TSR 2/6/20 CBB Picks

A quick shoutout to Big Ten Power Rankings voter and family of the blog, Eric Tuori, who is celebrating a milestone birthday today.

TODAY’S GAMES

1. Wichita State vs Cincinnati (7:00, ESPN)

Nick: Wichita State--With Cincinnati too flustered with all these Luke Fickell rumors, the Shockers get a big win at home. Coach Marshall’s team is talented, and they need wins like this to ensure they get a chance to prove it come March.

Sam: Wichita State-- Anyone else see the Cincy player get bitten last weekend? How weird.

Zach: Wichita State- The Shockers have the best record in the AAC, yet sit at fifth place in the league

2. Tulsa vs Connecticut (7:00, ESPN2)

Nick: Tulsa--Can you believe that Frank Haith’s squad is atop the AAC?! With all of the early season attention to teams like Memphis, Houston and Cincinnati, it’s a shock that they are doing this well.

Sam: Tulsa-- Crazy that I’m not hesitating to pick a program like Tulsa to beat one like UCONN

Zach: Tulsa- The leaders in the AAC need to avoid getting beat by the bottom feeders, and I see no problem in doing so

3. Belmont vs Murray State (7:30, ESPN+)

Nick: Belmont--The premier game of the OVC will be close again, but the Bruins get the win at home.

Sam: Belmont-- I will forever love Rick Byrd

Zach: Belmont

4. Arizona vs USC (9:00, ESPN2)

Nick: Arizona--This is an under the radar game on Thursday night, as it pits two teams within a game of first place. Arizona has struggled away from home, but McKale is a safe place.

Sam: Arizona-- I saw a stat the other day that in Andy Enfield’s tenure the Trojans are well below 500 in February, easily the most crucial month of the regular season.

Zach: Arizona- The Wildcats are starting to pick things up just at the right time

5. Colorado vs California (8:00, PAC12)

Nick: Colorado--The Buffs are 17-5 and 10-2 at home. Meanwhile, Cal is 0-5 on the road this season, a figure I don’t see them improving on tonight. 

Sam: Colorado-- Props to Mark Fox for winning some league games at Cal this year.

Zach: Colorado

6. Houston vs Tulane (9:00, ESPNU)

Nick: Houston--I think this is still the favorite to win the AAC at this point, being just a half game back of Tulsa. Their backcourt is great, though the absence of Dejon Jarreau will be an interesting wrinkle.

Sam: Houston-- Somewhere there’s a video from earlier in the season of Ron Hunter saying he would walk on water before his team finishes in last in the AAC. Tulane sits in the basement as we speak

Zach: Houston- Coming off of the loss to Cincinnati, the Cougars should have absolutely no problem bouncing back.  

7. Utah vs Stanford (10:00, PAC12)

Nick: Stanford--It’s crazy to think that Utah beat Kentucky, but I guess so did Evansville, and the Purple Aces are 0-11 in the Missouri Valley. Stanford has their best team since the 2014 Sweet 16 team, and I think they win a game like this to solidify their tournament resume.

Sam: Stanford

Zach: Stanford

8. Arizona State vs UCLA (11:00, ESPN2)

Nick: Arizona State--Two coaches I rather dislike, as Bobby Hurley and Mick Cronin face off. I guess I’ll go with the home team?

Sam: Arizona State-- Mick has the boys playing a lot better lately, but no chance I’m picking them to win on the road.

Zach: Arizona State

9. Winthrop vs Campbell (7:00, ESPNU)

Nick: Winthrop--The Eagles are 10-0 in Big South play, and I think they are more than capable of pulling off an upset in March this year. Winners of 12 in a row, they make it 13 against the league’s last place team.

Sam: Winthrop

Zach: Winthrop

10. Western Kentucky vs Louisiana Tech (9:00, CBSSN)

Nick: In the mid-major league that I think is annually the least discussed, this game is huge for the standings. Western Kentucky is just a game back of Louisiana Tech and North Texas, who are tied for first place. A 9-1 record at home for the Hilltoppers is impressive, and Taevion Hollingsworth is playing great as of late, raising his season average to 15.4 after scoring at least 15 in each of the last 8 games, including 30 a few weeks back against Charlotte.

Sam: Western Kentucky-- The way CUSA schedules at the end of the year is very very intriguing.

Zach: Western Kentucky