Thursday games

[SingleMalt]

Start of a new season and I hope to contribute what I can. I will try to post as my time permits and offer whatever else I can to help everyone.

Maryland -9' - Agree with Hoops on this one. Maryland should be one of the elite teams this year returning a strong nucleus from last years Final Four Team. Arizona will improve as the year goes on, but lost too many impact players to have the chemistry to hang with the Terps this early in the season. Going with the team with better talent and more playing time together.

Temple +5' - Temple returns three Senior starters from last year Elite Eight team. (A forth starter, Hawkins, is out until late Dec. due to grades.) Florida is still ripe with talent even though they have lost quite a bit with the most recent being G Teddy Dupay (alleged gambling activity). I'm going with the Owls and hope they press all game. Florida has the guns to turn this into a blowout so I expect Chaney to press and slow the tempo down. Defense seems to come around earlier than offense.

Please feel free to point out anything that I may have missed in these matchups.

GL to All

 

[KotysDad]

I am a little leary about jumping on the Terps this early. Their bench played poorly against EASports in an exhibition game last Friday. They have 3 solid starters in Dixon, Blake, and Baxter, but Gary Williams is still unsure how to play/use Nicholas and Mouton, and Taj Holden didnt look very good in the exhibition either. Maryland could look sloppy again and 10 is alot to ask for in my opinion.

 

[SingleMalt]

KD,

Did not see the EA game and only can get a few recaps. Seems as if everytime EA got close, the Terps pushed a button and went on a decent run. Couldn't find anything on Holden's play, but was impressed by the way Wilcox seemed to step up. One thing that stood out in each recap was the solid play by the guards and Baxter. I can see Mouton and Wilcox starting with Baxter, Blake, and Dixon. Holden coming off the bench for significant minutes may be his best role for now. Was there anything in the EA game that would be cause for serious alarm???

I see the game has moved to 10' with a total posted of 152'.

Temple game has moved to 6 and a total of 131'. Leaning to the under in this game. Although, the play may be to play two parlays with Temple/Under and Florida/Over as the side and total seem to be very closing related on this game. Tempo should dictate both the total and the side.

 

[KotysDad]

SingleMalt,

Holden will probably start at the power forward spot due to his extra year of experience over Wilcox, but Wilcox is more athletic and "flashy". The experience and athleticism of the two should make for a good trade off during the season.

Mouton will most likely start at small forward, but I think he may see a good bit of guard play early on. I am not a big fan of Nicholas and Gary Williams may do a bit of experimenting at the guard spot with Mouton and Nicholas. This is one of two areas of concern for me. The chemisty might not be what is should be this early. They cant be expected to pick up where they left off in March. They also lack size outside of Baxter.

Baxter, Dixon, and Blake make a solid inside/outside threat. If they control things and dont get too sloppy then they should win by 10 or more. I am just leary about jumping on them this early until I have seen the chemistry. I will definitely be rooting for you if you decide to take Maryland. If I had to make a play, it would be on Maryland, but I wouldnt make a big one. Remember last year they went into the Maui tournament with a preseason #5 ranking and went home with a 1-2 record. Maybe that memory will give them more focus?? It just might.

I dont have any comments on the Temple game except that I have a hard time watching Temple play. Too slooooooooooooooooooow. lol
I agree with the Temple-Under or Fla-over correlation though.

Good luck with the game if you decide to take it. Go Terps!!