Duquesne @ SLU - 6

[Serbone]

13-5 team visiting an 8-10 team

13-5 team getting 6 points

8-10 team missing 3 of top 4 guards all season so far due to Title IX suspension

this is the first game of the 2nd semester started yesterday

line was 3.5, now up to 5.5-6, despite 66% (one source) of wagers on Duquesne

suspended guards: one started last year (PG Bishop ball handler + good shooter), the other 2 are established transfers (one is a top shooter UCF Hendriquez, the other, Graves is a BC transfer ball handling PG) they are sorely missed by SLU with only 8 scholarship players on the court this season

the 3 have been allowed to practice with the team and even travel, they are ready, sure not 100% sharp

the two transfers practiced with the team last year, one the full year, one 2nd semester

SLU has some beef in the middle and slashers who can be a factor in the paint but without these 3 opponents packed the paint and dared them to shoot, also the current guards could not get the ball low to the post players and wing slashers the way they could with the 3 pt threats outside

it is very possible that the 3 players will be freed to play tonight... TBD, may not know until warmups, the 3 have not been allowed to dress out for the games all year

IF the players get to play, the team will go wild, the crowd will go wild, with adequate ball handling and some 3 point shooting SLU will be a whole different team.... and Coach Travis Ford is there to make it so

Duquesne won triple OT game Saturday

Just a heads up... keep an eye out

GL!

 

[Serbone]

Not official but there is some word that the 3 are NOT going to play tonight... again, not for sure
Line has dropped to -4.5
So NO GO at this point, I have been watching to see, if the 3 play IMO it would be a SLU cover

 

[daboyzinblue]

Good info. Keep us posted

 

[Serbone]

Good info. Keep us posted

It is GREAT info.
THIS is a big night, first game of the 2nd semester, so many wonder if something will be announced. It has dragged on, very complex Title IX crappola.
SLU gets worn down and / or foul trouble most every game with their limited roster; if the 3 play tonight they are in top shape though haven't been in game conditions so they will not be 100% sharp shooting, passing, etc, probably.
I assumed the line would have been E, so when I saw 6 I thought something was up... it is back down to 4.5.
I will know for sure around 7pm EST when the warm ups start. Probably not gonna happen.

 

[BeatDown]

whats the play

 

[Serbone]

whats the play

No play at this point

BUT if the 3 are dressed out, & warm up pre-game, then SLU is the play, medium play not BIG... till now the 3 guards were allowed to practice and even travel with the team, but not dress out or or course play

If so they might not start, one under normal conditions is a sure fire starter, maybe 2 would be... but they should be in the rotation, SLU with those 3 are far better than they show thus far.... all 3, again, will be in the rotation, they are 3 of the 4 best guards, you could argue 3 of the best 5

The PG most of the time so far has been a freshman big kid, Goodwin, who was not even a PG in high school, a 4* who has skills but is not a true PG and certainly not an outside shooter. Another, Roby, is OK, he is mostly a # 2 but has been playing the point a lot this year, too, and has actually been shooting a lot better lately. The 3rd guard is a walk on, Hines, ouch he gives it everything but is not what they need at all

 

[Serbone]

False alarm, sorry

Looks like the 3 are not playing tonight

So no recommendation

 

[Serbone]

Surprisingly, SLU just suspended 3 Title IX players for 1.5 to 2 years, and expelled the other one who was playing, Goodwin, a 4* freshman guard who was playing point for the first time in his life; had a triple double last game.

ALL 4 are guards.

Leaves SLU with a walk on point guard (Hines) and a senior # 2 guard (Roby) who has been playing PG here and there and does OK.

The team will be devastated emotionally, on the road, and has too few ball handlers to compete, they will be worn down, they have already faltered in the last 5-6 minutes of games this year, and now lose one of their top players and ball handlers (he got better as the year went on handling the ball under coach Travis Ford's teachings).

Tomorrow, U Mass is - 4.5, at home, I would expect it to go much higher, they are 10-9 I have not looked them over yet but am confident a U Mass play is a good way to go, just a matter of small, medium, or LARGE.

GL!

 

[Serbone]

HOLD IT.
Goodwin might be playing, actually... TBD.
Rumor there is an appeal and since he was playing before (he had a separate lawyer... and some say he is on his way to U Mass flying with the team.
Sorry, this is a clusterschtook...