Hoop Time

Through press time last night, the "Positive ROI Five" (Butler, Drake, New Mexico, Davidson and Louisville) went 9-1 SU and 7-3 ATS.......

For the year, the "Pos. 5" (which include the 4 dropped members, UMass, Virginia, Akron and St. Louis) are 85-33 SU and 63-37 63% ATS

I expect all five members to make it to the "Big Dance" next month, based on their won-lost record, winning their conference finals or finishing atop their conference or a combination of all three............

The 8th ranked Butler Bulldogs (25-2 11-2 conf.) have won 9 in a row, including, barely winning and covering Tuesday night at Ill Chi. 51-46 Last week they avenged one of their earlier losses, defeating Cleve. St and tomorrow (Sat) they will try to do the same against Wright St whom they lost to at Wright St.......... The Bulldogs are of course led by, perhaps, the best all around player in the Horizon league, guard Mike Green............

Our other "'Dog", Drake 23-3 13th ranked and atop their conference are led by Sr. guard Adam Emmeneckeer and Sr. forward Brent Heemskerk. Emmeneckeer is among the nations' leaders in assists with over 6 per game............. while Heemskerk is second in Div. 1 in field goal %. The Bulldogs (Drake’s) also boast one of the national leaders in free-throw percentage. 5th yr. senior Klayton Korver fills the net, from the charity stripe at an 89% clip............

Rick Patino's Louisville Cardinals at 21-6, 11-3 in the Big East and 18th ranked are led by 5th yr senior David Padgett one of college hoops top field goal shooters, at 66% on the year.............

The Davidson Wildcats sit atop the South Division of The Southern League at 18-0 and are led by one of the nations top guard duos. Soph. Stephen Curry, who at 25 ppg. is third in Div. 1 in scoring and among the top 50 in free throws at 89%....... and sr. gd. Jason Richards, the national leader in assists at 8.1 per game....................

While in UNLV's conference, The Mountain West, the New Mexico Lobos at 21-6, led by 6-5 5th yr senior JR Giddens, have an outside chance to win the Mountain West, or by winning the conference playoffs can still make it to "March Madness" or of course, can get an invite' by their over all record.

I believe, there is more $$$ to be made by playing the "Pos. 5" in each of their remaining games, thru their playoffs.............

Next week   Getting ready for those playoffs.................