TJ Rives:
Well, happy Wednesday and we have flipped the calendar to December. Time for another edition of BetUS College Basketball Show. I am merely TJ Rives. I’ve got Jeff Nadu, I’ve got Ian Cameron here as my handicappers guys. Great to be back with you as the Big Ten ACC Challenge continues with some thrilling games. Obviously, last night at the Carrier Dome and also in Columbus, Ohio, as Ohio State upset Duke. I know Nadu was heartbroken over that. Good to have you guys back on the program for our Wednesday’s slate, how are things?
Jeff Nadu:
Doing well. Thanks as always for joining us. Listen, I think we all saw last night. Listen, the best team in the country is the Purdue Boilermakers. I don’t know how many times I’ve got to say that. I got to tell you, I think this could be one of the best teams we’ve seen in a while in college basketball. If you read Leonard Hamilton’s comments last night after the game, that’s pretty evident. They are absolutely on fire. They’re a well-oiled machine and yeah, you’re right. It’s never a bad to see Duke lose. I hate to see it, last night. Duke goes down to Ohio State, only scores what? Twenty-three in the second half. I hate to see that. Oh, well.
TJ Rives:
He says sarcastically, yes. And they were a brick fest at the end of that game, for sure, last night. Ian Cameron’s not heartbroken either. They’re overseeing that with the Blue Devils last night going down at Ohio State.
Ian Cameron:
No, and it was a 12 out close out for Ohio State in the last few minutes of that game to get the victory. Great comeback from them against Duke. But I want to mention Purdue too, Jeff brought them up. This has got to be the best offensive Purdue team I’ve ever seen under Matt Painter. It’s got to be. Now, I know they had a run to the sweet 16 a few years ago. And I remember there was Vincent and Carsen Edwards and you had Isaac Haas is their big man that year. I think that was a pretty good offensive team for Purdue one of the better ones, but I still don’t think they’re as good as this year’s group.
Ian Cameron:
I mean, what they can do offensively is scary. When you’ve got the bigs, the size in the low post with Zach Edey, the seven foot four cyclops from Toronto, just down the road from me. When you’ve got Jaden Ivey just outstanding, shooting the basketball. You’ve got Sasha Stefanovic, who can be a marksman from the perimeter and get red hot at any given moment.
Ian Cameron:
They still play that Matt Painter tenacious defense. They rebound. They play tough. It still got those old school characteristics of Purdue basketball under Painter. But now, they’ve got the inside-outside scoring attack to really punish teams. And it is a complete basketball team right now, well rounded. Good luck trying to beat them at the moment.
TJ Rives:
Yeah. Well put, and there are plenty of Big Ten teams that are scoring in this Big Ten ACC challenge. Purdue one of them blowing out Florida State. And as we mentioned, Ohio State beat Duke. It was a wild Syracuse Indiana game that went to double overtime before Syracuse hung on and won. That one and I got one more factor within that promise we’re getting to the slate. Do you guys realize as the audience on the BetUS College Basketball Show realize that Purdue has got such an illustrious basketball history. You go back to Rick Mount, does anybody on the panel know that name? Fantastic scorer in the ’50s and ’60s.
TJ Rives:
Move forward to Joe Barry Carroll and a team that made the final four, who later got nicknamed Joe Barry Contract for how much money he made in the NBA without doing very much. You move forward after that to Big Dog Robinson, Glenn Big Dog Robinson. All of those Purdue teams that were so good in those years, so good in the NCAA tournament, they have never not once zero times been ranked number one in the Associated Press Poll.
TJ Rives:
They’re on the verge if they win another game later this week of when next Monday’s poll comes out, Purdue will be the number one team in the country for the first time ever. I don’t know if you guys did or did not know that, pretty outstanding for what Matt Painter’s team has been able to accomplish so far this year.
TJ Rives:
That being said, let’s get to it. Why you folks are tuning into us each weekday, 1:00 Eastern Time, Monday through Friday. It’s for the slate of games. And let’s begin with a game that involves a Big East team and a MAC Team. The first one up here involves and actually well, first, before we get to the slate of games, let’s get to our records to this point in time. Now, that we’ve established things for a couple of weeks, we see Jeff Nadu has just gotten around the 500 mark. Ian almost right there on the cusp.
TJ Rives:
Again, I’ll defend my guys that there’s a lot of line movement at times, especially in the morning when these guys are trying to handicap. They might have had a game that we were going to talk about that suddenly they’re saying to us, “Hey, the line is moved two or three points. And that makes a huge difference.” So, you see on our total, they’re right around the 500 mark. So, we pledged to be better on the BetUS College Basketball Show moving forward including today.
TJ Rives:
So, with that being said, let’s get to Central Michigan and Xavier. And what we have for this matchup at Xavier, they have a win earlier over that Ohio State team that we saw defeat Duke. Xavier, a 25 and a half point favorite, our total is 143 and a half in this game. Jeff Nadu, you want to start us off here on what you like and why?
Jeff Nadu:
Yeah. I like Xavier. I’m going to play their team total over 84 and a half. I think this is a really strong, soft spot for the X here. There’s some talk that they may get Zach Freemantle back for this game who is one of their best players. He’s been out to start the season. Look, if you get him back, that’ll just help this total. But I’m really capping this without Freemantle.
Jeff Nadu:
Look, this offense is not going to value. I mean, you look at so far, they’ve only scored 71 points a game. But when we look at the competition, when we look at particularly the game against Norfolk State, scored 88 points in that game. Offensively, they were just up and down. They were very efficient.
Jeff Nadu:
This is about the same type of team they’re going to play tonight. The only difference is I have Central Michigan as one of the worst defenses in the country. And this team is just awful defensively. They can’t get any stops. They’re just a layup line at the basket you face them. They really do nothing well. And they play with some pace, which as I said last night, when you see a team like a South Dakota State or really any top 40, 50 team, when you play with pace against those types of teams, you’re going to get burned and you’re going to get shredded.
Jeff Nadu:
Central Michigan has struggled defensively under Keno Davis and now Tony Barbee. It hasn’t really mattered. This team is not good defensively, and they’re going to get punished here. I look at this total at four and a half that I just think this is a great game for Xavier, let their hair down at home as they head into some tougher games. It really just take care of a bad opponent. I know they’ve only scored over 80 once this year, but it was against the team very similar to the team they’re playing tonight. And I would actually make it a case that they’re significantly worse frankly than that team.
Jeff Nadu:
I think the shooting gets better. They’re only making about 30% of their threes and I think that could probably help tonight. I think they’re going to get some open looks. If you can get Freemantle back, I think that only adds to this. I think they go at least mid-80s here. I think they shot against the really bad defense [inaudible 00:07:07].
TJ Rives:
All right. So, Jeff loving the Xavier team total. I know we get a lot of games on the slate. Ian, do you have a quick fault if not a play?
Ian Cameron:
Yeah. I have no argument. Now, I fell short with Central Michigan, Kentucky over the total on Monday show, and I didn’t get enough points from Central Michigan. To be honest with you, Kentucky was up so big that they shut it down. And that’s the concern here/ Xavier’s up big, maybe they let the shot clock run down, they try to run it out. That’s the only concern that kind of bit me the other night with the over. But no argument in theory of going with team total overs against the Central Michigan team. They’ve given up points in bunches. They play fast, which puts their defense in even more peril.
Ian Cameron:
And Xavier, they’ve got balance in their offense with Johnson, with Colby Jones, Paul Scruggs, double digit scores all three. It’s going to be tough for the Central Michigan team defensively. I will say this about Tony Barbee’s team, just for down the road. They are testing themselves here a nonconference play. They’ve already played in Missouri, DePaul, Gonzaga, Kentucky in nonconference play and they’re going to take their lumps. They’re probably going to be in the admin a losing point spread team.
Ian Cameron:
Once the MAC conference season begins, they might be a bet on team Central Michigan because this is probably going to make them toughen them up, get them ready for that conference season that they face so many quality teams here in the first month. So, maybe Central Michigan becomes a bet on team once we get into MAC play. But tonight, no, not tonight.
TJ Rives:
That’s an excellent point that you make about enhancing your strength of schedule, making you tougher for your conference, if that’s the case, and it’s also this too, they’re being paid to go play again Gonzaga, Kentucky and Xavier in a lot of these cases as well.
TJ Rives:
Let’s do it officially. Jeff is a board for Xavier. It is the Xavier team total though of 84 and a half and he likes the over. Moving along on the slate, we have talked about the Citadel a couple of times on this show in the first couple of weeks and the Citadel playing against UNC Asheville, North Carolina Asheville, where Asheville is the three point favorite, are over under totals 154 for the over under total in this basketball game. Again, we’re right back to Jeff Nadu here on what he likes and why I believe. Go ahead, Jeff.
Jeff Nadu:
Yeah. I think Sebastian you bet on basketball, you have to really just trust the numbers that you put these games at. I kind of was in agreement with most of the metric websites out there. I had to put this game in a pickle. I wouldn’t even mind even making Citadel maybe a one-point favorite. I think [inaudible 00:09:36] are continuing to knock this team. I backed him twice on the show and hit both times.
Jeff Nadu:
I’m going to come right back with him here. I’m actually getting a big way bigger than I thought. I thought I only have like one and a half year. I’m going to get a full three, which I’m pretty happy with. This could be kind of betting into a team that … Look, the one concern that I would have here is Citadel is very reliant on the three point shot, and UNC Asheville is a team that that generally do a nice job around the perimeter.
Jeff Nadu:
But I just kind of have the Citadel is a better team. They’ve kind of changed their stripes a little bit this year. They haven’t been as fast and as up and down as they’ve been in years past, been actually pretty good defensively for their standpoint. Now again, they’ve played anyone really. And they gave a 107 to Duke, but look, Duke is going to score a lot against a lot of teams. I think this is definitely more their wavelength. It is a road game and obviously when you look at this group, they’ve only won one of the three road games. But I just kind of rate them better. I didn’t make them a favorite in this game.
Jeff Nadu:
The fact that I’m getting three points and almost makes me wonder, I mean there’s something going on with a player something on this team, definitely concerning. But I trust my numbers. I think the Citadel is a good solid team. I think they go in and beat UNC Asheville, but I’ll take the three and put them in my back pocket here.
TJ Rives:
And again, then opening season 15-point win over Pitt for what that’s worth. Ian Cameron, anything else here if not an official play?
Ian Cameron:
Yeah. I don’t have a lot in this game, but there’s reasons to like Citadel when you’ve got a team that can score fill it up and catching points and they’re never out of the game with their offense. So, what I like about Citadel is they got six double digit scores this year, six guys averaging double digits and points, Hayden Brown, Jason Roche, Brock Wakefield, Tyler Moffe, Stephen Clark, Rudy Fitzgibbons. I mean, they’ve got multiple scorers here that makes it tough to defend.
Ian Cameron:
It’s kind of a little bit of a clash of styles. Asheville likes to play a little more methodical half court. Citadel wants to speed it up. But it’s going to be which team dictates their pace. I also think if you like this game you probably like the over. If you like Citadel, you like the under if you like Asheville in this game. But I know Jeff has been a fan of the Citadel. And I remember taking Citadel against Pitt the very first game of the season. I actually did make a bet on the Citadel in that game. So, I’ve liked what I’ve seen from them at time. So, I’m certainly not going to dispute the pick.
TJ Rives:
Let’s do this again officially. Jeff is a board Citadel, the Bulldogs tonight plus the three coming against UNC Asheville. We continue on the slate. A reminder again, get your questions and answers in in the chat. If there’s a game that you don’t see here in specific, we’ll try to get to a couple of those towards the end of the show. And as you can see, it’s a very busy schedule as you look up and down the side.
TJ Rives:
That includes Richmond and Wofford. Yes. We go all over the board including Wofford as a three and a half point underdog at home. The total in this one is 145 tonight for the Richmond Spiders. They’ve been a topic on this show as well. And once again, Jeff is dominating the beginning here with the plays. Jeff is back a board on this game. And again, I ask what do you like and why?
Jeff Nadu:
Yeah. Richmond another team, I back this group a couple of times. I played some of their totals. Look, I feel like if you’re going to continue to put totals in the 140s and low 70s with their team totals, I’m going to be on them. Richmond is a good basketball team. They’ve been a great offense under Chris Mooney for over a decade. Seventy-seven points a game to start the season, have hit over 74 in four of their seven games.
Jeff Nadu:
This is just always a very good and fun offense to watch. Very nice on the eyes. They don’t turn the ball over. They’re good from three. They’re good form two. Need up to free throws a little bit, I think that has a lot to do with one player who’s not shot free throws particularly well. But look at this game last year, they actually played Wofford, beat them 77-72, I think we see kind of a similar pace game, too solid on offenses, going to shoot a lot of threes, should be pretty fun to watch frankly.
Jeff Nadu:
I like Richmond. I’m always going to back their team offensively. They just play the right system. [inaudible 00:13:36] in offense, a lot of passing, a lot of pretty basketball. They’re just a good outfit that back while like South Dakota State, they’re going to give me 74 and a half. I didn’t get the 75 in this game. They really had no trouble doing it. They’re not good defensively either. So, it should expect a pretty decent pace in this one. I think this is like a 78, 75 at the game. I think both teams probably get the 75, should be a fun game to watch.
TJ Rives:
That would be hovering right around the over under line. Ian, anything to add?
Ian Cameron:
Yeah. I mean, Richmond is and the thing that concerns me for Wofford and why I think this might be a good play here is the three point defense for Wofford. That’s not very good. You look at their efficiency numbers against defending the three, it’s just not been good from Wofford at all, 339th in the country, perimeter defense, not good from an efficiency standpoint. And Richmond can shoot the three, 44th in the country with three point field goal percentage efficiency. So, that’s a matchup that works out well for Richmond.
Ian Cameron:
I’m a big fan of this team as well. You look at what they’ve got, multiple guys. Again, just like with Citadel, I mean, it’s not just one guy that they rely on, Grant Golden, Jacob Gilyard, Tyler Burton, multiple players on this Richmond team that can beat you offensively. And certainly, Wofford, I think defensively, a bad tough matchup for them with their struggles to defend the perimeter. And that could be their downfall tonight.
TJ Rives:
Fair enough, three times in a row. We’re going to Jeff Nadu to lock in. And let’s take a look. He is on the Richmond team total again going over 74 and a half for this one tonight. Again, the busy slate continues. We seem to be staying on the East Coast and the eastern seaboard. Let’s stay there with Harvard and Rhode Island. The Atlantic 10 and the Ivy League with Rhode Island is a two and a half point road favorite. Our total is 140 and a half on the BetUS lines. Ian Cameron has been frothing here to get in an official play. What do you like and why, sir?
Ian Cameron:
Yeah. This should be an interesting one, actually, with the Rhode Island. Rhode Island is a team that they’ve kind of impressed me more than I thought coming into the year. I mean, I actually had a loss with them or going against them with Bryant very early in the season. And they were just too much for Bryant in the second half. But I think we found out since then, Bryant’s had a tough time stepping up in class in some of their games this year.
Ian Cameron:
Now, they got to play this very disciplined Harvard Crimson team. Tommy Amaker has done just an outstanding consistent job with this program year in and year out. I respect a lot about what this team is able to do in terms of both ends of the basketball court. Defensively, I think Harvard’s pretty solid, 120th defensive efficiency. For an Ivy League school, that’s very good in my opinion. Harvard shoots the three point ball very well, 19th in the country, and that is the defensive weakness a little bit for Rhode Island here. Harvard too, a very solid home court.
Ian Cameron:
I’m just not ready here to buy into Rhode Island here, road favorites in this particular spot. You’ve seen Harvard, they’ve had some pretty decent results so far to this point in the year. And maybe again, Rhode Island is like I say at times improved better than I thought. But you look at this Harvard team, they beat a good Colgate squad and overtime 89-84. They just put boots to Northeastern by 20 on Saturday on this home floor.
Ian Cameron:
Like I said, they played well for years here on the home court. It’s not an easy place for the road team to come in and get a win or a point spread cover. Rick Pitino has gotten himself a squat at Iona this year for sure. They’re going to roll in the metro Atlantic this year. They’re going to just destroy that conference.
Ian Cameron:
And Harvard almost beat them earlier this year 92-87 and overtime. So, getting two and a half, three points with Harvard here as home dogs. I thought that was a good value. And I think they’ve got a really good chance to win this game outright. So, we’re going to go with Harvard here plus three tonight against Rhode Island.
TJ Rives:
I like that. Jeff, any thought here on this game?
Jeff Nadu:
Yeah, I have no issue with it. I mean, I would leave the home team here. I’m not a big Rhode Island guy. I definitely don’t like David Cox. I think they’ve kind of played a little bit better than I think they are. Yeah, I have no issue with this one. I think some of the metrics you’re seeing on Rhode Island maybe are a little skewed. I think Harvard will break it down. That’s a tough place to go play. They have obviously a bunch of shooters. That’s kind of what they do there. Yeah, I have no issue with it.
TJ Rives:
And again, to illuminate a little more on Ian’s point that that’s a Harvard win over a Colgate team, that scored 100 points in the Carrier Dome and beat Syracuse. Harvard turns around, I know it’s comparing scores and beats Colgate. And that’s one of the reasons why Ian is officially on Harvard. I hear for this matchup with Rhode Island plus the two and a half. Let’s continue with Cincinnati and Miami of Ohio as the next game on our slate. The Bearcats come in as a four-point road favorite, the total at 137 and a half. We’re right back to old Canada. Ian Cameron, what do you like?
Ian Cameron:
I like a bounce back spot here for the Bearcats in this one, lay in the short number here on the road. Cincinnati fell victim over the weekend, guys, to a spot that I mentioned on Monday show and I filled in for Jeff. Be aware of betting on these teams when they return home following a neutral court tournament, especially when it was a solid tournament or they played some pretty good competition and you come back from that kind of a setting and you just lay an egg. You flat out stink, you don’t have it.
Ian Cameron:
Look at St. Bonaventure, perfect example. What happened to them over the weekend against Northern Iowa, they got drilled. It was just that they laid an egg, it was just a bad spot. You’re coming off the neutral court tournament. Remember, the Bonnies fans were filling that joint down in Charleston. And they just had a flat performance. Cincinnati pretty much had their flat effort off a neutral court tournament over the weekend. They lost his 11-point favorites to Monmouth, 61-59.
TJ Rives:
They did.
Ian Cameron:
Although I like King Rice Monmouth team, very solid this year. Still you shouldn’t be losing that game. I think now a bounce back to after losing that game and before that they had the loss on the neutral court to Arkansas.
Ian Cameron:
But what I like about Cincy is they’ve toughen themselves up, played Georgia, played Illinois, played Arkansas already this year. And I think that’s got them ready to bounce back here against Miami. Miami was just not very impressive to me. Now I know offensively they put up big points, but I think the offensive numbers are completely and utterly skewed by playing absolute nobodies, for the majority of their recent games Miami.
Ian Cameron:
And I don’t just like … I love the hire that Cincinnati made. The John Brennan thing was a disgrace, absolutely brutal, good riddance to him get out. Nobody misses you here. West Miller is here now. Greensboro did a great job there at UNC Greensboro for years. It was a nice hire. It calms everything down, calms the waters. You got a guy that knows how to coach. And I think can get the most out of this basketball team.
Ian Cameron:
And you know what I like about Cincy, they’re having fun playing basketball again. They gave Arkansas everything they could handle. They crushed Illinois in that neutral court tournament. They just fell victim I think to a bad spot following that neutral court tournament, returning home against Monmouth. I think it’s a bounce back. I think the focus is there. I know it’s an instate game. They don’t know if it’s a rivalry, but it’s still an instate team you’re playing. I think the focus is there for Cincinnati. And if the focus is there, the better of these two teams I think they can win by margin. So, I’m on Cincinnati as the road favorite.
TJ Rives:
All right, interesting. Jeff, I saw you smiling when Ian was saying get out for John Brennan, the former coach. I’ll just throw in this back 30 years ago, when Bob Huggins was patrolling the sideline in the ’90s and all the way into the early 2000s at Cincinnati, he had zero tolerance for any antics and would get in his players’ faces about every different thing. That seemed to have rankled the present day Cincinnati team and John Brennan’s not there anymore, but whatever. I digress. Anything about this game? Cincinnati, Miami, Ohio, Jeff?
Jeff Nadu:
Yeah. Look, unfortunately, I’ll say this easiest way possible. We don’t live in some of those times anymore. The Gene Keadys of the world, the Bobby Huggins, the Bobby Knight, look, not that Bob Knight didn’t do some things that you shouldn’t do. But I was always under the impression. And I know from my own experiences as a kid, I remember one or the two or the three times that my dad really disciplined. And I never did it again after that. And I owe my father and mother a lot. Because I think without my parents, I would be definitely in an eight by 10 box, 100%, 100%. I was way too stupid.
Jeff Nadu:
And parents, they told me what to do, what not to do. And I think you have to treat kids like that. You can’t be the nice guy or whatever. I’m not going to get into that. But when you look at West Miller, I think he’s a great coach. I think he’s a terrific hire. And it does calm this program down a little bit. It’s back to the roots that Mick Cronin built, blue collar defense rugged.
Jeff Nadu:
Yeah, look, I think for Cincinnati, the only thing that I’m just a bit concerned about and this is obviously it’s a positive progression, hopefully, I mean, they just had to start making some shots. And they’ve not been particularly good at the uncontested wide-open shots. Guys start making those, you hit some threes. But no, they played well, even without that.
Jeff Nadu:
They’re so tough and rugged on the defensive end. They’re bigger than Miami, Ohio. I have no issue with this one. Could be a sleepy spot MAC team, but as Ian said, it’s a home state team. I don’t think you get many let downs and you play for West Miller. He’s just a good coach. Good coaches don’t allow that kind of stuff.
TJ Rives:
Especially off the loss this weekend, a surprising home loss to Monmouth. So, again, Cincinnati on the road, we look at it officially. Ian locks it in with the Bearcats and Ian is going to lay the points in this matchup. And just one more followup, I think we all agree and the audience that’s watching here, nobody has the right as a coach to be physically abusive, those kinds of things, that’s dealt with differently.
TJ Rives:
But in terms of in your face, making you uncomfortable, screaming at you if you do it wrong, to Jeff’s point, we do live in a different day when that is something that gets you run off. Because that’s coaching, that’s volatility, trying to impress upon your team, do it a different way. Don’t do it that way or we’re going to get beat. So, I think we all agree.
Ian Cameron:
Yeah, [inaudible 00:23:57] if there’s a prop out there, the chair will be thrown like back in Bobby Knight’s day on a basketball court.
TJ Rives:
Yeah, you’re not going to see that probably anytime soon. Let us move along on the slate. We’re back to the ACC Big Ten Challenge with Virginia Tech and Maryland and this one tight with the Hokies a one point underdog. Maryland suffered a couple of losses early in the year. They’ve obviously got a talented team. The under over 132 here on the total. Ian Cameron, what do you like hear about the latest in the ACC Big Ten Challenge?
Ian Cameron:
Yeah. This is one of those games where we really don’t know how good either these two teams are just yet. But I’m going to bank on what I think is the better coach here in Mike Young. And I think a matchup that’s all right here for Virginia Tech in this game. And I know going on the road is never easy. But I don’t really think too much right now this Maryland team, and that’s despite the fact they’ve got Dante Scott, Eric Ayala and a talented group, but Virginia Tech plays the style of basketball that can really frustrate and really make Maryland lose their discipline and composure.
Ian Cameron:
And I find Maryland over the years under Mark Turgeon, when you play good sound basketball, you make them defend every second of the shot clock, you move the ball around, you take good shots, you get clean looks, and you really make them defend. They can fall apart and I think that’s the kind of style that was going to work well here for Virginia Tech here in this game.
Ian Cameron:
Now, Virginia Tech doesn’t have much of a bench. They don’t have a lot of depth there, but they’re starting five is very good. They are coming off a back to back losses. I actually like that because I think they’re coming in here knowing, hey, we want to put a quality performance on the board. But no shame in either loss, a one point loss that could have gone either way to Xavier, an eight point loss to an ultra talented Memphis team. So, no really bad losses there.
Ian Cameron:
And for Maryland, I mean, up and down, I thought they kind of stole one against Richmond. I don’t think they played great. They were trailing most of that game and just stole it late. Richmond had a tough time finishing and making their shots down the stretch. They lost to Louisville on a neutral court. They’ve been burning money as favorites this year in some of these games. George Washington they barely won. George Mason, they ended up losing outright as favorites. They escaped past Hofstra. This has not been a very great start to the season for Maryland.
Ian Cameron:
And I just think this matchup is good for Virginia Tech. And I’ll say this right now, which coach would I rather have for my team? It’s not even a question here for me. Mike Young, hands down, great job at Wofford. Virginia Tech, look, good job. He’s already done here with this program. I’ll take him in a heartbeat. Not even an issue over Mark Turgeon. So, give me the Virginia Tech side here. Just to pick basically it’s in a pick and price. You pick the winner, you cast your ticket. I think Virginia Tech can win this game. So, Hokies plus one.
TJ Rives:
Interesting. And you did put out the theory not only on Monday, but here earlier in this show that would apply in actually both their cases. Maryland lost the championship game in the Bahamas this weekend to Louisville. They are now back home for this matchup. Virginia Tech was in the preseason and IT and lost to Memphis in the first game before winning, I believe in the second contest in the preseason and IT in Brooklyn. So, they’re both coming off a tournament. But is Maryland going to be that team that maybe sleepwalk through a home game? I don’t know. If Jeff they do, any thought at all, if not a play?
Jeff Nadu:
Yeah. I like Virginia Tech. I would agree with the Ian here. Listen, Maryland is a weak, frail, bunch of clowns. I mean, they’ve been that for a lot of years under Mark Turgeon. He’s a bad coach.
TJ Rives:
I thought I was harsh.
Jeff Nadu:
He’s wasted so much talent there. I mean, I can’t even go through how much talent he’s wasted. To compare him to the great Gary Williams is laughable. Virginia Tech, though, has a great coach in Mike Young and they have a really good team. I think we can make the case. Now, I will say I don’t think the ACC is very good as a whole. I think VA Tech could be the second best team in the ACC right now. Maybe when Florida State gets fully out, that might change. But this is a really good team that our tournament team.
Jeff Nadu:
I think if Storm Murphy can run this offense like he wants to, I think they’ll take care of Maryland. Is Maryland really any good? I mean, shot creation wise, they’re bad. They don’t make shots. I like VA Tech here. I agree with Ian. It’s a good spot.
Jeff Nadu:
And what’s one thing that Maryland has to do to get off offense? They’re reliant very much on getting to the ballot and 21% of their points come from the foul line, which is quite high for a team. This is one of the best teams in the country not fouling while defending and that’s the sign as I said, have a good defense. If you can not only defend, but you can defend without fouling, you’re going to win a lot of games.
TJ Rives:
Fair enough. The official play for Ian Cameron is on Virginia Tech, taking that point for the outright win obviously at Maryland part of the ACC Big Ten Challenge. We are rocking along here, plenty more to get to including UCF and Auburn. This again the American Conference even though UCF will join Houston and Cincinnati moving eventually into the Big 12 coming up UCF for now in the American at SCC team Auburn here. Ten and a half point favorites are the Auburn Tigers at home are under over 141 on the total. We’re right back to Ian Cameron again. He’s got plays all over the place. What are we on in this matchup?
Ian Cameron:
Yeah. Well, I’d set it on Monday show. I mentioned it a little earlier with what happened to Cincinnati against Monmouth over the weekend, both the first home game after a neutral court tournament and a successful one and the hangover that often provides.
Ian Cameron:
I think it’s hangover city tonight for the Auburn Tigers. And look, I’ve picked my one spot, two spots to go against Auburn. Believe it or not, I’ve cashed two tickets betting against Auburn and that’s the only two games they haven’t covered this year. South Florida and on this very show, I had UConn against Auburn, and look, they had a huge lead Uconn and they coughed it up it went to overtime. I actually felt someone said on Twitter, hey, you’re lucky if you had UConn. Well, maybe not. They had a huge lead in that game. I thought it was safe. Auburn came back-
TJ Rives:
Double overtime, double overtime at the battle before UConn won.
Ian Cameron:
Exactly, 100% right. And they ended up winning and six. So, no harm no foul, UConn got there. We got the winner there with UConn, so two and O betting against Auburn and I think this is a good spot.
Ian Cameron:
Now, Auburn’s a great team, don’t get me wrong. Bruce Pearl’s done a great job bringing in recruits to be using the transfer portal to his advantage. They are an absolutely solid offensive team. They’re an improved defensive team, but I just don’t love this spot. You’re off a very exciting neutral court tournament, you’re in the Bahamas, you’re in Imperial Arena. You end up beating Loyola, Chicago and Syracuse decisively in the last two games. You’re feeling good.
Ian Cameron:
And now you’re returning home and you’re facing this UCF squad that I think’s very talented, that I think that’s the kind of team that when you’re getting double digit points like this, they’re not going to be the easiest team to beat. They play solid on the defensive end of the basketball court. It’s going to keep them in this game. And this is a game where Auburn’s focus I think comes into question just a little bit against a solid UCF squad. So, for me, it’s the double digit points in a prime spot for UCF. And I think a spot that I’d be worried about laying double digits with Auburn in.
TJ Rives:
Interesting. All right, Jeff, anything to add here about this one? Again, it’s a large number that Auburn is laying.
Jeff Nadu:
Yeah, I’m pretty high on UCF. I actually I think they could be a real factor in the ACC this year, long, lengthy of a good team under Johnny Dawkins, as usual. Actually, Auburn a loss last year to UCF, 63-55. It was just one of those bear type of performance as UCF just tough, play hard. It’s a better Auburn team than last year. But yeah, I mean, if you’re going to give me doubles here, I would agree. I would just take UCL principle and they’re good enough defensively to hang in this game. They make their free throws.
Jeff Nadu:
Listen, the key to staying in the game as an underdog particularly if 10 points or higher, at least for me is do turn the ball over. Can you make threes? Can you make free throws? UCF top 10 of the country and free throws, they make 38% of their threes, and they’re good enough and not turning the ball or throwing the fact that they can offensive rebound very well also create second chance opportunities, but they’re really good against Oklahoma. I had my head scratched on this one. I don’t know why [inaudible 00:32:26]. I think Auburn is a little overvalued here.
Jeff Nadu:
And guys, I do apologize. I’m not sure what yard removal company does work in the winter. It’s December 1st, but for whatever reason, they’re out cutting the grass and gardening and I don’t know why.
TJ Rives:
Well, so I have that issue sometimes and around the palatial Rives compound, but I’m in Florida where the grass grows more this time of year. The good news is we’re not hearing it, I don’t think.
Jeff Nadu:
It’s hard to think correctly though.
TJ Rives:
The intriguing thing would be if you were to join in live on the show with either the edger or the weed whacker if we could make that happen, and you and I would be all for that. But currently we aren’t hearing it. So, that’s a good sign.
Ian Cameron:
Funny you mention that Jeff and TJ because, I’m in Canada and it’s already starting to get really cold here. And two days ago, I’m doing a show and I hear, whirr, two days away like you realize the ground is frozen, moron. You don’t have to cut your grass, right?
TJ Rives:
I thought you were going to tell me snowblower trying to blow the snow off the sidewalk or something. Back to the lock in on the play, Ian is locking in on UCF, the Knights that used to be the Golden Knights. Now, their thing is don’t call us the Golden Knights even though that used to be our names. The UCF Knights getting 10 and a half at Auburn, Ian is on them. Again, keep your questions coming. We’ll get to those here at the end in the Q&A section. If you’ve got those on games that you don’t see on our schedule there on the side of the screen, as we go along.
TJ Rives:
Ohio Bobcats and LSU, again, the state of Ohio feeling better after Ohio State’s win over Duke. This is the Ohio Bobcats out of the MAC. Again, we’ve got an SEC team laying double figures, LSU laying 11 the over under at 144. Ian, back to you, again another official play for you. What stood out about this game?
Ian Cameron:
So, initially, I was leaning Ohio with the double digits. And look, LSU has played some really good basketball. I’m not set up in the know to start the year. I mean, they beat Penn State and Wake Forest and the recent tournament, the Emerald Coast classic. Will Wade’s team is playing well. And I think at the point too, where they’ve been a point spread machine, especially on their home floor decided, I’ll lean Ohio and I’ll pivot more toward the total in this game. And I’m going to make a case for the over.
Ian Cameron:
And that’s not easy to do with LSU. They have been an under trending team and their defenses improved. I think they’ve slowed down a little bit offensively. But I think you’ll see points here because there’s certainly going to be a size advantage for LSU. It’s going to be difficult for Ohio. This could be layup and put back city for LSU tonight around the rim.
Ian Cameron:
I mean, Ohio just played Kentucky. And recently, they got destroyed on the glass. I mean, 53-17 was the rebounding edge for Kentucky in that game. And LSU has got the talent and the size more than anything to really, really do a serious damage here in the rebounding war once again against Ohio.
Ian Cameron:
So, I think they’re going to get easy baskets. Of course, Darius Days just a terrific score for the Tiger, 16 points, six points per game. He seems like he’s been here forever. Jeff and I always talk about these guys. They feel like it’s been in the program forever. That’s been Darius Days here for LSU.
Ian Cameron:
But don’t sleep on this Ohio offense. They can fill it up and they can score and their offense was given Calipari’s Kentucky team a lot of problems for well over a half. When you’ve got Mark Sears. If you guys don’t watch Ohio, watch Ben Vander Plas. This guy is so much fun to watch. The big guy can step out, make a three-point shot. He’s got 15 points per game this year. Really terrific player for Ohio.
Ian Cameron:
I think they’ve got enough diversity in their offensive attack to score some points here against LSU. And again, LSU is defense has been a lot improved. That’s been their Achilles’ heel for years underweight, not good enough defensively. They’ve been better this year.
Ian Cameron:
But if there’s ever a spot to maybe have a sleep walk defensive effort, it’s tonight, after a nice showing on a neutral court tournament, back home a little bit of a dopey spot, flat spot, lethargic spot, if you will for LSU. And I could see it showing up on the defensive end of the basketball court tonight. So, I lean Ohio for sure. But I thought with Ohio struggles on the glass. I thought the better bet ended up being the over, so over 144 Ohio, LSU.
TJ Rives:
Interesting, with the SEC team back at home again here, Jeff, anything else?
Jeff Nadu:
Yeah. This total is a bit of a head scratcher also. I mean, I don’t know if people watch LSU over the years. But I mean, I know they’re better defensively this year, they’ve been in years past. But as Ian alluded to, I mean, this is not just some bad MAC team. I mean, I know they don’t have Jason Preston anymore. But he kind of alluded, Mark Sears, Jason Carter, Vander Plas. I mean, they’re still a good offense, and they still can score the basketball. I think they probably get the 70 here.
Jeff Nadu:
Yeah. I have no issue with this. I thought, if you say to me, what’s this total right at the top of my head, and I didn’t know it, I would say 152. I mean, 144 and a half is low. I would also probably just say, if you’re not real keen on maybe a full game, you’re worried a little bit about Ohio, I kind of pegged the LSU for 80 here, team total 77 and a half for BetUS right now, that offensive LSU is really good as usual.
Jeff Nadu:
They don’t turn it over. They rebound the hell out of the ball as usual, make their free throws, good offense. I would just almost maybe want to just say you know what, I just want to worry about LSU scoring. I know they’re probably going to do that in [inaudible 00:37:51].
TJ Rives:
Just for Ian, I’m going to say it, he’s looking to be overjoyed here tonight, I do believe, with the over on the total of 144 for Ohio and LSU this evening. We’ve got one more on our official slate and it is another ACC Big Ten Challenge game. This is Michigan at North Carolina, a game that seems like a final four matchup that they’ve got for us on December 1st.
TJ Rives:
Carolina getting points at home. I don’t have it in front of me. This is why my guys are my guys. I’m sure one of them has it. How often is North Carolina been a home underdog period in their recent history, especially under Roy Williams. Hubert Davis is now the coach. Michigan, we know all about with how well they have played including going out to the West Coast and playing well in the desert at UNLV in the two games that they played out there. All right, back to Ian Cameron once more here for a play officially, Michigan and North Carolina.
Ian Cameron:
Yeah. I know someone in our chat was saying talked about totals, talk about totals on the show here. And well, you’re getting your wish the last two games are totals for me. And this is another one, another over here for me with Michigan and North Carolina.
Ian Cameron:
Do I trust North Carolina’s defense against anybody right now? I do not. I mean, and that’s the issue right now with Hubert Davis’ team. I mean, they are just not defending. They’re not guarding their men. Even in some of the wins, they’ve had like Brown, they give up 87 points. Charleston, they give up 83 points, and they give up 37 of 73 shooting to Brown in particular that’s north of 50%. That’s simply not good enough.
Ian Cameron:
And then when they play the power five conference teams, the power conference teams, Purdue shredding everybody, we just talked about how great they’ve been offensively but 93 points 34, 61 for Purdue, Tennessee scores 89 against North Carolina, 38 to 70. This team has issues. They have serious problems on the defensive end of the floor.
Ian Cameron:
Now, Michigan has kind of underwhelming offensively in some of their games. I mean, 65 points, they played Tarleton State’s pace and got just grinded down into that nails on the chalkboard, half court game against Tarleton State there. So, that does concern you, what’s happened to the Michigan offense going into this game. Arizona shut them down in the neutral court in Las Vegas 80-62. But Tommy Lloyd’s team in Arizona, they’re playing some good defense there. So, I don’t want to just rain on Michigan’s parade too much for that performance.
Ian Cameron:
I think more than anything, guys, this is the chance for Michigan to say, “Hey, we can get some offense going tonight against this North Carolina team that’s just struggled to guard anybody and defend anybody at any sort of reasonable level.” I mean, Michigan’s just not going to be this porous offensively indefinitely, especially if the team they’re facing is struggling. They’ve got still enough options. They got the inside outside balance with Hunter Dickinson and Eli Brooks. I think it’s time for them to step up here against a team. Like I say, that’s just not guarding at a good enough level right now.
Ian Cameron:
North Carolina has actually increased their pace just a little bit possession numbers up slightly this year. Actually under Roy, the last two years, they didn’t exactly go as lightning fast as they did earlier in the Roy Williams era. But now, Huber Davis here, they’ve kind of gone faster again, a little bit pace wise.
Ian Cameron:
And like I say, North Carolina has not defended anybody that they’ve played in terms of the better teams. I don’t know if that’s going to start here tonight. But I think North Carolina offensively I like with Armando Bacot and company. They’ve got more than enough to challenge Michigan’s defense, which is, again, the Arizona game stands out. That was a poor scheme for Michigan defensively. So, I think when all things are said and done here, points both ways and we get this game to go over the total.
TJ Rives:
Interesting, on this for a lot of reasons, not the least of which is there have been exciting close games each of the last couple of nights involving the ACC Big Ten Challenge. Iowa winning by one at Virginia on a last second shot. Virginia had a chance actually to win the game and missed the shot. We mentioned double overtime for Indiana and Syracuse at the Carrier Dome. And then Ohio State won the one-point game hanging on to beat Duke coming from behind to do so.
TJ Rives:
I get the feeling this is going to be quite the battle, Jeff Nadu. It’s one of the marquee games, obviously, if not an official play for you. It’s going to be one of the marquee games tonight for sure.
Jeff Nadu:
Yeah. I have no real interest on [inaudible 00:42:09]. And look, I think Michigan has major problems. Look, if they can’t score against this defense, I don’t know what to say. But I’m also going to say that I don’t want to be there with my money on it and worrying about if they can. This is not just that, look, don’t make shots you’re good enough to point offense, but it’s the turnover issue. And one of my colleagues, Jordan [inaudible 00:42:32] mentioned this, their body language sucks. They don’t look prepared. They don’t have a point guard.
Jeff Nadu:
And one of the big things that you have to look at that’s really concerning is not just turnover rate. It’s their non-steal turnover percentage. What I mean by that is those are errant dumb decisions. Let’s say Eric passes, stepping on the end line, traveling. Just low IQ kind of things. They’re 333 out of 357 teams, they’re doing [inaudible 00:43:00] teams in that metric. That’s way too high for a team of Michigan’s caliber and pedigree shouldn’t be anywhere near that. They need to wake up. And that’s really been the issue with them. They need to wake up.
Jeff Nadu:
I don’t know what happened in Arizona. I don’t know what happened against gets Tarleton State. They just don’t see real engaged right now. Look, it doesn’t help the fact that look, I know it was a game that involved their school, but I mean, you got Juwan Howard praying around Michigan and all the games and look, I get it, whatever. But it just seems like they’re reading into things a little too much and they need to tighten up.
TJ Rives:
You mean parading around the football went over Ohio State?
Jeff Nadu:
Yeah. [crosstalk 00:43:43] He’s hosting celebrities and I get it. He’s the ambassador school, whatever. But I just need to see them engage a little bit better. The point guard plays dreadful.
Ian Cameron:
It has the concern, too, against North Carolina. You turn it over against them, you’re going to pay the price and you’re going to have the transition basket that you’re going to have to fetch to your own basket. So, that’s going to be the problem. And another thing too with this over, Michigan played Buffalo early in the year. Buffalo is going to play up tempo just like North Carolina, they got an over in that game, and Michigan offensively was able to function.
Ian Cameron:
So, it’s all things that I thought about where maybe an up tempo game gets Michigan’s offense going and like I say, the Buffalo game first game of the year that went over the total with ease. So, I think we’ll see the same here.
TJ Rives:
Who can ever forget, you go back all the way back and now it is the way back unfortunately with the ’93 championship game with Chris Webber and the infamous timeout that they didn’t have. They’re down one with a chance to win and Chris Webber’s call a timeout that they didn’t have against North Carolina and the Tar Heels go on to get the win in the final moments there to seal a national championship win. Not the same stakes, but still quite a game to close out our slate.
TJ Rives:
Let’s get to the Q&A while we have a moment here. We covered a bunch of these games officially. So, a couple of questions. Benjamin says, I missed the early line, but he likes St. Mary’s I believe that Gael’s here at Mary’s tonight if that’s the right [crosstalk 00:45:07].
Ian Cameron:
That’s the Iona Gaels.
TJ Rives:
That’s the Iona Gaels. He just said Gaels. I got to get my Gael straight. He likes Iona against Mary’s tonight. Big man on campus, he’s asking you specifically, Benjamin is, what is your thought on Iona Mary’s if you have one?
Jeff Nadu:
Yeah. I mean, Ian talked about it. I mean, you have a team coming off a highly contested tournament against Belmont and Kansas, and games like that. Now you come back, not only do you have to play a gaming conference, but it’s a Wednesday night kind of sleepy. You got to travel to that destination. I don’t know. I mean, he kind of mentioned it, you didn’t get the best number. Okay, it’s eight and a half. So, you’re basically for possession favorites. You got to basically by double digits here.
Jeff Nadu:
I got to had this more like five or six. Yeah. I wouldn’t play it that number. I get it. But your Mary’s is tough. One thing I can say about them if they’re well coached. John [inaudible 00:46:05] does a nice job. Beat a pretty good VMI team a couple of nights ago. Yeah. I wouldn’t be betting if this numbers the worst.
TJ Rives:
Fair enough. Matt, a viewer wants to know about Michigan State. He calls them his Spartans, my Spartans, looking against Louisville tonight in the Big Ten ACC Challenge that game in East Lansing. Ian, you want to give us a couple of thoughts even though you don’t have an official play on this.
Ian Cameron:
Yeah. I would lean Spartans a little bit, especially now the Lions come down. There’s been some Louisville money here. It opened five it’s down to four. I would lean Michigan State now with this number. I think there’s been way too much disjointed play out of Louisville so far this year. I remember they struggled to get by Detroit just recently in the game their defensive games been shoddy at times to say the least. They’ve just been inconsistent up and down.
Ian Cameron:
Now I like the last two performances. But again, they’re coming off a neutral court tournament here so as Michigan State so it’s a bit of a wash, but you got Michigan State author 75, 58 thrashing at the hands of Baylor. And I just think they’ve been in a little bit more fluid to begin the year than Louisville. So, I would lay the points if I were to bet aside.
Jeff Nadu:
I will also say Chris Mack makes his return tonight from a suspension, what a disgrace. I mean, this guy from a standard of being a man lost a lot as far as estimation my eyes, I mean, you have a coach okay, that he’s a grown man. He always behaved like a Twitter troll. You’re secretly trying to tape a pose and friend of yours in your office is he demands that he gets paid. I mean, through the end of his contract. Look whether [inaudible 00:47:45] was in the wrong or not, that’s fine. But you’re taping your friends. I mean, what kind of behaviors this just very odd.
Ian Cameron:
It’s been the week of coaches acting like slime balls college football, college basketball odds doesn’t, matter what.
Jeff Nadu:
Well, listen, I don’t fault the guy for going to get paid and going somewhere else. But again, Ian Cameron, if I call you on the phone, and I try to get you to say stuff that you shouldn’t say and tape you and that’s a wrap. That’s a lane move week. Chris Mack should again see, if you’re talking about [inaudible 00:48:18]. This is not a mandate. You’re muted.
Ian Cameron:
TJ, turn that mic on.
TJ Rives:
My apologies there. No doubt that both of these guys said it well they’re that the whole controversy with taping somebody or whatever it’s beaten Chris Mack and had him on the sidelines for sure. One more and Jeff it’s in your neck of the woods. It is in Philadelphia with Villanova and Penn and a viewer I want to get the name I think it’s Alex wants to know can you touch on Villanova and such a large line? This is at the famous Palestra, a big five game here, is that line may be too big? Jeff, I’m not saying you got to do it officially.
Jeff Nadu:
I don’t think. Villanova crushed [inaudible 00:49:05] in the night. I didn’t see a shooting performance that’s good in the first half of a long time. I couldn’t miss. Penn has been hard to watch. I mean, they don’t have any rim protection. Michael Wong, they’ve had to put him on the bench because he’s been so bad defensively
Jeff Nadu:
When they stepped up in competition, I mean, this a group that lost my 15 to Towson University. I wouldn’t have any interest in playing on this group right now. Maybe when you get into conference play or something, but Villanova is a step better than every team in the city here. Drexel is out, [inaudible 00:49:38]. Villanova is significantly better than all those teams. I wouldn’t have any interest in Penn.
TJ Rives:
And because I’m biased because I’m hosting the show before we get to the best bets my Memphis Tigers. Well, Ian Cameron will they bounce back in Athens against the Georgia team that has already dropped a couple of games early on in the year, it is a road game for Memphis. I got to see something better than the second half of that Iowa State loss in the Friday night preseason in IT. Do I have optimism that I will see it Ian?
Ian Cameron:
They ought to win the game. I’m sure they’ll win the game. But from a betting perspective, I want no part of this. I’m not laying doubles with Memphis on the road and I don’t want any part of Georgia, easy pass.
TJ Rives:
Okay, how about that. Fair enough. Let’s get the ones that they are going for tonight on our best bets. Again, I won’t go one by one by one but you can take a look at what Jeff is on with those three teams including Citadel interesting, a couple of underdogs. In fact, three underdog plays for Ian tonight on his list with Harvard and Virginia Tech and UCF.
TJ Rives:
Guys, we have come to the end of a Wednesday show. And again, we gave the viewers nine official plays. A reminder, we’re here at 1:00 eastern time going over the lines, Monday through Friday on the BetUS Sportsbook College Basketball Show. And this ACC Big Ten Challenge one more time is going to be a lot of fun with those different games. And you guys got several plays on those games for coming up for tonight. Any thoughts in closing, Jeff or Ian?
Jeff Nadu:
I’m good. Looking forward to another good night of college hoops.
Ian Cameron:
Same with me. Good luck to everybody watching with your bets tonight.
TJ Rives:
Fair enough on that. Thank you again guys. We thank you for watching as well. We’re back at 1:00 Eastern on Thursday on the BetUS College Hoops Show.
