league are the teams we've played hard against," Ducks head coach Dana Altman said in his postgame press conference following the UCLA win "We've had some games against other teams, we just haven't played as focused, as hard, with the energy that we need to." He's right. The Ducks beat UCLA (Jan 13) and USC (Jan 15) back in LA and after almost beating Arizona in Tucson on Feb 19 (lost 84-81), beat UCLA for a second straight time on Thursday. Can Oregon make it a series sweep against USC, as well? My bet says that is 'a bridge too far,' AND I'm getting points with USC. Take them.

Good luck...Larry

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

No. 13 Wisconsin (22-5, 13-4 Big Ten) is tied with No. 4 Purdue (also 13-4) atop the Big Ten conference standings and will host the Boilermakers on Tuesday, However, the Badgers will be in Piscataway, NJ on Saturday to take on a dangerous Rutgers team (16-11 / 10-7 in Big Ten). It's NOT possible that Wisconsin could be 'looking ahead," as the Scarlet Knights came to Madison back on Feb 12 and posted a 73-65 victory, amid a stretch of four wins over top-25 opponents.

Greg Gard is now in his seventh season at Madison, taking over when Bo Ryan retired. Wisconsin featured four, 5th-year seniors and three regular seniors last season but that wasn't the case this season. However, Wisconsin has again reached 20 wins (17th time in the last 20 seasons). Guard Davison began the season with 124 career starts and is averaging 14.2 & 4.1 and is joined by freshman guard Hepburn (7.6), who has just 32 turnovers while playing 31 minutes per game! The "big story" has guard Davis (7.0 & 4.1 LY), who is averaging 20.6 & 8.3 this season (POY candidate). Rounding out the starting-five, after limited playing time last season, are the 6-9 Wahl (11.2 & 5.7) and the 7-0 Crowl (9.6 & 4.6).

Steve Pikiell came to Rutgers (from Stony Brook) for the 2016-17 season and his 2019-20 team won 20 games (NCAA tourney was canceled) and then got the Scarlet Knights into the "Big Dance" last season, winning a game before losing in the round of 32. Since that four-game winning streak against Michigan State, Ohio State, Wisconsin and Illinois put Rutgers on the national radar, it has dropped two straight at Purdue and Michigan. Rutgers has a starting lineup consisting of four guards and the 6-11 Omoruyi (11.8 & 7.8). Baker (11.9 & 3.9 APG) entered the season with 101 starts on his resume and 6-6 guard Harper (15.7 & 6.1) can be a 'nightmare' matchup issue for many teams. Mulcahy (9.1-5.4 & 4.1) and McConnell (6.9 & 5.2) are the final two starters, while the 6-6 Hyatt (4.6 & 2.9) is the 6th-man.

It's true that Pikiell has made "The RAC" (Rutgers Athletic Center) a brutal venue for visiting teams. Rutgers is 13-2 at home this season and enters 41-8 (.841) at home the last two-plus seasons but Wisconsin has been winning games like this for two decades. A Wisconsin 'W" here and the Badgers could be in position to lock up the league title and the No. 1 seed in the Big Ten tournament with a victory over Purdue this coming Tuesday. Wisconsin is the slight underdog here and, on the season, the Badgers are both 5-2 SU & ATS when getting points. Take those points here!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Marquee Classic is on Kentucky ay 2:00 ET

Kentucky men's basketball team went just 9-16 last season, but all knew that was an aberration, as the Wildcats were ranked No. 10 in the AP's preseason poll. No. 6 Kentucky (23-5, 12-3 SEC) visits No. 18 Arkansas (22-6, 11-4 SEC)), one game behind Auburn (25-3, 13-2 SEC) in the conference standings, but one game up on Arkansas and Tennessee (Vols are also 11-4 in the SEC).

Coach Cal may have to go without guards Washington (12.4 & 6.1) and Wheeler (9.6 & 7.1 APG), as Washington is dealing with an ankle injury and Wheeler with a wrist issue. 6-6 freshman reserve guard Bryce Hopkins (2.4) scored 11 of his career-best 13 points during a key, 15-2 Kentucky run, in the Wildcats' 71-66 Wednesday win over LSU. FOUR Wildcats finished in double figures, including POY candidate Oscar Tshiebwe (16.4 & 15.3), who paced Kentucky with 17 points and 16 rebounds, registering his 10th consecutive double-double. The 6-7 Brooks (11.1 & 4.5) has been solid all season plus coach Cal also has two other quality guards in Grady (12.4) and Mintz (9.0). The Kentucky offense ranks 9th in scoring (80.6 PPG) and 15th in FG percentage (48.6). Also note that the Wildcats are holding opponents to 65.3 PPG, for an average winning margin of 15.3 PPG.

Eric Musselman is in his third season at Fayetteville, after four OUTSTANDING seasons at Nevada. He won the CBI title in his first season, then went to three straight NCAA tourneys (4-year record of 110-34!). He was 20-12 in his first season at Arkansas, then went 25-7 last season (Elite 8 appearance). His current team is led by a trio of guards in double digits. The group includes Notae (18.7-4.4-3.4), Umude (11.1 & 4.6) and Toney (10.3 & 5.4). The 6-10 Williams adds 10.4 & 9.6 and is really the lone frontcourt player of note. Guards Lykes Davis (9.0 & 4.3) and Lykes (8.4) round out what has basically been a six-man rotation. Arkansas scored 77.5 and allows 67.4 PPG.

I realize that Arkansas is on a sweet 12-1 SU & ATS run coming in but Kentucky leads the all-time series 33-12 and I won't pass up getting points with Coach Cal, even if the Wildcats have to play a little short-handed.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Rivalry of the Month ("Bedlam") is on Oklahoma at 12:00 ET.

The Oklahoma State Cowboys lost just one player from last season's 21-9 team but it was a huge loss. Cade Cunningham (20.1 & 6.2) left to become the first player chosen in the 2021 NBA Draft. The Cowboys have long known they wouldn't be advancing to the postseason, thanks to an NCAA ban, so they will probably be looking to make the most of the few chances they have left. Oklahoma St is just 13-14 (6-9 Big 12) and visits Oklahoma today, having already dealt the Sooners a 64-55 setback on Feb 5. It's been a rough first season for head coach Porter Moser (of Loyola-Chicago fame), as after opening 11-2, the Sooners have lost 12 of 15 to come into this contest just 14-14 (only 4-11 Big 12).

This heated rivalry is nicknamed "Bedlam" and it's produced some great football games over the years. In hoops, it may not be quite the same, but it still means a lot to the two schools and the players. Okla St has just one frontcourt player of any note and that's the 6-10 Cisse (7.2 & 6.0). The team revolves around a quartet of guards, led by Anderson (11.7) and Thompson (11.0) plus Williams (9.00 and Likekele 7.3 & 5.6). As for the Sooners, they have a quality starting-five, with all getting 25-plus minutes of playing time. The 6-9 Grooves (12.1 & 5.2) is joined by the 6-6 Hill (9.1 & 5,9) up front, while Gibson (11.9), Goldwire (10.1 & 3.4 APG) and Harkless (10.0 & 4.1) comprise an excellent guard trio. However, Harkless was lost for the season last week due to injury.

Oklahoma was 12-3 at one point, with three wins over ranked teams, but its season has come apart. However, a "Bedlam" game with hated-Okla St will surely be enough motivation, especially since the Sooners lost in Stillwater. An at-large berth is now no more than a dream but note that EIGHT of Oklahoma's losses in its 3-12 run have come against a ranked opponent. 13-14 Oklahoma is hardly a ranked opponent and is only 2-7 in road games on the season. The points seem 'cheap!' Oklahoma in a R-O-U-T!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Conf Game of the Year (A-10) is on Richmond at 7:00 ET.

The Saint Louis Billikens will travel to the Robins Center to take on the Richmond Spiders for Friday night action in the A-10. Davidson (13-2) leads the conference, followed by VCU and Dayton (both 12-3), plus 10-4 St Bonaventure. The Billikens improved to 19-9 on the season after a 72-61 Tuesday win over St Joseph’s Hawks (StL is 10-5 in the A-10). Meanwhile, the Richmond Spiders improved to 18-10 on the season with an 84-71 win over George Washington, also on Tuesday (Richmond is 9-6 in the A-10).

St Louis has solid depth with SEVEN players averaging between 7.2 and 16.2 PPG. The Billikens are led by SG Jimerson (16.2) and PG Collins (11.4 & 8.1 APG). Nesbitt (9.2 & 4.4) and Thatch (8.7 & 5.3) are also backcourt contributors. The 6-9 Okoro (10.5 & 7.6) is the top frontcourt player, joined by the 6-9 Linssen (7.8 & 3.8) and SF Hargrove (7.2 & 4.5). Richmond counters with a strong frontcourt, led by the 6-7 Burton (16.6 & 7.4), the 6-10 Golden (14.8 & 6.4) and the 6-7 Cayo (8.9 & 4.4). PG Gilyard (12.6 & 6.0 APG) is the best backcourt player, joined by Sherad (6.7) and Gustavson (4.8).

The Billikens defeated the Spiders by a 76-69 margin earlier this season in St Louis (Jan 2) but note that Richmond is 10-3 SU at home, with two of the losses coming by THREE points to Davidson (13-2)m and by TWO points to VCU (12-3), the A-10's top-two teams. The revenge angle is NO guarantee but I thinks it fits (AND works) well in this spot, Home team wins this one comfortably.

Good luck...Larry

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

The top-four Big Ten schools earn a double-bye in the upcoming tourney but in this game between the Northwestern Wildcats (13-13, 6-11 Big Ten) and the Nittany Lions (11-13, 6-10), the MAJOR goal is avoiding the first day of the tournament. Schools finishing 11 through 14 will have to play on the first day (Wednesday) of the Big Ten tournament in Indianapolis next month. At 6-10, the Nittany Lions are currently 10th, while the 6-11 Wildcats are 11th.

Northwestern head coach Chris Collins said he and his team's mission is clear. "This was an important game," Collins said after his team's 77-65 win over Nebraska on Tuesday. "We've got three games left and we'd like to climb in the standings a little bit." Northwestern concludes the regular season at No. 25 Iowa and then hosts Minnesota (4-13).  6-10 senior Nance leads Northwestern in scoring (16.1) and rebounding (6.4) and teams with 6-10 center Young (8.8 &4.3) and the 6-9 Beran (6.5 & 4.3) up front. Junior PG Buie (15.0 & 4.4 APG) and fellow guard Berry (7.3) are joined by guard Audige, who didn't make his season debut until Dec 5. He's averaging 10.7 & 4.2 on the season.

Pickett (13.0-4.0-4.1) leads a trio of guards for Penn St, along with Sessoms (11.5-3.5-3.0) and Dread (6.5). The 6-6 Lundy (12.3 & 5.3) leads the way up front, along with the 6-9 Harrar (10.7 & 9.8) and the 6-9 Lee (7.8 & 6.9). A note of concern is that Lee has missed the last three games (? for this one).

Penn State lost to Maryland 67-61 on Monday and after tonight's contest, must visit No. 15 Illinois and Rutgers. That means, the Wildcats would have an excellent chance to escape the dreaded Wednesday bracket for the first time since 2018 with a "W" tonight over the Nittany Lions. Collins and the Wildcats get a second shot at Penn State, as the Nittany Lions shot 52 percent in the second half of a 74-70 win at Northwestern back on Jan 5. Turnabout is fair play. The pointspread indicates "close call" but I'm calling for a "W-I-P-E-O-U-T!"

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Late Breaker is on UCLA at 9:30 ET.

No. 12 UCLA is 20-5 (12-4 in the Pac 12) and visits Eugene, Or tonight looking to avenge an 84-81 home OT loss to Oregon back on Jan 13.  The host Ducks are 17-10 (10-6 in Pac 12), 10-6 Pac-12). UCLA is tied with USC for 2nd in the Pac 12 (Arizona leads at 14-1), while Oregon is fourth, just a half-game better than 10-7 Colorado. Oregon lost this past Saturday to Arizona, marking its THIRD loss in the last four games. Oregon is seeking to nail down a top-four seed for the Pac-12 plus is also trying to burnish it's at-large resume, which needs some help. UCLA won't catch Arizona but the Bruins are an at-large 'lock.'

UCLA made that great run to the Final 4 last season and with a 'TON' of talent back, the Bruins began the season ranked No. 2 in the AP's preseason poll. Mick Cronin's team is led by a 'Core 4' of guards. Juzang (17.5 & 4.9) leads the way, followed by Jaquez (12.0 & 5.4) and Bernard (12.0 & 4.8). All three are 6-7 and 5-11 PG Campbell (11.7 & 4.4APG) runs the show. All of a sudden, the 6-5 Clark (8.1 & 4.7) has come on to average 19.7 & 8.3 in UCLA's last three games. Oregon's Dana Altman has been a HUGE winner in his coaching career and Oregon was ranked 13th in the AP's preseason poll. However, the Ducks opened just 6-6 and now, after a 10-1 run, have lost THREE of four. Josh Richardson (15.2) is Oregon's leading scorer, while fellow guards Young (11.0) and Harmon (10.6) join Richardson in double figures. 6-11 center Dante (8.3 & 6.0) plus the 6-7 Guerrier (9.4 & 5.0) typically start, while the 6-6 Williams (7.7 & 5.0) and the 6-11 Kepnang (4.7 & 2.8) come off the bench. 

Juzang and the 6-9 Cody Riley 7.8 & 3.4 missed the Bruins' 76-50 rout of Washington on Saturday, but Jaylen Clark helped pick up the slack with a career-high 25 points. "I tried to tell you guys in October," UCLA coach Mick Cronin said, citing COVID-19 protocol pauses for slowing Clark earlier in the season. "Hopefully, we can keep him on a run. I wish he would stop trying to dunk on people. I see our season flashing before my eyes as he's up in the air." Reserve David Singleton (5.9) is also playing well and the 6-11 Johnson (4.0 & 6.1) has helped overcome the up-and-down season by Riley. UCLA's depth is too much for Oregon, as the Bruins get their revenge.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Under the Radar Crusher is on Southern Utah at 9:00 ET.

The 17-10 Montana Grizzlies will travel to the America First Events Center in Cedar City, Utah to take on the 17-9 Southern Utah Thunderbirds. The Big Sky is in its final two weeks of the regular season with Montana St (13-3) sitting atop the standings followed by 12-5 Weber St. Southern Utah is tied with Northern Colorado at 11-5, while Montana is at 10-6. The teams met back on Feb 7 at Montana, as the Grizzlies won 78-67.

The 6-9 Bannen (14.6 & 8.1) is joined by a trio of Montana guards that make up the core of the team. The backcourt includes Beasley (11.9), Whitney (10.8) and PG (9.3 & 5.1 APG). Southern Utah has four double digit scorers in guards Jones (15.5 & 4.8), Knight (13.9-4.2-4.3) and Marin (10.8), joined by the 6-6 Fausett (12.8 & 8.5). Three others chip in between 6.5 and 7.9 PPG, including 6-11 starting center Spurgin (7.0 & 4.4).

I don't think either of these teams are capable of knocking off Montana St or Weber St in the conference tourney but I do see Southern Utah easily avenging its Feb 7 loss at Montana in this one. The Grizzlies have struggled on the road this season, posting a 4-9 record with recent losses at 6-20 Idaho State and 8-18 Idaho. Southern Utah hasn’t been great ATS this season but the Thunderbirds are still one of the better teams in the Big Sky, own a 10-3 home record and average 79.7 PPG to rank 21st in the nation. Lay the points!

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Conf Game of the Year (Horizon League) is on Purdue-Ft Wayne at 7:00 ET.

Cleveland St leads the Horizon League at 15-4, as the conference enters the final week of its regular season. The next six schools are separated by just two games but as noted, time has all but run out. That said, there is plenty to play for regarding seeding for the conference tourney. The Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons will travel to the Athletics Center O’rena in Rochester, Mi to take on the Oakland Golden Grizzlies tonight in Horizon League play. The Mastodons are currently second at 13-6, while Golden Grizzlies are 11-6. Oakland won its home game 76-68 over Purdue Fort Wayne back on Jan 15 but "current form" favors Purdue Fort Wayne (more in a bit).

Jon Coffman is in his eighth season and brought in transfer Chong Qui (10.0 & 3.6 APG) to join a veteran backcourt group. Godfrey (15.3 & 4.4), Pipkins (13.9) and Billups (9.0) complete a solid quartet of guards, while the 6-9 Planutis (8.6 & 3.50 and Kpedi (8.4 & 6.2) are the top frontcourt performers. Oakland's Greg Kampe is in his 38th season with Oakland (you read that right!) and this year's team features arguably the league's top frontcourt in the 6-7 Cain (20.5 & 10.) plus Towsend (14.1 & 5.9) and Parrish (11.4 & 6.10. The team lacks depth but Moore (15.3 & 7 8.1 APG) is on the short list of the best mid-major PGs in the nation.

Here's the bottom line. Purdue Fort Wayne comes in on a SEVEN-game winning streak (6-1 ATS), while Oakland is just 2-5 SU in its last seven plus since beating Purdue Fort Wayne back on Jan 15, has gone 1-9 ATS! Why NOT take the points?

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Situational Stunner is on Cincinnati at 9:00 ET.

The Cincinnati Bearcats and UCF Knights face off Wednesday in a AAC showdown at CFE Arena in Orlando. Houston (11-2) and SMU (10-3) are fighting for the AAC regular season title, while 17-10 Cincy is just 7-7 in league play, while 16-9 UCF is 8-7. This marks the lone regular season meeting between the two schools.

The Bearcats have a new coach in Wes Miller (CCAA bids with UNC-Greensboro in 2018 and 2021) and Cincy's top-four scorers are guards. DeJulius (14.7) is the leading scorer, followed by Davenport (13.8 & 5.3). Adams-Woods (9.1) and Saunders (7.2) round out the top-four. Up front, it's 6-5 SF Newman (6.6 & 4.0), the 6-11 Lahkin (4.5 & 3.9) and the 6-9 Oguama (4.5 & 4.2).

Central Florida was just 11-12 last season but head coach Johnny Dawkins returned all FIVE starters. UCF is, like Cincy, pretty much a perimeter-heavy group. Guards Green (13.6), Perry (11.2-3.9-4.4) and Mahan (10.6 &4.3) all score in double digits. Mahan left the last game with a foot injury and is questionable for this one, so Johnson (5.9) and Freeman (4.9) may get more "PT." Up front, the 6-8 Walker (7.9 & 5.5) and the 6-11 Diong (6.9 & 5.8) are the biggest contributors

Cincy won FOUR of five to close January but is now just 2-4 in February. As for UCF, the Knights are a modest 4-4 in their last eight. While Cincy is not a strong road team, UCF is 1-5 ATS in its last six games against a team with a winning straight up record. Take the points.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Marquee Classic is on Duke at 7:00 ET.

The once all-powerful ACC is having a down year, as 23-4 Duke (currently No. 7) has been the only ranked team for most of the season. That changed Monday, as 17-10  Virginia 'snuck into' the latest poll at No. 25. For the Cavs to stay in the top-25, they'll have to repeat their 69-68 win at Duke (Feb 7) tonight in Charlottesville. Duke has won all four games since its loss to UVA and at 13-3, is one game ahead of 12-4 Notre Dame for 1st place in the ACC. Meanwhile, Virginia has won FIVE of its last six games and at 11-6, is tied with Wake Forest for 5th in the ACC (note: UVA has also clinched its 11th consecutive winning ACC record!).

Coach K is on the verge of completing his 47th season as a head coach (42 years at Duke) and brought in a trio of highly-regarded freshmen for his final season. None have been more impactful than the 6-10 Banchero, who leads in scoring (16.9) and rebounding (8.4). The 7-0 Williams is also having a strong freshman season, adding 10.6 & 6.8. Freshman guard Keels (12.0-4.0-3.2) rounds out that incoming trio. Guards Moore (13.9 & 4.6) and Roach (7.3 & 3.5 APG) plus the 6-6 Griffin (9.9 & 3.5) round out the main contributors (Griffin is also a freshman).

Tony Bennett's UVA team won a national championship in 2019 and from the 2013-14 season through the championship season of 2018-19, the Cavs avenged 29.7 wins per season. The Cavs ended last season 18-7, after a first-round NCAA loss to 13th-seed Ohio U. It was a very uneven start to the current season, but the Cavs have 'settled in.' The only returning starter for UVA is PG Clark (9.9 & 4.1 APG). Guard Beekman (7.7 & 5.0 APG) is back, as is the 6-11 Shedrick (7.1 & 5.4), but UVA's two-most important players are transfers. The 6-6 Gardner comes from East Carolina and leads in scoring (15.3) and rebounding (7.1) plus guard Franklin comes via Indiana and chips in 11.6 PPG. Of concern for UVA in this game is that Franklin left his last game with a toe injury (questionable for tonight).

As always, Bennett's team is one of the nation's best defensive squads in the nation, allowing just 60.1 PPG (13th). However, Duke will bring an excellent offensive team to John Paul Jones Arena, one which averages 80.1 PPG (16th) on 48.3% shooting (17th). In contrast UVA is averaging only 63.4 PPG (333rd) and Duke's defense is no slouch, allowing 65.3 PPG. Lay the points, as the Dookies get their revenge win and a COVER!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Big East Showdown is on Xavier at 7:00 ET.

The 11th-ranked  22-3 Providence Friars got a nice break last night, as UConn knocked off Villanova. The Wildcats' Big East record fell to 14-4 (two games left), while Providence sits 12-2 with three games remaining. The Friars welcome Xavier to town and are hoping that they've gained some positive mojo after rallying from a 19-point second-half deficit to stun host Butler 71-70 in overtime on Sunday. Providence is looking to nail down its first regular-season Big East title in program history. The Musketeers trailed by 17 at halftime and cut the deficit to four with 11 minutes left in their last game, but lost 72-61 at UConn on Saturday. Xavier has now lost two straight and six of its last nine games to fall to 17-9 (7-8 in the Big East).

Xavier head coach Travis Steele was badly in need of a 20-win season when the 2021-22 CBB season tipped off back on Nov 9. He took over from Chris Mack (23.9 wins per season with NINE straight Big Dance bids), who took over from Sean Miller (24 wins per season and NCAA bids in his last four seasons of his five-year stint). The Musketeers entered the season having won just 51 games (17 per) in Steele's first three seasons, without an NCAA bid. Xavier was "looking good" at 14-3 through Jan 19 but time is running out on that 20-win season. Xavier's starting-five looks like this. The 7-0 Nunge (13.4 & 7.2) and the 6-9 Freemantle (9.8 & 5.4) start up front, with guards Scruggs (12.0-4.5-4.2), Jones (10.2 & 7.5) and Johnson (9.8) comprising a strong backcourt. Guards Kunkel (8.3) and Odom (6.0) add backcourt depth, while the 6-8 Hunter adds 5.0 & 3.4 off the bench in the frontcourt. Some bad news is that Johnson has missed the last two games with a knee injury (?).

Ed Cooley arrived in Providence for the 2011-12 season and led the Friars to FIVE straight NCAA tournaments from 2014-2018. Providence is coming off a mediocre 13-13 season last year but that's all changed this season. The Friars have three double digit scorers 6-10 center Watson (14.2 & 5.6), plus guards Durhman (13.4) and Bynum (12.2 & 4.2 APG). Reeves (9.3) adds depth in the backcourt, while the 6-8 Horchler (10.0 & 8.5) and the 6-7 Minaya (6.3 & 5.7) contribute up front. Some bad news here is that Durhma was held out of the Butler game with a sports hernia (?).

When these teams met in Cincinnati back on Jan 26, Xavier rallied from a seven-point second-half deficit to take a two-point lead in the final minute, only to lose 65-62 on a three-pointer with one second left. Lots of pressure here on Providence and I'm going to take the points with Xavier.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Weekly Wipeout is on Nevada at 11:00 ET.

Instate rivals the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels and the Nevada Wolf Pack meet in WC action from the Lawlor Events Center on Tuesday night in Reno. The Rebels lost head coach TJ Otzelberger to Iowa St and replaced him with Kevin Kruger (Lon's son), giving him his first=ever head coaching gig. As for the Wolf Pack, this is Steve Alford's (most know his history) third season at Nevada, having gone 19-12 and 15-9 in his first two seasons. However, with all five starters returning, a strong season was anticipated. However, that has NOT been the case. Boise St (12-2) and Wyoming (11-2) have been the class of the 11-school MWC, with UNLV checking in at 16-11 overall (8-8 MWC) and Nevada coming into this game just 12-13 (6-8 MWC)

The UNLV Runnin’ Rebels are coming off a VERY impressive 72-51 win over Colorado State on Saturday. Leading scorer Bryce Hamilton (21.6 & 4.8) had 20 & 11 vs CSU, while the 6-9 Hamm (8.4 & 9.7) added 12 rebounds plus seven points. The 6-6 Williams (13.4 PPG) joins Hamilton as UNLV's only other double digit scorer on the season. Nevada PG Sherfield (19.5-4.5-6.4) leads the way, with fellow guard Cambridge adding 16.9 & 5.3. Nevada has a pair of 7-footers in Baker (12.0 & 5.4) and Washington (10.1 & 6.2), but Washington has been out since Jan 25 (finger dislocation).

The Wolf Pack lost 69-58 in Las Vegas back on Feb 1 (made just 3 of 17 three-pointers) but Nevada enters this game on a three-game winning streak. With road games at Boise St and Wyoming up next (the MWC's two-best teams) a "W" here against hated instate rival UNLV would be a big deal. The Rebels are just 3-8 away from home this season, so the play is on Nevada. Expect a comfortable win.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Marquee Classic is on UConn at 8:00 ET.

Villanova head coach Jay Wright owns two national titles (2016 and 2018) and was coming off a Sweet 16 appearance last season with four starters coming back for the current season. 'Nova opened the year as the AP's 4th-ranked team but the Wildcats were just 7-4 through mid-December. That said, THREE of those losses came to then-No. 2 UCLA, then-No. 6 Purdue and then-No. 2 Baylor. The No. 8 Wildcats have won 14 of 16 since that 7-4 start and will take a five-game winning streak as it travels to Hartford, Ct for a matchup with No. 21 UConn. Dan Hurley had a nice run at Rhode Island (won 25 & 26 games his last two seasons with NCAA bids) which got him the UConn job. He's in his fourth season and last year got UConn into the NCAAs. UConn is 19-7 overall, including 10-5 in the Big East in the current season.

Wright is going with a basic six-man rotation so far this season. Collin Gillespie has fully recovered from an MCL injury that ended his 2020-21 campaign early. He leads the Wildcats in scoring with 16.6 PPG. Fellow guards Justin Moore adds 15.5 & 5.3 and Daniels chips in 9.7 PPG in the role of 6th-man. Up front, it's the 6-7 Samuels (10.1 & 6.1), the 6-8 Dixon (9.9 & 6.6).and the 6-7 Slater (9.2 & 3.7).

Guards Gole (16.2-3.6-4.3), Martin (13.6 & 7.0) and Jackson (6.8 & 7.4) start in the UConn backcourt, while the 6-9 Sanogo (15.1 & 8.6) and 6-9 Whaley (7.4 & 4.9) start up front. The 6-9 Polley (7.6) is the top reserve, with guards Hawkins and Gaffney combining for 10.5 PPG.

14-3 Villanova can't afford a stumble if it wants to overtake 12-2 Providence for another regular-season conference title and UConn is looking to secure a top-five seed in the Big East, avoiding an opening round game. The Huskies are currently tied with Creighton at 10-5 for third in the Big East. UConn is 12-2 at home and a win over Villanova would put them in great shape in the Big East, as two of their final three games after tonight come against 0-15 Georgetown and 3-13 DePaul. Take the home team.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Las Vegas Insider is on Florida at 7:00 ET.

The SEC has five schools ranked in the AP's top-25 and this past Saturday, THREE of them lost (No. 3 Aub, No. 17 Tenn and No. 24 Ala). No. 18 Arkansas and unranked Florida were on the winning side of two of them. The Razorbacks' 58-48 win over Tennessee marked the second time in four games that Arkansas had beaten a ranked SEC opponent. As for the Gators, their 63-62 win over then-No. 2 Auburn was easily the school's best win of the season (Florida entered Saturday's contest 0-5 vs ranked SEC foes on the season).

Eric Musselman is in his third season at Fayetteville, after four OUTSTANDING seasons at Nevada. He won the CBI title in his first season, then went to three straight NCAA tourneys (4-year record of 110-34!). He was 20-12 in his first season at Arkansas, then went 25-7 last season (Elite 8 appearance). His current team is led by a trio of guards in double digits. The group includes Notae (18.5-4.3-3.4), Umude (11.1 & 4.6) and Toney (10.3 & 5.5). The 6-10 Williams adds 10.3 & 9.6 and is really the lone frontcourt player of note. Guard Lykes (8,6) and Davis (6.6 & 4.2) round out what has basically been a six-man rotation.

Mike White has led the Gators to four NCAA berths in the last five seasons (would have been five, except for COVID cancellation). His Gators returned six seniors or graduate transfers to start this season and Florida opened 6-0. However, the Gators are just 17-10, including 7-7 in SEC play. Florida is led by the 6-11 Colin Castleton (15.7 & 9.1). Returning starters are guard Tyree Appleby (10.7) and the 6-7 Anthony Duruji (8.8 & 4.1). Myreon Jones (Penn St transfer) adds 9.2 PPG plus the 6-5 Fleming Jr. (20.1 & 7.4 at Charleston Southern last season) but is averaging a much more modest 10.2 PPG.

Florida's upset of Auburn marked the highest-ranked team the Gators have beaten at home in school history, meaning it's either a "let down" situation for Florida, or a win to build on. Noting that Arkansas' lone victory in Gainesville was a 94-85 showing back in 1995, has me 'betting' that the Gators pick up a second straight marquee win!

Good luck...Larry

The 3rd play of my STP is a 10* on Seattle at 10:00 ET.

New Mexico St has pretty much dominated the WAC since joining in the 2005-06 season, winning nine WAC conference tourneys (2020 tourney was canceled in a year in which the Aggies were 25-6 / 16-0 in the WAC). Chris Jans is in his fifth season In Las Cruces and is his first four, produced a 95-25 record, despite last season's 12-8 mark. However, despite losing four starters, the Aggies are 22-4 overall, including 12-2 in the WAC, which leaves them tied with surprising Seattle (21-6 / 12-2 WAC). Head coach Jim Hayward was set to enter his fifth season leading the Redhawks, but he resigned on November 11, 2021, after it was reported that he had twice repeated racial slurs. Assistant coach Chris Victor was named interim head coach This si Victor's first Div I head coaching job, but he did inherit FIVE returning starters.

The Aggies have an excellent guard duo in Allen (top scorer and top rebounder at 20.2 & 7.0) plus Rice (12.5 & 5.7). That duo gets little help, as no other guard averages as much as 5 PPG. The frontcourt does have depth (but no major producers) in the 6-7 McCants (8.3-4.9), the 6-7 Tillman (6.8 & 3.1), the 6-10 McNair (6.4 & 4.7) and the 6-11 Alok (5.2 & 2.2). Seattle owns an excellent guard trio in Trammell (16.4 & 5.3 APG), Tyson (15.7 & 5.5) and Grigsby (13.0). However, muck like New Mex St, the frontcourt contributions are modest, led by the 6-6 Udenyi (6.5 & 5.7), the 6-10 Chatfield (4.4 & 3.7) and the 6-6 Rajkovic (4.3 & 4.0).

The New Mexico State Aggies get props based on their reputation (that's fair) but the Seattle Redhawks have played great ball this season, going 16-1 at home (10-4-1 ATS with one non-lined game), having won by an average of 15.8 points while allowing 38.8 percent shooting from the floor. Talke Seattle. Elgin would be proud!

Good luck...Larry

The 2nd play of my STP is a 9* on Samford at 8:00 ET.

Chattanooga (12-4) and Furman (11-5) are the class of the Southern Conference but Samford (18-9 / 8-7) has put together a solid season as the Bulldogs welcome The Citadel to Birmingham on Monday night. The Citadel 'limps' into Birmingham 11-15 overall, including 5-10 in conference games.

The Citadel's nickname is also the Bulldogs and is coached by Duggar Baucom, who coached VMI for 10 seasons, going just 151-159. He is now in his 7th season at Charleston and entered this season 64-118 (LONE winning season was last year's 13-12 team). One has to wonder why he's still around. The 6-8 Clark (10.1 & 6.2) is surrounded by two 6-5 forwards in Brown (18.8 & 8.7) and Roche (14.1 & 4.1). PG Moffe (9.0 & 4.0 APG) is solid plus guard Fitzgibbons adds 8.9 PPG off the bench. 

Samford's Bucky McMillan had a great career as a coach in high school and his first season at Samford was last season ((team was just 6-13 in a COVID-ravaged season for the school). However, as noted this year's team is 18-9. The quick turnaround has been fueled by transfers, none more important than PG Glover (19.0 & 4.4 APG) from Florida. The 6-6 Marshall (12.4 & 8.) came from Akron, guard Campbell (10.5 & 3.6) is a JC transfer and fellow guard Kaife (6.4) came via Loyola-Chicago. Then there is the returning 6-9 Dye (12.4 & 4.5) and 6-6 freshman Cardet (8.1 & 4.6).

These schools met Feb 5 at The Citadel and Samford got beat in a 107-93 shootout (Brown had 35 for The Citadel and Glover 30 for Samford). Revenge works here, as Samford is 11-2 at home. Lay the points.

Good luck...Larry

The 1st play of my STP is a 9* on TCU at 8:00 ET.

The Big 12 Conference has FOUR schools in the AP's top-25, with Kansas (11-2) leading the way over Baylor and Texas Tech (both 10-4). Tonight's game between West Va (14-11 / 3-10 Big 12) and TCU (16-8 / 5-7 Big 12) is not what one would call a marquee matchup. However, both have quality head coaches in West Va's Bob Huggins and TCU's Jamie Dixon. Both schools enter looking to end three-game losing streaks but note that West Virginia has lost 10 of its last 11 contests!

The guard duo of Sherman (18.5) and McNeil (13.2) lead the way for West Va, while the 6-7 Bridges (9.2 & 5.1) is the team's top frontcourt player, with no other frontcourt player averaging as much as 5.0 PPG. Guard Johnson (5.2), while Curry adds 8.0 PPG. TCU has a trio of guards scoring 10-plus PPG in Miles (14.7-3.8-4.0), Baugh (10.6-4.2-4.0) and Miller (10.4 & 6.4). The frontcourt starters are the 6-6 O'Bannon (9.6 & 4.1) and the 6-11 Lampkin (6.6 & 6.0).

This is the first of two meetings between the two schools but while West Va's season has imploded (was 13-2 after a Jan 11 win but is 14-12 now), TCU still harbors at-large hopes at 16-8. Getting to .500 or better in Big 12 play, would sure help the team's cause. West Va is 1-7 on the road this season, including 0-6 in Big 12 play, losing by an average of 14.3 PPG. Lay the small points.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Las Vegas Insider is on Marquette at 3:00 ET.

Marquette (17-9, 9-6) earned a 77-66 win over Georgetown on Wednesday night to snap a two-game losing streak and will take its 17-9 overall record (9-6 in Big East play) to CHI Health Center in Omaha to face Creighton, which is 17-8 overall (9-5 in the Big East) and riding a four-game winning streak after beating DePaul 71-59 on Thursday night. The Golden Eagles and Bluejays met back on Jan 1 in Milwaukee, when Creighton came away with a 75-69 win in double overtime.

Shaka Smart was booted out of Austin after a disappointing six-year run at Texas but has done quite a job at Marquette, which did not return a SINGLE starter from last season's disappointing 13-14 team. However, Marquette has a deep eight-man rotation, led by 6-7 freshman Lewis (16.8 & 8.0) and Maryland transfer, Morsell (12.6). Joining that duo in the starting lineup are freshman guard Kolek (7.3 & 6.0 APG) plus frontcourt players like the 6-8 Prosper (6.6 & 3.5) and the 6-10 Kuath (5.5 & 3.9), Adding depth are guard Elliott (7.9), and Jones (7.7) plus 6-9 freshman Ighodaro (5.5 & 3.5).

Creighton head coach Greg McDermott is in his 12th season with the Bluejays and has won 20-plus games in 10 of his first 11. However, Creighton lost all FIVE starters from last year's 22-9 team that made a Sweet 16 appearance. It was supposed to be a rebuilding year for Coach McDermott but he has rebuilt Creighton quickly. The starting guards are freshman Nembhard (11.3 & 4.3 APG) and O'Connell (3.4 PPG last year), who is averaging 12.3 & 5.4 this season. 7-1 center Kalkbrenner returned (5.9 & 3.5 LY) and is a 'new man,' averaging 11.5 & 7.4. The 6-7 Hawkins is a Div II transfer and leads in scoring (13.9) and rebounding (7.5). 6-7 freshman Kaluma adds 9.3 & 5.0 plus guard Alexander (5.5 & 3.8) comes off the bench and is the only other player averaging as much as 5.0 PPG.

Creighton is looking for its longest win streak of the season Sunday afternoon but will be missing 6-7 freshman Kaluma (see above) with a knee injury. These teams are pretty even but I like Marquette's depth advantage (especially with Kaluma out) and the Golden Eagles are looking to avenge a double-OT home loss to Creighton. Providence (11-2) and Vilanova will get the Big East's top-two seeds and while the top-five seeds avoid an opening round game, the third seed will draw a first-round winner, while the 4th-seed is slated to play the 5th-seed in the second round. A Marquette win moves them to 10-6, and into the third-seed spot, as Creighton would fall to 9-6. The Eagles are truly 'golden' today in Omaha.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Conf Game of the Year (MAAC) is on St Peter's at 2:00 ET.

Rick Pitino's Iona Gaels are the class of the MAAC, as they are 21-6 overall, including 13-2 in league play. However, while the Saint Peter’s Peacocks and the Siena Saints are each a modest 12-10 overall, they are battling for second place in the MAAC. St Peter's is 10-5 and Siena 9-5, as the two schools meet Sunday afternoon from the MVP Arena in Loudonville, NY (Siena's homecourt). The Peacocks will look to build on a 70-59 win over Fairfield their last time out, while the Saints will try to bounce back from a 62-53 loss to Marist.

St Peter's is coached by Shaheen Holloway, who is in his fourth season (just 42-45 in his first three). The Saints are led by guard Banks (10.9) and the 6-7 Ndefo (10.0 & 6.2), who is a two-time Defensive POY in the MAAC. The 6-7 Drame brothers have also been crucial in setting the defensive tone Holoway is looking for. Fousseymi is averaging 7.4 & 7.1 and Hassam 6.0 & 5.3. Joining Banks in the backcourt are Edert (8.9) and Lee (7.1). Siena lost FOUR starters from last season and is led this season by Cal Poly transfer Rogers, who leads the team in scoring at 14.2 PPG. He's joined in the backcourt by Northwestern transfer Gaines (11.2 & 7.0) plus 6-9 returning PF Stormo adds 10.7 & 7.0. Hopkins (7.9) returns in the backcourt but Platek's (9.0 & 3.6) season ended back in early Dec and freshman guard Billups (5.7 & 4.8) is currently dealing with a knee injury (left last game and is questionable here).

These schools met way back on Dec 5, with Siena winning 60-58. In that game, the Saints made 8 of 15 threes, to the Peacocks 2 of 9. St Peter's is the better team, is playing with revenge and sports a 7-1 ATS run in road games! Meanwhile, Siena is just 6-5 SU & ATS at home this season. I'm "all over" St Peter's in this one.

Good luck...Larry

My 9* West Coast Crusher is on Stanford at 10:00 ET.

The Colorado Buffaloes have won four in a row to bolster their postseason hopes, reaching 17-9 overall, including 9-7 in Pac 12 play. The Buffs will travel to the Bay Area to face the Stanford Cardinal, who have lost four of their last six games, with ALL losses coming by single digits (Stanford is just 15-11, including 8-8 in Pac 12 play). Colorado is looking for a sweep of its three-game road trip and has righted the ship after losing three straight and five of six in late January and early February. As for Stanford, it has a chance to finish strong, with only one of its last four games coming against a ranked team (March 3 at Arizona). 

Tad Boyle took over at Boulder in the 2009-10 season and has led the Buffaloes to 20-plus wins EIGHT times and into the NCAA Tournament FIVE times (would have been six but the 2020 tourney was shut down because of COVID. The Buffaloes have ridden the play of the 6-9 Walker (14.7 & 9.4), who has recorded a double-double in FIVE consecutive games. He had 19 points and tied a career high with 15 rebounds in a 70-62 win at Cal on Thursday night. The 6-8 Battey (11.5 & 4.5) and the 6-10 da Silva (9.3 & 3.7) start up front with Walker, while the starting guards were Barthelemy (11.0) and Parquet (6.9). However, Parquet is now lost for the season, meaning more "PT'' for guards Simpson (7.2) and Clifford (6.6 & 4.7).

Jerod Haase had a nice four-year run at UAB (80-53) and got the Stanford job when it fired Johnny Dawkins. He won two NIT titles while at Palo Alto but the school and fans wanted NCAA tourney wins. Haase may be on the 'hot seat' after going 82-74 in his first five years, with just one postseason invite in 2018, to the NIT (Cardinal lost their first game). FIVE of Stanford's top-six scorers are frontcourt players. PG O'Connell (7.1 & 3.7 APG) runs the show but the team's main production comes from the 6-8 Ingram (11.3 & 6.6), the 6-9 Delaire (10.8 & 4.3), the 6-7 Jones (10.6 & 4.3), the 6-8 Angel (7.8 & 3.0) and the 6-9 O'Keefe (4.5 & 4.8).

The Buffs are in MUCH better shape than the Cardinal but are playing a THIRD straight road game plus Stanford is playing its final home game of the regular season. A "W" here and with winnable games ahead at Cal and ASU, could get Stanford to 18 wins, prior to the Pac 12 tourney. A couple of wins there and Hasse may get that NCAA bid. It's a long shot but the 'dream' is all but over with a loss at home tonight!

Good luck...Larry

The third play of my STP is a 9* on Cal-Santa Barbara at 10:00 ET.

It's Big West conference play tonight from the Thunderdome in Santa Barbara, as the Long Beach State Beach 49ers will play the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos. Long Beach State Beach has won 11 straight games, to reach 15-9, including 10-1 in Big West play. Meanwhile, a modest three wins in their last four have the Gauchos are 11-10, 3-5 in league play.

The 49ers are led by a quartet of guards Murray (16.) is the leading scorer and Traore is the team's leading rebounder (8.2). He also avengers 7.8 PPG and joins Slater (13.8) and Toney (10.0) on the perimeter. In contrast, Santa Barbara will have the two-best big men in the game, as the Gauchos' top-two players are the 6-9 Sow (14.8 & 8.1) and the 6-10 Norris (11.3 & 5.2). I'm NOT buying that Long Beach St is all that good and clearly the oddsmakers agree, as the home team is favored. Lay it.

Good luck...Larry

The first play of my STP is an 8* on Miami at 5:00 ET.

It's an Atlantic Coast Conference contest from 'South Beach' tonight, as the Virginia Cavaliers (16-10 / 10-6 ACC) visit the Miami Hurricanes (19-7 / 11-4). The Cavs have won four of their last five games, including victories over two of the ACC's top-three teams in Duke and Miami. Virginia defeated Miami 71-58 at home back on Feb 5. It was Miami's most lopsided ACC loss this season. Duke and Notre Dame lead the ACC at 12-3, while Miami is just ONE game back (UVA is 2 1/2-games out of first place).

Tony Bennett's UVA team won a national championship in 2019 and from the 2013-14 season through the championship season of 2018-19, the Cavs avenged 29.7 wins per season. The Cavs ended last season 18-7, after a first-round NCAA loss to 13th-seed Ohio U. It was a very uneven start to the current season, but the Cavs have 'settled in.' The only returning starter for UVA is PG Clark (9.7 & 4.0 APG). Guard Beekman (7.8-3.9-4.9) is back, as is the 6-11 Shedrick (6.9 & 5.7), but UVA's two-most important players are transfers. The 6-6 Gardner comes from East Carolina and leads in scoring (15.0) and rebounding (7.1) plus guard Franklin comes via Indiana and chips in 11.8PPG. As always, Bennett's team is one of the nation's best defensive squads in the nation, allowing just 59.7 PPG (11th).

Miami head coach Jim Larranaga has led the Hurricanes to six, 20-win seasons in his 10 years, to all three of the school's 25-win seasons and to two of the school's three Sweet 16 appearances. By the way, I could also throw in him leading unheralded George Mason to a Final 4 appearance back in 2006. The 'Canes came into the season off an 'ugly 10-17 season (4-15 in the ACC) last year but have 'righted the ship.' Miami is led by the guard trio of McGusty (17.6 & 5.2), Wong (15.8 & 4.3) and Moore (112.4), plus Miller adds 8.8 & 5.8 off the bench. Miami hasn't gotten modest production from 6-10 Waardenburg (8.4 & 4.0) plus the 6-9 Walker (5.4 & 2.5).

All said, I have to 'love' Miami in this revenge spot from that recent Jan 5 loss. The price is right," so take the 'Canes!

Good luck...Larry

My 9* Marquee Classic is on Tennessee at 4:00 ET.

Two of the hottest teams in the SEC will meet tonight from Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, Arkansas, as the Tennessee Vols (19-6 /10-3 SEC) will take a five-game winning streak into their matchup with the Arkansas Razorbacks (20-6 / 9-4), who have won 10 of their last 11. The SEC has five top-25 teams, with Auburn atop the league standings at 12-1, Tenn and Kentucky are tied at 10-3, while Arkansas lurks at 9-4. The Vols just won 76-63 at home over Kentucky on Tuesday, while Arkansas followed its 80-76 (OT) Feb 8th home win over Auburn (snapped the Tigers' 21-game winning streak), by losing at Alabama but winning at Missouri. This is the first of two meetings between the SEC contenders, as the teams will meet March 5 in Knoxville (regular season finale).

Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes has been a winner at every stop, with three NCAA berths at Providence, three in four years at Clemson and 16 in 17 years at Texas. This is his seventh season at Tennessee, and he's led the Vols to three NCAA berths the last four years (exception was when COVID shut down the postseason). Junior guard Vescovi (13.8-4.4-3.2) and freshman PG Kennedy Chandler (13.3 & 4.9APG) lead the way for Tennessee. Some bad news is that the 6-8 Nkamhoua (9.6 & 5.6) has been lost for the season, but the Vols have a solid player in the 6-9 Fulkerson (7.8 & 4.9) plus the 7-0 Plavsic (4.1 & 3.4) and the 6-10 Hartley-Hatfield (3.3 & 2.4) will see more time. Perimeter players Jordan-james (8.8 & 5.6) and Zeigler (8.7) add excellent depth. Defense has always been a Rick Barnes specialty and his team is allowing just 63.1 PPG (35th).

Eric Musselman is in his third season at Fayetteville, after four OUTSTANDING seasons at Nevada. He won the CBI title in his first season, then went to three straight NCAAA tourneys (4-year record of 110-34!). He was 20-12 in his first season at Arkansas, then went 25-7 last season (Elite 8 appearance). As noted, this year's team is 20-6, led by a trio of guards in double digits. The group includes Notae (18.8-4.5-3.5), Umude (11.4 & 4.6) and Toney (10.3 & 5.3). The 6-10 Williams adds 10.2 & 9.3 and is really the lone frontcourt player of note. Guards Lykes and Davis both average 8.7 PPG, as Musselman has basically stuck with a six-man rotation.

Tennessee had four players in double figures against Kentucky with Vescovi leading with 18 points and Kennedy Chandler adding 17. Also key was the contribution of 6-11 freshman Jonas Aidoo, who was limited by illness early in the season. Aidoo stepped in for injured Olivier Nkamhoua and played a season-high 18 minutes with five points and seven rebounds against the Wildcats. He also blocked three shots, including two against Kentucky player-of-the-year candidate Oscar Tshiebwe. His tip-in with 11:10 remaining started a 10-0 scoring run that gave the Vols a 65-45 lead with 6:27 remaining on the clock. This is a HUGE game for both sides and I'm taking the points.

Good luck...Larry

My 10* Conf Game of the Year (CAA) is on Coll of Charleston at 4:00 ET.

The Towson Tigers travel to Charleston, SC to take on the College of Charleston at the SECU Arena. Towson has rebounded from an 'ugly' 4-14 season (3-9 in CAA) play) to enter this game 20-7, including 11-3 in CAA play. The COC has a new head coach this season in Pat Kelsey, who came from a nine-year stint at Winthrop in which he was 185-95 overall, including going 24-10 and 23-2 the last two seasons. The Cougars were just 9-10 last season (COVID-shortened) but are 14-11 this season, although an unimpressive 6-7 in ACC play.

The Tigers have four double digit scorers in guards Holden (13.9 & 7.7), Timberlake (13.8 & 4.6) and Gibson (10.3) plus the 6-7 Thompson (10.4 & 6.4). The fifth starter is guard Rizzuto (8.3) plus Guar Nolan (9.6 & 4.1 APG) and the 6-8 Gray (7.1 & 4.4) are the top reserves. The Cougars can match those four double digit scorers in 6-6 forward Meeks (14.5 & 8.8) plus guards Smith (12.0), Tucker (11.3) and Underwood (7.6 & 3.4 APG). Starting alongside of Meeks, Smith and Underwood are the 6-7 Burnham (7.4 & 4.3) and the 6-8 Smart (3.6 & 4.3).

Here's the rub. Towson began its three-game road swing to end the regular season Thursday night, as the Tigers rolled past UNC Wilmington 79-55. Thompson led the way with 15 points and 12 rebounds, while Gibson chipped in 14, Holden scored 13 and Antonio Rizzuto had 10. More importantly, it moved Towson to 11-3 in CAA play, just a half-game back of 12-3 UNC-Wilmington. Now, just two nights later, the Tigers play at Charleston, which 'hung' with the Tigers back on Jan 20, losing 74-67 at Towson. Of more importance, this is Charleston's FINAL home game of the season. "Upset Alert!" Take the points.

Good luck...Larry