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**StarDust Bum** · 02-03-2017, 11:20 PM

Saturday’s games

Syracuse is 5-0 at home in ACC games, with four wins by 10+ points; home team is 9-1 vs spread in their ACC tilts- they’re 2-0 as a home underdog. Virginia won six of its last seven games; they’re 4-1 on ACC road, with only loss in OT at Pitt. Cavaliers are 2-1 as road favorites. Virginia is 3-0 vs Syracuse in ACC play, winning by 19-12-8 points; Cavaliers won 59-47 in last visit here, in 2015. Virginia shoots 41.9% on arc in ACC play; will shooting in the dome foul them up? ACC road favorites of 5+ points are 3-11 vs spread.

Maryland won/covered its last six games, they’re 12-1 this season in games decided by 8 or less points. Terps are 3-1 at home in Big 14 with only loss by hoop to Nebraska- they’re 6-0 vs spread as a Big 14 dog. Purdue won four of last five games, is 2-2 on Big 14 road, losing at Iowa/Nebraska- they were favored in all four road games (1-3 vs spread). Boilers are shooting 43.8% on arc in Big 14 games. Maryland is 2-1 vs Purdue in Big 14 games, winning by 11 LY in only series meeting here. Big 14 road favorites of 3 or less points are 4-6 vs spread.

TCU lost three of last four games, winning last game in OT at K-State; Frogs are 3-1 at home in Big X, with only loss by 9 to Baylor. Texas is 8-2 vs spread in its last ten games; their last three games were decided by total of seven points. Texas is 8-2 vs TCU in Big X play, but lost 64-61 at home to the Horned Frogs in first meeting Jan 11, in a brickfest where teams shot combined 10-38 on arc- Texas led by 7 with 9:45 left. Longhorns won three of last four visits to TCU. Big X home favorites of 6+ points are 2-14-1 vs spread this season.

Valparaiso won its last eight games, covered six of its last seven; they’re 4-0 as road favorites in Horizon games, winning by 11-16-11-18 points. Green Bay won three of last four games, are 5-1 at home in Horizon, losing to Youngstown by 3. Phoenix is 2-1 as an underdog in conference games. Valparaiso won five of last six games with Green Bay, beating Phoenix 80-56 in first meeting Jan 16, holding GB to 31% from floor. Crusaders lost four of last six visits to Green Bay. Horizon road favorites of 6 or less points are 5-3 vs spread.

South Carolina beat Georgia 67-61 in Athens January 4, despite being outscored 23-10 on foul line; it was Gamecocks’ first win in last five series games. Dawgs won three of last four visits to Columbia. Carolina is 3-1 as an SEC home favorite, winning home tilts by 11-11-4-29 points- their only SEC loss was by 16 at Kentucky. Georgia is 5-0 as a road underdog; they lost last game in OT at Kentucky. Dawgs lost last three games; four of their five SEC losses are by 6 or less points, or in overtime. SEC home favorites of 8+ points are 9-10-1 vs spread.

Both teams’ star PG’s are out for season. Creighton is 5-3 vs Xavier in Big East play, winning two of three here. Bluejays won first meeting 72-67 at Xavier Jan 16, the day they lost Watson for year- Xavier was 16-29 on foul line that day. Teams split season series the last three years. Creighton won last two games by 17-9 points, with win at Butler; Bluejays are 3-1 as home favorites, with home wins by 14-11-17. Xavier won its two games without Somner by 2-5 points; they’re 0-2 as road underdogs. Big East home favorites of 5+ points are 14-10-1 vs spread.

Baylor is 0-4 vs spread as a home favorite, with wins by 2-4-10-4 points; they had 4-game win streak snapped at Kansas last game. Road team covered 8 of their 9 Big X games. Kansas State is 2-2 as a road underdog, with losses by 2-1-5 points and win at Okla State. Baylor won its last four games with K-State, beating Wildcats 77-68 in first meeting this season on Jan 14. K-State lost its last three visits to Waco by 14-27-7 points. Big X home favorites of 8+ points are 1-12–1 against the spread this season.

VCU won its last three games, beating rival Richmond last game; Rams lost last two road tilts, are 2-2 as road favorites, losing at Davidson/Fordham, winning by 9 at George Mason, 7 at Duquesne. St Bonaventure won four of last five games, are 3-1 at home in A-14, with only loss by 16 to Dayton. VCU won three of last four games with the Bonnies, losing 7-71 in last visit here two years ago; home side won three of four series games. Rams force turnovers 21.6% of time in conference games. A-14 road favorites of 3 or less points are 1-4 vs spread.

Kentucky is 1-3 as SEC road favorites, with road wins by 23-6-7 points and loss at Tennessee by a hoop. Wildcats covered only one of last seven games. Florida is 4-1 at home in SEC with loss to Vanderbilt; Gators won last three games by 35-32-39 points since the Vandy loss- they force turnovers 22.1% of time in conference games. Gators play much slower tempo than Kentucky. Wildcats won their last five games with Florida, winning by 7-9 points in last two visits here. SEC home teams are 5-13 vs number in games with spread of 2 or less points.

Illinois State won three of last four games with Wichita State, beating Shockers 76-62 at home three weeks ago; Redbirds made 10-22 on arc- they’ve lost last eight visits to Wichita, with three of last four losses here by 12+ points. ISU is without injured F McIntosh (knee) for three weeks; he had 20 in the Wichita win. Shockers won its last five games, is 3-2 as a home favorite in Valley games, winning by 34-25-8-26-42 points. MVC home favorites of 9+ points are 6-7 vs spread. Illinois State won its last 12 games; their last loss was Dec 23 to USF in Hawaii.

Arizona won its last 15 games; their last loss was to Gonzaga in LA Dec 3. Wildcats are 100% now with Trier back eligible; they’re 5-0 on Pac-12, winning as underdogs at Cal, UCLA. Oregon swept Arizona by 8-6 points LY, beating Wildcats in OT in Pac-12 tourney; Arizona lost two of last three visits here, but won 90-56 in last visit here in 2015. Ducks are 6-0 at home in Pac-12 but escaped ASU game with 71-70 win (-17). Arizona held last three foes to 13-48 on arc. Pac-12 home favorites of 3 or less points are 1-5 vs spread this season.

Cal-Irvine was 0-2 last weekend after starting 6-0 in Big West play; they missed injured guard Nelson. Anteaters are 3-1 on Big West road; they’re 5-0 in league if they score 70+ points. Long Beach State played zero defense in a 108-98 loss at CSUN Wednesday; 49ers are 3-1 at home in Big West, with only loss also to Northridge- they’re 0-3 as a Big West underdog this season. Irvine won four of last five games with Long Beach, beating 49ers 82-67 in first meeting Jan 4- Long Beach was 1-14 on arc that night. Big West road favorites are 3-5 vs spread.

Denver won three of last four games, is 4-1 at home in Summit play, with only loss by 6 to South Dakota. Fort Wayne scored 95 pts/game in winning last two games but they’re 1-3 on road, 0-4 vs spread, with only win by hoop at Omaha- their road losses are by 4-6-10 points. Fort Wayne won its last five games with Denver, winning by 1-16 points in last two visits here. Mastodons won first meeting 87-83 at home Jan 7, after falling behind 12-2. Summit League home teams are 9-4 vs number in games where spread was 2 or less points.

**StarDust Bum** · 02-03-2017, 11:23 PM

Kentucky, Florida clash in SEC showdown
February 3, 2017

Here are a few things to watch in Southeastern Conference basketball this week:

GAME OF THE WEEKEND: No. 8 Kentucky at No. 24 Florida: Kentucky has been on a slide lately. Kentucky lost two straight before beating Georgia in overtime at home Tuesday to avoid what would have been the Wildcats' first three-game skid of John Calipari's coaching tenure. Kentucky will try returning to peak form Saturday when it visits Florida, which has won each of its last three games by over 30 points. Kentucky has won the last five games in this series after losing three straight to the Gators in 2014.

LOOKING AHEAD: Tennessee has an opportunity to emerge as a legitimate NCAA Tournament contender as it attempts to build on its four-game winning streak. The Volunteers (12-9) are sixth in the SEC standings and were struggling to stay above .500 until recently, but they've played one of the nation's toughest schedules. That schedule strength has helped Tennessee move into the top 40 of the RPI. Tennessee visits Mississippi State on Saturday before hosting Mississippi and Georgia next week.

NUMBERS GAME: Kentucky's Malik Monk has the two highest-scoring games of any freshman in school history. Monk scored 37 points Tuesday against Georgia after getting 47 points in a Dec. 17 triumph over No. 12 North Carolina. ... No. 19 South Carolina's 8-1 SEC record is its best conference mark midway through the league schedule since the 1996-97 team won its first 11 conference games. That 1996-97 team went on to win the SEC regular-season title. ... Tennessee's 87-77 victory over Auburn on Tuesday dropped Auburn coach Bruce Pearl to 1-4 in games against his former team. Pearl led Tennessee to six straight NCAA bids from 2006-11. ... Vanderbilt's Riley LaChance is shooting 51.2 percent (43 of 84) from 3-point range this season. He's challenging the SEC record for 3-point percentage set by Kentucky's Travis Ford, who shot 52.9 percent from beyond the arc in 1993.

PLAYER TO WATCH: Ole Miss F Sebastian Saiz: This 6-foot-9 senior from Spain averages 11.2 rebounds to rank sixth among Division I players. He also has 15.8 points per game, good for eighth place in the SEC. He's the only SEC player averaging a double-double this season. Saiz had 17 points and 11 rebounds Tuesday against Mississippi State for his 15th double-double of the season and the 24th of his career. He has five double-doubles in his last six games.

ON THE WOMEN'S SIDE: No. 4 South Carolina's 30-game SEC home winning streak ended Monday with a 76-74 loss to Tennessee. ... Florida's Ronni Williams scored a career-high 43 points Sunday in a 93-73 victory at Vanderbilt. The only Power Five players to score more than 43 points in a game this season are California's Kristine Anigwe, Syracuse's Alexis Peterson and Washington's Kelsey Plum (who has four 44-point games).

**StarDust Bum** · 02-03-2017, 11:24 PM

Pac-12 with 3 teams fighting on bubble
February 3, 2017

PHOENIX (AP) The Pac-12 is as strong at the top as it's been in some time with three teams with the potential to make deep runs in the NCAA Tournament.

But get past No. 5 Arizona, No. 11 UCLA and No. 13 Oregon, and the conference doesn't look quite as strong.

A year after setting a conference record with seven teams in the NCAA Tournament, the Pac-12 could have as few as four this season.

Arizona (21-2, 10-0 Pac-12) has been one of the best teams in the country over the past month and recently added star guard Allonzo Trier at a time when many teams are losing players. A No. 1 seed could be in the cards for the Wildcats.

UCLA (20-3, 9-1) had a slip-up against Southern California, but is loaded with talent, led by freshman Lonzo Ball.

The Ducks (20-3, 9-1) are as talented as any team in the country despite a surprising loss to Colorado.

All three are pretty much locks for the NCAA Tournament.

After that, the Pac-12's hope for adding teams to the bracket is down to California, USC and Utah.

The Bears (16-6, 7-3) appeared to be on the outside looking in early in the season, but have come to life. Cal has won six of its last seven games and has wins over Utah - 77-75 in double overtime Thursday night - and USC, which could end up serving as a de facto tiebreaker.

USC (19-4, 6-4) had an eye-popping record early in the season to move into the AP Top 25, but did it against a weak schedule. The Trojans lost three of their first five conference games to start fading away from the NCAA Tournament bubble, only to steer themselves back toward it with a win over UCLA last week.

USC beat Washington on Wednesday and faces Washington State on Saturday.

Utah (15-7, 6-4) is seeing its NCAA hopes fade fast. The Utes lost in their two potential resume-building non-conference games - Butler and Xavier - and did not have wins against top-200 teams in the kenpom.com rankings.

Utah had a big chance to come up with bubble-building win Thursday night against Cal and lost, leaving little room for error the rest of the way.

---

ON THE RISE

Georgetown. The Hoyas did not look like and NCAA Tournament team after losing four of their first six games. Georgetown (13-10, 3-6 Big East) still has a losing record in conference, but beat No. 16 Butler and No. 22 Creighton in consecutive games to bring its bubble chances back to life.

Oklahoma State. A healthy Jawun Evans makes all the difference for the Cowboys. A shoulder injury limited Oklahoma State's dynamic guard and was a big reason the Cowboys opened the Big 12 0-6. Evans has regained his form recently and Oklahoma State (14-8, 3-6) has responded with four straight wins. Two big opportunities are ahead: At No. 7 West Virginia on Saturday, vs. No. 2 Baylor next Wednesday.

Illinois State. The Redbirds have put themselves in position to knock Wichita State off the top perch in the Missouri Valley Conference. Illinois State (19-4) is undefeated in the Valley (11-0) and beat the Shockers once already, with another game against them on Saturday.

Tennessee. The Vols were middling at 9-9 in mid-January and looked like NCAA Tournament outsiders. Tennessee (13-9, 5-4 SEC) took a huge step by knocking off then-No. 4 Kentucky on Jan. 24 and has won four straight heading into Saturday's game at Mississippi State.

FADING HOPES

Iowa State. The Cyclones (13-8, 5-4 Big 12) are likely still on the right side of the bubble, but can't afford any more letdowns. Iowa State does not have a win over a ranked opponent this season and missed a big opportunity by losing 85-72 to No. 7 West Virginia on Tuesday.

Minnesota. The Gophers (15-7, 3-6 Big Ten) were once 15-2 and climbing the AP Top 25. Five straight losses have pushed them to the bubble's edge.

Pittsburgh. After a solid non-conference schedule, the Panthers fell flat once ACC play started. With Tuesday's two-point loss to No. 12 North Carolina, Pittsburgh (12-10) dropped to 1-8 in conference. A string of multiple marquee wins is their only shot.

Marquette. It's hard to imagine a team having a bigger two-week bubble swing than the Golden Eagles. Marquette (14-8, 5-5 Big East) had one of the best weeks by any team, knocking off top-ranked Villanova and Creighton, only to follow that with losses to Providence and St. John's.

**StarDust Bum** · 02-03-2017, 11:26 PM

Bad memories return as UVA visits 'Cuse
February 3, 2017

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) Virginia point guard London Perrantes had almost blocked the nightmare from his mind.

Then when he was reminded about the Cavaliers' collapse against Syracuse last year - ninth-ranked Virginia's opponent on Saturday - the bad memories came flooding back.

''I haven't thought about it until you brought it up right now, and now my heart's pounding,'' the Cavaliers' lone senior said, the question earlier this week interrupting his celebration of a victory against state rival Virginia Tech.

The Cavaliers (17-4, 7-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) meet the Orange (14-9, 6-4) Saturday at noon.

Virginia's last meeting with Jim Boeheim's team came in the Elite Eight last season, and on a night when Perrantes set a school NCAA Tournament record with six 3-pointers, the Cavaliers led by 16 in the second half before crumbling in the face of amped-up defensive pressure as Syracuse rallied for a crushing 68-62 victory .

The top-seeded Cavaliers were vying for their first trip to the Final Four since 1984. Instead, the 10-seeded Orange, an NCAA Tournament bubble team, became just the fourth double-digit seed to reach the semifinals.

The loss left Perrantes sitting alone, his head buried in his hands, wiping away tears.

''Yeah, I mean obviously, it hits home,'' he said. ''We were so close to getting to the Final Four and now, we go back to that opponent in their place. I'm excited. I'm trying to get this bad taste out of my mouth still. Maybe this will help, but I don't think it will. It's just another game, really, as hard as it is to say.''

These Cavaliers are once again in the thick of the ACC regular season race, trailing No. 12 North Carolina by a half game for the top spot. The Orange, meanwhile, are badly in need of some credential-boosting victories. They are also coming off another second-half rally from 16 down. They won at N.C. State, 100-93, in overtime Wednesday .

Cavaliers coach Tony Bennett joked Wednesday night about having a flash-back at the mention of last season's final game - ''I've done a lot of therapy and I'm over that,'' he said, laughing. Then the coach got serious and cautioned against focusing on avenging that loss rather than preparing for the challenge of Syracuse's unique style.

''When you go back, that was a terrific opportunity, but we're such a different team,'' he said. ''That was a beautiful season last year and we knocked on the door of the Final Four. Didn't get there. They're a different team, we're a different team and you've got to go in there and play. We're in a race. We're fighting to be as good as we can every game, so probably when I watch some tapes and see some things because I always try to watch matchups last year, I'm sure I'll see some things and be like, `Ah!' Painful at times but I haven't really thought about that.''

Despite the abrupt end to last season, the team tied the school record for victories in a four-year period with 112, and this group, led by Perrantes, has 106 wins and would have to falter badly not to eclipse that mark.

It's why, Virginia's unquestioned leader said, dwelling on the past isn't a winning strategy.

''It's just another game,'' Perrantes said.

**StarDust Bum** · 02-03-2017, 11:27 PM

No. 24 Gators seeks 'breakthrough win'
February 3, 2017

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) Florida coach Mike White admittedly checks rankings, ratings and projected NCAA Tournament brackets routinely.

Strength of schedule, RPI, wins against top-50 opponents, White knows all the numbers and how the 24th-ranked Gators stack up to everyone else. And he's not shy about making sure his players understand where they stand.

So it's no surprise that White's take before facing No. 8 Kentucky on Saturday night was clear, concise and certainly correct.

''I think it'd be a huge, breakthrough win for us, if we can get it done,'' White said Friday. ''We've had opportunities there.''

Indeed, the Gators (17-5, 7-2 Southeastern Conference) have had several chances to pull off signature victories this season. But they're winless in four games against teams currently ranked in the Top 25, losing to Gonzaga, Duke, Florida State and South Carolina.

And for a program expecting to return to the NCAA Tournament after a two-year hiatus and hoping to earn a top-four seed and play in nearby Orlando, winning big games is a must. And the Gators might not have too many more remaining in the regular season.

So Florida's next shot comes against the Wildcats (18-4, 8-1), who have won five in a row in the series and been the league's top team, by far, in recent years.

''That's not just any team, but if we look at it that way, then it's no fear and just going in there and attack,'' forward Devin Robinson said. ''They might be Goliath; we might be David. ... But anyone can be beaten. So we just go in there and play hard.''

Only one Florida player, senior guard Kasey Hill, even knows what it feels like to defeat Kentucky.

Nonetheless, the Gators have reason to be confident. They have won three consecutive games by at least 30 points, only the third time that's happened in school history. The previous two times happened with Al Horford, Corey Brewer and Joakim Noah - three eventual NBA lottery picks - on the roster.

The three-game tear against LSU, Oklahoma and Missouri followed two lackluster performances against South Carolina and Vanderbilt. After losing to the Commodores in Gainesville - which White called a ''fork in the road'' - players and coaches held a lengthy meeting to air out issues.

''We definitely redirected ourselves,'' Robinson said. ''Everybody put everything on the table. Some of it'' can't be repeated.

''We were all focused on the wrong things,'' the forward added. ''We needed to figure out our identity and playing to our identity.''

Florida has been at its best since, playing solid defense, forcing turnovers and scoring in transition.

''I feel like this is the best chance we've had of beating them since I've been here,'' guard Chris Chiozza said. ''We've played them close three times since I've been here and we just haven't been able to finish games off. The way we are playing right now I feel like we can beat anybody in the country.''

Although Kentucky has dropped two of its last three games and needed overtime to beat Georgia on Tuesday, coach John Calipari's team presents plenty of problems for Florida.

Malik Monk, De'Aaron Fox and Isaiah Briscoe might be the best guard trio in the country and have a size and length advantage against the Gators.

''It's a layup drill if you turn the ball over against these guys,'' White said. ''We have to play really smart. ... I think we are a more confident team than a year ago. At the same time, our guys don't think, `Oh, we're going to blast Kentucky. Show up, play average and beat them.' They know better than that.

''If we play very well, we will have a chance, and that's all you can ask for. It's a healthy level of confidence and respect there.''

**StarDust Bum** · 02-03-2017, 11:29 PM

No. 3 Kansas battling turmoil as Iowa State visits
February 3, 2017

LAWRENCE, Kan. -- As scrutiny mounts for the Kansas basketball program, the No. 3 Jayhawks seem oblivious to any distractions on the court.

Back-to-back wins against two teams rated in the top five, Kentucky and Baylor, leave Kansas (20-2, 8-1 Big 12) sitting atop the Big 12 halfway through the conference race entering a game Saturday against Iowa State (13-8, 5-4) in Allen Fieldhouse.

Sophomore forward Carlton Bragg remains suspended indefinitely stemming from misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, a charge for which he was granted court diversion prior to the Baylor win on Wednesday.

Sophomore guard Lagerald Vick and freshman forward Josh Jackson were linked to the latest issue to unfold. According to a Kansas City Star report, each player was identified as persons of interest in a car vandalism case. Vick was previously cited by the newspaper as having been found by the university as likely committing domestic violence against a female student in 2015.

In addition, five Kansas players were listed in a police report as witnesses in an investigation into an alleged rape of a 16-year-old girl at McCarthy Hall, the campus residence co-occupied by men's basketball players and male students.

"It's been a unique last short period of time," Kansas coach Bill Self said after the Baylor win, "but the guys' attitudes are great. ... We don't have a big margin for error right now obviously on the court, and certainly our guys responded very, very well."

Among all the challenges Self faces, motivating his team may be the least of the problems. After the report of the investigation into the alleged rape, Self said many of his players were "angry" over news portrayals of an elite program losing its moral footing.

The Jayhawks rallied in the second half of each high-profile victory and will now take on an Iowa State team they beat 76-72 in a Jan. 16 road win.

Of late, Jackson has progressed as an expected one-and-done contributor with NBA aspirations. He shot 55.5 percent from 3-point range in the last four games after making just 23.7 percent in his first 18 career games. Jackson scored 65 points in the last three games, all against teams currently ranked in the top 10.

"The thing I've been trying to do is just go out there and play," Jackson said. "I feel like that's part of the reason why my shot has gotten a little better. (I'm) just not thinking so much and just going out and playing basketball."

That could be the mindset all the Jayhawks must embrace considering the controversy enveloping the program. In spite of the various off-court allegations, Kansas is playing at a high level.

Iowa State, meanwhile, carries a two-game losing streak following an 85-72 loss at home Tuesday to No. 7 West Virginia. On Thursday, 6-foot-8 senior forward Darrell Bowie was suspended for the Kansas game because "he didn't meet program standards," according to Cyclones coach Steve Prohm.

After drawing nine straight starts, Bowie, a graduate transfer from Northern Illinois, played sparingly in the last three games, including one minute against West Virginia.

The Cyclones were beaten from deep in their back-to-back defeats, giving up 13 3-pointers to Vanderbilt and 10 to West Virginia.

"(Several) of them were probably uncontested," said Prohm, "and that's the whole focal point of our defense because we're not a team with a rim protector that you're going to get out and pressure and deny. We want to be in gaps."

Kansas leads the Big 12 with a field goal percentage of .495 and a 3-point percentage of .413. Senior point guard Frank Mason is the Big 12's top scorer (19.9 ppg. and is the only shooter connecting on better than half (51 percent) of his 3-pointers.

Senior Monte Morris of Iowa State more than matched Mason in the first meeting, posting 23 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and four teals against the Jayhawks. Morris leads the Big 12 in assists with a 5.6 average and is the Cyclones' leading scorer (16.0).

At home, Kansas has won 51 straight overall and 37 straight against conference rivals.

"You've just got to finish plays down there (at Kansas)," Morris said. "Me, personally, I haven't shot it well (at Kansas) in my three years there. Other guys have, but I feel I've got to step and have a big game, get things rolling and start it off good. You've also got to slow down Mason, Jackson and (Devonte') Graham down there if you want to win."

**StarDust Bum** · 02-03-2017, 11:31 PM

Preview: Boilermakers (18-5) at Terrapins (20-2)
Date: February 04, 2017 12:00 PM EDT

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- The Maryland Terrapins have started freshmen Anthony Cowan, Kevin Huerter and Justin Jackson the entire season, getting consistent production from all three.

But now it is Jackson, a forward from Ontario, Canada, who is shining the brightest.

Jackson is averaging 12.4 points and 6.7 rebounds in conference games as No. 17 Maryland hosts No. 23 Purdue on Saturday.

He led the Terrapins with 22 points and a career-high 12 rebounds in a 77-71 win at Ohio State on Tuesday.

"I was just locked in as usual. Just taking open shots and what the defense was giving me," Jackson said after he made eight of 12 shots from the field, including his first five.

In the previous game, at Minnesota, he led the team with 28 points and 10 rebounds.

Maryland junior point guard Melo Trimble had an off night but finished with 13 points on 13 shots at Ohio State. He missed seven of first eight shots and ended up with four assists and five turnovers.

But the resident of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, hit a big three-pointer in the closing minutes and his layup in traffic in the closing seconds helped seal the win.

"When you have a player like Melo, you just kind of get out of the way and just let him do what he does," Maryland coach Mark Turgeon said.

Maryland is 20-2 overall and off to the best start in school history. The Terrapins are 29-6 the last three seasons in games decided by six points or less, and Trimble has been on the court for all of those 35 games. The Terrapins are 8-1 in conference play and tied for first with Wisconsin.

Maryland is averaging 75.1 points per game in the conference while allowing 67.1. The Terrapins are shooting 47 percent from the field in Big Ten games while opponents are making 41 percent.

Trimble is averaging 15.6 points per contest in conference play, while Cowan is averaging 11 points and Huerter 10.8 against Big Ten foes.

Purdue (18-5, 7-3) last played on Wednesday, with an 80-59 win at No. 25 Northwestern as junior forward Vince Edwards had 17 points, including five 3-pointers to set a season-high in his best outing in several weeks.

"I was just being confident and having fun," Edwards said. "I just played hard and didn't even think about it, just playing the way I know how to play."

The Boilermakers are averaging 82.6 points per game and allowing 66.5. Purdue is averaging 39 rebounds per game while opponents get just 30.1 boards per contest.

Sophomore forward Caleb Swanigan had 24 points and 16 rebounds at Northwestern, which had won six in a row.

Purdue has five players averaging at least 10 points per game: Swanigan (18.8), junior center Haas (13.3), Vince Edwards (11.7), freshman guard Carsen Edwards (10.8) and junior guard Dakota Mathias (10.2).

"When Vince Edwards made the shots that opened things up," Purdue coach Matt Painter said. "And we needed Vince to have some positive reinforcement."

Purdue parted ways with redshirt junior forward Basil Smotherman prior to Sunday's 83-80 loss at Nebraska. He was averaging 3.9 points, 1.7 rebounds and 12.1 minutes per game off the bench.

"There are standards and expectations that our student-athletes must follow and Basil has not met these guidelines. We have mutually agreed the best route for him is to no longer be a member of our squad," Painter said in a statement.

**StarDust Bum** · 02-03-2017, 11:32 PM

Preview: Cavaliers (17-4) at Orange (14-9)
Date: February 04, 2017 12:00 PM EDT

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Jim Boeheim, now in his 41st year as the Syracuse Orange head coach, called Wednesday's 100-93 overtime win at North Carolina State "the best comeback that I can remember that we've had."

Boeheim has long career, but a short memory. Just last March, he said the same thing after the 10th-seeded Orange rallied from 16 points down in the second half to stun the No. 1 seeded Virginia Cavaliers 68-62 and advance to the NCAA Tournament's Final Four.

Surely, the Cavaliers have tried to forget that game. But with Syracuse next on their schedule, the Cavaliers were asked about that collapse against the Orange even before the ink dried on the stat sheet from their 71-48 romp over Virginia Tech on Wednesday.

"Thanks a lot," Virginia coach Tony Bennett said, smiling. "I've gone to a lot of therapy and I'm over that, and you brought it up."

"I haven't thought about it 'till you brought it up right now, and now my heart's pounding," senior guard London Perrantes said.

No. 9 Virginia (17-4, 7-2 in the Atlantic Coast Conference) will visit Syracuse (14-9, 6-4) at noon Saturday at the Carrier Dome. After blowing an 11-point halftime lead Sunday and losing on a tip-in at the buzzer to reigning NCAA champion Villanova, the Cavaliers rebounded against Virginia Tech with its sixth win in seven games and its most lopsided win over the Hokies since 1991.

"Every game we play from here on out, they're all highly charged," Bennett said. "Sunday's game was a hard-fought game, a tough loss. We took a lot of good things from it and tried to grow from the areas where we weren't good, knowing the significance of this (Virginia Tech) game with a quick turnaround. I like how we responded."

The Orange, meanwhile, did it the hard way against North Carolina State, falling behind by 16 with less than nine minutes to play. The Orange rallied and sent the game into overtime when point guard John Gillon made what Boeheim called "a virtually almost impossible shot" -- an off-balance 3-pointer from the wing that went through the hoop with 1.1 seconds remaining.

Gillon, a fifth-year senior transfer from Colorado State, shot 10 for 13 from the floor, 9 for 10 from 3-point range and 14 for 14 from the foul line to score 43 points -- tying Pittsburgh's Jamel Artis for most in the ACC this season and the most by a Syracuse player since Gerry McNamara, now an Orange assistant coach, tallied 43 against Brigham Young in the 2004 NCAA Tournament.

Gillon, who scored Syracuse's final 13 points and 21 overall in an upset win over then-No. 6 Florida State on Jan. 28, has led an Orange resurgence after the worst 20-game start (11-9) in Boeheim's tenure. Syracuse won three consecutive games, showing a grit that wasn't there through the first 20. Before Wednesday, Syracuse hadn't won a true road game since beating Boston College on Feb. 14, 2016.

Now the Orange return home, where they are 13-2, outscoring opponents by an average of 17.2 points. But while ACC home teams are winning two out of every three games this season, Syracuse's rejuvenated offense must solve Virginia's stifling man-to-man defense that leads the nation by allowing just 53.4 points per game.

Players to watch Saturday include Syracuse fifth-year senior guard Andrew White, who is averaging 26.3 points per game in the last three games; and Cavaliers junior forward Isaiah Wilkins, the stepson of NBA legend Dominique Wilkins, who has reached double figures in five of the last six games and scored a career-high 15 points with nine rebounds against Virginia Tech. But as with most games, this one should be decided by the play of the point guards, the steady Perrantes (12.0 points per game, 3.9 assists per game) and the red-hot Gillon (10.4 ppg, 5.3 apg).

And revenge, Perrantes insisted, won't be a factor.

"It's just another game, really," Perrantes said. "As hard as it is to say, it's just another game."

**StarDust Bum** · 02-03-2017, 11:34 PM

Preview: Panthers (12-10) at Blue Devils (17-5)
Date: February 04, 2017 1:00 PM EDT

DURHAM, N.C. -- Hall of Fame coach Mike Krzyzewski returns to the Duke bench after missing about a month and he'll probably notice some differences Saturday afternoon against Pittsburgh.

The No. 21 Blue Devils (17-5, 5-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) seem to have rounded into full health and they're coming off a pair of road victories.

That isn't to say it hasn't been turbulent in Krzyzewski's absence, which resulted from surgery on his lower back Jan. 6.

In seven games since then, Duke went 4-3 and saw the absence and return of senior Amile Jefferson, who sustained a bruised foot and missed two games during that stretch.

Assistant coach Jeff Capel, who filled in on an interim basis during Krzyzewski's absence, said there have been signs that the Blue Devils are gaining traction.

"We're growing up. We're becoming more together," Capel said. "I think we're understanding each other. ...

"We've had such a disjointed season (because of injuries). We've become tougher, more together, understanding how much we need each other. We've had to learn these things in the fire, which is the ACC."

Krzyzewski, who turns 70 later this month, is the winningest Division I men's coach. His return for this weekend's game falls in line with the projected recovery time of about four weeks following the surgery. It also comes one game before the first showdown of the season with rival North Carolina next week.

While Jefferson at times hasn't been as crisp as prior to the injury despite rating fourth in the ACC with 9.3 rebounds per game, the continued emergence of freshman Harry Giles has helped Duke in the post.

Versatile forward Jayson Tatum has become more productive, with the freshman supplying a double-double for the first time in Monday night's victory at Notre Dame.

"He's learning how to become a really good player and he has the potential to be a great player," Capel said of Tatum.

Last-place Pittsburgh (12-10, 1-8) is coming off a two-point loss at first-place North Carolina in what was the first of three straight road games for the Panthers.

"Let's not take any comfort (in the close loss at North Carolina)," said Pittsburgh coach Kevin Stallings, whose team has lost seven games in a row. "Our margin for error is very thin. ... Those things (such as gaining confidence) are more difficult by nature when you don't have results."

Pittsburgh has the top two scorers in the ACC in Jamel Artis (20.9 points per game) and Michael Young (20.3).

"At times, they've both been spectacular," Stallings said. "The problem for both them and for us, a lot of nights they both have to be great in order for us to really have a chance."

The Panthers don't have much of a post presence. Stallings said there is a chance to try a few different combinations.

"Our situation dictates that we do so," he said. "There are some cases where guys haven't had a lot of opportunity to be productive. We're going to keep trying to give those guys opportunities."

The top three scorers in the ACC will be on the court because Duke guard Luke Kennard checks in at 20.2 points per game. This will be Duke's first home game since a stunning 84-82 loss to North Carolina State on Jan. 23.

**StarDust Bum** · 02-03-2017, 11:35 PM

Preview: Cyclones (13-8) at Jayhawks (20-2)
Date: February 04, 2017 2:00 PM EDT

LAWRENCE, Kan. -- As scrutiny mounts for the Kansas basketball program, the No. 3 Jayhawks seem oblivious to any distractions on the court.

Back-to-back wins against two teams rated in the top five, Kentucky and Baylor, leave Kansas (20-2, 8-1 Big 12) sitting atop the Big 12 halfway through the conference race entering a game Saturday against Iowa State (13-8, 5-4) in Allen Fieldhouse.

Sophomore forward Carlton Bragg remains suspended indefinitely stemming from misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, a charge for which he was granted court diversion prior to the Baylor win on Wednesday.

Sophomore guard Lagerald Vick and freshman forward Josh Jackson were linked to the latest issue to unfold. According to a Kansas City Star report, each player was identified as persons of interest in a car vandalism case. Vick was previously cited by the newspaper as having been found by the university as likely committing domestic violence against a female student in 2015.

In addition, five Kansas players were listed in a police report as witnesses in an investigation into an alleged rape of a 16-year-old girl at McCarthy Hall, the campus residence co-occupied by men's basketball players and male students.

"It's been a unique last short period of time," Kansas coach Bill Self said after the Baylor win, "but the guys' attitudes are great. ... We don't have a big margin for error right now obviously on the court, and certainly our guys responded very, very well."

Among all the challenges Self faces, motivating his team may be the least of the problems. After the report of the investigation into the alleged rape, Self said many of his players were "angry" over news portrayals of an elite program losing its moral footing.

The Jayhawks rallied in the second half of each high-profile victory and will now take on an Iowa State team they beat 76-72 in a Jan. 16 road win.

Of late, Jackson has progressed as an expected one-and-done contributor with NBA aspirations. He shot 55.5 percent from 3-point range in the last four games after making just 23.7 percent in his first 18 career games. Jackson scored 65 points in the last three games, all against teams currently ranked in the top 10.

"The thing I've been trying to do is just go out there and play," Jackson said. "I feel like that's part of the reason why my shot has gotten a little better. (I'm) just not thinking so much and just going out and playing basketball."

That could be the mindset all the Jayhawks must embrace considering the controversy enveloping the program. In spite of the various off-court allegations, Kansas is playing at a high level.

Iowa State, meanwhile, carries a two-game losing streak following an 85-72 loss at home Tuesday to No. 7 West Virginia. On Thursday, 6-foot-8 senior forward Darrell Bowie was suspended for the Kansas game because "he didn't meet program standards," according to Cyclones coach Steve Prohm.

After drawing nine straight starts, Bowie, a graduate transfer from Northern Illinois, played sparingly in the last three games, including one minute against West Virginia.

The Cyclones were beaten from deep in their back-to-back defeats, giving up 13 3-pointers to Vanderbilt and 10 to West Virginia.

"(Several) of them were probably uncontested," said Prohm, "and that's the whole focal point of our defense because we're not a team with a rim protector that you're going to get out and pressure and deny. We want to be in gaps."

Kansas leads the Big 12 with a field goal percentage of .495 and a 3-point percentage of .413. Senior point guard Frank Mason is the Big 12's top scorer (19.9 ppg. and is the only shooter connecting on better than half (51 percent) of his 3-pointers.

Senior Monte Morris of Iowa State more than matched Mason in the first meeting, posting 23 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and four teals against the Jayhawks. Morris leads the Big 12 in assists with a 5.6 average and is the Cyclones' leading scorer (16.0).

At home, Kansas has won 51 straight overall and 37 straight against conference rivals.

"You've just got to finish plays down there (at Kansas)," Morris said. "Me, personally, I haven't shot it well (at Kansas) in my three years there. Other guys have, but I feel I've got to step and have a big game, get things rolling and start it off good. You've also got to slow down Mason, Jackson and (Devonte') Graham down there if you want to win.

**StarDust Bum** · 02-03-2017, 11:37 PM

Preview: Bulldogs (13-9) at Gamecocks (18-4)
Date: February 04, 2017 2:00 PM EDT

The manner in which No. 19 South Carolina typically wins basketball games isn't the most aesthetically pleasing for many observers.

The Gamecocks thrive on tenacious defense and aren't too interested in being artistic or flashy.

But the style certainly works as South Carolina is tied with No. 8 Kentucky for first place in the SEC entering Saturday's home contest against Georgia.

The Gamecocks (18-4, 8-1) are tied for fifth nationally in both scoring defense (60.9) and field-goal percentage defense (37.4) and rank seventh in turnovers forced per game at 17.3. And nobody guards the 3-point line better than South Carolina, which is limiting opponents to a frigid 25.7 percent.

Yet respect comes grudgingly in an era in which offensive exploits draw the attention, something Gamecocks coach Frank Martin hears often.

"It's ugly. Why can't they play prettier?" said Martin, mimicking the words of skeptics.

Martin knows he can't control the reactions of others but the results are pretty solid for a program that hasn't made the NCAA tournament since 2004.

The Gamecocks are on their way to ending that drought, barring a deep collapse. Their lone conference loss was to Kentucky and they have since won three consecutive games by an average of 21.3 points, including Wednesday's 88-63 road win over LSU.

South Carolina never trailed in the contest and led by 20 points before the game was even 12 minutes old.

"Whenever we come out defensive-minded, our offense gets flowing pretty fast," sophomore guard PJ Dozier said.

Georgia (13-9, 4-5) dropped three of its past four games but put up a stellar effort against Kentucky on Tuesday before falling 90-81 in overtime.

The Bulldogs were close to pulling off the huge upset in Lexington before Wildcats star Malik Monk hit the tying shot with eight seconds left in regulation. Kentucky then controlled the overtime to stave off the upset bid.

"It was a very good basketball game and our kids really competed hard," Georgia coach Mark Fox said. "You are never going to play a perfect game when you compete your tail off but you make enough plays to give yourself a chance to win."

Senior guard J.J. Frazier (23 points), junior forward Yante Maten (22) and sophomore forward Derek Ogbeide (career-best 18 points, career-high-tying 13 rebounds) all had big games against Kentucky.

Maten leads the Bulldogs in scoring (19.8), rebounding (7.6) and blocked shots (32) while Frazier averages 15.9 points and has a team-best 45 steals.

South Carolina features three double-digit scorers in senior guard Sindarius Thornwell (19.1), Dozier (13.8) and senior guard Duane Notice (10.3).

Thornwell's 117 career starts are the most in program history. He also has 1,584 points, two behind Mike Dunleavy Sr. (the former NBA player and coach played for the Gamecocks from 1972-76) for sixth-place on the all-time scoring list.

Dozier has recorded six 20-point outings, one coming against the Bulldogs on Jan. 7, when he led the Gamecocks to a 67-61 road win. Dozier registered 24 points, seven rebounds and five assists in a victory that ended Georgia's four-game winning streak in the series.

Maten posted 18 points and 10 rebounds and Frazier scored 16 points for the Bulldogs, who shot just 36.2 percent from the field.

**StarDust Bum** · 02-03-2017, 11:38 PM

Preview: Musketeers (16-6) at Bluejays (20-3)
Date: February 04, 2017 3:00 PM EDT

OMAHA, Neb. -- Creighton and Xavier both still have visions of winning the Big East Conference regular season title and securing the top seed for the conference tournament at Madison Square Garden.

Once the Bluejays (20-3, 7-3 Big East) and Musketeers (16-6, 6-3) finish their pivotal 2 p.m. CST showdown Saturday at CenturyLink Center, only one team will remain within a game of first place Villanova.

Bluejays coach Greg McDermott hopes No. 22-ranked Creighton is that squad. McDermott knows that, at a minimum, the Jays must hold serve in their remaining four home games.

"We have no margin for error left," McDermott said. "If we're going to compete for a championship we're going to have to win a ton of games here, because I just don't see Villanova losing one or two more.

"If anybody's going to catch them, they're going to have to go on an unbelievable hot streak. We just need to take care of business one game at a time."

Unless the No. 4-ranked Wildcats are upset Saturday night by St. John's, the Xavier-Creighton winner will remain one game behind Villanova (21-2, 8-2) in the league standings.

Xavier coach Chris Mack said in a video posted on goxavier.com that trying to avenge the 72-67 loss to the Bluejays at Cintas Center Jan. 16 won't be an easy task in front of a raucous Creighton home crowd.

"It's going to be a tough environment against an equally tough opponent," Mack said. "We had 'em on the ropes last time; we did our job defensively.

"We allowed a couple of tip-ins at the end of the game that really determined the game. We've got to do a better job of when we switch on ball screens."

Both teams have lost their starting point guards to the identical injury as Creighton's Maurice Watson and Xavier's Edmund Sumner were lost with torn ACLs in their left knees.

Watson and Sumner, who also both redshirted in 2014-15 and were leading their respective teams in assists, were preseason All-Big East selections.

It was that game in Cincinnati last month where Watson went down while Sumner was lost in a Jan. 29 road game at St. John's. Freshman Quentin Goodin moved into the starting role for the Musketeers but was getting a decent amount of playing time -- roughly 14 minutes per game -- when Sumner was healthy.

"He was part of their rotation," McDermott said. "Not always at the point guard; sometimes he was playing on the wing. Obviously it's a blow to their depth, and you can't take a guy who's a likely first-round draft pick off your team and not feel any ill effects of that."

"Xavier's one of the best teams in our league," McDermott said. "They have been the last few years, and that certainly hasn't changed this season."

Guards Davon Mintz and Tyler Clement are getting more comfortable with additional playing time created by Watson's absence. After struggling mightily from the field against in a 71-51 loss Jan. 25 at Georgetown, the Jays rediscovered their shooting stroke in a 76-67 win Jan. 31 at No. 16 Butler.

"We also made some shots, which was good to see," McDermott said. "It's been a while since we've had a shooting game like that. Haven't had many of those in the conference portion of the schedule."

**StarDust Bum** · 02-03-2017, 11:39 PM

Preview: Cardinals (18-4) at Eagles (9-14)
Date: February 04, 2017 3:00 PM EDT

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. -- Rick Pitino makes his latest return to the Boston area when he brings his No. 6 Louisville Cardinals in for an ACC game at Boston College on Saturday.

Pitino, who hails from New York and played his college ball at the University of Massachusetts, coached at Boston University and Providence before a period -- not a successful one -- of coaching and running the Boston Celtics.

There have been all kinds of off-court distractions hindering this program but the bottom line is the Cardinals, the 2013 NCAA champions, win. This season's team has gotten hot after dropping its first two games in the conference.

The teams come in clearly headed in opposite directions. Louisville (18-4, 6-3 ACC) won six of its last seven while Boston College (9-14, 2-8) has lost its last six.

With two point guards hurt for Louisville, Donovan Mitchell has moved into the spot and he has more than responded.

"Donovan is getting a chance to play his normal position, which is point guard, and you always look for a silver lining in any injury, and he's got a chance to work at that, which I think will pay a huge dividend down the road," Pitino said after Mitchell slid into the role after Tony Hicks suffered a broken hand in a 55-point victory at Pittsburgh.

With Hicks joining starter Quentin Snider (hip flexor) on the sidelines, Mitchell has made the move. In the last two games, he has averaged 28.5 points, hitting 60 percent of his shot and going 12-for-18 from the floor. He was named ACC player of the week.

Louisville comes in having not played since Sunday. The Cardinals' last three wins have come by an average of 37.3 points.

"For some reason, the last 10 days or so, our offense has really looked great because of the passing they're doing and the guys looked inside, made plays, looked outside, made threes and it's fun to watch when you see good passing like that," said Pitino, whose team moves on to visit No. 9 Virginia Monday night.

The Eagles' losing streak started with two bad losses, but the last four games have all been decided by single digits, including a one-point loss at Miami.

Sophomore Jerome Robinson is averaging 19.7 points per game, fourth in the ACC, while point guard Ky Bowman is one of three freshmen in the country with three 30-point games this season.

Boston College, using the 3-pointer, led Wake Forest by seven points in the second half before John Collins took over, scoring 13 straight points over 3:49 to put the Demon Deacons in charge.

"We had to stretch the game (but) three times we had turnovers, on unforced plays," Eagles coach Jim Christian said. "We've got to grow up and learn from that. I'm not going to use the excuse that you're young. They're not young, this is basketball and I'm responsible for it. They have to learn how to win the game, by taking care of basketball.

"You can't give up 85 points at home -- too many easy baskets. In this league, they make you pay. That's what happened. We did enough offensively to win the game. We've got to learn a lesson, all of us."

Sophomore Jordan Chatman has joined the Robinson/Bowman 1-2 punch for Boston College. He had 22 against Wake two days after going 9-for-11 from 3-point range and scoring 30 at Virginia Tech. He has made 15 of his last 19 shots from behind the arc.

**StarDust Bum** · 02-03-2017, 11:41 PM

Preview: Wildcats (15-7) at Bears (20-2)
Date: February 04, 2017 3:00 PM EDT

WACO, Texas -- The double-edged sword of Big 12 play is that the league will beat a team down pretty quickly.

But then the conference constantly offers chances for redemption. Kansas State is familiar with that. Two weeks ago, the Wildcats claimed a hard-fought 79-75 victory over West Virginia. Since then, Kansas State was edged by Iowa State, pummeled by Tennessee in the Big 12/SEC Challenge and lost to visiting TCU earlier this week.

However, the Wildcats (15-7, 4-5 Big 12) have a chance to shake off the rough patch of the last 10 days when they travel to No. 2 Baylor for Saturday afternoon's game (3 p.m. ET, ESPNews) at the Ferrell Center.

Meanwhile, Baylor (20-2, 7-2) will be striving for a bounce-back win of its own.

Third-ranked Kansas held serve on its home court in a prime-time matchup on Wednesday when the Jayhawks edged Baylor 73-68.

Bears point guard Manu Lecomte said he and his teammates weren't feeling too much of a sting after their showdown at Kansas lived up to the hype. Baylor led part of the way and stayed within a basket until the final 18 seconds.

Nor are the Bears feeling the grind of trying to keep pace with the Jayhawks.

"Everybody's got something to prove, so we just play every game like it's our last game," Lecomte said. "But we have a lot of fun playing, so I don't think it's hard to keep motivation."

Although Baylor is vying for a possible No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and Kansas State is trying to play its way into the tourney, there might not be much separating the Wildcats and Bears on the court on Saturday.

Kansas State pushed Baylor to double-overtime in two of the Wildcats' last three trips to Waco.

Earlier this season, Kansas State led Baylor midway through the second half in Manhattan, Kan., before the Bears claimed a 77-68 victory.

"K-State, in particular, we've had a lot of one-possession games," Baylor coach Scott Drew said. "They've played really well down here in the past. Last year was a double-overtime game, so we know the importance of making sure we're ready to go. They're going to be hungry, we're going to be hungry, both of us coming off losses."

Kansas State features balanced scoring as four starters average between 12 and 12.6 points. Forward D.J. Johnson, the Wildcats' leading rebounder, figures to play an important role in battling Baylor's tall and long frontcourt.

Lecomte was the difference-maker for Baylor at Kansas State in January. He scored 26 points as he hit 4 of 6 from 3-point range.

"They doubled the big every time (forwards Jo Lual-Acuil and Johnathan Motley) touched it," Lecomte said. "I was just free to shoot, just spotted up. The bigs did a great job of kicking the ball out."

The theme of Big 12 basketball this season has been close games that test fans' nerves. But going into the second half of conference play, the coaches and players seem to be used to the script.

"Should be another Big 12 game, which means tune in the last two minutes," Drew said.

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The Bum's Top 25 College Basketball Previews For 02/04/16 !

The Bum's Top 25 College Basketball Previews For 02/04/16 !

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