Larry Ness' 20* Conference GOY (17-5 with CBB reports the L7 Saturdays / 21-7 in games!)
My 20* play is on UTEP at 8:35 ET. From 1994 through 2003, Tulsa appeared in eight NCAA tourneys and one NIT. However, it fell apart quickly, as the school had back-to-back nine-win seasons under John Phillips before HC Wojcik 'saved' the program, winning 20 games last year, in just his second season. Tulsa is 9-7 this year (1-3 in C-USA) but enters on a 1-3 SU and 0-4 ATS run, after losing 56-41 at home to No. 1 Memphis on Wednesday.The Golden Hurricane have two solid senior guards, McDade (7.3) and Earl (7.1) who are joined by sophomore Udrih (15.4) and freshman Andrews (11.0). Up front, the 7-0 Jordan (8.4-5.4) is surrounded by the 6-7 Walls (8.8-8.3) plus forwards Reese and Wheatley, who combine to average 9.1-6.5. Tulsa is not a bad team but this is a tough spot. UTEP has a dynamite guard duo of Jackson (23.2-5.5) and Kilgore (12.8-4.2-5.0) who get plenty of assistance from freshman Culpepper (13.1). Inside, the 6-9 Ramalho (6.8-5.6), the 6-9 Watts (6.-4.8) and the 6-10 Sampson (4.2-4.8) are joined by another freshman, the 6-7 Cass (4.4). UTEP is 7-1 at home, losing only 86-85 to New Mexico (OT), when it shot 33.3 percent for the game, including 10-32 on threes. Head coach Tony Barbee went just 14-17 in his first season last year (including TWO losses to Tulsa!) but his Miners are 11-6 so far this year and with 12 regular season games remaining (plus the WAC tourney), he just may have the Miners headed toward a 20-win season. C-USA Game of the Year 20* UTEP.
Good Luck...Larry
Larry Ness' Las Vegas Insider-CBB (15-6 with BKB Insiders since Jan 1!)
My Las Vegas Insider is on New Mexico State at 6:00 ET. Utah State head coach Stew Morrill entered this season with a .762 winning percentage the previous eight years, ranking him FIFTH in the nation. His Aggies stumbled out of the gate at 5-5 but have won 10 straight and enter this game 15-5 and a perfect 5-0 in the WAC. Guard Jaycee Carroll (21.3-6.1) just keeps getting better, as the senior is shooting 54.1 percent from the floor (including 51.6 from the three-point line) and 93.6 percent on free throws. He's joined in the backcourt by an excellent "pass-first" PG in Clark (4.7-6.4 APG). Utah St is not deep but the 6-9 Wilkinson (12.8-6.2), the 6-8 DuCharme (10.5-5.8) and the 6-6 Wesley (9.8-3.9) give them a solid frontcourt. It's been a 'crazy' season for New Mexico St, the defending WAC champs, who are coming off a 25-win season. Reggie Theus left to coach the NBA's Sacramento Kings and then forward Nelson (11.6-6.4), who Theus allowed to play LY despite his legal issues, was dismissed from the team before the start of the year. Then the team's prized recruit, 6-9 freshman Pope ran into academic problems plus legal problems of his own and just returned two games ago. Paris Carter, a highly thought of guard has also been lost to academics. NMSU opened 6-9 this year, including 0-5 on the road. However, this is a VERY talented team and has opened 4-2 in WAC play. The 6-7 Hawkins (17.6-7.8) is one of the league's best players and he's joined up front by freshman swingman McKines (6.7-6.8) plus two returning big men. The 7-0 Iti (6.3-4.6() is no star but he's solid, plus the 6-9 Passos (10.1-6.7), is now back from an academic suspension himself (sat out six games) and is playing very well. Then there is super-freshman Pope, who in just his second game, had 12 points and eight rebounds, giving NMSU a 'peek' at what is to come. The backcourt has two vets in Gibson (11.9) and Peete (11.9) plus another very talented freshman in Young (12.4). First-year head coach Menzies has more talent on his roster than any team in the WAC. NMSU lost up in Logan earlier this year (74-62) with Hawkins going 3-of-12, Passos on the sidelines with an academic suspension and Pope not yet eligible. Turnabout is fair play here and I expect a BIG game out of the homestanding Aggies (nickname of BOTH schools). Let's note that EIGHT of Utah State's 10 straight wins have come at home, beating only Cal St-Bakersfield and a 3-14 La Tech team (non-cover) away from Logan. Utah St is 2-4 SU and 0-5 ATS on the road this year going 0-4 SU and ATS as an underdog. Las Vegas Insider on New Mexico St.
Good Luck...Larry
Larry Ness' Oddsmaker's Error-CBB (15-4 or 78.9% ATS on the CBB season!)-Day
My Oddsmaker's Error is on Purdue at 4:00 ET. Matt Painter, in just his second season at Purdue, took the Boilermakers from a nine-win season to LY's 22-win year, which included a first round win in the NCAA tourney. He's got a long way to go to match Bo Ryan's mark at Wisconsin (142 wins in his first six years prior to this season's 16-2 start) but he's surely off to a great start. Purdue lost its two best players off LY's team in forward Landry (18.9) and guard Teague (14.3) but Painter has one of the nation's best and deepest freshman classes. Two versatile 6-8 players, Hummel (10.7-6.) and Martin (10.3-8), are joined by guard Moore (10.0) and the 6-10 Johnson (6.0-3.7). Returning from LY are 6-9 forward Calasan (7.8) plus a bevy of guards in Grant (11.6), Kramer (7.2), Crump (5.0) and Green (4.5). Like Purdue, Wisconsin lost its best player, all-everything forward Tucker (19.9-5.4) plus its best backcourt player in Taylor (13.3). However, the Badgers have opened 16-2, losing only to Duke and Marquette. Wisconsin has excellent size inside with the 6-11 Butch (12.8-7.6) getting help from the 6-10 Lever (5.1-2.1) and the 6-11 Stiemsma (3.2-2.9), plus 6-7 forward Landry (11.1-5.0). The backcourt is not as deep as Purdue's but it's good with Hughes (13.2), Flowers (11.1-5.0) and swingman Krabbenhoft (7.9-6.0). Painters' aggressive defensive style will bother Wisconsin as even LY, the Tucker and Taylor-led team struggled with Purdue in Madison, winning just 69-64 as 13 1/2-point favorites. In Wisconsin's two losses this season, Duke and Marquette were each able to disrupt Ryan's offense, as the Badgers suffered 18 turnovers in each game. As for Purdue, let's note that back on Jan 8 at then No. 6 Mich St, the Boilermakers forced the Spartans into 17 turnovers in a three-point loss (easy cover) and then just four days later, here in West Lafayette, forced the Buckeyes into 20 turnovers in an impressive 75-68 win. Purdue has lost just once at home all season, an inexplicable 69-66 defeat to Wofford on December 19, but I think it's safe to say that the Boilermakers WON'T be overlooking No. 11 Wisconsin. Once again, the linemakers are giving us a pointspread in which a SU win almost ASSURES us of a cover and I'm "all over" Purdue, as I was in its game vs Ohio State on January 12. Oddsmaker's Error on Purdue.
Good Luck...Larry
