Monthly Archives: November 2017

The Real Champions Classic

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Each year, ESPN’s Champions Classic is promoted as the real tip-off to the college basketball season.  It always features a rotation of match-ups among these powerhouses:  Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan State and Duke.

There are also reports that the Champions Classic may literally kick-off the NCAA season next year, with no games tipping off before it.  This year, it featured a sloppy matchup of Kansas versus Kentucky (Jayhawks win 65-61) and a Duke victory over Michigan State that left the viewer asking, “was this really a matchup of number 1 and number 2?”

However, tonight when Florida plays Duke and Michigan State plays North Carolina, it will feel like the Champions Classic that would have been if the planners had the ability to pair the nation’s best four teams.

Kansas’s roster is thinner than recent years. Kentucky’s is even more immature than recent years.  Meanwhile, top 10 ranked teams like (2) Arizona is struggling (losing three consecutive games) and (6) Wichita State is without its primary scoring wing, Markis McDuffie.  Swapping-in defending champion UNC with an incumbent veteran roster of Gators would be the ideal substitute for a Champions Classic.

Luckily, for college basketball fans, they’ll get that final four after a full slate of football Sunday.  It’s the semifinals of the PK80 Invitational!

(1) Duke versus (7) Florida
TIP OFF 10:30 EST 

Let’s start with Florida.  The gators are returning an experienced team, highlighted by its gritty backcourt of KeVaughn Allen and Chris Chiozza.  Add-in Russian-born guard Egor Koulechov, Kevarrius Hayes, and a load of talented underclassmen, and you have a national contender.  The Florida Gators already accomplished a great resume-builder during this tournament.  They beat the defacto hometown team, the Gonzaga Bulldogs (games in Portland).  Meanwhile, Duke had an impressive win itself.  They came storming back in the final stanzas against a Texas Longhorns team that looked like it could bring Havoc to teams down the line.  It’s Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski’s youngest starting roster since 1982-83.  The Blue Devils start senior Grayson Allen with 4 freshmen, headlined by forward Marvin Bagley III.

(4) Michigan State versus (9) North Carolina
TIP OFF 8:30 EST 

UNC is somehow overlooked at number 9.  Yes, they have lost Justin Jackson and Tony Bradley to the NBA draft.  However, they return importance piece of last year’s championship team.  They include Joel Berry II, Luke Maye, Kenny Williams and Theo Pinson.  Michigan State has the next coming of Vince Carter in Miles Bridges, along with a huge cast of sophomores who can grow into something special.

 

 

Sons of NBA Players in College Basketball 2017 – 2018

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This blog has been keeping track of the impressive number of second generation NCAA players whose fathers played in the NBA for a number of years.  Before we get into the list of sons of NBA stars in college basketball, here is a roster of them from recent years:

Sons of NBA Players in College Basketball 2016-17
Sons of NBA Players in College Basketball 2015-16

This year’s list of second generation basketball stars is headlined by freshmen Jules Erving, son of NBA legend Julius Erving, and top recruit Gary Trent, Jr., who is the son of former Dallas Maverick and Minnesota Timberwolves player, Gary Trent.

Son Team Father Former NBA Team
Gary Trent, Jr. Duke Gary Trent Minnesota Timberwolves
Justin Robinson Duke David Robinson San Antonio Spurs
Tanner Lohaus Northern Iowa Brad Lohaus Milwaukee Bucks
Wyatt Lohaus Northern Iowa Brad Lohaus Milwaukee Bucks
Isaiah Wilkins Virginia Dominique Wilkins Atlanta Hawks

Brandan Stith Old Dominion Bryant Stith Denver Nuggets
B.J. Stith Old Dominion Bryant Stith Denver Nuggets

Jalen Brunson Villanova Rick Brunson New York Knicks
Trey Mourning Georgetown Alonzo Mourning Miami Heat
Jules Erving California Julius Erving Philadelphia 76ers

K.J. Smith UNC Kenny “The Jet” Smith Houston Rockets
Avery Johnson Jr. Alabama Avery Johnson San Antonio Spurs

Kameron Rooks San Diego St. Sean Rooks Dallas Mavericks

College Basketball Futures – Best Values

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If you wager on college basketball, you know that it is a turbulent market.  Normally, the blue bloods like Kentucky and Duke are always 12-to-1 or lower.   However, in the 15-to-1 plus territory, there are normally always great values.

And, if you bet the tournament, holding stock of a great futures bet made in November can help you hedge as the Sweet 16 and beyond approach.

Here are our top 4 future values to win a championship at this point in the season.
Ironically, two of these teams have played each other.

  1. Minnesota 80/1  
    Sitting at number one are the Gophers.  As a veteran club with size and 2017 tournament experience, college basketball’s only Pitino coach could make a serious run in the spring.

2.  Wichita State 16/1 

The Shockers should be the favorite on this list to win a championship, and their value at this point is spot-on.  As the season continues, pay close attention to Markis McDuffie.  If Wichita State wants to win a title, he may need to bring his scoring to a new level.

3.  Cincinnati 40/1

The Bearcats have a balanced roster and one of the nation’s best coaches.  Justin Jennifer is the go-to point guard after sharing the role last year with Troy Caupain, who had the nation’s 6th best assist-to-turnover ratio.  Senior Gary Clark will the the headlines as a versatile scorer, but keep an eye on senior Kyle Washington, an ambidextrous power forward who blended into the rotation nicely after transferring to Cincy.

4.  Providence 125/1

Providence has one of the nation’s most underrated coaches, in Ed Cooley.  Last year, the Friars recovered well after losing two NBA draft picks from its roster.  They lost to USC in the tournament, ironically, by a close margin.   Yet, USC is a sexy pick as a future (just 28/1) while Providence is not.  Watch last year’s highlights and compare rosters:

Future odds were found atCollege Basketball Future Odds

Champ-less “Champions Classic” Cont’d?

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For two years running, champions did not play during the “Champions Classic.”  We mention this, only because the inflated rankings ahead of a nationally televised ESPN game, is almost laughable.  Last year, Michigan State came into the Champions Classic ranked 13th in the nation.  They finished week 18 of the AP rankings at season’s end outside of the top 25.  In fact, they only received one AP voter’s vote.  Yet, for tonight, it’s #1 versus #2.  And we should be happy that college basketball season has arrived!