College Hoops Opening Night

[HoosierDaddy]

I am very ready for the season to begin.

Not playing the Memphis-Wake Forest game. I played against Memphis when they beat Syracuse last year. I can't make the same mistake here, b/c Memphis is too unpredictable early in the season.

I like the second game though.

St. John's (+2)
OK. Marquette went to the Final 4 and returns 3 starters and they are only a 2-point fav against an inconsistent Red Storm club.

I know this is a "home Game" for the Johnnies, but there will be a lot of empty seats for this. At least there were last year.

St. John's got hot at the end of last year. They won 9 of their L10 games in the regular season and won the NIT. I know Hatten is gone, but they still have some good guards and play good defense (allowed 58.8 ppg LY).

They are also a good rebounding team.

Marquette will still be a good club, but they are somewhat inexperienced (only 2 seniors, one senior starter - Scott Merritt). They will plsy 4 freshmen for a lot of minutes (2 projected starters).

Marquette is usually better than most teams defensively, but they are equal here with the Johnnies.

I think this will be a tough, grind it out game and the Johnnies win late.

 

[bhg]

St Johns up to +3.5 at some places now.

 

[GreenDoberman]

St John's is very mediocre this year, and some are already calling for Jarvis' job. Marguette lost Wade, but Travis Diener is a breakout point guard and they will play a steady defensive game, which is easier to implement early in the season than an offensive flow.
Memphis is hurting with injuries, only about 8 scholarship players suiting up, Wake is having some injury troubles of there own, though.
I haven't decided if I'm going to play either tonight, but Marquette is my early lean.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Fine, I still like it and will add another unit on St. John's (+4).

I just have a funny feeling on this one and the whole world is on Marquette.

If I'm wrong, I'm wrong.

 

[GreenDoberman]

Nothing wrong with having conflicting opinions, I'm gonna pass on the game and take my Wake win for the night.
I'm a fan of Diener, but St. John's has a soph PG who sat out last year for academic reasons, "Showtime" Hill. I'm sure 99 % of the people betting on the game have no idea about his talent. I want to see him play a game before I decide the direction the Johnnies will go.