The Starting Five

Isn’t it nice to have some good ball back? On this episode of The Starting Five, I breakdown a great day of hoops, featuring some great games from the sport’s biggest brands. I highlight those deserving, and rightfully crucify a couple of players holding their teams back from where they want to go. I also was probably too harsh on Florida.

Best Bet Recap:

Michigan State -5.5 💰

YTD: 8-3

UConn 61 Kansas 56: 0:00-4:31

Duke 67 Florida 66: 4:32-9:27

Michigan State 71 Iowa 52: 9:28-12:29

North Carolina 67 Kentucky 64: 12:30-16:02

An SEC Tangent (overrated?): 16:03-17:37

Syracuse 62 Tennessee 60: 17:38-19:49

Others: 19:50-22:32

Previews:

Louisville @ Arkansas: 22:33-24:23

NC State @ Auburn: 24:24-28:26

Best Bet: NC State +6.5

YTD Record: 8-3

Others: 28:27-31:16

Finally, some good games! After three days of nothing, this episode of The Starting Five breaks down a great Tuesday slate, headlined by a slew of blue bloods and top teams.

UConn @ Kansas: 0:00-3:41

Florida @ Duke: 3:42-6:44

Iowa @ Michigan State: 6:45-11:43

Best Bet: (7-3 YTD)

Michigan State -5.5

North Carolina @ Kentucky: 11:44-14:29

Others: 14:30-17:53

The Starting Five returns after a brief Feast Week hiatus, though nothing has been missed the last two days. With a weak Monday before a strong Tuesday ahead, I focus entirely on recaps and other storylines.

Michigan 101 Gonzaga 61: 0:00-3:47

Kansas 81 Tennessee 76: 3:48-6:15

Auburn 85 St John’s 74: 6:16-9:24

Other Wednesday games: 9:25-12:48

(Get Wes Miller out of Cincinnati)

Michigan State 74 UNC 58: 12:49-13:58

TCU 84 Florida 80: 13:59-14:53

UConn 74 Illinois 61: 14:54-18:20

Other Feast Week notes: 18:21-26:51

On this episode of The Starting Five, I try to figure out how the Players Era works (I still have no clue and think half the days I thought games were ended up being wrong). I recap a great day of games, including a thriller between Tennessee and Houston. I also win my best bet instead of losing it by 40 (much better strategy).

*Michigan vs Gonzaga is Wednesday. I can’t take even 1% responsibility for anyone missing this*

Tennessee 76 Houston 73: 0:00-5:21

Best Bet: Tennessee +3 (W): 7-3 YTD

St John’s 96 Baylor 81: 5:22-7:36

Michigan 102 Auburn 72: 7:37-10:31

Iowa 74 Ole Miss 69: 10:32-11:51

Others: 11:52-17:20

On this episode of The Starting Five, I discuss day one of the Players Era (I don’t like it). I also face the music for perhaps the worst best bet in the history of gambling (only a slight exaggeration), and briefly preview Day 2 tomorrow!

Yesterday’s Best Bet: San Diego State +7.5 (should count as two losses honestly)

YTD: 6-3

Intro/My take on the Players Era: 0:00-3:18

Iowa State 83 St. John’s 82: 3:19-5:52

Gonzaga 95 Alabama 85: 5:53-8:07

Baylor 81 Creighton 74: 8:08-10:12

Michigan 94 San Diego State 54: 10:13-12:07

Seton Hall 85 NC State 74: 12:08-14:53

Houston 78 Syracuse 74 (OT): 14:54-18:16

Tennessee vs Houston: 18:17-20:48

*Best Bet* Tennessee +3

YTD: 6-3

St John’s vs Baylor: 20:49-22:45

Michigan vs Auburn: 22:46-24:26

Roundup/Others: 24:27-27:37

On this episode of The Starting Five, I preview the Players Era. While it sucks we lose the slew of MTEs we once knew, there is still some great basketball to watch and enjoy.

*I also don’t know how this event works entirely.*

Intro: 0:00-2:26

St. John’s vs Iowa State: 2:27-5:06

Gonzaga vs Alabama: 5:07-8:00

Michigan vs San Diego State: 8:01-11:41

*Best Bet*

San Diego State +6.5 (YTD: 6-2)

Baylor vs Creighton 11:42-14:22

Houston vs Syracuse: 14:23-16:01

On this episode of The Starting Five, I touch on a pair of ranked games with big expectations and lackluster results. I also go around the country to call out a couple notable results. Finally, best bets look to get back in the win column.

BYU 98 Wisconsin 70: 0:00-4:08

Purdue 86 Texas Tech: 4:09-7:09

Roundup: 7:10-9:24

Penn State vs Providence: 9:25-12:04

Best Bet *gulp*

Providence -3.5

Record YTD: 5-2

On this episode of The Starting Five, I recap Wednesday and Thursday, and the beginning of the MTEs. I also preview the Friday slate, featuring two big Friday matchups!

Arizona 71 UConn 67: 0:00-4:25

Alabama 90 Illinois 86: 4:26-7:48

Dayton 77 Marquette 71 (OT): 7:49-10:17

Kansas State 98 Mississippi State 77: 10:18-12:52

Texas Tech 84 Wake Forest 83: 12:53-14:20

BYU vs Wisconsin: 14:21-15:58

Purdue vs Texas Tech: 15:59-17:38

Louisville vs Cincinnati: 17:39-19:16

Wrap up: 19:17-19:46

On this episode of The Starting Five, I discuss the Champions Classic. Despite the names, the fans were robbed of any classic finish (due in part to the Peterson injury), but there’s still plenty to discuss. I also go over a really solid Wednesday non-con slate, and I look to continue my best bet performance!

Champions Classic:

Michigan State 83 Kentucky 66: 0:00-5:30

Duke 78 Kansas 66: 5:31-9:30

Other callouts: 9:31-10:45

Wednesday Preview:

Arizona @ UConn: 10:46-13:50

Alabama vs Illinois: 13:51-17:27

*Best Bet Marquette -5.5*

Dayton @ Marquette: 17:28-21:35

The Starting Five returns from an illness induced absence, and as you can almost certainly tell, it may have been an episode too soon. Nevertheless, I review the highlights from the previous weekend, and preview the Champions Classic!

(Sorry for the bad audio in this one. Had to dig deep).

Arizona 69 UCLA 65: 0:00-3:00

UConn 86 BYU 84: 3:01-6:23

Nebraska 105 Oklahoma 99: 6:24-9:00

Other Saturday Games: 9:01-10:24

Houston 73 Auburn 72: 10:25-11:45

Other notes: 11:46-12:16

NC State 85 VCU 79: 12:17-13:33

Champions Classic Preview

Kansas vs Duke: 13:34-14:59

Michigan State vs Kentucky: 15:00-17:39