NCAAB
Armadillo's Write-Up
Saturday, January 7
13 of Saturday’s best college hoop games
Creighton @ UConn
— Creighton (9-6, 3-1) ranked #18 by KenPom
— Tempo: #100
— Experience: #164
— Continuity: #105
— Creighton won its last three games, after an 0-6 skid.
— Bluejays are 0-2 in true road tilts (72-67 Texas/69-58 Marquette)
— Creighton is 4-6 against top 100 teams, 2-3 vs top 50 teams.
— Bluejays are shooting 55.6% inside arc (#26), 36,3% on arc (#76)
— Bluejays are #9 team in country on defensive boards.
— Creighton’s schedule, to this point: #15
— bench minutes: #297
— Creighton’s best win: 90-87 over #9 Arkansas.
— UConn (14-2, 3-2) ranked #3 by KenPom
— Tempo: #166
— Experience: #99
— Continuity: #258
— UConn lost its last two games, after a 14-0 start.
— Huskies are shooting 55.5% inside arc (#28), 35.8% on arc (#84)
— Huskies are #26 team in country on offensive boards.
— UConn is 7-2 vs top 100 teams, 3-2 vs top 50 teams.
— Huskies are 3-2 in games decided by 8 or less points.
— UConn’s schedule, to this point: #47
— bench minutes: #80
— UConn’s best win: 82-67 vs #8 Alabama
— Creighton won last five meetings, four by 4 or less points.
— Bluejays won 76-74/59-55 in last two visits to the Nutmeg State.
Texas @ Oklahoma State
— Texas (12-2, 1-1) ranked #10 by KenPom
— Tempo: #101
— Experience: #10
— Continuity: #159
— First game for Texas since they fired Chris Beard.
— Longhorns lost last game 116-103 to #29 Kansas State.
— Texas is forcing turnovers 23.9% of time (#17)
— Longhorns won its only true road game, 70-69 at Oklahoma.
— Texas is shooting 58.5% inside the arc (#8).
— Texas schedule, to this point: #226
— bench minutes: #125
— Texas best win: 93-74 over #14 Gonzaga
— Oklahoma State (9-5, 1-1) ranked #26 by KenPom
— Tempo: #197
— Experience: #80
— Continuity: #136
— OSU won three of its last four games.
— Cowboys are 2-4 in top 100 games.
— Foes are shooting 42.6% inside arc (#11), 28.4% on arc (#18)
— OSU is turning ball over 21.6% of time (#323)
— OSU is grabbing 33.6% of its misses (#45)
— OSU’s schedule, to this point: #45
— bench minutes: #203
— OSU’s best win: 67-60 over #20 West Virginia
— Teams split last six meetings.
— Longhorns lost three of last four visits to Stillwater.
Kentucky @ Alabama
— Kentucky (10-4, 1-1) ranked #16 by KenPom
— Tempo: #260
— Experience: #113
— Continuity: #200
— Kentucky is 0-2 in true road tilts (88-72 Gonzaga/89-75 Mizzou)
— Wildcats won seven of last nine games overall.
— Kentucky is shooting 39% on arc (#13)
— Wildcats are #4 team in country on offensive boards.
— Opponents are shooting 45.5% inside arc (#49)
— Kentucky’s schedule, to this point: #150
— bench minutes: #180
— Kentucky’s best win: 73-69 vs #45 Michigan
— Alabama (12-2, 2-0) ranked #8 by KenPom
— Tempo: #2
— Experience: #267
— Continuity: #281
— Alabama won first two SEC games, scoring 78-84 points.
— Opponents are shooting 43% inside arc (#13), 28% on arc (#11)
— Alabama is grabbing 35.3% of its misses (#23)
— Crimson Tide is turning ball over 21.3% of time (#314)
— Alabama is 7-2 against top 100 teams.
— Alabama’s schedule, to this point: #5
— bench minutes: #87
— Alabama’s best win: 71-65 at #1 Houston.
— Kentucky is 4-3 in last seven meetings.
— Wildcats lost two of last three visits to Tuscaloosa.
Georgia @ Florida
— Georgia (11-3, 1-0) ranked #92 by KenPom
— Tempo: #223
— Experience: #181
— Continuity: #240
— Dawgs won their last four games, scoring 75.8 ppg.
— Georgia is turning ball over 20.7% of time (#294).
— Georgia is grabbing 35.2% of its misses (#25)
— Dawgs are 0-2 in true road games (81-71 Wake/79-77 Ga Tech).
— Dawgs are 1-2 vs top 100 teams.
— Georgia’s schedule, to this point: #322
— bench minutes: #3
— Georgia’s best win: 76-64 over #27 Auburn.
— Florida (7-7, 0-2) ranked #58 by KenPom
— Tempo: #44
— Experience: #59
— Continuity: #237
— Florida lost its last three games, scoring 58 ppg.
— Florida lost first two SEC games, by 3-3 points.
— Gators are 0-7 against top 100 teams.
— Opponents are shooting 44.2% inside arc (#26)
— Florida is 0-4 in games decided by 7 or less points.
— Florida’s schedule, to this point: #42
— bench minutes: #57
— Gators’ best win: 76-67 at #163 Florida State.
— Georgia HC White coached Florida the last seven years.
— Florida won last six series games.
— Dawgs lost their last three visits here, by 6-7-9 points.
Michigan State @ Michigan
— Michigan State (10-4, 2-1) ranked #44 by KenPom
— Tempo: #300
— Experience: #153
— Continuity: #130
— MSU won its last five games, giving up 57.2 ppg.
— Spartans are 5-3 against top 100 teams.
— MSU is #36 team in country on defensive boards.
— MSU is shooting 37.5% on the arc (#34)
— Spartans are 4-2 in games decided by 7 or less points/OT.
— MSU’s schedule, to this point: #19
— bench minutes: #201
— MSU’s best win: 86-77 in 2OT’s vs #16 Kentucky
— Michigan (9-5, 3-0) ranked #45 by KenPom
— Tempo: #117
— Experience: #296
— Continuity: #278
— Michigan is 3-0 in Big 14 games, scoring 83.3 ppg.
— Michigan won only true road game, 90-75 at #191 Minnesota.
— Wolverines are 2-4 in games decided by 5 or less points.
— Wolverines are #2 team in country at protecting the ball.
— Michigan is 3-4 against top 100 teams.
— Michigan’s schedule, to this point: #83
— bench minutes: #294
— Michigan’s best win: 81-46 vs #41 Maryland.
— Teams split last six series games.
— Spartans lost last three visits to Ann Arbor, by 9-19-17 points.
Clemson @ Pittsburgh
— Clemson (12-3, 4-0) ranked #56 by KenPom
— Tempo: #128
— Experience: #272
— Continuity: #322
— Tigers is 4-0 in ACC, with three wins by 13+ points.
— Clemson is 5-1 vs top 100 teams, losing 74-71 to #51 Iowa.
— Clemson is shooting 38.8% on the arc (#15).
— Tigers are #31 team in country on defensive boards.
— Clemson has losses to teams ranked #185/#202.
— Clemson’s schedule, to this point: #164
— bench minutes: #236
— Clemson’s best win: 78-64 over #43 NC State.
— Pittsburgh (11-4, 4-0) ranked #63 by KenPom
— Tempo: #161
— Experience: #18
— Continuity: #302
— Pittsburgh won five in row, 10 of last 11 games.
— Pitt’s last three wins were by 2-2-3 points.
— Panthers are shooting 53.7% inside the arc (#57)
— Pittsburgh is 5-3 vs teams in the top 100.
— Panthers are 9-0 giving up less than 75 points.
— Pittsburgh’s schedule, to this point: #96
— bench minutes: #265
— Pittsburgh’s best win: 68-65 over #12 Virginia.
— Clemson won its last eight games with Pitt.
— Tigers won last four visits here, by 9-7-14-20 points.
Xavier @ Villanova
— Xavier (12-3, 4-0) ranked #24 by KenPom
— Tempo: #25
— Experience: #17
— Continuity: #44
— Xavier won its last eight games.
— Musketeers are 6-3 vs top 100 teams, 2-3 vs top 50 teams.
— Xavier is #38 team on offensive boards, #62 on defensive end.
— Musketeers’ are shooting 40.4% on arc (#4), 55.4% inside arc (#29)
— Musketeers’ are 4-3 in games decided by 7 or less points.
— Xavier’s schedule, to this point: #23
— bench minutes: #296
— Xavier’s best win: 83-73 vs #3 UConn.
— Villanova (8-7, 2-2) ranked #55 by KenPom
— Tempo: #342
— Experience: #175
— Continuity: #134
— Villanova won six of its last eight games.
— Villanova is 2-5 vs top 100 teams, 1-4 vs top 50 teams.
— Wildcats are 2-6 in games decided by 8 or less points.
— Wildcats are shooting 53.6% inside arc (#59)
— Villanova is shooting 85.3% on foul line (#1)
— Villanova’s schedule, to this point: #27
— bench minutes: #327
— Villanova’s best win: 70-66 vs #36 Oklahoma.
— Villanova won five in row, 16 of last 18 series games.
— Xavier lost their last eight visits to Villanova, seven by 10+ points.
Kansas State @ Baylor
— Kansas State (13-1, 2-0) ranked #29 by KenPom
— Tempo: #85
— Experience: #39
— Continuity: #326
— K-State coach Tang was a Baylor assistant for 20 years.
— Wildcats won their last eight games.
— K-State is forcing turnovers 23.3% of time (#24)
— Wildcats are shooting 53.8% inside arc (#53)
— K-State’s one loss: 76-64 at #74 Butler.
— K-State’s schedule, to this point: #127
— bench minutes: #318
— K-State’s best win: 116-103 over #10 Texas
— Baylor (10-4, 0-2) ranked #25 by KenPom
— Tempo: #107
— Experience: #225
— Continuity: #210
— Baylor lost its last two games, after a 10-2 start.
— Bears are 3-4 against top 100 teams.
— Baylor is turning ball over 20.2% of time (#266)
— Bears are #8 team in country on offensive boards.
— Bears are shooting 55% inside arc (#32), 36.1% on arc (#79)
— Baylor’s schedule, to this point: #89
— bench minutes: #74
— Baylor’s best win: 80-75 vs #4 UCLA
— Baylor won last seven series games.
— K-State lost last three visits to Waco, by 19-48-25 points.
Kansas @ West Virginia
— Kansas (13-1, 2-0) ranked #5 by KenPom
— Tempo: #135
— Experience: #242
— Continuity: #225
— Kansas won its last seven games.
— Jayhawks won first two Big X games, by 2-3 points.
— Kansas is 2-0 on road: 95-67 at #34 Mizzou/75-72 at #32 Texas Tech
— Kansas is forcing turnovers 22.5% of time (#36)
— Jayhawks’ only loss: 64-50 to #2 Tennessee.
— Kansas’ schedule, to this point: #10
— bench minutes: #347
— Kansas’ best win: 69-64 vs #23 Duke.
— West Virginia (10-4, 0-2) ranked #20 by KenPom
— Tempo: #144
— Experience: #88
— Continuity: #328
— West Virginia lost its first two Big X games, by 6-7 points, both on road.
— WVU is shooting 53.6% inside arc (#58), 36.6% on arc (#60)
— West Virginia is forcing turnovers 22.8% of time (#33)
— WVU is #34 team in country on offensive boards.
— You’re reading armadillosports.com
— West Virginia is 3-4 vs top 100 teams.
— West Virginia’s schedule, to this point: #39
— bench minutes: #52
— West Virginia’s best win: 81-70 over #48 UAB
— Kansas won 12 of last 14 series games.
— Teams split last six meetings in Morgantown.
NC State @ Virginia Tech
— NC State (12-4, 2-3) ranked #43 by KenPom
— Tempo: #56
— Experience: #47
— Continuity: #244
— NC State won four of its last five games.
— Wolfpack is shooting 46.7% inside arc, 31.3% on arc in ACC play (#11 of 15)
— NC State is 4-4 against top 100 teams
— NC State is 2-3 in games decided by 8 or less points.
— Wolfpack is 0-2 on road (80-73 at Miami/78-64 at Clemson
— NC State’s schedule, to this point: #147
— bench minutes: #313
— NC State’s best win: 84-60 over #23 Duke
— Virginia Tech (11-4, 1-3) ranked #35 by KenPom
— Tempo: #259
— Experience: #107
— Continuity: #175
— Tech lost its last three games, by 5-2-3 points.
— Tech is 5-4 in games decided by 8 or less points.
— Hokies are shooting 53.9% inside arc (#50)
— Opponents are shooting 45.7% inside arc (#55)
— Hokies are 4-3 vs teams ranked in top 100.
— Tech’s schedule, to this point: #143
— bench minutes: #324
— Tech’s best win: 80-72 over #21 North Carolina.
— Virginia Tech won last three series games.
— Wolfpack lost last three visits to Blacksburg, by 5-10-14 points.
Arkansas @ Auburn
— Arkansas (12-2, 1-1) ranked #9 by KenPom
— Tempo: #51
— Experience: #276
— Continuity: #331
— Arkansas won eight of its last nine games.
— Hogs’ two losses are both by three points.
— Arkansas is forcing turnovers 24.2% of time (#16)
— Hogs are shooting 55.8% inside arc (#25). 29.9% on arc (#319)
— Arkansas is #16 team in country on defensive boards.
— Arkansas schedule, to this point: #91
— bench minutes: #277
— Arkansas best win: 78-74 over #22 San Diego State
— Auburn (11-3, 1-1) ranked #27 by KenPom
— Tempo: #160
— Experience: #102
— Continuity: #70
— Auburn split its last six games, after an 8-0 start.
— Opponents are shooting 44.8% inside arc (#38), 27% on arc (#6).
— Auburn is #6 team in country on offensive boards.
— Tigers are forcing turnovers 20.3% of time (#88).
— Auburn is shooting 28.9% on arc (#334)
— Auburn’s schedule, to this point: #69
— bench minutes: #10
— Auburn’s best win: 61-58 over #58 Florida.
— Arkansas won last three meetings, by 12-2-4 points.
— Teams split last four meetings played here.
Gonzaga @ Santa Clara
— Gonzaga (13-3, 2-0) ranked #14 by KenPom
— Tempo: #36
— Experience: #44
— Continuity: #20
— Gonzaga won its last seven D-I games.
— Zags are 5-3 in top 100 games.
— Gonzaga is shooting 57.2% inside arc (#14), 37.4% on arc (#41)
— Gonzaga is #50 team in country on defensive boards.
— Zags were down 12 at USF Thursday, rallied to win 77-75.
— Gonzaga’s schedule, to this point: #8
— bench minutes: #334
— Gonzaga’s best win: 100-90 vs #8 Alabama
— Santa Clara (14-4, 2-1) ranked #88 by KenPom
— Tempo: #65
— Experience: #176
— Continuity: #37
— Santa Clara won six of its last seven games.
— Santa Clara is 3-3 vs teams ranked in top 100.
— Broncos are 5-2 in games decided by 8 or less points.
— Santa Clara is #24 team in country on defensive boards.
— Broncos are shooting 48.3% inside arc (#246), 36.1% on arc (#80)
— Santa Clara’s schedule, to this point: #100
— bench minutes: #356
— Santa Clara’s best win: 86-76 over #52 Iona.
— Gonzaga won last 24 series games; their last loss was in 2011.
— Zags’ last five wins at Santa Clara were all by 15+ points.
San Francisco @ Loyola Marymount
— San Francisco (11-7, 0-3) ranked #100 by KenPom
— Tempo: #77
— Experience: #94
— Continuity: #181
— USF is 0-3 in WCC games, giving up 78.7 ppg.
— Dons led Gonzaga by 12 Thursday, lost 77-75 at the end.
— USF shooting 34.2% on arc; they get 40.4% of points on arc (#8)
— Dons are 3-4 vs teams ranked in top 125.
— USF split four true road games, winning at #138 Fresno St/#78 UNLV.
— USF’s schedule, to this point: #190
— bench minutes: #171
— USF’s best win: 97-60 over #60 Arizona State
— LMU (12-5, 2-1) ranked #103 by KenPom
— Tempo: #146
— Experience: #35
— Continuity: #97
— LMU won four of its last five games.
— LMU is 3-2 vs teams ranked in top 100, 2-0 in OT games.
— Lions are shooting 52.9% inside the arc (#73).
— Lions are 4-2 in games decided by 6 or less points.
— LMU is #52 team in country on defensive boards.
— LMU’s schedule, to this point: #148
— bench minutes: #154
— LMU’s best win: 77-75 in OT vs #81 Wake Forest
— Teams split last eight series games.
— Dons lost four of last five visits to LMU.
