TSR 12/13/19 CBB Picks


Takeaways
1-Iowa continues to impress with a huge blowout victory against Iowa State. More impressively, this game took place in Hilton Coliseum, a tough place to win. Luka Garza finished with 21 points for the Hawkeyes, but it was a balanced scoring day with all five starters scoring double figures. Perhaps the most encouraging was Jordan Bohannon and his 12 points despite an off shooting night.

2-Finals Week cannot end soon enough for college hoops. While all of the college students have been grinding away in the class room, the basketball court has lacked in high quality action. As this short week ends, it will be great for the sport to get some great matchups once again, spring=boarding into conference play.
TSR Roundtable
With a shortened slate once again, we decided to talk about some of the noteworthy things in college basketball right now. 

1-There are five undefeated teams left (Auburn, Duquesne, Liberty, Ohio State, and San Diego State). Who will be the last one left?

Nick: I think Duquesne will be the last team left. They should be favored in their next nine games before they hit the road against Rhode Island on January 22. There is a high probability that they will be 17-0 heading into that game.

Sam: Duquesne-- Easiest schedule in the near future of all teams undefeated

Zach: Auburn- Walkthrough the rest of December and only one game that worries me in January for the Tigers

2-On the opposite end, there are four winless teams left (Central CT State, Florida A&M, Houston Baptist, and Kennesaw State). Who will be the last one left?

Nick: Kennesaw State--They play in the toughest conference, and so I think that will find them with the least opportunities to win games.

Sam: Florida A&M

Zach: Houston Baptist

3-The month of December gives us many of the traditional non-conference inner-state rivalry matchups. Which one is your favorite and why?

Nick: I will go with the Crossroads Classic in Indiana between Butler, Indiana, Purdue and Notre Dame as an effort not to copy the other two, which took both of my favorites. This series always produces fantastic matchups every season for a great day of basketball.

Sam: Memphis-Tennessee-- The Rick Barnes-Penny Hardaway feud is too great.

Zach: Michigan State and Oakland-- The Golden Grizzlies always give the Spartans a game, and this may be the year that they finally get that win.

4-JJ Culver of Wayland Baptist scored 100 points in a 124-60 victory over Southwestern Adventist. How do you feel about these games that you see every few years where a small college player scores 100 plus points?

Nick: I’ve never been a fan of these “gimmicks” where one team gives a specific player an abnormal amount of offense to get some national praise. Don’t disgrace the greatest game ever like that, just play it as it’s supposed to be played. 

Sam: Someone has to score the points for bad teams

Zach: Love it..Seeing a guy score 40 is fun, I couldn’t imagine watching someone put up 100.




 Yesterday's Pick Results (Season Pick Standings can be found here)
Nick 6-0
Sam 5-1

Zach 4-2
OUR PICKS FOR FRIDAY’S GAMES

Game 1: Gardner Webb at Kennesaw State

Nick: Gardner Webb--As I noted above, I think that Kennesaw is the most likely to lose every game this season. Naturally, that means I have to pick Gardner Webb in this game.

Sam: Gardner Webb

Zach: Gardner Webb- I don’t know how many times we’ll pick their games, so I just want to put it out there that this team will win an NCAA tournament game this year.

Game 2: North Greenville at Wofford

Nick: Wofford--#SnackTime, if you don't know about it then look it up on Twitter. This was an epic movement for the Terriers during their run last season.

Sam: Wofford

Zach: Wofford

Game 3: Colorado at Colorado State

Nick: Colorado--This is a much better football "rivalry" and the Buffs have won five in a row there...

Sam: Colorado

Zach: Colorado

Game 4: Nebraska at Indiana

Nick: Indiana--#Nebrasketball is struggling under Fred Hoiberg. Indiana redeemed themselves with a big victory over UCONN earlier in the week after concerns arose when they were embarrassed by Wisconsin.

Sam: Indiana

Zach: Indiana

Game 5: UT Rio Grande Valley at Creighton

Nick: Creighton--The Bluejays are finally getting back to full health as Big East play approaches. Hopefully they will take the next four games to figure it all out.

Sam: Creighton

Zach: Creighton

Game 6: Nebraska-Kearney at South Dakota State

Nick: SDSU

Sam: SDSU

Zach: SDSU

Game 7: Multinomah at Eastern Washington

Nick: Eastern Washington

Sam: Eastern Washington

Zach: Eastern Washington

Game 8: Evergreen State at Portland

Nick: Portland--I would like to take this opportunity to talk about the best nickname you have never heard of, the Geoducks. Do yourself a favor and Google it. Pronounced "gooey duck", they are a native clam that is native to the Western United States.

Sam: Portland

Zach: Portland

Game 9: Prairie View A&M at Loyola Marymount

Nick: Loyola Marymount

Sam: Loyola Marymount

Zach: Loyola Marymount

Upsets/Other Basketball


Sam: Plug for FHC Varsity basketball. Season opener tonight at Forest Hills Eastern.

Zach: I’m also gonna plug for Caledonia Varsity, after a 31 point win against Wayland, we take on our lively friends from Byron Center...

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