Tip off: 7 PM EST
Spread: CIN -1.5
Total: 121.5
M/L: CIN -125, GA +105
Betting lines taken from Bookmaker
GEORGIA
Georgia lost in an opening round match against Washington in the NCAA tournament. It proved ot be a redeeming game for the Bulldogs, who were actually 5 point underdogs if memory serves me (at least they were at the time I laid down my moneyline bet on them to win). Trey Thompkins turned in one of the best college performances of his career, giong 11 of 14 from the floor, and 2 of 2 from three, to score 26 points while playing almost the entire game.
Gerald Robinson scored 12 in that loss and thus far this season he is tied for the Bulldogs’ leading scorer at 12.5 points per game. The 6’1″ senior guard averaged 12.2 last season, but had a great two years at Tennessee State before transferring. He is a good distributor (4.0 assists per game over both of the last two seasons) and is going to have to step it up to the next level in order for this Georgia team to succeed. He started last year but his free throw rate dropped off signficantly against the better defenders in the SEC. Look for Robinson to try to make this his team this year, and even try to sneak into the second round of the NBA Draft in 2012.
Freshman Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has been impressive, as well. The 6’4″ guard from near by Greenville, Georgia is putting up 12.5 a game and has scored in double figures in all four Bulldogs’ games. He had 15 opening night against Wofford, and went 5 of 12 from the floor that night, while missing 5 threes of the 7 misses. He has hit 7 of 23 from behind the arc so far this season, and is only shooting 40% from the floor so far this season (bolstered by a 5 of 8 shooting night against Bowling Green).
Thompson’s entry to the NBA and Price’s graduation left holes in this Georgia team, but they aren’t that bad, still. Dustin Ware is going to have to do more than score 6.5 points per game and shoot far higher than 33.3% from the floor if Georgia is going to get anyhere, though. Robinson is only partly doing his job, but Ware isn’t doing it at all so far and if he doesn’t step it up Georgia will have trouble even ATS this year.
CINCINNATI
Last season was a good one for the Bearcats. They finished with a 26-9 record and held their own (11-7) in the rugged Big East. Their in conference defense was ranked 3rd in the Big East, while they certainly could have dealt with scoring a few more points (1.03 points per possession), to take the leap to the next level. They were bounced in the Round of 32 by the eventual champion UCONN, so solace can be drawn from the fact that they at least lost to the team that went on to take it all.
This season has been a mixed bag so far. Cincinnati has played all poor opponents and still has lost 2 of their 6 games, dropping matches to both Presbyterian and Marshall, both by 3 points or less (and the Marshall game went into OT).
The main problem is that the Bearcats aren’t getting any contributions beyond their starters. Only two non starters are averaging double figure minutes and neither (Cheikh Mbodj and Ge’Lawn Guyn) have made much of an impact. Who has made an impact has been 6’9″ senior forward Yancy Gates. The rugged 260 pound banger has nearly averaged a double double (14.2 ppg and 9.3 rpg). He’s posted double digit scoring in all but the blowout win over Jacksonville State. Over the last nine games last season, Gates averaged 16 points per game on 59% two point shooting. If he can continue to play at his current level, he will be an All-Conference player, and Cincinnati may make some waves in March.
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