The set-up: The Belmont Bruins look for a big road victory to get a game above the .500 mark, as they head to Wisconsin a modest 4-4 on the season. Wisconsin-Milwaukee is just 4-8, after after losing five of its last seven games.

Belmont: Head coach Rick Byrd won 20 games again last year for the 10th time in the last 11 seasons. He led the Bruins to an NCAA berth in seven of those years. Just one starter was lost from last year but PG Bradshaw (16.4 & 3.2 APG) has been tough to replace. The 6-7 Bradds is back and averaging 21.3 & 10.0 but he's the lone double digit scorer. However, the Bruins own nice balance, with five players contributing 6.0 to 9.9 PPG.

Wisconsin-Milwaukee: The Panthers won 20 games last season but all five starters are gone from that team plus Milwaukee has a new head coach in LaVall Jordan, a former John Beilein (Michigan) assistant getting his first head-coaching gig. The only starter bigger than 6-5 in the 6-7 Nyze (5.7 & 4.4),as guards Wichmann (12.3) and Stull (10.3 & 6.6) are the lone double digit scorers.

The pick: The Panthers have had a good recent history but this team and its new head coach needs time to grow. The Panthers could use a win here, entering on a three-game slide, but Belmont will NOT play the perfect foil. There's a reason the Bruins are a road favorite in this one. Make Belmont a 10* play.