Oregon to offer Izzo largest contract ever

According to Sporting News:

Oregon is planning to offer Michigan State coach Tom Izzo the largest contract in college basketball, according to Eugene, Ore., TV station KEZI.

A source within the Oregon athletic department has confirmed Izzo's name is on the list of coaching candidates provided by the search firm Spencer Stuart. But no offer has been made, nor have there been discussions between the parties, the TV station reports.

The proposed contract, backed by Oregon's biggest booster, Nike chairman Phil Knight, would surpass the game's largest current contract, given to Kentucky coach ... [More]

NCAAB picks, Saturday, February 20, 2010

Huge card today, lots of potential plays. I had 12 leans on my first glance through this card, but I'm just gonna start off with the UCLA game.

My play today is UCLA +11.5. Bruins looked fantastic at Pullman and the injury suffered by Keefe has forced Howland to start giving more minutes to Honeycutt, Morgan, and Lane, which represents the youth movement I was praying for earlier in the year once things got out of hand. This team has improved week to week but it still inconsistent at times. That being said, UCLA played Washington close in Pauley but now they get to go to one of it not the hardest road arenas in the Pac-10 with Washington. Washington also coming off a SU loss would make most people think they are due for a bounce back against an underachieving UCLA squad. Normally, that's true, but we're talking about the Pac-10 here. Wacky things happen.

UCLA has been greater than a double digit dog just three times this year and they are 2-1 ATS, including covering against Kansas and winning straight up against Cal. With a big number like this you always have to worry about the backdoor cover late. As for Washington, they have been double digit favorites eleven times this year and are 2-10 in those games by my count. 

Reeves Nelson will play today after taking a nasty looking header off the floor coming down from a dunk in Pullman. He should be active and ready to bang inside with Washington's big bodies all game. Brendan Lane has shown glimpses of... [More]

NCAAB picks, Wednesday, December 2

YTD: 27-13-1, +22.94 units
Pac-10 YTD:  6-3, +0.62 units
UCLA YTD: 2-2, -4.72 units

Been real cold the last few days... Didn't like anything on yesterday's card so I took the day off.

Gonna lock a lot right now, it's by far my biggest card of the year:

1. Northern Iowa +6 (-114), 1.14 to win 1
2. Washington State +13 (-114), 1.14 to win 1
3. California +4 (-109), 1.09 to win 1
4. Duke -3.5 (-115), 2.3 to win 2
5. Portland -16 (-109), 2.18 to win 2
6. Sacramento State +10 (-109), 2.18 to win 2
7. San Diego -2.5 (-115), 4.6 to win 4

I really like USD in this spot coming off a blowout loss to Washington State. They have played much better competition than SDSU and came out victorious (Oklahoma, Stanford, Houston). Their only common opponent resulted in a loss for both to Pacific on the road, USD by 1 and SDSU by 8.

Really want to back Georgia Tech but I don't want free throws to ruin that one.

Examining deeper:

1. Pittsburgh -6
2. Clemson -4
3. Michigan -6

Best of luck everyone. My shock about the Gordon transfer has worn off and now I think it's probably a good thing given that he may have been a locker room problem and can't handle Howland's coaching.


... [More]

UCLA/CSUN writeup

YTD on UCLA games: 2-0

OK, here we go for another UCLA game write-up as promised.

Here's how I breakdown this game: Bruins coming off of a tough loss (though an ATS win ) at Texas. That's the type of tough loss on the road that can do one of two things to a team: demoralize them or bring them even close together. I've watched Ben Howland lead this UCLA program since he got the job, and there's one thing that I can say confidently: When UCLA suffers a loss, they almost invariably come back big the next game, especially if that next game is against a cupcake.

UCLA's defense will definitely show up in this game. They played OK against everyone on Texas except AJ Abrams, and they have to be salivating to unleash their fury for that loss at a helpless Northridge team that is 0-5 in their last 5 games, all on the road. Want a good comparison to what UCLA should be able to do to CSUN? Northridge played Stanford at Stanford on November 18, and they lost by 18. UCLA > Stanford, as I think everyone will admit

Another reason to like UCLA here: The three leading scorers on CSUN's team are two forwards and their point guard. UCLA can neutralize the bigs (who they should have the athletic edge over them) with their well-timed double teams in the post, which they do like clockwork against bigs who might have trouble handling the ball. Collison is one of the best in the NCAA in putting on-ball pressure on an opposing point guard, which generally will cause off... [More]