Big Monday Breakdown

Big Monday Breakdown


**Connecticut at Louisville**

--These are two serious national-championship contenders that will collide Monday at Freedom Hall. The calendar has hit February so it’s not too early to start thinking about No. 1 seeds in the NCAA Tournament. The Huskies are already a consideration for a top seed and would become a big-time favorite with a win in this spot, while the Cardinals would also become a part of the conversation with a victory.

--Las Vegas Sports Consultants opened Louisville (17-3 straight up, 12-8 against the spread) as a 2 1/2-point favorite with a total of 138 1/2. --U of L has won nine consecutive games, posting a 7-2 spread record during that surge. The Cardinals are coming off Saturday’s 69-63 home win over West Virginia as 6 ½-point home favorites. Jerry Smith had a team-high 20 points for the winners, who had to overcome 26 turnovers in the non-covering victory.

--UConn (20-1 SU, 9-7 ATS) is also sporting a nine-game winning streak. The Huskies are 6-3 ATS over that nine-game stretch. They pounded Providence by a 94-61 count Saturday as 13-point home favorites. Hasheem Thabeet dominated with a triple-double, finishing with 15 points, 11 rebounds and 10 blocked shots. A.J. Price added 19 points, while Stanley Robinson had 18.

--Thabeet is third in the nation in blocked shots, swatting away 4.0 per game. He also averages 13.0 points and 10.1 rebounds per contest. Thabeet’s partner down low is power forward Jeff Adrien, who also averages a double-double with a 14.1 points per game average to go with 10.0 boards per contest.

--Rick Pitino’s team has won 12 of 13 home games, compiling an 8-5 ATS mark in the process. The Cards’ lone home loss came to UNLV back on New Year’s Eve.

--The catalyst for U of L is forward Terrence Williams, who averages 12.8 points, 9.3 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game. Earl Clark leads the Cards in scoring at a 13.5 PPG clip.

--Marquette and Louisville are tied for the Big East lead with identical 8-0 records in league play. UConn is right there also with a 9-1 mark in Big East action.

--The ‘under’ is 10-8 overall for the Cards, 6-6 in their home assignments. Meanwhile, UConn has seen the ‘under’ go 9-6 overall.

--Since 2000, UConn has won four of six head-to-head meetings against Louisville. However, the Cards are 3-0-1 ATS in the last four encounters.

--ESPN will provide television coverage at 7:00 p.m. Eastern.

**Kansas at Baylor**

--LVSC opened this game as a pick 'em with a total of 151 1/2. --Kansas (17-4 SU, 10-5 ATS) has won six in a row since losing at Michigan St. The Jayhawks saw their five-game ATS winning streak halted Saturday when they barely got past Colorado 66-61 as 22-point home ‘chalk.’ With Sherron Collins struggling through a 4-of-16 shooting performance, Cole Aldrich paced KU with 15 points and 13 rebounds.

--Baylor (15-6 SU, 6-7 ATS) could really use a resume-building ‘W’ in this spot. The Bears have lost three in a row both SU and ATS and still have plenty of work to do in order to solidify an NCAA Tournament berth. They are off Saturday’s 89-72 defeat at Missouri as 6 ½-point underdogs.

--Bill Self’s squad has been real nasty at home, winning 14 of its 15 games while taking the cash at a 7-2 ATS clip.

--Kansas is unbeaten in six conference games, while Baylor has a shaky 3-4 ledger in Big 12 play.

--KU has won seven in a row over Baylor, but the Bears are 4-3 ATS in those meetings.

--The ‘over’ is 8-7 for KU, 5-4 in its home games at Allen Fieldhouse. Meanwhile, Baylor has seen the ‘over’ hit at an 8-5 clip overall. The ‘over’ is on a 5-1 run for the Bears.

--Tip-off is scheduled for 9:00 p.m. Eastern on ESPN.