NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL NOTES, NEWS OPINIONS AND BEST BETS THRU MARCH MADNESS !

[Udog]

NCAAB
Armadillo's Write-Up

Tuesday, February 27

Tuesday’s 5 interesting games
Kentucky @ Mississippi State (-3.5)
Kentucky (19-8, 9-5)
KenPom rating: 17
Tempo: 18
Experience: 191
Continuity: 319
Kentucky won three of its last four games.
Wildcats are 4-3 SU/2-1 ATS as SEC road underdogs.
Kentucky is shooting 41% on the arc (#1)
Wildcats are 5-5 vs teams in the top 50.


Mississippi State (17-11, 9-6)
KenPom rating: 152
Tempo: 187
Experience: 108
Continuity: 177
Miss State won its last five games (4-1 ATS).
Bulldogs are 6-1 SU/2-3 ATS as SEC home favorites.
Miss State has #23 eFG% defense in country.
Bulldogs are 4-6 vs teams in the top 50.


Kentucky (-6) beat Miss State 90-77 January 17.
Kentucky won 18 of last 19 series games.
Wildcats won their last eight visits to Starkville.
SEC home favorites of 4 or less points are 8-9 ATS.


Pittsburgh @ Clemson (-7.5)
Pittsburgh (18-9, 9-7)
KenPom rating: 54
Tempo: 284
Experience: 130
Continuity: 213
Pitt is 8-2 SU/9-1 ATS in its last ten games.
Panthers are 5-3 SU/4-2 ATS as ACC road dogs.
Pitt is #7 team in country on defensive boards.
Panthers are 2-5 against teams ranked in top 50.


Clemson (19-8, 9-7)
KenPom rating: 24
Tempo: 245
Experience: 29
Continuity: 62
Clemson won five of its last six games.
Tigers are 4-4 SU/3-5 ATS as ACC home favorites.
Clemson has #34 eFG% in country.
Tigers are 11-7 vs teams ranked in top 100.


Clemson (+1.5) won 79-70 at Pitt December 3rd.
Clemson won last five series games.
Panthers lost last two visits to Littlejohn, by 15-27 points.
ACC home favorites of 8 or less points are 30-27 ATS.


Akron @ Ohio (-1.5)
Akron (20-7, 12-2)
KenPom rating: 97
Tempo: 299
Experience: 23
Continuity: 72
Akron split its last four games, after an 18-5 start.
Zips are 5-2 SU/0-1 ATS as a MAC road underdog.
Zips are shooting 54.4% inside the arc (#37)
Akron is 8-6 vs teams in the top 200.


Ohio (15-12, 9-5)
KenPom rating: 155
Tempo: 203
Experience: 153
Continuity: 58
Ohio won eight of its last eleven games.
Bobcats are 6-1 SU/ATS as MAC home favorites.
Ohio is shooting 54% inside arc in MAC games (#1 of 12)
Bobcats are 1-5 vs teams in the top 150.


Akron (-7.5) never trailed, beat Ohio 67-58 at home January 23.
Akron won six of last nine series games.
Zips split their last six visits to Athens.
MAC home favorites of 3 or less points are 7-8 ATS.


Texas @ Texas Tech (-4.5)
Texas (17-10, 6-8)
KenPom rating: 36
Tempo: 234
Experience: 6
Continuity: 159
Texas lost five of its last eight games.
Longhorns are 3-4 SU/3-3 ATS as Big X road underdogs.
Texas has #53 eFG% in the country.
Longhorns are 4-8 vs teams ranked in top 50.


Texas Tech (19-8, 8-6)
KenPom rating: 31
Tempo: 258
Experience: 78
Continuity: 287
Tech lost five of its last eight games.
Red Raiders are 6-1 SU/3-4 ATS as Big X home favorites.
Red Raiders are shooting 36.4% on arc (#50)
Tech is 5-6 vs teams ranked in top 50.


Texas Tech (+6.5) won 78-67 at Texas January 6.
Tech won 11 of last 14 series games.
Longhorns lost last three visits to Lubbock, by 9-13-7 points.
Big X home favorites of 5 or less points are 14-16 ATS.


Nevada @ Colorado State (-7.5)
Nevada (22-6, 9-5)
KenPom rating: 41
Tempo: 241
Experience: 7
Continuity: 35
Nevada won six of its last seven games.
Wolf Pack is 4-3 SU/2-2 ATS as MW road underdogs.
Wolf Pack gets 23.4% of its points on foul line (#19)
Nevada is 6-5 vs teams ranked in the top 100.


Colorado State (19-8, 8-6)
KenPom rating: 25
Tempo: 66
Experience: 3
Continuity: 143
Colorado State lost three of its last four games SU.
Rams are 7-0 SU/5-2 ATS as MW home favorites.
Rams are shooting 57.5% inside arc (#10)
Colorado State is 10-7 vs teams ranked in top 100.


Nevada (-4.5) beat Rams 77-64 at home January 24.
Teams split their last six meetings.
Wolf Pack lost last two visits to Fort Collins, by 1-11 points.
MW home favorites of 8 or less points are 17-15 ATS

 

[Udog]

NCAAB
Dunkel

Tuesday, February 27

 

[Udog]

NCAAB

Tuesday, February 27

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Trend Report
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NCAAB
Long Sheet

Tuesday, February 27

 

[Udog]

 

[Cnotes53]

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27​

Game	Time(ET)	Pick	Units
BALL at CMU	07:00 PM	CMU -4.0 O 134.5	+500 +500
CIN at HOU	07:00 PM	HOU -13.5 O 132.5	+500 +500
WMU at EMU	07:00 PM	EMU +2.5 O 145.0	+500 +500
BUFF at KENT	07:00 PM	BUFF +15.0 O 147.0	+500 +500
NIU at TOL	07:00 PM	NIU +15.5 O 152.0	+500 +500
MASS at GW	07:00 PM	MASS -7.5 O 158.0	+500 +500
GMU at FOR	07:00 PM	FOR +2.0 O 136.0	+500 +500
M-OH at BGSU	07:00 PM	BGSU -4.0 U 144.5	+500 +500
WIS at IND	07:00 PM	WIS -4.0 U 140.0	+500 +500
DAV at DAY	07:00 PM	DAV +10.5 O 132.5	+500 +500
VT at SYR	07:00 PM	VT +1.0 U 154.0	+500 +500
PITT at CLEM	07:00 PM	PITT +7.0 O 143.0	+500 +500
UGA at LSU	07:00 PM	LSU -5.5 U 154.5	+500 +500
L-IL at SBON	07:00 PM	SBON -3.0 U 141.5	+500 +500
UK at MSST	07:00 PM	UK +4.5 U 155.5	+500 +500
AKR at OHIO	07:00 PM	OHIO -1.5 O 142.0	+500 +500
BYU at KU	08:00 PM	KU -8.0 U 157.0	+500 +500
ULM at TXST	08:00 PM	TXST -5.5 U 134.5	+500 +500
VALP at UNI	08:00 PM	VALP +15.5 O 146.5	+500 +500
SIUE at EIU	08:30 PM	EIU +1.0 O 140.5	+500 +500
WAKE at ND	09:00 PM	WAKE -6.5 O 133.5	+500 +500
TEX at TTU	09:00 PM	TTU -3.5 U 144.5	+500 +500
PSU at IOWA	09:00 PM	PSU +9.0 U 162.5	+500 +500
NCST at FSU	09:00 PM	FSU -3.0 U 152.0	+500 +500
BSU at AFA	09:00 PM	BSU -12.0 O 133.5	+500 +500
UNLV at WYO	09:00 PM	WYO +5.5 O 143.5	+500 +500
VAN at ARK	09:00 PM	ARK -10.0 U 144.5	+500 +500
USU at FRES	10:00 PM	USU -10.5 U 142.0	+500 +500
NEV at CSU	10:30 PM	NEV +7.5 O 141.5	+500 +500
SJSU at SDSU	11:00 PM	SDSU -22.0 U 139.5	+500 +500

 

[Udog]

Armadillo Sports

Wednesday’s 6-pack:
— Cavaliers 121, Mavericks 119- Strus hit a 60-footer at the buzzer for the win.
— Warriors 123, Wizards 112- Curry was 4-17 on arc; other Warriors were 17-30.
— Celtics 117, 76ers 99- Boston shot 65.4% inside the arc.
— T’wolves 114, Spurs 105- SA’s starters were +6, their subs minus-51.
— Pistons 105, Bulls 95- Chicago was 2-29 on the arc.
— Dodgers 9, White Sox 6- Some guy named Ohtani hit a home run.

Quote of the Day
“If we had better quarterback play, I may not be standing here at the podium.”
new Atlanta Falcons coach Raheem Morris

Wednesday’s quiz
Who is the only coach to win both an NBA championship and a college national title?

Tuesday’s quiz
Steph Curry’s father Dell Curry played in the NBA for 16 years, scoring 12,670 points; he played his college basketball at Virginia Tech, which don’t recruit his two sons, both of whom are in the NBA.

Monday’s quiz
Last time the Knicks were in the NBA Finals was 1999; Jeff Van Gundy was their coach.

***************************************************

Wednesday’s Den: Mid-week musings……..​

— From 2006-10, UConn went 0-5 in the Big East Tournament; during that time, they went 55-31 in Big East regular season games, but they came up empty at MSG in March, even losing a 6-overtime game to Syracuse in 2009.
UConn made it to the Final Four in 2009, after that 6-overtime loss, but the next two years, Huskies were 16-20 in Big East games- the natives were restless. Jim Calhoun had won two national titles, but it had been six years since the last one.
So what happened? UConn, after losing four of its last five regular season games, goes 5-0 and wins the Big East Tournament, then as a #3-seed, they won the national championship, in coach Calhoun’s 2nd-to-last season at UConn.
My point? March Madness is great because…..you never know what’s going to happen.

— NFL Combine is this week; ESPN/NFL Network will show lot of guys running the 40-yard dash and doing drills. Best part of the Combine we don’t see; the interviews teams do with players, as they try to figure out which players they should draft.
By the way, it has been 52 years since New Orleans Saints drafted a QB in the first round; they drafted Archie Manning that year, Peyton Manning’s father.

— There were six NBA games Tuesday with a double-digit favorite, the most of any night so far this season.

— In the NFL, of the 14 players with the biggest salary cap hit for 2024, four of them play for the LA Chargers.

— In college football, Boise State is bringing back former HC (1998-2000) Dirk Koetter as offensive coordinator; he’s been a head coach at Boise, Arizona State, Tampa Bay Bucs.
UMass is jumping from the A-15 to the MAC, which is very bad news for its basketball program; A-15 is the #8 basketball league in country, MAC is #24 league. UMass isn’t the first school to sacrifice its basketball team to try and save its football program.
Last five years, the Minuteman are 6-46 on the gridiron, as an independent.

— In baseball……..
LA Dodgers signed utility guy Kike Hernandez for one year, $4M.
San Francisco Giants signed SS Nick Ahmed.
Speaking of the Giants, the last 17 years on Opening Day, San Francisco started a different left fielder every year, and this year figures to make it 18 in a row.
Switching from DirecTV to YouTube TV last year has mostly been a plus for me; one of the best parts is I can watch replays of baseball games all night long, if I want, which is really good during spring training. Not great for my sleeping habits, but whatever……

— Movie of the Day: Against All Odds (1984)- A gangster hires an ex-football player to find his girlfriend. When he finds her, they fall in love, and then things get complicated.
Jeff Bridges is the football player, James Woods is the gangster, Rachel Ward is his wife. Also in this movie: Richard Widmark, Alex Karras.

— Famous people with birthdays on February 28:
Mario Andretti, 84
Bubba Smith, 79
Bernadette Peters, 76
Brian Billick, 70
John Turturro, 67
Ickey Woods, 58
Luka Doncic, 25

— Kansas State’s basketball team has won its last 12 overtime games.

— North Carolina (2016/2017) is the last team to make the Final Four two years in a row.

— Old Dominion basketball coach Jeff Jones retired; he had a 560-418 career record as a coach, after his playing days at Virginia.

— 34 of the last 46 national champs in college basketball (73.9%) were 10-1 or less to win the national title when the tournament started.

— BYU 76, Kansas 68
Jayhawks led by 12 early in 2nd half; their 19-game home win streak ends.
Kansas is 6-5 in last 11 games, after a 13-2 start.
Kansas is 3-2 when McKullar doesn’t play.

— Kentucky 91, Mississippi State 89
Bulldogs led by 13 early in second half.
Reed Sheppard hit a 14-foot runner with 0:00.5 left for the win.
Loss snaps Miss State’s 5-game winning streak.

— Indiana 74, Wisconsin 70- There was a 15-minute delay in second half, when a fire alarm went off in the arena. Game was tied when that happened. Badgers are 2-6 in their last eight games.

— UNLV 75, Wyoming 69 OT
Rebels have won eight of their last nine games.
Kalib Boone had 24 points, 12 rebounds (7 offensive)

— Northern Illinois 75, Toledo 72
Rockets were a 15-point home favorite.
Toledo led by 9 with 14:33 left to play.
NIU was 10-23 on the arc, Toledo 6-19.

— Clemson 69, Pittsburgh 62
Pitt was +8 in turnovers, led by 10 midway thru first half.
Clemson starts four seniors; they’re 6-1 in last seven games.
— Nevada 77, Colorado State 74
Kid on Nevada banked in a half-court shot at the buzzer for the win.
Wolf Pack has won seven of their last eight games.
Colorado State lost last three games, by total of 11 points.

 

[Udog]

 

[Udog]

NCAAB
Armadillo's Write-Up

Wednesday, February 28

Wednesday’s 5 interesting games
Auburn @ Tennessee (-6.5)
Auburn (21-6, 10-4)
KenPom rating: 5
Tempo: 82
Experience: 116
Continuity: 77
Auburn won five of its last seven games.
Tigers are 4-3 SU/0-1 ATS as SEC road underdogs.
Auburn has #1 eFG% defense in country.
Tigers are 2-5 vs teams in the top 50.


Tennessee (21-6, 11-3)
KenPom rating: 6
Tempo: 75
Experience: 27
Continuity: 67
Tennessee won 4 in row, 10 of last 12 games.
Vols are 6-1 SU/ATS as SEC home favorites.
Tennessee has #3 eFG% defense in country.
Vols are 5-5 vs teams in the top 50.


Auburn won seven of last nine series games.
Tigers lost last two visits to Knoxville, by 5-3 points.
Bruce Pearl was Tennessee’s coach from 2005-11.
SEC home favorites of 7+ points are 23-16 ATS.


Louisiana Tech (-1.5) @ Western Kentucky
Louisiana Tech (20-8, 10-3)
KenPom rating: 80
Tempo: 306
Experience: 144
Continuity: 215
La Tech won 4 in row, 10 of its last 12 games.
Bulldogs are 5-2 SU/5-1 ATS as C-USA road favorites.
Opponents are shooting 42.7% inside arc (#1)
La Tech is 6-7 vs teams ranked in the top 200.


Western Kentucky (19-8, 8-5)
KenPom rating: 143
Tempo: 1
Experience: 263
Continuity: 308
WKU won five of its last six games SU.
Hilltoppers are 6-1 SU in C-USA home games.
WKU is 7-3 ATS as an underdog this season.
Hilltoppers have #45 eFG% defense in country.
WKU is 4-0 vs teams ranked in top 150.


WKU (+9.5) won 81-76 in Ruston February 7.
Howard scored 18 points in 19:00 off the bench.
Louisiana Tech won five of last seven series games.
Tech lost six of last seven visits to WKU.
C-USA home dogs of 3 or less points are 1-4 ATS


South Carolina @ Texas A&M (-4.5)
South Carolina (22-5, 10-4)
KenPom rating: 48
Tempo: 355
Experience: 25
Continuity: 179
South Carolina lost 2 of last 3 games, after a 7-0 run.
Gamecocks are 5-2 SU/ATS as SEC road underdogs.
Opponents are shooting 45.9% inside arc (#32)
Gamecocks are 8-5 against teams ranked in top 100.


Texas A&M (15-12, 6-8)
KenPom rating: 56
Tempo: 297
Experience: 46
Continuity: 42
Texas A&M lost its last four games, giving up 84.5 ppg.
Aggies are 4-3 SU/1-5 ATS as SEC home favorites.
Texas A&M has #352 eFG% in country.
Aggies are 8-9 vs teams ranked in top 100.


South Carolina won four of last five series games.
Aggies whacked South Carolina 94-53 in Columbia LY.
Gamecocks won last two visits here, by 14-11 points.
SEC home favorites of 5 or less points are 8-12 ATS.


Seton Hall @ Creighton (-8.5)
Seton Hall (18-9, 11-5)
KenPom rating: 55
Tempo: 278
Experience: 11
Continuity: 195
Seton Hall won five of its last six games.
Pirates are 5-3 SU/3-3 ATS as a Big East road dog.
Pirates are turning ball over 18.9% of time (#295)
Seton Hall is 4-5 vs teams in the top 50.


Creighton (20-8, 11-6)
KenPom rating: 12
Tempo: 244
Experience: 8
Continuity: 41
Creighton won four of its last five games.
Bluejays are 6-2 SU/1-6 ATS as Big East home favorites.
Creighton is shooting 60.4% inside arc (#3)
Bluejays are 11-8 vs teams in the top 100.


Creighton (-1.5) won 97-94 in 3OT’s at Seton Hall January 20.
Bluejays won last three series games.
Pirates lost five of last seven visits to Omaha.
Big East home favorites of 8+ points are 9-14 ATS.


Alabama (-6.5) @ Ole Miss
Alabama (19-8, 11-3)
KenPom rating: 7
Tempo: 12
Experience: 60
Continuity: 274
Alabama won 13 of its last 16 games.
Crimson Tide is 4-3 SU/2-1 ATS as SEC road favorites.
Alabama has #5 eFG% in the country.
Crimson Tide is 11-8 vs teams ranked in top 100.
Alabama allowed 85+ points in all of its losses.


Ole Miss (19-8, 6-8)
KenPom rating: 74
Tempo: 235
Experience: 23
Continuity: 182
Ole Miss lost five of its last six games.
Rebels are 5-2 SU in SEC home games.
Rebels are 4-6 ATS as an underdog this year.
Ole Miss is #355 team on defensive boards.
Ole Miss is 2-7 vs teams ranked in top 50.


Alabama won last six series games.
Crimson Tide won last two visits to Oxford, by 25-14 points.
SEC home underdogs of 7 or less points are 11-12 ATS.

 

[Udog]

NCAAB
Dunkel

Wednesday, February 28

 

[Udog]

NCAAB

Wednesday, February 28

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Trend Report
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[Udog]

NCAAB
Long Sheet

Wednesday, February 28

 

[Udog]

 

[Udog]

 

[Cnotes53]

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28​

Game	Time(ET)	Pick	Units
URI at VCU	06:30 PM	VCU -13.5 O 145.0	+500 +500
ODU at APP	06:30 PM	ODU +14.5 O 142.5	+500 +500
MIZZ at FLA	06:30 PM	FLA -13.0 U 154.5	+500 +500
DETU at YSU	06:30 PM	DETU +18.5 O 151.5	+500 +500
DEP at XAV	07:00 PM	DEP +19.5 U 155.5	+500 +500
JMU at GSU	07:00 PM	GSU +9.0 U 151.5	+500 +500
LAS at DUQ	07:00 PM	DUQ -8.5 O 142.5	+500 +500
RAD at CHSO	07:00 PM	RAD -4.5 U 142.5	+500 +500
BUCK at L-MD	07:00 PM	L-MD +4.0 O 132.5	+500 +500
SAM at WOF	07:00 PM	SAM -5.5 O 156.0	+500 +500
VMI at UNCG	07:00 PM	UNCG -23.5 U 153.5	+500 +500
PROV at MARQ	07:00 PM	PROV +11.5 O 150.0	+500 +500
WIN at HP	07:00 PM	HP -8.5 U 154.5	+500 +500
NKU at RMU	07:00 PM	NKU -2.5 U 144.5	+500 +500
LOU at DUKE	07:00 PM	DUKE -20.5 O 152.5	+500 +500
FGCU at UNF	07:00 PM	UNF -3.5 U 144.0	+500 +500
COLG at HC	07:00 PM	COLG -10.5 O 138.5	+500 +500
LAF at NAVY	07:00 PM	NAVY -3.5 U 131.0	+500 +500
UNT at TULN	07:00 PM	TULN +2.0 U 138.0	+500 +500
MER at CHAT	07:00 PM	MER +9.0 O 147.5	+500 +500
STET at JAC	07:00 PM	JAC +1.0 O 135.0	+500 +500
NW at MD	07:00 PM	MD -6.0 U 130.0	+500 +500
MILW at INDPU	07:00 PM	MILW -12.5 O 153.5	+500 +500
WIGB at CLEVST	07:00 PM	CLEVST -7.0 O 135.5	+500 +500
PFW at WRST	07:00 PM	WRST -6.0 O 168.0	+500 +500
PRE at SCUS	07:00 PM	SCUS -2.0 U 140.5	+500 +500
ETSU at CIT	07:00 PM	CIT +1.0 O 135.0	+500 +500
AUB at TENN	07:00 PM	AUB +7.0 O 151.5	+500 +500
MRSH at GASO	07:00 PM	GASO -1.5 U 153.5	+500 +500
FUR at WCU	07:00 PM	FUR +2.0 O 149.0	+500 +500
ARST at CCU	07:30 PM	ARST -9.5 U 156.5	+500 +500
TEM at RICE	08:00 PM	RICE -5.0 U 142.5	+500 +500
BEL at MURR	08:00 PM	MURR -2.5 U 151.5	+500 +500
OKLA at ISU	08:00 PM	OKLA +9.5 O 137.0	+500 +500
UCF at OKST	08:00 PM	UCF +2.0 O 137.0	+500 +500
EKY at PEAY	08:00 PM	EKY -2.0 U 147.5	+500 +500
RICH at SLU	08:00 PM	SLU +4.5 U 151.0	+500 +500
DRKE at UIC	08:00 PM	UIC +8.5 O 148.0	+500 +500
USM at USA	08:00 PM	USA -3.5 U 149.0	+500 +500
TROY at ULL	08:00 PM	TROY +3.0 O 149.5	+500 +500
SIU at BRAD	08:00 PM	SIU +8.0 O 136.0	+500 +500
BELL at LIP	08:00 PM	LIP -10.5 U 150.5	+500 +500
CAL at COLO	08:00 PM	CAL +14.0 O 149.5	+500 +500
WICH at UAB	08:00 PM	UAB -8.0 O 145.5	+500 +500
MOSU at ILST	08:00 PM	MOSU +4.5 O 135.5	+500 +500
TLSA at UTSA	08:00 PM	UTSA -2.0 U 157.0	+500 +500
INST at EVAN	08:00 PM	INST -10.5 O 157.0	+500 +500
LT at WKU	08:00 PM	LT +2.0 O 148.0	+500 +500
SCAR at TAM	08:30 PM	SCAR +6.0 O 134.5	+500 +500
SJU at BUT	08:30 PM	BUT +1.0 U 151.0	+500 +500
HALL at CREI	09:00 PM	CREI -9.5 U 145.0	+500 +500
ALA at MISS	09:00 PM	ALA -5.0 U 166.5	+500 +500
UVA at BC	09:00 PM	BC +1.0 U 126.5	+500 +500
MINN at ILL	09:00 PM	MINN +12.0 O 155.0	+500 +500
ARIZ at ASU	10:00 PM	ASU +11.5 O 159.0	+500 +500
ORST at ORE	11:00 PM	ORST +13.5 U 136.0	+500 +500

 

[Cnotes53]

Thursday’s 6-pack:
Highest payrolls for the 2024 baseball season:
$290,541,666— New York (A)
283,801,859— New York (N)
237,303,141— Houston
237,182,617— Philadelphia
222,601,784— Toronto
221,315,000— Atlanta

Dodgers are #9, at $209,121,666- $68M of Ohtani’s salary is deferred.

Quotes of the Day
“My problems aren’t superficial. They just pour out of me. My (comedy) act is therapy for other people. They can all go away feeling they’re better off than me.”
comedian Richard Lewis, back in 1990
“Richard and I were born three days apart in the same hospital and for most of my life he’s been like a brother to me. He had that rare combination of being the funniest person and also the sweetest. But today he made me sob and for that I’ll never forgive him.”
Larry David

Thursday’s quiz
Who is the New Orleans/Utah Jazz’s all-time leader in triple-doubles?

Wednesday’s quiz
Larry Brown is the only coach to win both an NBA championship and a college national title.

Tuesday’s quiz
Steph Curry’s father Dell Curry played in the NBA for 16 years, scoring 12,670 points; he played his college basketball at Virginia Tech, which don’t recruit his two sons, both of whom are in the NBA.

*****************************************

Thursday’s Den: Doing some thinking out loud……​

If you’re reading this, that means the power/internet in my house stayed on, despite it being hideously windy outside.

— Where do baseball teams get their prospects from? The following info is from the Baseball America Prospect Handbook, which lists the top 30 prospects for each team.

Of the Tampa Bay Rays’ 30 top prospects, only 19 of them are home-grown, the fewest of any major league team. 11 of their top 30 prospects were acquired via trade, the most of any team; St Louis Cardinals are next, with eight prospects acquired via trade.

— Atlanta Braves are only team that doesn’t have a top 30 prospect that was acquired via trade.

— Cardinals/Oakland A’s are only teams that don’t have an international player among their top 30 prospects.

— Who has the most international prospects in their top 30?
15- Bronx
14- Angels
13- Red Sox
12- Rockies

— Houston Astros/Baltimore Orioles both have 19 college players in their top 30; Cardinals and Royals both have 18, Braves have 16.
Red Sox have only 5 college players in their top 30; Guardians have 6, Angels 8.

— Red Sox, Padres, Blue Jays have 9 high school players in their top 30, the most of any team; Tigers/Mariners have 8.
Bronx has only two top 30 prospects who went pro out of high school; Orioles-Cardinals-Astros have three each.

— Teams approach their prospects differently; the big $$$ teams will try and trade them to cheaper teams for star players, the cheap teams will promote their prospects, and play them until they hit their arbitration years, then they trade them to the big $$$ teams.

— Word of the Day: Corrupt- acting dishonestly in return for money or personal gain.

— Pretty cool baseball record that I never knew about, until Monday night; former Seattle 1B Alvin Davis reached base safely in his first 47 major league games, which is the all-time high for any player at the start of their career.

— Stolen bases were up 41% last year from 2022; the rule changes worked.

— Under is 38-12-1 in NBA games, since the All-Star break.

— Minnesota Vikings named former NFL QB Josh McCown their new QB coach.

— Famous people with birthdays on February 29:
Tony Robbins, 64
Terrence Long, 48
Tyrese Haliburton, 24
February 29 has to be the worst day to have a birthday right? You only have a birthday once every four years.

— Drake 107, Ill-Chicago 105, 3OTs
DeVries, the coach’s son, scored 39 points, with 13 boards, 7 assists.
Drake won six of its last seven games.
UIC shot 16-35 on the arc, only 15-42 inside the arc.

— Tennessee 92, Auburn 84
Dalton Knecht scored 39 points for the Vols.
Auburn led by 8 with 12:17 left in game.
Tennessee has won five in row, 11 of last 13 games.

— Iowa State 58, Oklahoma 45
Cyclones are 22-6, 11-4, in 2nd place in the Big X.
Iowa State forces turnovers 25.8% of time (#2 in country)
Teams combined to shoot 7-33 on the arc.

— Fort Wayne 79, Wright State 77 OT
Neither team led by more than six points.
Fort Wayne’s bench outscored Wright State’s subs 25-4.

— Illinois 105, Minnesota 97
Gophers lost despite shooting 14-20 on the arc.
There were a TOTAL of only 9 turnovers in this game.
Minnesota is 17-11 SU this year, but 24-4 against the spread.
Minnesota scored 1.48 points/possession; over the last 15 years, teams that scored that many points/possession are now 310-2.

— Alabama 103, Ole Miss 88
Crimson Tide outscored Ole Miss 64-46 in second half.
Both teams shot 60%+ inside the arc.
Alabama gets 38% of their points on 3’s, #22 in country.

— Upsets of the Night:
Wichita State (+7.5) 74, UAB 66
Green Bay (+7.5) 69, Cleveland State 61
Fort Wayne (+6.5) 79, Wright State 77 OT
South Carolina (+5.5) 70, Texas A&M 68
Northwestern (+5.5) 68, Maryland 61
Wofford (+5.5) 91, Samford 69

— RIP to Richard Lewis, a stand-up comedian and a star of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” who passed away at age 76. Known for his self-deprecating humor and acerbic wit, he was very funny.

RIP, sir.

 

[Udog]

 

[Udog]

NCAAB
Armadillo's Write-Up

Thursday, February 29

Thursday’s 5 interesting games
South Dakota State @ North Dakota (-1.5)
South Dakota State (17-12, 10-4)
KenPom rating: 164
Tempo: 105
Experience: 124
Continuity: 79
SD State won five of its last six games.
Jackrabbits are 3-3 SU/1-0 ATS as Summit road underdogs.
SD State is shooting 55.7% inside arc (#20)
Jackrabbits are 10-5 vs teams outside the top 200.


North Dakota (17-12, 9-5)
KenPom rating: 239
Tempo: 225
Experience: 205
Continuity: 72
North Dakota won nine of its last 11 games.
Hawks are 4-2 SU/2-3 ATS as Summit home favorites.
North Dakota has #262 eFG% defense in country.
Hawks are 1-5 vs teams in the top 200.


South Dakota State is 12-0 vs North Dakota the last six years.
Jackrabbits (-10.5) won first meeting 80-61 at home December 31.
South Dakota State won last four visits to Grand Forks (60-59 LY)
Summit League home favorites of 3 or less points are 6-8 ATS.


Montana @ Eastern Washington (-4.5)
Montana (19-9, 10-5)
KenPom rating: 159
Tempo: 267
Experience: 30
Continuity: 37
Montana won four of its last five games.
Grizzlies are 4-3 SU/0-2 ATS as Big Sky road underdogs.
Montana has #253 eFG% defense in country.
Montana is 3-7 vs teams ranked in the top 200.


Eastern Washington (18-10, 12-3)
KenPom rating: 137
Tempo: 50
Experience: 229
Continuity: 135
EWU lost 2 of last 3 games, after a 15-2 run.
Eagles are 6-1 SU/3-4 ATS as a Big Sky home favorite.
EWU has #8 eFG% in the country.
Eagles are 5-8 vs teams ranked in top 200.


EWU (+2.5) won 78-65 at Montana February 3rd.
Eagles won last three series games.
Teams split their last four meetings in Cheney.
Big Sky home favorites of 5 or less points are 11-12 ATS


Cal-Irvine (-7.5) @ Cal-Northridge
Cal-Irvine (20-8, 13-3)
KenPom rating: 83
Tempo: 30
Experience: 182
Continuity: 57
Anteaters split last four games, after an 11-1 run.
Irvine is 5-3 SU/4-3 ATS as Big West road favorites.
Opponents are shooting 44.2% inside arc (#9)
Anteaters are 10-2 against teams ranked in top 200.


Cal-Northridge (18-11, 9-8)
KenPom rating: 226
Tempo: 14
Experience: 222
Continuity: 236
Northridge won five of its last seven games.
Matadors are 4-4 SU/2-1 ATS as SEC home dogs.
Northridge has #243 eFG% in country.
Matadors are 1-4 vs teams ranked in top 150.


Irvine (-14) beat Northridge 77-72 at home January 27.
Irvine won four in row, 15 of last 16 series games.
Anteaters won their last seven visits to Northridge.
Big West home underdogs are 16-15 ATS this season.


UCLA @ Washington (-3.5)
UCLA (14-13, 9-7)
KenPom rating: 94
Tempo: 347
Experience: 319
Continuity: 293
UCLA lost last two games, by 1-6 points.
Bruins are 5-3 SU/6-1 ATS as a Pac-12 road dog.
Bruins are shooting 44.6% inside arc in Pac-12 tilts (#12 of 12)
UCLA is 3-9 vs teams in the top 100.


Washington (15-13, 7-10)
KenPom rating: 58
Tempo: 27
Experience: 2
Continuity: 206
Washington split its last six games.
Huskies are 4-4 SU/2-3 ATS as Pac-12 home favorites.
Washington is shooting 54.3% inside arc (#41)
Huskies are 3-11 vs teams in the top 100.


UCLA (+1.5) beat Washington 73-61 at home January 14.
UCLA won last nine series games.
Bruins won their last four visits to Seattle.
Pac-12 home favorites of 4 or less points are 6-14 ATS.


Gonzaga (-3.5) @ San Francisco
Gonzaga (22-6, 12-2)
KenPom rating: 20
Tempo: 76
Experience: 135
Continuity: 217
Gonzaga won 6 in row, 11 of its last 12 games.
Zags are 5-1 SU/3-3 ATS as WCC road favorites.
Gonzaga is shooting 62.9% inside arc in WCC games.
Zags are 5-5 vs teams ranked in top 100.


San Francisco (22-7, 11-3)
KenPom rating: 61
Tempo: 202
Experience: 225
Continuity: 229
San Francisco won seven of its last eight games.
Dons are 6-1 SU in SEC home games.
Dons are 4-2 ATS as an underdog this year.
San Francisco is shooting 58.2% inside arc (#7)
USF is 1-6 vs teams ranked in top 100.


USF (+9) lost 77-72 at Gonzaga January 25.
Gonzaga won its last 28 games against USF.
Zags won their last 11 visits to San Francisco
WCC home underdogs of 7 or less points are 2-6 ATS.

 

[Udog]

NCAAB

Thursday, February 29

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Trend Report
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[Udog]

NCAAB
Long Sheet

Thursday, February 29