Denver/South Alabama

[winagainjoe]

Like Denver +4.

DU has won 9-of-11 and 4 st. in Conf. (4-0)
DU has won 2 st. in the series including a 4 pt win at USA in Feb.
USA has lost 4 of 6.
USA opponents are shooting over 50% for the season, and their getting out rebounded on average 6 a game. DU is 9-0 when shooting over 40%. 11-1 holding opponents under 70ppg.
Bonus= USA shooting guard Benjamin Sormonte left the team this week to focus on academics. What do the experts think?

 

[winagainjoe]

MOBILE, Ala. ? University of South Alabama men?s basketball shooting guard Benjamin Sormonte has left the Jaguar program, coach John Pelphrey announced Monday.

?Benjamin has decided to focus on academics and we respect his decision,? Pelphrey said. ?It has been a pleasure to coach Benjamin and we wish him well.?

Sormonte played all 16 games this season and started six. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound junior from Laverune, France, averaged 4.2 points and 3.3 rebounds this year for the 8-8 Jags. He was named game MVP of the Coors Classic contest against Georgia State last month after scoring a season-high 14 points.

Last season, he started the final eight games of the year and posted 7.0 points and 4.0 rebounds per contest. He missed the first 20 games after being declared ineligible due to activities involving participation on a junior club team in France.

Sormonte, a finance major, signed with the Jaguars in 2000 but missed his freshman year as he returned to France to attend his ailing grandmother.

?At this time, I want to focus my attention on academics,? Sormonte said. ?I didn?tfeel like I could perform at a high-enough level in both academics and athletics. I had a wonderful experience playing basketball and will miss it for sure.?

#12 BENJAMIN SORMONTE?S CAREER-BESTS

Points: 17 (2/20/02 at Bethune-Cookman)
Rebounds: 8 (2/2/02 vs.New Mexico State)
Assists: 4 (12/18/02 at Georgia)
Steals: 3 (twice, last 11/30/02 at Southern Miss.)

 

[CWood97]

I'm no expert, but I think that Denver looks way too good, if you know what I'm saying. :nono:

 

[Valuist]

I think South Alabama is phony as a favorite. As a betting tool, they are best in the role of heavy underdog against big name programs. They've lost but covered against Louisville, Georgia, and LSU and pushed against Miss. St. They kept trying in all those non-conference games but never really threatened to win. But now they have to win outright and even lay a few pts. Have to believe Denver is the play here.

 

[superbook]

I'm no expert on these two teams but I agree with both of the above.

Denver is 11-2-1 ATS this year and they're a 4 point dog.

I don't think the loss of Sormonte is going to be a big factor at 4.2 ppg and 3.3 rpg.

I think Denver is the probably the play if you're going to play this game but I think this one is probably too close to call.

gl