Kaiser's Saturday Picks

Kaiser So-Says:

Tennessee -6 @ Temple
Memphis @ Georgetown -3.5

Saturday Picks

Maniac Quick Picks - Saturday Dec 13th

We stick with the road less traveled, picking 7 road teams to cover Saturday. Don't be surprised if Butler or Memphis win outright.

Butler +8.5 @ Ohio St.
Tennessee -6 @ Temple
Memphis +3.5 @ Georgetown
Indiana +16.5 @ Kentucky
Utah +14 @ Oklahoma
West Virginia -7 @ Duquesne
W. Kentucky +1 @ Evansville

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The Game Mottas

Thad Motta has had quite a half-decade. The journey began by bringing an already-competitive Butler program to national prominence. That success parlayed into what has evolved as the best launching pad job in the country at Xavier (Pete Gillen, the late Skip Prosser and Motta). In his second season Motta took the Muskies to an Elite Eight narrow loss to Duke.

Two short years later, he pilaged his old stomping grounds, snatching Indianapolis kids Greg Oden and Mike Conley who spearheaded a National Final appearance for Ohio State as freshman.

Saturday, the journey comes full circle when the Bulldogs visit Columbus to take on the likewise unbeaten Buckeyes. Both teams have been solid early; Ohio St, spectacular in defeating Miami (FL) and Notre Dame last week. Butler enters owning solid wins over Drake and Bradley, but clearly seeking a signature win to stockpile for Selection Sunday when they try to topple the 5-0 Buckeyes.

Both teams have been surprisingly nimble in plugging holes from graduation in 2008. Ohio State has yet to recieve significant contributions from highly touted 7-foot freshman BJ Mullens, but is getting a huge boost from guard Evan Turner (16.6 pt, 8 reb.)

Butler employes a typical balanced attack, with all five starters averaging between 7-13 ppg.


Expect a great contest - for those of you lucky enough to have the game televised! (Game is televised on the Big 10 network - DISH 439)

Kaiser Krushes the Deve

Our resident Syracuse honk and gambling aficionado weighs in with his take on the Eric Devendorf "possible suspension"

Eric Devendorf, what were you thinking? Really? Did you really have to hit that girl? Now I read that this altercation occurred early morning on November 1 which means this happened at a Halloween party. What, did you not like her costume? Did this girl dress up as "Eric Devendorf" for Halloween and you were pissed she had 8 tattoos (obviously THREE short!?) Were you pissed because she asked if you were the frontman for House of Pain? Did you not jump up jump up to get down?

I have nothing against the state of Michigan but this really isn't their year. The Lions and Wolverines just flat out sucked this year, their economy is piss poor (unfortunately), and now Devendorf (hails from Bay City). At least you have Allen Iverson now (er, my bad, the Pistons actually have a losing record since he's arrived). At least you have Rumeal Robinson and Glenn Rice who are probably a combined 650 lbs. Thank goodness Coach Dan was this season's big brother.

So what's next for Devendorf? He still has one more year left of eligibility (thanks to a medical redshirt last yr). So that means that he still might have a chance to win a first round game in the NCAA tourney. I've liked Devendorf ever since he was a freshman and figured he'd be under the tutelage of Gerry Mac (I cant see them 2 hanging out though)...Devendorf, you have 1 more yr to prove yourself so you can make my top 5 of favorite 'Cuse players in the last 15 yrs (currently held by Gerry Mac, Hopkins, Forth, and Cipola). Clean up your act Eric! Hell, since you will be at Syracuse for 5 yrs, maybe, just maybe you can get a college degree?

If not, I look forward to seeing you as the token white guy on the Globetrotters, working at Varsity Pizza, or on one of those trashy reality shows on VH1 as a contestant where you have to eat a creamed pie out of a garbage can in order to go on a 1 on 1 date with a random skank.

Come to think of it, either way sounds pretty entertaining!

This Guy??

I know it will come as a shock to many college basketball fans that a clean-cut, quiet kid like Eric Devendorf could find himself on the wrong side of the law (allegedly). But - if the rumored suspension or dismissal from the team comes to fruition, it is a huge blow to the Cuse's March hopes.

This Syracuse team looked great, not good, great in the early goings, and Johnny Flynn was making a solid case as a second or third team All-American. Without his running mate in Devendorf, look for the pressure to fall squarely on Flynn's shoulders for the rest of the grueling Big East season.

Ok Eric, lets go over this one last time. You can hit jump shots, you can hit the deck... but you cannot hit women. (allegedly)



Read story from ESPN.com HERE