Announcement

**Udog** · 02-22-2021, 09:36 AM

Armadillo: Monday's six-pack

Six of Atlanta Braves’ top prospects:
1) Cristian Pache, OF
2) Ian Anderson, P— He’s from a suburb of Albany
3) Drew Waters, OF
5) Bryce Wilson, P
9) Braden Shewmake, SS
11) Michael Harris, OF

Americans who have died from COVID-19: 499,911
PLEASE wear a mask (over your nose/mouth) when you go out.

**********

Armadillo: Monday's Den: Happy birthday, Dad…….

13) I’ve become a fan of listening to podcasts on my phone; if there aren’t any good movies on TV late at night, after the games are over, then I’ll put music on or listen to a podcast.

I’m a little concerned that podcasts have replaced writing in a lot of places, because our society is lazy, and running your mouth is easier than typing out your thoughts, but still, I’ve enjoyed learning stuff from listening to people who are smarter than I am.

Word of caution: There A LOT OF PODCASTS out there, so pick/choose things that interest you. My main interests are sports and movies; here are a few podcasts I listen to:

— The Moment, with Brian Koppelman (one of writers of Billions)
— Eye on College Basketball, a CBS production which is self-explanatory.
— The Mind of Miles, with former Nebraska hoop coach Tim Miles, who will have himself a nice career on TV if he chooses that option. He is upbeat and can really talk.
— Truth and Basketball, with George Karl and another guy- they get some good guests. Listened to an episode with Julius Erving the other night.
— 6 Ways to Sunday— Rams’ GM Les Snead and his wife, Kara Henderson talk about interesting aspects of being an NFL GM that we might not usually think about.

Sports, politics, movies, music; its all out there. Its like eavesdropping on conversations, so if you choose smart, interesting people, you’ll get smarter while you’re being entertained.

12) Book recommendation: If you love pro basketball and you remember the ABA, then you have to read Loose Balls, which is basically an oral history of the ABA. The author interviewed a ton of people, then cut/pasted their answers and created this book, long before cut/paste was an actual thing.

Lot of great stories; some of it is obviously dated, seeing how the ABA ended 45 years ago, but the ABA is also highly underrated in basketball history. This book is worth reading.

11) Kid on Florida Atlantic’s baseball team hit two grand slams in one inning the other day, and they were his first two college at-bats. Not a bad way to start your career.

10) I’m in a 14-team fantasy baseball league; it is a dynasty league, so we have a 2-round draft every February, but otherwise keep our teams from year-to-year. This league has been going on since 2005; we’ve finished our draft already and now wait for spring training games to start this coming weekend. Every team gets four drop/adds per month.

I used to offer trades during the spring, but trading can be frustrating; only a couple guys will make deals that are fair exchanges. Few years ago, thought I had a trade wrapped up, but then the guy says, “One more thing……throw in deGrom and we’ve got a deal” Ummm, no bueno.

9) Colorado Rockies are taking grief over dealing Nolan Arenado, and the prospect of Trevor Story also getting traded sometime this year, before he hits free agency. Last time Colorado signed a major league free agent?

December 21, 2018, they signed Daniel Murphy. Are they trying to win?

8) More bad news for the Rockies Sunday; 35-year old 1B/OF Ian Desmond is opting out for the second year in a row, to spend more time with his family. Desmond must’ve taken good care of his money; he has passed on $13.5M by sitting out last year/this year. He is a free agent after this season; why would a hitter willingly leave Denver?

7) One of the pitfalls of wagering on college basketball is that lot of teams have very little depth, and a turned ankle or foul trouble to one guy can cripple a team.

— Notre Dame-Syracuse game Saturday, both teams played 7 guys (Syracuse played an 8th kid, but only for 3:00)
— South Alabama is on a roll, winning 8 in a row; they played six guys Saturday. Six!!!

Lot of work keeping up with who is healthy/who isn’t. It is way worse this year because of teams pausing for COVID and games getting re-scheduled. Hopefully next season will be more normal.

6) When you hear a basketball announcer on TV say “Eurostep” that’s his polite way of saying, “the guy just walked but the ref didn’t call it.”

5) Atlantic 14 tournament has been jockeyed around some:
— Tournament was moved up to March 3-6 in Richmond, all except the final.
— A-14 final will be March 14 in Dayton, which is close to Indiana, where the whole NCAA Tournament will be played. Trying to minimize any possible COVID issues.

4) St Bonaventure 69, Davidson 58:
— Bonnies are 11-3, 9-3 in conference.
— Get a map, and find Olean, NY; it is in middle of nowhere, on Southern Tier of NY.
— How does Bonnies’ coach Mark Schmidt not have a better job? He is a great coach.

Bonnies have 12 players, 2 freshmen, one sophomore, and NINE JUNIORS. They could be a really good team the next couple of years.

3) When I wrote tomorrow NBA’s page just before I started this page, was watching the Minnesota-Knicks game on TV. Knicks won a close game; just heard that after the game, the Timberwolves fired coach Ryan Saunders.

2) As if the last year hasn’t been weird enough, Saturday an NHL game was delayed for eight hours because the sun was out and the ice at the outdoor rink was melting. This was at the same time as the PGA event in Los Angeles being delayed because it was too windy out. Oy.

1) Today would’ve been my dad’s 95th birthday; he passed away six years ago, and I miss him every day. He was a quiet, patient person; somehow the patience didn’t get passed down to his son. ��

Back in the day, I wasn’t allowed to watch The Three Stooges on TV: my mother apparently thought I would start drilling people in the head with a wrench if I did, but when she went out, I would put The Three Stooges on (WSBK in Boston) and my dad would come in the room, shake his head at me, but five minutes later, he’d be laughing harder than I was. Every time.

My dad grew up in New York City, was a huge Brooklyn Dodgers fan; he loved golf, the Mets/Knicks/Giants, going to the racetrack at Saratoga and being around his family, and we loved being around him. Happy birthday dad; wish you were here.

**Udog** · 02-22-2021, 09:41 AM

NCAAB
Long Sheet

Monday, February 22

**Udog** · 02-22-2021, 09:43 AM

NCAAB

Monday, February 22

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Trend Report
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**Udog** · 02-22-2021, 09:45 AM

NCAAB
Armadillo's Write-Up

Monday, February 22

NC-Greensboro @ Western Carolina
NC-Greensboro (16-4, 11-4)
— ranked #114 by KenPom
— Tempo: #190
— Experience: #190
— Continuity: #88
— UNCG won 10 of their last 12 games.
— Spartans lost two of their last three road tilts.
— UNCG’s last three wins were all by 6 or fewer points.

Western Carolina (9-14, 2-12)
— ranked #261 by KenPom
— Tempo: #84
— Experience: #179
— Continuity: #67
— WCU lost three in row, 12 of last 14 games.
— Last three games, Catamounts gave up 85.7 ppg.
— You’re reading ***************.com
— Opponents are shooting 55.3% inside arc (#327)

— UNCG won last nine series games.
— Spartans won last four visits here, by 8-11-3-14 points.

Pepperdine @ Saint Mary’s
Pepperdine (10-9, 6-4)
— ranked #113 by KenPom
— Tempo: #48
— Experience: #109
— Continuity: #62
— Waves won three of their last four games.
— Pepperdine lost three of its five WCC road games.
— Opponents are shooting 55.2% inside arc (#320)

Saint Mary’s (11-7, 2-5)
— ranked #78 by KenPom
— Tempo: #350
— Experience: #245
— Continuity: #220
— Saint Mary’s lost five of its last seven games.
— Gaels lost their last three home tilts, scoring 58.3 ppg.
— Saint Mary’s is shooting 31.6% on arc (#268).

— Gaels lost 60-58 in Malibu, nine days ago.
— Saint Mary’s won nine of last 11 series games.
— Waves lost three three visits to Moraga, by 20-14-7 points.

Texas-Arlington @ Louisiana
Texas-Arlington (11-11, 7-7)
— ranked #246 by KenPom
— Tempo: #109
— Experience: #250
— Continuity: #269
— Tex-Arlington split its last ten games.
— Mavericks are shooting 41.6% inside arc (#344)
— UTA lost four of their seven Sun Belt road games.

Louisiana (14-7, 8-6)
— ranked #196 by KenPom
— Tempo: #54
— Experience: #195
— Continuity: #204
— This is Louisiana’s first game in nine days.
— Ragin’ Cajuns lost three of last four games.
— ULL is turning ball over 21.1% of time (#278)

— These teams split a pair of games in Arlington January 15-16.
— Teams split last six series games.
— Mavericks lost three of last five visits to Lafayette.

Citadel @ Mercer
Citadel (12-9, 5-9)
— ranked #232 by KenPom
— Tempo: #5
— Experience: #123
— Continuity: #120
— Citadel is 3-2 in last five games, after a 1-7 skid.
— Bulldogs are 0-6 on SoCon road (four losses by 14+)
— Citadel has #244 eFG% defense in country.

Mercer (13-9, 6-8)
— ranked #144 by KenPom
— Tempo: #164
— Experience: #116
— Continuity: #258
— Mercer lost five of its last eight games.
— Bears lost three of their last four home games.
— Mercer is shooting 36.8% on the arc (#44)

— Mercer won 83-63 at The Citadel January 20.
— Mercer won last three series games, by 5-16-20 points.
— Citadel won two of last three visits to Macon.

Syracuse @ Duke
Syracuse (13-6, 7-5)
— ranked #53 by KenPom
— Tempo: #123
— Experience: #237
— Continuity: #73
— Syracuse won its last three games, scoring 75.7 ppg.
— Orangemen won Saturday, after trailing by 20 with 16:49 left.
— Syracuse lost five of its seven true road games.

Duke (10-8, 8-6)
— ranked #31 by KenPom
— Tempo: #158
— Experience: #344
— Continuity: #251
— Duke won its last three games, giving up 59.3 ppg.
— Blue Devils won five of their seven ACC home games.
— Duke gets only 13% of its points on foul line (#345)

— Duke won five of last six series games.
— Orangemen won two of last three visits to Durham.

VMI @ Furman
VMI (12-11, 7-7)
— ranked #151 by KenPom
— Tempo: #76
— Experience: #227
— Continuity: #106
— VMI is 1-10 in true road games, winning in OT at Wofford.
— Keydets are shooting 37.9% on arc (#30).
— VMI’s last two losses are by total of three points.

Furman (15-7, 9-4)
— ranked #88 by KenPom
— Tempo: #178
— Experience: #120
— Continuity: #15
— Furman won its last three games, by 18-14-10 points.
— Paladins are forcing turnovers 21.5% of time (#52)
— Furman is shooting 60.6% inside arc (#3).

— Furman (-9) lost 74-73 at VMI January 20.
— Paladins won 10 of last 11 series games.
— VMI lost last five visits here, by 28-17-22-10-2 points.

Texas State @ Arkansas State
Texas State (15-6, 9-3)
— ranked #161 by KenPom
— Tempo: #352
— Experience: #23
— Continuity: #51
— Bobcats won four in row, nine of their last 11 games.
— Texas State won its last six road games.
— Bobcats are shooting 39.6% on arc (#7)

Arkansas State (10-9, 7-5)
— ranked #245 by KenPom
— Tempo: #181
— Experience: #279
— Continuity: #163
— Red Wolves won last four games, scoring 79.5 ppg.
— ASU is shooting 45.5% inside arc (#307), 39.1% on arc (#13)
— This is both teams’ first game in nine days.

— Bobcats won last eight series games.
— Texas State won last four visits here, by 11-6-10-3 points.

Oregon @ USC
Oregon (14-4, 9-3)
— ranked #37 by KenPom
— Tempo: #205
— Experience: #38
— Continuity: #286
— Oregon won its last five games, giving up 61.3 ppg in last four.
— Ducks’ last three wins were by 2-4-3 points.
— Oregon is 4-1 on Pac-12 road, losing 79-72 at Colorado.

USC (18-4, 12-3)
— ranked #14 by KenPom
— Tempo: #221
— Experience: #194
— Continuity: #322
— USC has #7 eFG% defense in country.
— You’re reading ***************.com
— Trojans had 7-game win streak snapped by Arizona Saturday.
— USC grabs 36.3% of their missed shots (#8)

— Teams split last eight series games.
— Ducks lost 72-70/66-49 in last two visits here.

Texas Tech @ Oklahoma State
Texas Tech (14-7, 6-6)
— ranked #22 by KenPom
— Tempo: #292
— Experience: #275
— Continuity: #244
— Texas Tech lost four of its last seven games.
— Red Raiders are forcing turnovers 24% of time (#8)
— Tech is grabbing 34.1% of its missed shots (#26)

Oklahoma State (14-6, 7-6)
— ranked #43 by KenPom
— Tempo: #51
— Experience: #322
— Continuity: #284
— Cowboys won five of their last seven games.
— OSU won its last four home games.
— Cowboys are turning ball over 20.9% of the time (#271).

— State won 82-77 in OT in Lubbock January 2.
— Teams split last ten series games.
— Red Raiders lost three of last four visits to Stillwater.

Evansville @ Drake
Evansville (8-13, 6-9)
— ranked #210 by KenPom
— Tempo: #353
— Experience: #45
— Continuity: #230
— Evansville lost its last five games, giving up 87-85 points in last two.
— Purple Aces lost their last six road games.
— Evansville is shooting 37.1% on arc (#37); over half their shots are 3’s.

Drake (22-2, 13-2)
— ranked #47 by KenPom
— Tempo: #246
— Experience: #77
— Continuity: #166
— Drake won its last three games, after a 1-2 skid.
— Bulldogs have #28 eFG% in country.
— Drake gave up 74-81 points in their two losses.

— Evansville lost 85-71 here yesterday; Drake was 11-21 on arc.
— Drake won last four series games.
— Purple Aces lost last four visits here, by 12-16-12-5 points.

Valparaiso @ Southern Illinois
Valparaiso (9-15, 6-9)
— ranked #191 by KenPom
— Tempo: #241
— Experience: #269
— Continuity: #98
— Valparaiso split its last six games overall.
— Crusaders split their eight MVC road games.
— Valparaiso is shooting 30.2% on the arc (#303).

Southern Illinois (10-11, 4-11)
— ranked #220 by KenPom
— Tempo: #276
— Experience: #341
— Continuity: #283
— Salukis lost 11 of their last 14 games, after a 7-0 start.
— SIU has the #308 eFG% defense in country.
— Salukis lost five of their last seven home games.

— Valparaiso won 66-65 here yesterday.
— Valpo is 4-3 vs SIU in conference meetings.
— Teams split four meetings played in Carbondale.

New Mexico @ Air Force
New Mexico (5-13, 1-13)
— ranked #286 by KenPom
— Tempo: #295
— Experience: #251
— Continuity: #318
— Lobos lost last five games, two of them in OT.
— New Mexico’s only MW win was 67-51 over San Jose State January 21.
— Lobos are shooting 25.3% on arc (#346)
— New Mexico has been in Colorado Springs for while; they played pair of games with Wyoming here last week.

Air Force (4-16, 2-14)
— ranked #324 by KenPom
— Tempo: #355
— Experience: #94
— Continuity: #219
— Falcons lost their last nine games, last three by 5-6-3 points.
— Air Force hasn’t played in nine days.
— Air Force has #342 eFG% defense in country.

— New Mexico won four of last six series games.
— Teams split last four series games played here.

Little Rock @ UL-Monroe
Little Rock (10-12, 6-9)
— ranked #222 by KenPom
— Tempo: #251
— Experience: #96
— Continuity: #47
— Trojans lost their last five games, four by 10+ points.
— Little Rock is turning ball over 22.7% of the time (#323)
— Trojans are 7-4 vs teams ranked outside top 200.

UL-Monroe (6-16, 4-11)
— ranked #302 by KenPom
— Tempo: #258
— Experience: #97
— Continuity: #316
— Bobcats have #3 eFG% defense in country.
— Quinnipiac split their four MAAC home games.
— Bobcats are turning ball over 20.2% of time (#234)

— Little Rock lost 78-66 here yesterday.
— ULM won five of last eight series games.
— Trojans lost six of last seven visits to Monroe.

**Udog** · 02-22-2021, 09:46 AM

841E KENTUCKY -842 SE MISSOURI ST
SE MISSOURI ST is 0-7 ATS (-7.7 Units) after allowing 25 points or less in the first half last game in the last 3 seasons.

843ARK-LITTLE ROCK -844 LA-MONROE
LA-MONROE is 6-17 ATS (-12.7 Units) in home games after having lost 12 or more of their last 15 games since 1997.

845UNC-GREENSBORO -846 W CAROLINA
W CAROLINA is 1-9 ATS (-8.9 Units) versus good defensive teams - shooting pct defense of <=42% over the last 2 seasons.

847MOREHEAD ST -848 SIU EDWARDSVL
SIU EDWARDSVL is 0-7 ATS (-7.7 Units) versus good shooting teams - making >=45% of their shots after 15+ games in the current season.

849PEPPERDINE -850 ST MARYS-CA
ST MARYS-CA is 5-24 ATS (-21.4 Units) after playing 3 consecutive road games since 1997.

851TX-ARLINGTON -852 LA-LAFAYETTE
LA-LAFAYETTE is 18-7 ATS (10.3 Units) in home games versus teams who are called for 17 or less fouls/game after 15+ games since 1997.

853EVANSVILLE -854 DRAKE
DRAKE is 8-0 ATS (8 Units) when playing only their 2nd game in a week in the current season.

855THE CITADEL -856 MERCER
MERCER is 3-14 ATS (-12.4 Units) in home games after 1 or more consecutive losses in the last 3 seasons.

857SYRACUSE -858 DUKE
DUKE is 10-2 ATS (7.8 Units) versus excellent ball handling teams - committing <=12 turnovers/game over the last 2 seasons.

859VALPARAISO -860 S ILLINOIS
S ILLINOIS are 9-1 ATS (7.9 Units) in home games when playing only their 2nd game in 8 days over the last 2 seasons.

**Udog** · 02-22-2021, 10:15 AM

NCAAB
Dunkel

Monday, February 22

Announcement

Monday's NCAAB Trends and Indexes - 2/22

Monday's NCAAB Trends and Indexes - 2/22

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