Announcement

**Udog** · 03-25-2021, 09:57 AM

I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them.

**Udog** · 03-25-2021, 09:57 AM

Armadillo: Thursday's six-pack

A person named Web Smith posted this on Twitter:
A few books that I credit to helping me when my mental health falters:
1: Atomic Habits (James Clear)
2: Can’t Hurt Me (Goggins)
3: The Daily Stoic (Holiday)
4: Driven (Douglas Brackmann)
5: GRIT (Angela Duckworth)
If your mental health is struggling, reach out to a friend, read a book, listen to music.

Americans who have died from COVID-19: 542,379
PLEASE wear a mask (over your nose/mouth) when you go out.

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Armadillo: Thursday's Den: Doing some thinking out loud…….

13) Baseball had the universal DH last year and everyone seemed happy with it; no pitchers got hurt while batting and it was assumed that it would become a permanent thing.

But sometimes it seems like baseball is run by imbeciles; the owners used the universal DH as a bargaining chip to retain the expanded playoffs, and the players said no, so this season, the National League pitchers will bat, with it widely assumed that once there is a new labor deal this winter, the universal DH will become a permanent thing.

Arizona pitcher Zac Gallen has a hairline fracture in his right arm, something that only pains him when he swings a bat- go figure. The main reason this ticks me off is that Gallen is one of the better pitchers on my fantasy team, and good pitchers are hard to find. Oy.

But it is also annoying because in a business where teams are with a billion dollars, there seems to be no common sense. They want more offense in the game, but they won’t put the DH in for both leagues. They want more balls in play, but they let pitchers bat and most pitchers suck at hitting. It makes no sense.

12) Toronto Blue Jays have injury issues already:
— OF George Springer has an oblique issue.
— Closer Kirby Yates might need Tommy John surgery.
— P Nate Pearson has a pulled leg muscle.
— Injuries to 3B Cavan Biggio’s injured finger came back negative.
— P Robbie Ray is day-to-day with an elbow injury.

11) This will be catcher Kurt Suzuki’s 15th year in the major leagues; he’s bounced around a lot:
2007-12: Oakland
2012-13: Washington
2013: back to Oakland for 35 games.
2014-16: Minnesota
2017-18: Atlanta
2019-20: Washington
2021: LA Angels

Bet you he could write a hell of a book.

10) Houston Astros signed P Lance McCullers to a 5-year, $85M contract extension.

9) Last year, the average on-base % in the major leagues was .321; the average slugging percentage was .402, making the average OPS .723.

8) They were talking on the Spurs game last night, saying that Kawhi Leonard owns:
— a $17M home in Pacific Palisades
— a $7M condo in downtown Los Angeles
— a $13M home in Rancho Sante Fe

Must be fun to be really rich.

Leonard scored 25 last night; Clippers pounded San Antonio, 134-101.

7) There is a rule in college sports that was put into effect in 2006: Division I athletes can transfer without having to sit out a year if they graduated in four years and have a season of eligibility remaining.

One of the first ballplayers to take use this rule was Kevin Kruger, who transferred from Arizona State to UNLV, so he could he could play for his dad Lon Kruger. UNLV made the Sweet 16 that year; they’ve only won one NCAA Tournament game since then.

Which is why, 15 years later, Kevin Kruger is the new head coach at UNLV; he will be looking to poach transfers from other schools to strengthen his roster. Who wouldn’t to go to school in a town that loves basketball and has great weather?

Problem is, Kruger will be UNLV’s 5th head coach in eight years; they need better players, and they need some stability, with both their roster and coaching staff.

6) Two years ago, when Eric Musselman was coaching at Nevada, he started five 5th-year seniors, all of whom had transferred to Reno; his starting lineup that season was older than the Phoenix Suns had in the NBA. Having a talented, mature lineup helps you win.

5) Felt bad for Houston Rockets’ coach Stephen Silas the other night; his team was 11-10 at one point, but then lost 20 games in a row. Losing sucks; at his post-game press conference, Silas was obviously upset, he is sitting at the table, head in hand, trying to keep it together. This is his first year as an NBA head coach, and he knows damn well it also could be his last. Not good.

4) Odds to win each region of the NCAA Tournament:
East:
+175- Alabama
+195- Michigan
+315- Florida State
+750- UCLA

South:
-125- Baylor
+220- Arkansas
+500- Villanova
+4000- Oral Roberts

3) Midwest:
+115- Houston
+190- Loyola Chi
+550- Syracuse
+975- Oregon State

West:
-375- Gonzaga
+640- USC
+1000- Oregon
+2000- Creighton

2) USC-Oregon meet this weekend in the Sweet 16; since 2002, when conference rivals meet in the NCAA Tournament, from the Sweet 16 on, the underdog has been 7-4 ATS in those games.

1) Watching a San Francisco Giants game on TV the other night, with a few hundred fans there to watch, and a pitcher kept falling behind hitters. A wise guy in the stands yells out:

“Stop nibbling!!! Babe Ruth is dead!!!”

Everyone’s a freakin’ expert. LOL

**Udog** · 03-25-2021, 09:58 AM

611MISSISSIPPI ST -612 RICHMOND
MISSISSIPPI ST is 9-1 ATS (7.9 Units) in road games after 2 straight games where they were called for 15 or less fouls over the last 2 seasons.

613NC STATE -614 COLORADO ST
NC STATE is 7-0 ATS (7 Units) in road games versus poor pressure defensive teams - forcing <=14 turnovers/game in the current season.

615BOISE ST -616 MEMPHIS
MEMPHIS are 8-0 ATS (8 Units) in road games after a game where they covered the spread in the current season.

617LOUISIANA TECH -618 W KENTUCKY
W KENTUCKY is 4-17 ATS (-14.7 Units) versus poor pressure defensive teams - forcing <=14 turnovers/game over the last 2 seasons.

NCAAB
Dunkel

Thursday, March 25

NCAAB
Armadillo's Write-Up

Thursday, March 25

NIT tournament- Thursday

Mississippi State vs Richmond (@ Denton, TX))
Mississippi State (16-14)
— ranked #75 by KenPom
— Tempo: #297
— Experience: #312
— Continuity: #253
— Bulldogs are 5-4 in their last nine games.
— Miss State is grabbing 36.1% of their missed shots (#8)
— Bulldogs have #41 eFG% defense in country.
— Miss State starts three sophs and a freshman; they’re using these games to help build for next season.

Richmond (14-8)
— ranked #63 by KenPom
— Tempo: #159
— Experience: #16
— Continuity: #8
— Richmond lost three of its last four games.
— Spiders are 3-6 in games decided by 6 or fewer points.
— Richmond is shooting 53.9% inside the arc (#39)
— Spiders are not a deep team (#338 in bench minutes)
— 5-9 senior G Gilyard played whole 40:00 vs Saint Louis in first round.
— Richmond is 2-0 vs SEC teams this year (Kentucky, Vanderbilt)

NC State vs Colorado State (@ Frisco, TX)
NC State (14-10)
— ranked #66 by KenPom
— Tempo: #195
— Experience: #225
— Continuity: #127
— NC State won six of their last seven games.
— Wolfpack force turnovers 21.9% of time (#47)
— NC State is 6-9 vs teams ranked in top 100.
— Wolfpack shot 67.6% inside arc in their win over Davidson.

Colorado State (19-6)
— ranked #68 by KenPom
— Tempo: #134
— Experience: #308
— Continuity: #36
— Rams won seven of their last nine games.
— Colorado State is shooting 55.2% inside arc (#21).
— 43.5% of shots they take are 3’s (#40)
— Rams didn’t play any seniors in their win over Buffalo.

Memphis vs Boise State (@ Denton, TX)
Memphis (17-8)
— ranked #39 by KenPom
— Tempo: #47
— Experience: #323
— Continuity: #78
— Memphis won 11 of its last 14 games.
— Tigers have #5 eFG% defense in country.
— Memphis is turning ball over 22.1% of time (#318)
— Dayton shot 62.1% inside arc vs Memphis last game.

Boise State (19-8)
— ranked #59 by KenPom
— Tempo: #127
— Experience: #71
— Continuity: #245
— Boise lost four of its last five games.
— Broncos led last game 30-9, blew lead, won 85-84.
— Broncos are shooting 52.5% inside arc (#70)
— Boise State is 5-7 vs teams ranked in top 100.
— Broncos start four juniors and a senior.

Louisiana Tech vs Western Kentucky (@ Frisco, TX)
Louisiana Tech (22-7)
— ranked #78 by KenPom
— Tempo: #113
— Experience: #61
— Continuity: #116
— Bulldogs won six of last seven D-I games.
— Louisiana Tech has three senior starters.
— Bulldogs have the #13 eFG% defense- they’re #28 on defensive boards.
— Tech was held to 55-48 points in last two losses.

Western Kentucky (21-7)
— ranked #90 by KenPom
— Tempo: #210
— Experience: #56
— Continuity: #81
— WKU won 12 of last 15 games, lost finals of C-USA tourney in OT.
— Hilltoppers have a 6-11 center who is probably an NBA player.
— WKU turns ball over 20.7% of time (#268).
— Hilltoppers get 21.9% of their points on foul line (#30).

— These conference rivals split pair at WKU January 8-9th.

NCAAB

Thursday, March 25

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Trend Report
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Louisiana Tech @ Western Kentucky
Louisiana Tech
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Louisiana Tech's last 6 games when playing Western Kentucky
Louisiana Tech is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Western Kentucky
Western Kentucky
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Western Kentucky's last 6 games when playing Louisiana Tech
Western Kentucky is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing Louisiana Tech

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Announcement

Thursday's NCAAB Trends and Indexes - 3/25

Thursday's NCAAB Trends and Indexes - 3/25

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