PREMIUM
3-Game Thursday SWEEPER PASS
(NCAAB) Tulsa vs. Stephen F. Austin,
Point Spread: 3.50 | -105.00 Stephen F. Austin (Home)
Result: Loss
Point Spread: 3.50 | -105.00 Stephen F. Austin (Home)
Result: Loss
The set-up: the Diamond Head Classic from Honolulu, Hawaii opens Thursday with four first round games. The first of the four will be the 4-5 Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks taking on the 5-4 Tulsa Golden Hurricane.
Stephen F. Austin: The Lumberjacks have won the last three Southland Conference titles, advancing to the Big Dance each year under head coach Brad Underwood. Twice, the Lumberjacks won their first-round game in the NCAAs, including last year's upset of third-seeded West Va. Underwood was an amazing 89-14 these last three seasons and used that resume to get the job at Oklahoma State, which fired Travis Ford. Taking over is Kyle Keller, who has just wrapped up his fifth season as an assistant coach on head coach Billy Kennedy's staff at Texas A&M, bringing his grand total of coaching experience to an even 25 years at locations also including Kansas, Oklahoma State, Louisiana Tech and Texas-San Antonio. It's been tough going so far this season (4-5 start), as all three double digit scorers from last year's team are gone, led by Walkup, who averaged 18.1 PPG and 6.9 RPG. Five players are averaging between 9.2 and 13.8 PPG this season, led by guard Canete (13.8) plus forwards Holyfield (12.6 & 7.7) and Gilmore (10.8 & 6.6).
Tulsa: The Golden Hurricane won 20 games last year and lost in the NCAA's First Four. However, four of five starters are gone, including the team's two best players, starting guards Woodard (15.4 & 5.3) and Harrison (15.1-5.5-4.1). Guard Birt is the lone returning starter but after averaging 12.0 PPG last season, he's scoring a more modest 8.7 PPG to open this season. Guard Wheeler is a JUCO transfer and leads the team with 13.4 PPG and another newcomer, Etou (a 6-7 Rutgers transfer), is averaging 11.3 & 7.0.
The pick: Both of these schools made the Big dance last season and in the early going, each is trying to find their identity. No reason not to take the points in this one, as Stephen F. Austin has the more balanced lineup and one gets the feeling that Tulsa is lacking overall direction early on. Stephen F. Austin is an 8* play.
Stephen F. Austin: The Lumberjacks have won the last three Southland Conference titles, advancing to the Big Dance each year under head coach Brad Underwood. Twice, the Lumberjacks won their first-round game in the NCAAs, including last year's upset of third-seeded West Va. Underwood was an amazing 89-14 these last three seasons and used that resume to get the job at Oklahoma State, which fired Travis Ford. Taking over is Kyle Keller, who has just wrapped up his fifth season as an assistant coach on head coach Billy Kennedy's staff at Texas A&M, bringing his grand total of coaching experience to an even 25 years at locations also including Kansas, Oklahoma State, Louisiana Tech and Texas-San Antonio. It's been tough going so far this season (4-5 start), as all three double digit scorers from last year's team are gone, led by Walkup, who averaged 18.1 PPG and 6.9 RPG. Five players are averaging between 9.2 and 13.8 PPG this season, led by guard Canete (13.8) plus forwards Holyfield (12.6 & 7.7) and Gilmore (10.8 & 6.6).
Tulsa: The Golden Hurricane won 20 games last year and lost in the NCAA's First Four. However, four of five starters are gone, including the team's two best players, starting guards Woodard (15.4 & 5.3) and Harrison (15.1-5.5-4.1). Guard Birt is the lone returning starter but after averaging 12.0 PPG last season, he's scoring a more modest 8.7 PPG to open this season. Guard Wheeler is a JUCO transfer and leads the team with 13.4 PPG and another newcomer, Etou (a 6-7 Rutgers transfer), is averaging 11.3 & 7.0.
The pick: Both of these schools made the Big dance last season and in the early going, each is trying to find their identity. No reason not to take the points in this one, as Stephen F. Austin has the more balanced lineup and one gets the feeling that Tulsa is lacking overall direction early on. Stephen F. Austin is an 8* play.
