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