Covering the Wagering Scene for All 94 Feet

With basketball taking over the landscape the rest of winter and a large portion of spring once that game with all the roman numerals is completed, thought we would try something new. Here is what I saw, heard or read this past weekend in basketball.

The Memphis Tigers win against Tennessee in Knoxville was important for John Calipari’s team but doesn’t need to be oversold. The Tigers shot 33.9 percent (15-56) against a defense that has allowed all opponents to convert 43.3 percent on the season. While coach Bruce Pearl has altered some defensive concepts, the win over Vanderbilt on the road earlier this week, looks a whole lot less impressive with what Florida did to the Commodores on Sunday, beating them by 25. Memphis is a good team that can play exceptional defense, yet is a squad with no player who is noteworthy on the offensive end and everyone other than guard Tyreke Evans needs to be set up to have a chance to score. Not really certain if Memphis is anything other than a game to game wager at about .500.

The Big Ten is generally better than most believed back in October, yet it might not translate into March. Michigan State engineered an impressive comeback at Ohio State, outscoring the Buckeyes 52-36, to win by 11 and cover the three point road favorite number. At the same time it was also visible to see why the Spartans are only 3-4 ATS this month. Raymar Morgan is imperative to their success and his illness is inhibiting Tom Izzo’s club from reaching its potential. Morgan just can't seem to fully shake the viral infection that has now affected him for three games, though players like Durrell Summers and Kalin Lucas are coming on. If Morgan gets healthy, watch out.

Illinois proved they are the second best team in the conference, ahead of Purdue at this juncture. Though nowhere near as talented as the team the played for national championship a few years back, the Fighting Illini pass the ball as well as any team in the country and doubts of Bruce Webber being able to recruit with the development of the sophomore class are being forgotten like Savage Garden song.

Ohio State doesn’t have enough offense and players that look ready to meet the challenge when adversity strikes. Almost hard to comprehend how soft Wisconsin is on defense with Bo Ryan still coaching.

Connecticut without a doubt has the look of a team capable of winning six games in late March and early April. What stood out in their win against Notre Dame was the versatility and desire displayed. Jerome Dyson and A. J. Price played well in the backcourt and Kemba Walker looked good coming of the bench. Forward Jeff Adrein looks like he’s been working out with LeBron and a team of Russian weightlifters and fought for every rebound. Hasheem Thabeet has skills as defensive player, with virtually nobody like him in college basketball, however he looks like a real project at the next level to be a contributor scoring.

Notre Dame is fast turning into a major disappointment and all Mike Brey can try and do is restore his player’s confidence. Ryan Ayers, Zach Hillesland and Tory Jackson shot the ball so poorly; it looked like they couldn’t throw the ball in the nearby St. Joes’s river, let alone into the cylinder. The Irish are not quick and if they can’t score, they will really struggle. I’m not sure how you bet on the Irish right now.

How cool is it being Craig Robinson this past week? Who is Mr. Robinson you ask? This past week his sister officially became the First Lady and his brother-in-law picked up a cool gig for at least four years in Washington. He returned back to Corvallis as the Oregon State basketball coach and all his team does is travel northern Cali, where they upset California and Stanford as 17.5-point and 16-point road dogs. This raised their record to 8-10 and 7-7 ATS and the Beavers are 3-5 SU in the Pac-10 after a 0-18 campaign a season ago. Maybe the whole change thing hangin’ around President Obama has something to it. Not sure if Oregon State deserves our attention just yet with cash, however a few home dogs roles are coming, so watch for numbers that might work.

Louisville’s performance at Syracuse was sick it was so good. Coach Rick Pitino has sold his team on “team” and look at the results! Circle next Monday, UConn at the ‘Ville.

I’ve seen San Antonio enough to formulate this thought, they are done. Not like a well-done steak at Ruth Chris, more like their time is up as being a true NBA championship contender done. All the different websites that have standings still have them in first place in the Southwest Division, nevertheless, the Lakers blew them out Sunday and an improved Andrew Bynum played Tim Duncan to a standstill. The Spurs are still a good team and some nights very good, but unless King James demands a trade southwest Texas, San Antonio is not going to beat the Lakers in a seven game series. Since Dec. 23, the Duncan gang is 3-6 ATS in all games where the spread was (+) or (–) 7.5 points.

Hey GM Steve Kerr, how’s that remake working in Phoenix? He moved Shawn Marion for what became known as the Big Cactus and presently Miami and the Suns have nearly the same record this season with the Suns 14-27-1 ATS. Jason Richardson for Raja Bell and Boris Diaw? This month Charlotte is 7-5 and 9-3 ATS, the setting Suns, .500 and 2-9-1 against the spread.

Though Kerr was technically correct in wanting to build a more traditional team, attempting to have 30-something players and a cast that doesn’t know how to play defense to become suddenly defensive-minded, well that’s like laying in the desert sun in the summer time and expecting not to get burnt.