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NCAAB Preview

-- Illinois State beat UCSB by 28 in its opener; Redbirds have 4 starters back from 21-14/9-9 team, but new starter is PG. MVC teams are 6-2 vs spread so far this season. Drexel is supposed to be best team in CAA, but they lost opener at Kent State- they still struggle to score.
-- Southern Mississippi lost 3 starters and its coach from LY's 25-9 club that was 11-5 in C-USA and made NCAAs; Eagles won opener in OT over Western Kentucky. Georgia has 3 starters back from 15-17/5-11 team, but home loss to Youngstown State last game wasn't good.
-- Nebraska has new coach, 4 new starters; they beat Southern by 11 in opener. Big Dozen teams are 1-3 vs spread in games where number was ingle digits. Valparaiso won 7am home game Tuesday; they return five starters from LY's 22-12/14-4 team that won Horizon in regular season.
-- TCU-SMU both have new coaches; Horned Frogs won three of last four games vs Mustangs, losing 68-62 LY. TCU won its first two games allowing 46-47 points. SMU has 3 starters back from 13-19/4-12 team, and drastic upgrade at coach. C-USA road underdogs are 1-3 vs spread.

-- St Mary's has 4 starters back 27-6/14-2 team; they're picked 2nd in stronger WCC, whose teams are 7-3 vs spread this year. Utah State has tough home court; they're #3 pick in WAC, with 3 starters back from LY's 21-16/8-6 team. Aggies beat Idaho State 56-48 in opener.
-- Arizona returns 57% of scoring from LY's 23-12/12-6 team, plus they added Xavier transfer Lyons, who won't kill them til March. Charleston Southern shot 54% on 2-pointers against them in opener. UTEP has 3 starters back from 15-17/7-9 team. Floyd's teams always defend well.
-- Akron lost opener in OT at Coastal Carolina, bad loss for team with 4 starters back from LY's 22-12/13-3 team. MAC underdogs are 4-9 vs spread this month. Oklahoma State has 4 starters back from 15-18/7-11 team. Cowboys beat Cal-Davis 73-65 in their opener.
-- Dayton has 3 starters back from 20-13/9-7 team; they won opener by 13 over Arkansas State, are picked #7 in A-16. Colorado took Europe trip this summer, should help them get off to better start- they return 2 starters from 24-12/11-7 team- they won opener by 15 over Wofford. .
-- Boston College has 4 starters back from 9-22/4-12 team, but two new recruits will push 2 starters to bench- their better players are younger. Baylor has good guards, but graduated all its frontcourt starters. Drew always recruits good talent; guards have to carry them early on.

-- St John's struggled at home vs Detroit Tuesday before pulling ahead in last 5:00; Lavin misses tactician/assistant Dunlap, who is 4-3 as coach of NBA's Bobcats (7-59 LY). Charleston has new coach, 4 starters back from 19-12/10-8 team- they beat Towson State by 17 in opener.
-- Auburn has 4 starters back from 15-16/5-11 team; they're picked #8 in SEC, as their talent level rises. Murray State lost 3 starters and backup PG from LY's 31-2/15-1 team- they get transfer guard from UAB who could help right away. Racers are picked to win their half of OVC again.
-- Alabama had all it could handle with South Dakota State in its opener, but hit 3 at buzzer for home won; Crimson Tide has 3 starters back from LY's 21-12/9-7 team. Oregon State plays fast now that talent level is bit higher; Beavers won first two games by 19-9 points (Niagara/NM St.).
-- Purdue lost at home to Bucknell, then pounded Hofstra by 29-- they have 2 starters back from 22-13/10-8 team, are picked #9 in Big Dozen. Villanova beat D-2 team, Marshall by 12 to open season; they've got 3 starters back from 13-19/5-13 team. Freshman PG has helped so far.

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