I like NW here for a few reasons:
1) NW's style of play, with Carmody (formerly at Princeton) as coach, makes them very appealing here, as points should be at a premium
2) NW ain't half bad this year, a far cry from recent versions - tight loss at Fordham, nice wins vs Fla State and K State (none of those are Duke, but they are teams comparable to AZ State, I think) - and, NW's RPI is lower than AZ State, for what that may be worth
3) AZ State strikes me as very schizophrenic - big wins and nice play one time out, the opposite the next - off of their resounding win over Canisius last night, I see them as fat and happy, and not prepared for NW's style and toughness
4) AZ State may also have immediate revenge on their minds, as the 2 Oregon schools who just beat them come visiting in a few days - can you say look-ahead?
Arizona State 60, NW 58.
1) NW's style of play, with Carmody (formerly at Princeton) as coach, makes them very appealing here, as points should be at a premium
2) NW ain't half bad this year, a far cry from recent versions - tight loss at Fordham, nice wins vs Fla State and K State (none of those are Duke, but they are teams comparable to AZ State, I think) - and, NW's RPI is lower than AZ State, for what that may be worth
3) AZ State strikes me as very schizophrenic - big wins and nice play one time out, the opposite the next - off of their resounding win over Canisius last night, I see them as fat and happy, and not prepared for NW's style and toughness
4) AZ State may also have immediate revenge on their minds, as the 2 Oregon schools who just beat them come visiting in a few days - can you say look-ahead?
Arizona State 60, NW 58.
