Announcement

**Udog** · 02-20-2021, 09:26 AM

Armadillo:Saturday's six-pack

Odds to win the home run title this season:
12-1— Mike Trout, Ronald Acuna
14-1— Juan Soto
16-1— Joey Gallo
18-1— Eloy Jimenez
20-1— Pete Alonso, Cody Bellinger, Aaron Judge
25-1— Vladimir Guerrero, Giancarlo Stanton

Americans who have died from COVID-19: 495,207
PLEASE wear a mask (over your nose/mouth) when you go out.

**********

Armadillo: Saturday's Den: Random stuff with the weekend here

13) This is what politicians/public servants are SUPPOSED TO DO:

In Texas this week, Beto O’Rourke organized volunteers to make more than 784,000 wellness calls to senior citizens around the state, to make sure they’re OK.

Common decency shouldn’t be a partisan issue; O’Rourke is a private citizen now, but he still has influence and he used it to try to help people this week. Good for him.

12) Long time ago, 40 or so years ago, I was student manager of the basketball team at UAlbany, when the Great Danes were a Division III team. A great learning experience, made lot of friends because of it; I was thinking of this story tonight and it made me smile:

Albany had a JV team; this is February 1980. The JV team had several injuries, one of whom was Jody MacDonald, who is now a sports talk host in Philadelphia; our team was down to six guys, so for two interesting nights, I suited up as the JV’s 7th player.

Because part of my job as student manager was dealing with the officials before games, I knew most of them; this was my junior year. I’m in the layup line, knowing I wasn’t going to play but trying to look like an actual player during warmups. I hear a voice behind me.

“Remember, no dunking in warmups” one of the refs says to me, then smiles and walks away. Just what we need, a smart-ass official. ��

Never got into either game I suited up for, but I did play in one scrimmage on our Sweden trip the following summer. I shot too much and was quickly yanked; go figure.

11) Seems strange to me that NBA teams haven’t seen the second half of their schedules yet, but in the COVID era, the league wanted flexibility in how they’re scheduling.

10) Bill Walton was telling a story Thursday night about how Michael Jordan’s first college choice was UCLA, but Larry Brown, then UCLA’s coach, wasn’t interested. I’ve never heard that one before; the whole course of college basketball would’ve changed.

Ironic that Larry Brown is a North Carolina alum.

9) I listen to podcasts a lot; can learn a lot from diverse sources, which is a good thing.

Rams’ GM Les Snead does a podcast with his wife, Kara Henderson; I’m listening to them as I type this, talking to poker pro Annie Duke about decision-making, and how decisions are made, and all the things that go into making good decisions.

Snead’s job has a lot of decision making; you wouldn’t think an NFL GM would take knowledge from a poker pro, but smart people listen to other smart people.

8) Boise State 81, Utah State 77:
— Broncos sweep Utah State, improve to 18-4, 14-3 in conference
— Mountain West is looking like a 2-bid league, with San Diego State looking solid.

7) Dayton 76, Saint Louis 53— Flyers sweep Saint Louis; they were up 20 at the half in this game. Not sure what to make of the Billikens; they had a 34-day COVID pause in January, are now only 4-3 in the A-14. They’re looking more and more like an NIT team.

6) UAB 76, Old Dominion 69:
— Brickfest: teams combined to shoot 7-32 on the arc.
— Andy Kennedy’s Blazers are 17-4, 10-3 in Conference USA, in Kennedy’s first season.
— UAB was +11 (20-9) in turnovers.

5) Iona 91, Monmouth 86:
— Rick Pitino’s Gaels are 7-5, 5-3 in the MAAC.
— Monmouth coach King Rice got tossed for carping to refs; in an empty gym, the yelling just sounds louder than it probably is.

Pitino has said that he believes in the Gonzaga/Saint Mary’s model of recruiting for mid-majors; 40-50% (6 or 7 players) being from foreign countries. Interesting strategy.

4) Baseball stuff:
— Mets gave P Taijuan Walker $20M for two years.
— Pirates gave 1B/3B Todd Frazier a minor league deal.

3) Lakers’ star Anthony Davis (calf/achilles) is out for at least four weeks.

2) Get well soon to Indianas’ manager Terry Francona, who had offseason surgery to address a staph infection in his big toe- he is still wearing a walking boot.

Everyone you listen to says that Francona is a good dude; he’s also been a successful manager, ending the Curse of the Bambino with the 2004 Red Sox. Baseball is better if he is involved.

Random trivia you probably already knew: Francona was manager of the Birmingham Barons in the AA Southern League, the year Michael Jordan played for the Barons.

1) A 111-year old woman in South Carolina got the COVID vaccine this week, the oldest person to do so.

Maria Aulenbacher attributes living such a long life to a few things: staying active and reading every day (she particularly favors historical books and non-fiction), a glass of red wine with lunch, and a beer with dinner. Good for her.

**Udog** · 02-20-2021, 09:32 AM

NCAAB
Long Sheet

Saturday, February 20

**Udog** · 02-20-2021, 09:38 AM

NCAAB

Saturday, February 20

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

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

**Udog** · 02-20-2021, 09:42 AM

NCAAB
Armadillo's Write-Up

Saturday, February 20

Michigan State @ Indiana
Michigan State (10-9, 4-9)
— ranked #69 by KenPom
— Tempo: #151
— Experience: #196
— Continuity: #85
— Spartans lost six of their last eight games.
— Michigan State lost last six road games, five by 10+ points.
— Spartans have #254 eFG% in country (#261 inside arc).

Indiana (12-9, 7-7)
— ranked #28 by KenPom
— Tempo: #297
— Experience: #287
— Continuity: #81
— Indiana won three of their last four games.
— Hoosiers are getting 22% of their points on foul line (#31)
— You’re reading ***************.com
— Indiana has played five overtime games (2-3) this season.

— Indiana won last three series games.
— Spartans lost three of last four visits to Bloomington.

UConn @ Villanova
UConn (10-5, 7-5)
— ranked #35 by KenPom
— Tempo: #320
— Experience: #132
— Continuity: #163
— Huskies split four games since their 11-day COVID pause.
— UConn won four of its six Big East road games.
— Huskies are grabbing 36.9% of their missed shots (#6).

Villanova (13-3, 8-2)
— ranked #11 by KenPom
— Tempo: #332
— Experience: #124
— Continuity: #6
— Villanova split its last four games, after an 11-1 start.
— Wildcats are 5-0 at home in Big East (four wins by 10+)
— Villanova has #31 eFG% in country.

Kentucky @ Tennessee
Kentucky (7-13, 6-7)
— ranked #62 by KenPom
— Tempo: #196
— Experience: #341
— Continuity: #343
— Kentucky won its last two games, after a 1-7 skid.
— Wildcats lost four of their last five road games.
— Kentucky’s last three games were decided by total of 7 points.

Tennessee (15-5, 8-5)
— ranked #16 by KenPom
— Tempo: #245
— Experience: #247
— Continuity: #100
— Tennessee won five of its last seven games.
— Vols won their last four home games.
— Tennessee is forcing turnovers 23.1% of time (#17)

— Vols won 82-71 at Kentucky February 6, after trailing by 10 with 12:00 left.
— Tennessee won four of last five series games.
— Wildcats lost four of last five visits to Knoxville.

Texas Tech @ Kansas
Texas Tech (14-6, 6-5)
— ranked #20 by KenPom
— Tempo: #281
— Experience: #275
— Continuity: #244
— Texas Tech hasn’t played in 11 days.
— Red Raiders won three of their last four games.
— Tech is forcing turnovers 24.7% of time (#5).

Kansas (11-7, 7-6)
— ranked #24 by KenPom
— Tempo: #164
— Experience: #262
— Continuity: #113
— Kansas won its last four games, after a 2-5 skid.
— Jayhawks won their last five home games.
— Opponents are shooting only 46.0% inside arc (#51)

— Kansas won 58-57 in Lubbock December 17.
— Jayhawks won 21 of last 23 series games.
— Tech lost last two visits to Lawrence, 79-63/78-75.

West Virginia @ Texas
West Virginia (14-6, 7-4)
— ranked #18 by KenPom
— Tempo: #134
— Experience: #157
— Continuity: #34
— Mountaineers won five of their last seven games.
— WVU won its last four road games, scoring 78.5 ppg.
— West Virginia is grabbing 36.2% of its missed shots (#10)

Texas (13-5, 7-4)
— ranked #19 by KenPom
— Tempo: #160
— Experience: #121
— Continuity: #3
— Texas is 3-4 in its last seven games, after a 10-1 start.
— Opponents are shooting 44.7% inside arc (#25)
— Lot of disruptions in Austin this week, with the terrible weather; not sure how it affects the Texas team.

— Texas won 72-70 in Morgantown January 9.
— Longhorns won five of last six series games.
— West Virginia lost last three visits here, by 8-7-10 points.

Illinois @ Minnesota
Illinois (15-5, 11-3)
— ranked #6 by KenPom
— Tempo: #94
— Experience: #220
— Continuity: #46
— Illinois won its last six games, two of them in OT.
— Illini has #10 eFG%; #14 on arc, #19 inside arc.
— Illinois won its last four road games.

Minnesota (13-9, 6-9)
— ranked #41 by KenPom
— Tempo: #112
— Experience: #144
— Continuity: #188
— Minnesota is 6-1 at home, 0-8 on road in league games.
— Minnesota is getting 23.5% of their points on foul line (#11)
— Gophers are shooting 29.1% on arc (#321)

— Gophers lost 92-65 at Illinois December 15.
— Home side won last five series games.
— Illini lost last two visits here, 77-67/86-75.

Auburn @ LSU
Auburn (11-11, 5-8)
— ranked #59 by KenPom
— Tempo: #34
— Experience: #346
— Continuity: #315
— Auburn lost four of its last five games, giving up 82 ppg.
— Auburn split its last road games.
— Auburn has #76 eFG%, despite turning ball over 22% of time (#305)

LSU (13-6, 8-4)
— ranked #29 by KenPom
— Tempo: #82
— Experience: #328
— Continuity: #134
— LSU won its last two games, scoring 94-78 points.
— LSU lost two of its last three home games.
— LSU is shooting 55.0% inside arc (#30).

— Auburn won four of last five series games.
— Teams split last six series games played here.

Louisville @ North Carolina
Louisville (11-4, 6-3)
— ranked #32 by KenPom
— Tempo: #295
— Experience: #338
— Continuity: #326
— Louisville hasn’t played in 19 days.
— Cardinals lost three of last five games, after a 9-1 start.
— Louisville has #42 eFG% defense in country.

North Carolina (13-7, 7-5)
— ranked #42 by KenPom
— Tempo: #64
— Experience: #324
— Continuity: #149
— Carolina is 7-0 at home this season.
— Tar Heels have #271 eFG%, turn ball over 20.3% of time (#241)
— Carolina is grabbing 39.5% of its missed shots (#2).

— North Carolina is 6-4 vs Louisville in ACC meetings.
— Cardinals lost two of last three visits to Chapel Hill.

Arizona @ USC
Arizona (14-8, 8-8)
— ranked #45 by KenPom
— Tempo: #201
— Experience: #307
— Continuity: #329
— Arizona lost five of their last seven games.
— Wildcats lost last three road games, by 15-3-14 points.
— Arizona is shooting 37.5% on the arc (#34)

USC (18-3, 12-2)
— ranked #11 by KenPom
— Tempo: #193
— Experience: #193
— Continuity: #322
— USC won seven in row, 12 of last 13 games.
— Trojans won their six Pac-12 home games, five by 13+ points.
— USC has #5 eFG% defense in country.

— USC won 87-73 in Tucson January 7
— Trojans won four of last five series games.
— Arizona lost last two visits here, 80-57/57-48.

Colorado @ Oregon State
Colorado (16-7, 10-6)
— ranked #17 by KenPom
— Tempo: #265
— Experience: #31
— Continuity: #90
— Colorado lost last two games, scoring 62-56 points.
— Buffaloes lost three of their last five road games.
— Colorado is #1 in country on foul line (82.5%).

Oregon State (11-10, 7-8)
— ranked #107 by KenPom
— Tempo: #305
— Experience: #81
— Continuity: #61
— Home side won Beavers’ last nine games.
— Oregon State is shooting 44.7% inside arc (#316)
— Beavers are getting 22% of their points on foul line (#32)

— Beavers got whacked 78-49 in Boulder February 8.
— Teams split last six series games.
— Teams also split last six meetings played here.

Virginia @ Duke
Virginia (15-4, 11-2)
— ranked #10 by KenPom
— Tempo: #357
— Experience: #123
— Continuity: #162
— Cavaliers won four of their last five games.
— Virginia split its last four road games.
— Virginia is shooting 39.8% on the arc (#9)

Duke (9-8, 7-6)
— ranked #30 by KenPom
— Tempo: #159
— Experience: #344
— Continuity: #250
— Duke won its last two games, giving up 53-60 points.
— Blue Devils lost last two home games, at UNC/Notre Dame.
— Duke has #54 eFG% in country (35.7% on arc, #83)

— Teams split last four series games.
— Virginia lost nine of its last ten visits to Durham.

Arizona State @ UCLA
Arizona State (7-10, 4-7)
— ranked #99 by KenPom
— Tempo: #19
— Experience: #147
— Continuity: #141
— ASU lost last three road games, 1-13-18 points.
— Sun Devils’ last four wins were all by 4 or fewer points.
— ASU is forcing turnovers 21.6% of the time (#52)

UCLA (15-5, 11-3)
— ranked #40 by KenPom
— Tempo: #335
— Experience: #266
— Continuity: #17
— UCLA won all ten of its home games this season.
— Bruins split their last six games overall.
— Four of their last five wins were by 5 or fewer points.

— UCLA beat Arizona State 81-75 in OT in Tempe January 7.
— ASU won four of last six series games.
— Sun Devils lost eight of last nine visits to Westwood.

Monmouth @ Iona
Monmouth (10-6, 10-5)
— ranked #183 by KenPom
— Tempo: #3
— Experience: #66
— Continuity: #41
— Hawks won seven of their last nine games.
— Monmouth is shooting 37.9% on arc (#30).
— Monmouth lost four of its last six road games.

Iona (7-5, 5-3)
— ranked #217 by KenPom
— Tempo: #156
— Experience: #198
— Continuity: #282
— Iona is turning ball over 22.6% of time (#321)
— Gaels won three of their five home games this season.
— Iona is grabbing 32.0% of its missed shots (#57)

— Iona was up 20 at half, hung on for 91-86 win here last night.
— Monmouth won six of last ten series games.
— Hawks won four of last six visits to New Rochelle.

**Udog** · 02-20-2021, 09:44 AM

603MICHIGAN ST -604 INDIANA
INDIANA is 55-28 ATS (24.2 Units) in home games versus good passing teams, averaging >=16 assists/game since 1997.

605GEORGIA TECH -606 MIAMI
MIAMI is 7-0 ATS (7 Units) in home games versus teams who are called for 17 or less fouls/game after 15+ games over the last 2 seasons.

605GEORGIA TECH -606 MIAMI
MIAMI is 7-0 ATS (7 Units) in home games off 2 straight losses against conference rivals over the last 2 seasons.

607SIENA -608 NIAGARA
Greg Paulus is 9-1 ATS (7.9 Units) in home games after failing to cover 2 of their last 3 against the spread (Coach of NIAGARA)

607SIENA -608 NIAGARA
NIAGARA is 9-1 ATS (7.9 Units) in home games after failing to cover 2 of their last 3 against the spread over the last 2 seasons.

607SIENA -608 NIAGARA
NIAGARA is 9-1 ATS (7.9 Units) in home games versus poor pressure defensive teams - forcing <=14 turnovers/game over the last 2 seasons.

609UCF -610 TULANE
TULANE is 8-24 ATS (-18.4 Units) in home games versus poor passing teams, averaging <=12 assists/game after 15+ games since 1997.

611LASALLE -612 ST JOSEPHS
ST JOSEPHS are 17-32 ATS (-18.2 Units) after playing a game as an underdog in the last 3 seasons.

613CONNECTICUT -614 VILLANOVA
CONNECTICUT is 11-1 ATS (9.9 Units) versus poor foul drawing teams - attempting <=18 free throws/game over the last 2 seasons.

615WOFFORD -616 W CAROLINA
W CAROLINA is 3-10 ATS (-8 Units) versus poor foul drawing teams - attempting <=18 free throws/game in the current season.

**Udog** · 02-20-2021, 11:50 AM

NCAAB
Dunkel

Saturday, February 20

Announcement

Saturday's NCAAB Trends and Indexes - 2/20

Saturday's NCAAB Trends and Indexes - 2/20

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment