Jan 30th Games

I guess Wednesday should just be renamed Big East Day, at least this season.

Villanova @ (21) Pitt (-7.5)
Both teams recently lost to Rutgers, but when Pitt did it, they did it as 18.5 point home favorites. Yeesh. Nova won this game when they were at home a couple of weeks ago, but only by a point. When Pitt played Rutgers on Saturday (1/26), they shot uncharacteristically low from the field and from the free-throw line. 'Nova's biggest advantage is shooting 3's - they average about 1 more per game than Pitt does. But I think Pitt's defense and rebounding are better and will help them win tonight.

Pick: Pitt

(18)Vanderbilt @ (22) Ole Miss (-6)
Vandy just got walloped by Florida, which makes for a third consecutive road loss (Kentucky on 1/12 and Tennessee on 1/17). They were favored in all three games. So why take a chance on the Commodores on the road tonight against a team that, in theory, is better than any of the three they've already lost to?

Pick: Ole Miss

(2) Kansas (-7) @ (24) Kansas State
Wow. The #2 in the country goes up against the best freshman and maybe even the second best freshman. I'm not sure why, but I've always kind of had a thing for Kansas, going back to when Roy Williams was there. And this year they look awesome. They've covered three double-digit spreads in their last 5 games. I know that doesn't mean much in tonight's game, but I think it says something about their ability to score and defend. They score more, give up less, shoot better, and create more steals than Kansas St. Kansas State, on the other hand, outrebounds Kansas by 5. They also have Michael "Too Good Already" Beasley, who predicted a season sweep of Kansas in the preseason. I don't see it happening.

Pick: Kansas

Results
Pitt - 69, Villanova - 57 (Win)
Mississippi - 74, Vanderbilt - 58 (Win)
Kansas St - 84, Kansas - 75 (Lose; I guess Beasley was right. Jerk.)

Jan 30 record: 2-1
Overall: 16-11

I also wanted to record that (23) Texas A&M beat (10) Texas at College Station by a score of 80-63. That's the same Texas A&M team that got walloped by Kansas St and lost to unranked Baylor, albeit in five overtimes. (Note: keep eyes on Baylor - they're 16-3 and currently in 3rd place in the Big 12). This Texas team is strange, isn't it? They beat UCLA on the road, lost to Wisconsin at home, and lost to Michigan State and Missouri (!!) on the road. Now they lose at A&M. I hope Baylor beats the crap out of them on Saturday.