| Duke is back on top of the college basketball | | | | straight (8-1 ATS) and 16 of their last 18. |
| world with its 108th No. 1 ranking by the AP. | | | | Baylor, which didn't play a non-conference |
| Only UCLA, which has been atop the AP poll on | | | | schedule this year because of probation, |
| 128 different occasions, has more No.1 | | | | enters 2-10 in the Big-12. Kansas is favored |
| rankings to its credit. U Conn, No. 1 the | | | | by 23 points with a total of 134.No. 8 |
| past four weeks dropped to No. 3, with | | | | Illinois (up from 14) is at Michigan on ESPN |
| Villanova matching the school's best-ever | | | | (7:00 ET). Michigan has lost four of five |
| ranking at No. 2 (was also No. 2 for two | | | | lately and takes an 11-game losing streak |
| weeks in December 1995).My free play for | | | | against the Illini into this game. Illinois |
| Tuesday is on the Det Pistons over the Atl | | | | is favored by 1 1/2 points with a total of |
| Hawks at 7:35 ET. The NBA is BACK and I'm | | | | 134 1/2. The second half of the ESPN |
| ready to pick up where I left off. I took an | | | | doubleheader is Alabama at Arkansas (9:00 |
| 8-0-1 run into the break and I'm 13-2-1 in | | | | ET). Arkansas is favored by 7 1/2 points with |
| the NBA since Feb 3. Join me for two HUGE 10* | | | | a total of 137 1/2.Rounding out the TV |
| plays on Tuesday, my Non-Conf and Eastern | | | | matchups are Xavier at Dayton on ESPN2 (7:30 |
| Conf Games of the Week. In college hoops, | | | | ET) and Southern Illinois at Evansville on |
| I've got an exclusive Las Vegas Insider Play | | | | ESPNU (9:00 ET). Xavier is favored by 1 1/2 |
| plus one of my coveted 15* plays. Get them | | | | points (total is 131 1/2) and Evansville is |
| NOW!Memphis, despite not losing, fell to No. | | | | favored by seven points (total is 120).South |
| 4 and Gonzaga stayed at No. 5. George | | | | Florida (0-12 in the Big East) and losers of |
| Washington is at No. 6, the school's highest | | | | 14 straight is at Providence at 7:30 ET. |
| ranking since it was No. 5 in February of | | | | Along with The Citadel, which stayed winless |
| 1955. GW and Gonzaga own the nation's longest | | | | last night in the Southern Conference (0-13) |
| current winning streak at 14 straight, while | | | | when it lost to Furman 64-41 (lowest point |
| Memphis is one game behind, winners of 13 | | | | total this year), the Bulls join the Bulldogs |
| consecutive games.Four top-25 teams were in | | | | as the only two Division I schools still |
| action last night, with only No. 14 West Va | | | | winless in conference play. Providence is |
| losing. The Mountaineers lost for the fourth | | | | favored by nine points with a total of 132 1 |
| time in their last five games, 60-58 at | | | | 2.The NBA is back in action tonight with a |
| Syracuse. West Va did not attempt a SINGLE | | | | 12-game schedule. The Pistons, owners of the |
| free throw in the game, partly because it | | | | league's best record at 42-9 but just 5-4 |
| spent most of the game 'bombing away' from | | | | over their last nine games, host the Hawks at |
| the three-point arc (made just 12-of-33). No. | | | | 7:35 ET. Atlanta upset the Pistons 99-98 on |
| 5 Gonzaga won its 14th straight game, 81-71 | | | | Feb 7 in Atlanta as a 10-point 'dog'. Detroit |
| at Portland (non-cover). The Bulldogs are now | | | | is favored by 14 points with a total of |
| 12-0 in the WCC (one of five Division I | | | | 191.The two teams chasing Detroit for the |
| schools still winless in conference play) and | | | | league's best record, 41-11 Dallas and 40-12 |
| own 21 straight WCC wins going back to last | | | | San Antonio, are also in action. The Mavs |
| year.No. 22 Oklahoma escaped with a 71-70 win | | | | have won 15 of their last 16 (in all 15 wins |
| at Texas Tech, as a tip-in with 4.5 seconds | | | | held their opponents to under 100) and enter |
| remaining was not only the game-winner but | | | | their game tonight with the Clippers (8:35 |
| the Sooners' only FG in the game's last eight | | | | ET) on an 11-game (8-3 ATS) home winning |
| minutes. Nevada, celebrated its return to the | | | | streak. The Clippers, who had won nine of 10 |
| rankings at No. 25 (tied with Northern Iowa), | | | | games from Jan 27 through Feb 7, lost four of |
| by squeaking past Idaho in Moscow, 74-68.Four | | | | five right before the break, three times to |
| top-25 teams are in action tonight and ESPN, | | | | teams with sub-.500 records. Dallas is |
| ESPN2 and ESPNU have four televised games. | | | | favored by 8 1/2 points (total is 192).The |
| No. 3 U Conn hosts Notre Dame at 7:00 ET. The | | | | Spurs lost their final two games prior to the |
| Irish opened Big East play 1-8 but have won | | | | break, allowing 100 points in back-to-back |
| three straight over Rutgers, South Florida | | | | games for the first time all year. SA is No. |
| and Seton Hall. However, the Huskies are | | | | 2 in the league allowing 88.4 PPG and gets |
| another matter, as U Conn is 13-0 at home, | | | | the struggling Sonics tonight in San Antonio |
| outscoring opponents by an average of 85-59. | | | | (8:35 ET). Seattle, which won 52 games last |
| U Conn is favored by 13 1/2 points with a | | | | year, is just 20-33 this season and enters |
| total of 153 1/2.No. 11 Boston College visits | | | | having lost eight of its last 10 both SU and |
| Virginia at 7:00 ET. BC has won 10 of its | | | | ATS. The Spurs are favored by 12 1/2 points |
| last 11, losing only to Duke (83-81). | | | | with a total of 195 1/2.Ness Notes is |
| However, Virginia is 11-2 at home this year. | | | | available by 1:00 ET Monday through Friday. A |
| BC is favored by 2 1/2 points with a total of | | | | feature story runs on Saturday and |
| 133 1/2. No. 16 Kansas hosts Baylor at 8:00 | | | | Sunday.Larry Ness is a documented member of |
| ET and the red-hot Jayhawks have won nine | | | | the Professional Handicappers League. |