Marquee matchup pits Jayhawks against Tigers
NCAA Basketball Betting Lines
02/04/2012 -
Columbia, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The most anticipated game in the Big 12 has
finally arrived, as top-10 foes Kansas and Missouri collide in Columbia, with
positioning atop the conference standings at stake.
The eighth-ranked Jayhawks lead the Big 12 with an 8-1 mark. Bill Self's
squad, which is 18-4 overall, had a 10-game win streak halted at Iowa State
last weekend (72-64), but bounced back in a big way three days ago in
Lawrence, routing the Oklahoma Sooners, 84-62.
The fourth-ranked Tigers are just one game back at 7-2 in Big 12 play. Frank
Haith's first season in Columbia has gone quite well with the team sitting at
20-2 overall. Missouri comes in having won two straight and six of its last
seven games, including a hard-fought 67-66 decision at Texas on Monday.
This is the 266th meeting in this historic rivalry that dates back to 1907.
Kansas holds a 171-94 series advantage and has won each of the last five
meetings.
Kansas shot just .393 from the floor in the first half, but still led by three
points at intermission against Oklahoma this week. The Jayhawks blew the game
open after the break however, draining an eye-popping 20-of-28 shots from the
floor (.714) to run away from the Sooners. All-American candidate Thomas
Robinson was once again unstoppable down low, finishing with 20 points and 17
rebounds. He was actually trumped in the scoring column by point guard Tyshawn
Taylor, who finished with 21 points and six assists. Center Jeff Withey got
into the act with 15 points, while Travis Releford chipped in 12.
The scoring deluge is nothing new for the Jayhawks, who are averaging a steady
75.6 ppg, on a healthy .484 shooting. The team is doing all the little things
right as well, averaging an impressive 16 assists per game and outrebounding
foes by just over six boards per game. Of course, Robinson is a big reason for
that, as he has to be considered a favorite for National Player of the Year
honors, averaging 17.6 points and 12.0 rebounds per game this season. Taylor
provides the perfect complement with his ability to score from the outside
(16.7 ppg), as well as distribute (5.3 apg). Releford (9.8 ppg), Elijah
Johnson (9.1 ppg) and Withey (8.5 ppg) round out the starting five.
Missouri is one of the few teams that would welcome a shootout with Kansas.
The Tigers use a four-guard set, but are definitely comfortable in their own
skin, shooting .498 from the floor (fifth nationally) and putting up 81.2 ppg
(sixth nationally). Marcus Denmon leads the charge in the backcourt, averaging
17.2 ppg. He gets plenty of help from Kim English and his 14.1 ppg. The pair
are both at their best draining the long ball, combining for 107 of the team's
169 three-pointers to date. Ricardo Ratliffe (14.7 ppg, 6.7 rpg) is the team's
resident muscle down low. Michael Dixon (12.1 ppg) is one of the best sixth
men in the game. The emergence of sophomore point guard Phil Pressey has
provided stability as well. The 5-10 youngster is netting 9.7 ppg and is the
conference's top distributor at 6.1 assists per game.
Dixon saved the day against Texas this week, coming off the bench to hit 9-
of-10 shots from the floor, leading all scorers with 21 points in 27 minutes
of work, including the game-winning layup with 31 seconds remaining in the
one-point victory. Ratliffe and Phil Pressey netted 13 points apiece, but
Demon and English struggled, combining for just 14 points and going a
miserable 6-of-20 from the floor.
<< Sixth-ranked Bears battle Cowboys in Big 12 affair
Stillwater, OK (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The sixth-ranked Baylor Bears will attempt
to stay within striking distance in the Big 12 Conference, as they invade
Stillwater this afternoon for a conference matchup with the Oklahoma State
Cowboys at Gallagh
<< Waves hope to crash down on 24th-ranked Bulldogs
Malibu, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - West Coast Conference foes meet in Malibu
tonight, as the 24th-ranked Gonzaga Bulldogs pay a visit to the Pepperdine
Waves.
Gonzaga was recently re-admitted into the AP Top-25 after winning four in a
row from J
<< Hoosier State rivals square off in West Lafayette
West Lafayette, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A pair of in-state rivals jockeying for
position in the competitive Big Ten Conference meet at Mackey Arena in West
Lafayette this evening, as the 20th-ranked Indiana Hoosiers tangle with the
Purdue Boilerm
<< Bluejays go in search of 12th straight win
Cedar Rapids, IA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 13th-ranked Creighton Bluejays take
aim at their 12th straight victory, as they fly into Cedar Rapids for today's
Missouri Valley Conference showdown with the Panthers of Northern Iowa.
Creighton picke
<< Tigers and Bulldogs square off Starkville
Starkville, MS (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Meeting in the first of two games scheduled
over the next two weeks, the Auburn Tigers and Mississippi State Bulldogs
square off at Humphrey Coliseum in Starkville this afternoon for an SEC
tussle.
Auburn i
Irish set sights on Golden Eagles >>
South Bend, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 15th-ranked Marquette Golden Eagles
continue their push towards the top of the Big East standings, as the begin a
two-game road trip this afternoon, taking on a dangerous Notre Dame team at
the Joyce Center
No.5 UNC takes on Maryland in College Park >>
College Park, MD (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The fifth-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels
play their fourth road game in the last six outings, as they head to College
Park for an ACC showdown with the Maryland Terrapins.
Roy Williams' Tar Heels are sitt
Top-ranked Wildcats collide with Gamecocks in Columbia >>
Columbia, SC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Two teams at opposite ends of the SEC spectrum
meet up in Columbia this evening, as the top-ranked Kentucky Wildcats take on
the South Carolina Gamecocks at the Colonial Life Center.
John Calipari's Wildcats h
OVC action features 10th-ranked Racers at Skyhawks >>
Martin, TN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 10th-ranked Murray State Racers will try to
remain the only unbeaten team in Division I as they head to Skyhawk Arena for
an Ohio Valley Conference battle with the Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks.
This will be the
TCU seeks upset of No. 17 San Diego State >>
San Diego, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Sharing the top spot in the Mountain West
Conference standings with 11th-ranked UNLV, the 17th-ranked San Diego State
Aztecs try to keep moving in the right direction tonight as they host the TCU
Horned Frogs at
Brandon Roy Favorite to Win 2007 NBA Rookie of the Year
Portland TrailBlazer’s guard, Brandon Roy, is MySportsbook.com’s overwhelming favorite to win the NBA Rookie of the Year odds.
Despite missing 20 games due to an injury earlier this season, Roy has definitely put up the best numbers of his 1st year peers. In 32 games, Roy is averaging 15.3 PPG, 4.2 boards and 3.5 assists in over 33 minutes of play per game. While most rookies breakdown as the season progresses (see Morrison), Roy is only getting stronger as his playing time and scoring average has increased each month.
With 30 or so games left in the regular season, Roy isn’t a lock for the award by any means. Other rookies are putting together some pretty impressive campaigns and a few could give Roy a run for the award with increased playing time. Heading the list is first pick, Andrea Bargnani of the Toronto Raptors. Even though he has started only two games all season, Bargnani is averaging 10.3 PPPG while shooting 35% from deep.
Randy Foye of the Minnesota Timberwolves could be set to give Roy the best competition NBA Rookie of the Year betting lines. With the benching of Mike James, Foye looks like he could be the starter in the T-Wolves backcourt for the rest of the season. So far, Foye has averaged 9 PPG and 2.4 assists in just under 21 minutes per game. With his new role of starter, Foye’s numbers will definitely increase. In his first game as the new starting guard this past Sunday, Foye had 10 points; five rebounds and 8 assists. More importantly, he logged 34 minutes of playing time; his third highest run of the season.
Adam Morrison, of the Charlotte Bobcats, was the favorite early on in the season after averaging 15+ PPG through the first month of the season. Ever since his torrid start, Morrison’s point production has declined each month. This really isn’t surprising, considering at 6’8” he only weighs 205 lbs. Obviously he will need to hit the weights big time during the off-season in order to keep from breaking down in the future.
Be sure to log on to MySportsbook.com to bet on the NBA. With the regular season about to hit the homestretch, it is important to point out that MySportsbook.com has the highest credit card acceptance rate in the industry.
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