BASKETBALL

2021 college basketball picks, Feb. 6 predictions from proven model

By Elsie A. Dotson 3 weeks ago

The No. 23 Kansas Jayhawks will visit the No. 17 West Virginia Mountaineers on Saturday at WVU Coliseum. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET on CBS. West Virginia is 12-5 overall and 5-2 at home while Kansas is 12-6 overall and 2-4 on the road. The Jayhawks have won nine of the last 10 head-to-head meetings and covered in seven of those 10 matchups.



a person on a court: Mar 20, 2019; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; General overall view of a basketball approaching the rim and net before the first round of the 2019 NCAA Tournament at Vivint Smart Home Arena.

© Provided by CBS Sports

Mar 20, 2019; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; General overall view of a basketball approaching the rim and net before the first round of the 2019 NCAA Tournament at Vivint Smart Home Arena.


However, the Jayhawks have covered just twice now in their last seven games entering Saturday. The Mountaineers are two-point favorites, with the over-under for total points listed at 141.5 in the latest West Virginia vs. Kansas odds from William Hill Sportsbook. Before entering any Kansas vs. West

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A look at the area’s top basketball and hockey players and teams

By Elsie A. Dotson 3 weeks ago

Here are some players and teams to watch in girls and boys basketball and ice hockey. The winter high school season opens Monday.



a group of people playing a game of basketball: East Catholic's Luke Strole, center, gets to the basket between Windsor's Justice Ellison, left, and Troy McCoy, right.

© Brad Horrigan / Hartford Courant/Hartford Courant/TNS
East Catholic’s Luke Strole, center, gets to the basket between Windsor’s Justice Ellison, left, and Troy McCoy, right.

Boys basketball

Players to watch

Donovan Clingan, C, Bristol Central: The state’s top player, Clingan averaged over 24 points and 17 rebounds as a sophomore. A 7-foot-2 center with 21 Division I offers, Clingan is ranked 49th in ESPN’s class of 2022 rankings.



East Hartford's Tiana Asberry, right, tries to get around East Catholic's Lilly Ferguson at East Catholic in a 2019 game.

© Brad Horrigan/The Hartford Courant/Hartford Courant/TNS
East Hartford’s Tiana Asberry, right, tries to get around East Catholic’s Lilly Ferguson at East Catholic in a 2019 game.

Brody Limric, C, East Catholic: Limric averaged 16 points, nine rebounds and four blocks for the Eagles as a junior. The 6-8 big man is one of the area’s few true centers.

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The story of Sam Haiby’s New Year’s Eve game includes pickle juice, a buzzer beater and the No. 1 spot on ‘SportsCenter’ | Women’s Basketball

By Elsie A. Dotson 3 weeks ago

So Haiby told assistant coach Chuck Love she was ready, and he quickly told Haiby to check in the game. Then Haiby asked Love whom she should go in for?

Love’s response: “Anybody!”

“That was funny. Everyone was laughing,” Haiby said. “The scorer’s table was laughing, too.”

On Nebraska’s injury-depleted roster, that may have been Love’s response to any of Nebraska’s guards, but especially Haiby. She leads the Huskers in scoring (16.1 per game), rebounding (7.4) and assists (3.7).

She’s one of Nebraska’s best players at creating a scoring chance with her drives to the basket, and with the game on the line you’d want Haiby in the game.

On the winning basket, Haiby got her own rebound on the right side of the hoop and quickly got off a shot high off the backboard with about 0.5 seconds left in the game.

“I kind of just chased my

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What needs to happen for Duke men’s basketball to make the NCAA tournament?

By Elsie A. Dotson 3 weeks ago
Feb 6, 2021

  • John GasawayESPN Insider

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    • ESPN Insider college basketball contributor
    • First began covering college hoops in 2004
    • Has written for Basketball Prospectus and the Wall Street Journal

After losing at home to North Carolina 91-87, Duke’s record now stands at 7-7. A team that was ranked No. 9 in the AP’s preseason poll is on a trajectory to miss the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1995.

Can Mike Krzyzewski’s squad change that trajectory, even at this late date? Put it this way: The Blue Devils are at the point where earning an at-large bid will require either running the table the rest of the way or something very close to it.

Coach K’s team has just three games remaining on its schedule against opponents that appear more likely than not to reach the NCAA tourney: Virginia, Louisville and a rematch against the Tar Heels in

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