Nov. 23
Appalachian State (1-3) at Virginia Tech (4-0)
When: 2 p.m.
Full Court Press: The Mountaineers have lost to in-state foes High Point, Campbell and East Carolina, and none of the games were close. Former UNC star Jason Capel is App. State’s coach. The Hokies, under first-year coach James Johnson, haven’t beaten anybody noteworthy, and will add ASU to that list.
Pick: VT, 74-59.
UNC-Asheville (1-4) at NC State (3-1)
When: 7 p.m.
Full Court Press: The Bulldogs, who have been solid the last few seasons, were competitive in losses to Tennessee and Providence, so they are capable of hanging with the Wolfpack for a while. But State will be ready to tear apart any opponent after seething all week after last Sunday’s ugly loss to Oklahoma State. Expect the Pack to pull away impressively.
Pick: NC State, 87-62.
William & Mary (3-1) at Wake Forest (2-2)
When: 7 p.m.
Full Court Press: The long-range shooting Tribe has beaten High Point, Liberty and Hampton before losing to Miami (Ohio). Their wins were by comfortable margins, while Wake has been inconsistent, almost beating UConn yet getting blown out by Iona.
Pick: Wake, 73-67.
Duke (4-0) vs. VCU (3-1)
When: 7 p.m.
Full Court Press: The athletic Rams, who have moved from the CAA to the Atlantic 10, beat Memphis by 13 points to advance at the Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas. Duke advanced by waxing Minnesota by 18 points, as the Blue Devils’ starters scored 87 of the team’s 89 points. This is a losable game for Duke, but the Devils and big man Mason Plumlee will find a way to win.
Pick: Duke, 77-71.
UTEP (1-2) vs. Clemson (2-1)
When: 5:30 p.m.
Full Court Press: The Miners, who are usually competitive, heave beaten Oral Roberts and lost at Arizona by 21 points and to Oklahoma in the opening round of the Old Spice Classic in Orlando. They will take on a Tigers’ team that simply couldn’t score enough to take advantage of an excellent defensive performance and owning the flow versus Gonzaga on Thursday night.
Pick: Clemson, 63-57.
California (4-0) vs. Georgia Tech (3-0)
When: Midnight
Full Court Press: The Bears have played well but haven’t beaten a major name, although Drake has flirted with success a couple of times in recent years. Cal beat the Bulldogs to open the Direct TV Classic in Anaheim, CA, where they will meet the Yellow Jackets in the second round. Tech beat Rice, 54-36, which was its second best defensive performance of the season, as the Jackets held Presbyterian to 38 points.
Pick: Cal, 59-53.
Nov. 24
Detroit (2-1) at Miami (2-1)
When: 2 p.m.
Full Court Press: The athletic Titans are led by possible future NBA player Ray McCallum, who is averaging 21 points per contest, and are capable of giving the Hurricanes fits. They are coming off a win over Drake. But Miami’s veteran experience and overall talented suggests they will sometime soon put a thorough game together. This may be it.
Pick: Miami, 77-66.
Georgia Southern (2-2) at Maryland (3-1)
When: 2 p.m.
Full Court Press: After dropping their first two games in unbecoming fashion, the Eagles have won two straight. But the Terps are not only more talented, but this is the kind of game 7-foot-1 center Alex Len could dominate.
Pick: Maryland 81-59.
*Duke in Battle 4 Atlantis
*Clemson in Old Spice Classic
*Georgia Tech in Direct TV Classic
Nov. 25
Bryant (2-2) at Boston College (2-3)
When: 2 p.m.
Full Court Press: The Bulldogs have been trashed by Indiana and Providence and own wins over New Hampshire by 12 and Brown by 7. BC needs a win, is at home, and isn’t going to drop one to a team like this.
Pick: BC, 69-54.
Season record: 40-3
