Michigan State is back in the win column, and they’ll be looking to stay there on Tuesday night when they take on the Hoosiers in Indiana.
The Spartans (20-6 overall and 9-16 vs. the college basketball odds) had been tagged with consecutive losses by Wisconsin, Illinois, and Purdue. However, Michigan State bounced back with a 65-54 win over Penn State on Saturday.
Spartans guard Kalin Lucas had 24 points and six assists in that matchup.
The Hoosiers had no chance against Wisconsin on Saturday, as they were blasted 83-55 on the road.
Indiana’s miserable season has them at 9-15 overall and 9-13-1 against the number through 24 games. They’re also 3-9 in Big Ten play.
OUTCOME: MICHIGAN STATE 74-68 OVER INDY.
(ESPN, 7 p.m.)
The two teams playing the best basketball in the ACC right now outside of Duke are No. 25 Wake Forest and unranked Virginia Tech, as both have won four games in a row and six of seven and sit one game behind in the loss column of the conference-leading Dukies. As good as Virginia Tech (20-4, 10-8 ATS) has been of late, it has played one of the worst non-conference schedules in all of college basketball and thus could very much use a few wins over ranked teams – Tech is 0-2 against ranked foes this year (and neither of the two are ranked any longer). In fact, the Hokies haven’t beaten a team yet that’s even a lock to get an NCAA Tournament bid; the best win has come against Clemson. Virginia Tech is led by guard Malcolm Delaney, who averages 21.2 points in conference games to lead the ACC. The Hokies don’t have much height and will need forward Jeff Allen to continue to play well tonight; he is averaging 14.6 points in the past five ACC games as opposed to 6.8 in the first five. Three of Virginia Tech's four losses have come when Allen has scored six or fewer.
Wake (18-5, 12-8 ATS) has a huge front line, and its best player is 6-foot-9 future NBA Top 10 pick Al-Farouq Aminu (16.5 points, 10.9 rebounds per game), who is one of only two players in the conference to average double-figures in scoring and rebounding; Wake is second in the ACC in rebounding. The Deacons are also 11-0 this season when holding opponents below 65 points.
When making your college basketball bet on this one, know that Virginia Tech is 13-0 (4-4 ATS) at home this season, while four of Wake’s five losses have come on the road. In addition, Virginia Tech has won two straight in this series, including an upset of the No. 1 Deacons last season in Winston-Salem. Since joining the ACC, Tech is 5-2 in this series.
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OUTCOME: WAKE FOREST 75-72 OVER VT.
(ESPN2, 7 p.m.)
The second-ranked Kentucky Wildcats invade Starkville this evening for an SEC clash with the Mississippi State Bulldogs.Kentucky has posted five consecutive wins since suffering its only loss of the season to South Carolina. The Wildcats are 24-1 overall and own a stellar 9-1 SEC record. They are 4-1 in true road affairs and are coming off a 73-62 win over Tennessee.
As for Mississippi State, it has recorded back-to-back wins to move to 18-7 overall and 6-4 in league action. On Saturday, the team needed overtime to knock off Auburn by an 85-75 final. That win enabled the Bulldogs to push their record in home games to 11-1, so don't expect them to be intimidated this evening.
Kentucky owns a commanding 84-20 series advantage over Mississippi State.
It can certainly be argued with great validity that the two best players in all of college basketball are freshmen on Kentucky's team. John Wall, the club's point guard, is netting 17.0 ppg to go along with 6.4 apg and 45 steals. DeMarcus Cousins, a physically dominant power forward, is posting 15.9 ppg and 10.2 rpg as a rookie. Patrick Patterson is often overlooked, but the big-time forward is generating 14.7 ppg to go along with 7.3 rpg. The fourth and final double-digit scorer for the Wildcats is Eric Bledsoe with 10.9 ppg. The Wildcats are averaging 81.3 ppg, and they are limiting opponents to 65.3 ppg on 37.9 percent shooting from the field. Wall scored 24 points to lead his squad over Tennessee last time out, and Bledsoe scored 16 points. Cousins was held to five points, but he did rip down 12 boards. Kentucky earned a 39-32 rebounding advantage and an 18-10 edge in points from the foul line.
Dee Bost was sensational for Mississippi State in the victory over Auburn last time out, as he poured in a career-high 32 points to go along with nine rebounds. Romero Osby added 11 points, while Jarvis Varnado and Phil Turner had 10 points apiece. Varnado also grabbed 12 rebounds, and he blocked five shots in that contest. The Bulldogs only turned the ball over eight times in 45 minutes of action, and a 16-8 edge in points from the foul line clearly helped the cause. Strong defense was also key, as MSU limited the Tigers to 36.7 percent shooting. Ravern Johnson continues to lead the Bulldogs with 13.7 ppg through 25 outings, while Varnado checks in with 13.3 ppg, 11.3 rpg and 125 blocks. Bost is posting 12.0 ppg to complement his 130 assists, and Barry Stewart is generating 11.4 ppg. MSU is netting 73.3 ppg while allowing 62.6 ppg to opponents on 37 percent field goal efficiency.
It can certainly be argued with great validity that the two best players in all of college basketball are freshmen on Kentucky's team. John Wall, the club's point guard, is netting 17.0 ppg to go along with 6.4 apg and 45 steals. DeMarcus Cousins, a physically dominant power forward, is posting 15.9 ppg and 10.2 rpg as a rookie. Patrick Patterson is often overlooked, but the big-time forward is generating 14.7 ppg to go along with 7.3 rpg. The fourth and final double-digit scorer for the Wildcats is Eric Bledsoe with 10.9 ppg. The Wildcats are averaging 81.3 ppg, and they are limiting opponents to 65.3 ppg on 37.9 percent shooting from the field. Wall scored 24 points to lead his squad over Tennessee last time out, and Bledsoe scored 16 points. Cousins was held to five points, but he did rip down 12 boards. Kentucky earned a 39-32 rebounding advantage and an 18-10 edge in points from the foul line.
Dee Bost was sensational for Mississippi State in the victory over Auburn last time out, as he poured in a career-high 32 points to go along with nine rebounds. Romero Osby added 11 points, while Jarvis Varnado and Phil Turner had 10 points apiece. Varnado also grabbed 12 rebounds, and he blocked five shots in that contest. The Bulldogs only turned the ball over eight times in 45 minutes of action, and a 16-8 edge in points from the foul line clearly helped the cause. Strong defense was also key, as MSU limited the Tigers to 36.7 percent shooting. Ravern Johnson continues to lead the Bulldogs with 13.7 ppg through 25 outings, while Varnado checks in with 13.3 ppg, 11.3 rpg and 125 blocks. Bost is posting 12.0 ppg to complement his 130 assists, and Barry Stewart is generating 11.4 ppg. MSU is netting 73.3 ppg while allowing 62.6 ppg to opponents on 37 percent field goal efficiency.
OUTCOME: KENTUCKY 81-73 OVER MISS. ST.
(ESPN, 9 p.m.)
NBA
New York Knicks guard and first ever three-time Slam Dunk champion Nate Robinson hopes to lead his team to a road victory tonight against the Chicago Bulls in the opener of a home-and-home series from the United Center.
The Knicks and Bulls have split a pair of matchups already this season, with each team holding serve as the host, and will meet again Wednesday back at Madison Square Garden. Chicago has won 14 of 20 and 15 of the last 22 meetings with New York, which has lost three straight and 10 of its last 11 trips to the Windy City.
New York has lost three in a row overall and six of its last seven games, including last Tuesday's 118-114 overtime loss versus the Sacramento Kings at the Garden. Wilson Chandler had a career-high 35 points and All-Star David Lee provided 21 points and 10 rebounds in defeat.
"We just didn't handle the zone well," said Knicks guard Chris Duhon. "We played pretty well up until that point (where we led by 15), and guys are kind of looking at the time and hoping that it runs out quick. That's how you start playing on your heels."
Lee became the Knicks first All-Star since 2001 (Allan Houston, Latrell Sprewell) and registered four points and two rebounds in over 12 minutes in the East's 141-139 All-Star Game victory on Sunday. Robinson took home his third dunk title the night before, beating out Toronto's DeMar DeRozan in the final round, but is doubtful for Tuesday with flu-like symptoms. Forward Danilo Gallinari (forearm) is listed as probable for the Knicks, who have lost four in a row on the road and are 7-16 as the visitor this season. New York is also reportedly in talks with Tracy McGrady.
Chicago, meanwhile, hopes to get back on track after entering the All-Star break with four losses in six contests. In a 107-87 defeat at the Hands of the Orlando Magic on Wednesday in the opener of a brief homestand, Luol Deng had 23 points and Tyrus Thomas netted 16 for the Bulls, who trailed 41-17 after the opening quarter and never got back into contention.
John Salmons had 12 points and All-Star Derrick Rose notched only three points in less than three minutes of action. Rose landed hard on his side early in the first quarter after being denied a layup by Magic All-Star Dwight Howard. Rose got up holding the area around his left hip, walked to the locker room and did not return. He is questionable for Tuesday's game even though he managed to score eight points in Sunday's All-Star Game.
"Even before Derrick went out, we obviously didn't have enough energy," Bulls center Brad Miller said after the loss to Orlando. "We were struggling anyway."
Rose is averaging 19.6 points per game this season for Chicago, which is currently eighth in the Eastern Conference standings.
OUTCOME: NY KNICKS 101-95 OVER CHICAGO BULLS.
Lee became the Knicks first All-Star since 2001 (Allan Houston, Latrell Sprewell) and registered four points and two rebounds in over 12 minutes in the East's 141-139 All-Star Game victory on Sunday. Robinson took home his third dunk title the night before, beating out Toronto's DeMar DeRozan in the final round, but is doubtful for Tuesday with flu-like symptoms. Forward Danilo Gallinari (forearm) is listed as probable for the Knicks, who have lost four in a row on the road and are 7-16 as the visitor this season. New York is also reportedly in talks with Tracy McGrady.
Chicago, meanwhile, hopes to get back on track after entering the All-Star break with four losses in six contests. In a 107-87 defeat at the Hands of the Orlando Magic on Wednesday in the opener of a brief homestand, Luol Deng had 23 points and Tyrus Thomas netted 16 for the Bulls, who trailed 41-17 after the opening quarter and never got back into contention.
John Salmons had 12 points and All-Star Derrick Rose notched only three points in less than three minutes of action. Rose landed hard on his side early in the first quarter after being denied a layup by Magic All-Star Dwight Howard. Rose got up holding the area around his left hip, walked to the locker room and did not return. He is questionable for Tuesday's game even though he managed to score eight points in Sunday's All-Star Game.
"Even before Derrick went out, we obviously didn't have enough energy," Bulls center Brad Miller said after the loss to Orlando. "We were struggling anyway."
Rose is averaging 19.6 points per game this season for Chicago, which is currently eighth in the Eastern Conference standings.
OUTCOME: NY KNICKS 101-95 OVER CHICAGO BULLS.(WGN, 8 p.m.)
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