another small loss yesterday. the last day of the first weekend of the tournament... fuck it, i'm playing every game.
arizona state (+3) 2 units. everyone who's read my posts throughout the season knows my thoughts on syracuse. sure, there's plenty of talent, but they are a bad TEAM. rautins are onuaku are their most consistent players, but don't touch the ball nearly often enough. the only reason this isn't for more than 2 units is i don't know if arizona state can dictate the tempo. obviously i'm assuming they can, but i'm not as confident as i'd like to be. IF they slow it down and make this a halfcourt game, there's almost no way they lose. they will make you guard for most of the shotclock, and syracuse isn't capable of doing that. i see syracuse getting very frustrated in this game and taking a lot of rushed shots (pretty much like they normally do anyways).
cleveland st (+3) 1 unit. really like the way cleveland state dominated wake forest. and they did it without j'nathan bullock having a big game. the vikings won't back down from arizona. and, based on arizona's season, i pretty much expect the wildcats to look past this game. if cleveland state's guards continute to play lock-down defense, arizona may not be able to feed hill in the post. not much you can do about buddinger though; what a basketball player.
pittsburgh (-8.5) 2 units. oklahoma state's weakness defensively is on the interior. and here comes dejuan blair. i wish this pitt team played defense like they have the last few years, but i think they'll get enough inside to gradually wear down the cowboys and pull away.
louisville (-12) 1 unit. ok, this is the one game i wasn't going to play. very interesting matchup here. siena will love playing louisville's game... up and down the court, pressing all over the place... but can they sustain it for 40 minutes? once siena goes to the bench for guards, they are in big, big trouble. and louisville will wear you down. bringing in knowles and sosa is like a line change in hockey. for me, the biggest questions for louisville are: 1) how will they handle being pressed? and 2) will they maintain focus and work the interior? they go through long stretches where they fall in love with jumpshots, and that normally allows the other team to stay in games. with samuels, jennings, and clark, louisville should have their way in the paint.
kansas (-7.5) 1 unit. pretty simple... everybody and their brother is on dayton. and i can't figure out why. i think kansas faced a bigger test from north dakota state than they will from dayton.
usc (+4.5) 2 units. i was looking forward to a chance to bet against michigan state. this spartan team is simply a notch or two below where they've been in past years. maybe usc isn't the team to take advantage of that, but they are playing decent ball right now.
marquette (+4) 1 unit. it will be interesting to see what dominic james can contribute today. i just hope it's not a case of the rest of the team was just starting to adjust to his absence, and now they need to adjust again. i liked them before i read he may play, and i'm not backing away from it.
xavier (-4.5) 2 units. really like this game. xavier is not only better coached than florida state, they won't mind playing the slower wisconsin style. i expect a good, solid win from the muskateers.
are there any cbi games i can also bet on??
arizona state (+3) 2 units. everyone who's read my posts throughout the season knows my thoughts on syracuse. sure, there's plenty of talent, but they are a bad TEAM. rautins are onuaku are their most consistent players, but don't touch the ball nearly often enough. the only reason this isn't for more than 2 units is i don't know if arizona state can dictate the tempo. obviously i'm assuming they can, but i'm not as confident as i'd like to be. IF they slow it down and make this a halfcourt game, there's almost no way they lose. they will make you guard for most of the shotclock, and syracuse isn't capable of doing that. i see syracuse getting very frustrated in this game and taking a lot of rushed shots (pretty much like they normally do anyways).
cleveland st (+3) 1 unit. really like the way cleveland state dominated wake forest. and they did it without j'nathan bullock having a big game. the vikings won't back down from arizona. and, based on arizona's season, i pretty much expect the wildcats to look past this game. if cleveland state's guards continute to play lock-down defense, arizona may not be able to feed hill in the post. not much you can do about buddinger though; what a basketball player.
pittsburgh (-8.5) 2 units. oklahoma state's weakness defensively is on the interior. and here comes dejuan blair. i wish this pitt team played defense like they have the last few years, but i think they'll get enough inside to gradually wear down the cowboys and pull away.
louisville (-12) 1 unit. ok, this is the one game i wasn't going to play. very interesting matchup here. siena will love playing louisville's game... up and down the court, pressing all over the place... but can they sustain it for 40 minutes? once siena goes to the bench for guards, they are in big, big trouble. and louisville will wear you down. bringing in knowles and sosa is like a line change in hockey. for me, the biggest questions for louisville are: 1) how will they handle being pressed? and 2) will they maintain focus and work the interior? they go through long stretches where they fall in love with jumpshots, and that normally allows the other team to stay in games. with samuels, jennings, and clark, louisville should have their way in the paint.
kansas (-7.5) 1 unit. pretty simple... everybody and their brother is on dayton. and i can't figure out why. i think kansas faced a bigger test from north dakota state than they will from dayton.
usc (+4.5) 2 units. i was looking forward to a chance to bet against michigan state. this spartan team is simply a notch or two below where they've been in past years. maybe usc isn't the team to take advantage of that, but they are playing decent ball right now.
marquette (+4) 1 unit. it will be interesting to see what dominic james can contribute today. i just hope it's not a case of the rest of the team was just starting to adjust to his absence, and now they need to adjust again. i liked them before i read he may play, and i'm not backing away from it.
xavier (-4.5) 2 units. really like this game. xavier is not only better coached than florida state, they won't mind playing the slower wisconsin style. i expect a good, solid win from the muskateers.
are there any cbi games i can also bet on??
