November Hoops

I touch on them briefly, coming up. Not touching either of them. I can't lay road chalk that high, just my opinion. And Northern really isn't on my radar, that program is a disaster.

Indiana State @ Notre Dame -19

Ohio State -6 @ Florida State

Florida Atlantic @ Mississippi State -14

Houston @ LSU -6

Michigan @ Clemson -9

Notre Dame has murdered lesser-knowns at home thus far this year with wins of 25, 40, 21, and 37. Indiana State hasn’t played a top 100 team yet. Notre Dame big tournament win, then go to Kentucky, but that Kentucky game isn’t for another 9 days so I’m not sure the spot warrants a flat setting. I didn’t look too much into it, but Florida State hasn’t won too many big home games the last few years that I would call upsets. If they have, I missed it while I glanced. Ohio State has had a couple extra days of prep for this one too. LSU is four wins have come against NW State, Tenny Martin, Centenary and South Alabama. On the flip side, Houston’s four wins have come against Lafayette, NW Oklahoma, Alcorn State and Nichols State. Probably two squads I want nothing to do with at the moment. Michigan is coming off two losses while Clemson is coming off two wins. Both of Michigan’s losses were winnable and we will get contrasting styles of play in this matchup. Michigan has controlled the tempo every game this year while the one game that Clemson did not, they lost outright to ODU. Clemson’s wins against Western Carolina, Wofford, Long Beach State and South Carolina State could look very good towards the end of the year as those teams project to be major players in their conferences...

Fresno State @ Utah -7

UTEP -2 @ New Mexico State 

Georgetown -3 @ Missouri 

North Carolina @ Illinois -4

Saint Louis @ Portland -5

Fresno State doesn’t own a victory yet over a Division One school but they have played the 13th toughest schedule in the country. Utah is coming off of two losses in a row as well. New Mexico State is going to be happy being home for the first time in two weeks. Their offense has been sputtering as I have mentioned previously but getting back home should help that tremendously. More importantly, they’ll be playing an opponent they are familiar with as the second game of a rivalry series continues. UTEP won the first meeting which took place exactly a week ago by the final score of 73-56. This was a five point ballgame where New Mexico State just wore down at the end as they were on the fifth game of a two week long road trip. The key to the game was three-point shooting. UTEP shot 50%, NMSTU shot 23%. NMSTU even out-rebounded UTEP by a wide margin of 20, and were able to gather up 18 offensive rebounds. Since the 23rd of November, New Mexico State has been off. UTEP travelled to NJ to take part in a tournament and this will be their third straight on the road. This little two game series has been going on for a while, and the last two years, each team has split 1-1 with the team getting revenge in the second game. This is about as good of a situational spot (return game, revenge, statistical advantage, good home team, rivalry, series split, one week of preparation) as we’ll see this year and I hope the # is playable. I haven’t seen enough of Missouri to even label them as a contender as they have played one of the easiest schedules in the country thus far. I will keep my eye on Georgetown however, after this they get Utah State, Temple, Appalachian State, and Memphis before opening up Big East play. This will be a team that is battle tested come March. In the minds of any Illini fan, North Carolina coming to town is probably the biggest non-conference game in the history of the program. The game was sold out as soon as tickets went on sale. I don’t have any opinion on the game, but as a player, it’s going to be tough not to be almost “too” jacked up coming into the game. They went on the road at Western Michigan and played in front of 1000 fans due to the Holiday Break and now you’ll come home in front of a sold out Assembly Hall with North Carolina coming in. Then, you travel to Seattle to face Gonzaga later in the week. If they have anything, it’s experience. One key note on Illinois, they inserted Brandon Paul into the starting lineup Saturday at Western Michigan, and it should be permanent (it was much-needed). I think the Illini have a slight advantage here if they can defend. If not, it’s going to be a long week. I want no part of them travelling west later this week. Saint Louis takes to the road for the first time in a cross country trek to Portland. This is an odd matchup aside from the travel. Portland shoots the three-ball a ton and they shoot it well. St. Louis defends the three-ball well every year and is coming off a game in which they did not allow a single three-pointer. Teams are shooting 28% from deep against Saint Louis, and have only made 14 all year in five games. More importantly, in those five games, teams have only attempted a total of 49 from long distance....

Long Beach State @ Washington -17

Bradley @ Western Carolina -1

CS Fullerton @ Montana -9

Eastern Washington @ Gonzaga -29

Sacramento State @ Washington State -30

I see no reason to see why Washington won’t be able to score in the 90’s with Long Beach State coming into town. LBST has gone over 145 in four of their six games with the only two low scoring contests coming in Clemson and St. Peter’s who I have previously mentioned playing slow paces. The four that went over the 145 were slower style teams as well. This game should be a case of many shots, many foul shots, numerous turnovers, and a very fast-paced up and down setting. Washington has revenge on deck with Texas Tech coming in (who beat Washington last year), but I wouldn’t think this is a spot where Washington can letdown. Total should be in the mid-to-upper 150’s, and I think that’s low. Bradley has now lost two in a row and takes its squad on the road in a return bracket buster game in which they will be looking for revenge. In last year’s meeting, Bradley held a comfortable lead for a majority of the game before WCU went on a 20-2 run late to steal the victory. In that game Bradley was led by Taylor Brown’s 18 points, and while he was supposed to be one of the key returning players along with Maniscalco and Warren, he was unable to play this season due to heart problems. Bradley has looked lost without him, and him being pretty much the lone bright spot in last year’s game against WCU concerns me as Bradley hits the road. The loss at home to Eastern Illinois, an in-state rival will add value to a road line and motivation for a good effort here. Plus, Bradley’s had six days to prepare. This might be a good spot for road revenge. This will be Western Carolina’s only home game against a Division One opponent until the second week of January. Six of their first seven games were on the road. They come home to play Bradley, and then back on the road for seven straight the entire month of December. Wow, BRUTAL. No real interest in Fullerton with an entirely new roster. Same can be said for Eastern Washington. And Sacramento State, well, they have some returning players, but they’ve struggled with much lesser competition and Washington State is playing some good basketball.

Should have some nice spots Tuesday...

GL