Weekend predictions: Vulnerable Duke loses again – ESPN (blog)
Well, the Brown-Medcalf battle for predictions supremacy began with limited surprise.
I finished 2-0 (the Gonzaga-Pitt game was canceled after halftime) in the first round of our season-long, friendly competition, although North Carolina crushed Temple in a game I assumed would be close.
Brown? Well, 7-3 ain’t bad.
Let’s see if I can keep the momentum and perfection going this weekend.
Last week: 2-0
Overall: 2-0
No. 5 Duke vs. VCU (New York City), 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2, Friday: It’s just weird to see a Duke team get outworked. You have to question Duke’s tenacity and toughness after Kentucky’s double-digit victory over the Blue Devils on Tuesday in the Champions Classic. It’s early. Teams will grow and evolve. But Duke seemed so timid against an elite opponent. How do you fix that? Plus, the point-guard situation would be resolved if Derryck Thornton were ready. But he’s not yet. Still, the skill and experience should help the Blue Devils regroup. But they’re facing a tough VCU squad that’s fourth in the country in defensive turnover percentage. Will Wade’s Rams defend and press like Shaka Smart’s VCU teams. As an assistant on Smart’s staff, he helped organize the HAVOC concept. The Rams don’t have the same talent as last season’s team and they suffered when some recruits de-committed following Smart’s move to Texas. Sometimes, however, timing is everything. And VCU will face a vulnerable Duke squad that struggled on a big stage three days ago. Have the Blue Devils recovered? The Rams won’t give them the chance to find out.
Prediction: VCU 83, Duke 82 (overtime)
Miami vs. No. 16 Utah (San Juan, Puerto Rico), 7 p.m. ET, ESPNU, Friday: Jim Larranaga’s team failed to accrue the momentum most anticipated after Miami upset Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium last season. But the key players from that squad returned, including Angel Rodriguez and Shelden McClellan, to anchor a group that features six upperclassmen. In Miami’s 105-79 win over Mississippi State on Thursday in the opening round of the Puerto Rico Tip Off, Rodriguez and McClellan combined for 29 points and nine assists. But the most impressive part of the victory was the fact the team’s bench registered 50 points. Utah is a good team and is undefeated with a resume that includes a win over Mountain West favorite San Diego State. Jakob Poeltl is a future pro. But the Utes’ offense has been unbalanced. Through three games, Brandon Taylor is 3-for-18 shooting (2-for-13 from the 3-point line). Kyle Kuzma finished 1-for-6 in his team’s win over Texas Tech on Thursday. Miami’s experience and cohesion will give the Hurricanes a slight edge in this matchup.
Prediction: Miami 80, Utah 75
Xavier at No. 24 Michigan, 9 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network, Friday: Michigan needs this early test. The Wolverines unraveled last season in part because they were never fully healthy. Even though they’ve all played together in the past, this first chapter feels like a reintroduction. Caris LeVert is back after missing a chunk of last season because of injury. Zak Irvin logged 15 minutes in Michigan’s last game after undergoing back surgery. Derrick Walton Jr. and Spike Albrecht were recently on the mend, too. Xavier is coming off an NCAA tournament run. Trevon Bluiett and Jalen Reynolds lead a squad that should return to the Big Dance this season and compete for the Big East crown. And its victory over the Wolverines in Crisler Arena will send a message to the conference and the country that the Musketeers are a top-25 squad and more.
Prediction: Xavier 74, Michigan 70
This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service – if this is your content and you’re reading it on someone else’s site, please read the FAQ at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php#publishers.
