Iowa vs Western IL
Iowa sit 3rd nationally in college basketball rankings, and will come in firing after two massive wins over NC Central and Southern U.
The side don’t look ready to give up their unbroken record to Western IL, and will likely go on a scoring bonanza. The Iowa outfit took home their first victory of the season against NC Central 97-67 and smashed Southern U 103-76. They won’t be going down without a fight.
🚨 NEW #Power36 from @TheAndyKatz! 🚨
1. Gonzaga
2. Baylor
3. Iowa
4. Michigan State
5. Illinois
6. Wisconsin
7. Villanova
8. Kansas
9. Richmond
10. Duke
11-36. 👉 https://t.co/cSk7yZmdVT pic.twitter.com/jouWS1lj5d— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) November 30, 2020
The Western Illinois Leathernecks will meanwhile be playing their first match of the season – and are facing a strong opponent in Iowa. The Hawkeyes look like the definitive winner in this scenario, having yet to see the Leathernecks side on court this season.
College basketball pick – Iowa by 24.
Virginia Tech vs VMI
Virginia Tech look to continue their unbeaten college basketball record against VMI Tomorrow. The side are currently ranked 16th in the Nation, and now have the force of ACC Player of the Week, Keve Aluma, behind them.
“We’re better (than last year),” said Hokies coach Mike Young, per the Richmond Times. “(Keve) Aluma’s certainly helped tremendously.”
After averaging 18 points and five rebounds a game and leading us to a 3-0 start, our guy @AlumaKeve earns the first @accmbb player of the week 🙌#StoneByStone | #Hokies 🦃
— Virginia Tech Men’s Basketball (@HokiesMBB) November 30, 2020
Coming off their overtime upset win over No.3 Villanova, the Tech basketball team hasn’t slowed down, storming past USF 76-58 on Sunday night for their third consecutive win of the season. The Hokies were able to shoot 54% from the field, as well as outscoring USF in the paint by a 42-24 margin.
Thursday’s opponent VMI are also off to a strong season start, sitting at 2-1. But, this record includes a 21-point loss to Penn State, who are Virginia Tech’s next game – it will be the 138th meeting between the two schools, with the Hokies winning the last eight in a row.
VMI have been in pretty good nick, however, with a 90-63 win against St Andrews, and an 84-71 victory against the Longwood Lancers on Tuesday.
Sophomore Sean Conway is also coming into fruition, scoring a career-high 19 points against the Longwood outfit. The 6-5 guard hit 8 out of 14 shots, and netted 12 after intermission. He also collected five rebounds with three steals, and hit a pair of shots from distance – as well as a traditional three-pointer in a key late game situation.
Conway will have to have a strong game for the VMI side to overcome Virginia Tech’s unbreakable record – but at the moment they just don’t have the firepower to do so.
College basketball pick – Virginia Tech by 22.
Kansas vs Washburn
The Kansas Jayhawks are fit and firing – reading for their home opener at Allen Fieldhouse. The team currently sit in a lofty 7th place nationally, with two wins and one loss on the board. They’ll come up against the Washburn Ichabods, who are sitting undefeated this season, tallying up three wins and no losses.
Kansas are expected put on a show at home, irregardless of fan attendance due to COVID-19, “It’s going to be different,” KU coach Bill Self said after Tuesday’s win over Kentucky. “But it’s gonna be different all year long and we might as well just roll with it.”
The Ichapods will enter this match shooting 42% from 3-point range on the season, with an impressive 31 of 74 attempts in three games. Three of four Washburn players with double-digit attempts outside the arc are shooting above 40%, with Tyler Nelson leading the way at 57%. The star hit seven of eight 3-pointers in the Bods’ most recent victory.
Top performers from our win vs UCO yesterday. #TopBods #GoBods pic.twitter.com/O5TIE0YvpU
— Washburn MBB (@IchabodMBB) December 1, 2020
To one-up the Ichapods, the Jayhawks must take more care with the ball in the first 10 minutes of the match, something they’ve struggled with so far this season.
Against Kentucky on Thursday night, KU turned the ball over a whopping eight times in the first, with many of these happening in the first 5-10 minutes. KU built up a lead of 13 points, leaving Kansas struggling to claw their way back.
In the match prior, it was 10 first-half turnovers, leaving a gaping hole against Saint Joseph’s, with four coming in the first couple of minutes. There was also another double-digit deficit in the first half loss to Gonzaga.
But the Jayhawks should be able to get it done… just. The side have won 46 consecutive home openers dating all the way back to the 1973-74 season.
College basketball pick – Kansas by 4.
California vs Arizona State
Arizona State are hungry for another win, after being pipped at the post by Villanova 83-74 to win the Empire Classic. The No. 18 college basketball side are sitting at 2 wins, 1 loss, taking home victories against Rhode Island and HBU. The side have some strong offensive players, with their RI win 94-88, and their HBU victory 100-77.
Jaelen get’s us to 100 points on the afternoon.
💯💯💯 @jaelenhouse2 💯💯💯 pic.twitter.com/tG5drXL0v9
— Sun Devil MBB (@SunDevilHoops) November 29, 2020
Remy Martin will be one of the Sun Devils’ most important assets, averaging 15.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists, with a field goal percentage of 50. California will have to stop Martin in his tracks for a chance at the win – Villanova held the star to just five first-half points on 2-of-8 shooting.
Martin, who had 26 points in the side’s 94-88 win over Rhode Island, took just two shots in the second half of the Villanova match – missing both of them. He was also held to two assists and one steal. That’s the key for the Californian side – shut down Remy Martin.
The Golden Bears are also sitting at 2 wins of 3 matches – taking home the victory against Northwest WA 86-61, and held Nicholls State to just 49 points, as they snagged 60. Their only loss came at the very start of the season, to Oregon State, 71-63. It will be an incredibly close matchup – but Arizona State should just snag the victory here.
College basketball pick – Arizona State by 2.
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