Tuesday Hoops

Quote Originally Posted by TheLevel:

UMASS +8 (-110) Game ...Risking 6 Units


When looking at this game I have found one area where UMASS has the obvious advantage and that is height and rebounding ability. I believe UMASS will have the edge on the glass which will create second chance points and keep this game within reach of winning straightup or at least covering this rather large game spread. Drexel's biggest guy on the floor during most of the game will be Senior Forward Samme Givens who stands 6' 5" 220 Lbs. and is there teams leading rebounder averaging only 7.8 rebounds per game. The teams 2nd leading rebounder is 6' 9" Junior Daryl McCoy who doesn't play enough minutes to make a huge impact in this game, but he only averages 6.7 rebounds per game. McCoy has only had a total of 9 rebounds in the past 3 games combined. Drexel is a short team, they average 35 rebounds per game this season. In this past game versus N Iowa they struggled on the glass and it showed, it was the teams main problem in that game which allowed N Iowa second chance opp's and Drexel barely pulled out the win by 2 pts as a 7 pt home favorite. In that game N Iowa out-rebounded Drexel 30 to 20, 7 to 3 in offensive boards, bc of that N Iowa managed 4 more FG attempts in that game. On the flip side, UMASS rebounds real well as a team, they average 40 rebounds per game. UMASS features 6' 9" Soph Raphiael Putney who averages 6.1 rpg, 6' 9" Senior Sean Carter who averages 6.6 rpg but has come on very strong lately and is a difference maker on both sides of the court, he as a total of 39 rebounds in his past 4 games (11,12,8 & 8). 6' 7" Junior Terrell Vinson averages 5 rpg, and the guards rebound well with 5' 9" PG speedster Chazz Williams from Brooklyn, NY averaging 4.4 rpg, 6' 5" Jessie Morgan averages 3 rpg. Morgan is from Philly, PA and will be playing his 4th game this season in his hometown of Philly, look for him to have a great game tonight in front of fam and friends, he averages 10.1 ppg and recently had 21 points in this huge win over Temple. In UMASS' last games versus the tough and physical Miss State Bulldogs UMASS controlled the glass and that imo was the eventual difference in the game as UMASS won in 2 OT, they beat Miss St on the glass to the tune of 51 to 38, on the offensive glass 19 to 10!! This gave UMASS 15 more FG attempts in the game! Last game out a huge win on the road again @ Seton Hall they did the exact same thing to the fiesty and talented Pirates, beating them on the glass 38 to 34. In that game Herb Pope had his way downlow with 15 rebounds but even with that as a team they out-rebounded the Pirates. Drexel is very good defensively, but they prefer to keep possessions low and with the above mentioned rebounding advantage for UMASS I see those extra possessions and shot attempts playing a crucial role in UMASS' cover of the spread tonight. Drexel wins 70-66 IMO.

Another sidenote:

Both UMASS coach Derek Kellogg and Drexel's Bruiser Flint know eachother VERY well, Bruiser coached at UMASS up until 11 years ago, Derek Kellogg played at UMASS and now HC. I believe this game comes down to the wire.

Quote Originally Posted by TheLevel:

Good luck NRopp! I will be tailing your Wash play!

What is your take on the line movement towards Drexel with most of the money being on UMASS? Line opened at +6.5 now is +8 currently?..thnx

Quote Originally Posted by Matador0927:

Let's get it tonight Neil . . . . . Thanks,

Quote Originally Posted by Blanka:

Lets not get to caught up with that big Oregon win against Washington in Eugene. 

Washington had problems arriving to the arena on game day.  Due to travel complications, the Huskies didn't arrive at the arena until a half hour before tip off.

Imagine being a 19 year old kid and showing up a half hour before tip off in a hostile environment like Matthew Knight Arena. 

I watched that whole game, the Huskies looked like a team that didn't have a chance to warm up.  They pretty much got thrown in the fire in that game.