Temple @ Xavier
2008/01/16 Temple 78 Xavier 59 Liacouras Center
2007/01/06 Xavier 76 Temple 68 Cintas Center
2006/01/25 Temple 81 Xavier 79 Liacouras Center
2005/01/22 Xavier 54 Temple 69 Cintas Center
2004/03/06 Temple 69 Xavier 70 Liacouras Center
2003/03/14 Xavier 57 Temple 63 University of Dayton Arena
Temple plays Xavier tough.These are the two best defensive teams in the A-10. 1st and 2nd in OPP PPG and OPP FG%. However to counter that, they are both in the top 5 in PPG and Xavier leads the league in FG%.
The stats are very similar. 1st and 2nd in RPG but Temple is the better FT shooting team and offensive rebounding team.
If Xavier has one flaw in their team, its their turnovers. They average 15.7 per game, 2nd worst in conference. Their point guard who has started every game this year in questionable tonight. X had 23 turnovers at home against UMASS in their last game and even managed to turn it over 15 times against lowly Charlotte at home.
Temple is not the best turnover forcing team but they play sound defence and maybe they can attack this weekness tonight.
Temple will need to buckle down on the defensive end in this game to stay close.
Temple has the best player on the floor in #22 Dionte Christmas. 20 and 7 per game. However there isnt a bunch of help. If Christmas scores over 23 tonight they cover this easily, if they slow him down, X wins easily. I think he has a big night, his senior year against xavier on the road, he should be geered up. G Semaj Inge has had a career-high 19 points in two of the team’s last three games, he can provide the needed help tonight.
Temple +8.5 (3 units -103)
2008/01/16 Temple 78 Xavier 59 Liacouras Center
2007/01/06 Xavier 76 Temple 68 Cintas Center
2006/01/25 Temple 81 Xavier 79 Liacouras Center
2005/01/22 Xavier 54 Temple 69 Cintas Center
2004/03/06 Temple 69 Xavier 70 Liacouras Center
2003/03/14 Xavier 57 Temple 63 University of Dayton Arena
Temple plays Xavier tough.These are the two best defensive teams in the A-10. 1st and 2nd in OPP PPG and OPP FG%. However to counter that, they are both in the top 5 in PPG and Xavier leads the league in FG%.
The stats are very similar. 1st and 2nd in RPG but Temple is the better FT shooting team and offensive rebounding team.
If Xavier has one flaw in their team, its their turnovers. They average 15.7 per game, 2nd worst in conference. Their point guard who has started every game this year in questionable tonight. X had 23 turnovers at home against UMASS in their last game and even managed to turn it over 15 times against lowly Charlotte at home.
Temple is not the best turnover forcing team but they play sound defence and maybe they can attack this weekness tonight.
Temple will need to buckle down on the defensive end in this game to stay close.
Temple has the best player on the floor in #22 Dionte Christmas. 20 and 7 per game. However there isnt a bunch of help. If Christmas scores over 23 tonight they cover this easily, if they slow him down, X wins easily. I think he has a big night, his senior year against xavier on the road, he should be geered up. G Semaj Inge has had a career-high 19 points in two of the team’s last three games, he can provide the needed help tonight.
Temple +8.5 (3 units -103)
Butler @ Detriot
That last road loss for Butler is going to be a good thing going in to this game. They will be ready to play, to make sure they stay in first place in the Horizon. I know Detriot played them tough at Butler. However Butler was 2-10 from 3 (average36%) missed 8 free throws but did get to the line 28 times. Butler was outrebounded by 7. Butler is 2nd in the conference in RPG while DET in 2nd to last.
Dont be down on Butler on the road after iffy play lately. This team has won at UIC,Xavier,Bradley and Drake all by at least 7 points.
I think they go in, shoot well, play hard and control the glass.
Detriot is the worst 3 point shooting team in the conference at 28%. They go inside to their two 6'7" forwwards for their scoring. Butler will counter with Haywood and Howard downlow.
The only way this game is not a blow is if Butler gets manhandled inside like last time. But i dont think they will. They will get their inside-outside game going and pound Detriot.
Butler -11 (4 units -104)
That last road loss for Butler is going to be a good thing going in to this game. They will be ready to play, to make sure they stay in first place in the Horizon. I know Detriot played them tough at Butler. However Butler was 2-10 from 3 (average36%) missed 8 free throws but did get to the line 28 times. Butler was outrebounded by 7. Butler is 2nd in the conference in RPG while DET in 2nd to last.
Dont be down on Butler on the road after iffy play lately. This team has won at UIC,Xavier,Bradley and Drake all by at least 7 points.
I think they go in, shoot well, play hard and control the glass.
Detriot is the worst 3 point shooting team in the conference at 28%. They go inside to their two 6'7" forwwards for their scoring. Butler will counter with Haywood and Howard downlow.
The only way this game is not a blow is if Butler gets manhandled inside like last time. But i dont think they will. They will get their inside-outside game going and pound Detriot.
Butler -11 (4 units -104)
Haywood and Howard combined for only 6 rebounds last time. You gotta watch Howard he loves to face up and draw his defence out cause he can shoot the 3, sometimes he forgets he needs to go to the glass. The fucker shoots 5 threes a game at 6'8". Which is nice when he rebounds as well. Mack and Veasly also rebound well for guards at 4 per.
Santa Clara @ San Diego
I think I found a good one here. This Santa Clara team is very young. They have started 3 freshman all year. Recently they put senior guard Calvin Johnson into the starting lineup and they have won 4 in a row.
They seem to be figuring some things out, though. For one thing, they are learning how to take best advantage of John Bryant’s dominance inside (18 and 13). Bryant has shown he can score against anyone, and Foster and Rahon are spotting up to become consistent 3-point threats when teams concentrate their defense on him. Santa Clara is 20-45 from 3 in their last 2 games.
San Diego is coming off three straight lopsided losses, and their confidence as well as their offensive production have been on the decline. The loss of All-conference guard Brandon Jackson would hurt many teams but especially a team that cannot easily replace his scoring. San Diego has not scored over 55 points in their last 3 games. The Toreros had only six field goals in the first half against Gonzaga.
Pomare is San Diegos leading scorer and has not attempted one 3 all year. He is strictly an inside bigman. He will not be able to score againt big John Bryant inside.
San Diego is also the worst rebounding team in the WCC and I think Santa Clara can take advantage of that.
Santa Clara's weakness has been turnovers but with Johnson back in the lineup on the road he will be able to reduce the turnovers and take care of the ball and get it down low to Bryant.
Santa Clara has shown me strength of the road.
at St. Mary's L 62-63
at Arizona L 66-69
at Portland L 52-53
They are gonna win one of these. The more close games the better for the freshman in the future.
Santa Clara +5.5 (4 units -110)
Santa Clara ML (1 units +210)
I think I found a good one here. This Santa Clara team is very young. They have started 3 freshman all year. Recently they put senior guard Calvin Johnson into the starting lineup and they have won 4 in a row.
They seem to be figuring some things out, though. For one thing, they are learning how to take best advantage of John Bryant’s dominance inside (18 and 13). Bryant has shown he can score against anyone, and Foster and Rahon are spotting up to become consistent 3-point threats when teams concentrate their defense on him. Santa Clara is 20-45 from 3 in their last 2 games.
San Diego is coming off three straight lopsided losses, and their confidence as well as their offensive production have been on the decline. The loss of All-conference guard Brandon Jackson would hurt many teams but especially a team that cannot easily replace his scoring. San Diego has not scored over 55 points in their last 3 games. The Toreros had only six field goals in the first half against Gonzaga.
Pomare is San Diegos leading scorer and has not attempted one 3 all year. He is strictly an inside bigman. He will not be able to score againt big John Bryant inside.
San Diego is also the worst rebounding team in the WCC and I think Santa Clara can take advantage of that.
Santa Clara's weakness has been turnovers but with Johnson back in the lineup on the road he will be able to reduce the turnovers and take care of the ball and get it down low to Bryant.
Santa Clara has shown me strength of the road.
at St. Mary's L 62-63
at Arizona L 66-69
at Portland L 52-53
They are gonna win one of these. The more close games the better for the freshman in the future.
Santa Clara +5.5 (4 units -110)
Santa Clara ML (1 units +210)
