TSR 1/8/20 CBB Picks

Takeaways

1-The Big Ten is a NIGHTMARE for road teams. All three home teams won once again on Tuesday night in the Big Ten, including upsets by both Nebraska and Rutgers. Teams that are able to steal a few wins on the road will be in title contention. 2-Marquette needs more than Markus Howard to show up if they are to win games in the Big East. Howard is the nation's leading scorer, but he needs at least two guys to help him each night to win ball games. Brendan Bailey did his part with 19 points, but Sacar Anim and Koby McEwen were 5/21 on the night. This needs to change if Marquette wants to achieve their goals this season. 3-Issues continue to arise for Virginia. The Cavs went on the road to BC and lost 60-53. Virginia is averaging 55.9 points per game, the fourth lowest total in America (shoutout Arkansas Pine Bluff, Maryland Eastern Shore and Marist for scoring less). Tony Bennett's teams are built on defense and tempo, but they need to raise this number if they are going to be anywhere close to a three-peat in the ACC. 4-A statement victory by Baylor tonight over Texas Tech on the road. They went to Lubbock, a tough place to play, and defeated the National Runner-Ups 57-52 to move to 12-1 overall and 2-0 in league play. This appears to be Scott Drew's best team yet, perhaps able to shatter the conference championship and Final Four droughts that both stem back to 1950.

TODAY’S GAMES

Game 1: Indiana vs Northwestern (7:00, BTN)

Nick: Indiana--Northwestern is reeling, and now their depth is depleted. Assembly Hall will be treated to quite a blowout on Wednesday night.

Sam: Indiana-- As if Northwestern wasn’t bad enough already, a slew of injuries make them that much worse.

Zach: Indiana- Blowout coming up

Game 2: Wisconsin vs Illinois (9:00, BTN)

Nick: Wisconsin--Illinois is on the road. The Kohl Center is a hostile environment.

Sam: Wisconsin-- Trice has been playing much better of late, and there’s no way I’m trusting Brad Underwood’s group at the Kohl Center

Zach: Wisconsin- Illinois may be the most inconsistent team in the B1G, and I do not trust them going into Madison.

Game 3: Georgia Tech vs Duke (9:00, ACC)

Nick: Duke--Vernon Carey continues to play like a man amongst boys. Also, how on Earth is Josh Pastner still the coach at GT? Probably the $11 million over 6 years and the large buyout, as he has posted a 55-60 record, though that is heavily inflated by his 21-16 NIT runner-up finish in Year 1.

Sam: Duke

Zach: Duke- Is Duke the best team in the ACC? Maybe. Is GT the worst? Maybe.

Game 4: Iowa State vs Kansas (8:00, ESPN+)

Nick: Kansas--Hilton Magic is very real, but this Jayhawks team is very good. ESPN+ is a miserable place for this game, while Oklahoma and Texas are on ESPN2?

Sam: Kansas-- The Big 12 is so stupid for this ESPN+ deal

Zach: Kansas- In Ames, never an easy place to play; don’t be surprised if the upset occurs, but I do not think it will. 

Game 5: Auburn vs Vanderbilt (9:00, SECN)

Nick: Auburn--Since I see this game as a rather easy victory for Bruce Pearl, let's give a shoutout to Vanderbilt (although they are on the road in this game) for their awesome gym. It's on my bucket list.

Sam: Auburn-- The Tigers could very well be undefeated for awhile

Zach: Auburn- Slow down Aaron Nesmith (23.4 ppg) and this will be even more of a blowout than it already will be. 

Game 6: Wyoming vs San Diego State (9:00)

Nick: SDSU--Unless they are looking ahead to January 18 vs Nevada, this is an easy W for the Aztecs over one of the MWC's weakest teams.

Sam: SDSU

Zach: SDSU- Talk about a team that will be undefeated for a while...

Game 7: Xavier vs Seton Hall (8:30, FS1)

Nick: Seton Hall--The two below both talk about Myles Powell, and I will side with Sam. He is so good that he will not need help to take down the Musketeers.

Sam: Seton Hall-- Xavier is so bad at shooting the ball, and Myles Powell is so good.

Zach: Xavier- At the Cintas Center, Xavier finds a way to slow down Powell, really the only player putting points up for the Pirates. 

Game 8: Texas vs Oklahoma (9:00, ESPN2)

Nick: Oklahoma

Sam: Texas

Zach: Texas- Devon Mulry, what’s good

Game 9: Wake Forest vs Florida State (7:30, ACC)

Nick: Florida State

Sam: Florida State

Zach: Florida State

Game 10: Rhode Island vs Davidson (7:00, CBSSN)

Nick: Rhode Island--Remember when Davidson was supposed to contend for the A10 and almost certainly would receive an at-large bid in the NCAA Tournament in preseason circles? I guess that's why you play the games.

Sam: Rhode Island-- The Wildcats continue their disappointing season.

Zach: Rhode Island- Fatts Russell, what a name, what a player

Upsets: 

Nick: Arkansas over LSU (+5)

Zach: VMI over Western Carolina (+4.5)