Cnotes College Hoops For January Rated Games -Trends - News !!

[CNOTES]

Armadillo: Friday's six-pack


Some more NFL trends to ponder with Week 17 upon us..........


-- Baltimore is 3-13-2 vs spread in its last 18 games.


-- Buffalo is 12-5-1 vs spread in its last 18 AFC East games.


-- Steelers are 14-7-1 vs spread in last 22 AFC North games.


-- Denver is 17-6 vs spread in its last 23 AFC West games.


-- Miami covered once in its last nine games.


-- Arizona is 18-9 vs spread in its last 27 games.


**********


Armadillo: Friday's List of 13: Happy New Year, everyone.........


13) TCU QB Trevone Boykin cemented his status in the Nitwit Hall of Fame by getting arrested after a fracas outside a San Antonio bar, two days before the Frogs' bowl game with Oregon. Boykin had a bit of a rap sheet before this; he makes Johnny Manziel look like a choir boy. Good luck getting drafted in April.


12) After last night's dreadful playoff semifinal games, Alabama opens at -7 against Clemson in the national title game January 11. Odd Fact of the Day: Dabo Swinney is the fifth Clemson head football coach who went to college at Alabama.


11) Flipping channels between games last night, I stumbled upon CNN's New Year's Eve special from New York City. Anderson Cooper seems like a good guy, but how on God's green earth does Kathy Griffin keep getting jobs? She isn't funny. Amazing how many people come to Times Square every year to see the ball drop.


10) When Wisconsin upset USC in the Holiday Bowl Wednesday night, it snapped the Trojans' 14-game winning streak against Big 14 teams.


9) Golden State dropped from -8.5 to -3.5 after Steph Curry was declared out for the Dallas game Wednesday; Warriors got hammered by the Mavericks, but beat Rockets in Houston last night without Curry.


8) Why did Buffalo Bills announce that Rex Ryan was coming back next year? Was there doubt about this? Ryan finishes his first year as Buffalo's coach Sunday; would have been quite a statement had they fired him after one mediocre season.


7) There are a lot of horrificly sad commercials on latenight TV; please donate $$$ for homeless pets, terminally ill children, children in Africa, etc......only 50 cents a day to save an abused chicken. Seriously, who abuses chickens? I sense fowl play.


6) Ravens' WR Steve Smith tore his achilles in November, ending what was going to be his last year in the NFL. Now Smith says he is coming back next year, not wanting his career to end with such a bad injury. Wouldn't mind if he played for the Rams.


5) Bill Parcells never liked to draft a QB unless the kid had started for 3+ years in college; makes you wonder if USC's Cody Kessler has helped his case to make an NFL roster by playing his senior year for the Trojans. Too many kids leave school so early; they need game experience in order to improve.


4) Joe Buck did an hour interview show with Troy Aikman the other night; Aikman was saying if the Mets had given him a $200K bonus, he never would've gone to play college football at Oklahoma and would've played baseball instead. Pretty good show if you find it on TV-- I don't remember what station it was on.


3) San Diego is the 8th largest city in America? I had no idea. Why don't the Padres spend more money if they're a big market team?


2) Have you seen the GEICO commercial where the people at the 50th high school reunion are annoyed by the Peter Pan-type character who calls the one lady old? I'd love to see one of the guys choke-slam the little jerk the way The Undertaker used to do on pro wrestling, just slam him thru a table, then laugh- that would be excellent.


1) Hope y'all have a happy and healthy New Year. Life is short; have fun.

 

[CNOTES]

NCAAB
Dunkel

Friday, January 1


Rice @ Texas-El Paso

Game 817-818
January 1, 2016 @ 9:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Rice
49.143
Texas-El Paso
54.688
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Texas-El Paso
by 5 1/2
161
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Texas-El Paso
by 7 1/2
156
Dunkel Pick:
Rice
(+7 1/2); Over

UCLA @ Washington

Game 819-820
January 1, 2016 @ 11:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
UCLA
65.623
Washington
62.802
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
UCLA
by 3
166
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
UCLA
by 1
162
Dunkel Pick:
UCLA
(-1); Over

Colorado @ California

Game 821-822
January 1, 2016 @ 11:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Colorado
61.257
California
71.478
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
California
by 10
148
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
California
by 6 1/2
144 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
California
(-6 1/2); Over

Western Illinois @ Nebraska Omaha

Game 823-824
January 1, 2016 @ 2:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Western Illinois
47.805
Nebraska Omaha
53.716
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Nebraska Omaha
by 6
152
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Nebraska Omaha
by 8 1/2
159
Dunkel Pick:
Western Illinois
(+8 1/2); Under

IUPUI @ South Dakota

Game 825-826
January 1, 2016 @ 3:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
IUPUI
45.599
South Dakota
50.797
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
South Dakota
by 5
144
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
South Dakota
by 7
151
Dunkel Pick:
IUPUI
(+7); Under

Denver @ South Dakota State

Game 827-828
January 1, 2016 @ 8:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Denver
50.981
South Dakota Stat
63.030
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
South Dakota Stat
by 12
139
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
South Dakota Stat
by 14 1/2
133
Dunkel Pick:
Denver
(+14 1/2); Over

North Texas @ Texas-San Antonio

Game 811-812
January 1, 2016 @ 7:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
North Texas
45.583
Texas-San Antonio
42.054
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
North Texas
by 3 1/2
156
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
North Texas
by 2
162
Dunkel Pick:
North Texas
(-2); Under

Southern California @ Washington State

Game 813-814
January 1, 2016 @ 9:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Southern Californ
67.000
Washington State
63.097
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Southern Californ
by 4
140
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Southern Californ
No Line
N/A
Dunkel Pick:
Southern Californ
N/A

Utah @ Stanford

Game 815-816
January 1, 2016 @ 9:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Utah
68.011
Stanford
68.828
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Stanford
by 1
146
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Utah
by 3 1/2
138 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Stanford
(+3 1/2); Over

 

[CNOTES]

NCAAB
Long Sheet

Friday, January 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

N TEXAS (5 - 8) at TX-SAN ANTONIO (2 - 11) - 1/1/2016, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
N TEXAS is 1-7 ATS (-6.7 Units) in all games this season.
N TEXAS is 1-7 ATS (-6.7 Units) in all lined games this season.
N TEXAS is 2-13 ATS (-12.3 Units) as a favorite over the last 3 seasons.
N TEXAS is 1-7 ATS (-6.7 Units) after a non-conference game this season.
TX-SAN ANTONIO is 3-11 ATS (-9.1 Units) after a non-conference game over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
N TEXAS is 2-1 against the spread versus TX-SAN ANTONIO over the last 3 seasons
TX-SAN ANTONIO is 2-1 straight up against N TEXAS over the last 3 seasons
3 of 3 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

USC (11 - 2) at WASHINGTON ST (8 - 4) - 1/1/2016, 9:00 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
WASHINGTON ST is 1-1 against the spread versus USC over the last 3 seasons
WASHINGTON ST is 1-1 straight up against USC over the last 3 seasons
1 of 2 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

UTAH (11 - 2) at STANFORD (7 - 4) - 1/1/2016, 9:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
STANFORD is 88-62 ATS (+19.8 Units) in January games since 1997.
UTAH is 43-26 ATS (+14.4 Units) in all games over the last 3 seasons.
UTAH is 43-26 ATS (+14.4 Units) in all lined games over the last 3 seasons.
UTAH is 32-18 ATS (+12.2 Units) as a favorite over the last 3 seasons.
UTAH is 12-3 ATS (+8.7 Units) in January games over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
UTAH is 3-0 against the spread versus STANFORD over the last 3 seasons
UTAH is 2-1 straight up against STANFORD over the last 3 seasons
2 of 3 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

RICE (5 - 8) at UTEP (8 - 5) - 1/1/2016, 9:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
RICE is 13-30 ATS (-20.0 Units) as a road underdog of 6.5 to 9 points since 1997.

Head-to-Head Series History
RICE is 3-0 against the spread versus UTEP over the last 3 seasons
UTEP is 3-0 straight up against RICE over the last 3 seasons
2 of 3 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

UCLA (9 - 4) at WASHINGTON (8 - 4) - 1/1/2016, 11:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
UCLA is 9-20 ATS (-13.0 Units) after a non-conference game over the last 2 seasons.
UCLA is 2-10 ATS (-9.0 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 77+ points/game over the last 2 seasons.
UCLA is 27-14 ATS (+11.6 Units) against conference opponents over the last 3 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 5-15 ATS (-11.5 Units) after allowing 80 points or more over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
UCLA is 2-0 against the spread versus WASHINGTON over the last 3 seasons
UCLA is 2-0 straight up against WASHINGTON over the last 3 seasons
2 of 2 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

COLORADO (11 - 2) at CALIFORNIA (10 - 3) - 1/1/2016, 11:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
COLORADO is 19-8 ATS (+10.2 Units) when the total is 140 to 149.5 over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
COLORADO is 2-1 against the spread versus CALIFORNIA over the last 3 seasons
CALIFORNIA is 2-1 straight up against COLORADO over the last 3 seasons
3 of 3 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

W ILLINOIS (7 - 4) at NEBRASKA-OMAHA (8 - 6) - 1/1/2016, 2:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
W ILLINOIS is 2-9 ATS (-7.9 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
NEBRASKA-OMAHA is 18-8 ATS (+9.2 Units) after a non-conference game over the last 3 seasons.
NEBRASKA-OMAHA is 0-6 ATS (-6.6 Units) in a home game where the total is 155 to 159.5 over the last 3 seasons.
NEBRASKA-OMAHA is 1-10 ATS (-10.0 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a winning record since 1997.

Head-to-Head Series History
NEBRASKA-OMAHA is 2-2 against the spread versus W ILLINOIS over the last 3 seasons
NEBRASKA-OMAHA is 2-2 straight up against W ILLINOIS over the last 3 seasons
2 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

IUPUI (4 - 11) at S DAKOTA (8 - 6) - 1/1/2016, 3:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
S DAKOTA is 0-6 ATS (-6.6 Units) on Friday nights over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
S DAKOTA is 2-2 against the spread versus IUPUI over the last 3 seasons
S DAKOTA is 3-1 straight up against IUPUI over the last 3 seasons
3 of 4 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DENVER (8 - 5) at S DAKOTA ST (11 - 3) - 1/1/2016, 8:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
DENVER is 30-50 ATS (-25.0 Units) in road games after a non-conference game since 1997.
S DAKOTA ST is 26-15 ATS (+9.5 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
S DAKOTA ST is 26-15 ATS (+9.5 Units) in all lined games over the last 2 seasons.
S DAKOTA ST is 16-6 ATS (+9.4 Units) when the total is 130 to 139.5 since 1997.
S DAKOTA ST is 62-39 ATS (+19.1 Units) as a favorite since 1997.
S DAKOTA ST is 10-2 ATS (+7.8 Units) in all home games over the last 2 seasons.
S DAKOTA ST is 10-2 ATS (+7.8 Units) in home lined games over the last 2 seasons.
S DAKOTA ST is 8-0 ATS (+8.0 Units) in home games against conference opponents over the last 2 seasons.
S DAKOTA ST is 6-0 ATS (+6.0 Units) in home games in January games over the last 2 seasons.
S DAKOTA ST is 16-6 ATS (+9.4 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a winning record since 1997.
S DAKOTA ST is 26-11 ATS (+13.9 Units) versus good defensive teams - allowing <=64 points/game since 1997.
DENVER is 77-48 ATS (+24.2 Units) in January games since 1997.

Head-to-Head Series History
S DAKOTA ST is 3-1 against the spread versus DENVER over the last 3 seasons
S DAKOTA ST is 3-1 straight up against DENVER over the last 3 seasons
2 of 3 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

 

[CNOTES]

NCAAB
Armadillo's Write-Up

Friday, January 1

Tex-San Antonio swept North Texas 71-61/69-68 LY, after losing 71-62 here two years ago; Roadrunners lost last seven D-I games; its only D-I win was 82-79 at #303 Southern Utah. UTSA has 4th-worst defense in country- teams are shooting 57.8% inside arc against them. UNT is 3-1 in last four games; they're 0-4 in true road games, with three losses by 20+.

Washington State won seven of last ten games with USC; underdogs won last two series games SU. Trojans lost four of last five visits to Paloose, losing by 4-8-7-25 points. USC is 11-2 vs schedule #229; they won last six games, winning 75-63 at UCSB in only true road game. Coogs are 0-3 vs top 100 teams, losing by 9-28-4 points; they're 7-1 at home, with one loss 69-60 to Gonzaga.

Utah swept Stanford 75-59/80-56 LY, after losing four of first five games in Pac-12 rivalry; Utes are 0-3 in Palo Alto, losing by 3-18-1- second win over Cardinal LY was in Pac-12 tourney. Utah is 11-2 vs schedule #201; this is its first D-I game in 10 days- they're shooting 58.6% inside arc. Stanford is 0-4 vs top 50 teams, with three losses by 14+; their best win was over #79 Arkansas.

UTEP is 11-2 in its last 13 games with Rice, winning last five, four by 9+ points; Owls lost eight of last nine visits to El Paso, losing last three here by 12-11-3 points. Rice lost four of last five D-I games, with couple of non-D-I wins in there; Owls have #341 eFG% defense. UTEP is 7-5 vs schedule #345; three of its five losses came at home. UTEP is forcing turnovers 21.5% of time (#43).

UCLA won its last five games with Washington, winning by 7-9 points in last two visits here. Bruins won six of last seven games with wins over Kentucky/Gonzaga; 71-66 win in Spokane was their only road game this season. UCLA has been off for 10 days. Huskies are very young (#348 in experience); they lost two of last three games, losing at home to UCSB Monday. Washington forces turnovers 21.7% of time (#39).

Colorado lost its first game, last game, won 11 in row in between; Buffs lost three of last four games with California- last three were all decided by 7 or less points. Buffs won by 7 at Auburn, by 11 at Colorado State in only true road games- they're shooting 40.7% on arc. Cal Bears won six of last seven games, beating Davidson by 26 last game; they've got the #9 eFG% defense in country, holding teams to 37.1% inside arc.

Home side won last five Western Illinois-Omaha games; Leathernecks lost last two visits here 71-60/77-58. WIU lost three of last four D-I tilts; they upset Wisconsin in opener, but lost last two games to teams outside top 200. Omaha is 2-6 vs top 200 teams; they're shooting 29.2% on arc, but force turnovers 20.6% of time (#70). Mavericks have been off for 10 days since winning couple of neutral court games in Las Vegas.

South Dakota won five of last six games with IUPUI; Jaguars lost four in a row in Vermillion, all by 10+ points. IUPUI is 3-11 vs D-I teams; they turn ball over 20.5% of time (#284), shoot just 41.4% inside arc. Coyotes lost three of last five games; three of their last four wins were in overtime. South Dakota is making 39.2% on arc; they're 4-0 vs teams outside top 200, with all four wins by nine or less points.

South Dakota State won three of last four games with Denver; Pioneers lost 78-69/69-39 in last two visits here. Denver scored 56 ppg in losing its last two games; they're 3-1 in true road games, but all four were with teams outside top 200. Jackrabbits are 11-3 vs schedule #89; they split last four games- this is their first true home game since Dec 13. SD State is shooting 38.7% on arc.

 

[CNOTES]

NCAAB

Friday, January 1

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

7:00 PM
NORTH TEXAS vs. TEXAS-SAN ANTONIO
North Texas is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games on the road
North Texas is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
Texas-San Antonio is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games at home
Texas-San Antonio is 1-8 SU in its last 9 games

9:00 PM
USC vs. WASHINGTON STATE
USC is 2-11 SU in its last 13 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of USC's last 6 games on the road
Washington State is 8-4 SU in its last 12 games
Washington State is 9-2 SU in its last 11 games at home

9:00 PM
UTAH vs. STANFORD
The total has gone UNDER in 19 of Utah's last 24 games on the road
Utah is 3-6 ATS in its last 9 games on the road
Stanford is 11-2 SU in its last 13 games at home
Stanford is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games

9:00 PM
RICE vs. TEXAS EL PASO
Rice is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games on the road
Rice is 1-10 SU in its last 11 games when playing on the road against Texas El Paso
Texas El Paso is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against Rice
Texas El Paso is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Rice

11:00 PM
UCLA vs. WASHINGTON
The total has gone UNDER in 10 of UCLA's last 11 games on the road
UCLA is 4-15 SU in its last 19 games on the road
Washington is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing at home against UCLA
Washington is 9-2 SU in its last 11 games when playing at home against UCLA

11:00 PM
COLORADO vs. CALIFORNIA
Colorado is 6-14 SU in its last 20 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Colorado's last 7 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of California's last 8 games when playing Colorado
California is 2-9 ATS in its last 11 games when playing Colorado

 

[CNOTES]

Best and worst from college basketball 2015


Top 5 college basketball ATS teams


1. Arizona Wildcats (24-14 ATS)


2. Villanova Wildcats (22-11-1 ATS)


3. Duke Blue Devils (22-15-1 ATS)


4. Michigan State Spartans (22-15 ATS)


5. IUPUI-Ft. Wayne Mastadons (21-7 ATS)


Bottom 5 college basketball ATS teams


1. Saint Louis Billikens (7-19 ATS)


2. Arkansas St. Red Wolves (7-18 ATS)


3. Charleston Cougars (7-18-1 ATS)


4. Minnesota Golden Gophers (8-21 ATS)


5. Ball St. Cardinals (8-18 ATS)

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Bruins (9-5) at Huskies (8-4)
Date: January 01, 2016 11:00 PM EDT

Though he says his UCLA team is deeper heading into Pac-12 play than it was in his first two seasons, coach Steve Alford believes a nine-day layoff came at a good time.


Given the way he was performing, Isaac Hamilton might have a differing opinion.


In the conference opener for both teams, the junior guard will try to pick up where he left off during a historic stretch when the No. 25 Bruins return to action Friday night in Seattle seeking their sixth consecutive victory over struggling Washington.


UCLA wrapped up a nonconference schedule that included four games against ranked opponents with a 67-53 home win over McNeese State on Dec. 22. Alford and the Bruins hope the tough slate will better prepare them for Pac-12 play after finishing second and fourth the past two seasons.


"Thirteen games in and a month and a half in, we're ready for the Pac-12 but that doesn't guarantee victories," the coach said. "It's a demanding league, the No. 1 league in the country."


The Bruins might be ready defensively after holding the Cowboys to 30.3 percent shooting while owning a 54-35 advantage on the glass. They have a plus-6.3 rebound margin ahead of facing Washington, which ranks 11th among Pac-12 teams at plus-2.8.


"There are going to be a lot of battles (in the Pac-12) and our defense is going to be key," said center Thomas Welsh, who had 16 points and a career-high 14 rebounds.


Hamilton led the way with 18 points and a career-high 11 boards to help UCLA (9-4) bounce back after its five-game winning streak ended with a 89-76 loss against then-No. 11 North Carolina at the CBS Sports Classic in Brooklyn.


Hamilton has averaged 18.6 points while shooting 53.6 percent from the field over his last nine games. He's also become the first Bruins player with at least eight field goals in five straight since Tracy Murray did in six consecutive games in 1991.


In the only meeting with the Huskies last season, Hamilton had 16 points while hitting 3 of 6 from 3-point range to go with 10 assists in an 88-66 home win Feb. 25.


Tony Parker also shined with 20 points in that contest, though the senior big man is looking to get back on track after scoring six on 2-of-6 shooting against the Cowboys.


After a promising 7-2 start, Washington stumbled in a 97-83 home loss to Oakland on Dec. 19 before pulling out a 79-68 victory over visiting Seattle on Dec. 22. The Huskies then suffered another disappointing home loss Monday, falling 83-78 to UC Santa Barbara.


David Crisp and Malik Dime had 17 points apiece, but Washington (8-4) shot less than 40 percent while allowing at least 80 points for the second time in three games.


"We're a new group so I feel like we have to get over that hump of finding that spark and to play with if we don't see the ball going through the hoop," Crisp said.


Andrew Andrews, who averages a team-high 19.7 points, will try to break out of his mini-slump after shooting 30.8 percent over the past three games. The senior guard has played well versus UCLA, scoring a combined 35 points in the last two meetings.


The Bruins have won five straight in this series, including the past two in Seattle. Washington, though, has won three of its past four at home versus ranked opponents.

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Utes (11-2) at Cardinal (7-4)
Date: January 01, 2016 9:00 PM EDT

Utah took advantage of three straight home games to open Pac-12 play last season en route to what was easily its best showing in its brief tenure in the conference.


The 21st-ranked Utes don't have that luxury this season and begin a three-game road stretch to open their league schedule Friday night against Stanford.


Utah won its first four Pac-12 games in 2014-15 on its way to finishing 13-5 and in a second-place tie with Oregon. The Utes were a combined 17-37 in their first three seasons in the conference, including 3-24 on the road.


In order to improve on last season's 5-4 league mark away from home, Utah will likely need a better start than in its latest game.


The Utes (11-2) trailed 16-2 after the first 3:45 against the College of Idaho on Monday but held a double-digit lead by halftime in a 115-74 rout over the NAIA school.


"We weren't ready to play from the tip-off. It really got our attention. We have to be better," coach Larry Krystkowiak said. "A heads up as we head into league play. We have to get dialed in and make sure we're doing a lot better job."


Dakarai Tucker had a season-high 17 points as Krystkowiak made good use of his bench and tied Kyle Kuzma for the team lead. Kuzma is averaging 17.8 points on 56.0 percent shooting in his last four games.


Jakob Poeltl made all six of his shots while scoring 15 points and added 10 rebounds in his 22 minutes for his seventh double-double this season.


Utah lost its only previous road game 67-50 against Wichita State on Dec. 12, but topped then-No. 7 Duke 77-75 in overtime Dec. 19 as part of a 3-1 mark at neutral sites.


The Utes swept their two meetings with Stanford last season by a combined 40 points but didn't face the Cardinal (7-4) in Palo Alto. Utah has lost each of its three visits in Pac-12 play and four in a row overall since a 99-91 victory Jan. 23, 1971.


Stanford won five of its final six nonconference games following three consecutive losses in November. Two of those defeats were against teams that are currently ranked - Villanova and SMU - but only Villanova was in the Top 25 at the time.


The Cardinal fell 59-45 to the then-No. 8 Wildcats on Nov. 26 in the NIT Season Tip-Off and have lost five in a row to ranked teams, including last season's losses to Utah.


Stanford also faced an NAIA opponent in its latest game Sunday but was a lot better than Utah at the start, jumping out to a 17-2 lead in an 83-38 victory over Carroll College of Montana.


Sophomore swingman Dorian Pickens scored 18 and is averaging 19.5 on 53.7 percent shooting in his last four games, including a combined 15 of 28 from 3-point range.


"We believe in Dorian and what he is capable of," coach Johnny Dawkins said. "And he's not where he's going to be. He's hitting his stride. We watch it in practice and now we're seeing it translate."

 

[CNOTES]

CBB ATS


CBB > (819) UCLA@ (820) WASHINGTON | 2016-01-01 23:00:00 - 2016-01-01 23:00:00
Play AGAINST UCLA against the spread in Road games versus good offensive teams - scoring 77+ points/game
The record is 0 Wins and 8 Losses for the last two seasons (-8.8 units)


CBB > (827) DENVER@ (828) S DAKOTA ST | 2016-01-01 20:00:00 - 2016-01-01 20:00:00
Play ON S DAKOTA ST against the spread in Home games against conference opponents
The record is 8 Wins and 0 Losses for the last two seasons (+8 units)


CBB > (827) DENVER@ (828) S DAKOTA ST | 2016-01-01 20:00:00 - 2016-01-01 20:00:00
Play ON S DAKOTA ST against the spread in Home games versus good defensive teams - allowing <=64 points/game
The record is 9 Wins and 0 Losses for the since 1992 (+9 units)


CBB > (811) N TEXAS@ (812) TX-SAN ANTONIO | 2016-01-01 19:00:00 - 2016-01-01 19:00:00
Play AGAINST N TEXAS against the spread in All games as a favorite
The record is 2 Wins and 13 Losses for the last three seasons (-12.3 units)


CBB > (819) UCLA@ (820) WASHINGTON | 2016-01-01 23:00:00 - 2016-01-01 23:00:00
Play AGAINST UCLA against the spread in Road games after a non-conference game
The record is 2 Wins and 12 Losses for the last two seasons (-11.2 units)


-----------------------


CBB MONEYLINE


CBB > (827) DENVER@ (828) S DAKOTA ST | 2016-01-01 20:00:00 - 2016-01-01 20:00:00
Play AGAINST DENVER using money line in All games against conference opponents
The record is 14 Wins and 18 Losses for the last three seasons (-28.4 units)


CBB > (827) DENVER@ (828) S DAKOTA ST | 2016-01-01 20:00:00 - 2016-01-01 20:00:00
Play AGAINST DENVER using money line in All games in all games
The record is 24 Wins and 35 Losses for the last three seasons (-38.1 units)

CBB > (823) W ILLINOIS@ (824) NEBRASKA-OMAHA | 2016-01-01 14:00:00 - 2016-01-01 14:00:00
Play AGAINST W ILLINOIS using money line in All games as an underdog
The record is 4 Wins and 31 Losses for the last three seasons (-26.35 units)


CBB > (815) UTAH@ (816) STANFORD | 2016-01-01 21:00:00 - 2016-01-01 21:00:00
Play AGAINST UTAH using money line in All games in road games
The record is 7 Wins and 14 Losses for the last three seasons (-18.8 units)


CBB > (811) N TEXAS@ (812) TX-SAN ANTONIO | 2016-01-01 19:00:00 - 2016-01-01 19:00:00
Play AGAINST N TEXAS using money line in All games as a favorite
The record is 5 Wins and 10 Losses for the last three seasons (-16.55 units)


CBB > (813) USC@ (814) WASHINGTON ST | 2016-01-01 21:00:00 - 2016-01-01 21:00:00
Play ON USC using money line in All games after a non-conference game
The record is 19 Wins and 9 Losses for the last three seasons (+17 units)


CBB > (819) UCLA@ (820) WASHINGTON | 2016-01-01 23:00:00 - 2016-01-01 23:00:00
Play ON UCLA using money line in All games after allowing 60 points or less
The record is 11 Wins and 3 Losses for the last three seasons (+11 units)


CBB > (821) COLORADO@ (822) CALIFORNIA | 2016-01-01 23:00:00 - 2016-01-01 23:00:00
Play AGAINST CALIFORNIA using money line in All games on Friday nights
The record is 12 Wins and 19 Losses for the since 1992 (-22.7 units)


-------------------------


CBB FIRST HALF


CBB > (821) COLORADO@ (822) CALIFORNIA | 2016-01-01 23:00:00 - 2016-01-01 23:00:00
Play AGAINST COLORADO ?>in the first halfin Road games when playing against a team with a winning record
The record is 2 Wins and 16 Losses for the last two seasons (-15.6 units)


CBB > (823) W ILLINOIS@ (824) NEBRASKA-OMAHA | 2016-01-01 14:00:00 - 2016-01-01 14:00:00
Play AGAINST W ILLINOIS ?>in the first halfin All games when playing against a team with a winning record
The record is 2 Wins and 14 Losses for the last two seasons (-13.4 units)


-----------------------


CBB TOTALS


CBB > (815) UTAH@ (816) STANFORD | 2016-01-01 21:00:00 - 2016-01-01 21:00:00
Play OVER UTAH on the totalin All games as a favorite vs. the 1rst half line
The record is 8 Overs and 0 Unders for the this season (+8 units)


CBB > (827) DENVER@ (828) S DAKOTA ST | 2016-01-01 20:00:00 - 2016-01-01 20:00:00
Play UNDER DENVER on the totalin Road games after scoring 60 points or less
The record is 1 Overs and 12 Unders for the last three seasons (+10.9 units)


CBB > (815) UTAH@ (816) STANFORD | 2016-01-01 21:00:00 - 2016-01-01 21:00:00
Play UNDER UTAH on the totalin All games in a road game where the first half total is 63 to 65.5
The record is 5 Overs and 23 Unders for the since 1992 (+17.5 units)


CBB > (823) W ILLINOIS@ (824) NEBRASKA-OMAHA | 2016-01-01 14:00:00 - 2016-01-01 14:00:00
Play UNDER W ILLINOIS on the totalin All games in January games
The record is 6 Overs and 25 Unders for the since 1992 (+18.4 units)


CBB > (819) UCLA@ (820) WASHINGTON | 2016-01-01 23:00:00 - 2016-01-01 23:00:00
Play UNDER UCLA on the totalin All games in road lined games
The record is 1 Overs and 10 Unders for the last two seasons (+8.9 units)

CBB > (825) IUPUI@ (826) S DAKOTA | 2016-01-01 15:30:00 - 2016-01-01 15:30:00
Play UNDER IUPUI on the totalin All games against conference opponents
The record is 8 Overs and 24 Unders for the last three seasons (+15.2 units)


CBB > (827) DENVER@ (828) S DAKOTA ST | 2016-01-01 20:00:00 - 2016-01-01 20:00:00
Play UNDER DENVER on the totalin Road games against conference opponents
The record is 32 Overs and 68 Unders for the since 1992 (+32.8 units)

 

[CNOTES]

FRIDAY, JANUARY 1


GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS




WIU at NEOM 02:00 PM


NEOM -8.0 *****




INDPU at SDAK 03:30 PM


INDPU +7.0 DOUBLE PLAY

 

[CNOTES]

FRIDAY, JANUARY 1


GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS


UNT at UTSA 07:00 PM


UTSA +2.5 *****




DEN at SDST 08:00 PM


SDST -13.5 DOUBLE PLAY




USC at WSU 09:00 PM


WSU +2.5




UTAH at STAN 09:00 PM


STAN +5.0 DOUBLE PLAY




RICE at UTEP 09:00 PM


UTEP -7.0




COLO at CAL 11:00 PM


COLO +7.5 TRIPLE PLAY




UCLA at WASH 11:00 PM


UCLA +0.0 *****

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Mountainers (11-1) at Wildcats (10-2)
Date: January 02, 2016 12:00 PM EDT

West Virginia continued its strong start with an easy victory in its first true road game.


A far bigger test awaits at Kansas State.


The 19th-ranked Mountaineers seek what would be their most impressive win of the season Saturday when they open Big 12 play against a Wildcats team aiming to remain perfect at home.


After opening the season with seven consecutive wins, West Virginia (11-1) suffered its first loss against then-No. 10 Virginia, 70-54, on Dec. 8. With three inferior opponents next up on the schedule, the Mountaineers took advantage and won by an average of 28.3 points.


Wednesday's matchup with rival Virginia Tech marked West Virginia's first road game, and the result was much like the previous three contests. Jevon Carter made his first eight shots and finished with 18 points to lead four double-digit scorers as the Mountaineers never trailed in an 88-63 victory.


West Virginia used its full-court pressure to turn 22 turnovers into 26 points, limited the Hokies to six second-half field goals and held a 42-24 rebounding advantage.


'We know when we jump on somebody, we can't let them back,' Carter said. 'This game, we went on a lot of runs and they kept cutting them short, but we knew we had to jump on them and stay on them.'


Leading scorer Devin Williams (15.5 ppg) was limited to nine points but Jaysean Paige had 17 for the second straight game. Jonathan Holton tallied 12 points and 13 rebounds, while Tarik Phillip added a season-high 12 points off the bench.


"We got our hands on balls and made some good plays," coach Bob Huggins said. "We made some good finishes around the rim.'


Huggins, who went 23-12 as Kansas State's coach in 2006-07, knows his team will need to play just as well to hand Kansas State (10-2) its first loss in eight games at Bramlage Coliseum.


"Kansas State is playing really, really well," Huggins said. "They did what we did, you add some malcontents and they went elsewhere and you think you're not going to be as good and you end up being so much better because you have everybody on the same page."


The Wildcats also are in search of a signature win having lost their only game against a ranked opponent, 80-70, to then-No. 9 North Carolina on Nov. 24.


They reached 10 wins in non-conference play for the ninth time in the past 10 seasons with Tuesday's 75-47 rout of Saint Louis. Kansas State dominated the second half, outscoring the Billikens 40-19 and holding them to 25 percent shooting, including 2 of 14 from 3-point range.


Wesley Iwundu had 13 points and eight rebounds to pace an attack that featured seven players with seven points or more.


'We took a big step today,' said Iwundu, the team leader with 13.3 points per game. 'We got a few days before it officially starts, so these next days will be important to tune up for the press that West Virginia will throw at us. We're going in the right direction.'


Points won't come easy in this matchup of the two toughest defensive teams in the Big 12. West Virginia is allowing a league-best 60.1 points per game and Kansas State is right behind at 61.5.


The Wildcats have won 14 of 19 at home versus ranked opponents, including nine of the last 11.


West Virginia has won the last three meetings after three straight losses in the series.

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Yellow Jackets (10-3) at Tar Heels (13-2)
Date: January 02, 2016 12:00 PM EDT

North Carolina's offense showed little signs of slowing down in its ACC opener despite an off night from leading scorer Brice Johnson.


That's similar to what happened the last time it faced Georgia Tech.


The seventh-ranked Tar Heels crushed the Yellow Jackets twice last season to extend their win streak to six in this series heading into Saturday's matchup in Chapel Hill.


North Carolina (12-2, 1-0) shot 50 percent and put five players in double figures in Wednesday's 80-69 win over Clemson. Johnson was not one of them, scoring a season-low three points on 1-of-8 shooting after he entered averaging 16.2.


That marked Johnson's lowest scoring effort since he scored two points on 1-of-9 shooting in an 81-49 win at Georgia Tech (10-3, 0-0) on March 3. The Tar Heels shot 53.1 percent in their biggest victory in the series since a 92-55 home rout Jan. 24, 1987.


North Carolina also cruised past the Yellow Jackets 89-60 on Feb. 21, shooting 62.3 percent for its best mark in the last eight seasons versus a Division I foe.


Kennedy Meeks scored 26 points in last season's games against Georgia Tech and Justin Jackson had 24. Meeks, however, is expected to miss his sixth straight game with a bone bruise in his knee.


The Tar Heels didn't need him in their fifth straight win as Marcus Paige scored 18 points and Joel Berry II added 16. North Carolina has shot at least 50 percent in 10 games, though its 34.8 3-point percentage is sixth-worst in the conference.


'I think we have some good parts,' coach Roy Williams said. 'We haven't shot the ball well. ... When we start shooting the ball and still get the offensive rebounds, we can be really good offensively.'


The Tar Heels are 7-1 with Paige in the lineup after the star guard missed the first six games with a hand injury. Paige was held without an assist for the first time since last year's NCAA Tournament.


Georgia Tech has dropped nine straight ACC openers. The Yellow Jackets are 8-27 on the road in ACC play in five seasons under Brian Gregory, who took over as coach in the season this losing streak to the Tar Heels began.


With four seniors in the starting lineup, Georgia Tech is hoping experience will pay off in conference play.


"We had a slip-up here and there in the nonconference but at 10-3 I feel good about where we're at because I feel like we can still get better," Gregory said.


Marcus Georges-Hunt averages a team-high 14.5 points as one of four Yellow Jackets to score at least 10 per game. He has reached double digits three times in five games against the Tar Heels.


"We're a team that we have to count on different guys every night," Gregory said.


Georges-Hunt scored 20 points and Adam Smith added 17 Tuesday in the Yellow Jackets' third straight win, 73-67 over Duquesne.


This contest should feature a good battle on the boards. Georgia Tech is third in the ACC in rebounding margin and among the top 20 nationally at plus-10.5 and North Carolina is fourth at plus-10.3.

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Bulldogs (11-2) at Musketeers (12-1)
Date: January 02, 2016 1:00 PM EDT

It didn't take long for both Xavier and Butler to find out life in the Big East this season will be an entirely different environment than non-conference play.


With each looking to turn the page after losing its league opener, the two top-10 teams square off Saturday in Cincinnati.


The euphoria over a school-record 12-0 start that vaulted the No. 6 Musketeers to the highest ranking in program history quickly subsided during the early stages of Thursday's game at Villanova when guard Edmond Sumner was removed from the court on a stretcher following a frightening collision with the Wildcats' Kris Jenkins.


Clearly shaken by the loss of the key freshman, Xavier was dealt its worst loss in coach Chris Mack's seven seasons with a 95-64 drubbing by the 16th-ranked Wildcats.


Sumner, second on the team at 11.7 points per game, was released from a Philadelphia-area hospital later that day and traveled with the team back to Cincinnati, though it's doubtful he'll play Saturday.


"Long term, he's going to be fine," Mack said. "He was walking and talking. Has a horrendous headache."


The Musketeers' next concern will be tightening a defense that was shredded by Villanova, which hit 13 of 25 attempts from 3-point range and shot 63.2 percent overall. Xavier had held opponents to 39.4 percent during its unbeaten run.


Butler (11-2, 0-1 Big East) presents another challenge, ranking among the national leaders in points per game (88.6) and field-goal percentage (50.4) while boasting four players averaging at least 12.8 points.


"We've got to put this one behind us," Mack said. "We've got just as good of a team coming into Cintas (Center) on Saturday and our players recognize that. They know how tough-minded Butler is, how talented they are."


The Bulldogs, however, are coming off one of their poorer performances in an 81-73 loss to No. 12 Providence on Thursday that halted their eight-game win streak. Butler took an 11-point lead into the break but finished a season-worst 3 of 17 from 3-point range and shot 35.0 percent while being outscored 56-37 in the second half.


"We did not have a good approach coming out at halftime and that was my fault," coach Chris Holtmann said. "I really felt we were not as aggressive or as alert as we needed to be coming out at halftime, and that's on me."


Top scorer Kellen Dunham continued his slump by going 3 of 14 for eight points. Forward Andrew Chrabascz, who shot 67.6 percent over the previous five games, had four on 2-of-11 shooting.


Dunham, third in school history with 238 3-pointers, is 0 of 21 from beyond the arc and 7 of 47 (14.9 percent) overall while averaging 5.8 points over his last four. The senior averaged 19.1 points through the first nine games.


Xavier held the Bulldogs to 35.1 percent shooting in a 73-56 home victory Feb. 21, avenging an 88-76 loss in Indianapolis a month earlier. The Musketeers also edged Butler 67-61 in overtime in last season's Big East Tournament quarterfinals.


The Bulldogs are 1-4 at Cintas Center, where they've dropped four straight since a 74-65 non-conference win Dec. 23, 2008. They won 78-76 at then-No. 17 Cincinnati on Dec. 2 in their only true road game this season.


Xavier handed Cincinnati a 66-55 loss at Cintas on Dec. 12.

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Orange (10-4) at Hurricanes (11-1)
Date: January 02, 2016 2:30 PM EDT

To Jim Larranaga, Miami's final nonconference game heading into ACC play being competitive was just what his team needed.


Mike Hopkins found out his team's ACC opener was a little more than it could handle.


A one-point loss from being undefeated, the 13th-ranked Hurricanes have still been rather impressive heading into Saturday's visit from an Orange team that hasn't lost its first two conference games in 16 years.


Miami shook off the disappointment of missing the NCAA Tournament last season and reached the NIT final, and though it came into this one with a similar roster, the expectations were greater in Larranaga's fifth season.


The Hurricanes (11-1) have so far been exceeding them. Sixth in the others receiving votes portion of the AP Top 25 in the preseason, Miami finds itself on the cusp of the top 10 and could get there with a win over the Orange (10-4).


Larranaga thinks his team, which lost to Northeastern at the buzzer Nov. 27 and has beaten Utah and Butler, will be better prepared for Syracuse after getting a solid test to close its nonconference slate. The Hurricanes trailed Princeton by seven midway through the second half Tuesday before finishing on a 31-12 run for a 76-64 victory.


'Honestly, I thought that was exactly what the doctor ordered,' Larranaga said. 'We needed a challenge. We needed a gut check, someone to really test us. We needed to be behind and have to come back.'


Syracuse was the team that gave up a somewhat sizable lead earlier this week. The Orange were up eight on Pittsburgh with 14 minutes left Wednesday, but missed 11 of their final 15 shots and committed four turnovers in the final two minutes of a 72-61 loss.


"That last five minutes, they gave it to us," interim coach Hopkins said. " ... But we're getting better. I felt really good for 35 minutes. I had heartburn for the last five."


The Panthers outrebounded Syracuse 43-25, including 19 offensive boards. Pitt held a 22-2 edge in second-chance points.


Syracuse's opponents are rebounding 33.9 percent of their misses, putting the Orange 320th in that category in what Hopkins call his team's "Achilles heel."


Syracuse has a minus-2.2 rebound differential overall while Miami's is plus-8.0, though the Hurricanes don't often find themselves requiring extra possessions. That's because they're among the nation's top 10 in field-goal percentage (51.0) and just outside it from beyond the arc (41.2).


Larranaga was surprised that Princeton, which primarily plays a zone, used so much man-to-man defense on the Hurricanes early. There probably won't be any similar adjustments from Syracuse's staple 2-3 zone.


Ivan Cruz Uceda (56.1 percent) and Sheldon McClellan (47.5) give Miami two 3-point threats, while the Orange have one they'd like to see fire away more. Freshman Tyler Lydon is hitting 45.9 percent from 3, but only attempting 2.6 per game.


"We want him to shoot," Hopkins said. "If you can see me, I probably pull four back muscles and a shoulder muscle every time he doesn't because he is such a good shooter."


Miami has lost two heartbreakers in its last two ACC openers, which went a combined three overtimes - and had last season's double-OT defeat to Virginia gone differently, the Hurricanes likely would have made the NCAAs.


Syracuse is trying to avoid its first 0-2 start in conference play since 1998-99, when it and the Hurricanes were in the Big East.


Miami hasn't beaten the Orange at home since 1996, losing the last five, but it did win last season's lone meeting 66-62 at the Carrier Dome despite McClellan and Angel Rodriguez shooting a combined 5 for 20.

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Red Storm (7-7) at Friars (13-1)
Date: January 02, 2016 3:30 PM EDT

Providence's three stars have hit their stride just in time for Big East play, which certainly doesn't bode well for a young St. John's team that is struggling on the defensive end.


Seeking their first 2-0 conference start in seven years, the 12th-ranked Friars will try to lock up their best record after 15 games in a half century Saturday against the visiting Red Storm.


Kris Dunn proved he's recovered from an illness that sidelined him in the last two home games and high-scoring Ben Bentil seems to be over an ankle injury that limited him recently.


Dunn turned it on in the final 20 minutes after dealing with early foul trouble to key Providence's rally from an 11-point deficit in an 81-73 win at No. 9 Butler in Thursday's Big East opener. The junior guard finished with 20 points, nine assists and seven rebounds.


'As long as we've got Kris Dunn here, we're going to make sure he earns his scholarship because he's not going to be here much longer,' coach Ed Cooley joked about his preseason All-American.


Coming off a career-high 32-point performance in a 90-66 win at Massachusetts on Dec. 21, Bentil chipped in with 19 on Thursday. The sophomore forward is averaging 21.1 points on 52.4 percent shooting over his last 10 games and has totaled 29 rebounds in his past three.


Rodney Bullock had a career-high 25 points while hitting 6 of 9 from 3-point range and pulling down 10 rebounds at Hinkle Fieldhouse. The sophomore forward has averaged 15.8 points, 8.7 boards and 2 blocks while recording three double-doubles over his past six games.


'We just, collectively, all got it together,' Dunn said of the team's comeback surge.


The Friars rank eighth among all Big East teams with a 33.5 3-point percentage, but they've hit 22 of 49 (44.9 percent) from long range while averaging 85.5 points in back-to-back road victories.


Providence, 7-0 at home, seeks its first 2-0 start in Big East play since winning its first three in 2008-09 and first 14-1 start overall since winning 15 of its first 16 in 1965-66.


The Red Storm have dropped four in a row, including home losses to Incarnate Word and NJIT. They've allowed an average of 79.3 points and a 45.5 percent 3-point shooting in their last three games.


Freshman Malik Ellison will try to build on his best performance, a 17-point, nine-rebound effort off the bench in an 80-70 home loss to Creighton in Thursday's league opener.


Classmate Federico Mussini, however, looks to regroup after a managing a season low-tying five on 1-of-8 shooting against the Bluejays. He's averaging a team-high 13.4 points.


"Getting consistent performance from different guys has been up and down. That is related to (the team's) inexperience," first-year coach Chris Mullin said. "All these experiences will be beneficial in the long term, but at the moment it's not enjoyable."


Providence dropped the first two in last season's series with St. John's (7-7) before pulling out a 74-57 win in the Big East tournament quarterfinals. Dunn averaged 19.0 points, 7.3 assists, 5.0 rebounds and made 53.7 percent from the field in the three matchups.


The Friars have won 12 straight at home versus unranked opponents since an 83-70 loss to St. John's last January. The Red Storm have lost 18 of their past 19 against Top 25 teams.

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Golden Hurricane (8-5) at Bearcats (10-4)
Date: January 02, 2016 4:00 PM EDT

Mick Cronin doesn't sound like a guy who had a very happy holiday season, but he left no doubt as to what his players can provide as a New Year's resolution.


Defense and toughness were the two words Cronin harped on after 22nd-ranked Cincinnati's latest loss, and the Bearcats will try to stop a two-game skid and start correcting their faults Saturday against Tulsa.


There wasn't much to pick apart in Cincinnati's first three defeats - two of which were by two points - considering they all came against teams currently among the nation's top 11.


But Tuesday's 77-70 loss to previously .500 Temple was enough to set Cronin off. The Owls became the first team to shoot 50 percent against the Bearcats (10-4, 0-1 AAC) since February, and the defensive disparity in Cincinnati's wins (35.2 percent, 57.0 points per game) versus its losses (45.4, 75.3) had him particularly fired up.


"Our problem is we're just not a good defensive team right now. We lack a lot of toughness," Cronin said. "We don't do anything that's hard. It's hard to win games against good solid teams when we have too many players on our team thinking everything is OK because we're ranked."


That was only the beginning for Cronin, who said the loss was "my fault" but wasn't done sending a message to his team.


"We've lacked talent when we were rebuilding the program. We've lacked height. We've never lacked toughness," he said. "Right now, they're a disgrace to every guy that's been in there bleeding to build that program. That's played out-manned, under-manned in a battle royale. Right now, they owe those guys an apology for the way they defend and the way they play."


Cronin apologized to Cincinnati's fans after the program's third home loss prior to January for the first time in eight years. He promised to rectify things, and it'll be interesting to see if he tries to do so with Shaq Thomas and Octavius Ellis as starters.


Those two came off the bench for the first time due to a series of poor practices, replaced by Jacob Evans III and Coreontae DeBerry. Evans and Berry had nine points in a combined 37 minutes while Thomas and Ellis totaled 20 in 54 off the bench.


'We just don't understand that being Cincinnati and being blessed to be in the Top 25 that we've got to be ready to play every game,' said Troy Caupain, who led the Bearcats with a season-high 19 points. 'That's something we've been lacking, energy for all 40 minutes. It's held us back.'


Cincinnati likely won't have to worry about being ranked even if it beats Tulsa (8-5, 0-1), which has won both of its true road games and split four at neutral sites.


Like the Bearcats, though, the Golden Hurricane have lost three times at home after letting No. 17 SMU shoot 56.4 percent in Tuesday's 81-69 defeat. Still, coach Frank Haith was taking the long view after Tulsa's conference opener.


"It's a long, long, long season. ... We have another opportunity again this weekend against Cincinnati," Haith said. "We have 17 more of these to go. We just have to get better and keep grinding. There is no time to panic. Nobody across the country can feel that."


One thing Haith doesn't want to talk about anymore is his team's free-throw issues. Tulsa is shooting 66.9 percent from the line after going 11 of 22 against SMU, and Haith has vowed silence on the matter.


The Golden Hurricane went 4 of 13 from the stripe March 4 as Farad Cobb had 22 points in the Bearcats' 56-47 win.

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Bears (10-2) at Jayhawks (11-1)
Date: January 02, 2016 4:00 PM EDT

(AP) - Rarely can Kansas play the Rodney Dangerfield card.


After all, this is the program founded by the game's inventor, and that has Dr. James Naismith's name on its floor.


It's the one that counts Phog Allen, Larry Brown and Roy Williams among its former coaches, and has five national title banners in the rafters of Allen Fieldhouse.


No respect? No chance.


Except perhaps in this respect: On Saturday, the second-ranked Jayhawks host No. 23 Baylor as they begin pursuit of a 12th straight conference championship, a feat matched only by the UCLA teams of the 1960s and '70s.


"I don't think there's any doubt that people take the streak for granted," coach Bill Self said. "I think our fans do. I think nationally, it has not got the respect in a lot of ways it deserves. But I also understand that what gets most of the attention now is what you do in the postseason, as opposed to the regular season. I understand that."


Still, the remarkable string of Big 12 titles means something at Kansas (11-1).


Step outside the home locker room, turn right and head toward the Phog's floor. There is a graphic pasted on the wall that shows each of the 11 rings won by previous teams.


"What these players have done over time, and with so many different combinations and all those things in what is arguably as good a league as there is in the country, it's pretty remarkable," Self said. "I'm real proud of it."


It is difficult to put "the Streak" into proper perspective.


When it began in 2005 with a shared title in Self's second season on the sideline, current Kansas freshman Carlton Bragg was 9 years old. The team was led by a senior guard, Aaron Miles, who these days looks resplendent in a button-down suit as part of the Jayhawks' staff.


"Faces have changed but expectations and results haven't," Self said. "That's one thing that I probably take the most pride in is that the kids, regardless of who you lost, it's kind of the next man up, and that mantra - they've delivered. I take great pride in the consistency."


Especially at a program that is constantly losing players early to the NBA, including one-and-done stars such as Andrew Wiggins that leave massive voids to be filled each spring.


Three times, the Jayhawks have kept their streak going with five new starters.


"Nobody wants to be the team that doesn't win the 12th year in a row," junior guard Frank Mason III said with conviction. "That's something we take a lot of pride in."


During the streak, the Jayhawks are 31-6 against Oklahoma and Iowa State, the teams thought to be the biggest threats to ending more than a decade of dominance this year. They've never lost to Baylor in 12 games at Allen Fieldhouse, where they are 87-5 against league foes the past 11 seasons.


"The reality is, year-in and year-out, we have had as good of players as anybody. And so when you have as good of players as anybody, you should win games," Self said. "Certainly this year, though, you can make a case that the teams in our league are every bit as talented."


Baylor (10-2) certainly fits the bill, as one of the five Big 12 teams in the Top 25. Its only losses came at then-No. 25 Oregon and at No. 20 Texas A&M and it knocked off then-No. 16 Vanderbilt.


"Your nonconference schedule, you want to put yourself in position to achieve all your goals. And I think we've done that," Bears coach Scott Drew said after Tuesday's 72-59 win over Texas Southern. "We don't have any bad losses. We have a good win (Vanderbilt). So tournament resume-wise, we'll have a good RPI from it. Now you're on to the toughest conference in the country."


Baylor is strong on the glass, outrebounding opponents by an average of 11.3 boards, and possesses a potent offense averaging 81.8 points.


Kansas, however, is no slouch offensively, scoring 87.2 points per game to rank fifth in the country. The Jayhawks' 45.0 percent shooting from 3-point range is second in the nation with Wayne Selden Jr. connecting on 52.5 percent of his 59 attempts.


Selden's 14.8 scoring average ranks just behind Perry Ellis' 15.1 for the team lead.


Selden had 20 points as the Jayhawks defeated Baylor by 10 in the semifinals of the 2015 Big 12 tournament. Kansas won all three meetings last season and is 24-4 in the all-time series.


Taurean Prince, Baylor's leading scorer at 15.5 points per game, had just two points on 1-of-11 shooting in last year's tournament matchup and is coming off is worst performance of this season, going 2 of 12 for six points Tuesday.

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Blue Devils (11-2) at Eagles (7-6)
Date: January 02, 2016 4:30 PM EDT

Boston College coach Jim Christian is a little apprehensive about his team's chances to keep up with Duke in its ACC opener.


His concern appears to be well-founded.


Coming off back-to-back 100-point games, the 15th-ranked Blue Devils begin their conference slate when they visit the offensively challenged Eagles on Saturday.


Duke (11-2) looked like it would have a hard time overcoming a foot injury to Amile Jefferson as it fell to Utah 77-75 in overtime Dec. 19, but it regrouped over the holiday break and cruised to a couple of easy wins.


After shooting 51.3 percent and hitting 12 3-pointers in Monday's 105-66 victory over Elon, the Blue Devils made half their shots and knocked down 11 3s in Wednesday's 103-81 win over Long Beach State.


Leading scorer Grayson Allen had a career-high 33 points and went 15 of 17 from the foul line Wednesday while Matt Jones scored 21 and Derryck Thornton 18. The Blue Devils hit 28 of 32 foul shots and their 20.3 made free throws per game is among the highest marks in the country.


'We have good scorers, and if we're ready and play off one another, we have the ability to put points up,' coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "The big thing is when you're attacking and you get fouled, then you score when the clock is off."


With six players averaging in double figures, Duke - which last reached triple digits in three consecutive games in December 1999 - is among the nation's leaders with 88.9 points per game.


Boston College (7-6) has reached 88 points once this season and is averaging 67.5 - one of the worst marks among the 86 major-conference teams.


'You cannot win in a league that we play in without scoring,' Christian said.


The Eagles aren't projected to do much winning in the conference this year. A better fate is expected for the Blue Devils.


"We're proud of those things and we're 11-2. And now we're 0-0," Krzyzewski said. "It's not like football. You have to earn it now and be really good in your conference and earn the right to play in a tournament where only one team wins. There has to be a toughness that's developed and we have to continue to get there."


BC needs to get someone other than Eli Carter involved in the offense.


Carter had a season-high 28 points in Wednesday's 72-67 overtime victory over New Hampshire. The graduate transfer from Florida averages a team-high 17.2 points while freshman Jerome Robinson (12.2) is the only other player in double figures.


'I would like to get more production from everybody else,' Christian said. 'I thought Eli made every play. They deferred to him on every play. That's not how we've been playing.'


The Eagles are riding a four-game winning streak but expect things to get tougher with league play starting.


BC has lost four straight conference openers and dropped nine in a row to Top 25 opponents since knocking off then-No. 1 Syracuse on Feb. 19, 2014 - its only victory over a ranked team in it last 21 tries.


The Eagles have also lost nine straight to the Blue Devils. Duke won 85-62 on Jan. 3 in last season's lone matchup and has outscored the Eagles by an average of 21.7 points in the past three meetings.

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Razorbacks (6-6) at Aggies (10-2)
Date: January 02, 2016 4:30 PM EDT

There was no letdown for Texas A&M after an impressive victory in its previous game, and the Aggies are surging into SEC play as a result.


Twentieth-ranked Texas A&M goes for its fourth straight win when it hosts Arkansas on Saturday.


Freshman center Tyler Davis matched his season high of 18 points, three other Aggies scored in double figures and two more had nine in an 82-63 victory over Cal Poly on Tuesday. Texas A&M (10-2) shot 49.2 percent and went 11 of 33 from 3-point range while limiting the Mustangs to 38.6 percent and 8-of-24 shooting from beyond the arc.


No hangover was apparent after an 80-61 home rout of then-No. 16 Baylor on Dec. 19 that was the squad's second win in as many games against ranked opponents this season. Texas A&M improved to 8-0 at home.


"I'm excited," Davis said. "Our team is really good. I think we can come out as the top team in the conference at the end of it. We just have to go with (coach Billy Kennedy's) game plan and keep playing hard, live with the results at the end of the day."


Eight Aggies average between 5.8 and 15.3 points.


Davis is shooting 79.4 percent from the field but doesn't have enough attempts to qualify in that race yet. After his 8-of-9 performance Tuesday established season highs in both made baskets and attempts, it sounds like he'll be getting more opportunities.


"He's impressive," Kennedy said. "Eighteen points, eight rebounds in 24 minutes. I thought we got him the ball but we can get him the ball more."


Texas A&M, allowing 64.3 points per game and 39.1 percent shooting, led by as many as 22 against Cal Poly.


The Aggies also owned a 43-34 edge in rebounding, including 16 offensive boards. They've averaged 15.3 offensive rebounds since Nov. 27, which is among the best marks in the nation in that span.


Texas A&M also forced 13 Mustangs miscues that led to a 21-5 advantage in points off turnovers, as well as a 10-0 lead in fast-break points. The Aggies committed a season-low seven giveaways.


"Somebody said we played three games in 22 days (coming into Tuesday)," Kennedy said. "It's hard to really get in the rhythm of playing games and now getting into conference play, I hope we can build a good rhythm and get more consistent in our play."


That's something with which Arkansas (6-6) has struggled. The Razorbacks were in position for a win over Dayton on Wednesday, but couldn't close it out as the Flyers went on a game-ending 10-2 run in an 85-81 overtime victory.


Moses Kingsley led Arkansas with 26 points and the Razorbacks got big production from their reserves, with Anton Beard scoring 11 of his 15 in the second half and Dusty Hannahs adding nine of his 13 after the break. Arkansas' bench outscored Dayton's 32-24.


The Razorbacks, though, lost for the second time in three games - both defeats coming in OT. They've dropped all four contests away from home - two true road games and two neutral-site contests.


"The record is what it is. I'm not awful proud of it, but I am proud of our guys and where they're trending; the direction they're going," coach Mike Anderson said. "We were really tested against a very good Dayton team, and as we begin in the (conference) season ... we're opening up at Texas A&M, a team that's a top-15 team, could be top 10.


"I was watching the game they played against Baylor and they just dominated, so we've got our work cut out for us."


Kingsley has averaged 22.0 points in his last three contests.


Texas A&M has taken two of the last three meetings, winning 81-75 at Fayetteville in the most recent Feb. 24. Danuel House, leading the Aggies with 15.3 points per game, scored a game-high 28 and went 5 of 9 from 3-point range.