PREMIUM
Rogers' EARLY Afternoon ASSAULT >> 7-2-1 in NCAAB!
(NCAAB) Wake Forest vs. UTEP,
Point Spread: -10.00 | -106.00 Wake Forest (Away)
Result: Win
Point Spread: -10.00 | -106.00 Wake Forest (Away)
Result: Win
The set-up: Danny Manning's Wake Forest team has opened 2-0, winning its games by 21 and 20 points but finds itself on the challenging side of the bracket in the Charleston Classic. First up is UTEP (1-0), a team with three returning double digit scorers, a 7-1 center in Willms and an excellent head coach in Tim Floyd. Wake Forest will also need to avoid looking ahead to a potential second-round matchup against No. 3 Villanova, the defending national champion.
Wake Forest: Manning's first two season at Wake have been a bust, as the Demon Deacons have gone 13-19 and 11-19. Two key players are gone from last year's squad in the 6-9 Devin Thomas (15.6 & 10.2) and guard Miller-McIntyre (9.5-4.5-4.0) but Manning sees potential in this year's group. PG Crawford (11.0-8.0 APG) has opened with two solid games plus his backcourt partner Charlotte transfer Woods (18.0) is off to a rousing start. Two returning big men have shown excellent promise already, as 6-10 sophomore Collins has averaged 18.5 & 10.5 plus 6-10 junior Mitoglou has added 10.0 & 6.5
UTEP: Tim Floyd's career has not lacked controversy but this is his fifth head coaching gig in college plus he coached the NBA's Bulls. He's led New Orleans, Iowa St. and USC to NCAA berths and while he hasn't done that yet in El Paso, he's 122-76 in his six seasons (this marks his seventh), with three teams winning 22-plus games. The Miners lost their top-two scorers from last year in Moore (15.4-5.4-3.5) and Morris (13.4) but junior guard Harris exploded for 24 points in the team's season-opening win, while Artis, a transfer two years ago from Oregon, scored eight points plus grabbed nine rebounds and handed out 13 assists. His line from last season (his 1st at UTEP) was 11.9-5.1-5.2 and he figures to be UTEP's most important player this season. However, the 7-1 Willms is back healthy this year and UTEP is hoping he finally "comes around."
The pick: This contest marks a busy 10-day stretch for Wake Forest, which will play five games in that span. Stay away from a look-ahead to ‘Nova and everything should be just fine. Make Wake Forest an 8* play.
Wake Forest: Manning's first two season at Wake have been a bust, as the Demon Deacons have gone 13-19 and 11-19. Two key players are gone from last year's squad in the 6-9 Devin Thomas (15.6 & 10.2) and guard Miller-McIntyre (9.5-4.5-4.0) but Manning sees potential in this year's group. PG Crawford (11.0-8.0 APG) has opened with two solid games plus his backcourt partner Charlotte transfer Woods (18.0) is off to a rousing start. Two returning big men have shown excellent promise already, as 6-10 sophomore Collins has averaged 18.5 & 10.5 plus 6-10 junior Mitoglou has added 10.0 & 6.5
UTEP: Tim Floyd's career has not lacked controversy but this is his fifth head coaching gig in college plus he coached the NBA's Bulls. He's led New Orleans, Iowa St. and USC to NCAA berths and while he hasn't done that yet in El Paso, he's 122-76 in his six seasons (this marks his seventh), with three teams winning 22-plus games. The Miners lost their top-two scorers from last year in Moore (15.4-5.4-3.5) and Morris (13.4) but junior guard Harris exploded for 24 points in the team's season-opening win, while Artis, a transfer two years ago from Oregon, scored eight points plus grabbed nine rebounds and handed out 13 assists. His line from last season (his 1st at UTEP) was 11.9-5.1-5.2 and he figures to be UTEP's most important player this season. However, the 7-1 Willms is back healthy this year and UTEP is hoping he finally "comes around."
The pick: This contest marks a busy 10-day stretch for Wake Forest, which will play five games in that span. Stay away from a look-ahead to ‘Nova and everything should be just fine. Make Wake Forest an 8* play.
