Author Archives: College Basketball Eye Test

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About College Basketball Eye Test

There is no replacement for actually watching the games. My name is Matty D. I am a college basketball junkie. And, although I respect big data stat gurus like kenpom.com, this website is the antithesis of that. Talk hoops with me and tell me what you've actually seen. What players step up in clutch situations? Which coaches make the right adjustments? Who disappears when the lights get bright? The "college basketball eye test" is a chat dedicated to storylines bubbling below the surface before they become national trends. Check the first-ever article I wrote on this website. I listed UCONN as one of 5 underdogs I could see winning the NCAA title. They did. Last season Darren Rovell tweeted visual proof of how I predicted upset victories for UAB and Georgia State together. Watch the games and join the conversation. Tweet @CBBEyeTest and have your observations added to the mix!

My starting LINE up

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I placed this bet last Thanksgiving

I placed this bet last Thanksgiving

I like to start my season by finding some underdog teams that will soon become the darlings of the nation.  Last year around Thanksgiving I put $10 bucks on Wichita State at 150/1.  That was part of my “starting lineup.”  I take $100 bucks.  I identify teams I love from last year with enough remaining pieces.  I spread the $100 dollars among as many teams to win at least $1,000 if I get lucky and pick the champion.  Last March I had many options to hedge my bet when Wichita State was in the final four.  Here’s this year’s “Starting Lineup:”

$30 Oklahoma St.  35/1 = $1,050
$25 VCU 40/1 = $1,000
$17 UCONN 60/1 =  $1,020
$14 St. Louis 75/1 = $1,050
$14 Colorado 75/1 = 1,050
Sorry KU fans, but Oklahoma State tops this list.  Marcus Smart is just a winner.  The Cowboys are slightly undersized, but I’m still shocked to see 35/1 odds at the beginning of the season for them to win a championship.   I think those odds will look more like 15/1 come March.
Shaka Smart and VCU only get better this year.  I expect New Yorker Melvin Johnson to play a bigger role.  VCU is known for havoc on defense, but I think this is the year guys like Johnson get involved in a more diverse scoring attack.
Something special was happening with Kevin Ollie’s UConn Huskies last year.  I expect his team to continue responding to his coaching style with his sophomore campaign.
I went hard wagering behind St. Louis last March.  They ran into a red-hot Oregon team in the tournament and were out the first weekend.  I still expect Jett, Loe and Evans to come back with a vengeance this season.
Finally, Colorado can really ball.  I compare Spencer Dinwittie to Victor Oladipo last season.  He is a great defender who no one is talking about heading into this season.  However, I think he has lottery pick talent.  Xavier Johnson and Askia Booker also made progress scoring last season.  I hope to see you in Vegas come March looking good to win a thousand bucks and more.