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

[StarDust Bum]

CBB ATS

CBB > (885) W ILLINOIS@ (886) IUPUI | 2016-01-29 13:00:00 - 2016-01-29 13:00:00
Play AGAINST W ILLINOIS against the spread in All games after 3 or more consecutive losses
The record is 7 Wins and 26 Losses for the since 1992 (-21.6 units)

CBB > (873) PENNSYLVANIA@ (874) YALE | 2016-01-29 19:00:00 - 2016-01-29 19:00:00
Play ON YALE against the spread in All games on Friday nights
The record is 10 Wins and 1 Losses for the last two seasons (+8.9 units)

CBB > (873) PENNSYLVANIA@ (874) YALE | 2016-01-29 19:00:00 - 2016-01-29 19:00:00
Play ON YALE against the spread in All games when playing with 5 or 6 days rest
The record is 15 Wins and 3 Losses for the last three seasons (+11.7 units)

CBB > (891) KENT ST@ (892) OHIO U | 2016-01-29 21:00:00 - 2016-01-29 21:00:00
Play ON OHIO U against the spread in All games as a home favorite of 3 points or less or pick
The record is 27 Wins and 9 Losses for the since 1992 (+17.1 units)

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CBB MONEYLINE

CBB > (885) W ILLINOIS@ (886) IUPUI | 2016-01-29 13:00:00 - 2016-01-29 13:00:00
Play AGAINST IUPUI using money line in Home games when playing against a team with a losing record after 15 or more games
The record is 4 Wins and 9 Losses for the since 1992 (-19.55 units)

CBB > (885) W ILLINOIS@ (886) IUPUI | 2016-01-29 13:00:00 - 2016-01-29 13:00:00
Play AGAINST W ILLINOIS using money line in All games off a loss against a conference rival
The record is 4 Wins and 22 Losses for the last three seasons (-20.55 units)

CBB > (889) CANISIUS@ (890) FAIRFIELD | 2016-01-29 19:00:00 - 2016-01-29 19:00:00
Play AGAINST CANISIUS using money line in All games after a conference game
The record is 13 Wins and 17 Losses for the last two seasons (-26.15 units)

CBB > (891) KENT ST@ (892) OHIO U | 2016-01-29 21:00:00 - 2016-01-29 21:00:00
Play AGAINST OHIO U using money line in All games off a win against a conference rival
The record is 6 Wins and 12 Losses for the last three seasons (-19.25 units)

CBB > (881) WRIGHT ST@ (882) OAKLAND | 2016-01-29 20:00:00 - 2016-01-29 20:00:00
Play ON WRIGHT ST using money line in All games against conference opponents
The record is 6 Wins and 1 Losses for the this season (+9.5 units)

CBB > (881) WRIGHT ST@ (882) OAKLAND | 2016-01-29 20:00:00 - 2016-01-29 20:00:00
Play ON WRIGHT ST using money line in All games in January games
The record is 6 Wins and 1 Losses for the this season (+9.5 units)

CBB > (891) KENT ST@ (892) OHIO U | 2016-01-29 21:00:00 - 2016-01-29 21:00:00
Play AGAINST OHIO U using money line in All games when playing against a team with a winning record
The record is 8 Wins and 22 Losses for the last two seasons (-19.85 units)

CBB > (873) PENNSYLVANIA@ (874) YALE | 2016-01-29 19:00:00 - 2016-01-29 19:00:00
Play ON YALE using money line in All games on Friday nights
The record is 10 Wins and 2 Losses for the last two seasons (+10.75 units)

CBB > (873) PENNSYLVANIA@ (874) YALE | 2016-01-29 19:00:00 - 2016-01-29 19:00:00
Play ON YALE using money line in All games when playing with 5 or 6 days rest
The record is 15 Wins and 3 Losses for the last three seasons (+12.65 units)

CBB > (869) PRINCETON@ (870) BROWN | 2016-01-29 18:00:00 - 2016-01-29 18:00:00
Play AGAINST BROWN using money line in All games when playing against a team with a winning record
The record is 1 Wins and 15 Losses for the last three seasons (-15.05 units)

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CBB FIRST HALF

CBB > (887) MANHATTAN@ (888) IONA | 2016-01-29 19:00:00 - 2016-01-29 19:00:00
Play AGAINST MANHATTAN ?>in the first halfin All games on Friday nights
The record is 0 Wins and 9 Losses for the last two seasons (-9.9 units)

CBB > (885) W ILLINOIS@ (886) IUPUI | 2016-01-29 13:00:00 - 2016-01-29 13:00:00
Play ON IUPUI ?>in the first halfin All games after a conference game
The record is 7 Wins and 0 Losses for the this season (+7 units)

CBB > (885) W ILLINOIS@ (886) IUPUI | 2016-01-29 13:00:00 - 2016-01-29 13:00:00
Play ON IUPUI ?>in the first halfin All games against conference opponents
The record is 7 Wins and 0 Losses for the this season (+7 units)

CBB > (889) CANISIUS@ (890) FAIRFIELD | 2016-01-29 19:00:00 - 2016-01-29 19:00:00
Play AGAINST CANISIUS ?>in the first halfin All games versus the first half line in all games
The record is 4 Wins and 14 Losses for the this season (-11.4 units)

CBB > (877) COLUMBIA@ (878) DARTMOUTH | 2016-01-29 19:00:00 - 2016-01-29 19:00:00
Play AGAINST DARTMOUTH ?>in the first halfin Home games on Friday nights
The record is 16 Wins and 40 Losses for the since 1992 (-28 units)

CBB > (891) KENT ST@ (892) OHIO U | 2016-01-29 21:00:00 - 2016-01-29 21:00:00
Play ON KENT ST ?>in the first halfin Road games after a conference game
The record is 11 Wins and 2 Losses for the last two seasons (+8.8 units)

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CBB TOTALS

CBB > (885) W ILLINOIS@ (886) IUPUI | 2016-01-29 13:00:00 - 2016-01-29 13:00:00
Play UNDER IUPUI on the totalin All games against conference opponents
The record is 4 Overs and 19 Unders for the last two seasons (+14.6 units)

CBB > (885) W ILLINOIS@ (886) IUPUI | 2016-01-29 13:00:00 - 2016-01-29 13:00:00
Play UNDER IUPUI on the totalin Home games after a conference game
The record is 2 Overs and 15 Unders for the last three seasons (+12.8 units)

CBB > (883) WI-GREEN BAY@ (884) WI-MILWAUKEE | 2016-01-29 20:00:00 - 2016-01-29 20:00:00
Play OVER WI-GREEN BAY on the totalin All games after scoring 80 points or more
The record is 10 Overs and 1 Unders for the this season (+8.9 units)

CBB > (869) PRINCETON@ (870) BROWN | 2016-01-29 18:00:00 - 2016-01-29 18:00:00
Play OVER BROWN on the totalin Home games when playing against a team with a winning record
The record is 26 Overs and 6 Unders for the since 1992 (+19.4 units)

CBB > (889) CANISIUS@ (890) FAIRFIELD | 2016-01-29 19:00:00 - 2016-01-29 19:00:00
Play OVER FAIRFIELD on the totalin All games versus the first half line in all games
The record is 12 Overs and 2 Unders for the this season (+9.8 units)

CBB > (887) MANHATTAN@ (888) IONA | 2016-01-29 19:00:00 - 2016-01-29 19:00:00
Play OVER IONA on the totalin All games after allowing 80 points or more
The record is 16 Overs and 3 Unders for the last three seasons (+12.7 units)

CBB > (873) PENNSYLVANIA@ (874) YALE | 2016-01-29 19:00:00 - 2016-01-29 19:00:00
Play UNDER YALE on the totalin Home games off a win against a conference rival
The record is 0 Overs and 8 Unders for the last three seasons (+8 units)

CBB > (869) PRINCETON@ (870) BROWN | 2016-01-29 18:00:00 - 2016-01-29 18:00:00
Play OVER BROWN on the totalin All games as an underdog
The record is 16 Overs and 4 Unders for the last two seasons (+11.6 units)

CBB > (877) COLUMBIA@ (878) DARTMOUTH | 2016-01-29 19:00:00 - 2016-01-29 19:00:00
Play UNDER DARTMOUTH on the totalin Home games in January games
The record is 3 Overs and 16 Unders for the since 1992 (+12.7 units)

[StarDust Bum]

CBB BEST BETS YESTERDAY 13 - 11

FRIDAY, JANUARY 29

GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS


PENN at YALE 07:00 PM

YALE -13.5


NKU at DET 07:00 PM

NKU +7.5

CAN at FAIR 07:00 PM

FAIR -1.0 BEST BET


CLMB at DART 07:00 PM

DART +4.0


MAN at IONA 07:00 PM

IONA -11.5


COR at HARV 07:00 PM

COR +10.0


GB at MILW 08:00 PM

MILW -4.5 BEST BET


WRST at OAK 08:00 PM

OAK -5.5 BEST BET


KENT at OHIO 09:00 PM

OHIO -2.5 BEST BET

[StarDust Bum]

Saturday's Top 25 Trends
January 29, 2016


SATURDAY, JAN. 30

Matchup Records Skinny Projection


West Virginia
Overall: 17-3 SU, 11-6 ATS
Big 12: 6-2 SU, 5-3 ATS
Totals: 7-10 O/U

Florida
Overall: 13-7 SU, 11-6-1 ATS
SEC: 5-3 SU, 6-2 ATS
Totals: 9-9 O/U

(9) West Virginia at Florida (ESPN, 12:00 p.m. ET)

West Virginia has bounced back from consecutive losses to Oklahoma and Texas by beating Texas Tech and Kansas State in the last two contests. The Mountaineers have done a great job covering numbers of late, posting a 5-1 ATS record since starting 0-2 ATS in Big 12 play. Florida rallied late in Tuesday’s loss at Vanderbilt, managing a cover as 4 ½-point underdogs in a 60-59 setback. The Gators have won four straight games at the O’Connell Center, while going 5-1 ATS the past six games overall.

West Virginia 70
Florida 66



Virginia
Overall: 16-4 SU, 7-11 ATS
ACC: 5-3 SU, 2-6 ATS
Totals: 10-8 O/U

Louisville
Overall: 17-3 SU, 8-8 ATS
ACC: 6-1 SU, 2-5 ATS
Totals: 8-7 O/U

(11) Virginia at (16) Louisville (CBS, 1:00 p.m. ET)

Virginia rallied late to stun Wake Forest on Tuesday, 72-71 on a buzzer-beating three-pointer. The Cavaliers failed to cash as 7 ½-point road favorites, the fourth straight ATS loss and sixth non-cover in the past seven games. Louisville has also struggling to cash tickets recently, falling to 2-7 ATS the last nine games in spite of winning at Virginia Tech on Wednesday, 91-83. The Cardinals have dominated in the past two home contests, wiping out Florida State and Pittsburgh by double-digits.

Virginia 63
Louisville 65



Xavier
Overall: 18-2 SU, 13-7 ATS
Big East: 6-2 SU, 4-4 ATS
Totals: 11-9 O/U

DePaul
Overall: 7-12 SU, 7-11 ATS
Big East: 1-6 SU, 3-4 ATS
Totals: 7-11 O/U

(7) Xavier at DePaul (CBSSN, 2:00 p.m. ET)

Since getting upset by Georgetown at home, Xavier has bounced back with consecutive wins over Seton Hall and Providence. The Musketeers have won three of four road games in Big East action, while going for the season sweep of DePaul after routing the Blue Demons at home earlier this month, 84-64. DePaul has slumped to a 1-7 start in Big East action, while going 0-3 SU and 1-2 ATS at home against conference foes.

Xavier 79
DePaul 63



Iowa State
Overall: 16-4 SU, 10-6-1 ATS
Big 12: 5-3 SU, 5-3 ATS
Totals: 7-10 O/U

Texas A&M
Overall: 17-2 SU, 7-5-2 ATS
SEC: 7-0 SU, 3-3-1 ATS
Totals: 6-8 O/U

(14) Iowa State at (5) Texas A&M (ESPN, 2:00 p.m. ET)

These two old Big 12 rivals meet for the first time since 2012, as the Aggies are coming off their first SEC loss following a 7-0 start. Texas A&M was tripped up at Arkansas, 74-71, while cashing the ‘under’ in five straight games. Iowa State has won and covered four games in a row, including home triumphs over Kansas and Oklahoma. The Cyclones have cashed in both road underdog opportunities this season, including an 81-79 victory at Cincinnati as five-point ‘dogs in December.

Iowa State 81
Texas A&M 77


Minnesota
Overall: 6-15 SU, 6-13 ATS
Big 10: 0-9 SU, 4-5 ATS
Totals: 12-7 O/U

Indiana
Overall: 17-4 SU, 11-10 ATS
Big 10: 7-1 SU, 4-4 ATS
Totals: 11-10 O/U

Minnesota at (19) Indiana (BTN, 2:15 p.m. ET)

The Golden Gophers are one of two Big 10 squads that has yet to win a conference game (Rutgers the other). Minnesota covered as 14-point home underdogs in a 68-64 setback to Purdue on Wednesday to improve to 3-1 ATS the last four games. Indiana suffered its first conference loss following a 7-0 start in Tuesday’s overtime defeat at Wisconsin, 82-79. The Hoosiers own a 4-0 SU and 3-1 ATS record at home inside the conference, as Indiana goes for the season sweep of Minnesota after winning in Minneapolis earlier this month, 70-63 as 10 ½-point favorites.

Minnesota 60
Indiana 78


Miami, FL
Overall: 16-3 SU, 11-6-1 ATS
ACC: 5-2 SU, 3-3-1 ATS
Totals: 11-6-1 O/U

North Carolina State
Overall: 11-10 SU, 8-10 ATS
ACC: 1-7 SU, 3-5 ATS
Totals: 9-9 O/U

(15) Miami, FL at North Carolina State (ESPN3, 3:00 p.m. ET)

The Hurricanes face their third straight team from North Carolina after beating Wake Forest and Duke at home. Miami has won only once in three ACC road opportunities with the two losses coming at Clemson and Virginia. The Wolfpack have struggled in conference play at 1-6, coming off Wednesday’s high-scoring defeat to Georgia Tech. N.C. State is 0-4 SU and 1-3 ATS at home against ACC foes, while the Wolfpack are 1-5 ATS in their last six games in Raleigh.

Miami, FL 67
North Carolina State 63


Boston College
Overall: 7-13 SU, 4-10-1 ATS
ACC: 0-7 SU, 1-5-1 ATS
Totals: 4-11 O/U

North Carolina
Overall: 18-2 SU, 8-11-1 ATS
ACC: 7-0 SU, 2-5 ATS
Totals: 13-7 O/U

Boston College at (2) North Carolina (ESPN2, 4:00 p.m. ET)

It’s the haves and the have-nots hooking up in Chapel Hill. North Carolina hasn’t lost an ACC game yet, while Boston College has yet to crack the win column against conference foes. The Tar Heels own a perfect 7-0 record in ACC play, but haven’t covered in each of their past three wins against N.C. State, Wake Forest, and Virginia Tech as double-digit favorites. It’s been an ugly start for BC in conference action, going 0-7 SU and 1-5-1 ATS inside the league with all three road losses coming by 20 points or more. Since 2011, the Eagles have lost seven straight meetings with the Tar Heels, including three losses by 18 points or more.


Boston College 59
North Carolina 85



Nebraska
Overall: 12-9 SU, 10-6 ATS
Big 10: 4-4 SU, 5-3 ATS
Totals: 12-3 O/U

Purdue
Overall: 18-4 SU, 11-7 ATS
Big 10: 6-3 SU, 4-5 ATS
Totals: 8-10 O/U

Nebraska at (21) Purdue (BTN, 4:30 p.m. ET)

Nebraska had its four-game winning streak snapped in a home loss to Michigan last Saturday. The Huskers have covered five of their last six contests, while winning its past three road games at Rutgers, Illinois, and Michigan State. Purdue has failed to cash in its last three trips to the court, in spite of victories over Minnesota and Ohio State. In all three home Big 10 wins, the Boilermakers have won by double-digits, while beating the Huskers at home last season, 66-54 as 7 ½-point favorites.

Nebraska 66
Purdue 71



Oklahoma
Overall: 17-2 SU, 9-8 ATS
Big 12: 6-2 SU, 3-5 ATS
Totals: 11-6 O/U

LSU
Overall: 13-7 SU, 5-12 ATS
SEC: 6-2 SU, 2-6 ATS
Totals: 7-10 O/U

(1) Oklahoma at LSU (ESPN, 5:00 p.m. ET)

In a battle of two Player of the Year candidates, the top-ranked Sooners hope to avoid their third loss this season. Buddy Hield leads Oklahoma off back-to-back wins over Baylor and Texas Tech, but the Sooners are 3-7 ATS the last 10 games. Ben Simmons and LSU have struggled to cover numbers of late, going 0-6 ATS the past six contests, including a non-cover in Tuesday’s 89-85 victory over Georgia as eight-point favorites. The Tigers are listed as a home underdog for the second time this season, as LSU knocked off Kentucky in early January, 85-67.

Oklahoma 81
LSU 74



Georgia
Overall: 11-7 SU, 10-8 ATS
SEC: 4-4 SU, 6-2 ATS
Totals: 10-8 O/U

Baylor
Overall: 16-4 SU, 5-8-1 ATS
Big 12: 6-2 SU, 4-3-1 ATS
Totals: 8-6 O/U

Georgia at (17) Baylor (ESPN2, 6:00 p.m. ET)

Georgia has been an ATS covering machine lately by posting a 6-1 ATS mark the last seven games. The Bulldogs rallied late to cash as road underdogs at LSU on Tuesday, the third straight cover away from Athens. UGA has eclipsed the ‘over’ in seven of the last nine games, including each of the past three times as a road underdog. Baylor came back to shock Oklahoma State on Wednesday, 69-65 for its third straight road win. The Bears have failed to cash in their last two home games, which includes a loss to Oklahoma.

Georgia 67
Baylor 73



Kentucky
Overall: 16-4 SU, 9-11 ATS
SEC: 6-2 SU, 5-3 ATS
Totals: 10-10 O/U

Kansas
Overall: 16-4 SU, 10-8 ATS
Big 12: 5-3 SU, 2-6 ATS
Totals: 7-11 O/U

(20) Kentucky at (4) Kansas (ESPN, 7:00 p.m. ET)

Kansas hasn’t lost back-to-back games this season, while alternating wins and losses the past six contests. The Jayhawks were tripped up at Iowa State on Monday, 85-72, falling to 0-5 ATS the last five games. Kansas is unbeaten at home this season at 11-0, but hasn’t covered in its last three wins at Allen Fieldhouse. Kentucky is rolling of late by winning three straight games by double-digits, but the Wildcats are 2-4 in their last six contests away from Rupp Arena. The Wildcats destroyed the Jayhawks in their previous meeting last season, 72-40 as seven-point favorites in Chicago.

Kentucky 77
Kansas 68


Memphis
Overall: 13-7 SU, 7-10 ATS
AAC: 4-3 SU, 3-4 ATS
Totals: 10-7 O/U

SMU
Overall: 18-1 SU, 6-9 ATS
AAC: 7-1 SU, 3-5 ATS
Totals: 9-6 O/U

Memphis at (13) SMU (ESPNU, 7:00 p.m. ET)

Memphis snapped a two-game losing streak with a 97-86 victory at Central Florida on Tuesday to pick up their third straight road cover. All three of Memphis’ losses in AAC play have come by four points or less, including away ATS wins at UConn and Cincinnati. SMU is fresh off its first loss of the season last Sunday at Temple, dropping to 2-5 ATS the last seven contests. All four times SMU won at home in AAC play, the Mustangs didn’t bring in the money, including a pair of wins by four points or less.

Memphis 70
SMU 75



Providence
Overall: 17-4 SU, 12-8 ATS
Big East: 5-3 SU, 5-3 ATS
Totals: 11-9 O/U

Georgetown
Overall: 13-8 SU, 11-8 ATS
Big East: 6-3 SU, 6-3 ATS
Totals: 9-10 O/U

(10) Providence at Georgetown (FS1, 8:00 p.m. ET)

Providence couldn’t capitalize off its overtime upset of Villanova, as the Friars lost at home to Xavier on Tuesday, 75-68. The Friars have fared well on the highway in Big East play with a perfect 3-0 SU/ATS mark, including victories over Creighton and Butler. Georgetown is fresh off a miraculous comeback victory over Creighton, erasing an 11-point deficit in the final 90 seconds of a 74-73 triumph. The Hoyas began Big East play at 6-1, but haven’t cashed in the last two contests.

Providence 67
Georgetown 64



Oregon State
Overall: 12-6 SU, 9-8 ATS
Pac-12: 3-4 SU, 4-3 ATS
Totals: 11-6 O/U

Arizona
Overall: 16-4 SU, 11-9 ATS
Pac-12: 4-3 SU, 4-3 ATS
Totals: 14-6 O/U

Oregon State at (18) Arizona (Pac-12, 9:30 p.m. ET)

Oregon State has lost nine straight Pac-12 road games since last season, including an 0-3 mark this season. The Beavers look to bounce back after getting rolled at Arizona State on Thursday, 86-68 as five-point underdogs, while OSU tries to upset Arizona for the second straight season. The Wildcats own a surprising 4-4 record in Pac-12 play after losing to Oregon on Thursday, its first home loss in their last 50 games at the McKale Center. Arizona has cashed the ‘over’ in nine of the last 10 games, including five straight ‘overs’ in Tucson.

Oregon State 71
Arizona 85

[StarDust Bum]

Saturday's Tip Sheet
January 29, 2016


**West Virginia at Florida**

-- Florida (13-7 straight up, 11-6-1 against the spread) and West Virginia will collide in the inaugural SEC/Big 12 Challenge on Saturday in Gainesville. Tip-off at the sold-our O-Dome is scheduled for noon Eastern on ESPN.

-- Mike White’s team is No. 26 in the RPI Rankings thanks to the nation’s fourth-toughest non-conference scheduled and the country’s ninth-toughest overall slate. UF is just 1-5 against the Top 50, but it has a 5-7 mark against the Top 100 and zero deplorable losses. The Gators’ best wins include triumphs over Saint Joseph’s, Georgia, Auburn and LSU. They beat Phil Martelli’s squad on a neutral court and have a road win at Ole Miss. However, UF still needs to capture another win of merit on the road. Those chances will come in pending games at Kentucky, at Georgia, at South Carolina and at LSU.

-- Florida has won nine of its 10 home games in Gainesville, going 5-2 ATS.

-- UF saw its three-game winning streak snapped in Tuesday’s 60-59 loss at Vanderbilt, but it hooked up its betting backers as a 4.5-point underdog. The Gators covered the number for the fifth time in six games. KeVaughn Allen and Kasey Hill scored 16 points apiece in the losing effort. Dorian Finney-Smith finished with 12 points and 14 rebounds. Allen, the true freshman guard out of Little Rock, scored 14 of his 16 points in the last two minutes of the game. UF was an abysmal 7-of-33 from the field in the first half, including 0-for-10 from long distance.

-- UF forward Justin Leon sustained a concussion three minutes into the first half at Vanderbilt. Leon, who had been averaging 10.5 points per game in the six previous contests, had recently become a starter. His status for WVU as of Friday afternoon was ‘questionable.’ Leon had 14 points and nine boards to spark his team to a 68-62 home win over LSU a few weeks ago. Leon, who initially signed with White at La. Tech, has been a pleasant surprise. He leads UF in 3-point shooting percentage, draining 45.5 percent of his launches from beyond the arc. He’s made 56.5 percent of his attempts from downtown in SEC play. Leon’s absence was key against Vandy, as the Commodores won most of the 50/50 battles for loose balls. Leon not only produces numbers, but he’s a blue-collar player that makes hustle plays galore. Facing a scrappy team coached by Bob Huggins, Leon’s presence (or absence) will be crucial, worth at least a point or two in the line in my opinion.

-- West Virginia (17-3 SU, 11-6 ATS) is No. 18 in the RPI Rankings, producing a 4-3 record against the Top and a 6-3 mark versus the Top 100. The Mountaineers have just three defeats – vs. Texas, at Oklahoma and vs. Virginia on a neutral court. They owns quality scalps over Kansas State (twice), Texas Tech, San Diego State and Kansas.

-- These teams have a pair of common foes. Both have beaten Richmond and Oklahoma State

-- Since losing back-to-back games to OU and UT, WVU has won consecutive contests at Texas Tech (80-76) and vs. Kansas State (70-55). Jonathan Holton led the way against the Wildcats with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Jaysean Paige contributed 12 points, five boards and four steals for the winners.

-- Following his weekly radio show Thursday night, Huggins announced that Holton has been suspended indefinitely (at least three games) and will miss Saturday’s game. Holton averages 9.7 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. He shoots at a team-best 54.0 percent clip from the field.

-- Paige leads the Mountaineers in scoring with a 13.6 points-per-game average. Junior forward Devin Williams is averaging 13.1 points and 8.2 RPG, while sophomore guard Jevon Carter is averaging 11.0 PPG and has a 64/29 assists-to-turnovers ratio. Carter also has a team-best 37 steals.

-- WVU has won four of its five road games, going 3-2 ATS.

-- These schools haven’t met since playing a home-and-home series in 2002 and 2003. In 2002, WVU upset the Gators 68-66 as a 17-point road underdog. Then in Morgantown the next year, UF exacted revenge in a 70-57 triumph as an 11.5-point road ‘chalk.’ Matt Walsh and David Lee scored 17 and 15 points, respectively, as UF overcame a six-point halftime deficit.

-- The ‘over’ is 7-3 in UF’s last 10 games. Totals have been an overall wash (9-9) for the Gators, but they have seen the ‘over’ hit at a 5-3 clip in their eight lined home games.

-- The ‘under’ is 10-7 overall for WVU, but the ‘over’ has cashed at a 4-1 clip in the Mountaineers’ five true road assignments.

**Virginia at Louisville**

-- If Virginia wants to stay in the mix for the ACC regular-season title, it is crucial that the Cavaliers go into the KFC Yum! Center and beat Louisville on Saturday afternoon. The Cavs are 5-3 in ACC play, while U of L is 6-1. The Cardinals trail North Carolina and its 7-0 league ledger by one game going into this weekend.

-- Louisville (17-3 SU, 8-8 ATS) is undefeated in 13 home games with a 6-3 spread record.

-- Rick Pitino’s squad has won four in a row since suffering its lone ACC setback at Clemson, 66-62. However, the Cardinals have failed to cover the spread in back-to-back games. They are off a 91-83 win Wednesday night at Va. Tech as 10-point road favorites. Damion Lee was sensational in Blacksburg, needing only eight shots to score a game-high 29 points. Lee, the transfer from Drexel, drilled 6-of-7 shots from 3-point land and converted 11-of-12 attempts at the charity stripe. He also dished out six assists and pulled down five rebounds. Trey Lewis, another transfer from Cleveland State, poured in 22 points on 4-of-7 shooting from downtown.

-- Lee paces U of L in scoring (17.2 PPG), steals (1.6 SPG) and free-throw percentage (87.0%). Lewis is averaging 12.7 PPG. Sophomore center Chinanu Onuaku is averaging 10.6 points and 9.0 rebounds per game. Onuaku has a team-best 40 blocked shots.

-- Louisville is No. 16 in the RPI Rankings, compiling a 2-2 record against the Top 50 and a 6-3 mark against the Top 100. The Cards’ best wins came at home vs. Pitt and FSU. They have lost at Michigan State, at Kentucky and at Clemson by 10 combined points.

-- Virginia (16-4 SU, 7-11 ATS) is No. 11 in the RPI, going 7-2 versus the Top 50 and 9-3 against the Top 100. The Cavs have great wins over Villanova, Miami and West Va., in addition to quality scalps over the likes of Syracuse, California, Notre Dame, Clemson and William & Mary. They also have a road win at Ohio State

-- UVA hasn’t lost at home but has dropped four of its six road games. Even worse, the Cavs are 0-6 ATS on the road this year.

-- Tony Bennett’s team has won three in a row but is mired in a money-burning 2-8 ATS slide. UVA was fortunate to pull out a remarkable comeback win at Wake Forest on Tuesday night in Winston Salem. The Cavs trailed by as many as 13 in the second half and they were down 10 with 1:20 remaining. Trailing by four, Malcolm Brogdon hit a deep trey with 4.5 seconds remaining. After fouling, Wake Forest made one of two free throws. Then UVA advanced the ball and after taking a pass in the corner with just one tick left, Darius Thompson launched a game-winning 3-ball that kissed home off the glass at the buzzer. Thompson, a sophomore transfer from Tennessee, had not taken a shot the entire game until burying the game winner.

-- Brogdon scored a game-high 28 points at Wake ForeState Anthony Gill added 17 points before fouling out.

-- Brogdon averages a team-best 17.6 PPG. The senior guard from Norcross, just outside of Atlanta, has a 58/30 assists-to-turnovers ratio and collects 4.5 RPG. Gill scores at a 15.0 PPG clip and grabs 6.0 RPG. The senior forward is making 60.1 percent of his attempts from the floor. Junior guard London Perrantes (11.7 PPG) has a 79/35 assists-to-turnovers ratio and a team-high 20 steals. Perrantes is hitting 52.7 percent of his shots from 3-point range.

-- UVA leads the nation in keeping opponents off the boards, allowing foes just 25.2 RPG. The Cavs are 11th in the country in scoring defense, giving up only 61.9 PPG. They are 10th in the nation in field-goal percentage, connecting on 49.6 percent of their shot attempts. They are 19th in the country in 3-point shooting percentage and free-throw percentage, making 39.7 percent and 75.0 percent, respectively.

-- The ‘over’ is 10-8 overall for UVA, 3-3 in its road outings.

-- The ‘over’ is 8-7-1 overall for U of L, but the ‘under’ has posted a 5-3-1 record in its home outings. The Cards have seen the ‘over’ hit in three consecutive contests.

-- CBS will have the broadcast at 1:00 p.m. Eastern.

**Iowa State at Texas A&M**

-- Texas A&M (17-3 SU, 7-6-2 ATS) is unbeaten in 12 home games with a 4-2 spread record. The Aggies are No. 14 in the RPI, posting a 4-1 record against the Top 50 and a 9-3 ledger versus the Top 100. They own quality wins over the likes of Texas, Kansas State, Baylor, Florida and Gonzaga.

-- Billy Kennedy’s team saw its 10-game winning streak snapped Wednesday at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, where Arkansas captured a 74-71 win as a 3.5-point home underdog. In the losing effort, Danuel House knocked down 4-of-5 shots from 3-point range en route to scoring a game-high 24 points. House also had six rebounds and three steals. Tyler Davis finished with 14 points and eight boards.

-- Texas A&M is unbeaten this year in three games against Big 12 opponents.

-- Jalen Jones is the catalyst for A&M, averaging team-highs in scoring (17.0 PPG) and rebounding (7.0 RPG). House is scoring at a 15.7 PPG clip, while Davis averages 11.3 PPG and 5.9 RPG. Davis has a team-best 21 blocked shots.

-- Iowa State (16-4 SU, 10-6 ATS) has won three of its five road games while posting a 4-1 spread record.

-- Steve Prohm’s squad has won four in a row both SU and ATS, including Monday’s 85-72 win over Kansas as a 1.5-point home favorite. The Cyclones trailed by seven at intermission and didn’t take their first lead until the final nine minutes of the second half. They scored 11 straight at one point to take the lead for good.

-- Monte Morris was the catalyst against KU, scoring 21 points and dishing out nine assists without committing a turnover. Georges Niang scored 19 points, grabbed six rebounds and handed out three assists. Abel Nader drained all three of his shots from long distance, finishing with 17 points, four steals, three boards and three assists compared to just one turnover. Matt Thomas added 13 points, four steals and six rebounds.

-- Morris leads the Big 12 in assists (7.0 APG), steals (2.0 SPG) and assists-to-turnovers ratio (139/29!). The Flint, MI., product was tabbed as last week’s Big 12 Player of the Week. Morris averages 15.4 PPG and is shooting at an incredible percentage (53.9%) from the field for a guard.

-- Niang, the versatile 6’8” forward who can play inside and out, is averaging a team-best 19.2 PPG. The senior averages 6.4 RPG and has 64 assists, 17 steals and 13 blocked shots through 20 games.

-- Iowa State has six players scoring in double figures, including Nader and his 12.9 PPG average. Senior center Jameel McKay is averaging 12.8 points and 9.0 rebounds per conteState McKay has a team-high 32 rejections.

-- Iowa State is No. 10 in the RPI, producing a 4-3 record vs. the Top 25, a 6-3 mark against the Top 50 and an 8-3 ledger in the Top 100. The Cyclones have one bad loss to No. Iowa on a neutral court. Yes, the Panthers also beat North Carolina, but they have struggled mightily since those two upset victories and are just No. 150 in the RPI.

-- Iowa State’s best wins have come at home vs. Oklahoma, Kansas, Iowa and Texas Tech. The Cyclones have neutral-court scalps of Colorado, Va. Tech and Illinois. They have quality road wins at Cincinnati and at Kansas State

-- The ‘under’ is 10-7 overall for the Cyclones, but the ‘over’ is 3-2 in their five road contests. They have seen the ‘under’ cash in four straight outings.

-- The ‘under’ is 9-6 overall for the Aggies, 4-3 in their home games. They have seen the ‘under’ cash in five consecutive games.

-- Tip-off is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Eastern on ESPN.

[StarDust Bum]

Stepping up in Class
January 29, 2016

THE YEAR OF THE UPPERCLASSMEN

At last April's Final Four, one could not help but notice the roles that star freshmen were playing. Top-ranked Kentucky had long featured an assembly-line of "one and done" talents for HC John Calipari, and last season was no exception, with frontliners Karl-Anthony Towns and Trey Lyles, both true frosh, among the key components for the Cats. Not to be outdone, Mike Krzyzewski's Duke would prominently feature three frosh-C Jahlil Okafor, F Justise Winslow, and PG Tyus Jones--while a fourth frosh, G Grayson Allen, would emerge as a key contributor in the Final Four. And the Blue Devils would end up winning the national championship.

Interestingly, however, at the vanguard of an upcoming trend in last year's Final Four was not Kentucky or Duke, but rather Bo Ryan's Wisconsin, heavy on upperclassmen and a roster built on traditional college hoops values, developing players over years in the system. The Badgers' star center, Frank Kaminsky, was a senior, as were guards Josh Gasser and Traevon Jackson, plus key reserve F Duje Dukan. Wiscy's second-leading scorer, F Sam Dekker, was a junior who would leave a year early and become a first-round draft choice of the Houston Rockets. A lot of hoop purists and traditionalists were thrilled when Ryan's Badgers would knock off Calipari's Cats and their collection of "one and dones" in the Final Four. Though Wiscy, with no thanks to the referees in the second half, could not quite replicate that feat in the finale vs. Duke and its collection of "diaper dandies" (as Dick Vitale likes to call the star frosh), the semifinal win over Kentucky still resonated, reconfirming that college hoop programs could still be built the old-fashioned way, and didn't need to rely upon hotshot frosh who would leave for the NBA after one season, to get to the Final Four.

Fast forward nine-plus months from last April, and the latest top ten in college hoops reminds a lot more of last season's Wisconsin than the 2014-15 Duke and Kentucky-type rosters that used their star frosh to dominate. Perhaps the current season's crop of freshman newcomers simply isn't as dominant; the consensus top player of the 2015-16 newcomer crop, LSU F Ben Simmons, plays on an LSU team that is in the middle of the Big Dance bubble mix as January comes to a close, and the Tigers hardly resemble last year's Kentucky or Duke. Even this year's Kentucky, with another crop of blue-chip frosh for Calipari, has not dominated like its predecessor team from last season (though, after absorbing some tough losses to LSU and Auburn early in the SEC slate, the Cats might be in the early stage of a serious ascent...

Of course, freshmen have been making an impact on the varsity level since their immediate eligibility was restored in the 1972-73 season. But it has been a while since we have experienced a college season like this current one when most of the star frosh are taking a back seat to squads featuring veteran components. Like many longtime college cage followers, we have rather enjoyed the collection of teams that almost exclusively feature upperclassmen now hanging near the top of the polls.

While some in the national media are lamenting the lack of a true dominant team in this year's college season, we suggest the quality of play has improved. New rules designed to cut down some of the overaggressive defensive tactics, as well as the new 30-second shot clock, are perhaps contributing factors as well. Whatever. So many ranked teams are displaying better teamwork and execution this season, due, we and others believe, to the experience on most of the rosters...the way most highly-ranked teams used to look in past decades.

To illustrate this season's "experience counts" trend, we thought it interesting to look at the most recent top ten and review each of the rosters for their key upperclassmen components. We do not recall a season, at least in recent memory, when so few frosh had made an impact on top ten teams. Following is a quick look at those squads (listed by the latest AP ranking) plus selected other national contenders that are making lots of headway this season with veteran lineups.

1) Oklahoma...Perhaps no team exemplifies this year's trend any better than the Sooners, who start three seniors (Gs Buddy Hield, a top Wooden Award candidate, and Isaiah Cousins, plus F Ryan Spangler). Lon Kruger's team also starts a junior guard, Jordan Woodard, who has been in the starting lineup since his first game as a frosh over two years ago. Thus, Kruger has as much experience on the perimeter as any coach in the country. Sixth-man F Dinijyl Walker, a former juco transfer, is also a senior. The only underclassmen in the starting lineup is soph F Khadeem Lattin, and the lone frosh who sees consequential minutes is F Dante Buford, and even he is a redshirt frosh.

2) North Carolina...Roy Williams is in the mix for the bluest of the blue chips every season and has often featured Tar Heel teams heavily dependent upon true frosh. But not this season, as the UNC blueprint for 2015-16 looks a lot like Oklahoma and several other top ten teams that also feature upperclassmen. Williams' top two scorers, F Brice Johnson and G Marcus Paige, are both seniors, while key frontliners Kennedy Meeks and Isaiah Hicks, plus key reserve G Nate Britt, are all juniors. The Heels have a couple of sophs, G Joel Berry II and swingman Justin Jackson, seeing significant minutes, but for the first time in memory at Chapel Hill, no frosh are making an impact (F Luke Maye, a deep reserve, is the top UNC frosh in terms of minutes played, at all of 7.5 per game). It wasn't for a lack of trying that Roy does not have a frosh star this term, however, as he tried long and hard to woo ballyhooed F Brandon Ingram from nearby Kinston, NC. Though Ingram would eventually ink with hated Duke, just eight miles away on Tobacco Road.

3) Iowa...Much like the Sooners, and even a bit more so than the Tar Heels, the Hawkeyes are relying heavily upon upperclassmen for HC Fran McCaffery, who has patiently built the Hawkeyes with this season in mind. The payoff has been the program's highest ranking since the outset of the Dr. Tom Davis era in 1987. McCaffery does Oklahoma's Kruger one better by starting four seniors (leading scorer F Jarrod Uthoff, C Adam Woodbury, Gs Mike Gesell and Anthony Clemmons), plus one junior, G Peter Jok. Iowa's underclassmen make up the contributing members of the bench, including soph F sixth man Dom Uhl, plus two frosh, F Nicholas Baer and G Brady Ellingsen. But McCaffery is leaning as heavily as any coach on his seniors to take Iowa deep into the Big Dance.

4) Kansas...Bill Self lost a couple of key players (G Kelly Oubre and F Cliff Alexander) from last year's team to early entry into the NBA, but still has a heavy does of upperclassmen pacing this season's Jayhawks. Only one underclassmen, soph G Devonte Graham, is regularly in a starting lineup that features three juniors (Gs Frank Mason III and Wayne Selden, Jr., plus swingman Brannen Greene) and senior F Perry Ellis. No frosh are making significant contributions for Self, and that includes the highly-touted 6-9 Cheick Diallo, considered a top ten prospect by ESPN entering the season but inactive due to eligibility issues for the first month of the season and receiving decreasing minutes in recent games.

5) Texas A&M...Among the top five teams in the latest rankings, A&M is the only one with a frosh starter (C Tyler Davis), but HC Billy Kennedy surrounds him with four seniors, including F Jalen Jones (a transfer two years ago from SMU) and Gs Danuel House, Alex Caruso, and Anthony Collins (who transferred this season from South Florida). Besides Davis, the Aggies do have several well-regarded frosh making contributions, though they do so as main components of Kennedy's bench and include G Admon Gilder, C Tonny-Trocha Moreles, and swingman DJ Hogg.

6) Villanova...Jay Wright not only has several key upperclassmen contributors, but a few of them also seem to have been around since the long-ago Rollie Massimino era, including four-year starting PG Ryan Arcidiacono. Wright has moved star frosh Jalen Brunson (whose dad Rick once starred across town at Temple) into the starting backcourt alongside Arcidiacono, but otherwise the Cats have a very veteran look, with juniors G Josh Hart and Fs Kris Jenkins and Darryl Reynolds also in the starting lineup, and senior frontliner C Daniel Ochefu getting starter's minutes though usually the first off of the bench as Wright's sixth man. Another frosh, G Mikal Bridges, is seeing about 20 minutes per game as the second man off of the bench after Ochefu, as Wright has blended a couple of the frosh into an experienced mix.

7) Xavier...A few more underclassmen in featured roles for the "X," as HC Chris Mack leans heavily upon top-scoring soph G Trevon Bluiett, and highlight-reel 6-5 RS frosh Edmond Sumner is back in the starting lineup after missing three games at the start of the month following a scary collision in the Villanova game on New Year's Eve. But the Musketeers have a collection of upperclassmen in key roles, including starting srs. C James Farr and G Remy Abell, and jr. G all-name Myles Davis, plus key reserve 6-10 jr. frontliner Jalen Reynolds.

8) Maryland...The Terps added some key upperclassmen transfers prior to the season when ex-Duke G sr. Rasheed Sulaimon and ex-Georgia Tech jr. F Robert Carter, Jr. both appeared on the scene at College Park, joining sr. F Jake Layman, jr. C Damonte Dodd, and star soph G Melo Trimble in the starting lineup. Coach Mark Turgeon does utilize one frosh extensively off the bench, 6-10 man-child Diamond Stone, but he is the only freshman to see extensive minutes for the Terps.

9) West Virginia...Few newcomers are making significant contributions for Bob Huggins' Mountaineers; the top frosh in minutes played is 6-8 F Esa Ahmad, usually the second or third player off Huggins' bench. There are a couple of underclasmen who are playing important roles, including soph Gs Jevon Carter and Daxter Miles, Jr., though both saw considerable minutes as frosh last season. Key upperclassmen include srs. G Jaysean Page and rugged PF Devin Williams, Huggins' top two scorers, and F Jonathan Holton, also in the starting lineup.

10) Providence...The one exception to senior leadership in the top ten is Providence, which has no seniors on its roster, though the only frosh making meaningful contributions is sixth man 6-8 F Ryan Fazekas. The bulk of HC Ed Cooley's contributors are sophs, including Fs Ben Bentil and Rodney Bullock (who finally made his varsity debut this season after academic suspension and a torn ACL delayed his appearance as a Friar for two years) and G Kyron Cartwright. Star jr. G and team leader Kris Dunn is in his third year as a starter, with fellow jr. G Junior Lomomba completing the starting lineup.

Much of the "second ten" is also dominated by upperclassmen, including Virginia (whose starters include three seniors and a junior, plus a soph), Michigan State (three seniors and a junior in the starting lineup; frosh F Deyonta Davis recently moved into the starting lineup after G Lourawls Nairn, Jr.'s foot injury), Iowa State (almost an entire upperclassmen team, with three senior starters, and no frosh in the usual personnel rotations for HC Steve Prohm), Miami-Florida (all-upperclasmen starting lineup featuring four seniors, though second-leading scorer soph G Ja'Quan Newton comes off the bench as the sixth man), and Louisville (no frosh starters, with sr. transfers Gs Damion Lee, via Drexel, and Trey Lewis, via Cleveland State, the only DD scorers for Rick Pitino).

This upperclassmen revival might be no more than a one-year trend, but we can unequivocally state that this is not the year of the freshmen in college hoops!

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Mountainers (17-3) at Gators (13-7)
Date: January 30, 2016 12:00 PM EDT

Florida's hot shooting took a major step back in SEC play this week, and a decline might continue against a non-conference opponent which has rediscovered its strong perimeter defense.

Outside shooting may again be an issue for the Gators when ninth-ranked West Virginia visits Gainesville on Saturday for the opening game of the Big 12/SEC Challenge.

While Florida (13-7) is two games off the SEC lead, the Mountaineers (17-3) share first place in the Big 12 due greatly to stifling defense. They allow a Big 12-low 63.6 points per game and force an average of 19.8 turnovers - best in the nation.

Their latest victory was far from perfect, beating Kansas State 70-55 on Tuesday despite committing 18 turnovers and shooting 42.6 percent while missing 13 free throws. The difference was a defense that held the Wildcats to 35.1 percent shooting, including one make on 18 3-point attempts.

"I thought we had more bounce in our step again," coach Bob Huggins said. "We've been kind of like a half a step behind everything. We had that bounce that is kind of critical for the way we play."

After allowing Kansas to make 10 of 20 3s earlier this month, the Mountaineers' last four opponents have made just 25.0 percent - including the nation's best 3-point shooting team in top-ranked Oklahoma.

Kansas State's 5.6 percent showing is the second-worst by a major conference team this season behind only California's 0 for 12 at Oregon earlier this month. It improved West Virginia's 3-point defense to 26.8 percent, second in the nation to only Akron's 26.1.

Florida (13-7) is 12th in the SEC in 3-point shooting at 31.8 percent, its exact number from Tuesday when it made 7 of 22 in a 60-59 loss at Vanderbilt. The Gators followed their highest-scoring game in SEC play - last weekend's 95-63 win over Auburn - with their lowest.

They had made at least nine 3-pointers in each of their previous four games. But after shooting 50.3 percent while scoring at least 80 points in three straight wins, the Gators shot a season-low 32.9 percent against the Commodores.

"We're not a team that has a lot of success driving the lane, that makes a lot of one-on-one plays and finishes at the rim," coach Michael White said.

Florida is 0-10 against ranked teams, including four losses this season, since a 79-68 win over No. 20 UCLA in the 2014 NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16. The Gators last beat a top-10 team when they defeated No. 10 Baylor in overtime in a 2011 Sweet 16 game.

These two teams haven't met since 2003, when Florida took a 4-3 lead in the all-time series with a 70-57 win. The latest matchup likely won't feature a key player on each side.

West Virginia announced Thursday that senior forward Jonathan Holton has been suspended for the game for a violation of team rules. Huggins had said after Tuesday's win that Holton was "getting his bounce back." He's averaged 12.3 points and 10.3 rebounds in the last three games.

Florida will likely be without forward Justin Leon, a junior college transfer who has averaged 8.6 points while starting each SEC game. Leon hasn't been cleared to practice after suffering a concussion early in Tuesday's loss, and White called his status a 'probable absence.'

If Leon doesn't play, some of his minutes might go to fellow junior DeVon Walker - who is 0 for 18 with two points in the last 11 games. Kasey Hill, though, could take Leon's place in the starting lineup after totaling 30 points off the bench in Florida's last two games.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Cavaliers (16-4) at Cardinals (17-3)
Date: January 30, 2016 1:00 PM EDT

Louisville hasn't shot the ball nearly as well over the past month as it did earlier in the season, but coach Rick Pitino scoffs at the notion that the 16th-ranked Cardinals aren't an accurate team.

In a perfect example of contradiction, Pitino also said his squad's defensive play - among the best in the country in some key categories - isn't "great" after one so-so effort.

Louisville has shown it can win defensive standoffs as well as high-scoring affairs going into its home matchup with No. 11 Virginia in ACC play Saturday.

Damion Lee scored a season-high 29 points and Trey Lewis matched his season high with 22 as Louisville (17-3, 6-1) shot 51.9 percent in Wednesday's 91-83 victory at Virginia Tech. It certainly wasn't the best defensive effort for the Cardinals, who rank third in the nation in field-goal percentage defense at 36.9 and are giving up the fewest points per game in the ACC at 60.1.

"They're not bad in the half-court, they're non-existent in the full-court," Pitino said of the Cardinals' play at their own end. "We have to play more with our intellect than with our feet. We'll get it. We're getting better at it."

The coach seems considerably more forgiving when it comes to offensive play. Louisville is committing 11.7 turnovers per game, 11th in the 15-team conference. And despite the Cardinals shooting 49.1 percent on the season - good for 15th in the nation - they've hit just 44.7 percent in the past eight games.

Lee is averaging a team-high 17.2 points, with Lewis second at 12.7, and Louisville rediscovered its accuracy against the Hokies by making 51.9 percent.

"Believe me we live on defense, but we're not a great defensive team this year," Pitino said. "We are a terrific offensive team. We had one bad-shooting night - Clemson (the Cardinals' last loss Jan. 10) - and everyone thinks we're a bad-shooting team. Lewis and Lee can shoot the hell out of the basketball. And Lewis and Lee didn't make their reputations on defense."

Coach Tony Bennett's man-to-man scheme helped turn Virginia (16-4, 5-3) into a national defensive power, but the Cavaliers have slipped in that area this season, ranking 10th in the conference in field-goal percentage defense at 43.1 after finishing third in the nation with a 36.7 mark in 2014-15.

Virginia has won three straight, but it needed a 3-point heave from Darius Thompson that banked in at the buzzer to beat host Wake Forest 72-71 on Tuesday and completed a comeback from 10 points down with 1:23 left.

The Demon Deacons shot 53.5 percent - the highest for a Virginia opponent this season - and forced Bennett to go to a 1-2-2 zone for a short time. However, it was only the fourth time the Cavaliers have allowed at least 70 points.

"It was shocking," forward Anthony Gill said of the switch. "When (Bennett) said that, we all kind of looked at each other, and then we were just like, `All right, let's go out here and do it.' Whatever he calls, we trust it 100 percent."

The Cavaliers are shooting 52.7 percent during their winning streak and got a career high-tying 28 points from Malcolm Brogdon, who is averaging 23.0 during that stretch.

Virginia won for the first time in four ACC road games and will now try to avenge a 59-57 loss at Louisville on March 7. The Cavaliers won the first meeting last season 52-47 on Feb. 7 at home.

"We've got to improve," Bennett said. "The quality wasn't there the way we need it to be (Tuesday), but it did I guess get the monkey off our back as far as a road win in the conference."

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Musketeers (18-2) at Blue Demons (7-13)
Date: January 30, 2016 2:00 PM EDT

Balanced production has been a calling card for Xavier's success, though Trevon Bluiett's performance might have been enough in the first meeting with DePaul.

The Blue Demons haven't had an answer for Bluiett over the past two seasons. He'll try to keep giving them trouble Saturday when No. 7 Xavier looks to inch closer to the top of the Big East by extending its longest road winning streak in five years.

Bluiett spent a lot of time on his shooting touch ahead of a home date with DePaul on Jan. 12 after missing 13 of 15 from 3-point range in his previous three games.

The extra work paid off as the sophomore guard finished with a career-best 24 points and matched a career high with five 3-pointers in an 84-64 victory. Including that performance, he's averaged 18 points and knocked down 15 3s over his last five games.

Bluiett has routinely been able to get going against the Blue Demons (7-13, 1-7), scoring 21.3 per game while hitting 10 of 24 from beyond the arc in three career meetings.

He currently leads four Musketeers averaging double figures with 15.4 points, while James Farr heads a solid bench with 10.8 points and a team-high 9.1 rebounds. Farr had 11 and eight Tuesday when Xavier outscored Providence's reserves 25-10 in a 75-68 road win.

The Musketeers (18-2, 6-2) rank second in the Big East with 27.3 bench points per game and third with a 35.9 3-point percentage, while the Blue Demons are sixth in bench points with 20.8 and sit ninth in the 10-team league by allowing opponents to shoot 35.5 percent from beyond the arc.

"(The Musketeers) have a half-dozen guys who can make a major impact and put their fingerprints on the game," DePaul coach Dave Leitao said.

Jalen Reynolds stepped up with 15 points and 11 rebounds Tuesday in Xavier's first road win over a top-10 team in 20 years. Myles Davis scored 13 with seven assists, but Edmond Sumner will have to regroup after finishing with one point on 0-of-9 shooting.

Sumner missed the first meeting after suffering a concussion in a 95-64 loss at Villanova on Dec. 31. Xavier now hopes to get within a half game of the Wildcats with its first four-game road winning streak since a five-game run in 2010-11.

"I think our team has played with maturity in those tough moments that you're always going to have on the road," coach Chris Mack said. "We've never splintered.

"I don't have any doubt that our team will be ready to play."

Myke Henry led DePaul with 16 points and eight boards in Cincinnati. He's averaged 16.8 points in his last six games but had 12 in Wednesday's 67-53 loss at No. 18 Butler.

Billy Garrett Jr., who had six points in the team's 10th loss in 12 games, totaled 11 on 3-of-11 shooting in DePaul's last two losses to the Musketeers by a combined 33. He had a 15-point, 10-assist performance in a 71-68 win Jan. 3, 2015, in the most recent home meeting.

DePaul has slumped offensively, averaging 55 points in its last two games, and it now heads home looking to avoid a fourth straight loss at Allstate Arena.

The Blue Demons haven't beaten a top-10 opponent since a 64-57 win over No. 5 Kansas on Dec. 2, 2006.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Golden Gophers (6-15) at Hoosiers (17-4)
Date: January 30, 2016 2:15 PM EDT

Though Indiana is coming off its first Big Ten defeat, coach Tom Crean still feels good about the state of his team.

He should feel extremely confident that his No. 19 Hoosiers can bounce back and continue their home dominance Saturday against a Minnesota team mired in its longest losing streak in 29 years.

Riding a 12-game winning streak, Indiana (17-4, 7-1) got every bit of the challenge - and more - it expected from Wisconsin in Tuesday's 82-79 overtime loss in Madison. Among the nation's top shooting teams (51.9 percent), the Hoosiers hit a respectable 45.2 percent and had a chance to win despite committing 19 turnovers and a season-high 31 fouls.

"All things considered, I'm proud of the way our team battled," said Crean, whose squad went to the free-throw line 19 fewer times than the Badgers.

"We did some very good things, we did some things that were beneficial, but we also did some costly things."

Yogi Ferrell (17.7 points per game) shot 12 of 20 and hit five 3-pointers to finish with 30 points, but Indiana's senior leader has gone to the foul line four times in the last three games.

'We've got to figure out a way to get our guys - like Yogi Ferrell, he gets 30 points but only gets to the line twice,' said Crean, whose team averages 20 free-throw attempts to rank eighth in the Big Ten. 'We've got to figure out a way to get him to the line more, too, not to mention our other inside guys ... I have to watch the film to see what we can learn to do better with getting fouled more.

"We'll learn from this and get ready to play Minnesota on Saturday."

Indiana also struggled offensively at Minnesota (6-15, 0-9) on Jan. 16 but left with a 70-63 win despite a season-low 41.3 percent shooting. Ferrell, who went 6 of 8 from the stripe, had 20 points, seven assists and six rebounds as the Hoosiers outscored the hosts 36-20 in the paint and held a 12-5 advantage on the offensive glass.

Beginning with that matchup, the Golden Gophers have dropped their last four games by an average of 5.2 points. They are mired in a 10-game slide that's the longest since dropping a school-record 16 straight to conclude the 1986-87 season, and they are off to the program's worst conference start since 2003-04.

"I think the focus has got to be to keep their spirit," coach Richard Pitino said after Wednesday's 68-64 home loss to No. 21 Purdue. "To keep them continuing to be excited to be playing the game, and be excited to take advantage of this great opportunity that they have."

The challenge should get more difficult in Bloomington.

Indiana is 12-0 at home, where it ranks third in the nation in scoring (92.5 points per game) and second in field-goal percentage (55.2). The Hoosiers beat Ohio State, Illinois and Northwestern by an average of 30.3 points in the last three at Assembly Hall. The Gophers lost 90-71 there last season.

Minnesota forward Joey King (12.2 ppg) had a team-high 18 points against the Hoosiers earlier this month but managed two before fouling out Wednesday. Leading scorer Nate Mason (13.3 ppg) has averaged 19.7 points since being held to five by Indiana.

The Gophers have dropped nine straight against Top 25 opponents.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Hurricanes (16-3) at Wolfpack (11-10)
Date: January 30, 2016 3:00 PM EDT

After further humbling one of the ACC's afflicted traditional powers, Miami is gearing up for an opponent that can't dip much lower.

Saturday's visit to North Carolina State has the 15th-ranked Hurricanes in position to run their winning streak to four, while the Wolfpack could match 2014-15's loss total in the league less than halfway into the conference slate.

Miami's latest step forward was Monday's 80-69 home win over No. 24 Duke with Angel Rodriguez scoring 13 points with a career-high 11 assists for his first double-double with the Hurricanes, while Sheldon McClellan had 21 points.

"I like playing the powerhouses, that's what we come to the ACC for," Rodriguez said. "But at the end of the day, our goal is bigger than just beating Duke. Our goal is to win every single game we can and to have a chance to put ourselves in a position to win an ACC title."

The Hurricanes (16-3, 5-2) last won four straight in the league in 2013. Their current run has plenty to do with getting back to their defensive strengths, limiting opponents to 61.7 points on 39.4 percent shooting and 28.8 from 3-point range. In consecutive losses two weeks ago, Virginia and Clemson shot 49.5 percent and 39.1 from outside.

"We played with a lot of energy, and it starts on the defensive end," McClellan said. "We just play as a team. We were talking on the court, we played with a lot of energy like I said, and it led to some fast-break dunks and fast-break buckets. That got us in a rhythm."

It sparked the Hurricanes' top shooting effort in ACC play (50.8 percent), as well as their lowest turnover total (seven). The efficient McClellan was 8 for 12 and has averaged 17.7 points on 50.0 percent shooting in ACC play. That's actually down from 55.0 percent out of the league, but his season mark of 52.9 remains among the best in the nation for guards.

They've also had consistency from Rodriguez, who was 4 of 9 for the third straight game after going his previous nine without consecutive efforts over 37.5 percent. His coach has a reason for it.

"Here's what happened in my mind: When we opened up conference play, we played against teams that are a little more conservative," Jim Larranaga said. "Virginia, Clemson, with those teams, the game is a little slower. It's not as fast. Today and (last) Saturday, when you play Wake Forest or Duke, it gets up and down. Angel and our entire team is much better when we're able to get into the open court and make plays."

Miami won last season's meeting 65-60 at home and has taken four of the last six. McClellan had 16 points and 10 rebounds, while the Wolfpack's Abdul-Malik Abu led all scorers with a season-high 19.

Abu is coming off a career-best 22-point effort, but it wasn't enough in Wednesday's 90-83 home loss to Georgia Tech, even with 36 points from Anthony Barber. The ACC's leading scorer (22.8 points per game) has averaged 28.7 and shot 49.2 percent over his last three, but Barber's double-digit jump in scoring from last season has done little for results.

North Carolina State (11-10, 1-7) went 10-8 in league games last year, and coach Mark Gottfried at least wants to see more fight.

"If I'm in a fight down in the back alley, you might whip me, but ... you're going to be tired at the end of it," Gottfried said. "You ain't going to whip me easy. This team has got to figure that out.

"It's something that they've got to sit down and talk to each other about, each individual. I don't like where we are. They don't like where we are."

The Wolfpack are 0-4 in the ACC at home. Their wins over a 4-5 span against the Top 25 have all come on the road or at neutral sites.

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Preview: Eagles (7-13) at Tar Heels (18-2)
Date: January 30, 2016 4:00 PM EDT

North Carolina keeps on winning even though its shots aren't falling.

That might again not be an issue when the No. 2 Tar Heels host last-place Boston College on Saturday, thought it could loom large in the very near future.

North Carolina (18-2, 7-0 ACC) remains unbeaten in league play despite a six-game stretch in which it's made 20.8 percent of its 3-point attempts. The Tar Heels have shot 38.0 percent overall in the last three of their 11-game winning streak, averaging 75.0 points in that span - well below their season mark of 85.7 that's among the best in the country.

'I was not concerned, but now I can be concerned because three games in a row is enough,' coach Roy Williams said following Sunday's 75-70 victory at Virginia Tech, where the Tar Heels shot a season-low 37.8 percent and went 3 of 23 on 3-pointers. 'You've got to be able to step up and make some shots. For the most part, I liked our shots, but they didn't go in, so I didn't like the result.'

Marcus Paige's offensive woes have been the most alarming. The senior guard, the school's all-time leader with 250 made 3-pointers, has gone 1 for 22 from beyond the arc in the last four games while totaling 15 points.

North Carolina will have one more chance to fix its struggles before Monday's showdown at No. 16 Louisville, the ACC's top defensive team that's right behind the Tar Heels in the standings.

They'll probably be able to get away with another sluggish offensive performance against undermanned Boston College (7-13, 0-7), which is last in the ACC with 63.0 points per game, a 41.5 field-goal percentage and a minus-5.9 rebounding margin. The Eagles have averaged 54.7 points and 38.1 percent shooting while being outrebounded by 10.1 in their conference losses.

Boston College also ranks among the nation's worst free-throw shooting teams at 63.5 percent, and that inaccuracy proved costly in Tuesday's 72-62 loss to Florida State. The Eagles went 2 of 9 from the foul line compared to the Seminoles' 21-of-25 effort.

"We made a lot of careless mistakes at key times," coach Jim Christian said. "We came down on a 2-on-1 break and turn the ball over, missed four straight free throws ... you can't do that in this league and expect to win the game."

North Carolina's Brice Johnson had 19 points and 17 rebounds against Virginia Tech as the Tar Heels recorded a 48-33 advantage on the glass and outscored the Hokies 42-24 in the paint.

"I've said you've got to be able to win the game a lot of different ways, and (Sunday), it was rebounding," said Williams, who became the first with 350 wins at two Division I programs. "That was the single factor that helped us win the game more than anything else."

The Tar Heels have held their last three opponents to 40.1 percent shooting while forcing 51 turnovers.

Johnson, second in the ACC with 10.2 rebounds per game, is averaging 21.4 points and 66.7 percent shooting in his last five.

North Carolina has won seven straight over Boston College, loser of 32 of 34 against ranked teams. The Eagles have dropped 12 straight to Top 25 opponents since beating then-No. 1 Syracuse in overtime Feb. 19, 2014.

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Preview: Cornhuskers (12-9) at Boilermakers (18-4)
Date: January 30, 2016 4:30 PM EDT

Vince Edwards has been able to elevate his play of late, which Purdue will likely need to continue if talented freshman Caleb Swanigan remains sidelined.

Regardless of the lineup, the No. 21 Boilermakers must be sharp Saturday against a Nebraska squad looking to win four straight conference road games for the first time in 40 years.

Averaging 10.1 points and a team-high 8.9 rebounds, Swanigan watched for the first time Wednesday with a sore ankle as Purdue (18-4, 6-3 Big Ten) pulled out a 68-64 win at Minnesota. Pushed into Swanigan's power forward spot, Edwards scored a season-high 24, went 4 of 7 from 3-point range and pulled down eight rebounds.

The 6-foot-8 Edwards averaged 8.0 points and shot 38.6 percent - 9 of 31 from 3 - in the previous 12 games before scoring 17.2, shooting 53.3 percent and going 10 of 19 from beyond the arc in the last five.

"I think he has been playing well, and then all of a sudden he got a couple more looks from (3) than he normally gets," said coach Matt Painter, who is not certain when Swanigan will return.

'The thing that opens up for us is so much attention goes to our centers (7-foot A.J. Hammons and 7-2 Isaac Haas). Guys maybe aren't used to covering (the perimeter) as much. You're going to get some more opportunities.'

Purdue bounced back from Sunday's 83-71 loss at then-No. 9 Iowa despite allowing the Golden Gophers to hold a 46-28 edge in the paint and make half of their shots after the Hawkeyes did the same.

'We can't have any more lessons. We need to mature and grow up,' Edwards said.

The Boilermakers kept the Gophers winless in the Big Ten by holding a 39-28 advantage on the boards and outscoring them 13-4 on the offensive glass. Tied for second in the Big Ten - along with Nebraska - by allowing just 9.0 offensive boards per game, Purdue has held five of the last six opponents to five or fewer.

Nebraska (12-9, 4-4) hasn't needed to rebound many of its own misses lately, shooting 52.2 percent while winning four of its last five overall. It's in position to win four consecutive league road contests for the first time since 1975-76.

The Cornhuskers lost 13 straight on the road overall prior to winning at Rutgers, Illinois and stunning then-No. 11 Michigan State 72-71 on Jan. 20. Nebraska held those three to 38.3 percent from the field while making at least half its shots in each game, boosting its league-best shooting percentage in Big Ten play to 49.1.

The Cornhuskers, however, took a step back last Saturday, with an 81-68 loss to Michigan. Nebraska shot 48.3 percent, but the Wolverines went 25 of 47 from the field, 11 of 21 from 3 and held a 32-24 rebounding advantage.

"It was a disappointing night," said coach Tim Miles, whose team is 3-1 on the road and 1-3 at home in the Big Ten. "But buck up, this is big-boy basketball ... Get our guys back in order and figure out how to win on the road."

Senior swingman Shavon Shields (15.8 ppg) equaled a season high with 28 points on 12-of-20 shooting at Michigan State but had 11 while going 4 of 11 last weekend. He scored 19 in a 66-54 loss in last season's only meeting with Purdue, dropping Nebraska to 0-3 in West Lafayette since joining the Big Ten.

Edwards had 15 in that contest.

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Preview: Sooners (17-2) at Tigers (13-7)
Date: January 30, 2016 5:00 PM EDT

Buddy Hield bypassed last year's NBA draft and returned to Oklahoma for his senior season to hone his game and compete for a national championship.

If it weren't for the league's age restrictions, Ben Simmons likely would've been a high selection in June and never wound up at LSU.

Now they're the front-runners for national player of the year accolades and will go head-to-head as Hield's top-ranked Sooners visit Simmons and the Tigers in the Big 12/SEC Challenge on Saturday.

Part of Hield's decision was based on improving his draft stock, and there's little question that he's succeeded. The reigning Big 12 player of the year has increased his scoring average from 17.4 points per game as a junior to 25.9, which ranks second in the nation.

The improvement in his shooting has been staggering, up to 53 percent from the floor from 41.2 and 52.3 percent from 3-point range from 35.9 last season. Hield's most impressive effort in helping the Sooners (17-2) ascend to the top ranking came Jan. 4, when he scored a career-high 46 points in a triple-overtime loss at then-No. 1 Kansas.

Then there's Simmons, already anointed the future No. 1 pick in the draft following what is basically assured to be his only season with the Tigers (13-7). The versatile 6-foot-10 swingman has lived up to the hype, averaging 19.8 points, ranking fourth in the nation with 12.7 rebounds per game and averaging 4.9 assists.

Despite his numbers, LSU remains a fringe NCAA Tournament team that could use a victory over the nation's No. 1 team to boost its resume. It has won four of its last five, though, and fended off a late rally to beat Georgia 89-85 on Tuesday.

Simmons finished with 22 points and 14 rebounds, while Tim Quarterman also scored 22 and hit 13 of 19 free throws. Freshman Antonio Blakeney had 12 points off the bench, and coach Johnny Jones is counting on Simmons getting similar support in this contest.

'ESPN wants to promote the next generation of guys going to the NBA. They are going to hype up the game as me versus Buddy,' Simmons said, 'but it's not me against him. I won't be guarding him.'

Part of the reason Oklahoma has been so good is because Hield is surrounded with plenty of talent. Jordan Woodard is averaging 14.9 points, Isaiah Cousins is averaging 13.1 and Ryan Spangler adds 10.7 and 9.7 rebounds per game.

Hield scored 30 points and Cousins added 19 in Tuesday's 91-67 rout of Texas Tech. The Sooners shot 52.2 percent from 3-point range to up their nation-leading accuracy behind the arc to 46.7.

"It's not going to be a Ben or Buddy one-on-one. It's going to be one of (these) particular schools," Jones said. "Both of these guys are seasoned and have been in enough games and understand the big picture. They will both play the same and at a high level in terms of competing. It's going to be a hard-fought team effort, not an individual."

Oklahoma coach Lon Kruger has been impressed with not only how Hield has handled the attention, but also how the team has relatively ignored its position atop the poll.

Going on the road to a raucous crowd in Baton Rouge certainly will be a challenge, especially since Oklahoma has lost a pair of road games in Big 12 play. The Sooners survived their latest test away from home, though, beating then-No. 13 Baylor on Saturday.

"Their focus has been unbelievable," Kruger said. "They haven't been distracted. I haven't heard a conversation about the rankings at all - ever - from anyone.

"It's only the beginning. There's a long way to go and a lot of work to do. We still have to make a lot of progress."

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Preview: Bulldogs (11-7) at Bears (16-4)
Date: January 30, 2016 6:00 PM EDT

On-the-fly offensive adjustments helped Baylor recover from a hiccup in Big 12 play, but a nonconference matchup against a stingy defensive team threatens to throw off its rhythm.

The Big 12/SEC Challenge already poses an obstacle while planted in the middle of the conference season, and No. 17 Baylor's flow might be tested when it meets visiting Georgia for the first time Saturday night.

An efficient offense that supplied the Bears five straight wins and a spot atop the Big 12 disappeared during last Saturday's 82-72 loss to top-ranked Oklahoma. Then, Baylor (16-4) was in danger of turning its only home defeat into its first losing streak when it trailed Oklahoma State by five at halftime Wednesday.

Baylor found its offense just in time, however, scoring 42 points in the second half of a 69-65 win to remain tied with the Sooners and West Virginia atop the conference with 6-2 records.

"We knew we weren't playing our best basketball," forward Rico Gathers told the team's official website. "We just knew we had to come out strong (in the second half)."

The Bears executed by going inside to the 6-foot-8 senior, who made three buckets in the first two minutes and scored 14 of his 16 points after halftime. Gathers, a preseason all-Big 12 selection, scored two points against Oklahoma and was held in single digits in three of the previous five games. Still, he's the only Big 12 player averaging a double-double with 12.5 points and 10.6 rebounds.

Despite a strong second half, Baylor shot 43.8 percent for its lowest mark since finishing at 39.0 in a 102-74 conference-opening loss at then-No. 2 Kansas on Jan. 2.

While the Bears are averaging a healthy 79.7 points, Georgia (11-7) surrenders 68.2. The Bulldogs have held opponents to 38.1 percent shooting, the 11th-best mark in the nation.

That number rose, however, following a second-half shootout in Tuesday's 89-85 loss at LSU. Georgia limited the Tigers to 38 percent shooting in the opening 20 minutes, but they finished at 50.8 after outscoring the Bulldogs 56-55 after halftime.

LSU made just 6 of 19 shots from 3-point range, but four came within a three-minute period midway through the second half.

'We went to a couple of different defenses and we were going to give up some open 3-point shots," coach Mark Fox said. "To their credit, when they got an open 3, they made a couple.'

The Bulldogs nearly pulled off the upset despite Yante Maten fouling out with five points and three rebounds in 20 minutes. The sophomore forward leads Georgia with 7.7 rebounds per game and is second with 15.6 points, shy of only J.J. Frazier's 16.3. Frazier, a junior guard, has scored 26 points in each of the last two games.

Georgia is 1-16 against ranked teams since March 2012, including a 79-45 loss to Texas A&M on Jan. 16. The Bulldogs have won two true road games in 28 tries against Top 25 opponents since Jan. 24, 2004, and are 1-4 away from home this season.

Baylor is 12-1 in Waco this season and 62-2 in nonconference home games since the end of the 2008-09 campaign. Another victory would be Baylor's 34th straight nonconference home win and 27th in a row there against unranked opponents.

While the Bears are 7-1 against the SEC over the last four seasons, the Bulldogs are 4-7 versus the Big 12 since 1999.

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Preview: Wildcats (16-4) at Jayhawks (16-4)
Date: January 30, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

(AP) - Kentucky against Kansas on the hallowed hardwood of Allen Fieldhouse.

Need anything more be said?

The matchup between two of college basketball's bluest blue-bloods Saturday night headlines the Big 12-SEC Challenge, a series of intriguing matchups that includes Texas A&M-Iowa State and Oklahoma-LSU.

The game between the fourth-ranked Jayhawks and No. 20 Wildcats, the two winningest programs in Division I history, is easily the highlight of the day. They've combined for more than 4,300 victories, 104 league titles, 31 trips to the Final Four and 13 national championships.

'You can remove the 16,000 people and play shirts and skins,' Jayhawks coach Bill Self said, 'and it's still Kansas and Kentucky. They're still going to be fired up to play.'

The schools have met 28 times, with the Wildcats winning the last three. That includes the 2012 national title game, when Kentucky coach John Calipari got the better of Self in New Orleans.

It's the most recent matchup that's likely to be fresh in the minds of the Jayhawks, however. Ranked No. 1 for the second straight meeting, Kentucky hammered then-No. 5 Kansas 72-40 on Nov. 18, 2014, in the Jayhawks' lowest-scoring effort since Self took over as coach in 2003-04.

Beyond wins and losses, there are other ties that bind the schools.

Kentucky (16-4) plays in Rupp Arena, named after Kansas native Adolph Rupp - a former Jayhawks star under Phog Allen, the namesake of Allen Fieldhouse. And Calipari was an aspiring young assistant under Larry Brown at Kansas (16-4) from 1982-85, while Self was an assistant to Brown from 1985-86.

'I look back fondly,' Calipari said of his time in Lawrence, where he met his wife Ellen. 'I had nothing except - I had a Plymouth Arrow. No worries. It was a great time for me. Can you imagine being 22, 23 and your first opportunity to be around a program was at Kansas?'

Probably like having an opportunity at Kentucky.

'It's another game,' Wildcats guard Tyler Ulis said, 'but obviously it's a big game because you've got two big-time programs coming against each other. And the way we played against them last year, they're going to be coming at us and want some get-back and we've got to be prepared.'

Kentucky has certainly looked that way since a 75-70 loss at Auburn on Jan. 16, winning three in a row while limiting opponents to 59.0 points per game. The Wildcats rolled past Missouri 88-54 on Wednesday.

'We are playing desperate now,' Calipari said. 'We are playing with an attitude. Refuse to lose.'

The Wildcats have shot at least 50.0 percent five times in the past eight games. Ulis scored 20 against the Tigers and has hit that mark seven times in nine contests.

Kansas, in contrast, is hardly playing its best basketball coming into Saturday. The Jayhawks have alternated losses and victories in five games since winning 13 in a row and are coming off an 85-72 defeat at No. 14 Iowa State on Monday.

Their last three losses, though, have come on the road, and they'll be looking to extend their home win streak to 37. Kansas has beaten 13 ranked teams in that span.

Regardless of venue, however, those three losses - all by double digits - have exposed some cracks in a team that became a popular Final Four choice after its triple-overtime victory over then-No. 2 Oklahoma on Jan. 4.

Self thinks the problem could involve a lack of vocal, passionate leadership.

'If you really studied our team, we have some emotionless-type personalities,' he said, mentioning as examples arguably his three best players in Wayne Selden, Perry Ellis and Frank Mason III.

'Those guys don't exert energy from an emotional standpoint. It doesn't mean they don't play hard, but sometimes those things are contagious and run through their team. It's an ongoing issue.'

So is erratic play. Kansas committed 22 turnovers in a loss to then-No. 11 West Virginia on Jan. 12 and had 16 in falling to the Cyclones. In the three games in between, it totaled 27.

Of course, the Allen Fieldhouse crowd along with Kentucky's recently rediscovered swagger could be just what the Jayhawks need to light a fire under them.

'It couldn't come at a better time,' forward Landen Lucas said. 'It gets our focus off the league race. We can just go out there and play, and being at home helps. A game at home always helps. I know everybody will be ready to play.'