Hello, welcome to Tuesday. Here is the rundown of today's action.
TOP 25
7 PM
(8) Kansas at Baylor – ESPN2
Kansas -4
The Jayhawks return a game to Baylor looking for the season sweep. Kansas won 78-68 on January 20. Perry Ellis had 18, Andrew Wigginis had 17 and Joel Embiid 12. Brady Heslip had 19 for Baylor, while Isaiah Austin and Cory Jefferson both had 16. Kansas shot 57.5% in the first meeting. Baylor shot 39%, but made up for it with 13 three pointers. The difference was Kansas went 26 of 29 at the free throw line and Baylor went 9 of 20. Baylor is looking to follow the Oklahoma State win with a winning streak while Kansas tries righting the ship after being destroyed by Texas.
Ohio State at (17) Iowa – ESPN
Iowa -6
These two teams have gone lose, win, lose, win in their last 4 games. A streak has to end. If that's not reason enough to tune in, Iowa is going for the series sweep after winning 84-74 in Columbus. Roy Devyn Marble went off for 22, Aarron White 19 and 6 for the Hawkeyes. Three others had at least 10. Iowa shot 47.5% and 21 of 26 at the line. Ohio State had 22 from LaQuinton Ross. Ohio State also had 17 turnovers in that game. This seems like a chance for a national statement for Iowa and a bit of a house money game for Ohio State. We saw how that worked out in the Iowa St-Oklahoma St game last night.
Ole Miss at (18) Kentucky – ESPNU
Kentucky -11.5
The Marshall Henderson, 20.2 points, show runs into Rupp Arena tonight in a battle of the only two 6-2 SEC squads. Ole Miss has won 5 of 6 around a blwout at Tennessee. Kentucky has won 4 of 5, the lone loss being at LSU last Tuesday. Jarvis Summers averagies17.8 and 4.8 assists for the Rebs. Kentucky has James Young 16.8, Aaron Harrison 13.1, Julius Randle 13 doing most of the scoring. Randle's 9.4 rebounds are pretty impressive.
Rutgers at (24) Memphis – CBS Sports Network
Memphis -14.5
The schools are coming off surprising weekend margins where Rutgers beat the hell out of Houston and Memphis was run off the court by SMU. Rutgers has done pretty much what you would think in conference play. They beat the bad teams, Temple, UCF and Houston, at home, while losing to everyone else. Rutgers has 6 conference losses, 4 of them by double figures. Yeah, this entire paragraph was about how bad Rutgers is and nothing about Memphis. I figure there will be plenty to say about Memphis later tonight.
8 PM
(15) Texas at TCU – ESPN 3 / Regional
Texas -9
Texas is coming off one of the more impressive wins of the season. They get what could be a tricky road game to TCU. The Horned Frogs are awful, 0-8, in the league. Texas is a game behind Kansas and who knows, they could be in a first place tie tonight. That is if Cameron Ridley, 11 points, 9 boards, 2.6 blocks, and friends don't assume a win and not pay attention to the game like I won't.
9 PM
Missouri at (3) Florida – ESPN
Florida -12.5
The Tigers head east for a tough matchup with the Gators. Both teams are near the top of the SEC in offensive efficiency. The difference is that the Gators have by far, BY FAR, been the best defensive team in the league while Missouri is the third worst. The Gators give up 0.87 points per possession, Missouri 1.06. Only South Carolina and Alabama are worse. The Gators have a 3 pronged offensive attack led by Casey Prather's 13.8 points, Michael Frazier II's 13.6 points and Scottie Wilbekin's 12.1 points. Dorian Finney-Smith and Patric Young both average 10. Mizzou is not as a balanced. Jabari Brown averages 23.6, Jordan Clarkson 18.2 and Earnest Ross 14.5. No one else averages more than 6.
Chris Walker makes his Florida debut.
Wake Forest at (11) Duke – ESPNU
Duke -18
I was searching for some similarites between Wake Forest and Duke. There aren't many outside the fact they are both coming off losses. Wake has dropped 2 in a row to fall under .500 in the ACC. Duke has played some great basketball, even in the loss, ever since they beat Virginia.
OTHER TV GAMES
7PM
St John's at Providence – Fox Sports 1
Providence -3.5
The Friars look to keep their eyes on the NCAA tournament as they host St John's. These teams played a double OT game on January 16 won by PC. Bryce Cotton posted 21-9-8 assists. Tyler Harris had 18 and Kadeem Batts and LaDontae Henton both had 17. Jakarr Sampson had 16 and 8 for the Red Storm, Phil Greene 15 and D'Angelo Harrison 14. This is pretty much a can't lose for the Friars.
9 PM
Wisconsin at Illinois – Big 10 Network
Wisconsin -4
Right before Wisconsin went into their slide where they've lost 5 of 6, they beat the hell out of Illinois. Pretty much every has beat Illinois. After starting league play 2-0, Illinois has lost 7 in a row. The first of those 7? To Wisconsin. The Badgers shot 56% and had a 20-0 run. Ben Brust had 18-6, Sam Dekker 17-6, Frank Kaminsky 15-6 and Traevon Jackson had 15 and ….. 4 assists. What a letdown, Traevon. Joseph Bertarand had 18 and 9 on 7 of 10 shooting for Illinois as the lone highlight. Rayvonte Rice's 19 on 7 of 21 was a distant second.
Butler at Marquette – Fox Sports 1
Marquette -7
Butler is going for the sweep of the Golden Eagles. The Bulldogs won the first meeting with a 20 point overtime. Khyle Marshall and Kellen Dunham had 18, Kameron Woods 16 and 14. Davante Gardner had a 17-10 double double in the loss. I bet he would like one in a win.
Holy Cross at Colgate – CBS Sports Network
Colgate -1
I don't know why this game is on TV either.
WATCH ESPN GAMES / REGIONAL
7 PM
Stony Brook at Binghamton
Miami at Northern Illinois
Miami -3
8 PM
Maryland at North Carolina
North Carolina -7.5
The Tar Heels have been stomping people lately. They've won their last 3 by 19, 13 and 14. Maryland comes into the last scheduled meeting with their old rival on a two game win streak of their own. Maryland has been carried by Dez Well's 16.7 points. UNC has been getting 15.4 and 8 from James Michael-McAdoo and 14 and 5 assists from Marcus Paige.
Georgia Tech at Clemson
Clemson -6.5
Southern Illinois at Drake
Drake -4
THE REST
7 PM
Winthrop at Albany
Chattanooga at Eastern Kentucky
EKU -12
An out of conference matchup between the Mocs and Governors. EKU is 16-7, Chattanooga 15-9. Chattanooga leads the Southern at 9-1, although they were smashed by Davidson last Thursday. EKU has won 6 of 7 in the Ohio Valley.
James Madison at Towson
Towson-6.5
Maine at Vermont
Vermont is tied at the top of the America East at 8-1 with Stony Brook. Maine is 3-6 near the bottom. These teams played once already with Vermont winning 83-46.
Iona at Monmouth
Iona -5.5
Iona can tie up the MAAC with a win over 4-7 Monmouth. This game was postponed from yesterday.
St Peter's at Manhattan
Manhattan -12.5
8 PM
Peru State at South Dakota
No idea where Peru State is.
