Larry Ness' Superstar Triple Play-CBB (15-5 BKB run / 1st STP this year in CBB!)
Larry's gone "Back to the Future" this year, bringing his classic Superstar Triple Play to the net (see bio). He's been red-hot in BKB over these last six days, going 15-5, including a 6-2 run in CBB. It's a "Three Dog Night" in Tuesday's CBB, as his STP features three, "very live underdogs!"
My three STPS are on NC-Wilmington (7:00 ET), Valparaiso (8:00 ET) and St Mary's (10:00 ET).
Eric Gordon was one of the top recruits in the country and the 6-foot-4 Gordon set a school record for points by an Indiana player in his first game with 33 in a win over Chattanooga last week. He followed that up with a game-high 21 in a 100-49 rout of Longwood on Sunday. Kelvin Sampson has more than just Gordon, as sophomore PG Bassett has averaged 17.0 points to go along with 5.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game. Senior DJ White (6-9), who averaged a team-high 13.8 points last season, is scoring 14.5 per game so far and that's the average for Jordan Crawford, another standout freshman guard. However, don't sell NC-Wilmington short. Coming off a 25-win season two years ago, the Seahawks went just 7-22 in Benny Moss' first year but this team has some talent. Senior TJ Carter, MVP of the CAA tournament in 2005-06, missed all of LY with an injury but has averaged 16.5-3.5-5.5 in two games TY. His backcourt partner, senior Daniel Fountain, is averaging 21.5. Up front, two more seniors, the 6-10 Kuljanin averages 19.5-14.5 and the 6-9 Hendley, 14.5-9.0. Indiana was 15-0 at home LY and looks for its 20th straight home win tonight but expect the senior-laden Seahawks to "hang around." STP on NC-Wilmington.
I realize that Vandy made it to the Sweet 16 LY but this Valpo team is tough. Homer Drew returns all five starters and his top-seven point producers from LY's team. Vandy returns an excellent nucleus of seniors in swingman Foster (21.0-5.0), guard Gordon (14.0-4.0 APG) and the 6-9 Neltner (7.5-5.0). The 'Dores have also added 6-10 freshman Ogilvy (19.0-6.5) but Vandy has typically been rather 'soft' inside Valpo counters with 7-1 senior MacLeod (9.00 and 6-10 freshman in Bouchie (9.5) to battle inside. Eight players average at least 7.5 PPG, led by the one-two guard combo of Loyd and the 6-8 Haanpaa (both average 12.0 PPG). Expect the Crusaders to "hang around" in this game as well. STP on Valparaiso.
Ernie Kent will lead the Ducks in a road game against Saint Mary's tonight, the school that gave him his first college head coaching job. Kent currently has the Ducks at 4-0 and 11th in the AP poll, but in 1996-97, he led the Gaels (off to a 3-0 start) to their only West Coast Conference title. Despite losing the Pac-10's leading scorer in Aaron Brooks, Oregon has yet to suffer a defeat this season. The Ducks are coming off an 85-61 road victory over Portland on Saturday that came without starting guard Bryce Taylor (sprained shoulder). Malik Hairston scored 24 points, his third straight game with at least 20 points, and freshman Kamyron Brown had 10 points and 10 assists while filling in for Taylor. Maarty Leunen, at 6-9 and the team's lone big man, is averaging 15.3 points, while 3-point sharpshooter, the 5-6 Tajuan Porter, is scoring 16.5 per game. Watch out for St Mary's, though. Center Omar Samhan, a 6-foot-11 sophomore, had a career-high 25 points in his last game and he could create matchup problems for a small Oregon team (Leunen is its tallest starter). Samhan is averaging 16.3-8.0, while teammate Diamon Simpson, a 6-7 forward, is pulling down a team-best 8.7 a contest plus scoring 10.0 PPG. Another 6-7 forward, OLeary, averages 10.7-3.7. A trio of Australian players have also contributed for Saint Mary's, especially 5-10 freshman PG Patrick Mills, who has averaged 10.3 points, 5.0 assists, 4.0 steals and just 2.0 turnovers to start his career. A little home cookin' makes St Mary's the play. STP on St Mary's.
Good Luck...Larry