Announcement

**Udog** · 02-12-2021, 09:34 AM

Armadillo: Friday's six-pack

Six leading scorers in college basketball:
22.0— Antoine Davis, Detroit
22.1— Michael Flowers, South Alabama
22.1— Davion Warren, Hampton
22.3— Isaiah Ross, Iona
22.4— Cameron Thomas, LSU
25.3— Luka Garza, Iowa

Americans who have died from COVID-19: 475,235
PLEASE wear a mask (over your nose/mouth) when you go out.

**********

Armadillo: Friday's Den: Random stuff with weekend here……..

13) Washington State 81, UCLA 73
— Bruins lose for third time in last four games.
— USC takes sole possession of first place in the Pac-12.
— Wazzu wins for third time in four games.

12) From 2006-08, Ben Howland got UCLA to the Final Four three years in a row; unfortunately for them, Billy Donovan’s Florida team beat them in the Final Four two years in a row, then they lost to Memphis in ‘08. Making the Final Four three years in a row is damn fine coaching, but if your fanbase is spoiled, it leaves a sour taste.

We live in a fickle society; the fanbase got tired of Howland and his defense-first approach, so Steve Alford replaced him, and that didn’t go well enough (three Sweet 16’s in six years), so after butchering the latest coaching search, they eventually hired Mick Cronin, a coach who wins a lot (11 NCAA tourneys, never in Elite 8) but also believes in defense-first.

The last eight years (8 years is a significant trend), Mick Cronin’s teams have finished outside the top 300 in tempo (they are 357 teams in the country). If they thought Howland’s teams weren’t entertaining enough, they’re going to get tired of Cronin pretty soon, once fans are let back in Pauley Pavilion.

Unless, of course, Cronin wins a national title; that would appease the fanbase, for a while.

11) I have a new hero; his name is Mark Daigneault, he coaches the Oklahoma City Thunder.

At age 35, he is an NBA head coach; he began his basketball career as a student manager at UConn, working for Jim Calhoun. He was going to stay in college and get a Master’s degree, but Calhoun and assistant coach George Blaney pushed him to apply for an assistant coaching job at Holy Cross, which he got, because Calhoun/Blaney are influential people.

From there he hooked up with Billy Donovan at Florida and then moved up to become the head coach of Oklahoma City Thunder’s G League team. Last year he became an assistant coach for the Thunder, and now he sits in the first chair, at age 35.

For those of us who were student managers in college, this guy is a hero; there are others who have followed this path— Lawrence Frank, Will Wade, Buzz Williams. I root for those guys.

10) While we’re talking about the Oklahoma City Thunder, lets talk about Kenrich Williams, a 6-6 forward. This is a guy who didn’t get a D-I scholarship offer playing high school ball in Waco, TX. Baylor missed the boat on this guy.

Williams went to New Mexico JC, then to TCU, where he helped the Horned Frogs improve into a contending team, but he wasn’t an All-American or anything.

His persistence is inspirational; for two years, he bounced between the G League and the New Orleans Pelicans. New Orleans traded him to the Thunder last November, and how he is scoring 5.6 ppg in 16.6 mpg for Oklahoma City.

Not bad for a kid with no scholarship offers coming out of high school; it shows kids that if you work your butt off on your game and don’t give up, great things can and will happen.

9) Lakers won their last six games, with last three games all going overtime. In those three games, 36-year old Lebron James played:

46:29, 42:31, 41:03

Lot of minutes for a 36-year old, even if he is one of the five best players ever. At some point, as the playoffs approach, they’re going to have to taper his off playing time a little- they’ll need his legs to be fresh for the playoffs. He is an all-time great, but he’s still a human being.

8) Valparaiso University is dropping their Crusaders nickname, mascot and logos, because they’ve been adopted and embraced by different hate groups. Animal mascots are going to be even more popular as we move forward; I think Valparaiso Armadillos would be a cool name.

Are there armadillos in Indiana?

7) Stanford’s best basketball player is Oscar deSilva; the young man speaks six languages!!!! He can get away with cursing at officials any time he wants, as long as the refs aren’t bilingual.

6) Ivy League will let current senior student-athletes play an additional year as graduate students next season, a one-time deal, since the league didn’t play this season.

Previously, the Ivy League hasn’t let athletic redshirts or graduate students to play sports, which is why lot of them transfer elsewhere to play in their fifth year of eligibility. Right now, there are 20 Ivy League men’s basketball players currently in the NCAA transfer portal.

This spring/summer will be a very active time for transfers/roster poaching in college hoop.

5) Texas State 63, Tex-Arlington 56:
— Bobcats are 14-6, 8-3 in Sun Belt with an interim coach.
— Texas State is #13 at shooting 3’s, #10 at forcing turnovers.

4) From 2004-08, Mike D’Antoni coached the Phoenix Suns; they won 62-54-61-55 games in those years, they were so much fun to watch, they won a lot, but they went 26-25 in playoff games and the new owner sent D’Antoni packing, a large mistake.

They’ve made the playoffs once in 12 years since then, they’ haven’t been fun to watch, they’ve pretty much been a dismal franchise, but hey, the owner is a really rich guy with no patience.

Sacramento Kings have the NBA’s longest playoff drought (14 years); Suns are next, at 10 years. Suns are doing well, look like they’ll make the playoffs this year. Hopefully the jackass owner will leave Monty Williams alone and let him coach a young, improving team.

3) Red Sox gave Marwin Gonzalez $3M to play this season; Gonzalez is a switch-hitter who plays a lot of different positions. He knocked in 90 runs for the world champion Astros in 2017.

2) Jacksonville Jaguars raised eyebrows this week when they hired Chris Doyle as their strength coach; he had that job with the Iowa Hawkeyes for 21 years. Supposedly a good strength coach.

Here’s the thing: in 2019, former players made accusations about institutional racism within the Iowa football program, including specific accusations against Doyle, who was given $1.1M to take a hike. Now Urban Meyer brings him to the NFL? Eyebrows raised.

1) You bring a head coach with zero NFL experience to a franchise that loses a lot; one of the first people he hires is a guy that has been accused of racist activity, at a lower level. What could possibly go wrong?

When I heard that Jacksonville hired Meyer, first thing that popped into my head was this: This won’t be a mediocre hire; it’ll either go really well, or really, really badly. They’re not off to a great start.

**Udog** · 02-12-2021, 10:05 AM

NCAAB
Long Sheet

Friday, February 12

**Udog** · 02-12-2021, 10:10 AM

NCAAB

Friday, February 12

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trend Report
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

**Udog** · 02-12-2021, 10:14 AM

NCAAB
Armadillo's Write-Up

Friday, February 12

Tulane @ Central Florida
Tulane (8-7, 3-7)
— ranked #154 by KenPom
— Tempo: #268
— Experience: #334
— Continuity: #308
— Green Wave lost five of their last seven games overall.
— Tulane has won two of its last three road games.
— Tulane has #336 eFG% in country (#317 on arc, #331 inside arc).

Central Florida (5-10, 3-9)
— ranked #103 by KenPom
— Tempo: #240
— Experience: #248
— Continuity: #278
— UCF lost nine of its last 11 games.
— Knights lost three of last four home games.
— You’re reading ***************.com
— UCF is turning ball over 22.4% of time (#315)

— UCF won four of last five series games.
— Green Wave lost eight of last visits to Orlando.

Milwaukee @ Wright State
Milwaukee (7-8, 6-7)
— ranked #251 by KenPom
— Tempo: #93
— Experience: #199
— Continuity: #138
— Panthers lost six of their last eight games overall.
— Milwaukee is 4-3 SU in its Horizon road games.
— Opponents are shooting 37.4% on the arc (#303)

Wright State (15-4, 13-3)
— ranked #55 by KenPom
— Tempo: #67
— Experience: #295
— Continuity: #90
— Raiders won their last seven games.
— Wright won its last three games, by 36-9-30 points.
— Raiders have #6 eFG% defense in country.

— Wright won last five series games.
— Panthers lost 14 of last 15 visits here (56-54/82-70 last two)

Cal-Irvine @ Cal-Riverside
Cal-Irvine (10-6, 6-2)
— ranked #113 by KenPom
— Tempo: #279
— Experience: #337
— Continuity: #182
— Anteaters won eight of their last ten games.
— Irvine split pair at Hawai’i, its only Big West road games.
— Irvine isn’t a great shooting team (#291 eFG%)

Cal-Riverside (8-4, 4-2)
— ranked #131 by KenPom
— Tempo: #282
— Experience: #87
— Continuity: #184
— Riverside hasn’t played in 12 days.
— Highlanders won four of their last five games.
— Riverside has #2 eFG% defense in country, vs schedule #263

— Irvine won last 13 series games.
— Anteaters won last five visits here, by 10-12-10-21-4 points.

Akron @ Miami
Akron (11-4, 9-3)
— ranked #93 by KenPom
— Tempo: #159
— Experience: #120
— Continuity: #235
— Akron won seven of their last eight games.
— Zips won three of their last four road games.
— Akron is shooting 56.0% inside arc (#16)

Miami (8-7, 5-5)
— ranked #173 by KenPom
— Tempo: #295
— Experience: #113
— Continuity: #25
— Miami lost three of its last four games.
— RedHawks won four of their last five home games.
— Miami has #241 eFG% defense in country.

— Akron won last four games, all by 10+ points.
— Teams split last six meetings played here.

St Bonaventure @ VCU
St Bonaventure (10-2, 8-2)
— ranked #51 by KenPom
— Tempo: #300
— Experience: #116
— Continuity: #29
— St Bonaventure was held to 57-59 points in its two losses.
— Bonnies won three of their five conference road games.
— Bonnies have #37 eFG% defense in country.

VCU (14-4, 7-2)
— ranked #52 by KenPom
— Tempo: #88
— Experience: #302
— Continuity: #280
— VCU won its last four games, giving up 58.5 ppg.
— Rams are forcing turnovers 25.2% of time (#5)
— VCU is 5-4 vs top 100 teams.

— VCU lost 70-54 in Olean January 20.
— Rams won five of last six series games.
— Bonnies lost last four visits here, by 19-8-5-28 points.

UAB @ Louisiana Tech
UAB (16-2, 9-1)
— ranked #87 by KenPom
— Tempo: #232
— Experience: #33
— Continuity: #165
— Blazers won last six games, giving up 55.5 ppg in last four.
— UAB is 3-1 in true road games, splitting pair at Charlotte.
— Blazers are forcing turnovers 23.9% of time (#10)

Louisiana Tech (15-6, 8-4)
— ranked #96 by KenPom
— Tempo: #99
— Experience: #61
— Continuity: #113
— Tech won seven of its last nine games overall.
— Bulldogs won last three home games, by 11-16-3 points.
— Tech has #27 eFG% defense in country.

— Home side won eight of last nine series games.
— Blazers lost their last four visits to Ruston.

North Texas @ Southern Miss
North Texas (10-6, 6-2)
— ranked #83 by KenPom
— Tempo: #341
— Experience: #25
— Continuity: #92
— North Texas won five of its last six games.
— Mean Green won 8 of 9 games vs teams ranked outside top 100.
— North Texas is shooting 37.6% on the arc (#35).

Southern Miss (7-12, 3-9)
— ranked #251 by KenPom
— Tempo: #272
— Experience: #201
— Continuity: #192
— Southern Miss lost its last six games, five of them on road.
— Golden Eagles won three of their five C-USA home games.
— Southern Miss is shooting 46.1% inside arc (#288).

— North Texas won last two meetings, 65-62/72-52.
— Mean Green lost three of last four visits to Hattiesburg.

Rice @ Western Kentucky
Rice (12-8, 6-6)
— ranked #180 by KenPom
— Tempo: #87
— Experience: #287
— Continuity: #298
— Rice lost last three road games, by 10-12-26 points.
— In their last four games, Owls allowed 80.5 ppg.
— Rice is shooting 37% on the arc (#45), has #43 eFG%.

Western Kentucky (13-4, 6-2)
— ranked #82 by KenPom
— Tempo: #193
— Experience: #52
— Continuity: #86
— WKU hasn’t played in 19 days.
— Hilltoppers won last four games, scoring 75 ppg.
— WKU gets 22.9% of its points on foul line (#19)

— Hilltoppers won last four series games.
— Rice lost 79-72/68-61 in last two visits to WKU.

Georgia Tech @ Clemson
Georgia Tech (9-7, 5-5)
— ranked #61 by KenPom
— Tempo: #221
— Experience: #3
— Continuity: #10
— Tech lost its last three road games, scoring 62.7 ppg.
— Jackets are 5-0 in ACC if they score 70+ points, 0-5 if they don’t.
— Tech is forcing turnovers 21.7% of time (#50)

Clemson (12-5, 6-5)
— ranked #48 by KenPom
— Tempo: #320
— Experience: #171
— Continuity: #97
— Clemson won three of its last four games.
— Tigers won five of six ACC home games, losing to Virginia.
— Clemson is forcing turnovers 22.5% of time (#24).

— Tigers lost 83-65 at Georgia Tech January 20.
— Tech won last three series games, by 9-3-18 points.
— Tech lost 13 of last 14 games in Littlejohn.

Illinois @ Nebraska
Illinois (13-5, 9-3)
— ranked #4 by KenPom
— Tempo: #79
— Experience: #219
— Continuity: #46
— Illinois won four in row, 8 of last 10 games.
— Illini won its last three road games, scoring 84.7 ppg.
— Illinois has #8 eFG% in country (#10 on arc, #24 inside arc)

Nebraska (4-11, 0-8)
— ranked #129 by KenPom
— Tempo: #26
— Experience: #101
— Continuity: #321
— Nebraska is 0-4 at home in Big 14, losing by 11-8-7-13 points.
— Cornhuskers have #311 eFG% (#298 on arc, #291 inside arc)
— Nebraska’s last D-I win was December 1st over South Dakota.

— Illinois won three of last four series games.
— Illini lost four of last five visits to Lincoln.

Detroit @ Cleveland State
Detroit (8-8, 7-5)
— ranked #167 by KenPom
— Tempo: #266
— Experience: #9
— Continuity: #219
— Detroit won 7 of last 8 games, after a 1-7 start.
— Titans are 0-5 vs top 200 teams, giving up 83.8 ppg.
— Detroit is shooting 38.3% on arc (#19).

Cleveland State (14-5, 14-2)
— ranked #157 by KenPom
— Tempo: #287
— Experience: #78
— Continuity: #130
— Vikings won their last four games, scoring 76.8 ppg.
— Cleveland is forcing turnovers 21.1% of time (#71)
— Vikings are being rewarded for playing #7 non-conference schedule.

— Teams split last eight series games.
— Titans lost three of last four visits to Cleveland.

Temple @ Cincinnati
Temple (4-7, 3-7)
— ranked #139 by KenPom
— Tempo: #173
— Experience: #231
— Continuity: #293
— Temple lost last three games, scoring 63.7 ppg.
— Owls have #322 eFG% (#280 on arc, #322 inside arc)
— Temple lost three of four road games, winning at Tulane.

Cincinnati (5-7, 3-4)
— ranked #165 by KenPom
— Tempo: #69
— Experience: #118
— Continuity: #196
— Cincinnati won three of its last four games.
— Bearcats gave up 60-61 points in two games since its COVID pause.
— Cincinnati is shooting 29% on arc (#323), has #264 eFG%.

— Bearcats won 63-60 at Temple, eight days ago.
— Cincinnati won last eight series games.
— Owls lost last three visits to Cincy, by 7-1-33 points.

UCSB @ Hawai’i
UCSB (12-3, 6-2)
— ranked #83 by KenPom
— Tempo: #299
— Experience: #26
— Continuity: #62
— This is Gauchos’ first game in 13 days.
— UCSB won its last four road games, scoring 86.5 ppg.
— Gauchos are forcing turnovers 21.7% of time (#48)

Hawai’i (7-5, 5-5)
— ranked #193 by KenPom
— Tempo: #228
— Experience: #196
— Continuity: #318
— Rainbows won last three games, giving up 64.3 ppg.
— This is Hawai’i’s first top 100 game; they split with #112 Cal-Irvine.
— Rainbows are 2-3 in Big West games decided by 5 or fewer points.

— UCSB won five of last seven series games.
— Gauchos lost four of last five visits to Hawai’i.

**Udog** · 02-12-2021, 10:16 AM

837IL-CHICAGO -838 IUPUI
IL-CHICAGO is 7-0 ATS (7 Units) after failing to cover 4 or 5 of their last 6 against the spread over the last 2 seasons.

839CANISIUS -840 QUINNIPIAC
QUINNIPIAC is 5-18 ATS (-14.8 Units) in home games off a road loss against a conference rival since 1997.

841IUPU-FT WAYNE -842 YOUNGSTOWN ST
IUPU-FT WAYNE is 15-4 ATS (10.6 Units) after having lost 6 or 7 of their last 8 games since 1997.

843N KENTUCKY -844 WI-GREEN BAY
N KENTUCKY is 8-1 ATS (6.9 Units) in road games vs. losing teams over the last 2 seasons.

845MANHATTAN -846 IONA
IONA is 3-17 ATS (-15.7 Units) after a non-conference game in the last 3 seasons.

847MIDDLE TENN ST -848 MARSHALL
MIDDLE TENN ST is 1-12 ATS (-12.2 Units) in road games when the total is 140 to 149.5 in the last 3 seasons.

849LONG BEACH ST -850 CAL DAVIS
CAL DAVIS are 10-1 ATS (8.9 Units) after having lost 4 or 5 of their last 6 games over the last 2 seasons.

851TULANE -852 UCF
TULANE is 7-0 ATS (7 Units) in road games after playing 3 consecutive games as an underdog over the last 2 seasons.

853FLA ATLANTIC -854 TX-SAN ANTONIO
FLA ATLANTIC is 9-26 ATS (-19.6 Units) in road games after having won 3 of their last 4 games since 1997.

855OAKLAND -856 ROBERT MORRIS
OAKLAND is 7-0 ATS (7 Units) after allowing 80 points or more 2 straight games in the current season.

**Udog** · 02-12-2021, 11:15 AM

NCAAB
Dunkel

Friday, February 12

Announcement

Friday's NCAAB Trends and Indexes - 2/12

Friday's NCAAB Trends and Indexes - 2/12

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment