After three straight years at 55%+ against the number, the Maniac will once again wade into the realm of fearless forecasting.
In the early game on ESPN U we get our first peek at the Maryland Terps sans do-everything physical and emotional leader Greivies Vasquez. Vasquez has graduated on to the NBA and leaves Maryland with some legitimate questions as to where their offensive production will come from this season.
They open the season with a tricky game hosting a program with the talent to win the SoCon and make some noise in March in the Charleston Cougars. You might recall the Cougars led by Andrew Goudelock delivered the first "uh oh" in North Carolina's eventual woeful 2010. Granted, none of us knew at the time that the Heels were quite that bad, but the point is Charleston will not be the least bit intimidated heading up to College Park after slaying the Heels in Chapel Hill.
Look for Maryland to be pushed until late in the game, which is actually a great thing for a team projected as no better than a bubble team to begin to mold their 2010-2011 identity.
Gimme Charleston and the 14.5.
The late game features Texas hosting another sneaky team, Louisiana Tech. Tech raced out to a 14-1 start last year and got sime votes un the polls before fading down the stretch Texas lost a bevy of talent from last years colossal umderachieving club...but that might actually be a good thing. They do still have Jordan Hamilton who has the potential to emerge as a Big 12 POY candidate. Also returning is finally-healthy PG Dogus Balbay. Balbay has significant limitations offensively, but us a steady ballhandler, good distributor and one of the top on-the-ball defenders in the nation. Mist importantly the Longhorns and Rick Barnes a chance to get last year's sour taste out of their mouths and begin to play up to their considerable talent level.
Look for Texas to apply smothering defense and pull away from a game Tech squad in the second half. However, 22 points is a lot to lay against a solid mid/low major with some veteran ballplayers this early in the season, particularly with Texas still finding their offensive identity.
Texas wins, but I'll take LA Tech and the 22 points.
Lastly, Pitt takes the court for the second time this season tonight against Horizon league foe Illinois Chicago. Pitt was pushed until the final minutes against Rhode Island Monday night in a game that was highlighted by an uncharacteristically high number of missed layups by the Panthers. Add in the fact that the Rams plays a uniquely quick tempo predicated on full court trapping defense and an efficient 3-point bomb squad, and it makes for a really tough season opener. I walked away less concerned about Pitt and more convinced the A-10 is once again legitimately five or six teams deep. I haven't seen Xavier it Temple yet, but at first blush the Rams have the size and shooting to finish higher than their projected sixth place in the A-10. Alas, that is another column for another day...
Pitt will settle in a little bit tonight with Wannamaker and Gibbs controlling the pace and flow of the ballgame against an undersized and outmanned Flames squad.
Gimme Pitt in a much better second performance, laying the 21 points.
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