Cnotes Best Bets For Friday April 3rd NBA -NHL !

[CNOTES]

VCU's Smart takes Texas hoops job


April 2, 2015


RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Shaka Smart is leaving Virginia Commonwealth to coach the Texas Longhorns.


VCU sports information director Scott Day confirmed to reporters gathered at the campus Thursday night that Smart was making the move. Smart met with VCU players earlier in the evening at the Siegel Center, the team's home arena, and at least one player was seen crying when he left.


Texas athletic director Steve Patterson flew to Richmond on Thursday to close the deal.


Smart, who has won at least 26 games in each of his six seasons at VCU, has been one of the hottest names in college coaching since leading the Rams to the Final Four in 2011. Patterson has zeroed in on bringing Smart to Texas immediately after firing former Longhorns coach Rick Barnes last weekend.


Terms of Smart's contract were not immediately released and VCU said a statement would be released Friday. Barnes made $2.62 million last season. Smart made $1.8 million with the Rams.


The coach slipped into the building Thursday without speaking to the media gathered. VCU players were escorted from the meeting by university public relations and did not comment.


At VCU, Smart took over a program that had had great success under Jeff Capel, and then Anthony Grant. Smart hopes to avoid the pitfalls at Texas that his predecessors encountered when they left to take over programs at universities considered ''football schools.''


Capel lasted five years at Oklahoma before being fired, and Grant spent six at Alabama before he was dismissed.


By leaving before May 1, Smart owes VCU a $500,000 buyout. His contract also contains a provision that if he became a head coach at another institution, that school would have to play VCU in a home-and-home series, or pay VCU $250,000.


Smart is bolting for a Texas program that hasn't been able to unseat Kansas atop the Big 12. But the Longhorns also boast the wealthiest athletic department in the country and easy access to some of the nation's most fertile recruiting grounds in Dallas and Houston.


Barnes led Texas to 16 NCAA Tournaments in 17 seasons but his teams haven't made it out of the first weekend since 2008. Texas officials declined comment on Smart's hiring Thursday night.


Barnes' best years came from 2003-2008 when Texas made its first Final Four in more than 50 years and twice more reached the tournament's final eight. Texas also earned the program's first No. 1 ranking in the 2009-2010 season.


But the program had plateaued and the early-round exits in the tournament started to mount, despite rosters full of future NBA talent.


Smart is sure to energize Texas.


Under him, the Rams won the CBI postseason tournament in his first season. But he really became a hot coaching commodity when VCU made its monumental run in the NCAA Tournament the following year. The Rams went from being a questionable selection, barely getting a bid and playing in the First Four in Dayton, Ohio, to beating five major-conference schools to reach the Final Four.


The Rams have been back in the NCAA Tournament each of the past four seasons, but were eliminated in the round of 32 in 2012 and 2013 and lost their first game in overtime each of the past two seasons.


Beyond the Final Four run, this year might have been Smart's best coaching job at VCU.


The Rams lost Briante Weber, the leader of their ''havoc'' defensive style, on Jan. 31 to a knee injury, and played the last month and a half with scoring leader Treveon Graham bothered by a high left ankle sprain, sometimes even sidelined.


VCU (26-10) lost six of 10 late in the season, enduring its first three-game slide in Smart's six seasons, before winning five straight, including four in four days, to win the Atlantic 10 title.


Smart has led VCU to at least 26 wins in six consecutive seasons, a feat matched only by Duke. With the interest he has generated in basketball, a $25 million basketball practice facility is under construction and scheduled to be ready for use in the fall.

 

[CNOTES]

Marshall, Wichita State reach new deal


April 2, 2015


Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall agreed to terms on a new contact, choosing to remain with the Missouri Valley powerhouse after receiving overtures from Alabama.

Terms of the agreement, which was reached late Wednesday, were not disclosed because the final contract still must be signed. It is expected to be a significant raise from the base salary of $1.85 million that Marshall was making on his previous seven-year rollover contract.


Marshall has led the Shockers to four straight NCAA tournaments, including a trip to the Final Four in 2013. Wichita State lost to Notre Dame in the Sweet 16 this past season.


The 52-year-old coach has received interest from big-name programs before, including North Carolina State and Missouri. But he has almost always turned them down - Wichita State was able to finally pry him away from Winthrop after nine seasons, and that was eight years ago.


''I've said how content and happy I am at Wichita State over and over and over,'' Marshall said last week, when the Alabama interest began to circulate. ''At the same time, I don't bury my head in the sand if a tremendous offer comes along. We look at it as a family, and that's something we've dealt with for 17 years.''


The Crimson Tide fired Anthony Grant two weeks ago, and athletic director Bill Battle almost immediately focused on Marshall as his replacement. Battle flew to Wichita this week, spending an entire afternoon making his best pitch - believed to be more than $4 million per year.


Marshall was considering a trip to the Alabama campus in Tuscaloosa later this week, but he instead chose to remain with the Shockers after agreeing to a reworked contract.


''I fully respect his decision and wish him and his family all the best,'' Battle said in a statement late Wednesday. ''My objective in this search is focused on one goal: to get the best person available to lead the Alabama men's basketball program.''


One of the big drawbacks in Tuscaloosa may have been the clout of the Alabama football team, which tends to dwarf the basketball program. Marshall's team is the spotlight program at Wichita State, where there has not been a football program since the 1980s.


There are other benefits to remaining with the Shockers, too.


For one thing, the program is already established. Point guard Fred VanVleet and shooting guard Ron Baker, two of the best players in the nation, are expected to return for their senior seasons. And after a period of sustained success, Marshall has reeled in his best recruiting class yet, headlined by four-star forward Markis McDuffie.


Then there's the support. Wichita State has several well-heeled boosters who ensure the program has everything it needs to compete, including chartered jets for recruiting trips and game travel. Koch Arena is one of the best homecourt advantages in college hoops, and Shockers fans have snapped up every ticket available in the arena for years.


Throw in the fact that Wichita State knocked Kansas from the NCAA Tournament and it's hardly surprising that school administrators would do everything possible to keep Marshall in town.


''It could be the last job I ever have. I could retire from there,'' Marshall said during a recent interview. ''Probably 13 of the last 17 years, we've had decisions to make, but I've had two jobs in that amount of time.''

 

[CNOTES]

Kentucky looking to do what UNLV couldn't


April 2, 2015


INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Twenty-four years ago, UNLV arrived in Indianapolis for a coronation disguised as a Final Four.


The Runnin' Rebels were a college basketball juggernaut. They hadn't lost all season. In fact, they hadn't lost for 45 straight games, a streak that started with a run in the previous season to a national championship.


UNLV, led by Jerry Tarkanian, the towel-chewing defensive genius, arrived in Indianapolis needing two wins to become the first undefeated national champion since Indiana in 1976.


This week, Kentucky arrived in Indianapolis for a coronation disguised as a Final Four.


The Wildcats are a college basketball juggernaut. They haven't lost all season.


Kentucky, led by John Calipari, a coach who has turned recruiting into an art form, arrived in Indianapolis needing two wins to become the first undefeated national champion since Indiana in 1976.


The Wildcats face Wisconsin on Saturday in the national semifinals. That was the round in which UNLV's undefeated dreams were dashed by Duke, a team the Runnin' Rebels had beaten by 30 points in the championship game a year earlier. Duke, which plays Michigan State on Saturday, could get another chance to ruin a perfect run at the title, but that is looking way down a three-day road.


''I'll never have a group of players like this again,'' Tarkanian, who died on Feb. 11, said the night of the 79-77 loss to Duke, a result that stunned the sports world. ''You only get a team like this once in your career. This was a very special group of kids.


''I'm just sick,'' he said. ''It meant so much to these kids. I'm just hurting inside.''


When the game ended, Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski had his own problem. He had to get his team to settle down after the upset because the Blue Devils still had a game Monday night for the national championship.


''I thought all week we had a chance but I wasn't going to be Joe Namath and say anything like that,'' Krzyzewski said 24 years ago. ''I thought if we could fight for 40 minutes we could win, not knowing if the kids could handle it. UNLV plays with such ease and we play with so much emotion.''


UNLV won its games by an average of 26.7 points per game. Only two games were decided by less than 12 points, a 7-point win over Arkansas in a 1-vs.-2 matchup and an 8-point victory over Georgetown in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.


''I remember in practice, Coach K had us practicing five against seven, to get used to their speed and their quickness,'' Grant Hill, a freshman starter on that Duke team, said Thursday in Indianapolis where he will serve as a game analyst for CBS. ''We had a game plan, we'd been in a number of close games, we won some, some we didn't, but we had that experience, and they had not been in many close games, so our thing was let's hit them early, let them know we're here, we're going to play, and let's just manage the game and keep it close, and if it's close, the pressure is going to be all on them. That was our comfort zone, how we played all year.''


UNLV's starting lineup included first-round draft picks Larry Johnson, Stacey Augmon and Greg Anthony. It also had Anderson Hunt and George Ackles. All were upperclassmen.


Kentucky's roster is so deep scuba gear is recommended. Nine outstanding underclassmen who have all committed to ignoring minutes for wins and it's anybody's guess how many of them will be first-round NBA draft picks. Eight of the nine players in the rotation are averaging between 5.6 and 11.0 points per game. Eight players have been Kentucky's leading scorer in a game this season. The Wildcats did have three game decided by six or fewer points, but their average margin of victory was almost 21 points per game.


In the Midwest Regional semifinal, Kentucky destroyed West Virginia 78-39. Dominating was an understatement.


''They were what I thought they were,'' West Virginia coach Bob Huggins said. ''That's the best defensive team I think that I've ever coached against. And when they're making shots, there's nobody going to beat them.''


Similar words were spoken 24 years earlier by Arkansas coach Nolan Richardson after the 1-2 matchup when he was asked what it would take to beat the Runnin' Rebels.


''Play Detroit, the Lakers, one of those teams,'' he said. ''I've only been on the college level 11 years, but they are the best team I've ever seen.''


Hill said UNLV of 1991 and Kentucky of 2015 have some similarities, but there are differences.


''You look at the record and that conjures up memories of Vegas,'' Hill said. ''I don't think (UNLV) had any close games. Kentucky has been in close games. And if you recall, UNLV had won the year before, killed Duke in the finals, and then they brought everybody back. They were older. They were seniors. They were upperclassmen. I think that's one of the differences.


''I've heard people say they think Kentucky will lose. I think it's 70-30 from what I've seen that people think Kentucky will win. But I don't think anybody was thinking that Vegas would lose back in `91. I mean, the only people who thought we would win were on our team. I know my parents didn't think so.''

 

[CNOTES]

Raftery brings 'Onions!' to Final Four


April 2, 2015


INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - The voice was always unmistakable to Grant Hill, whether he was watching a game on television or listening over the radio during his formative years in suburban Washington, D.C.


The wit and wisdom. The tenor and tone.


The catchphrases.


''He's been developing those for a while,'' Hill said with a laugh, gazing across a conference table at Bill Raftery, their 73-year-old source lounging against a high-backed chair.


''I guess I'm not as creative or as humorous as my partner.''


Yes, they are partners now, all these years later. Hill and Raftery are part of a new-look broadcast crew for this year's Final Four, teaming up with longtime play-by-play voice Jim Nantz to bring Saturday night's national semifinals to what could be a record-breaking TV audience.


''We're just three friends talking about the game,'' Hill said, ''and I don't know if that's how it comes across, but that's how it feels. So it's really cool.''


Hill will be broadcasting the Final Four for the first time, and coincidentally, in the same city where he helped lead Duke to the national championship. And for the first time, Raftery will get to bring ''Onions!'' to the TV side after more than three decades in the business.


''When they called me, I was taken aback, to be honest,'' Raftery said, ''because there were so many good choices. I guess if you stick around long enough, they'll call your number.''


The new partnership was born out of necessity.


Steve Kerr had taken a coaching job with the Golden State Warriors, forcing CBS and partner Turner Sports to find at least one replacement. That wound up becoming two when Greg Anthony, who was part of the team a year ago, was accused of soliciting a prostitute.


With his Final Four pedigree and natural charisma, Hill was an easy choice. Raftery was the sentimental pick for the other spot, the ageless wonder who had earned his stripes.


Raftery's long and circuitous road to the center-court seat began when he left a coaching job at Seton Hall for a part-time broadcasting position in 1981. It was a groundbreaking move back in those days, when sports television was in its infancy and the thought that broadcast rights to the Final Four would someday command billions a farfetched dream.


He worked for a bank for many years to help make ends meet, but his uncanny ability to spin a phrase quickly made Raftery a popular broadcaster. CBS eventually hired him, as did ESPN, and for more than two decades he was the voice of the New Jersey Nets.


There, he had a chance to call games featuring Hill, by then an All-Star in the NBA.


Raftery insists his catchphrases just happen. They aren't something that he manufactures in his hotel room the night before a game, or that he dreams up in an elevator and then stashes away for future use. They are spontaneous bursts of emotion, genuine excitement that somehow seems to reach right through the TV or radio and embrace the audience.


''I've always been around some pretty funny people,'' Raftery said. ''I think the biggest thing was when I started doing it, I was just trying to get out of the play-by-play person's way.''


In other words, Raftery had a mere moment to make his mark. Pithy became imperative.


Over the years, those catchphrases became part of the college basketball lexicon, kitschy but not quite cliche. How is a team starting out defensively? ''Man-to-man!'' Or maybe more accurately, ''Mantoman!'' Players don't drive to the basket so much as they ''take it to the tin!'' And why bank a shot off the backboard when you can score ''with a kiss!''


''A lot of these were just, get in and get out,'' Raftery said. ''Not much more to it.''


Hill sheepishly admits that he's been honing his own catchphrases. Reluctantly, he even gave a few of them a test drive before unveiling them for millions on television.


''I've been working on one, kind of getting into the paint, getting wet,'' Hill said. ''Getting messy. Like I said, I'm not as creative or humorous as my partner.''

 

[CNOTES]

Saturday's Top Action


April 2, 2015




MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS (27-11) vs. DUKE BLUE DEVILS (33-4)


Lucas Oil Stadium - Indianapolis, IN
NCAA Tournament – Final Four
Tip-off: Saturday, 6:05 p.m. ET
Sportsbook.ag Line: Duke -5.0, Total: 138


No. 1 seed Duke takes on No. 7 seed Michigan State, as coaching legends Mike Krzyzewski and Tom Izzo lead their teams into the Final Four for the 12th time combined in the past 20 seasons.


The Duke Blue Devils and the Michigan State Spartans face off in the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time since 1998 (and the second time in the Final Four). The Blue Devils and Spartans have played nine times in total over that span, and Duke is 8-1 SU (3-5-1 ATS). Coach K’s one loss to Tom Izzo was a regional final in 2005 where the Blue Devils lost as 4-point favorites.


Duke and Michigan State’s most recent meeting was Nov. 18 of this season, with the Blue Devils coming out on top 81-71, covering the 8.5-point spread. This game, also played in Indiana (Banker’s Life Fieldhouse) was the second game of the season for the Spartans (third for the Blue Devils). Both teams shot over 50% from the field with Duke’s Quinn Cook and Jahlil Okafor combining for 36 points on 15-for-22 from the field. Michigan State held a +10 advantage on the glass, but shot only 5-for-20 from three (compared to Duke’s 7-for-14 from three).


Duke is 9-1 SU (8-2 ATS) in its past 10 games, while Michigan State is 8-2 SU (7-3 ATS) in that same span. Both the Blue Devils and Spartans have covered (4-0 ATS) in their respective tournament games to date. Duke took care of No. 2 seed Gonzaga (66-52) as a 1.5-point favorite to reach this point, while Michigan State knocked off No. 4 seed Louisville (76-69) as a 2-point favorite. The total has gone Under in six of Duke’s past eight games, while it’s gone Over in eight of Michigan State’s past 11 games.


Michigan State rolls into this meeting as a much different team than they were in November. As Tom Izzo-coached teams so often do, the Spartans are peaking at the perfect time. An issue for Michigan State, however, will be making Duke’s backcourt uncomfortable. To outrebound Duke in November by 10 and still lose by 10 points, the Spartans need to look no further than the fact that they didn’t force one turnover out of Duke guards Quinn Cook and Tyus Jones. Duke also held a huge edge at the free throw line (20-26 FTM), as Michigan State committed 22 fouls to Duke’s 16. Izzo has the Spartans playing their best defensive basketball of the season, as all four Michigan State tournament opponents have shot worse than 36.5% FG. Duke comes in with the 3rd ranked field goal offense in the country, and shot 54% against Michigan State in November, although it’s notable that Duke has struggled (by their standards) in their past two tournament games from the field, shooting 44% and 38% respectively.


The Spartans are led by their trio of stars, senior G Travis Trice (14.8 PPG, 5.2 APG, 2.2 3PM), junior G Denzel Valentine (14.5 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 4.4 APG) and senior F Branden Dawson (12.0 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 55% FG). Trice has taken the scoring burden head-on in the tournament, leading the Spartans in three of their four wins while averaging 19 points per game and hitting 3.3 threes per game. Trice is also shooting an impressive 89% from the line after hitting just 69% over the regular season. Valentine has been more aggressive on offense in the Spartans’ most recent two victories, taking 32 shots en route to 33 points. (After taking just 15 shots in their opening round wins). Valentine also has racked up 18 assists with only 5 turnovers in four tournament games. Dawson has scored single digits in his past two contests, but boasts 11-rebound performances in each game (while also blocking four shots versus Louisville).


G Bryn Forbes (8.6 PPG) has been a key offensive contributor for the Spartans off the bench, averaging 29 MPG in the tournament and making 53% of his threes (2.3 3PM) in that span.


Amidst all of the superlatives Duke has racked up, whether it be for their fifth-in-the-nation scoring offense (79.5 PPG), which shoots 50.2% from the field (3rd in NCAA), or their ever-climbing offensive efficiency as they’ve played effective offense while controlling pace in the tournament (1.2 points per-possession, 2nd in NCAA), the most important vehicle to Duke reaching the Final Four has been its defensive efficiency.


Early in ACC conference play, all that was talked about when mentioning Duke was its much-maligned defense in losses to Miami and North Carolina State. Duke even went to a gimmick 2-3 zone defense to try and stop the bleeding. Now, here they are in the tournament and haven’t given up more than 0.89 points per-possession in any of their four games, while holding one of the best offenses in the country (Gonzaga) to 52 points.


G Quinn Cook (15.7 PPG, 2.8 3PM), C Jahlil Okafor (17.7 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 67% FG) and F Justise Winslow (12.3 PPG, 5.9 RPG) have all been stalwarts in Duke’s tournament success. Okafor has not quite been his dominant self in the tournament with teams selling out to double him in the post, but he’s still managed 15 points per game on 66% from the field, and has contributed two blocks per game on defense. Cook has played fantastic defense in the tournament, neutralizing Utah’s Delon Wright and Gonzaga’s Kevin Pangos, while scoring 14.5 points per game himself. Winslow has been a ball of fire on defense, averaging 9.5 rebounds per game (double figures in three of four) along with 1.5 steals and 1.8 blocks per game.


G Tyus Jones (11.6 PPG, 5.8 APG) has been steady, but his heroics haven’t been needed to this point. Jones did score 15 points with six assists versus Gonzaga in his best performance of the tournament.


WISCONSIN BADGERS (35-3) vs. KENTUCKY WILDCATS (38-0)


Lucas Oil Stadium - Indianapolis, IN
NCAA Tournament – Final Four
Tip-off: Saturday, 8:45 p.m. ET
Sportsbook.ag Line: Kentucky -5.0, Total: 132


After a scare against Notre Dame, undefeated Kentucky looks to continue their magical season in a Final Four rematch from 2014 versus Wisconsin.


Kentucky and Wisconsin have been here before, and it resulted in one of the better tournament games in recent memory, a 74-73 Final Four win for the Wildcats (who were favored by 1) on a heroic Aaron Harrison three pointer. The 5-point spread marks a tie for the lowest amount that Kentucky has been favored this season (Dec. 27 at Louisville) and is the first time that the Wildcats have been less than a double-digit favorite since Mar. 3 at Georgia. Kentucky defeated a Notre Dame team (68-66) in the regional final to get to this point, failing to cover at -11.


Wisconsin will go into its second straight game as an underdog, having beaten Arizona at +1.5 to send Bo Ryan to his second straight Final Four and the third Final Four in Wisconsin history. The Badgers have never played in the championship game.


John Calipari’s Wildcats will be looking to return to the championship game after losing the title game to Connecticut last season. Calipari will be looking for his second NCAA title in his fifth Final Four appearance. Kentucky’s program will be looking for its 9th NCAA title with two more victories in Indianapolis. Kentucky is 1-3 ATS in its four tournament games and 5-5 ATS in its past 10 games. The Wildcats are 3-2 ATS in games where they are single-digit favorites this season and 19-18-1 ATS overall.


While not the length of Kentucky’s season-long streak, Wisconsin is 10-0 SU (6-4 ATS) in their past 10 games. The Badgers are 20-17-1 ATS overall this season. Wisconsin is also 4-0 ATS in its tournament history when playing a No. 1 seed. The total for six of Kentucky’s past eight games has been Under, while the total has been Over for seven of Wisconsin’s past ten games.


Wisconsin gets the Final Four rematch that it may, or may not have wanted. The faces for the opposing Wildcats will have changed some, but one Aaron Harrison still remains, as the protagonist for the Badgers’ exit in 2014. Wisconsin has a better offense this time around, as C Frank Kaminsky (18.7 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 57% FG), F Sam Dekker (13.9 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 53% FG) and F Nigel Hayes (12.4 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 50% FG) are all much-improved players since last March. Graduated G Ben Brust is the only Badger lost of key players from last season’s loss. The Badgers were able to successfully convert 19-of-20 from the free throw line to stay within striking distance of Kentucky last season, but only got eight points and five rebounds in a quiet night from star Kaminsky in the loss.


Kaminsky and Dekker enter the Final Four playing extremely good basketball – in Dekker’s case (21.8 PPG, 60% FG, 3.3 3PM/48% 3PT) the best basketball of his life. Without Dekker’s huge shot-making against Arizona (27 points, 8-for-11 FG, 5-for-6 3PT) with contested three’s in big moments, the Badgers would very likely be watching the Final Four from Madison, Wisconsin.


Kaminsky contributed a game-high 29 points versus Arizona, and has really upped his production going to the basket and drawing contact, averaging 6.5 made free throws per game (up from 3.6 FTM/G) in four tournament games. If Kaminsky can get the talented and imposing Kentucky big men in foul trouble, it’d really turn the tables in Wisconsin’s favor to reach the title game.


Wisconsin’s offense is very similar, from a pace and efficiency standpoint (1.22 points per-possession, 1st in NCAA) to Notre Dame’s. They don’t turn the ball over (7.1 TO/G, 1st in NCAA), don’t foul, and always make the extra pass. They feature the three quite as much, but Kentucky was hurt just as much by Zach Auguste and lapses in defensive rotations due to a patient offense than anything else. What should make this game interesting is that the Badgers have the size that the Fighting Irish lacked to compete on defense against Kentucky.


Unsung backcourt mates G Bronson Koenig (8.6 PPG, 42% 3PT, still undefeated as starter) and G Josh Gasser (6.9 PPG, 1.3 3PT) have to be accounted for due to their ability to knock down open jumpers when the defense collapses on Wisconsin’s talented frontcourt. Gasser hit big shots en route to 10 points against Arizona in the Elite Eight.


Kentucky looked human for the first time in a long while as they desperately watched Notre Dame’s Jerian Grant sail a three point attempt to blemish its perfect record. The faces on the Kentucky players told the story: This was a truly happy and relieved bunch to make the Final Four. Kentucky is beatable, but it is still the best team in the country.


If this is a wake-up call and Coach Calipari has the Wildcats come out swinging, it could be a very long evening for Wisconsin.


F Karl Towns (9.7 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 2.3 BPG) was outstanding in a breakout offensive game for the projected lottery pick, feasting on Notre Dame’s undersized interior for post field goal after field goal on the way to 25 points on 10-of-13 from the field. There’s no doubt that Kentucky is at home right now if not for Towns, who also posted a 21-point, 10-rebound effort in the first round win over Hampton.


Fellow freshman F Trey Lyles (8.4 PPG, 5.1 RPG) had been putting together a great tournament with double-figure scoring in Kentucky’s first three games, before a 9-point, five turnover dud against Notre Dame. Lyles had two blocks, but also had repeated defensive lapses allowing easy baskets for the Fighting Irish.


C Willie Cauley-Stein (9.3 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 1.6 BPG) will be key in a possible individual matchup versus Wisconsin’s Kaminsky. Cauley-Stein would prove the most athletic defender that Kaminsky has faced, and has blocked nine shots in the tournament over four games, but he’s been quite unproductive beyond blocks (no double-figure scoring games, six rebounds combined versus Notre Dame and Cincinnati).


G Andrew Harrison (9.2 PPG, 3.7 APG) has alternated good and bad games out of his four contests, while brother, G Aaron Harrison (11.3 PPG) also has only had two of four solid games, but even his one field goal versus Arizona was a huge, crunch time three – something he’s obviously made a name for doing.


G Tyler Ulis (5.6 PPG, 3.8 APG), and G Devin Booker (10.1 PPG, 1.6 3PM) could prove to be x-factors off the bench for Calipari.

 

[CNOTES]

APRIL RATED PLAYS:

nba


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double play...........................3 - 1
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*****....................................0 - 0
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triple play..........................1 - 0............... + 3.00
hat trick............................1 - 2............... - 7.56

 

[CNOTES]

NBA MONEYLINE


NBA > (515) DENVER@ (516) SAN ANTONIO | 04/03/2015 - 08:35 PM
Play AGAINST DENVER using the money line in All games after a loss by 10 points or more
The record is 12 Wins and 36 Losses for the last two seasons (-30.8 units)


NBA > (511) ORLANDO@ (512) MINNESOTA | 04/03/2015 - 08:05 PM
Play AGAINST MINNESOTA using the money line in Home games versus poor defensive teams - allowing 99+ points/game
The record is 18 Wins and 28 Losses for the last two seasons (-32.9 units)


NBA > (507) MILWAUKEE@ (508) BOSTON | 04/03/2015 - 07:35 PM
Play AGAINST MILWAUKEE using the money line in Road games second half of the season
The record is 7 Wins and 37 Losses for the last three seasons (-30.65 units)


NBA > (513) DETROIT@ (514) CHICAGO | 04/03/2015 - 08:05 PM
Play AGAINST CHICAGO using the money line in Home games after a division game
The record is 11 Wins and 13 Losses for the last three seasons (-26.3 units)


NBA > (509) OKLAHOMA CITY@ (510) MEMPHIS | 04/03/2015 - 08:05 PM
Play ON MEMPHIS using the money line in All games revenging a loss vs opponent
The record is 16 Wins and 5 Losses for the this season (+12.65 units)


NBA > (501) NEW YORK@ (502) WASHINGTON | 04/03/2015 - 07:05 PM
Play AGAINST NEW YORK using the money line in All games against Southeast division opponents
The record is 2 Wins and 12 Losses for the this season (-11.35 units)


NBA FIRST HALF


NBA > (519) PORTLAND@ (520) LA LAKERS | 04/03/2015 - 10:35 PM
Play AGAINST PORTLAND in the first half in All games off a upset loss as a favorite
The record is 1 Wins and 11 Losses for the this season (-11.1 units)


NBA > (503) CHARLOTTE@ (504) INDIANA | 04/03/2015 - 07:05 PM
Play AGAINST INDIANA in the first half in All games second half of the season
The record is 20 Wins and 46 Losses for the last two seasons (-30.6 units)


NBA > (515) DENVER@ (516) SAN ANTONIO | 04/03/2015 - 08:35 PM
Play ON SAN ANTONIO in the first half in All games after a non-conference game
The record is 21 Wins and 7 Losses for the this season (+13.3 units)


NBA > (511) ORLANDO@ (512) MINNESOTA | 04/03/2015 - 08:05 PM
Play AGAINST ORLANDO in the first half in All games when playing against a team with a losing record - 2nd half of the season
The record is 8 Wins and 25 Losses for the last two seasons (-19.5 units)


NBA > (507) MILWAUKEE@ (508) BOSTON | 04/03/2015 - 07:35 PM
Play ON BOSTON in the first half in Home games against Central division opponents
The record is 13 Wins and 2 Losses for the last two seasons (+10.8 units)


NBA TOTALS


NBA > (517) NEW ORLEANS@ (518) SACRAMENTO | 04/03/2015 - 10:05 PM
Play UNDER NEW ORLEANS on the total in All games versus the 1rst half line in road games
The record is 20 Overs and 54 Unders for the last two seasons (+32 units)


NBA > (507) MILWAUKEE@ (508) BOSTON | 04/03/2015 - 07:35 PM
Play UNDER BOSTON on the total in All games when playing against a team with a losing record
The record is 10 Overs and 30 Unders for the this season (+19 units)


NBA > (503) CHARLOTTE@ (504) INDIANA | 04/03/2015 - 07:05 PM
Play UNDER INDIANA on the total in All games after a loss by 10 points or more
The record is 9 Overs and 31 Unders for the last two seasons (+21.1 units)


NBA > (509) OKLAHOMA CITY@ (510) MEMPHIS | 04/03/2015 - 08:05 PM
Play UNDER MEMPHIS on the total in All games versus good offensive teams - scoring 99+ points/game - 2nd half of the season
The record is 4 Overs and 18 Unders for the this season (+13.6 units)


NBA > (511) ORLANDO@ (512) MINNESOTA | 04/03/2015 - 08:05 PM
Play UNDER MINNESOTA on the total in Home games after allowing 105 points or more
The record is 2 Overs and 14 Unders for the this season (+11.8 units)


NBA > (505) TORONTO@ (506) BROOKLYN | 04/03/2015 - 07:35 PM
Play OVER TORONTO on the total in Road games after a non-conference game
The record is 30 Overs and 9 Unders for the last two seasons (+20.1 units)

NBA > (515) DENVER@ (516) SAN ANTONIO | 04/03/2015 - 08:35 PM
Play UNDER SAN ANTONIO on the total in All games after 3 or more consecutive wins
The record is 26 Overs and 66 Unders for the last three seasons (+37.4 units)

 

[CNOTES]

NHL MONEYLINE


HL > (55) ST LOUIS@ (56) DALLAS | 04/03/2015 - 08:35 PM
Play AGAINST DALLAS using the money line in Home games vs. division opponents
The record is 2 Wins and 10 Losses for the this season (-10.7 units)


NHL > (57) COLORADO@ (58) ANAHEIM | 04/03/2015 - 10:05 PM
Play ON ANAHEIM using the money line in All games after scoring 4 goals or more in their previous game
The record is 47 Wins and 16 Losses for the last three seasons (+28.25 units)


NHL > (53) CHICAGO@ (54) BUFFALO | 04/03/2015 - 07:05 PM
Play ON BUFFALO using the money line in Home games after scoring 4 goals or more in their previous game
The record is 6 Wins and 1 Losses for the this season (+8.05 units)


NHL PUCKLINE


NHL > (55) ST LOUIS@ (56) DALLAS | 04/03/2015 - 08:35 PM
Play AGAINST DALLAS using the in Home games vs. division opponents
The record is 2 Wins and 10 Losses for the this season (-10.7 units)


NHL > (57) COLORADO@ (58) ANAHEIM | 04/03/2015 - 10:05 PM
Play ON ANAHEIM using the in All games after scoring 4 goals or more in their previous game
The record is 47 Wins and 16 Losses for the last three seasons (+28.25 units)

NHL > (53) CHICAGO@ (54) BUFFALO | 04/03/2015 - 07:05 PM
Play ON BUFFALO using the in Home games after scoring 4 goals or more in their previous game
The record is 6 Wins and 1 Losses for the this season (+8.05 units)


NHL TOTALS


NHL > (53) CHICAGO@ (54) BUFFALO | 04/03/2015 - 07:05 PM
Play UNDER CHICAGO on the total in All games in non-conference games
The record is 6 Overs and 20 Unders for the this season (+14.05 units)

NHL > (51) MONTREAL@ (52) NEW JERSEY | 04/03/2015 - 07:05 PM
Play UNDER NEW JERSEY on the total in All games after 3 or more consecutive losses
The record is 2 Overs and 13 Unders for the this season (+10.6 units)

 

[CNOTES]

NBA
Short Sheet

Friday, April 3

NY Knicks at Washington, 7:05 ET
NY Knicks: 2-6 ATS in its last 8 games
Washington: 1-6 ATS in its last 7 games

Charlotte at Indiana, 7:05 ET
Charlotte: 15-4 ATS (+10.6 Units) as a road underdog of 3.5 to 6 points
Washington: 8-18 ATS in home games after 3 straight games forcing opponent to commit 14 or less turnovers

Toronto at Brooklyn, 7:35 ET
Toronto: 9-18 ATS when they make 43% to 47% of their shots
Brooklyn: 28-10 ATS when they score 99 to 104 points in a game

Milwaukee at Boston, 7:35 ET
Milwaukee: 41-31 ATS in all games
Boston: 51-82 ATS after scoring 100 points or more 3 straight games

Oklahoma City at Memphis, 8:05 ET
Oklahoma City: n/a
Memphis: n/a

Orlando at Minnesota, 8:05 ET
Orlando: n/a
Minnesota: n/a

Detroit at Chicago, 8:05 ET
Detroit: 12-4 ATS after having lost 2 of their last 3 games
Chicago: 53-75 ATS in home games

Denver at San Antonio, 8:35 ET
Denver: 3-12 ATS off a road loss by 10 points or more
San Antonio: 15-5 ATS in home games after covering 5 or 6 of their last 7 against the spread

New Orleans at Sacramento, 10:05 ET
New Orleans: 42-31 ATS in all games
Sacramento: 9-21 ATS revenging a same season loss vs opponent

Portland at LA Lakers, 10:35 ET
Portland: 16-7 ATS when playing 8 or more games in 14 days
LA Lakers: 19-33 ATS when playing 8 or more games in 14 days

 

[CNOTES]

NBA
Armadillo's Write-Up

Friday, April 3

Hot Teams
-- Brooklyn won five in row, nine of last 11 games (2-9 last 11 HF). Raptors won/covered last three games (2-5 last seven AU).
-- Celtics won three of last four games (7-3 last ten HF).
-- Detroit won five of its last seven games (6-7 last 13 AU). Bulls also won five of last seven (6-2 last eight HF).
-- Spurs won eight of last nine games, covering last five.
-- Pelicans won/covered their last three games (3-1 last four AF).
-- Portland won four of its last five games (1-3 last four AF).

Cold Teams
-- Knicks lost their last eight games (2-6 vs spread); Wizards lost five of their last seven (6-3 last nine HF).
-- Hornets lost nine of last thirteen games (11-5 last 16 AU). Pacers lost nine of last eleven games (1-5 last six HF).
-- Bucks lost eight of their last ten games (4-2 last six AU).
-- Memphis lost its last four games (0-4 vs spread). Thunder lost three of last four games (3-1 last four AU).
-- Orlando lost 10 of its last 11 games (0-2 AF). Minnesota lost its last five games (0-4 last four HU).
-- Nuggets lost five of last seven games (1-3 last four AU).
-- Sacramento lost its last three games (2-4 last six HU).
-- Lakers lost three of last four games (2-4 last six HU).

Series Records
-- Wizards won their last six games with New York.
-- Pacers won seven of last nine games with Charlotte.
-- Nets-Raptors split their last ten meetings.
-- Celtics lost five of last seven games with Milwaukee.
-- Thunder-Grizzlies split their last ten games.
-- Home side won last six Orlando-Minnesota games.
-- Pistons lost four of last five visits to Chicago.
-- Spurs won last six games with Denver, covering 3 of last 4.
-- Kings won four of last six games with New Orleans.
-- Lakers lost their last four games with Portland.

Totals
-- Three of last four NY-Washington games stayed under.
-- Six of last seven Indiana games went over the total.
-- Last five Toronto road games went over the total.
-- Seven of last ten Buck-Celtic games stayed under.
-- Last three Thunder-Memphis games stayed under.
-- Three of last four Orlando-Minnesota games went over.
-- Four of last five Detroit-Chicago games went over.
-- Three of last four Nugget-Spur games went over.
-- Seven of last ten Pelican-King games went over.
-- Four of last five Portland-Laker games stayed under.

Back-to-Backs
-- None

East vs West
SU: West 241-172 ATS: West 214-196-3
East teams HF vs West: 53-57
East teams HU vs West: 45-52
West teams HF vs East: 81-78-3
West teams HU vs East: 24-20

 

[CNOTES]

NBA

Friday, April 3

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trend Report
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

7:00 PM
NEW YORK vs. WASHINGTON
New York is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Washington
The total has gone OVER in 4 of New York's last 6 games on the road
Washington is 1-6 ATS in its last 7 games
Washington is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games

7:00 PM
CHARLOTTE vs. INDIANA
The total has gone UNDER in 11 of Charlotte's last 16 games on the road
Charlotte is 4-0-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Indiana
Indiana is 6-12-1 ATS in its last 19 games when playing at home against Charlotte
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Indiana's last 7 games

7:30 PM
TORONTO vs. BROOKLYN
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Toronto's last 5 games on the road
Toronto is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Brooklyn
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Brooklyn's last 10 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Brooklyn's last 6 games at home

7:30 PM
MILWAUKEE vs. BOSTON
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Milwaukee's last 11 games when playing Boston
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Milwaukee's last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Boston's last 6 games when playing at home against Milwaukee
Boston is 3-8 ATS in its last 11 games when playing at home against Milwaukee

8:00 PM
OKLAHOMA CITY vs. MEMPHIS
Oklahoma City is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Oklahoma City is 17-8 SU in its last 25 games
The total has gone UNDER in 17 of Memphis's last 25 games
Memphis is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Oklahoma City

8:00 PM
ORLANDO vs. MINNESOTA
Orlando is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Minnesota
Orlando is 10-2 SU in its last 12 games when playing Minnesota
Minnesota is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games
Minnesota is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games

8:00 PM
DETROIT vs. CHICAGO
Detroit is 4-10-1 ATS in its last 15 games when playing on the road against Chicago
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Detroit's last 7 games
Chicago is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing at home against Detroit
Chicago is 10-4-1 ATS in its last 15 games when playing at home against Detroit

8:30 PM
DENVER vs. SAN ANTONIO
Denver is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games on the road
Denver is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing San Antonio
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of San Antonio's last 6 games
San Antonio is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home

10:00 PM
NEW ORLEANS vs. SACRAMENTO
New Orleans is 6-19 SU in its last 25 games when playing on the road against Sacramento
The total has gone OVER in 4 of New Orleans's last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Sacramento's last 7 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 10 of Sacramento's last 13 games when playing New Orleans

10:30 PM
PORTLAND vs. LA LAKERS
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Portland's last 7 games when playing on the road against LA Lakers
Portland is 6-19 SU in their last 25 games when playing on the road against LA Lakers
LA Lakers are 4-13 SU in their last 17 games
LA Lakers are 2-3-1 ATS in their last 6 games

 

[CNOTES]

NBA

Friday, April 3


Jared Sullinger, Boston - Prob Fri

Sullinger has recovered from a left metatarsal stress fracture and is expected to play in Friday's game against the Bucks.


Pacers defense floundering causing an over boom

The Indiana Pacers have gone over in six of their past seven contests thanks to a defense that has gone off the rails. During their past seven games the Pacers have allowed an average of 107.9 points per game, that's more than 10 points higher than their season average.

Indiana hosts the Charlotte Hornets Friday with a currently total of 193.5.

 

[CNOTES]

NHL
Short Sheet

Friday, April 3

Montreal at New Jersey, 7:05 ET
Montreal: n/a
New Jersey: n/a

Chicago at Buffalo, 7:05 ET
Chicago: 26-29 SU after successfully covering the spread in 2 or more consecutive games
Buffalo: 6-1 SU in home games after scoring 4 goals or more in their previous game

St Louis at Dallas, 8:35 ET
St Louis: 4-10 SU on Friday nights
Dallas: 20-11 SU when playing only their 2nd game in 5 days

Colorado at Anaheim, 10:05 ET
Colorado: 14-27 SU off a road loss
Anaheim: 16-4 SU off a home blowout win by 3 goals or more

Arizona at San Jose, 10:05 ET
Arizona: 5-24 SU revenging a loss versus opponent
San Jose: 7-0 SU off an home win scoring 4 or more goals




NHL
Armadillo's Write-Up

Friday, April 3

Hot teams
-- Chicago won its last three games, allowing five goals. Buffalo won its last two games, after losing 12 of its previous 13.
-- Dallas Stars won five of their last seven games.
-- Ducks won four in row, eight of last ten games.
-- Sharks won three of their last four games.

Cold teams
-- Canadiens lost four of their last five games. Devils lost last six games, scoring 7 goals.
-- Blues lost five of their last seven games.
-- Colorado lost five of its last six games.
-- Arizona lost ten of its last twelve games.

Series records
-- Devils lost four of last five games with Montreal.
-- Sabres lost their last six games with Chicago.
-- Blues lost five of last seven games with Dallas.
-- Ducks won their last four games with Colorado.
-- Sharks won four of last five games with Arizona.

Totals
-- Over is 3-0-1 in last four Montreal-New Jesey games.
-- Under is 6-2-1 in last nine Chicago games.
-- Four of Dallas Stars' last five games went over.
-- Last three Colorado-Anaheim games stayed under.
-- Six of last nine Arizona-San Jose games stayed under.

Back-to-back
-- Montreal is 8-4 on road if it played night before.
-- Chicago is 5-3 on road if it played night before.
-- Blues are 6-4 on road if they played night before.




NHL

Friday, April 3

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trend Report
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

7:00 PM
CHICAGO vs. BUFFALO
Chicago is 8-3 SU in its last 11 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Chicago's last 5 games when playing on the road against Buffalo
Buffalo is 3-15 SU in its last 18 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Buffalo's last 6 games when playing Chicago

7:00 PM
MONTREAL vs. NEW JERSEY
Montreal is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games on the road
Montreal is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing New Jersey
New Jersey is 2-7 SU in its last 9 games when playing at home against Montreal
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of New Jersey's last 5 games at home

8:30 PM
ST. LOUIS vs. DALLAS
St. Louis is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games when playing Dallas
St. Louis is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Dallas
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Dallas's last 7 games at home
Dallas is 8-3 SU in its last 11 games

10:00 PM
ARIZONA vs. SAN JOSE
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Arizona's last 9 games when playing San Jose
Arizona is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing San Jose
San Jose is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games at home
San Jose is 4-10 SU in its last 14 games at home

10:00 PM
COLORADO vs. ANAHEIM
Colorado is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games
Colorado is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Anaheim
Anaheim is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Colorado
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Anaheim's last 6 games when playing Colorado

 

[CNOTES]

MLB............OPINIONS ONLY


Friday, April 3


Game Score Status Pick Amount


Atlanta - 6:05 PM ET Baltimore -125 500
Baltimore -

Minnesota - 7:05 PM ET Boston -135 500
Boston -

Pittsburgh - 7:05 PM ET Pittsburgh -106 500
Philadelphia -

Cincinnati - 7:07 PM ET Toronto -125 500
Toronto -

Kansas City - 8:05 PM ET Kansas City +107 500
Houston -

NY Mets - 8:05 PM ET NY Mets +104 500
Texas -

Chi. Cubs - 9:40 PM ET Chi. Cubs +102 500
Arizona -

Colorado - 10:05 PM ET Seattle -145 500
Seattle -

LA Dodgers - 10:05 PM ET LA Angels -120 500
LA Angels -

Oakland - 10:15 PM ET San Francisco -115 500
San Francisco -

 

[CNOTES]

NBA


Friday, April 3


Game Score Status Pick Amount


Charlotte - 7:00 PM ET Indiana -4.5 500 *****
Indiana - Over 194 500


New York - 7:00 PM ET Washington -13.5 500
Washington - Under 190 500


Milwaukee - 7:30 PM ET Milwaukee +5.5 500 DOUBLE PLAY
Boston - Under 194.5 500


Toronto - 7:30 PM ET Toronto +2 500 DOUBLE PLAY
Brooklyn - Over 206 500


Detroit - 8:00 PM ET Detroit +9.5 500
Chicago - Under 196 500


Oklahoma City - 8:00 PM ET Memphis -5.5 500 SLAM DUNK
Memphis - Under 205 500


Orlando - 8:00 PM ET Orlando -4.5 500 TRIPLE PLAY
Minnesota - Over 207.5 500


Denver - 8:30 PM ET Denver +13 500 *****
San Antonio - Over 208.5 500


New Orleans - 10:00 PM ET Sacramento +6.5 500 DOUBLE PLAY
Sacramento - Over 204 500


Portland - 10:30 PM ET Portland -10.5 500 *****
L.A. Lakers - Over 203 500

 

[CNOTES]

NHL


Friday, April 3


Game Score Status Pick Amount


Chicago - 7:00 PM ET Buffalo +247 500 TRIPLE PLAY
Buffalo - Under 5.5 500


Montreal - 7:00 PM ET Montreal -138 500 *****
New Jersey - Over 5 500


St. Louis - 8:30 PM ET St. Louis +102 500 HAT TRICK
Dallas - Under 5.5 500


Colorado - 10:00 PM ET Anaheim -239 500 DOUBLE PLAY
Anaheim - Under 5.5 500


Arizona - 10:00 PM ET Arizona +277 500 HAT TRICK
San Jose - Under 5.5 500