Ness Notes (Feb 21)

Duke is back on top of the college basketball world2.
with its 108th No. 1 ranking by the AP. Only UCLA,No. 11 Boston College visits Virginia at 7:00 ET. BC has
which has been atop the AP poll on 128 differentwon 10 of its last 11, losing only to Duke (83-81).
occasions, has more No.1 rankings to its credit. U Conn,However, Virginia is 11-2 at home this year. BC is
No. 1 the past four weeks dropped to No. 3, withfavored by 2 1/2 points with a total of 133 1/2. No. 16
Villanova matching the school's best-ever ranking atKansas hosts Baylor at 8:00 ET and the red-hot
No. 2 (was also No. 2 for two weeks in DecemberJayhawks have won nine straight (8-1 ATS) and 16 of
1995).their last 18. Baylor, which didn't play a non-conference
My free play for Tuesday is on the Det Pistons overschedule this year because of probation, enters 2-10 in
the Atl Hawks at 7:35 ET. The NBA is BACK and I'mthe Big-12. Kansas is favored by 23 points with a total
ready to pick up where I left off. I took an 8-0-1 run intoof 134.
the break and I'm 13-2-1 in the NBA since Feb 3. JoinNo. 8 Illinois (up from 14) is at Michigan on ESPN (7:00
me for two HUGE 10* plays on Tuesday, myET). Michigan has lost four of five lately and takes an
Non-Conf and Eastern Conf Games of the Week. In11-game losing streak against the Illini into this game.
college hoops, I've got an exclusive Las Vegas InsiderIllinois is favored by 1 1/2 points with a total of 134 1/2.
Play plus one of my coveted 15* plays. Get themThe second half of the ESPN doubleheader is
NOW!Alabama at Arkansas (9:00 ET). Arkansas is favored
Memphis, despite not losing, fell to No. 4 and Gonzagaby 7 1/2 points with a total of 137 1/2.
stayed at No. 5. George Washington is at No. 6, theRounding out the TV matchups are Xavier at Dayton
school's highest ranking since it was No. 5 in Februaryon ESPN2 (7:30 ET) and Southern Illinois at Evansville
of 1955. GW and Gonzaga own the nation's longeston ESPNU (9:00 ET). Xavier is favored by 1 1/2 points
current winning streak at 14 straight, while Memphis is(total is 131 1/2) and Evansville is favored by seven
one game behind, winners of 13 consecutive games.points (total is 120).
Four top-25 teams were in action last night, with onlySouth Florida (0-12 in the Big East) and losers of 14
No. 14 West Va losing. The Mountaineers lost for thestraight is at Providence at 7:30 ET. Along with The
fourth time in their last five games, 60-58 at Syracuse.Citadel, which stayed winless last night in the Southern
West Va did not attempt a SINGLE free throw in theConference (0-13) when it lost to Furman 64-41
game, partly because it spent most of the game(lowest point total this year), the Bulls join the Bulldogs
'bombing away' from the three-point arc (made justas the only two Division I schools still winless in
12-of-33). No. 5 Gonzaga won its 14th straight game,conference play. Providence is favored by nine points
81-71 at Portland (non-cover). The Bulldogs are nowwith a total of 132 1/2.
12-0 in the WCC (one of five Division I schools stillThe NBA is back in action tonight with a 12-game
winless in conference play) and own 21 straight WCCschedule. The Pistons, owners of the league's best
wins going back to last year.record at 42-9 but just 5-4 over their last nine games,
No. 22 Oklahoma escaped with a 71-70 win at Texashost the Hawks at 7:35 ET. Atlanta upset the Pistons
Tech, as a tip-in with 4.5 seconds remaining was not99-98 on Feb 7 in Atlanta as a 10-point 'dog'. Detroit is
only the game-winner but the Sooners' only FG in thefavored by 14 points with a total of 191.
game's last eight minutes. Nevada, celebrated its returnThe two teams chasing Detroit for the league's best
to the rankings at No. 25 (tied with Northern Iowa), byrecord, 41-11 Dallas and 40-12 San Antonio, are also in
squeaking past Idaho in Moscow, 74-68.action. The Mavs have won 15 of their last 16 (in all 15
Four top-25 teams are in action tonight and ESPN,wins held their opponents to under 100) and enter their
ESPN2 and ESPNU have four televised games. No. 3game tonight with the Clippers (8:35 ET) on an 11-game
U Conn hosts Notre Dame at 7:00 ET. The Irish(8-3 ATS) home winning streak. The Clippers, who had
opened Big East play 1-8 but have won three straightwon nine of 10 games from Jan 27 through Feb 7, lost
over Rutgers, South Florida and Seton Hall. However,four of five right before the break, three times to
the Huskies are another matter, as U Conn is 13-0 atteams with sub-.500 records. Dallas is favored by 8 1/2
home, outscoring opponents by an average of 85-59.points (total is 192).
U Conn is favored by 13 1/2 points with a total of 153 1