TSR 2/15/20 CBB Picks w/ Guest Picker Nate Tuori

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 former college basketball player at Alpena CC and Rochester College, as well as a former assistant coach at Wayne State University and the University of Toledo, Nate Tuori.

Q&A w/ Nate Tuori

1. As a player collegiately, is there a game that sticks out to you as the most memorable?

When I was a player at Alpena CC, I hit the game-winning shot in the state tournament against Oakland CC.

2. How about as a coach, is there a game that you look back on as the most fond?

Definitely the Michigan State win (more below), but we also beat a very good Akron team in the 2006 MAC Tournament semifinals to advance to the championship game. The crowd was a record at the time, so it was an incredible atmosphere.

3. Is there a game that you wish you could have back and play over again?

I would say that there are two that stick out to me. First, the 2006 MAC Tournament Championship, we lost 71-66 against Kent State with a chance to go to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1980. The next year, we won the MAC Regular Season Title, and we lost 58-53 in the semifinals to Miami.

4. In 2002, you were a part of the Toledo staff that went to Breslin Center and upset #14 Michigan State. Can you take us through that experience? Did you think that you honestly had a chance to win the game going into it? How did you get the job done? What was it like afterwards?

I wouldn't say that we were very confident going into the game. We had a great game plan, and we executed. We rebounded extremely well and had multiple players step up and hit big shots in critical points of the game as MSU was making runs. It was an incredible experience that I will never forget.

5. What was the best environment that you coached/played in?

Playing at Cameron Indoor was a special environment, as we were the opponent for Coach K's 700th career victory. It was a great atmosphere to coach basketball in.

6. What have you been up to since you stepped away from coaching at Toledo?

I have been working as an investment advisor since I left Toledo. It has been a terrific move in so many aspects of my life, especially for my family.

7. Are you still involved in basketball in any capacity?

My involvement in basketball is limited to coaching my son Jake's 5th grade travel team.

8. Our side of the Tuori family started in Newberry, so we have this debate all of the time. Since you grew up in the Upper Peninsula, help us settle it. Where is the best place to get a pasty?

I was never a big pasty eater, although I did order a few times from Pasty Central online to expose my college teammates to the pasty. (Editor's Note: Nick would like to campaign for Suzy's Pasties.)

SATURDAY’S GAMES

1. Penn State vs Northwestern (12:00, BTN)

Nate: Penn State- The Nittany Lions are having a fantastic year. They will not drop this game at home.

Nick: Penn State- The Northwestern Wildcats are a horrible basketball team, though their inexperience will prove valuable in a few seasons. Penn State on the other hand, is surging at the right time. This is a legitimate second weekend team, if not a sleeper for the Final Four.

Sam: Penn State- I am all in on this Nittany Lions team.

Zach: Penn State- The Nittany Lions are good and the Wildcats are not. Pretty easy pick here

2. Ohio State vs Purdue (12:00, FOX)

Nate: Purdue- These two teams have been so inconsistent this season. It’s a real toss-up on which team shows up to play.

Nick: Ohio State- I agree with Nate on the inconsistency on both ends of this matchup, but I will go with the Buckeyes at home. Given their resume, they need this game more if they want anything to do with the postseason.

Sam: Ohio State- I just can’t trust Purdue to show up when they’re not at Mackey.

Zach: Ohio State- The Buckeyes are coming off of a nice win over Rutgers and have a 12-2 record at home. I see them improving that in what will be a very good game.

3. Nebraska vs Wisconsin (2:15, BTN)

Nate: Wisconsin

Nick: Wisconsin- The Cornhuskers have lost nine straight games?! Make it ten, as the karma for firing Tim Miles continues to haunt Big Red.

Sam: Wisconsin- Nebraska is awful. Simple as that.

Zach: Wisconsin- Like I have said multiple times this season, and Nick just did above, firing Tim Miles after last season was a horrible mistake and that is why they have a 2-11 conference record. At least we all get the pleasure of watching him as an analyst, in which he is also great at.

4. Michigan State vs Maryland (6:00, ESPN)

Nate: Michigan State- The Spartans are coming off of a nice road win against Illinois. That is the type of win that builds momentum, which they carry into this game, leading to a victory.

Nick: Michigan State- If you asked me on Monday to pick the winner, I would have said Maryland in a heartbeat. After the Illinois victory on Tuesday night, I feel the momentum starting to shift MSU’s way. Remember in 2016, Michigan State hosted Maryland with Gameday there and they got a big win. Throw in the energy behind the introduction of Mel Tucker, and the Spartans will get a victory.

Sam: Michigan State- Maryland may be the best team in the conference, but I don’t think the Spartans let this game slip by. Rocket Watts looks to build off a career high effort on Tuesday. And I LOVE the throwback uniforms.

Zach: Michigan State- College Gameday Saturday, Alternate Uniforms, Against Maryland. Seen this story before, and Michigan State came out victorious and they will again.

5. Rutgers vs Illinois (4:30, BTN)

Nate: Rutgers- The Scarlet Knights are undefeated at home this season, and the Illini are on a three-game losing streak. It’s as simple as that.

Nick: Rutgers- RAC Attack baby. This team cannot, and will not, be beaten in the RAC on Saturday. Illinois is reeling, and their is uncertainty on the playing status of Ayo. With him, it’s close, but without him it’s a blowout.

Sam: Rutgers- Undefeated at the RAC. That continues on Saturday.

Zach: Rutgers- Ayo Dosunmu is listed as day-to-day, and if he plays that will have a huge impact on the game. However, the RAC is no joke. I said earlier that this was one of two remaining home games left where they could lose, but with Dosunmu in question, I don’t see it happening today.

6. Baylor vs West Virginia (4:00, ESPN+)

Nate: Baylor- The Bears have been playing the best basketball in the country this year. They have not lost since November 9th, and that will not change this afternoon.

Nick: Baylor- Another great Big 12 game...on ESPN+...the Big 12 is missing a chance to promote their best teams, all at the mercy of ESPN for a quick dollar. Baylor is one of the two best teams in college basketball, and I think this is Scott Drew’s shot at the Final Four.

Sam: Baylor- Hard to go against #1 at home.

Zach: Baylor- If this game is at the Coliseum, I may have given it more thought, but it is not.

7. North Carolina vs Virginia (8:00, ESPN)

Nate: Virginia- The Tar Heels are way down this season.

Nick: Virginia- The Cavaliers are a pretty solid team, but they struggle to score the ball. In a home game in Charlottesville, they score just enough to get the victory over a UNC team that will miss the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2010.

Sam: Virginia

Zach: Virginia- UNC seems to play the top teams well and the bottom team anything but that. Here, they play one of the top teams, and like all the other games, they still come up short.

8. Butler vs Georgetown (2:30, FOX)

Nate: Butler

Nick: Butler- The Bulldogs are a great basketball team, though they have struggled as of late. Kamar Baldwin is a truly elite player, and he is able to will this team to victory.

Sam: Butler

Zach: Butler- The Bulldogs are legit and so is the powers of Hinkle Fieldhouse, where they hold a 12-2 record

9. Kansas vs Oklahoma (12:00, ESPN)

Nate: Kansas

Nick: Kansas- Rock Chalk Jayhawk. Oklahoma is not a great basketball team, though they may sneak into the NCAA Tournament. Kansas wins this game handily on their way to keep within striking distance of Baylor in the Big 12 title race.

Sam: Kansas

Zach: Kansas

10. Florida State vs Syracuse (12:00, ESPN2)

Nate: Florida State

Nick: Florida State- Though I don’t believe in Florida State, I really don’t believe in Syracuse. This does seem to be a game that they would win come this time of year, but I will take the Seminoles at home.

Sam: Florida State

Zach: Florida State