TSR 1/25/20 CBB Picks w/ Guest Picker Adam Glatczak

On Saturdays and Sundays for the remainder of the college basketball season, the TSR team is going to add guest pickers to our usual daily selections. They will be on the Guest Pick Standings page on the menu of our website. Our next guest picker is a many of many trades in the college basketball game, Adam Glatczak.

Q&A w/ Adam Glatczak

1. Some of our readers may not know who you are. Can you tell us about your relationship to the game of basketball? 

As a sport-crazed kid, my dad hammered out a damaged satellite so that we could watch college basketball together. My playing career lasted into high school, and then I did some coaching at the rec-league and grade school levels. After college, I have written in a variety of capacities in addition to my job as the SID at Lakeland University in Plymouth, WI.

2. Can you elaborate a bit on your role as the SID at Lakeland?

Basically I’m the P.R. person for our athletic department. It’s a true behind-the-scenes job, among the main parts are stat-keeping for home games, writing stories on all of our 19 athletic teams’ events, updating and maintaining our athletics website, overseeing our broadcasting/video stream, and general publicity of our NCAA Division III teams.

3. Is there a game that you have been a part of that would be the most memorable?

Hard to pick one, but being courtside for conference tournament championship games at my former school (Iowa Wesleyan) were some big highlights, as well as traveling with our men’s basketball team there and broadcasting their NAIA Division II Tournament games (including our first-ever win there) for a local radio station.

4. Do you have any favorite college basketball players, either past or present?

Bo Kimble and the late Hank Gathers at Loyola Marymount-loved watching those teams. Lionel Simmons from La Salle at that same time is also right up there, and Jameer Nelson at St. Joseph’s was another. 

I'm not really sure I have a favorite team at the moment, so I typically watch more from the view of teams I enjoy their style of play or things like that. (Loyola Chicago and Eastern Illinois are two right now) Growing up my favorite team was first Providence and UNLV in 1986-87 (both who ended up making the Final Four that year as it turned out), then those run-and-gun Loyola Marymount teams, plus nearby UW-Green Bay when Dick Bennett coached there.

5. On your Twitter profile (@HoopvilleAdam) you frequently tweet about mid-major teams. Do you have one that you see making some noise this year in the NCAA Tournament?

I don’t know if it’ll be a huge upset by then-the Southern Conference is really good-but right now I’d say East Tennessee State. Watched their game at LSU and they dominated the Tigers on the road, not even as close as the final 11-point margin.

6. Lakeland takes on Marian College tomorrow afternoon at 3:00 EST. What can you tell us about your Muskies team this season?

The Muskies have been on a roller coaster-undefeated (5-0) in December, then were 0-5 in January until winning last time out. Lot of guys contribute-ten different players have led us in scoring in a game-but we’re also almost entirely perimeter-oriented. We’re almost always in the game, but how we shoot determines our success.

7. Finally, a question that only Wisconsinites will understand. Spotted Cow has been hyped up as a delicacy beer, similar to Yuengling, as it is only available in Wisconsin. What are your thoughts?

Spotted Cow is good, and when I lived in Iowa I was certainly asked to bootleg a few cases for some people down there. But honestly, I’m an old school Wisconsin beer guy. Give me a Schlitz, Blatz or Old Style any day!

Saturday's Games

1. Michigan vs Illinois (12:00, FS1)

Adam: Michigan--The Illini have been impressive, but the Wolverines needs this one more. Nick: Michigan--This feels like a desperation game for Michigan. They keep losing league games, including one already to Illinois. The Big Ten at home though this season...

Sam: Illinois--The Wolverines are more than reeling.

Zach: Michigan- The Wolverines have lost 4 of their last 5 games and this one doesn’t get any easier. They lost to the Illini last month, but today’s game is at Crisler, giving them the edge. This Livers injury has really derailed the season

2. Rutgers vs Nebraska (2:00, BTN) Adam: Rutgers--I remember watching the Scarlet Knights’ last NCAA Tournament appearance on TV, against Arizona State, at The Omni in Atlanta, which is since long gone. Never thought would take 29 years to get back.

Nick: Rutgers--The Scarlet Knights are a legit threat in the Big Ten this season. The undefeated record at the RAC continues, and they inch closer to the NCAA Tournament by avoiding a landmine loss to Hoiberg's Huskers.

Sam: Rutgers--I still can't believe that I am saying this...but this is an NCAA Tournament team!

Zach: Rutgers- I don’t care who it is, nobody is going into the RAC this year and winning a game, and going up against arguably the worst team in the Big Ten, I see no problems for the Scarlet Knights 

3. Texas vs LSU (2:00, ESPN) Adam: LSU--Taking down Texas in football and basketball this season.

Nick: LSU--Sorry Devon, but the Tigers are simply a better team. LSU still hasn't lost an SEC game in either football or men's basketball in the 2019-20 season!

Sam: LSU--An uninspiring game, but man did Texas get absolutely hammered at West Virginia earlier this week. They looked horrible in that contest.

Zach: LSU- The Longhorns have the advantage inside but the Tigers have the guard advantage. Look for Skylar Mays to take full advantage.

4. Kansas vs Tennessee (4:00, ESPN) Adam: Kansas

Nick: Kansas--The suspension of De Sousa hurts the front line, but I don't see that being an issue on Saturday against Tennessee.

Sam: Kansas—Tennessee just isn’t a good team. KU by 20+

Zach: Kansas- The Jayhawks need to keep playing basketball rather than boxing if they want to continue being a serious contender in the Big 12 and nationally. They have no issues with the Vols and win handily 

5. Texas Tech vs Kentucky (6:00, ESPN) Adam: Kentucky

Nick: Kentucky--This definitely should have been College Gameday instead of KU/Vols. Chalk it up to another mistake of planning by ESPN...but at least the better game is in the better TV slot.

Sam: Texas Tech—Hostile environment carries TT to a win.

Zach: Texas Tech- After getting upset by TCU, the Red Raiders host Kentucky in what will be a fairly even matchup. Kentucky definitely will hold an advantage inside with Richards and Montgomery. I like Tech at home though

6. Florida vs Baylor (8:00, ESPN) Adam: Baylor--Wasn’t sold on Florida as a top-10 or even top-25 team coming into the season (Gators barely made the NCAA Tournament last year) and nothing has changed that.

Nick: Baylor--I finally have bought into the Baylor Bears hype. Jared Butler has been an elite playmaker on the offensive end, and defensively they are allowing 58.5 PPG (6th best in America). This is Scott Drew's best team.

Sam: Baylor—Gators keep it close for a while since they are home, but ultimately Baylor wins by double digits.

Zach: Florida- The Gators have not lived up to expectations one bit this season, but they are a very forgotten about team, and a good one at that. Baylor takes their Number 1 ranking on the road for the first team, and a record number of top ranked teams have gone down this season. Kerry Blackshear Jr. is still a force and I think he dominates in the takedown of the Bears.

7. Providence vs Villanova (1:00, CBS) Adam: Villanova

Nick: Villanova--Providence has just been too inconsistent to count on them for a victory in this one...which I am sure means that they will end up winning with everyone counting them out.

Sam: Villanova

Zach: Villanova- Providence will keep it close at the Dunkin Donuts Center, but Villanova is a better team and will prevail 

8. Auburn vs Iowa State (12:00, ESPNU)

Adam: Auburn wins the Gene Chizik Bowl. Tigers need to bounce back sometime. Nick: Auburn--If this game was in Ames, I would rely on Hilton Magic. Auburn however will prevail at home, and right their ship heading back into SEC play, two games back of LSU.

Sam: Auburn

Zach: Auburn- Iowa State is such a weird and inconsistent team. I’ll take Number 16 at home in a blowout 

9. Richmond vs Dayton (6:00, ESPN+)

Adam: Dayton--Richmond is a great team however, and I'm not sure how many people know that.

Nick: Richmond--Piggybacking off of what Adam said above, Richmond is a great team this season. They are 15-4 on the year, with wins over Boston College, Rhode Island, Vanderbilt and Wisconsin. This win could propel the Spiders into the NCAA Tournament picture, and into the national spotlight.

Sam: Dayton

Zach: Dayton- Number 7? They just keep creeping up the rankings. The Spiders will have something to say, but Obi Toppin is a star and will have his way

10. Hawaii vs UC Davis (11:59 PM)

Adam: Hawaii. Love late-night hoops in the Big West, and hard to pick against Rainbows at home celebrating program’s 100^th year this night. Nick: Hawaii--I'm with Adam again here. I love the night games in the Big West to wrap up a full slate of college hoops. This is a big win at home for Hawaii, in their quest to keep pace with UC Irvine for the regular season title.

Sam: Hawaii

Zach: Hawaii Thanks to Adam for joining us today. Follow him on Twitter and see his insight all year long! On our end, check back tomorrow for another guest picker.