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**StarDust Bum** · 02-29-2012, 11:38 PM

Miami Heat At Trail Blazers Caps TNT Twinbill

The Miami Heat are coming off some All-Star Game controversy as they start a 3-game road trip at the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday night.

TNT will conclude its doubleheader at 10:30 p.m. (ET) from Portland's Rose Garden. There are four games overall on the night as the calendar flips to March.

Miami (27-7 straight up, 18-16 against the spread) hasn’t played since Feb. 23, but its players have been firmly in the headlines. LeBron James (27.4 PPG) is being roundly criticized for passing up a big shot in the All-Star Game. His psyche is already fragile after his poor performance in the NBA Finals last year and he could start to struggle despite his MVP-caliber first half.

Guard Dwyane Wade is also taking some heat (no pun intended) after breaking Kobe Bryant’s nose in the All-Star Game with a hard foul. Wade has apologized, but that story isn’t dying anytime soon. It’s almost hard to remember that Miami was scorching before the break with an 8-game winning streak (7-1 ATS). Points allowed (90.4 PPG) decreased significantly during that span.

Portland (18-16 SU, 18-15-1 ATS) has a tough game in the high altitude of Denver on Wednesday (result pending) before this one. The Trail Blazers get almost all their scoring from six players, so they can’t afford any injuries. Fortunately, there are none currently and they’ve been a very good home team (13-5 SU, 12-5-1 ATS) all year.

The away team is 4-0 SU and ATS in the last four games between Miami and Portland. The ‘over’ is 4-0 with the last one in March.

Miami will follow this contest by traveling to Utah on Friday and then an instant-classic at the Lakers on Sunday. The Heat should be favored in the first two, but could get points in Los Angeles. They haven’t been an underdog this year and are one of just three teams to be a ‘dog two times or less (see table).

TEAM

AS UNDERDOG

Miami

0-0 ATS

Chicago

2-0 ATS

Oklahoma City

1-1 ATS

Oklahoma City Thunder at Orlando Magic
8:00 p.m. (ET) on TNT

Oklahoma City (27-7 SU, 19-15 ATS) has a pending result at Philly from Wednesday before the flight down to Florida. The Thunder won 5-straight before the break (3-2 ATS), but they were all at home. Their road play has been spotty of late (4-4 SU and ATS) and it doesn’t help that starter Thabo Sefolosha continues to be out with a foot injury.

Orlando (22-13 SU, 20-15 ATS) did a great job as All-Star host, but not everything is rosy. The Dwight Howard trade rumors will intensify as the March 15 trade deadline draws nearer and other players like Jameer Nelson are also being mentioned. It remains to be seen how focused Howard will be and if the fans start turning on him.

The Magic were quietly playing good ball before the break (6-2 SU and ATS), including 3-0 SU and ATS at home. They are the fourth-best defensive team in the league (90.8 PPG) and that number was even lower in the last eight (88.6 PPG). Those stats do not include Wednesday’s game in Washington.

This is the first meeting between the teams this year. The home team has won the last six and covered the last five.

Minnesota Timberwolves at Phoenix Suns
9:00 p.m. (ET) on Regional Broadcasts

Minnesota (18-17 SU, 20-15 ATS) started its road trip in great fashion, a 109-97 win at the Clippers as 6 ½-point ‘dogs on Tuesday night. The Timberwolves are 11-4 ATS away pending Wednesday’s result at the Lakers. Thursday will be their second back-to-back-to-back situation this year. They lost the first one at home to Chicago (111-100 as 6½-point ‘dogs) in January.

Phoenix (14-20 SU and ATS) is in the opposite situation from Minnesota, having not played in over a week. That gives older players like Steve Nash and Grant Hill a chance to rest, but the former could be distracted by trade rumors like Howard. This is also an under .500 home squad at 7-9 SU (6-10 ATS).

These teams haven’t played this season. The Timberwolves are 1-4 SU, but 4-1 ATS in the last five in the desert.

Los Angeles Clippers at Sacramento Kings
10:00 p.m. (ET) on Regional Broadcasts

The Clippers (20-12 SU, 17-15 ATS) had that tough loss Tuesday to Minnesota and are now 1-3 SU and 0-4 ATS in their last four games. Chris Paul and Blake Griffin scored 57 of the 97 points last game and scoring depth is a huge issue after losing Chauncey Billups (Achilles) for the year. Los Angeles is 8-7 SU and 7-8 ATS away this year.

Sacramento (12-22 SU, 18-16 ATS) had a good second-half start on Tuesday night, a 103-96 home win over Utah as 3 ½-point favorites. The team is scoring a big 105.2 PPG since inserting rookie point guard Isaiah Thomas into the starting lineup. The home record is 4-1 SU and ATS in the last five and 8-5 SU and ATS on the year.

These Pacific Division rivals haven’t met this year, with two more after this one. The Clips are 1-4 SU and 0-4-1 ATS in the last five in Sacramento.

**StarDust Bum** · 02-29-2012, 11:47 PM

Blues Continue Road Trip At Vancouver Canucks

The Columbus Blue Jackets decided to keep winger Rick Nash at the NHL trade deadline on Monday and proceeded to lose 5-2 at home to the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday. The Blue Jackets (18-38-7) will now start the new month by attempting to end a three-game losing streak when they visit the Colorado Avalanche (33-27-4) in the first of two road straight road games on Thursday at 9:00 p.m. (ET).

Columbus is the only team in the league with less than 24 wins and ranks dead last with just 43 points. Nash was the most coveted player before the trade deadline and has spent his entire career with the Blue Jackets, who drafted him first overall in 2002. He has 22 assists and scored his 22nd goal in the first period against the Red Wings, but Detroit outscored his team 4-1 in the third to snap a three-game skid of its own.

The total has gone ‘over’ in four of five games for Columbus, although the ‘under’ has cashed in both meetings this season with Colorado, including a 5-0 home loss last Friday. That game was the second of four consecutive wins for the Avalanche, who have outscored the opposition 17-5 during that stretch. They are ninth in the Western Conference and battling the Dallas Stars (33-26-4) and Los Angeles Kings (29-23-12) for the last playoff spot.

Two of the top teams in the Western Conference will also meet later in the night at 10:00 p.m. when the Vancouver Canucks (40-16-8) host the St. Louis Blues (39-17-7) in one of eight other games on Thursday. The Canucks lead the conference by one point over the Red Wings courtesy of a 2-1 shootout loss to the streaking Phoenix Coyotes (33-21-9) on Tuesday. They have dropped two in a row after regulation time after going 5-1 in their previous six games.

The Blues had won three in a row – all on the road – and continue their six-game road trip in Vancouver following a visit to the Edmonton Oilers (25-31-6) on Wednesday. St. Louis is second in the Central Division behind Detroit and started its trip with a 10-13-3 mark away from home but won the first two games by identical 3-2 scores in shootouts.

The Coyotes are the hottest team in the NHL, winners of six straight to move them past the San Jose Sharks (33-22-7) for first place in the Pacific Division. They will try to extend their winning streak to seven when they host the Calgary Flames (28-24-11) at 9:00 p.m. The Sharks snapped a two-game skid on Tuesday with a 1-0 home victory against the Philadelphia Flyers (34-21-7) and will host the Buffalo Sabres (27-27-8) at 10:30 p.m.

The Flyers are chasing both the Pittsburgh Penguins (36-21-5) and New York Rangers (40-15-6) in the Atlantic Division and rank sixth overall in the Eastern Conference. Philadelphia hosts the New York Islanders (26-28-9) at 7:00 p.m. while the East-leading Rangers visit the Carolina Panthers (24-26-13) at the same time.

**StarDust Bum** · 02-29-2012, 11:51 PM

Lookin' at the Contenders

February 29, 2012

As the final weekend of the regular season looms, Kentucky and Syracuse are locks to be named No. 1 seeds in the 2012 NCAA Tournament next Sunday. After that, nothing is settled.

Going into Thursday’s action, we see Kansas and Duke as the two other top seeds – for now, that is. Both have work to do and are competing with teams that aren’t far behind them in terms of resume strength. Let’s take a look at the top eight teams right now and a few others that could climb up the ladder before Selection Sunday.

South Region

1-Kentucky – Kentucky is a No. 1 seed even if it loses its regular-season finale and its first game in the SEC Tournament. The Wildcats play Sunday at Florida and will then face the winner of the 8/9 game in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals next Friday in New Orleans.

2-Marquette – Even with two key injuries and multiple first-half suspensions, Marquette found a way to win last Friday night in Morgantown against a desperate West Virginia team. If the Golden Eagles win Wednesday at Cincinnati, Saturday vs. Georgetown and get to the Big East Tournament finals, they’re almost certainly going to get a No. 2 seed. Buzz Williams has done a masterful job with this team.

East Region

1-Syracuse – The Orange finish the regular season at home Saturday vs. Louisville before going to Madison Square Garden to participate in its last Big East Tournament. With so many splendid MSG performances during the decades spanning Jim Boeheim’s tenure, it’s hard to envision Syracuse not playing in next Saturday’s finals.

2-Michigan State – If the Spartans can complete a season sweep of Ohio St. this Sunday at Breslin Center and win the Big Ten Tournament, they will most likely garner a No. 1 seed. Michigan St. and UNC are the best No. 2 seeds right now despite this week’s loss at Indiana by the Spartans. (We should note, however, that the Heels beat MSU in the season opener.) Tom Izzo’s bunch could even get a top seed with a win over the Buckeyes and a trip to the Big Ten Tourney finals depending on how things play out with the other contenders.

Midwest Region

1-Kansas – With its thrilling comeback win over Missouri this past Saturday, KU gets the nod in the Midwest ahead of the Tigers. These teams could meet again, however, in the Big 12 Tourney finals with this No. 1 seed at stake. The Jayhawks close the regular season at home vs. Texas. If they win out, this spot is secure.

2-North Carolina – With the chance to beat Duke twice more to complete its resume, UNC could still easily be a top seed. At the same time, a loss at Duke this weekend, coupled with an early exit from the ACC Tourney in Atlanta, could drop the Tar Heels to a No. 3 seed. Nevertheless, let’s point out with confidence that this is the squad with the best ammunition to knock off Syracuse and/or Kentucky.

West Region

1-Duke – The Blue Devils are the weakest of the top seeds at this point and have plenty of work to do to secure a No. 1 seed. In fact, if Duke loses at home to North Carolina this weekend, the Tar Heels and Spartans immediately move ahead of it pending the results of the ACC Tournament. But if Coach K’s squad wins out, it’ll be a top seed.

2-Missouri – If Missouri wins out and beats Kansas in the process, it will have a strong case for a No. 1 seed. But first, the Tigers need to take care of business Wednesday vs. Iowa St. and Saturday at Texas Tech. How good with this team be if Laurence Bowers was healthy?!

Fringe Contenders

1-Ohio State – The Buckeyes have lost three of their last five, but they are actually still a candidate to be a No. 1 seed. If they beat Northwestern on the road Wednesday and do the same this weekend in East Lansing, the Bucks will have a strong resume if they can cut the nets down at the Big Ten Tournament.

2-Baylor – I don’t see it happening, but the Bears could get a No. 2 seed if they win the Big 12 Tourney and win this weekend at Iowa St. A run through the league tourney could conceivably mean wins over both Kansas and Missouri. With that said, I could also see Baylor as a team that doesn’t make it out of the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament.

3, 4 and 5 – Michigan, Wisconsin and Indiana could potentially be in the mix for a No. 2 seed if one wins the Big Ten Tournament and gets a little help (such as the demise of Marquette and Missouri in their regular-season finales and openers of their respective conference tourneys).

6-Florida – This is a big-time longshot but since it does have a chance to get two wins over Kentucky (Sunday at home and at the SEC Tournament), and it did play at Ohio St. and at Syracuse in non-conference play, we’ll mention the Gators nonetheless.

**StarDust Bum** · 02-29-2012, 11:56 PM

Thursday Tips

February 29, 2012

The Thursday NBA card showcases four games, including a pair of important interconference matchups. The Heat starts a three-game road trip in Portland against the Blazers, looking for their 28th victory in 35 contests. We'll begin in central Florida with a rematch of opening night as Oklahoma City heads to Orlando.

Thunder at Magic - 8:00 PM EST

Back on Christmas night, Oklahoma City took care of Orlando at home, 97-89 as 8 ½-point favorites. The Thunder led by as many as 22 points in the victory, while Kevin Durant poured in a game-high 30 points. Oklahoma City looks for the season sweep on Thursday, as the Thunder heads to the Amway Center following Wednesday's win at Philadelphia.

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The Magic is also playing with no rest after Wednesday's victory at Washington, as Orlando owns a 5-2 ATS record on the second of back-to-backs. Stan Van Gundy's team is at home for the first time since a February 17 comeback victory over Milwaukee, while scoring the final 17 points of that game to cash as 7 ½-point 'chalk.' Orlando has put together a 2-2 SU/ATS record when playing with revenge this season, as one of those losses came at home to Boston as 10-point favorites on January 26.

Oklahoma City isn't great against the number when playing without rest, going 5-7 ATS, but the Thunder won nine of those 12 games straight-up. The Thunder has split their last six opportunities in the road favorite role against the number, while losing twice at Houston and Sacramento over the last three weeks.

The home team has won each of the last six meetings in this series, while the Magic has taken each of the previous home matchups by an average of 18.2 points per game. Orlando routed Oklahoma City last February, 111-88 as six-point favorites, as Dwight Howard dropped 40 points and 15 rebounds in the blowout.

Heat at Blazers - 10:30 PM EST

Miami is the last team to take the court after the All-Star break as the Heat heads to the Pacific Northwest for a battle with the Blazers. Portland returns to the Rose Garden following Wednesday's division showdown with the Nuggets, as the Blazers seek consistency after a shaky finish to the first half of the season.

Nate McMillan's club has won just five of their last 12 games after beating down the Bobcats by 44 points on February 1. The Blazers are 2-4 SU/ATS the previous six home contests, including losses to the Wizards and Rockets. Portland is listed as a home underdog for the third time this season, as the Blazers have lost to the Clippers and Thunder by a combined seven points.

The Heat has won and covered five consecutive road games, all in the favorite role. In fact, Miami's previous six victories on the highway have all come by double-digits, while beating Indiana, Atlanta, and Philadelphia handily. The Heat owns teams playing with no rest by putting together a 4-1 SU/ATS record against these clubs, as the lone defeat came at the Clippers in overtime.

The road team has taken six of the last seven meetings, including both matchups last season. The Heat pulled out an overtime triumph at the Rose Garden, 107-100 as five-point 'chalk' last January, as LeBron James scorched Portland for 44 points and 13 rebounds. The Blazers avenged that loss two months later with a 105-96 win as nine-point 'dogs in Miami, as Portland had six players score in double-figures.

**StarDust Bum** · 03-01-2012, 12:01 AM

'No Mas': Five college basketball teams throwing in the towel

The toughest part of a coach’s job is keeping his team motivated, even when all hope is lost. That task is even harder when your team consists of 19 and 20-year-old college kids, who have dedicated the last six months to nothing but basketball.

Even the best coaches can have their teams quit on them at this time of year. That presents a unique opportunity for college basketball bettors to confidently go against these programs packing it in with games still remaining on the schedule.

Here’s a look at five times shouting “No Mas” in the final week of the regular season:

Connecticut Huskies (17-12, 9-15-1 ATS)

Smart college basketball bettors could see this train wreck coming from a mile away. The defending national champs lost their barrings when Jim Calhoun got sick, leaving standouts like Jeremy Lamb, Andre Drummond and Shabazz Napier thinking more about their NBA futures than making a run at back-to-back NCAA titles.

Add to that, postseason sanctions for the Huskies for next year’s NCAA, and you have the perfect storm for a 5-11 SU flop that bled bettors dry with a 5-10-1 ATS drought in the final two months of the season. Connecticut, coming off a 72-70 loss to Providence, wraps the schedule against Pitt this weekend and crosses its fingers for an at-large bid to the Big Dance.

Minnesota Golden Gophers (17-13, 13-13-1 ATS)

Tubby Smith blasted his troops earlier this week after the Golden Gophers dropped five straight games heading into Tuesday’s date with Wisconsin. That didn’t work – and rarely does when you have a young team – leading to a 52-45 loss to the Badgers.

Minnesota, which looked like it was on the up at the end of January, is just 1-7 SU in February, lugging a dismal 3-5 ATS mark behind it. The Golden Gophers, who finish the schedule versus Nebraska (the last team they’ve defeated) this weekend, have packed it in and may have signed Tubby’s pink slip in the process.

Texas A&M Aggies (12-11, 13-16 ATS)

The Aggies’ Big 12 swan song has become an ugly duckling, losing four in a row and eight of their last nine outings. Head coach Billy Kennedy has been tinkering with his lineup, trying to snap this skid, and even apologized for his team’s stinky play, claiming that the Aggies are “stealing money from the university” every time they take the court.

Things weren’t all bad for Texas A&M backers this season, earning ATS wins in 10 of their first 13 league games. However, the well has gone dry during this recent four-game slide, going just 1-3 ATS in that span. Texas A&M has one more game left, at Oklahoma this weekend, before what should be a brief cameo in the Big 12 tournament next week.

UCLA Bruins (16-13, 14-14-1 ATS)

You could insert about 80 percent of the Pac-12 into this spot, but things are especially bad at UCLA. Instead of a team quitting on its coach, it seems Ben Howland has quit on his players. A recent report by SI.com says Howland has lost control of his program, with guys fighting, intentionally trying to injure each other in practice, along with rampant drinking and drug use among players.

Howland has let some of best recruiting classes in college hoops spoil while pretty much spitting on everything coach John Wooden stood for during his legendary tenure at UCLA. The Bruins are 4-3 in their last seven games, picking the bones of Pac-12 basement dwellers for those wins, and have gone only 2-4-1 ATS in that stretch. The SI.com report is making its way through the program like snake venom, so don’t expect much from UCLA when it hosts Washington State and Washington in the final two games of the season.

North Carolina State Wolfpack (18-11, 11-14 ATS)

A tough patch of ACC schedule started North Carolina State stumbling, and a 72-69 overtime loss to Clemson was the cold, hard smack in the face as the Wolfpack hit rock bottom Saturday. They’ve lost four straight outings, erasing any chance at a conference crown and maybe even an at-large big for the NCAA Tournament.

Head coach Mark Gottfried has been working with an undersized and undermanned roster all season, going just seven players deep. While his team may still have some fight in their hearts, their legs quit on N.C. State a while ago. This is a tired team with little to no motivation for the final two games of the season, against Miami and Virginia Tech this week.

**StarDust Bum** · 03-01-2012, 12:06 AM

Fullcourt Report: College hoops betting news and notes:

ACC

Miami received some more bad news from the NCAA last Sunday. The Hurricanes’ best player, center Reggie Johnson, was suspended for “impermissible travel benefits” allegedly given to Johnson’s family by a member of its former basketball coaching staff.

Current Missouri head coach Frank Haith was the coach at Miami during the time that this allegedly happened. Haith is also being probed by the NCAA after an allegation by former Miami booster and convicted felon Nevin Shapiro that Haith knew about a $10,000 payment made to an unidentified member of current Miami player DeQuan Jones' family. Jones was suspended to start this season before being reinstated.

Miami beat Florida State without Johnson Sunday, but the Hurricanes need the big man. Johnson missed nine games to start the season because of injury and the Hurricanes went just 3-4 SU and 2-4-1 ATS versus Div. I opponents in those games.

Big Ten

Ohio State lost at home to Wisconsin 63-60 Sunday. That loss dropped the Buckeyes out of the Top 10, and it leaves the Big Ten with just one team, No. 5 Michigan State, ranked in the single digits.

After going 21-3 SU over its first 24 games, Ohio State has gone just 2-3 over its last five outings. Two of its three losses have come on its home floor as the offense was unable to get much going against the strong defenses of Michigan State and Wisconsin. The Buckeyes scored just a total of 108 points in those two losses while shooting an ugly 36.3 percent (37 for 102) from the field and an abysmal 23.1 percent (6 for 26) 3-point land.

Ohio State is just 1-3 ATS in its last four home games and on a 2-4 ATS slide over its last six games overall.

Big 12

Kansas’ 70-58 win at Oklahoma State on Monday night gave the Jayhawks their eighth consecutive Big 12 conference title. Kansas was in a position to win the outright conference title after its impressive comeback win over Missouri Saturday.

The Jayhawks trailed that game by 19 points in the second half before winning in overtime, 87-86. Head coach Bill Self owns more conference championships than home losses in conference play, which is just incredible.

However, Kansas isn't a money-maker against the pointspread. The Jayhawks are just 15-13-1 ATS this season, including a 1-2-1 ATS record as underdogs.

Big East

West Virginia’s season has spiraled out of control since the end of January. Prior to their game at St. John’s on Jan. 25, the Mountaineers were 15-5 SU and 11-6 ATS. Since then, West Virginia is a terrible 3-7 SU and a bankroll busting 3-7 ATS.

Things hit rock bottom last Friday night when the Mountaineers blew a 15-point second-half lead at home against Marquette - a team that suspended four players including three starters for the first half of that game.

The lone bright spot for West Virginia is senior Kevin Jones, who is closing in on the Big East scoring and rebounding titles. Jones is averaging 20 points and 11.2 rebounds per game this season.

Pac-12

Washington can clinch at least a share of the Pac-12 title with a win in either of its last two games of the season - at USC Thursday or at UCLA Saturday. The Huskies can win the regular season championship outright by sweeping L.A., which they’ve only done three times since Pac-10 play began in 1979.

Washington is in tremendous form as it’s won 15 of its last 18 games, including five of its last six games on the road. The Huskies have been favored in 14 of their last 18 games, going 8-6 ATS. As an underdog, Washington is 2-1 ATS during its recent stretch. Overall, the Huskies are 4-2 ATS as underdogs.

SEC

Tennessee can finish as high as second in the SEC standings or fail to make any postseason tournament, depending on how the Vols finish the season.

Head coach Cuonzo Martin has done a fantastic job with this team, considering he brought in an opposite style of basketball while only getting one player with starting experience.

“We're in a good place right now as a team because we continue to get better, and that's a good sign,” said Martin. “We didn't have the luxury with a new coach of getting out of the gates with some confidence, getting your head up. We had to have some tough losses, and eventually we started to learn from it.”

Tennessee is 10-4 ATS in conference play, including a perfect 6-0 ATS as a favorite.

**StarDust Bum** · 03-01-2012, 12:08 AM

College funds: Thursday's best NCAAB bets

Michigan Wolverines at Illinois Fighting Illini (-1, 120.5)

A win over the No. 16 Wolverines would boost the Fighting Illini’s NCAA Tournament resume. Illinois snapped a six-game losing skid with a win over Iowa Sunday but still sits on the tournament bubble.

Illinois has won 13 in row over Michigan inside Assembly Hall, its longest active home-court winning streak over a Big Ten opponent and it seems like Illinois finally figured out how to feed the post in Sunday’s win over Iowa.

Seven-foot center Meyers Leonard, who has been burdened by poor entry passes all season, scored 22 points to snap the Illini’s losing skid.

Leonard, a sophomore, is climbing up the NBA Draft rankings and this could be his final game in Champaign if he decides to go pro. Much of that decision weighs on the future of Illinois coach Bruce Weber, who is on the hot seat after a disappointing year.

Pick: Illini

Washington Huskies at USC Trojans (8, 125)

Washington can clinch a share of the Pac-12 regular-season title with a win against last-place Southern California, which has lost seven straight games and 16 of its last 17. With two wins against the Los Angeles schools this week, the Huskies will earn their second outright crown in 59 years.

Washington has won 12 of its last 14 games, including a 69-41 victory over Southern California on Feb. 4. The Huskies can eliminate Arizona, Colorado and Oregon from title contention with a win over the Trojans, who are down to six scholarship players.

When the Pac-12 year-end awards are announced Monday, Washington could be the big winners. Tony Wroten is a strong candidate to win the conference’s player of the year and freshman of the year awards, and Lorenzo Romar is favored to be named coach of the year. Wroten is third in the Pac-12 with 16.7 points per game and leads all conference freshmen with two steals and 3.5 assists.

Terrence Ross, another candidate for player of the year, had 10 points and 14 rebounds against the Trojans last month.

Pick: Huskies

**StarDust Bum** · 03-01-2012, 12:10 AM

Pick 'n' roll: Thursday's best NBA bets

Minnesota Timberwolves at Phoenix Suns (-3.5, 200.5)

Before the Phoenix Suns went into the All-Star break, coach Alvin Gentry left them with some choice words.

The Suns gave up 39 points to Golden State in the first quarter last week and even though they crawled back into it later thanks to 21 points and 15 rebounds from Marcin Gortat, they still fell 106-104 as 4-point favorites.

"That game was lost in the first ten minutes," Gentry told reporters. "We got an opportunity to do something good and to come out like that is just ridiculous. It's unfair to the fans in the stands. The way we approached the game (stunk).”

The Suns haven’t given their hometown supporters much to cheer about all season. They are just 7-9 straight up and 6-10 against the spread as hosts.

That said, the Timberwolves will be playing their third game in three nights, so you have to wonder how much they’ll have left in the tank.

Pick: Suns

Los Angeles Clippers at Sacramento Kings (3.5, 201.5)

Los Angeles has had a bad habit of blowing leads late in games and tanked again in a 109-97 loss to Minnesota on Tuesday.

The Clippers have lost three of four and will try to right the ship when they start a six-game trip Thursday night at Sacramento.

The Clippers have not had much luck in Sacramento, losing seven of eight and 23 of their past 26 there. They’re 2-4-1 against the spread in their last seven versus the Kings.

“We’re going to have to play on a higher level, especially on the road now, but maybe that will help us come together more,” coach Vinny Del Negro told reporters.

We think the best value here is with the under.

Pick: Under

**StarDust Bum** · 03-01-2012, 12:13 AM

Ice picks: Thursday’s best NHL bets

New York Islanders at Philadelphia Flyers (-180, 5.5)

There’s no doubt the Philadelphia Flyers have the talent to make a deep run into playoffs. Whether they can put together a consistent stretch of wins that it will take is the big question.

Even though the Flyers had won just four times in the 10 games before the trade deadline, the team’s management largely stuck with what they have in the cupboard.

"I like our team," GM Paul Holmgren told reporters. "I think we're a team that obviously the group for the most part has been together all year. We've put some young guys into the lineup over the course of the year, and we like our team. We like the direction we're heading, and we didn't want to do anything to disrupt anything long-term for sure."

If there has been one constant with the Flyers this season, it has been cashing over bets. Philadelphia has the over at 37-24 this season. Meanwhile, the Islanders have played over in five of their last seven games and still give up far too many quality scoring chances.

Claude Giroux has 10 points in his last six games and with Philadelphia being shut out in two of its last three, the Flyers could break out offensively here.

Pick: Over

New York Rangers at Carolina Hurricanes (+135, 5)

The New York Rangers will look for their third straight win on Thursday when they visit the Carolina Hurricanes.

The Rangers have distanced themselves from the pack in the Eastern Conference and appear secure in starting the playoffs as the top seed. The Hurricanes on the other hand are among the bottom feeders in the East. However, Carolina isn’t backing down, going 6-1-4 in February.

“What I really like is the way the guys are fighting and the way they’re getting points,” said coach Kirk Muller. “They’re giving everything they got. Some nights it’s not good enough and some nights it is, but I can live with that if they compete and play hard on a consistent level, which they’ve been doing.”

That's about all you can ask for, but considering New York just held New Jersey to only 13 shots on goal in a 2-0 shutout, this is going to be a stiff test for the Hurricanes.

Pick: Under

**StarDust Bum** · 03-01-2012, 12:16 AM

Thursday’s betting tips: Coyotes nearly perfect in February

Who’s hot

NBA: Sacramento is 8-1 against the spread in its last nine versus Western Conference teams.

NBA: Miami has covered in seven of its last eight.

NHL: The Phoenix Coyotes went 11-0-1 in February and have won each of their last six games against Calgary.

NHL: The New York Rangers are 14-6 in their last 20 road games.

NCAAB: The under is 11-3 in Michigan’s last 14 overall.

NCAAB: UCLA is 8-3 against the number in its last 11 home games.

Who’s not

NBA: The over is 4-12 in the last 16 meetings between Orlando and Oklahoma City.

NBA: Phoenix is 3-8 against the spread in its last 11 home games.

NHL: The New York Islanders are 3-13 in their last 16 games in Philadelphia.

NHL: Minnesota is 3-15 in its last 18 road games.

NCAAB: Virginia is 3-9 against the spread in its last 12 meetings with Florida State.

NCAAB: Virginia Tech is 3-11-1 against the spread in its last 15 games.

Key stat

4 – Seven of Clemson’s 13 losses this season have been by four or fewer points. The Tigers, who sit at 9-14 against the spread, are pegged as 5.5-point favorites in Thursday’s home date against Virginia Tech.

Injury that shouldn’t be overlooked

Ryan Callahan, New York Rangers – Captain Callahan is dealing with a bruised foot and is listed as a game-time decision for Thursday’s game against Carolina. Callahan has four points in his last three games and sits second on the team with 25 goals.

Game of the day

Oklahoma City Thunder at Orlando Magic (1, 192.5)

Notable quotable

"I'm a passionate golfer. I love the game of golf, and I've had my moments. I'm not proud of everything I've done out here, but I'm trying to learn. I'm trying to be a role model for my children, and I know as my wife has said to me, I wouldn't want my son doing some of the things that I've done in the past." – Honda Classic defending champion Rory Sabbatini, who is set at +7,500 to win this weekend’s tournament.

Notes and tips

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Love sat out Wednesday’s game against the Lakers with flu-like symptoms and is considered questionable for Thursday’s meeting with Phoenix, which will be Minnesota’s third game in three games. Love is also banged up with nagging back and rib injuries, but is averaging 24.5 points and 13.8 rebounds a night. Minnesota is currently set as a 3.5-point underdog in Phoenix.

Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard has suffered a setback in his recovery from Achilles surgery and is out indefinitely. Foot specialist Mark Myerson performed a procedure to clean an infection from Howard's original wound on Monday. Myerson found that the surgically repaired Achilles remained in intact despite the infection. Howard is taking antibiotics and his projected return in May is now in jeopardy. "It's common for the skin behind the Achilles to have trouble healing," Phillies head athletic trainer Scott Sheridan said Wednesday. "It's a tough area to heal. It doesn't have a very good blood supply." Howard batted .253 with 33 home runs and 116 RBIs in 152 games for the Phillies last season.

The New Jersey Devils said they planned to ride veteran goaltender Martin Brodeur down the stretch and he is expected to be back between the pipes Thursday against the defending-champion Bruins. Brodeur, who looks to snap the club’s three-game losing streak, has started seven straight games for New Jersey.

**StarDust Bum** · 03-01-2012, 12:19 AM

Sixers are ATS moneymakers but not title contenders

It was the first Monday night in February and the surprising Philadelphia 76ers had just beaten the Los Angeles Lakers and covered as 4.5-point home favorites in the process.

The win moved Philly to 18-7 straight up and 17-7-1 against the spread and had many questioning whether this team actually had championship level talent.

In a league where superstars win championships and good teams without them get bounced in the opening rounds of the playoffs, it’s easy to understand the reluctance to usher Philly into the NBA’s champagne room.

Fast forward three weeks – Philly is in Detroit and happy to end a five-game losing streak. The 29-point win improved the Sixers’ ATS record to 17-10 (19-8 SU) in games they were chalk. That means the book on Philly is that it wins the games people expect it to and that’s about it.

It’s probably not a wise decision to go out and bet a good but not great team to win the title - even at 30/1 odds. The 76ers have a balanced attack but it’s not a good sign when your best player, Andre Iguodala, is your fourth leading scorer and he can’t shoot in the fourth quarter. Only two teams of the past 10 championship teams had a leading scorer average fewer than 20 points per game.

But there should be plenty of chances to make money backing Philly the rest of the season. The Sixers boast the best bench in the Association (43.4 points per game) and are 7-3 ATS in games played on zero days’ rest. The club’s defensive prowess (first in points allowed and opponent field goal percentage) is keeping under bettors smiling this season.

Things to remember: Philly is 2-6 SU and 2-5-1 ATS in games getting points. The under is 8-3 in Philadelphia games with a 190 or larger total.

The 76ers play the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday and oddsmakers have the home side Sixers as 3.5-point underdogs.

**StarDust Bum** · 03-01-2012, 12:23 AM

Bubble teams ready to put best foot forward

Quick hitters for a Monday:

• South Florida coach Stan Heath coached the Bulls to their 11th Big East win, leading them over Cincinnati on Sunday. The Bulls have won five of six games, holding opponents to fewer than 52 points each time. Their loss was to Syracuse, a game in which the Orange scored just 56.

"We grind it out," Heath said Sunday. "We're not great offensively but we guard."

So, do the Bulls deserve an NCAA berth? Their overall résumé says no. The selection committee judges each team individually, regardless of conference affiliation, and the Bulls simply don't have any meat with the best nonconference win coming against Cleveland State. And only one of the 11 Big East wins was against a team in the top six (Cincinnati).

The Bulls have two games left, at Louisville on Wednesday and then home versus West Virginia on Saturday.

Beating Louisville would suffice for a top six Big East win. West Virginia would not.

"I think this team is worthy," Heath said of a bid. "I know we have to continue to win. But 11 wins in this conference? Should we be penalized for beating Pitt [twice] when they had a full deck? Or sweeping Villanova?"

Heath's point is that in a normal year picking up four wins against those two traditional powers would have meant a bid. But Pitt and Villanova will play on the first day of the Big East tournament. South Florida will not. The Bulls won't get a double bye but will likely have a single bye.

"We haven't lost to a team that isn't ranked in the Top 25 since Dec. 28 and the only other teams that can say that are Kentucky, North Carolina and Syracuse," Heath said. "We should get credit for the teams you're supposed to beat."

Notre Dame was awful in the nonconference. South Florida wasn't much better. The Irish have one more win in the Big East than South Florida. But the Irish beat elite Big East teams Syracuse, Marquette, Louisville and South Florida.

"It shouldn't be us or them," Heath said.

And it's not. The Bulls will be judged independently and that's why the 11 Big East wins isn't enough yet due to the unbalanced schedule. The Bulls continue to give themselves a chance. But they're not in yet.

• Drexel won the Colonial Athletic Association for the first time since joining the conference and will be the top seed in the CAA tournament. I've gone on record that I believe the selection committee will reward the Dragons for winning the CAA regular season outright, regardless of the nonconference RPI or strength of schedule. Drexel coach Bruiser Flint agrees. Flint said winning 17 games in a row and 23 out of 24 should count for something. The Dragons have lost one game in 2012 -- at Georgia State on Jan. 2. Flint makes one more strong argument: "We're good." Hard to debate.

• VCU was in the Final Four a year ago and to get back in the Dance, the Rams may need some help. Or will they? VCU finished second to Drexel and could be headed for a 1-2 matchup in the CAA tournament in VCU's home in Richmond. VCU coach Shaka Smart doesn't want to promote the Rams' case, but it's extremely similar to that of Drexel. VCU has won 14 out of 15 and has lost just three times in 2012. VCU took a while to figure itself out after losing most of the core from last season's team. One thing Smart said is that he wishes he could have replayed some of the nonconference games. Smart said this season's team had a better regular season than a year ago. And he quoted Butler's Brad Stevens that the pressure is on teams like VCU and Butler during the regular season but once they get in the NCAAs it's all off. All true.

• Harvard is potentially going to have to earn the NCAA bid again the hard way -- through a playoff game. The loss to Penn on Saturday means that the Crimson will have to sweep Columbia and Cornell on the road and then wait to watch Penn go to Princeton on March 6. That's assuming Penn sweeps Brown and Yale at home. If the home teams prevail and Penn beats Princeton, Penn will play Harvard in a playoff for the bid. If Princeton beats Penn and the Crimson win out, Harvard wins by not playing.

• Harvard coach Tommy Amaker said the Ivy is crazy like all the other conferences. And he won't dare look ahead past Columbia.

• Penn's Zack Rosen has been "super human," according to the Quakers' staff. Penn's staff firmly believes it has the defense to win these three games to force a playoff but this is still a tall task.

• Purdue coach Matt Painter said that putting more shooters on the floor offensively and playing better position defense has been the difference for the Boilermakers. Purdue clinched a bid -- if it was ever in doubt -- by winning at Michigan over the weekend.

• Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall isn't taking anything for granted with the Missouri Valley Conference title. The bracket has potholes for the Shockers. Indiana State could be the first opponent if it gets past Southern Illinois. Northern Iowa, which faces Illinois State, could be next, and then a possible final game against rival Creighton. "It is no easy road," Marshall said. "Indiana State won it last year. UNI was 11 in the RPI coming out of the nonconference. There are going to be a lot of tough teams."

• Butler has quite a road to get back to the NCAAs as the Horizon League automatic qualifier. The Bulldogs have to beat Wright State and then possible nemesis Milwaukee before playing at champ Valparaiso in a possible semifinal. "It's a tough draw and we look forward to the challenge," Butler's Brad Stevens said. Does this team have the ability to win three games? "We will find out."

• Georgia has won at Mississippi State and upset Florida at home. The Bulldogs could be a spoiler in the SEC tournament. How has Mark Fox done this so far? "Without [Trey] Thompkins and [Travis] Leslie we've been a jump shooting team," Fox said. "When it goes in, we can compete with most people."

**StarDust Bum** · 03-01-2012, 12:30 AM

Champ Week: Setting up Week 1

Championship Week is set to get under way. Here's what to look for in this week's conference tournaments. All tourneys that begin March 5 or later will be previewed next Monday.

America East

When: Thurs., March 1, through Sun., March 4; title game will be held Sat., March 10
Where: First round, quarterfinals, semifinals at Chase Family Arena (University of Hartford); championship at highest remaining seed

The favorite: Stony Brook, the No. 1 seed in the America East tournament, lost to Boston University in the league's tourney title game last season. The Seawolves, who finished the regular season on a three-game winning streak, hope to avoid that fate this season. They'll rely on their defensive prowess (55.5 points per game allowed in America East play, No. 1 in the conference).

The top challengers: Vermont, the 2010 AE tourney champ, defeated Stony Brook 68-49 on Feb. 12. Boston University (45.2 field goal percentage in conference play) split its two battles with Stony Brook this season.

Three players to watch: Bryan Dougher (13.4 ppg, 80 percent from the charity stripe) has been Stony Brook's anchor. Matt Glass (11.9 ppg, 48 percent from the field) guides a Vermont team that has won 14 of its past 16 games. Albany's Gerardo Suero averages 21.7 ppg, No. 1 in the league.

My pick: Stony Brook is a tough squad that won't crack as the pressure mounts. I'll go with the Seawolves in a victory over Vermont in the tournament's title game.

Atlantic Sun

When: Wed., Feb. 29, through Sat., March 3
Where: Macon, Ga. (Mercer)

The favorite: The Belmont Bruins opened the year with tough outings against Memphis and Duke on the road. But those tests strengthened the Bruins, last season's conference tourney champs, who will enter the Atlantic Sun tournament on an 11-game winning streak. They're scoring 82.1 ppg, second in the nation.

The top challengers: Mercer, the host of the tournament, will have the crowd on its side. The 2-seed Bears, however, have lost three of their past four games. But they have the league's top scoring defense (63.1 ppg allowed). USC Upstate, the Atlantic Sun's top rebounding team (36.7 rebounds per game) and the tourney's 3-seed, beat Belmont 79-78 on Jan. 21.

Three players to watch: USC Upstate's Torrey Craig leads the Atlantic Sun in rebounding (8.8 rpg) and he's second in scoring (16.9 ppg). Belmont's Kerron Johnson is tied for first in assists (5.4 assists per game) and he's also leading the Bruins with 14.4 ppg. North Florida's Parker Smith averages 17.0 ppg.

My pick: Belmont's offense will be too much for any team in the field. I think the Bruins will spoil the "home team" Mercer's tournament with a win over the Bears in the final.

Big Sky

When: Sat., March 3, quarterfinals; Tues., March 6, semifinals; Wed., March 7, championship
Where: Quarterfinals at higher seed; semifinals and championship at regular-season champion (Weber State or Montana).

The favorite: Depends on what happens Tuesday, when Weber State and Montana (both entered the week at 14-1) meet for the Big Sky regular-season championship. Weber State has already beaten Montana once this season.

The top challengers: Both Weber State (the league's top scoring offense at 78.7 ppg) and Montana (the Big Sky's top scoring defense at 58.9 ppg allowed) have separated themselves from the rest of the field. Portland State, which possesses the top shooting mark in conference play (49.4 percent), will finish third in the Big Sky.

Three players to watch: For most of the season, Weber State's Damian Lillard (24.7 ppg) has been on top of the national scoring charts. Montana's Will Cherry (16.8 ppg in Big Sky action) leads the conference in steals (2.6 steals per game). Portland State's Chehales Tapscott (13.9 ppg) leads the Big Sky with 1.9 blocks per game in league play.

My pick: I think Lillard will put together a "SportsCenter"-worthy string of performances as he leads Weber State to the Big Sky tournament title and the conference's automatic berth.

Big South

When: Mon., Feb. 27, through Sat., March 3
Where: First round at higher seeds; quarterfinals and semifinals at No. 1 seed UNC-Asheville; championship at highest remaining seed.

The favorite: UNC-Asheville, last season's Big South tournament champion, looks to repeat. The Bulldogs have averaged 80.8 points per game this season, the No. 6 scoring mark in the country. They're shooting 48.2 percent from the field.

The top challengers: Coastal Carolina defeated UNC-Asheville 74-69 on Valentine's Day. The Chanticleers -- that's a fighting rooster, by the way -- have held Big South squads to 39.4 percent shooting from the field, the top mark in the conference. Charleston Southern (77.2 ppg, second in the league) defeated the Bulldogs in their only matchup of the year (93-88, Jan. 19).

Three players to watch: Campbell's Eric Griffin is averaging 15.9 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game. Charleston Southern's Kelvin Martin (15.3 ppg), a 6-foot-5 senior forward, is second in the Big South in rebounding and second in steals in conference play. High Point's Nick Barbour can light it up (21.4 ppg).

My pick: I think Coastal Carolina's defense will carry it to the Big South tourney title over UNC-Asheville.

CAA

When: Fri., March 2, through Mon., March 5
Where: Richmond Coliseum in Richmond, Va.

The favorite: Drexel captured the CAA regular-season title via its stubborn defense (55.7 ppg allowed, No. 1 in the CAA). The Dragons haven't lost since Jan. 2 (17-game winning streak).

The top challengers: VCU, a Final Four team last season, hopes to boost its postseason profile with a run in the CAA tourney. George Mason, the top shooting team in the conference (44.7 percent from the field), and Old Dominion, the top rebounding team in the league (42.1 rpg), could win this tournament, too.

Three players to watch: VCU's Bradford Burgess (13.5 ppg) has started 141 consecutive games for the Rams. Damion Lee (42 points combined in Drexel's past two road games) is one of the top freshmen in the country. Delaware's Jamelle Hagins (12.7 ppg, 11.3 rpg) has recorded 14 double-doubles this season.

My pick: This is a tough one. But I'll go with the Rams. VCU versus Drexel could be a classic CAA title game.

Horizon League

When: Tues., Feb. 28, through Tues., March 6
Where: First round at higher seeds; second round and semis at 1-seed Valparaiso; championship at highest remaining seed.

The favorite: Valparaiso has climbed to the top of the Horizon League with a 47.2 percent shooting clip from the field, No. 1 in the league. Ryan Broekhoff (14.8 ppg, 8.4 rpg) and Kevin Van Wijk (14.4 ppg) have anchored that offensive attack. Van Wijk, however, has been hampered by a knee injury in recent weeks.

The top challengers: Cleveland State looked like the league favorite entering the conference slate, but the Vikings have won just two of their past seven games. A groin injury has kept D'Aundray Brown (2.6 spg) out for seven of the team's past eight games. Milwaukee, Butler and Detroit all finished the regular season at 11-7. Butler, the surprising star of the past two NCAA tourneys, has to win the Horizon League tournament title to get an invitation to this year's Big Dance. But the Bulldogs have built up momentum -- they've won five of their past six games. Detroit has the league's top scoring offense (72.3 ppg). Milwaukee defeated Valparaiso 57-55 on Dec. 29.

Three players to watch: Ronald Nored (5.3 apg) has competed in the past two national title games, so he has the leadership skills that will be crucial for the Bulldogs. Ray McCallum Jr. (15.1 ppg) has been up and down for Detroit, but he can prove that he's a star in the conference tournament. Kendrick Perry (16.8 ppg) leads the league in scoring and could shift this tournament for No. 6 seed Youngstown State.

My pick: I realize they aren't the favorites and are very vulnerable, but I'm not going to bet against the Bulldogs. They finished fairly strong and they're mentally equipped for the challenge, considering their past two postseasons and Brad Stevens' coaching ability. Butler. Again.

MAAC

When: Fri., March 2, through Mon., March 5
Where: MassMutual Center in Springfield, Mass.

The favorite: Iona, the 1-seed in the tournament, is ranked 13th in Ken Pomeroy's adjusted offensive efficiency ratings. The Gaels (83.1 ppg) possess the nation's top scoring offense. These MAAC champs have the offense, athleticism and maturity to make a run in the NCAA tournament.

The top challengers: Loyola (Md.), which allowed just 62.8 ppg in conference play, split with the Gaels this season. Manhattan has the No. 2 scoring margin (plus-7.7 ppg) in the league.

Three players to watch: Iona has a must-see trio. Scott Machado (13.1 ppg, 10.1 apg) might be the best point guard in the country. Michael Glover, a 6-7 forward, has 13 double-doubles this season. And LaMont "Momo" Jones (15.9 ppg) has star power, too.

My pick: Loyola (Md.) split with Iona this season. Its defense could give Iona fits. But the Gaels should be too strong offensively to squander the tourney title.

Missouri Valley

When: Thurs., March 1, through Sun., March 4
Where: Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Mo.

The favorite: It took far too long for the 1-seed Shockers -- who have wins over UNLV, Creighton and Davidson -- to crack the national rankings. This is a dangerous program that can win the Missouri Valley tournament title and make noise in the NCAA tournament.

The top challengers: Creighton beat the Shockers at the start of league play. And prior to the Bluejays' three-game losing skid in early February, they were the team to beat in the MVC. Possible sleepers who might pull off an upset? Take your pick from five teams (Northern Iowa, Drake, Missouri State, Illinois State and Evansville) which all finished at 9-9 in conference play.

Three players to watch: Doug McDermott (23.1 ppg and 8.1 rpg) might miss out on the national player of the year award due to his team's shaky finish, but the sophomore can certainly put the Bluejays on his back and carry them to a tournament title. Missouri State's Kyle Weems (15.4 ppg, 7.1 rpg) is the reigning MVC player of the year. Wichita State 7-footer Garrett Stutz can beat teams inside (14.1 ppg, 8.0 rpg), but he's not afraid to shoot from the perimeter (33 percent from beyond the arc).

My pick: I think McDermott will be special in St. Louis as he leads the Bluejays to the MVC tournament title, a crown they haven't held since the 2006-07 season.

Ohio Valley

When: Wed., Feb. 29, through Sat., March 3
Where: Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn.

The favorite: Google Murray State. The 1-seed Racers, who won the Ohio Valley tournament in 2010, have lost just one game this season. They have a national player of the year candidate in Isaiah Canaan, and they've won their third consecutive Ohio Valley regular-season title. It's hard to imagine any team in the tournament stopping this squad.

The top challengers: Tennessee State, the 2-seed, is the only team that's defeated Murray State this season. And the Tigers pulled off the upset on the road. Tennessee Tech, the No. 2 scoring offense in the league (73.2 ppg), was competitive in both matchups against the Racers.

Three players to watch: Canaan is averaging 19.4 ppg. Teammate Donte Poole is averaging 13.9 ppg. Tennessee Tech's Kevin Murphy, the league's top scorer at 20.6 ppg, set a school record with 50 points in his team's 98-80 victory over SIU-Edwardsville on Jan. 30. He's scored 28 or more seven times this season.

My pick: Murray State will not be denied in Nashville. The Racers aren't just a good mid-major. They've proven to be a great team this season. Period.

Northeast

When: Thurs., March 1, for quarterfinals; Sun., March 4, for semifinals; Wed., March 7, for the title game
Where: Quarterfinals, semifinals and championship game at higher seed.

The favorite: LIU Brooklyn, the Northeast Conference's regular-season champion, secured the 1-seed. The Blackbirds possess the league's top scoring offense (85.4 ppg) and field goal percentage (48.5). They've won eight of their past nine games.

The top challengers: Wagner, a 2-seed in the tournament, put the Northeast Conference on the map this season with its Dec. 23 road win over a ranked Pitt squad. But the squad with the league's top scoring defense (63.3 ppg) was swept by LIU Brooklyn this season. Robert Morris, the 3-seed, is one of two Northeast squads that has defeated the Blackbirds this season (75-66 on Jan. 26).

Three players to watch: The Blackbirds' Jamal Olasewere is second in the league with 19.3 ppg in conference play. Robert Morris' Velton Jones (16.5 ppg, 4.3 apg) is a special player. Wagner's Jonathon Williams, a 6-6 wing who's recorded 19 or more points in three of Wagner's past five games, is one of the toughest matchups in the league.

My pick: I think Wagner will find a way to secure this league's automatic berth with a tournament title.

Patriot League

When: Wed., Feb. 29, quarterfinals; Sat., March 3, semifinals; Wed., March 7, title game
Where: Quarterfinals, semifinals and championship at higher seed.

The favorite: Bucknell, last season's Patriot League tourney champ and a 1-seed this year, is shooting 46.1 percent from the field. And the Bison have held Patriot League foes to 60.7 ppg, the No. 1 mark in the conference.

The top challengers: Lehigh was second in the conference with an 11-3 mark. The Mountain Hawks, the 2010 Patriot League champs, defeated Bucknell 56-53 on Feb. 16. American, a 3-seed, could get hot and win this tournament (40.6 percent from beyond the arc in league play).

Three players to watch: Mike Muscala (16.7 ppg, 9.1 rpg) is a 6-11 force inside for Bucknell and a weapon that the rest of field will have a tough time countering (89.5 percent from the charity stripe, 1.8 blocks per game in league competition). Lehigh's C.J. McCollum is sixth in the nation at 21.7 ppg. American's Charles Hinkle is averaging 16.8 ppg in the Patriot League.

My pick: Muscala and the Bison will win their second consecutive tournament title with a victory over a talented Lehigh squad.

Southern

When: Fri., March 2, through Mon., March 5
Where: U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville, N.C.

The favorite: Davidson won three consecutive SoCon tournament titles from 2006 through 2008. See: Steph Curry. The Wildcats are the tournament's 1-seed. They won the South Division with the help of the conference's top field goal percentage defense (40.7 percent) and top scoring offense (79.4 ppg in conference action).

The top challengers: Wofford, a 2-seed from the South Division, pushed Davidson in the teams' first matchup (72-69 Davidson win on Dec. 1). UNC Greensboro is one of the best turnaround stories in the country (started out 2-14), but the Spartans have lost their past three games. The College of Charleston beat Davidson 86-78 on Feb. 11.

Three players to watch: De'Mon Brooks averaged 16.6 ppg for Davidson in conference play. The Citadel's Mike Groselle finished the regular season averaging 16.6 ppg, and he led the SoCon in rebounding (9.7 rpg). Trevis Simpson of UNC Greensboro led the conference in scoring (19.9 ppg) during the regular season.

My pick: Bob McKillop's squad is the best team in the SoCon, something it's proved all year. The Wildcats should be unstoppable in the conference tournament, too.

Summit

When: Sat., March 3, through Tues., March 6
Where: Sioux Falls Arena in Sioux Falls, S.D.

The favorite: Oral Roberts has lost just one game since suffering a Dec. 15 road setback at Gonzaga (67-61). The Golden Eagles shot 52 percent from the field during conference action. ORU won three consecutive Summit League tournament titles from 2006-08.

The top challengers: South Dakota State is the only Summit League foe that's defeated Oral Roberts this season (75-60 on Feb. 2). The Jackrabbits' plus-11.6 ppg scoring margin topped the league. Oakland, which owns the conference's top scoring offense (81.4 ppg), has won the past two conference tournament championships.

Three players to watch: Oakland's Reggie Hamilton leads the country in scoring (25.5 ppg). South Dakota State's Nate Wolters is eighth (21.2 ppg). Dominique Morrison (20.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 45.1 3-pt pct) does it all for Oral Roberts.
My pick: I'll go with South Dakota State over Oral Roberts in the tournament title game.

Sun Belt

When: Sat., March 3, through Tues., March 6
Where: Summit Arena/Convention Center in Hot Springs, Ark.

The favorite: Middle Tennessee State started its standout campaign with a Nov. 15 win over UCLA in Los Angeles. The Blue Raiders have the conference's top scoring defense (59.1 ppg allowed). And they're stacked with gutsy veterans.

The top challengers: Denver, a 3-seed, has wins over Saint Mary's, Southern Miss and MTSU this season. Arkansas-Little Rock, which swept Denver, won the Sun Belt's West Division.

Three players to watch: Middle Tennessee's LaRon Dendy, a transfer from Iowa State, is the top scorer (14.8 ppg) and rebounder (7.0 rpg) for the Blue Raiders. Denver's Chris Udofia leads his team in scoring (14.9) and assists (2.8 apg) and he's second in rebounding (5.3 rpg). North Texas freshman Tony Mitchell, who originally signed with Missouri, led the league in scoring (16.4 ppg) and rebounding (11.7 rpg) during conference play.

My pick: I think Middle Tennessee State has been one of the toughest teams in the country this season. Look for the Blue Raiders to represent the Sun Belt in the NCAA tournament and win their conference tourney.

WCC

When: Wed., Feb. 29, through Mon., March 5
Where: The Orleans Arena in Las Vegas

The favorite: Saint Mary's, the 1-seed in the tournament and the 2010 tourney champ, won the West Coast Conference's regular-season title with a 14-2 mark, snapping Gonzaga's 11-year streak atop the league. From Dec. 23 through Feb. 2, the Gaels won 12 consecutive games.

The top challengers: Gonzaga, last season's WCC tournament champion, snapped that winning streak with a 73-59 victory over the Gaels in Spokane, Wash., on Feb. 9. The Bulldogs have won six of their past seven games. BYU finished third (12-4) in its first season in the WCC.

Three players to watch: Matthew Dellavedova leads the Gaels with 15.4 ppg. If Kevin Pangos gets hot in Vegas (13.5 ppg, 40.4 percent from beyond the arc), the Bulldogs will win this tournament. If Noah Hartsock (16.8 ppg) is available for 3-seed BYU, then the Cougars could pull off the upset. He's been hampered by a recent knee injury.

My pick: I think the Zags have been the best team in the WCC in recent weeks. And I expect that push to continue in the WCC tournament, where I predict a tourney title for Gonzaga.

**StarDust Bum** · 03-01-2012, 01:25 AM

NCAA Early Games:

ATLANTIC SUN CONFERENCE- QUARTERFINALS UNIVERSITY CENTER- MACON, GA

CBB[761] NORTH FLORIDA v E TENNESSEE ST o128½

CBB[762] E TENNESSEE ST -3

------------------------------------------------------------
NORTHEAST CONFERENCE- QUARTERFINALS (BOTTOM TEAM IS HOME)

CBB[766] LONG ISLAND -8

CBB[766] SACRED HEART v LONG ISLAND u163½

CBB[767] CENTRAL CONN v WAGNER o136½

CBB[768] WAGNER - 10 1/2

CBB[770] ROBERT MORRIS - 12

CBB[770] MONMOUTH v ROBERT MORRIS u136

CBB[771] QUINNIPIAC - 1

CBB[772] QUINNIPIAC v ST. FRANCIS NY u136½

Announcement

The Bum's Thursday's NCAAB-NBA-NHL Best Bets !

The Bum's Thursday's NCAAB-NBA-NHL Best Bets !

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