The Bum's College Hoops For January Rated Games -Trends - News !!

[StarDust Bum]

Armadillo: Friday's six-pack

-- JD clued us in: Ed Hochuli is the ref for Patriots-Broncos Sunday. Since 2000, Denver is 7-0 in Hochuli games- they're 6-0 in his games since 2008.

-- There is 50-70% chance of rain/snow showers in Denver Sunday.

-- Is Washington DC headed to its biggest snowstorm in 90 years this weekend?

-- Weather changed the Syracuse-Virginia hoop game from Saturday to Sunday and the Cavaliers' game at Wake Forest moves from Monday to Tuesday. Also, games at Villanova/Temple were moved from Saturday to Sunday.

-- Baseball moved its trade deadline from July 31 to August 1 just for this season, because July 31 is on a Sunday. Really smart move to lessen chaos on July 31.

-- I thought the A's badly overpaid DH Billy Butler ($11M a year) until I heard that Hillary Clinton gets $225K for making a speech. Butler at $11M is still awful.

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Armadillo: Friday's List of 13: Ranking the months of the year......

This list is totally subjective; weather plays into it. Make your own list-- when you are retired, though, there are no bad months. Just some are better than others.

12) January-- If not for college basketball, this would be a long, cold month. At least now when I hear the wind whipping outside in the morning, I pull the covers over my head and go back to sleep- no trudging to work in cruddy weather. Football playoffs are only a lot of fun if your team is in them; I'm a Ram fan, so........

11) February-- Lot like January, only shorter so it ranks higher. Chinese New Year is next month and 2016 is the Year of the Monkey. Spring training starts and there is a February 29th this year. Most famous people I can find with February 29 birthdays are motivational speaker Tony Robbins and hockey legend Henri Richard.

10) May-- NBA/NHL playoffs, weather is pretty good. Kentucky Derby but this has always been a pretty quiet month for me, except for the four years where I coached Little League, which was an experience all to itself. Very little taught me more about people than watching them watch their young kids play ball. I have stories........lol

9) June-- Lot like May, only better weather. When I was a kid, this was by far the best month of the year, with school ending for the year. Minor league baseball is one of the best entertainment values there is-- we have a short season team over the river in Troy (Astros' Class A team). $7 for a night out is a good deal.

8) April-- Opening Day of baseball season, NFL Draft, plus I usually go to Las Vegas in April and that is prime pool season-- I highly recommend it. I'll be the guy wearing sunglasses, covered in towels so I don't get sunburned. Made that mistake once, never again. Nothing quite as relaxing as an afternoon by the pool.

7) October-- Quietest month for this website; baseball playoffs, football, and prep starts for college basketball. Weather is still decent but it starts getting dark too early. Halloween in Las Vegas is different than Halloween anywhere else; its, how can I say this.......just more fun. More people are into Halloween there.

In 2011, I stayed at South Point Hotel off the Strip, which also happened to host the Fetish and Fantasy Ball on Halloween night. Red carpet, TV camera, some costumes that were amazing. Very interesting elevator rides.

6) July-- This is a good basketball month; AAU in Florida or Vegas, NBA Summer League. One year it was 95 and humid in Florida, but the air conditioning in the Milk House at Walt Disney World was cranked so high I went to the **** to buy sweats to wear in there while I watched games. Sitting by the pool at night and reading college football magazines is also an annual July happening.

5) August-- The big thing in upstate New York in August is the racetrack that runs for six weeks at Saratoga, ending on Labor Day. Good social scene at night, lot of racing during the day. The first time I was in Las Vegas: August 1, 1986- it was 112 outside and I'm in a sportsbook, watching horse races from Saratoga, which is 20 miles from my house. They've over-commercialized it recently, but it is still a fun day.

4) September-- Worst month when I was a kid- who wants to go back to school? I wonder if teachers dreaded it as much as I did. But now as an adult, football is getting started, baseball pennant races are happening, it is still summer weather. Nothing bad about September anymore.

In September 1973, I rode a school bus for the first time, after walking to school in grades K-8. Public school in 9th grade was a new experience-- 720+ kids in the school, all 9th graders and I knew five of them. Five. The first week was a little scary.

3) November-- Busiest month for the website; overlap between college football/hoop gets crazy, plus the NBA gets started. I'm thinking the NBA will become a better game to handicap as they stretch out the season more, to reduce back/backs for teams. When I was working, November had three holidays, never a bad thing.

2) December-- You can get really good rates at hotels in Las Vegas if you go the week before Christmas-- you can get suites fairly cheap. Christmas, New Year's Eve, people putting up trees/lights for my birthday; what could be bad about December? Snow is a potential problem. People are usualy in better moods in December.

1) March-- I'm a big college basketball fan, so March is an excellent month, though you aren't out of the woods with weather yet. Plus there is spring training baseball every day-- I'm thinking of a trip to Arizona to see the A's next March. Have never done the spring training thing-- am told it is lot of fun.

[StarDust Bum]

NCAAB
Dunkel

Friday, January 22


Rhode Island @ George Washington

Game 869-870
January 22, 2016 @ 7:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Rhode Island
62.082
George Washington
65.048
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
George Washington
by 3
140
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
George Washington
by 5
136 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Rhode Island
(+5); Over

Valparaiso @ Wright State

Game 871-872
January 22, 2016 @ 7:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Valparaiso
66.671
Wright State
62.514
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Valparaiso
by 4
132
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Valparaiso
by 8 1/2
123
Dunkel Pick:
Wright State
(+8 1/2); Over

Illinois-Chicago @ Northern Kentucky

Game 873-874
January 22, 2016 @ 7:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Illinois-Chicago
39.322
Northern Kentucky
57.664
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Northern Kentucky
by 18 1/2
135
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Northern Kentucky
by 12
139 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Northern Kentucky
(-12); Under

St. Peter's @ Iona

Game 875-876
January 22, 2016 @ 7:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
St. Peter's
49.992
Iona
58.397
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Iona
by 8 1/2
142
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Iona
by 6
148 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Iona
(-6); Under

Fairfield @ Marist

Game 877-878
January 22, 2016 @ 7:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Fairfield
48.926
Marist
50.406
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Marist
by 1 1/2
150
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Fairfield
by 1
158 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Marist
(+1); Under

Canisius @ Niagara

Game 879-880
January 22, 2016 @ 7:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Canisius
49.231
Niagara
51.084
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Niagara
by 2
138
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Canisius
by 4 1/2
142
Dunkel Pick:
Niagara
(+4 1/2); Under

Albany @ Stony Brook

Game 881-882
January 22, 2016 @ 9:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Albany
55.634
Stony Brook
67.099
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Stony Brook
by 11 1/2
142
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Stony Brook
by 9
134
Dunkel Pick:
Stony Brook
(-9); Over

Toledo @ Northern Illinois

Game 883-884
January 22, 2016 @ 6:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Toledo
56,023
Northern Illinois
58.634
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Northern Illinois
by 2 1/2
150
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Northern Illinois
Pick
145 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Northern Illinois
Over

[StarDust Bum]

NCAAB
Long Sheet

Friday, January 22

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RHODE ISLAND (11 - 7) at GEORGE WASHINGTON (14 - 4) - 1/22/2016, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
RHODE ISLAND is 2-12 ATS (-11.2 Units) when the total is 130 to 139.5 over the last 2 seasons.
RHODE ISLAND is 2-11 ATS (-10.1 Units) as an underdog over the last 2 seasons.
RHODE ISLAND is 2-8 ATS (-6.8 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
GEORGE WASHINGTON is 43-26 ATS (+14.4 Units) in home games in January games since 1997.
GEORGE WASHINGTON is 8-17 ATS (-10.7 Units) against conference opponents over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
RHODE ISLAND is 2-1 against the spread versus GEORGE WASHINGTON over the last 3 seasons
RHODE ISLAND is 2-1 straight up against GEORGE WASHINGTON over the last 3 seasons
2 of 3 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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VALPARAISO (16 - 3) at WRIGHT ST (11 - 8) - 1/22/2016, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
VALPARAISO is 27-15 ATS (+10.5 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
VALPARAISO is 27-15 ATS (+10.5 Units) in all lined games over the last 2 seasons.
VALPARAISO is 16-7 ATS (+8.3 Units) against conference opponents over the last 2 seasons.
VALPARAISO is 11-3 ATS (+7.7 Units) in January games over the last 2 seasons.
VALPARAISO is 31-14 ATS (+15.6 Units) on Friday nights since 1997.
VALPARAISO is 16-6 ATS (+9.4 Units) after a conference game over the last 2 seasons.
VALPARAISO is 9-2 ATS (+6.8 Units) after scoring 80 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
VALPARAISO is 17-5 ATS (+11.5 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
VALPARAISO is 9-1 ATS (+7.9 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record after 15 or more games over the last 2 seasons.
WRIGHT ST is 16-26 ATS (-12.6 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
WRIGHT ST is 16-26 ATS (-12.6 Units) in all lined games over the last 2 seasons.
WRIGHT ST is 2-9 ATS (-7.9 Units) versus good defensive teams - allowing <=64 points/game over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
WRIGHT ST is 3-1 against the spread versus VALPARAISO over the last 3 seasons
WRIGHT ST is 2-2 straight up against VALPARAISO over the last 3 seasons
3 of 4 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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IL-CHICAGO (2 - 15) at N KENTUCKY (6 - 11) - 1/22/2016, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
IL-CHICAGO is 3-12 ATS (-10.2 Units) in all games this season.
IL-CHICAGO is 3-12 ATS (-10.2 Units) in all lined games this season.
IL-CHICAGO is 3-12 ATS (-10.2 Units) as an underdog this season.
IL-CHICAGO is 0-8 ATS (-8.8 Units) in road games this season.
IL-CHICAGO is 0-8 ATS (-8.8 Units) in road lined games this season.
IL-CHICAGO is 29-50 ATS (-26.0 Units) in road games in January games since 1997.

Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

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ST PETERS (8 - 8) at IONA (9 - 8) - 1/22/2016, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
ST PETERS is 7-1 ATS (+5.9 Units) as an underdog this season.
ST PETERS is 6-0 ATS (+6.0 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 77+ points/game over the last 2 seasons.
IONA is 18-30 ATS (-15.0 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
IONA is 18-30 ATS (-15.0 Units) in all lined games over the last 2 seasons.
IONA is 10-19 ATS (-10.9 Units) after a conference game over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
ST PETERS is 3-1 against the spread versus IONA over the last 3 seasons
IONA is 3-1 straight up against ST PETERS over the last 3 seasons
4 of 4 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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FAIRFIELD (9 - 9) at MARIST (4 - 12) - 1/22/2016, 7:00 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
MARIST is 3-1 against the spread versus FAIRFIELD over the last 3 seasons
MARIST is 2-2 straight up against FAIRFIELD over the last 3 seasons
3 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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CANISIUS (9 - 10) at NIAGARA (5 - 14) - 1/22/2016, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
NIAGARA is 11-4 ATS (+6.6 Units) in all games this season.
NIAGARA is 11-4 ATS (+6.6 Units) in all lined games this season.
NIAGARA is 11-2 ATS (+8.8 Units) as an underdog this season.
NIAGARA is 7-1 ATS (+5.9 Units) against conference opponents this season.
NIAGARA is 6-0 ATS (+6.0 Units) in January games this season.
NIAGARA is 7-1 ATS (+5.9 Units) after a conference game this season.
CANISIUS is 18-7 ATS (+10.3 Units) in road games against conference opponents over the last 3 seasons.
CANISIUS is 13-4 ATS (+8.6 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 3 seasons.
CANISIUS is 8-1 ATS (+6.9 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a losing record after 15 or more games over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
CANISIUS is 3-1 against the spread versus NIAGARA over the last 3 seasons
CANISIUS is 3-1 straight up against NIAGARA over the last 3 seasons
1 of 2 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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ALBANY (15 - 5) at STONY BROOK (14 - 4) - 1/22/2016, 9:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
ALBANY is 16-6 ATS (+9.4 Units) in road games after a conference game since 1997.
ALBANY is 12-2 ATS (+9.8 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record after 15 or more games since 1997.

Head-to-Head Series History
STONY BROOK is 1-1 against the spread versus ALBANY over the last 3 seasons
ALBANY is 4-2 straight up against STONY BROOK over the last 3 seasons
1 of 2 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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TOLEDO (12 - 6) at N ILLINOIS (15 - 3) - 1/22/2016, 6:30 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
N ILLINOIS is 4-1 against the spread versus TOLEDO over the last 3 seasons
N ILLINOIS is 3-2 straight up against TOLEDO over the last 3 seasons
4 of 5 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

[StarDust Bum]

NCAAB
Armadillo's Write-Up

Friday, January 22

Duquesne lost five of its last seven games; they are 0-3 on A-14 road, losing by 11-27-22 points. Dukes are playing fastest tempo in A-14 but have made only 26.4% of 3's in league play. George Mason is 1-5 in its league games, losing both home games by 19-14; their only A-14 win is at Saint Louis. Patriots are forcing least turnovers of any team in whole country. Dukes won two of their three games with Mason.

Yale ran out to 27-8 lead, beat Brown 77-68 Saturday, their 10th win in last 12 series games. Yale rebounded 45.7% of its own misses, very high number. Bulldogs lost two of last three visits here, in series where home team won five of last six meetings. Brown lost five of last six games vs D-I teams, with two OT losses; Bruins are 0-5 vs top 100 teams, with four of five losses by 8+ points.

Rhode Island swept George Washington LY by 4-13 points after losing four in row to GW before that; Rams are 1-5 in last six visits here, with losses by 69-61/69-56 in last two visits. URI is 1-4 in true road games with only win in OT at Brown; Rams lost their two A-14 road games by 5 points each. GW won its two conference home games by 6-27 points. A-14 home favorites of 5 or less points are 6-3 vs spread.

Valparaiso won eight of last 11 games with Wright State, splitting last four visits to Dayton, with wins by 7-10 points. Crusaders won first six Horizon games, with 12 points closest game- their road wins are by 17-18-31 points. Wright State won eight of last nine games, with only loss at Green Bay by 8; Raiders are shooting 54% inside arc in Horizon tilts. Horizon home underdogs are 3-8 against the spread.

Northern Kentucky won two of last three games after starting season at 4-10; their two Horizon wins are by 17-20 points, over Youngatown and Oakland. Norse turns ball over 20.1% of time (#284). Ill-Chicago is 0-15 vs D-I teams in McClain's first year as coach; all four of Flames' losses on Horizon road are by 17+ points. Horizon double digit home favorites are 8-4 vs spread. UIC turns ball over 22.2% of time (#336).

St Peter's is in first place in MAAC; they lost nine of last 12 games with Iona, losing last five visits here by 18-37-19-3-7 points. Peacocks won four of five MAAC road games, with only loss by a basket at Niagara- they won last three games overall. Iona lost last two games and will still be without suspended Washington here. Gaels are 1-4 in games decided by 8 or less points. MAAC home favorites of 7 or less points are 3-8.

Home side won last nine Fairfield-Marist games; Stags lost last four tilts in McCann Center by 2-13-19-6 points. Fairfield lost three MAAC road games by 24-6-15 points; they're 9-9 despite winning all three OT games this season. Marist is 27-101 in MAAC games since Matt Brady left for JMU; Red Foxes lost last six games, are 0-3 at home in MAAC. MAAC home teams are 8-5 vs spread if spread was 2 or less points.

Canisius won four of last five games with Niagara, winning last three in this gym by 7-6-13 points. Griffins are 4-4 in MAAC, 3-1 on road, with wins by 9-3-10 points and only loss at Monmouth. Canisius has #329 eFG% defense in country. Niagara is 3-5 in MAAC, 3-1 at home, with only loss by 14 to Monmouth; Eagles turn ball over 22.5% of time. #340 in US. MAAC home underdogs of 5 or less points are 8-4 vs spread.

[StarDust Bum]

NCAAB

Friday, January 22

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Trend Report
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2:00 PM
DUQUESNE vs. GEORGE MASON
Duquesne is 3-17 SU in its last 20 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of George Mason's last 5 games
George Mason is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games

5:00 PM
RHODE ISLAND vs. GEORGE WASHINGTON
Rhode Island is 1-8 SU in its last 9 games on the road
Rhode Island is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
George Washington is 14-4 SU in its last 18 games
George Washington is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home

7:00 PM
CANISIUS vs. NIAGARA
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Canisius's last 5 games on the road
Canisius is 3-7 SU in its last 10 games on the road
Niagara is 10-3 SU in its last 13 games when playing at home against Canisius
Niagara is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing Canisius

7:00 PM
SAINT PETER'S vs. IONA
Saint Peter's is 5-10 SU in its last 15 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Saint Peter's last 6 games when playing on the road against Iona
Iona is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games
Iona is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games at home

7:00 PM
ILLINOIS-CHICAGO vs. NORTHERN KENTUCKY
Illinois-Chicago is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Illinois-Chicago is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
No trends available

7:00 PM
VALPARAISO vs. WRIGHT STATE
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Valparaiso's last 6 games when playing on the road against Wright State
Valparaiso is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games on the road
Wright State is 2-6 SU in its last 8 games when playing Valparaiso
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Wright State's last 5 games when playing Valparaiso

7:00 PM
FAIRFIELD vs. MARIST
Fairfield is 3-7 SU in its last 10 games when playing on the road against Marist
Fairfield is 3-15 SU in its last 18 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Marist's last 5 games
Marist is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games

8:00 PM
YALE vs. BROWN
Yale is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Brown
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Yale's last 7 games when playing on the road against Brown
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Brown's last 6 games when playing Yale
Brown is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing Yale

[StarDust Bum]

CBB ATS

CBB > (873) IL-CHICAGO@ (874) N KENTUCKY | 2016-01-22 19:00:00 - 2016-01-22 19:00:00
Play AGAINST IL-CHICAGO against the spread in All games in road lined games
The record is 0 Wins and 8 Losses for the this season (-8.8 units)

CBB > (879) CANISIUS@ (880) NIAGARA | 2016-01-22 19:00:00 - 2016-01-22 19:00:00
Play ON NIAGARA against the spread in All games as an underdog
The record is 11 Wins and 2 Losses for the this season (+8.8 units)

CBB > (871) VALPARAISO@ (872) WRIGHT ST | 2016-01-22 19:00:00 - 2016-01-22 19:00:00
Play ON VALPARAISO against the spread in Road games when playing against a team with a winning record
The record is 12 Wins and 2 Losses for the last two seasons (+9.8 units)

CBB > (869) RHODE ISLAND@ (870) GEORGE WASHINGTON | 2016-01-22 17:00:00 - 2016-01-22 17:00:00
Play AGAINST RHODE ISLAND against the spread in All games when the total is 130 to 139.5
The record is 2 Wins and 12 Losses for the last two seasons (-11.2 units)

CBB > (871) VALPARAISO@ (872) WRIGHT ST | 2016-01-22 19:00:00 - 2016-01-22 19:00:00
Play ON VALPARAISO against the spread in All games when playing against a team with a winning record
The record is 17 Wins and 5 Losses for the last two seasons (+11.5 units)

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CBB MONEYLINE

CBB > (875) ST PETERS@ (876) IONA | 2016-01-22 19:00:00 - 2016-01-22 19:00:00
Play ON IONA using money line in All games in home lined games
The record is 13 Wins and 1 Losses for the last two seasons (+11.85 units)

CBB > (881) ALBANY@ (882) STONY BROOK | 2016-01-22 21:00:00 - 2016-01-22 21:00:00
Play ON ALBANY using money line in All games against conference opponents
The record is 15 Wins and 4 Losses for the since 1992 (+17.2 units)

CBB > (879) CANISIUS@ (880) NIAGARA | 2016-01-22 19:00:00 - 2016-01-22 19:00:00
Play AGAINST CANISIUS using money line in All games after a conference game
The record is 12 Wins and 16 Losses for the last two seasons (-25.75 units)

CBB > (869) RHODE ISLAND@ (870) GEORGE WASHINGTON | 2016-01-22 17:00:00 - 2016-01-22 17:00:00
Play ON GEORGE WASHINGTON using money line in All games in home lined games
The record is 19 Wins and 3 Losses for the last three seasons (+15.25 units)

CBB > (883) TOLEDO@ (884) N ILLINOIS | 2016-01-22 18:30:00 - 2016-01-22 18:30:00
Play ON N ILLINOIS using money line in All games in all games
The record is 10 Wins and 2 Losses for the this season (+9 units)

CBB > (883) TOLEDO@ (884) N ILLINOIS | 2016-01-22 18:30:00 - 2016-01-22 18:30:00
Play ON N ILLINOIS using money line in All games in all lined games
The record is 10 Wins and 2 Losses for the this season (+9 units)

CBB > (879) CANISIUS@ (880) NIAGARA | 2016-01-22 19:00:00 - 2016-01-22 19:00:00
Play AGAINST CANISIUS using money line in All games in all games
The record is 6 Wins and 10 Losses for the this season (-14.85 units)

CBB > (883) TOLEDO@ (884) N ILLINOIS | 2016-01-22 18:30:00 - 2016-01-22 18:30:00
Play AGAINST TOLEDO using money line in All games after scoring 80 points or more
The record is 7 Wins and 8 Losses for the last two seasons (-19.15 units)

CBB > (871) VALPARAISO@ (872) WRIGHT ST | 2016-01-22 19:00:00 - 2016-01-22 19:00:00
Play ON VALPARAISO using money line in All games after a conference game
The record is 15 Wins and 3 Losses for the last two seasons (+11.45 units)

CBB > (873) IL-CHICAGO@ (874) N KENTUCKY | 2016-01-22 19:00:00 - 2016-01-22 19:00:00
Play AGAINST IL-CHICAGO using money line in All games off a loss against a conference rival
The record is 49 Wins and 105 Losses for the since 1992 (-65.7 units)

CBB > (873) IL-CHICAGO@ (874) N KENTUCKY | 2016-01-22 19:00:00 - 2016-01-22 19:00:00
Play AGAINST IL-CHICAGO using money line in All games in January games
The record is 47 Wins and 87 Losses for the since 1992 (-55.8 units)

---------------------

CBB FIRST HALF

CBB > (873) IL-CHICAGO@ (874) N KENTUCKY | 2016-01-22 19:00:00 - 2016-01-22 19:00:00
Play AGAINST IL-CHICAGO ?>in the first halfin All games versus the first half line in all games
The record is 13 Wins and 33 Losses for the last two seasons (-23.3 units)

CBB > (883) TOLEDO@ (884) N ILLINOIS | 2016-01-22 18:30:00 - 2016-01-22 18:30:00
Play AGAINST TOLEDO ?>in the first halfin Road games on Friday nights
The record is 4 Wins and 18 Losses for the since 1992 (-15.8 units)

CBB > (883) TOLEDO@ (884) N ILLINOIS | 2016-01-22 18:30:00 - 2016-01-22 18:30:00
Play AGAINST TOLEDO ?>in the first halfin All games on Friday nights
The record is 6 Wins and 22 Losses for the since 1992 (-18.2 units)

CBB > (879) CANISIUS@ (880) NIAGARA | 2016-01-22 19:00:00 - 2016-01-22 19:00:00
Play AGAINST CANISIUS ?>in the first halfin All games when playing against a team with a losing record
The record is 4 Wins and 15 Losses for the last two seasons (-12.5 units)

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CBB TOTALS

CBB > (873) IL-CHICAGO@ (874) N KENTUCKY | 2016-01-22 19:00:00 - 2016-01-22 19:00:00
Play UNDER IL-CHICAGO on the totalin All games in road lined games
The record is 0 Overs and 8 Unders for the this season (+8 units)

CBB > (879) CANISIUS@ (880) NIAGARA | 2016-01-22 19:00:00 - 2016-01-22 19:00:00
Play OVER CANISIUS on the totalin All games when the total is 140 to 149.5
The record is 15 Overs and 2 Unders for the last three seasons (+12.8 units)

CBB > (879) CANISIUS@ (880) NIAGARA | 2016-01-22 19:00:00 - 2016-01-22 19:00:00
Play UNDER CANISIUS on the totalin Road games when playing against a team with a losing record after 15 or more games
The record is 0 Overs and 9 Unders for the last three seasons (+9 units)

CBB > (869) RHODE ISLAND@ (870) GEORGE WASHINGTON | 2016-01-22 17:00:00 - 2016-01-22 17:00:00
Play UNDER GEORGE WASHINGTON on the totalin All games in January games
The record is 3 Overs and 17 Unders for the last three seasons (+13.7 units)

CBB > (869) RHODE ISLAND@ (870) GEORGE WASHINGTON | 2016-01-22 17:00:00 - 2016-01-22 17:00:00
Play UNDER GEORGE WASHINGTON on the totalin All games off a loss against a conference rival
The record is 2 Overs and 13 Unders for the last three seasons (+10.8 units)

CBB > (877) FAIRFIELD@ (878) MARIST | 2016-01-22 19:00:00 - 2016-01-22 19:00:00
Play OVER MARIST on the totalin All games as an underdog
The record is 9 Overs and 1 Unders for the this season (+7.9 units)

CBB > (871) VALPARAISO@ (872) WRIGHT ST | 2016-01-22 19:00:00 - 2016-01-22 19:00:00
Play UNDER VALPARAISO on the totalin All games versus the 1rst half line in road games
The record is 6 Overs and 20 Unders for the last three seasons (+13.4 units)

CBB > (871) VALPARAISO@ (872) WRIGHT ST | 2016-01-22 19:00:00 - 2016-01-22 19:00:00
Play UNDER VALPARAISO on the totalin All games when playing against a team with a winning record after 15 or more games
The record is 5 Overs and 18 Unders for the last three seasons (+12.5 units)

CBB > (871) VALPARAISO@ (872) WRIGHT ST | 2016-01-22 19:00:00 - 2016-01-22 19:00:00
Play UNDER VALPARAISO on the totalin All games versus good defensive teams - allowing <=64 points/game
The record is 2 Overs and 12 Unders for the last three seasons (+9.8 units)

CBB > (879) CANISIUS@ (880) NIAGARA | 2016-01-22 19:00:00 - 2016-01-22 19:00:00
Play UNDER CANISIUS on the totalin Road games after a conference game
The record is 2 Overs and 11 Unders for the last two seasons (+8.8 units)

[StarDust Bum]

FRIDAY, JANUARY 22

GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS


TOL at NIU 06:30 PM

NIU +0.0 BEST BET


CAN at NIAG 07:00 PM

CAN -4.5 BEST BET


SPC at IONA 07:00 PM

IONA -7.5 BEST BET


FAIR at MRST 07:00 PM

FAIR -2.0


UIC at NKU 07:00 PM

NKU -12.5 BEST BET


VALP at WRST 07:00 PM

VALP -8.5 BEST BET


YALE at BRWN 08:00 PM

YALE -7.5


ALBY at STON 09:00 PM

ALBY +8.5

[StarDust Bum]

B]Preview: Gamecocks (17-1) at Volunteers (9-9)[/B]
Date: January 23, 2016 12:00 PM EDT

After needing a stirring comeback to avoid another road loss, South Carolina will try to have an easier time when it visits a slumping SEC rival.

The 24th-ranked Gamecocks will attempt to send Tennessee to its fourth loss in five games while securing their most wins in seven seasons Saturday.

South Carolina (17-1, 4-1) trailed by 11 with 3:54 to play Tuesday at Mississippi but kept the Rebels off the scoreboard long enough to force overtime in a 77-74 victory. Michael Carrera, who had a team-best 19 points, hit the tying layup with 43 seconds left in regulation and scored the Gamecocks' final five points in the extra session.

"We needed a big win like this one," Carrera said. "We stayed together. We lose together, we win together and that's how we've been doing it the whole season."

South Carolina was blown out 73-50 in its previous road game Jan. 13 against Alabama - the Crimson Tide's only win in its first five league contests.

"Last week, we didn't play well but we had no life. We just kind of wanted the game to get over with," coach Frank Martin said. "(Against Ole Miss), our guys were engaged. They were enthused. They never shut up. They continued to encourage each other in every timeout. That's why today we were able to come back and figure out a way to win. Last week, we let the game get away from us."

South Carolina, which hasn't reached 18 wins since finishing 21-10 in 2008-09, matched its win total from last season with Tuesday's victory.

The Gamecocks face a Tennessee team that's also dropped back-to-back home games following an 8-0 start, its best since 2009-10.

The Volunteers (9-9, 2-4) lost 92-88 to then-No. 21 Texas A&M on Jan. 9 then fell 88-74 to a more unheralded Vanderbilt squad in their latest game Wednesday. They shot a season-low 32.9 percent against the Commodores and went 4 of 20 from 3-point range.

"We definitely have to bounce back. (South Carolina is) tough. Those guys are hard-nosed. We have to be ready to come to play Saturday," said senior guard Kevin Punter Jr., who scored 26 points and is second in the SEC with 22.6 per game.

South Carolina ended a 15-game losing streak against the Vols and earned its first win in Knoxville in 13 years with a 60-49 victory March 7. The Gamecocks shot 51.2 percent and Carrera went 6 of 7 from the floor while scoring a team-high 14 points.

They could use a better performance from co-leading scorer Sindarius Thornwell to prevail in this trip. The junior guard, averaging 12.1 points, has a combined seven in the past two road games while missing 19 of 21 shots.

Thornwell went 1 for 15 and scored five against Ole Miss. By contrast, he's averaging 19.7 points and shooting 48.6 percent in his last three home games.

Thornwell has shot 29.4 percent in four meetings with Tennessee, including 4 of 20 from 3-point range, but has still averaged 12.3 points - right around his career mark of 12.2. He had a combined 27 points in last season's two meetings and a team-best 17 in a 66-62 home loss Jan. 20, 2015, despite missing 10 of 14 shots.

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B]Preview: Wildcats (15-5) at Hoosiers (16-3)[/B]
Date: January 23, 2016 12:00 PM EDT

Yogi Ferrell played a leading role in Indiana's historic victory, further cementing his lasting mark with the Hoosiers.

Such efforts, however, have been elusive when he's faced Northwestern.

The star point guard will try to lift No. 25 Indiana to its 12th straight win and best Big Ten start in 23 years Saturday in Bloomington.

Ferrell had nine assists to break Michael Lewis' school record with 553 and also hit five of the Hoosiers' league-record 19 3-pointers in Tuesday's 103-69 home win over Illinois.

The senior ranks second in the Big Ten with 19.2 points per game in conference play. He needs 13 more to pass Eric Anderson for 10th on the school's career scoring list.

"What I love about him is he's incredibly happy for (his teammates') success, and his maturity is well on its way," coach Tom Crean said. "If he stays on this path of continuing to improve the way that he is and keeps that work ethic that way, he'll leave here with a really strong legacy."

Troy Williams scored a team-high 21 points as the Hoosiers (16-3, 6-0) shot 56.9 percent and 52.8 from 3-point range. They lead the Big Ten with 85.9 points per game, a 52.3 field-goal percentage and a 44.3 mark on 3s.

Indiana, tied with Iowa atop the Big Ten, looks to open 7-0 in conference play for the first time since Bob Knight guided them to a 13-0 start in 1992-93.

The Hoosiers can also win their initial 12 home games for the first time since 2007-08, and their 11-game overall winning streak is the second-longest of Crean's tenure following a 12-0 start in '11-12.

Ferrell, though, hasn't been nearly as dominant against the Wildcats (15-5, 3-4). He's averaged 10.6 points and 37.7 percent shooting with 14 assists and eight turnovers in five career meetings.

Northwestern, winner of three of its past five at Assembly Hall, ranks in the top five of the Big Ten with 64.4 points allowed per game, a 39.5 defensive field-goal percentage and a 32.2 mark in defending the 3-pointer.

Following a promising Big Ten start, the Wildcats have taken a step back by falling 71-62 to visiting Penn State on Saturday and 62-56 in overtime at No. 7 Maryland on Tuesday. They've been particularly ineffective from 3-point range, making eight of 47 (17 percent) in the losses.

Leading scorers Bryant McIntosh (15.7 points per game) and Tre Demps (14.0) totaled 18 while going 1 of 12 from beyond the arc against the Terrapins.

'I'm not big on moral victories,' said coach Chris Collins, whose squad opened a stretch of four straight against ranked opponents. '(But) we play a lot of young guys and these are great experiences for them.'

Northwestern held Indiana to 25 percent shooting in a 54-47 win Jan. 18, 2014 in the most recent meeting in Bloomington. The Hoosiers have won two of three matchups since, including 71-56 in last year's Big Ten tournament.

Alex Olah has averaged 15.3 points and 9.7 boards in his last three meetings for the Wildcats, who are seeking the best 21-game start in their history. Northwestern, though, has dropped 10 straight to ranked opponents.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Sooners (15-2) at Bears (15-3)
Date: January 23, 2016 12:00 PM EDT

Oklahoma's ascension to the top of the AP poll for the first time in 26 years might not last too long.

With another loss Saturday, the Sooners' hopes of their first Big 12 regular-season title in more than a decade could be slipping away as well.

The nation's top-ranked team has already found out how small the margin of error is in college basketball's most stacked conference, and now it faces the possibility of falling two games behind first-place Baylor should it come up short against the 13th-ranked Bears in Waco.

Five of Oklahoma's six Big 12 games have been decided by five points or fewer, which is more of a credit to how tough the conference is than an indictment of a team that's trying to enjoy being No. 1 for the first time since March 1990.

That perch will likely belong to someone else come Monday, but for now the Sooners (15-2, 4-2) have their work cut out for them simply to stay in the race for a league title they haven't won since 2005. Oklahoma is in a four-way tie for second after Monday's 82-77 loss at No. 19 Iowa State.

"That's Big 12 basketball," coach Lon Kruger said. "Every one of them's going to be tough."

Buddy Hield and Isaiah Cousins combined for 53 points and hit 11 of the Sooners' season-high 17 3s as the nation's most accurate team from long distance upped its percentage to 45.7. But aside from that starting backcourt, Oklahoma shot a combined 2 of 15 from inside the arc.

"We're a veteran team," Hield said. "We've got to do a better job closing games like this one out. We've got to come ready to play. Coach had us prepared to play, but me and Isaiah have to do a better job of getting everyone fighting."

Hield and Cousins totaled 39 points and hit a combined eight 3s in a 73-63 home win over Baylor last season, but were held to 20 points - Hield shot 6 of 17 and missed all seven 3s - in a 69-58 loss in Waco.

Baylor has won 15 straight at home dating to the last three of last season, though it had to put in 10 additional minutes of work Wednesday to tie the school record for consecutive wins at the 28-year-old Ferrell Center set from February 2010-January 2011. Al Freeman had all 11 of his points in two overtimes as the Bears held off Kansas State 79-72.

Baylor has won five straight since opening Big 12 play with a 102-74 loss at Kansas.

"Winning close games makes the difference between good years and average or bad years," coach Scott Drew said. "Al hadn't played his best basketball, but at the end of the game he really came up big."

Baylor assisted on 20 of its 28 field goals against the Wildcats, almost exactly at its 71.5 percent assist rate that's second in the nation. In the Bears' three losses, they've assisted on less than half of their field goals.

Oklahoma just so happens to be one of the nation's best at preventing the basketball from being shared. Sooners opponents have a 39.3 percent assist rate, bested only by No. 23 Kentucky.

Kruger's team can probably walk out of Waco with a win if it can match Baylor on the boards, though that's easier said than done. The Bears' plus-10.1 rebound differential is tied for 11th in the nation, but they didn't have the edge in any of their losses.

Baylor is 0-6 against No. 1 teams at home, though it hasn't faced one since Kansas in 1997.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Demon Deacons (10-8) at Hurricanes (14-3)
Date: January 23, 2016 12:00 PM EDT

After rebounding from back-to-back ACC road defeats, Miami confidently returns with a good chance to extend Wake Forest's conference misery away from home.

The No. 15 Hurricanes will try to hand the Demon Deacons an 18th straight league road defeat Saturday.

Coach Jim Larranaga admitted his concern after Miami (14-3, 3-2) allowed No. 13 Virginia to shoot 51.1 percent in an eight-point loss Jan. 12, then succumbed to a 25-8 run over the final seven minutes of last Saturday's 76-65 defeat at Clemson. The Hurricanes shot 40 percent and led by one at the break Wednesday at Boston College, but made 48 percent of their attempts in the final 20 minutes and held an overall 42-26 scoring advantage in the paint to win 67-53.

'I think we did a better job of being poised down the stretch," said leading scorer Sheldon McClellan, who had 19 points. "Like Coach always talks about, we just did a better job of coming together and staying together.'

Point guard Angel Rodriguez scored 12 after being held to fewer than 10 in three of the previous four games. Tonye Jekiri added six points and matched a career high with 17 boards.

Averaging a team-high 9.9 rebounds for the second straight season, Jekiri has 28 in two games.

Virginia and Clemson shot a combined 49.5 percent against the Hurricanes, and the Eagles went 13 of 25 in the first half but shot 25.8 percent and were 1 of 10 from 3-point range in the second.

Miami's allowed an average of 58.7 points, 36.4 percent shooting and 22.1 from the beyond the arc over a six-game home winning streak.

That might not bode well for Wake Forest (10-8, 1-5), which has shot 37.3 percent, gone 4 of 38 from 3 and turned the ball over 37 times in the last two games.

Though Wake beat Ben Simmons and LSU in Baton Rouge last month, hung in at then-No. 18 Louisville before losing by eight Jan. 3 and shot a season-high 58.9 percent in a wild 93-91 loss at Virginia Tech 10 days later, it's dropped 47 of 49 on the road in the ACC. Two years ago this week the Demon Deacons won at Virginia Tech, but their 17 straight league road defeats that followed are two shy of a school record that spanned 1984-85 to 1986-87.

Konstantinos Mitoglou hit six 3-pointers and finished with 21 points in Wake's 72-70 home win over the Hurricanes in last season's only meeting. However, it's dropped four straight at Miami, including the last two by a combined 31 points.

The 6-foot-10 Mitoglou (11.2 points per game) missed all five 3-point attempts and totaled nine points in the last two games. Devin Thomas (16.4 ppg) is second in the ACC with 10.4 boards per game but has 16 in three against Miami.

Freshman guard Bryant Crawford scored a team-high 18 as Wake dropped its third in a row, 83-68 at second-ranked North Carolina on Wednesday. He's averaging 15.3 points on the road, though he's shooting just 32.3 percent in conference play.

"He's been playing great," coach Danny Manning said. "He's a true freshman; we've been throwing him into the fire since day one. He's a competitor; he's fearless."

The Demon Deacons are 0-5 against ranked opponents since beating then-No. 13 Indiana at the Maui Invitational on Nov. 23.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Mountainers (15-3) at Red Raiders (12-5)
Date: January 23, 2016 1:00 PM EDT

West Virginia's first Big 12 loss was excusable, expected maybe, even after it knocked off the top team in the country. Its second was less so and signaled a third in as many games as a possibility after starting league play 4-0.

Any chance of remaining in the top 10 for another week hinges on the sixth-ranked Mountaineers winning at Texas Tech on Saturday, but while they've been exposed as beatable, the Red Raiders are yet to show they can prosper against the league's top teams.

Bob Huggins' team might first have been considered a true contender for the conference title with a 74-63 home win over then-No. 1 Kansas on Jan. 12. Four days later, it shouldered a 70-68 defeat at then-No. 2 Oklahoma with its head held high before the Sooners took over the top ranking.

This week, however, started with a 56-49 home loss to Texas on Wednesday, which was easily the Mountaineers' worst offensive game with a 31.1 percent shooting mark.

"This is a league you cannot relax at all. It's just how the league is," said Devin Williams, who had a team-high 11 points with 11 rebounds. "I think it's just a learning experience and we'll be back. This is something that we needed and we just got a little too comfortable."

But things had already been trending that way. West Virginia (15-3, 4-2) shot 48.4 percent in its first 14 games but is at 36.8 in the last four.

Nevertheless, against Texas Tech (12-5, 2-4) Huggins outlined a potential storyline similar to many of the opponents the up-tempo Mountaineers face as they try to avoid their first three-game skid since February 2014.

"Nobody wants to run up and down with us. They want to get us in a half-court game and do everything they can possibly do to keep it in the half court," Huggins told the school's official website, though his team forced a season-low eight turnovers against Texas - 12.0 below its season average.

"If we shoot it as poorly as we did against Texas it's going to be a long, long night and a long plane ride back from Lubbock, but I don't think that is going to be the case."

It certainly hasn't been on a four-game winning streak in the series with West Virginia shooting 51.3 percent and 41.0 from 3-point range. The latest was the most lopsided, a 77-58 win in Morgantown on Jan. 31 behind 18 points from Williams on 7-of-9 shooting.

This Red Raiders team doesn't have any losses of that level this season, though a 76-69 win at TCU on Monday ended a four-game skid with top scorers Devaugntah Williams and Toddrick Gotcher needed only for limited contributions. The duo totaled 10 points on 10 shots.

"Williams has become very, very consistent for them," Huggins said. "He's a hard guard because he really drives it at you and keeps putting pressure on the rim. Gotcher has shot it really well from the perimeter and their inside guys are very athletic; they're very long."

Not quite as long after center Norense Odiase broke his right foot against TCU. The team hasn't given a timetable for his return, but forwards Aaron Ross (16 points) and Justin Gray (14) showed promise off the bench, and a smaller lineup seems inevitable.

Texas Tech had shot 25.4 percent from 3-point range on the losing streak but hit 9 of 15 against the Horned Frogs, including a combined 5-of-6 effort from Ross and Gray.

"We've been struggling from the 3-point line, but I thought we were able to make some early shots tonight," coach Tubby Smith said. "The right guys were making shots. The reason we won the game tonight was because Justin and Aaron knocked down their open 3s. I thought we really pushed the ball up the court in transition, and that helped a lot as well."

Texas Tech has dropped its last 11 games against the Top 25 by an average of 15.0 points.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Blue Devils (14-5) at Wolfpack (11-8)
Date: January 23, 2016 2:00 PM EDT

(AP) - Frustration is starting to mount for Duke.

The ACC's 'Sportsmanship Week' didn't get off to the best start with questions about a lack of postgame handshakes by coach Mike Krzyzewski after the No. 20 Blue Devils lost their third straight Monday.

Following that 64-62 defeat to visiting Syracuse, Krzyzewski skipped a few Orange players during the handshake line - a move that was caught by television cameras and almost immediately went viral on social media.

The handshakes - or lack of them - appeared to be an indication of how frustrating it's been lately for the Blue Devils (14-5, 3-3) as they get set to visit North Carolina State (11-8, 1-5) on Saturday.

This is the lowest they've been ranked in two years, and they are on their longest losing streak since a four-game slide to end the 2006-07 season - also the last time they fell out of the Top 25.

Duke's most recent three losses were one-possession games in the final minute - but the game-winning plays were made by Clemson, Notre Dame and Syracuse.

'That's kind of the situation we're in right now,' guard Matt Jones said after Monday's game. 'We have to learn how to push through that, and we're getting a heavy dose of that right now.'

Against the Orange, the Blue Devils trailed by one point in the final seconds when Jones and Syracuse's Malachi Richardson collided while chasing the tapped-out rebound of Grayson Allen's missed layup. No foul was called on the play, nor was one whistled when Jones appeared to be tripped behind the midcourt stripe as he hurriedly tried to take a desperation heave at the buzzer.

Afterward, Krzyzewski shook some Syracuse hands before skipping six Orange players, rejoining the handshake line and finally looking around the court for someone - possibly one of the game officials - before having a conversation with ACC basketball administrator Paul Brazeau on his way off the floor.

It was a bizarre bookend to a game that started with the teams shaking hands as part of the league-sponsored show of sportsmanship.

But the Blue Devils' problems extend beyond a possible postgame slight.

During Duke's recent slide, two of its biggest issues - a lack of experience and a lack of healthy bodies - have been obvious.

Jones is the only active player who consistently logged significant minutes during the 2014-15 regular season, though Allen came on strong during the postseason run to the program's fifth national championship.

Meanwhile, one of the captains, high-energy forward Amile Jefferson, remains out indefinitely with a broken foot, and the Blue Devils are 6-4 without him.

Duke is pretty much down to a six-man rotation with graduate student Marshall Plumlee as the only true post player.

Krzyzewski described Duke as 'undermanned' and 'under-aged,' praising its work ethic and lamenting that, 'We are playing our hearts out, and that has not been rewarded.'

Things could get worse before Duke's efforts are rewarded.

The Blue Devils still have to play No. 2 North Carolina twice. And No. 17 Louisville twice. And No. 13 Virginia. And No. 15 Miami on the road.

'As always, there's a sense of urgency to win, but for some of the younger guys who didn't appreciate that sense of urgency at first, now it should be hitting them hard,' Plumlee said. 'Coach has been doing this a long time, so he knew right after our first loss. The season is capable of going any which way. He's been really pushing us to give our all, and that's something we need to do a better job of.'

Before visiting Miami on Monday, Duke catches a bit of a break against a Wolfpack team that's struggled in ACC play. North Carolina State, though, is coming off its first conference win and has posted big upsets of the Blue Devils in their last two visits to Raleigh.

North Carolina State beat the No. 1 Blue Devils 84-76 in January 2013 to stop their season-opening win streak at 15, and the Wolfpack defeated No. 2 Duke 87-75 last January after the Blue Devils entered with a 14-0 record.

The Wolfpack lost their first five ACC games by an average of 6.4 points before jumping out to a 44-19 halftime lead and winning 78-61 at Pittsburgh on Tuesday.

"I've seen bad teams, we're not a bad team," coach Mark Gottfried said. "But we don't have a lot to show for in the league so far. ... Our guys have kept battling, but we do need to get some confidence. Winning helps you."

Anthony Barber had 31 points Tuesday after scoring a season-low nine in a 67-55 loss at North Carolina last Saturday. Barber leads the ACC with 22.3 points per game, with Duke's Allen right behind him at 20.1.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Pirates (13-5) at Musketeers (16-2)
Date: January 23, 2016 2:00 PM EDT

Xavier learned that earning the highest ranking in school history also made it a major target for opponents.

The fifth-ranked Musketeers seek to respond to a humbling loss by defeating a visiting Seton Hall team they've had trouble with since entering the Big East in Saturday's matchup in Cincinnati.

Xavier (16-2, 4-2) earned the program's best ranking this week but a slide from the top 5 seems imminent after Tuesday's 81-72 home loss to Georgetown. The Musketeers shot a season-low 35.3 percent.

"Whenever you're ranked, you've got a number besides you, teams are going to give you their best regardless of who you are," said leading scorer Trevon Bluiett, who had 18 points and 10 rebounds.

Bluiett's effort on the glass wasn't enough to prevent Xavier from getting outrebounded for the first time, leaving No. 22 Purdue as the only team in the nation yet to have that happen.

The Musketeers, who got 15 points from Myles Davis, fell to 9-1 at home.

"Our team has been pretty good at dealing with success," coach Chris Mack said. "Now we have to deal with a little adversity. Didn't want to lose a home game, we did. We're not the first team in the league to do that. Now we have to figure out a way to respond on Saturday."

History suggests that may be difficult since Xavier is 1-3 against Seton Hall (13-5, 3-3) in Big East play. The lone victory came last season when these teams split their meetings, although Pirates star Isaiah Whitehead missed his team's 69-58 loss at Xavier on Jan. 7, 2015, with a foot injury.

That was part of a nine-game absence for Whitehead that ended when he returned Jan. 31 and scored 19 points off the bench in a 90-82 win over the Musketeers.

Davis scored 12 points on 3-of-12 shooting in that contest, and that actually represents his best scoring output in four games against the Pirates, the lone Big East school in his home state of New Jersey. The junior has totaled 28 points on 19.4 percent shooting versus Seton Hall.

Seton Hall will get its first look at Xavier freshman point guard Edmond Sumner, who was back in the starting lineup Tuesday after playing once off the bench after a three-game absence due to a concussion.

The Pirates fell 72-71 at home to No. 4 Villanova on Wednesday. Whitehead had 21 points and Khadeen Carrington added 17.

"We have a lot of positives to take away from this game," coach Kevin Willard said. "I thought our effort was great. We didn't play our best defensively in the first half, but I thought we really battled and stayed in. We will learn from the things we didn't do well, especially towards the end of the game."

Seton Hall fell to 1-2 against ranked teams, with both losses to the Wildcats. The Pirates ended a 13-game road losing streak against Top 25 teams with last Saturday's 81-72 win over then-No. 12 Providence.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Tigers (8-10) at Aggies (16-2)
Date: January 23, 2016 4:00 PM EDT

(AP) - Texas A&M's return to prominence has been several years in the making.

You will have to excuse coach Billy Kennedy if he gets a little choked up when asked about the rise of the Aggies in his fifth year in College Station.

'I'm just - I'm thankful,' he said, fighting back tears. 'That's all I can say. So many people have been supportive of me and I'm just thankful.'

The 10th-ranked Aggies, who host Missouri on Saturday, have reeled off nine straight wins and their 6-0 start in the SEC is their best in league play since they won seven straight to open the 1993-94 season in the Southwest Conference. They're in the top 10 for the first time since 2008 and are the only team that hasn't lost in SEC play.

With a 16-2 record, this team seems destined for its first NCAA Tournament berth since the Aggies capped a streak of six straight trips in 2011. While Kennedy is certainly happy with his team's progress, he knows it is way too early to get caught up in things like that.

'We've got a lot of games left so ... I can't get too emotional right now,' he said shaking his head. 'We've got a lot of games left, but we're doing the right things.'

The Aggies went 14-18 in his first season, 18-15 in 2012-13 and 18-16 in his third year before improving to 21-12 last season and getting an invitation to the NIT. Now that he has had time to recruit the players he wants and instill his culture in the program, he expects to get back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since he went 31-5 at Murray State and made it to the second round in 2010.

'It's about the team,' he said. 'We've said that from last year on ... and these freshmen came in here and bought into it and the culture of winning and sharing the ball and playing hard defensively. It's taken shape.'

The Aggies have three senior leaders, with SMU transfer Jalen Jones (17.4 points, 6.9 rebounds per game) and Danuel House (15.2, 5.1) leading the team in scoring. Jones had 20 points in Tuesday's 71-57 win over LSU.

The undisputed heart of the roster is senior guard Alex Caruso, who grew up in College Station. Caruso does a little bit of everything for the Aggies. He averages 7.7 points, 5.1 assists and 3.4 rebounds, and he is the school's career leader with 240 steals - the most among active Division I players.

'We try to keep an even keel,' Kennedy said. 'We stress that in how we approach every day and then we've got a guy like Alex Caruso who's done it for four years.'

It isn't just the old guys that have the Aggies back on track. Six-foot-10, 270-pound freshman center Tyler Davis has started 16 games and has developed into a major presence, averaging 11.2 points and 5.8 rebounds.

He believes his coach should get all the credit for the team's improvement.

'Coach Kennedy's the man,' he said. 'He's a father-figure, he's got the kindest heart out of anyone I've ever met and he's a great leader. He's always talking to us. He's not just a coach. He's a friend, too, someone we know that we can come to. Someone you can trust.'

The rapport Kennedy has developed with his players makes them go out of their way to play well for him.

'It just makes it easy when you're in that huddle listening to him or when you're in practice listening to him to never put off what he says,' said Davis, who tied a season high with 18 points against LSU. 'It just makes it a lot easier with the person he is.'

Texas A&M's streak is its longest since taking 13 in a row in 2010-11. The Aggies won both meetings with Missouri last season, and the Tigers (8-10, 1-4) enter this one on a three-game skid after falling 60-57 to Georgia on Wednesday.

Missouri lost 81-72 at then-No. 19 South Carolina last Saturday following a 33-point home defeat to Arkansas, so the Tigers feel like they're getting better.

"Going on the road here, we're mad," freshman guard Terrence Phillips said. "We want to get some wins here, so I think it is a good time for us to go (to Texas A&M) and keep fighting for this team."

The Tigers have lost 19 in a row on the road, while Texas A&M has won all 11 home games this season by an average of 21.2 points.