YTD 1-0 +$500
ML 0-1 -$50
Cannot wait to see where this line comes out, but I will be shocked if the Vols are more than a 4-5 point favorite. There are a couple of different factors that will make this game interesting.
Tennessee
Starting PG Melvin Goins is listed as doubtful for tonight's game, but I just heard Pearl on the radio and it seems to me that he is saying that Goins will NOT play tonight. That means true freshman Trae Golden will start at point and Soph. Skyler McBee will back him up. The Vols had 10 guys with double digit minutes, not including starting Center Brian Williams, who fouled out with only 9 minutes.
Scotty Hopson had his best game of the year by far, leading the Vols with 18 points. He is still struggling from beyond the arc going 1-4, but I like the fact that he is not settling for just 3's. Tobias Harris is going to be a steady force inside all year. He is a freak for a freshman, and can knock down the mid range jumper, which is a lost art in college basketball. Cam Tatum was 2-3 from beyond the arc and went 6-7 from the line, so he is recovering well from injury.
Missouri State
Will want some input from some MO Valley conference experts, but this is a very experienced team, and a team that many pick to win the conference. They are going to be very physical inside, and should shoot the ball well outside.
Four of the five starters are seniors, and backup center Caleb Patterson is a junior who will play alot of minutes. Adam Leonard had an off shooting night last night, which I don't expect to happen again. Leonard, along with Kyle Weems, can knock it down and led the Bears in scoring last year.
The Bears are coming off a 24-12 season last year, but here is the interesting stat that you need to look at:
In the 12 losses, they lost by
4 @ Arkansas
8 @ No. Iowa
3 vs Wichita State
11 @ Drake
18 @ Bradley
4 @ Creighton
1 vs No. Iowa
6 @ So. Illinois
2 @ Wichita State
4 @ Illinois State
3 @ Indiana State
10 @ Wichita State
12 losses by an average of 6 ppg. Take away the bad week of Drake and Bradley and you have 10 losses by an average of 4.5 ppg.
Here are the keys IMO
1 - Missouri State had 4 players with 28+ minutes. They are experienced, but will they be tired playing B2B nights?
2 - Can Trae Golden run the offense for a significant amount of minutes against an experienced, physical defense?
3 - Can the Vols shoot 80% again from the FT line again?
Back later when the line comes out:0corn
ML 0-1 -$50
Cannot wait to see where this line comes out, but I will be shocked if the Vols are more than a 4-5 point favorite. There are a couple of different factors that will make this game interesting.
Tennessee
Starting PG Melvin Goins is listed as doubtful for tonight's game, but I just heard Pearl on the radio and it seems to me that he is saying that Goins will NOT play tonight. That means true freshman Trae Golden will start at point and Soph. Skyler McBee will back him up. The Vols had 10 guys with double digit minutes, not including starting Center Brian Williams, who fouled out with only 9 minutes.
Scotty Hopson had his best game of the year by far, leading the Vols with 18 points. He is still struggling from beyond the arc going 1-4, but I like the fact that he is not settling for just 3's. Tobias Harris is going to be a steady force inside all year. He is a freak for a freshman, and can knock down the mid range jumper, which is a lost art in college basketball. Cam Tatum was 2-3 from beyond the arc and went 6-7 from the line, so he is recovering well from injury.
Missouri State
Will want some input from some MO Valley conference experts, but this is a very experienced team, and a team that many pick to win the conference. They are going to be very physical inside, and should shoot the ball well outside.
Four of the five starters are seniors, and backup center Caleb Patterson is a junior who will play alot of minutes. Adam Leonard had an off shooting night last night, which I don't expect to happen again. Leonard, along with Kyle Weems, can knock it down and led the Bears in scoring last year.
The Bears are coming off a 24-12 season last year, but here is the interesting stat that you need to look at:
In the 12 losses, they lost by
4 @ Arkansas
8 @ No. Iowa
3 vs Wichita State
11 @ Drake
18 @ Bradley
4 @ Creighton
1 vs No. Iowa
6 @ So. Illinois
2 @ Wichita State
4 @ Illinois State
3 @ Indiana State
10 @ Wichita State
12 losses by an average of 6 ppg. Take away the bad week of Drake and Bradley and you have 10 losses by an average of 4.5 ppg.
Here are the keys IMO
1 - Missouri State had 4 players with 28+ minutes. They are experienced, but will they be tired playing B2B nights?
2 - Can Trae Golden run the offense for a significant amount of minutes against an experienced, physical defense?
3 - Can the Vols shoot 80% again from the FT line again?
Back later when the line comes out:0corn
