NCAAB THURS

USF +2 (2.5U)

I want to pump this one up so bad but I can't due to recent history. USF has not beat SH in the last 6 meetings. This purely being played as a sandwich game. SH is coming of 2 emotional wins and now plays a lowly USF squad who has had 5 days to prepare for SH. Then has NOVA on deck. Gotta believe we get great intensity out USF.

A glaring stat that i like even though USF is not great but they can defend the perimeter decent not great but enough to where it could slow down a happy jump shooting team on the road. This should be a good game but I will take the home team that should be well prepared. Mr Jones go toe to toe with Hazell.

 

Got one maybe 2 more be back in a bit.

 

4-1 Wednesday

YTD: 185-131-10 (+255.75U)

ISU YTD: 7-2-1 (+23.50U)

Just said i like that in ure other thread, great work last night man, GT line seems short, PU looks like it might be a play, something about the VIRG line makes me feel like they cover, MISS and MISS ST lines seem short to me, UCLA looks like they are getting their shit together but man that pac 10 is brutal, U got the eye back, lets get on a role here bud

Leaning USF as well, going to probably lock it in now...BOL tonight keep rolling..

Was looking long and hard at the PU/WISC game earlier today. This number feels pretty spot on. WISC is shooting so bad right now these last couple games that I would not be surprised at all if they come out and go off on this PU D. PU defensive is losing its touch. The main focus for this group to start this season was rebounding and defense. They are getting away from the basics and the things that made them a top 5 team at one point this season. The last 5 games they are giving up 70 ppg, 45% from the field, and 38% from deep. The energy should be electric but Bo Ryan is a guy that knows his stuff and him alone could muster up something nice in a tough environment. PU will have to play great D for 40 minutes to cover this number not 20 min like they have been doing. Like I said if WISC gets hot PU is in for a long night but with a game of this magnitude I need Leuer to put money on WISC. Just too many red flags from either side which makes this a easy no play.

 yo da man!

BOL as always UNC and nice wednesday bro... Take a look at Siena and Xavier those to jumped out at me as soon as I started rolling through the cards...

ISU men try to avoid ‘tradition’ against SIU

Sycamores host Salukis tonight in Hulman Center

By Todd Golden
The Tribune-Star

TERRE HAUTE — If the Masters is a tradition like no other, the Indiana State’s men’s basketball program has a “tradition” it would rather smother.

For the last five seasons — and in every season save one since 2001 — ISU has had a five-game losing streak in Missouri Valley Conference play. ISU had two seasons where it had two different five-game-or longer MVC losing streaks.

The only season since 2001 where ISU didn’t have a five-game conference losing streak was 2004-05 … when it had four different three-game losing skids.

ISU is on the precipice of keeping that five-game slide alive for yet another season if it cannot defeat Southern Illinois in Hulman Center tonight. The Sycamores are currently mired in a four-game skid after losses to Wichita State, Northern Iowa, Missouri State and Northern Iowa again on Sunday.

It’s true that the combined MVC record of the teams ISU has lost to is 28-10. And it’s also true that ISU (11-9, 3-6) has lost them all without the services of leading scorer Dwayne Lathan, who was injured on Jan. 6 at Bradley.

“I’m apt to give credit to some of the teams we were playing. Northern [Iowa] is a very good team. If you make a mistake, they make you pay. We made five simple mistakes against them on Sunday. Five plays, ten points and there’s the game,” ISU coach Kevin McKenna said.

But it’s also true that a four-game losing streak can have a damaging effect on any team, no matter the caliber of competition they’ve faced or what the state of the team’s roster is. Confidence, after all, doesn’t have a strength of schedule component.

“I think [losing] has [bothered the team] a little bit. If it didn’t, I think we’d have even more problems. It bothers us, no doubt about it, but we can’t dwell on it,” McKenna said. “We’re focused on our attitude, making plays for our teammates, and keeping the game as simple as we can. We want to play hard and more reckless on the defensive end and with more focus and control on the offensive end.”

ISU sophomore forward Carl Richard, who is one of the only Sycamores to increase his production during the streak, isn’t overly concerned about the team’s confidence.

“We could have won nearly all of those games, but we got too far down or had something else break down. We have no excuses at all,” Richard said. “We feel like we’re right there. We’re two or three mental lapses away from avoiding these losses.”

Meanwhile, Lathan, who has missed ISU’s last five games with a leg injury, claimed on his Facebook account this week that will be “back in action vs. SIU” and he made similar off-hand comments on Wednesday at Hulman Center.

Welcome to the 21st Century version of the injury report, however, Lathan did miss part of practice on Wednesday. McKenna maintains that it remains a game-time decision as to whether Lathan plays tonight.

“I don’t know how to get on Facebook, so I don’t know what that means,” McKenna said. “He’s back practicing, but is he back to 100 percent? Absolutely not. His mobility is still limited. He’s still a ways away from the Dwayne we knew before he got hurt. It’ll be a game-time decision tomorrow. We’ll wait-and-see how he feels.”

Unlike the Sycamores, Southern Illinois (12-7, 4-5) has some momentum coming into the game. The Salukis knocked off Illinois State by a point last Saturday and defeated Western Kentucky 68-63 in Carbondale, Ill. on Monday. The Salukis defeated the Sycamores 70-52 on Dec. 29, a game ISU led until Jake Kelly tore his ACL early in the second half. SIU also has two road wins in conference play already, victories at Bradley and Evansville.



Southern Illinois at ISU men

Tipoff — 7 p.m. at Hulman Center

Broadcasts — Radio: WSDM (92.7-FM). Live blog: tribstar/sports.com

Last time out — ISU lost to Northern Iowa 67-58 on Sunday. SIU defeated Western Kentucky 68-63 on Monday.

Series — SIU leads 76-38. ISU has not defeated SIU at Hulman Center since 2008 and each team has won 26 games in Terre Haute.



The players

Indiana State Sycamores (11-9, 3-6) — G Harry Marshall (6-0, Sr., 13.4 ppg, 4 rpg); Jordan Printy (6-4, So., 6.2 ppg, 2.6 rpg); G Rashad Reed (6-1, Sr., 9 ppg, 3.3 rpg); F Carl Richard (6-5, So., 6.8 ppg, 4.5 rpg); and C Brant Leitnaker (6-10, Jr., 3.6) are possible starters. G-F Aaron Carter (6-4, Jr., 5.4); F Dwayne Lathan (6-3, So., 13.1 ppg, 5.2 rpg); F Koang Doluony (6-8, Fr., 3.1); C Josh Crawford (6-11, Sr., 3.5) and C Isiah Martin (6-8, Jr., 3 ppg) are key contributors off the bench.

Coach — Kevin McKenna (37-46 at ISU, 3rd year; 126-79 overall, 7th year).

Southern Illinois Salukis (12-7, 4-5) — G Kevin Dillard (6-0, So., 13.9 ppg, 5.5 apg); C Gene Teague (6-9, Fr., 3.8); F Carlton Fay (6-8, Jr., 11.8, 3.7 rpg); F Tony Freeman (6-1, Sr., 11.9) and G Justin Bocot (6-4, Jr., 8.3) are possible starters. F Anthony Booker (6-8, So., 7.1, 4.8 rpg); C Nick Evans (6-11, So, 6 ppg); G Kendal Brown-Surles (5-10, Fr., 3.4); G Jack Crowder (6-4, Jr., 3.1) and G John Freeman (6-5, Jr., 4.4 ppg) are key contributors off the bench.

Coach — Chris Lowery (121-66, 6th year).

I feel like this line should be something like 5 or 6, seems alittle high to me, but ure 100% right about purdue, the defense has gone to shit, good insight

Wisconsin only allowing 57 ppg their last 5

Purdue giving up 70 ppg

8 is too many points.


Badgers cshould win straight up.........LIKE THE WRITE-UP

I basically said the same stuff in my thread....Good picks Wednesday night

Liking Virginia at home.  Bennett knows this is a must win for his team in conference play.  Nice night tonight, you got the momentum back

As for the State game it is truly a toss up. SIU is so up and down ISU has 9 players now with the return of Lathan. Hard to say how Lathan will do first game back. Should provide a spark and this is our rivalry game. SIU is a team that has owned us though over the years and playing us at home is nothing new for any team in the Valley. We just dont get enough fan support to get some fire underneath these boys to win games like this. Or atleast it been several years ago since we had that type of environment. State can easily spiral out of control just as it has stated in this article. The team has no backbone and when you got to count on Harry Marshall your not going to win very many games. Great defender but shoots State right out of games. I see value in the under though. Going to watch it though throughout the day. You guys probably wont get to much more out of me with ISU games being involved also without Kelly it is really hard for me to get a beat on this team. As for a side its a no play.

LOVE the south florida / seton hall game over 145. Bol with bulls+ 2 1/2

 GL UNC...new avatar, i got one Ive been waiting to use and will bust it out on the purdue-michigan st. game on Feb 9th

UNC I love your insight and respect your angles..Completely Agree with ya, good spot here for USF...but the Pirates battled a solid Pitt def and won without anything from Hazell.   Been watching this team get a little better now with the first year transfers Pope and Robinson gettin PT and stepping up.  No Gilchrist no USF play for me..slight lean towards the Hall...Are u worried at all about USF depth in most likely an uptempo game?

Hail.

Very good work man

 out

UNC, REALLY RESPECT YOUR INSIGHT.  REALLY FEELING VA TECH TOMORROW AT +3.5.  THIS UVA TEAM HAS BEEN UNIMPRESSIVE ALL YEAR.  ANY THOUGHTS?

Damn man. I was running through the lines and my favorite was USF +2 as well


Might be time to pound

VTECH +4.5 (2.5U)

Gotta believe Delaney is a go with the line dropping at most books. This is too many points for a rivalry game. UVA coming off a emotional loss to WF then turns around after this one and plays UNC. Really tough spot for UVA. I know VTECH is not deep but if they stay out of foul trouble they win this game SU. Would like to pump this one up also but VTECH has not played enough on the road and the trends are def. not in their favor. Defense wins this game and the fact that UVA has no answer for Delaney should be a good rival game but I will gladly take the points with the better defensive team. If VTECH does not show up defensively you can kiss this one good bye...

USF +2 (2.5U)

VTECH +4.5 (2.5U)

GTECH -4.5 (2.5U)

Revenge game. May add a write-up later today will see.

 

 

 

Keeping it light today unit wise as I just dont see much value. Anything else will be added before tip. Thats it as of now 

GTECH -4.5 (2.5U)

UNC, that was a good write-up, but we still don't know if Lathan is actually goin to play. When they played earlier this season, Lathan only chipped in 11 points.

It seems that the injury to Jake Kelly (a 6'6" guard) in this game hurt them more. SIU went on a 22-6 run when he went out.

With all this being said, Lathan could give the team a big boost by being back. They have played in some really close games, as of late.

For discussions sake, I responded with this in my thread regarded the Hokies-UVGay matchup:

They have shown me nothing on the road and their inability to score points is a definite problem. Will probably end up as a no play as this line has already reached 4. Delaney has every injury ever suffered right now and we have the most retarded big man in all of all basketball that just holds us back from being a great team(Jeff Allen)....I love the development of Hudson, Bell and Davila but our biggest problem on the road is the lack of true point guard. We have Delaney starting the game at point and then have to bring a freshman to spell him. Delaney would be much better utilized as a 2 guard but they cant afford to risk the frosh turning the ball over too much. We play great D which is going to keep us in games, but Allen likes to play 90 feet of defense on every player on the court. Normally causing our opponent to be in the bonus for a majority of each half. I will of course be cheering on my Hokies and we are capable of winning, but I will not be back them on the road in this matchup