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