Spears Monday Hoops

[Spearit]

Like these teams the most tonight and Teasing them for extra comfort.

Georgia Tech -2 vs Purdue (Purdue looking for an identity. Tech has the confidence to win easily)
Mon@5:00p Game being played at Lahaina Civic Center - Maui,
(Teased 5.0 points)

Oregon -5 vs Rice (Rice matches up but does not have the depth)
Mon@8:05p
(Teased 5.0 points)

*also played
Ohio St -18 1/2 (freshmen rule in this game at home)

[orientalhawn]

good luck!!

[Spearit]

The 23rd-ranked Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets will battle the Purdue Boilermakers in the opening round of the Maui Invitational. Matt Painter is in his second season as head coach of Purdue and although his squad has played only two games, both have resulted in victory. After cruising by Northern Colorado in the opener, the Boilermakers recorded an 82-57 decision over Western Carolina on Friday. As for Georgia Tech, it has recorded blowout victories in its first three games to open the new campaign. Thursday's 103-74 romp over Georgia State was actually the closest of the three. With the exception of this tournament field, Georgia Tech's non-league schedule is not difficult by any stretch, so the team figures to begin ACC play with plenty of wins under its belt. The all-time series between Purdue and Georgia Tech is tied at 1-1, but the teams haven't met since 1988.

Purdue dominated Western Carolina from start to finish on Friday. The Boilermakers earned a 46-33 rebounding advantage in the clash and outscored the Catamounts 16-8 from the foul line. A strong defensive effort was key to the blowout, as Painter's group limited WCU to 30.8 percent shooting from the floor. Three players scored in double figures for Purdue in the triumph, and Marcus Green led the way with 15 points off the bench. David Teague pitched in 14 points and eight rebounds, while Carl Landry contributed 13 points. Landry scored 18 points in the season-opening win over Northern Colorado, and he is expected to be the top option at the offensive end this season. Teague, the backcourt's top returnee, tallied 13 points in the opener, and those two players will be counted on heavily in this opening-round matchup with the Yellow Jackets.

Speaking of Georgia Tech, it connected on 56.2 percent of its field goal attempts against Georgia State, including a stellar 13-of-24 effort from three-point range. The Yellow Jackets finished the contest with 30 assists against only 10 turnovers, a tremendously efficient ratio. Four of the five starters reached double figures in scoring, and Anthony Morrow contributed 10 points off the bench. Lewis Clinch was outstanding in the clash, as he finished with 20 points on 8-of-9 shooting from the floor. Thaddeus Young contributed 19 points on 5-of-6 shooting from three-point range, and Javaris Crittenton managed 18 points and nine assists. Jeremis Smith added 12 points for the Yellow Jackets, who are averaging 95.3 ppg while allowing 64.3 ppg to their opponents. Clinch is scoring 16.7 ppg to pace the squad, while Crittenton is averaging 15.7 ppg and 8.0 apg.

It appears as if Painter's players are buying into his plan, but the Boilermakers still have plenty of work to do. While Purdue will fight hard tonight, a win over Georgia Tech is unlikely.

Predicted Outcome: Georgia Tech 90, Purdue 79

[Spearit]

Home Record: Oregon 4-0, Rice 1-1. Away Record: Oregon 0-0, Rice 0-0. Neutral Record: Oregon 0-0, Rice 1-1. Conference Record: Oregon 0-0, Rice 0-0. Series Record: Oregon leads, 2-1.GAME NOTES: Hitting the road for the first time in 2006-07, the Oregon Ducks try to keep their perfect start to the season intact as they face off against the Rice Owls in non-conference action from Autry Court tonight. With this being just their second trip ever to Houston, the Ducks are trying to move to 5-0 for the first time since the 2002-03 campaign. Four seasons ago, Oregon actually won six in a row to begin the campaign and nine of the first 10, en route to an NCAA Tournament appearance. This year the team has seen victories over the likes of Lehigh, Cal State Northridge and Portland State all at home and all during the Basketball Travelers Classic. The most recent win for the squad came on Friday in an 85-42 thrashing of UC Irvine at home in Eugene as well. Meanwhile, the Owls have split their first four decisions and are trying to bounce back from their second loss which took place in a 71-69 outing against North Texas at home on Saturday night. As far as the all-time series is concerned, the Ducks currently hold a 2-1 edge over Rice, thanks to an 84-60 blowout of the Owls in November of last year.

Except for center Maarty Leunen who recorded a mere four points in 29 minutes of action, every starter for the Ducks hit for double digits against UC Irvine, beginning with Chamberlain Oguchi who tallied 25 points. Oguchi knocked down 6-of-13 shots behind the three-point line and also came inside to grab five rebounds for the victors. Bryce Taylor added 18 points, Aaron Brooks 14 and Tajuan Porter a dozen in the win as well. Although Leunen didn't do much in the way of scoring, he did pull down a team-high 10 rebounds and also registered four steals in the decision. A starter in all four games, Leunen is fifth in scoring for the program with 11.0 ppg, but its his 11.0 rpg that make him so valuable. Oregon isn't concerned about his lack of scoring because that can come from so many other sources, namely Porter who is averaging a team- high 26.3 ppg and is among the nation's top point producers heading into the week. Shooting an amazing 60.5 percent from three-point range (23-of-38), Porter is also the best at giving up the ball for Oregon with a team-high 18 assists.

Somewhat used to having big scoring games, Morris Almond posted 38 points in the two-point loss to North Texas over the weekend. Not only did Almond connect on 4-of-9 shooting from three-point range, he also picked up the slack in the paint for Rice with a team-best 12 rebounds. Almond, whose personal scoring high is 40 points in his career, shot 15-of-29 from the floor in the outing, while the other four starters went a combined 6-of-18 and generated only 13 points. In addition to 19 costly turnovers, the Owls also made a mere 4-of-16 beyond the arc. Like Porter for the Ducks, Almond is one of the top scorers in the entire nation at the moment with his 26.5 ppg. However, he is not getting the same sort of support from his teammates, as only Greg Killings is averaging double digits as well with his 11.0 ppg. The duo has combined to account for 11.8 rpg, but also 18 total turnovers and just nine assists through four games. The team is shooting 41.2 percent from beyond the arc and has benefited from opponents converting just 62.2 percent at the free-throw line.

The matchup between Porter and Almond will be well worth the price of admission, but it will be the fringe players who will make the difference. So with that in mind, go with the better supporting cast coming out of Eugene.

Predicted Outcome: Oregon 85, Rice 77

[BAMABOY]

gl spear !

[pake]

GL Spear

GT is -7 now.

[BillMill71]

Good Luck Spear, I am on all of them

[kbsooner21]

Best of luck Spear! Looking at Oregon myself

[bover1]

the yellow jackets need 2 pick it up...i have them in a money line parlay.....gl rit....

[Kaptain]

gl to ya Spearit, but I think San FRan gives Ohio St all the want and more.....best to ya my man----kapt

[CheCheBoFumbe]

good luck Spearit

[Spearit]

1st game hits on Ga Tech. Now awaiting Oregon game. Ohio State has better odds at -17 once again. The Dons may play well at home but this I have to see in the Big 10. Kapt and others believe this can go the Dons way. Good Luck to all.

[GOLDENGREEK]

Cash That Ticket--gl Boss!!

[Spearit]

Need this for the sweep
Down by 6 points- rallies to tie at the end of the game - Now OT- Oregon needs to win by 5.

[Spearit]

Unbelievable- I won em all. What luck to even get to OT with Oregon behind by so much and then win by 6.


Winners!

(Like these teams the most tonight and Teasing them for extra comfort.

Georgia Tech -2 vs Purdue (Purdue looking for an identity. Tech has the confidence to win easily)
Mon@5:00p Game being played at Lahaina Civic Center - Maui,
(Teased 5.0 points)

Oregon -5 vs Rice (Rice matches up but does not have the depth)
Mon@8:05p
(Teased 5.0 points)

*also played
Ohio St -18 1/2 (freshmen rule in this game at home)