TSR 1/15/20 CBB Picks

Wednesday's Games

1-Butler vs Seton Hall (6:30, FS1)

Nick: Butler--The Bulldogs have been so strong this season, and this game is at Hinkle. Kamar Baldwin highlights his Big East POY campaign with a big showing.

Sam: Seton Hall-- Yes, this game is at Hinkle, but the Pirates are playing so well lately. I think in the battle of 2 great guards(Myles Powell vs Kamar Baldwin), Powell wins and wills SH to victory.

Zach:Butler- I thought Seton Hall was going to struggle after having so many injuries, but they just keep winning. Their six game winning streak stops tonight in Hinkle Fieldhouse 

2-South Carolina vs Kentucky (6:30, SEC)

Nick: Kentucky--The SEC is trash behind Auburn and Kentucky, with Arkansas and LSU clamoring for some respect. Wildcats win big in Colonial Life.

Sam: Kentucky-- My sister goes to South Carolina and she will be the first person to tell you they identify as a Women’s basketball school. 

Zach:Kentucky- I am still not sold on this Kentucky team this year, but the SEC is a two headed race and every game counts, especially on the road, and the Wildcats get it done

3-Georgetown vs Creighton (7:00, CBSSN)

Nick: Creighton--The Blue Jays are ranked for a reason.

Sam: Creighton-- The Blue Jays have been playing well of late, and I absolutely love their backcourt.

Zach:Georgetown at home

4-Rutgers vs Indiana (7:00, BTN)

Nick: Rutgers--The home record at the RAC cannot be ignored, this has always been a tough place to play. Now the team has the talent to back it up.

Sam: Rutgers-- As Z alluded to, the RAC is tough. Per kenpom.com, Rutgers has the 13th most efficient defense. The Scarlet Knights can really guard, and Steve Pikiell can really coach.

Zach: Rutgers- People still don’t believe in this Rutgers team and I get it, it’s Rutgers. Whether or not you do though, The RAC is no joke. 11-0 at home this year and that gives them the best B1G record at home 

5-Baylor vs Iowa St (8:00, ESPN+)

Nick: Baylor

Sam: Baylor-- Stop playing games on ESPN+!!!!

Zach:Baylor- If this game was played in Ames, maybe I would have a second thought, but not tonight 

6-Marquette vs Xavier (8:00)

Nick: Xavier--The desperation amongst these teams runs rampant, but I think that Marquette is having too many struggles outside of Markus Howard.

Sam: Marquette-- Two teams incredibly desperate for a win.

Zach: Marquette- The combination of Markus Howard and bobblehead giveaway, the Golden Eagles aren't gonna lose

7-Minnesota vs Penn St (9:00, BTN)

Nick: Minnesota--The Barn and Daniel Oturu, need I say more?

Sam: Minnesota-- I am really starting to worry about Penn State’s tournament chances.

Zach: Minnesota- Daniel Oturu is averaging 20/12 on the year, I could see him going for that and then some tonight against Mike Watkins, who hasn’t been his best against top big men

8-UCLA vs Stanford (10:00, PAC12)

Nick: Stanford--Are the Cardinal perhaps the least talked about 14-2 team ever? They are a couple of possessions away from 16-0, yet they have not been discussed nationally at all. This will change.

Sam: Stanford-- They’re so much better than the Bruins, but nonetheless it still feels weird picking them in a road game against UCLA.

Zach: Stanford

9-East Tennessee St vs Samford (7:00, ESPN+)

Nick: ETSU--Coach Forbes' bunch is playing well, and they still have an outside shot for an at-large if they can avoid landmine losses in league play. This would be one of those games, as Samford is ranked 280 in the latest NET.

Sam: ETSU

Zach: ETSU- Real question is, do they cover the 16.5?

10-Temple vs Wichita St (9:00, ESPNU)

Nick: Wichita State--People talked about three teams in the AAC preseason race, and none of them were Wichita State. Gregg Marshall's Shockers are a truly strong team, and my pick to win the league

Sam: Wichita State-- What a game Sunday against UCONN for the Shockers. To blow a 9 point lead late in the game and not fall apart and win in double OT was very impressive.

Zach: Wichita State- Temple is off to a 1-3 start in the AAC and WSU is on a nine game winning streak (15-1 overall). I think this one is closer than it should be

Upset Pick

Nick: Bucknell over American (+3.5)

Zach: UT Chattanooga over Wofford (+2.5)

Finally, let’s talk MIAA. Who do you have in the two big rivalry games taking place tonight: Calvin vs Hope and Alma vs Albion?

Nick: I think that Calvin is going to take the game, for some reasons Phil Visser noted on Sunday. Mainly, Derrick Devries is the leading scorer in the MIAA at 25.0 PPG and the game is at VanNoord. Alma College has a tough battle against the Brits, an underrated rivalry game in the league. Albion is led by Caden Ebeling who is averaging 19 points and 7 board a game. While this may be a frontcourt advantage, I love the Scots' backcourt bunch. The shooters, whether its Cole Kleiver, Ryan Stevens, or Kyle Woodruff amongst others, this team can launch. Gotta take the home team that hits the three!

Sam: Hope-- Shoutout Ty George. Alma-- FHC head coach Kyle Carhart’s former point guard at Lowell(Ryan Stevens) gets it done for the Scots. Also love Zach’s Kirk Herbstreit gameday like approach. Not picking the game but giving the “keys”

Zach: Hope- Even though the game is at VanNoord, I am not buying in on Calvin at all. They look really good one night and a totally different team the next. They beat Illinois Wesleyan, Cornerstone, and lost to Ferris by 3, but then they lose to Oshkosh by 39 and Albion by 31. Derrick Devries is a stud and he does his best to keep Calvin in the game, but even with all of Hope’s drama they’ve had this season, they win the 202nd chapter of the rivalry. 

As for Alma vs Albion- This is a really interesting matchup and it will show the Scots where they are at. Albion, we know where they are at- towards to, if not the top team in the league. At 1-1 in conference play and 7-6 overall, the Scots record is very deceiving, as they have played numerous Top 25 teams. They have been in every single game they have lost, except for one, and have had chances to win late in all of them. The Scots have no trouble scoring, averaging close to 85ppg, and so the key for this game, and every game, is defense. They showed what they are capable of doing against Adrain and will need another performance like that to beat Albion. FTB, Go Scots