A few facts- all my numbers are conference numbers and i live in indiana so i know these teams well. I am an electrical engineering graduate student. I am not trying to brag just let you know im not a moron.
Wisc Milwaukee @ Valpo
Valpo has been killed by injuries this year. They may only have 6 scholarship players eligible to play this game. Things are so bad that senior guard Jake Diebler, the only upperclassman currently playing, was on the court for all 40 minutes despite an injured shoulder of his own. Valpo is at home but is only 3-4 this year with its win in conference over lowly Detriot. Valpo has lost 5 of their last 6 and really has no momentum coming into this game.
Wisc Milwaukee comes in winning 7 of 8 with its only loss a 2 point loss at home against rival Wisc GB. They are 2-0 on the road this year in conference play, winning by 5 at UIC (which is always a tough place to play) and 14 at Loyola Chicago. They lead the Horizon in 3 point attempts, makes and %. They lead in Rebounds and scoring. I just dont think Valpo can hang with them inside and offensively. Boyle and Smith are UWM's best scorers. Boyle is a 6-2 that can shoot and get to the rim. Look for him to have a big night.
I say UWM -3.5
-The line has not moved today
UIC @ Detriot
I would hate starting off and taking 2 road favorites. But that usually gets you when there is a homecourt advantage. Detriot is 0-3 at home this year. This game on paper screams to take UIC. Detriot is at the bottom or near it in scoring, rebounding, 3 pointers. They are last in FT% and 3PT% and rebounds/game.
UIC has not played well on the road , while Detriot has been playing better at home (somehow). UIC does not shoot well away from home and Their best player (Mayo) has not been scoring as of late.
Before I make the pick ill give you a little positive on Detriot.
Four of the last five games have been decided by single-digit margins, including a two-point loss to Youngstown State on New Year’s Day and a four-point setback at nationally ranked Butler on Jan. 10.
They led the Bulldogs 26-22 at halftime and were tied at 50-50 with two minutes left.
“It was a good effort,” coach Ray McCallum told the Detroit Free Press. “We held them to 16 field goals. We outrebounded them by nine and we really played tough.”
Call it a hunch but I am taking Detriot +5.5
-the line has moved from +5 to +5.5
I am going to kill myself if UIC shows up and blows them out but I see Detriot coming out to play in this one and UIC not showing up ready.
The Big game of the Night
UWGB @ Butler
Green Bay should be more competitive since it brings the Horizon League’s best offense up against Butler’s vaunted defense. The Phoenix lead the conference in scoring (71.0 ppg) and field goal percentage (43.5 percent), while the Bulldogs rank second in the nation in scoring defense (55.8 ppg).
Butler appears bent on dominating the Horizon League for the third straight season, but if any team has a chance of dethroning the 16th-ranked Bulldogs, it could be Wisconsin-Green Bay. Butler is beginning a 3 game homestand where they are basically unbeatable in conference winning 29 of their last 30. Butler has not shown me their dominance at home however. They barely escaped before mentioned Detriot with a second half rally to win by 4 and barely beat what I think is a bad UAB team by 4. Its hard to look at butler loses (there is only 1) @ Ohio St. They shot the 3 ok, at 37% but could not do anything down low against Turner and Lauderdale.
Hopefully for UWGB 6'9" forwwards Berry and Schactner can control the paint. I dont think they will be able to however. Butler is a bigger team that can both put it on the floor and really shoot as well as get it inside to Howard and Jukes. Butler will throw out Howard, Jukes, Kampen and Butcher who are all over 6'8" and hopefully dominate the inside.
Butler does not turn the ball over and shoots lights out at home. I think they jump on UWGB early and cover
This game just reminds a lot of the Wright St @ Butler game. everyone thought this was Wright Sts game to keep close and Butler blew them out.
Butler -8.5
-the line has moved from -9 to -8.5
BOL everyone
Wisc Milwaukee @ Valpo
Valpo has been killed by injuries this year. They may only have 6 scholarship players eligible to play this game. Things are so bad that senior guard Jake Diebler, the only upperclassman currently playing, was on the court for all 40 minutes despite an injured shoulder of his own. Valpo is at home but is only 3-4 this year with its win in conference over lowly Detriot. Valpo has lost 5 of their last 6 and really has no momentum coming into this game.
Wisc Milwaukee comes in winning 7 of 8 with its only loss a 2 point loss at home against rival Wisc GB. They are 2-0 on the road this year in conference play, winning by 5 at UIC (which is always a tough place to play) and 14 at Loyola Chicago. They lead the Horizon in 3 point attempts, makes and %. They lead in Rebounds and scoring. I just dont think Valpo can hang with them inside and offensively. Boyle and Smith are UWM's best scorers. Boyle is a 6-2 that can shoot and get to the rim. Look for him to have a big night.
I say UWM -3.5
-The line has not moved today
UIC @ Detriot
I would hate starting off and taking 2 road favorites. But that usually gets you when there is a homecourt advantage. Detriot is 0-3 at home this year. This game on paper screams to take UIC. Detriot is at the bottom or near it in scoring, rebounding, 3 pointers. They are last in FT% and 3PT% and rebounds/game.
UIC has not played well on the road , while Detriot has been playing better at home (somehow). UIC does not shoot well away from home and Their best player (Mayo) has not been scoring as of late.
Before I make the pick ill give you a little positive on Detriot.
Four of the last five games have been decided by single-digit margins, including a two-point loss to Youngstown State on New Year’s Day and a four-point setback at nationally ranked Butler on Jan. 10.
They led the Bulldogs 26-22 at halftime and were tied at 50-50 with two minutes left.
“It was a good effort,” coach Ray McCallum told the Detroit Free Press. “We held them to 16 field goals. We outrebounded them by nine and we really played tough.”
Call it a hunch but I am taking Detriot +5.5
-the line has moved from +5 to +5.5
I am going to kill myself if UIC shows up and blows them out but I see Detriot coming out to play in this one and UIC not showing up ready.
The Big game of the Night
UWGB @ Butler
Green Bay should be more competitive since it brings the Horizon League’s best offense up against Butler’s vaunted defense. The Phoenix lead the conference in scoring (71.0 ppg) and field goal percentage (43.5 percent), while the Bulldogs rank second in the nation in scoring defense (55.8 ppg).
Butler appears bent on dominating the Horizon League for the third straight season, but if any team has a chance of dethroning the 16th-ranked Bulldogs, it could be Wisconsin-Green Bay. Butler is beginning a 3 game homestand where they are basically unbeatable in conference winning 29 of their last 30. Butler has not shown me their dominance at home however. They barely escaped before mentioned Detriot with a second half rally to win by 4 and barely beat what I think is a bad UAB team by 4. Its hard to look at butler loses (there is only 1) @ Ohio St. They shot the 3 ok, at 37% but could not do anything down low against Turner and Lauderdale.
Hopefully for UWGB 6'9" forwwards Berry and Schactner can control the paint. I dont think they will be able to however. Butler is a bigger team that can both put it on the floor and really shoot as well as get it inside to Howard and Jukes. Butler will throw out Howard, Jukes, Kampen and Butcher who are all over 6'8" and hopefully dominate the inside.
Butler does not turn the ball over and shoots lights out at home. I think they jump on UWGB early and cover
This game just reminds a lot of the Wright St @ Butler game. everyone thought this was Wright Sts game to keep close and Butler blew them out.
Butler -8.5
-the line has moved from -9 to -8.5
BOL everyone
