Allstar's WEDNESDAY College Basketball Selections

Allstar · Mar 3, 2004

Tuesday 3-1 +9.85 Units

Season 182-148-10 +169.21

20 Units Plays Now 7-2 or (78%)

I hope that you are all having a great week as well!!! Here are tonight's selections. Let me know what you think.

7 Units Rutgers -1 +105

Rutgers (R: 3-8 SU, 6-5 ATS) comes off week long layoff following Ricky Shields tieing a career high with 24 points and Rutgers using a late first-half surge to take control en route to a 74-53 victory over West Virginia last Wednesday night. Adrian Hill added 11 points for Rutgers, which shot 52.9 percent, while Herve Lamizana had 10 points, five assists, six rebounds and two blocks. Virginia Tech comes off a 53-49 win over West Virginia over the weekend. Bryant Matthews scored 28 points, including 20 in the second half, to lead Tech. An 11-4 run at the start of the second half gave the Hokies their first lead of the game at 31-30 when Matthews hit a short jump shot with 12:35 to play. Rutger has a more versatile offense and Matthews has been slowed several times by defense collapsing around him.

Allstar

Allstar · Mar 3, 2004

5 Units Eastern Michigan +7 -107

Evenly matched MAC game, and when they met in January, the final score was about as even as you can get: Ball State won 91-90 at Eastern Michigan! Yes, both teams prefer offense to defense, and this should be another close one. The Eastern Michigan Eagles (12-13 SU, 9-11 ATS) are playing well, winning 5 of 8 games. Eastern Michigan has 6’-9” James (Boo) Jackson (11 ppg, 8 rpg) and 6’-8”, 255-lb sophomore John Bowler (14 ppg, 8 rpg) up front, and they shoot 47% as a team. EM is 5-8 SU/6-7 ATS on the road where they get outscored by a 73-68 average. Ball State has dropped 7 of 11 games, though they are 8-5 SU/5-6 ATS at home where they outscore foes by a 72-67 average. The Ball State Cardinals (12-13) have three decent players in 6’-8” senior Cameron Echols (10 ppg, 6.5 rpg), 6’-6” junior Terrance Chapman and 6’3” junior Dennis Trammell (12.5 ppg). Tough one to call, as EM is playing better, but Ball has the home court.

Allstar

Allstar · Mar 3, 2004

5 Units Buffalo -8 -106

Buffalo needs to win regarding seeding, as they are one game behind Miami for second in the MAC East. Buffalo has been undervalued and underappreciated the last two months, going 13-9 ATS overall and 9-2 SU/ATS the last 11 games! Ohio (9-18) has lost 5 of 6 games, has lost 4 in a row and is a poor 1-13 SU, 5-5 ATS on the road where they get outscored by a 73-63 average. The Ohio Bobcats (9-18 SU, 12-8 ATS) shoot a poor 41% from the field without much height, led by 6’-5” senior Jaivon Harris (15 ppg, 4.8 rpg) and senior guard Thomas Stephens (10.5 ppg), though 6'-9" sophomore Cliff McGowen is playing well of late. Buffalo (14-11 SU, 13-9 ATS) is playing well, winning 9 of 11 games (9-2 ATS run). Buffalo has two offensive guns in junior point guard Turner Battle (14 ppg, 3.9 apg) and 6'-10”, 250-lb freshman Yassin Idbihi (10 ppg, 6 rpg), and they've been getting good play of late from 6’-6” sophomore Mario Jordan and 6’-6” junior Daniel Gilbert. Sophomore Calvin Cage stepped up with 14 points on Saturday, in an 87-73 win at Miami as a +7 dog! Buffalo is 7-5 SU/5-6 ATS at home where they beat foes by a 73-69 average. On January 14, Ohio whipped Buffalo 90-76, but the tables have turned remarkably since then for these teams.

Allstar

Allstar · Mar 3, 2004

7 Units Colorado +3.5 -103

Colorado (R: 6-5 SU, 7-3 ATS) picked a good time to for a winning streak and have climbed into the fourth spot in the Big-12. This weekend, the Buffs won their fourth straight over Texas A&M 76-70 as David Harrison led the way with 21 points. The Buffaloes had 23 assists on 27 made baskets in a victory at Texas A&M, and used that offensive unity to rally from a nine-point deficit after missing their first 11 attempts from 3-point range. Iowa State lost to Nebraska 68-65 this weekend. Jackson Vroman led Iowa State with 22 points and Curtis Stinson had 10. Iowa State made nine of its first 12 shots, taking a 20-13 lead. ISU elbows are creating some fuss in the Big-12 and the Cyclones do shoot 46% from the field and they figure to give Colorado a good game. Aircraft carrier David Harrison will be the difference here. The Buffaloes' last two games can be won, they already defeated Iowa State 88-70 earlier this season.

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Allstar · Mar 3, 2004

5 Units South Carolina +1 -102

Kentucky (21-4 SU, 11-11 ATS) clinched at least a tie for the SEC East crown with their win against LSU, 70-64 SU. Now Kentucky goes for the clincher against South Carolina (21-7 SU, 12-9 ATS). This should be a good game. The first won was down to the wire as Kentucky just got by with a 65-64 SU win at Rupp Arena. South Carolina is incredibly strong at Home (14-2 SU). At Home, the Gamecocks only allow an amazing 59 points a game. A tight low scoring game should be expected in this one. A huge factor is that South Carolina’s Rolando Howell is out for the year with a busted wrist. That is 9 points and a very important 5 rebounds a game gone. South Carolina should be able to fill in but come March that is the kind of player that really hurts your depth.

Allstar

Allstar · Mar 3, 2004

5 Units Tulane +7.5 -105

In their 76-65 loss to St. Louis, Tulane (R: 0-8 SU, 3-5 ATS) scored an impressive 51 points in the second half Saturday, but only after scoring just 14 points in the first half on four field goals and 13.8-percent shooting from the field! Southern Miss lost to Depaul 80-51 on Saturday. The Blue Demons shot 53.3 percent from the field, and held the Golden Eagles to 43.1 percent, forcing 16 turnovers while committing only seven turnovers and outscored Southern Mississippi 22-3 off turnovers. The Green Wave isn't talented or experienced enough to beat the conference's better teams without a more complete effort but the Golden Eagles are a target. So. Miss won the first meeting 64-58 but have lost five of its past six entering the final week of the regular season.

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Allstar · Mar 3, 2004

10 Units NC State -6.5 -110

Poor Maryland (14-11 SU, 10-12 ATS), they catch NC State after their awful loss to hated rival Carolina at NC State which busts up their perfect record at Home and allows Carolina to sweep the season series. Needless to say, NC State (18-7 SU, 14-7 ATS) is a little PEEVED! Maryland has already been waxed by NC State at Maryland, 81-69 SU. NC State’s Justin Hodge (18 ppg, 6 rpg) had 28 points and could have just as many this time. Now they have to travel to NC State (14-1 SU at Home). Maryland is allowing a terrible 78 points a game on the Road (3-5 SU on the Road). NC State takes out all of their frustrations on the Turtles!!!

Good Luck Today,

Allstar

muffinman · Mar 3, 2004

Action,
Nice night last night. I like your card tonight. I agree 100% on NC St. and I think this Rutgers team is looking to pick their play up a notch heading into the Big East tourny.
I have a heavy lean towards St Johns (+20). I just don't think BC is better than anyone by 20 pts. I know it is their last home game, and they still have a shot at a Big East bye, but I just can't see them winning by 20. Bot to mention the sour taste that BC left in St. John's mouth after that ass-whoppin they gave them in the middle of their scandle/shit. So I'm leaning on a big play w/ the Johnnies. Any thoughts?

jaypaw · Mar 3, 2004

about kentucky

you forgot to mention that fitch was out of that SC game in Kentucky due to an injury to his shooting hand...

Fitch leads the team in PPG, 3ptattempts, 3pters made, and 3pt%.

There are 5 players on KY that average close to 30 mins per game and Fitch is one of them. The senior Barbour is the only other on the team that has played much - who averages 15 mins per game.

I don't know what their foul situation was that night but I can tell you that without fitch they were definitely undermanned.

In kentucky's last game (this past sunday) at LSU fitch played. He scored 23 pts, played 29 mins, was 5-8 from 3 range, shot 6-10 from the field, and was 6-8 in FTs.

GL

Kojak · Mar 3, 2004

jaypaw,

What are your thoughts about this KY/SC line? Why have the linemakers only make this game a PK if SC down 1 inside man and Fitch returning. Don't you think Kentucky would be favored? Makes me wonder a little bit more that this line is designed to get Big Blue money just like Michigan St. last night.Any thoughts?

jaypaw · Mar 3, 2004

muffinman thanks for bringing that BC game to my attention I had looked at it but skipped over it... I agree that they probably wont win by more than 20.

They did win by 28 @St Johns (like you mentioned - St Johns had 6 players suspended for going to the strip club) and before that they beat rutgers @BC by 32... But I dont see how they can expect that to keep up.

GL

jaypaw · Mar 3, 2004

Good point Kojak

I'm not sure.

It could be like you said - maybe they want people on Kentucky because they figure since SC kept it close at kentucky maybe many people will stay off it or go with SC at home.

Or it could be that they know that KY is back to full capacity but are hoping that if they keep the line down people wont realize it.

Either way I dont see how SC can keep up with KY at full strength.

Allstar · Mar 3, 2004

muffinman

I'm not playing this one but here is what I have:

The Johnnies (R: 1-9 SU, 5-4 ATS) had another road-wreck this weekend losing 103-78 to Providence. St. John's is playing out the string of a season of player punishments that has the Red Storm down to four scholarship players and eight total. The latest player to be disciplined is senior captain Andre Stanley, a graduate student who was suspended this weekend for academic reasons. BC's (H: 14-3 SU, 7-6 ATS) Craig Smith scored seven of his 11 points in an 17-0 run late in the second half that carried the Eagles past Virginia Tech 56-48. Jared Dudley had 14 points and Louis Hinnant scored 12 points for the Eagles (19-8, 8-6 Big East). SJU lost the first meeting 89-61 to BC. Not much chance of a big rebound for the Storm who take another in the face.

Good luck tonight,

Allstar

Allstar · Mar 3, 2004

Jaypaw

That was taken into account when capping this one tonight and decide to make a small lay on SC tonight. I have been following both of them teams from the start of the season and may the best team win tonight. Thanks for the heads up and good luck tonight as well!!!

Allstar

[This message was edited by Allstar on March 03, 2004 at 01:16 PM.]

thefawv · Mar 3, 2004

Allstar, it seems like you are in argument that Kentucky is going to win! LOL! Best of luck with you picks tonight! - FawvDog

Allstar · Mar 3, 2004

FawvDog

I just see it as a close game going down to the last minute or so. Anything could happen. . . good luck tonight my friend!!!

Allstar

Allstar · Mar 3, 2004

I'm out the door and will be back around 10:00 PM EST. I hope that you all have a great night tonight!!!

Allstar

muffinman · Mar 3, 2004

Allstar,
I agree that SJ can't play with BC. But what I think is that BC isn't 20-25 points better than them. I think BC will pull away in the second half, to something like a 24-28 point lead. Than, it being senior night @ Conte Forum, they will play their senior-scrubs. Allowing the back-door cover on a 20 point spread. We ALL saw it last night with Miss. St.
Let's be on the other side of that gross "senior-night" back-door cover tonight.

I am in-love with this Rutgers game. I think they blow the doors off V.Tech.