[CNOTES]

NCAAB
Write-up


Monday, November 16

Writeups on the best of today's action........keep in mind starting tonite (Monday night) at midnight, ESPN is running 24 consecutive hours of live games, with games starting every two hours, all over the country.

-- Kentucky (-20.5) won opener 75-59 vs Morehead State, but they get point guard Wall (prize freshman) back here; they had 24 turnovers in opener without him. Miami OH lost 82-71 at Towson State Friday in a game they led by 5 at half. Tigers shot 53% against Miami.

-- Bennett makes Virginia debut without couple guys (ill/suspension), one of whom is their 7-0 center; Cavaliers have all five starters back but not for this game. South Florida (-1.5) won opener 71-67 at SMU, with Bulls shooting 49% for game, rallying from 32-29 halftime deficit. USF has three starters back from 9-22 team plus six new guys.

-- SMU was just 4-14 from arc, 11-17 from line in 67-61 home loss to South Florida Friday; Mustangs have four starters back from 9-21 club, but if Doherty could win at North Carolina, how will he win at SMU? Texas A&M has seven of its top nine scorers back from LY, but lost its 6-10 center early-- he decided to go pro.

-- Penn (+14) lost opener 70-55 at Penn State, making just 5-23 from the arc, shooting 38% for game; Quakers have three starters back from 10-18 team, are picked 3rd in Ivy, low by Penn standards. Villanova whacked Penn 69-47 LY; they won their opener Friday, 84-61 over FDU.

-- Missouri State has three starters back from 11-20 team that went 3-15 in MVC; this is their season opener. Auburn lost three starters from the 24-12 team that saved Lebo's job; Tigers (-6) edged Niagara 69-65 in the opener Friday, despite shooting 35% from the floor, 4-22 from arc.

-- Pacific (-4) won 67-64 in OT at Pepperdine Friday, despite shooting 2-19 from arc; they held Waves to 38% from floor. Tigers lost 66-60 at San Diego LY (+1) in Bracket Buster game. Toreros beat Stanford 77-64 in opener Friday, shooting 52.6% from the floor.

-- UCLA is down this year, losing four starters from LY; rebuilding isn't a popular word at UCLA, but it fits. Four of the top five scorers aren't back, and one of top recruits, Honeycutt, is hurt. Fullerton is bigger and deeper than LY's 15-17 team (7-9 in Big West) but they lack shooters.

-- St Mary's (-7) crushed New Mexico State 100-68 in its opener, going 12-26 from arc, shooting 52% from floor. Gaels four four starters from LY's 28-7- they have seven new players. San Diego State beat cupcake in its opener- they lost 67-64 to St Mary's on neutral floor last year.

-- Charlotte has three starters back from 11-20 team that finished 12th in Atlantic 14-- they had lot of injuries, but 49ers missed NCAAs the last four years, as move to A-14 hasn't helped. Elon has new coach and new guards after LY's 11-20 finish, but the other three starters are back.

-- Yale lost opener 92-86 at Sacred Heart; they lost three starters from a 13-15 team that went 8-6 in Ivy League. Hofstra (+27) opened with a 101-65 loss at #1 Kansas; Pride shot 47% from floor, put Jayhawks on foul line 40 times. Hofstra has four starters back from LY's 20-11 team.

-- Wisc-Milwaukee lost four starters from 17-14 team that went 11-7 in Horizon; their RPI has gone from 239-180-136 last three years. Western Kentucky also lost four starters from 25-9 team that won 54 games the last two years, winning once in NCAA tourney LY. This is the season opener for the Hilltoppers.

-- LSU (-18, sprinted to 14-0 lead) beat UL-Monroe 82-62 Friday, with young Tigers grabbing 12 offensive boards. Indiana State has four of its starters back from 11-21 team (7-11 MVC); this is Sycamores' opener. Tigers lost three starters from LY's 27-8 team, are rebuilding.

-- Northridge (+19) got pounded 89-64 at Purdue in its opener, shooting 39% from floor, 3-14 from arc; Matadors have seven seniors and five JC kids on their team. TCU struggled to beat Mid-American Christian (no idea who they are or how good they are) 74-69 in opener. Horned Frogs have two starters back from LY's 14-17 team.

-- Eastern Washington (+7) lost 64-58 at home to Portland in its opener Saturday, shooting 32% from floor, 5-18 from arc. Washington State has new coach, three new starters from 17-16 team that went 8-10 in Pac-10 New coach Bone wants Wazzu to play faster; they won opener 94-66 against Mississippi Valley State. Coogs are still pretty young.