Ness Notes (Feb 5)

Six of the eight schools still winless in conference playfour straight and 11 of their last 13. Kansas is favored
were in action on Saturday but only Dartmouth (Ivyby six points with a total of 135. Although not
League) was able to win. The Big Green picked up itstelevised nationally, four other top-25 teams are in
first conference win by winning at Columbia,action on Sunday.No. 9 Pittsburgh is at No. 17
78-68.Ten Division 1 schools remained unbeaten inGeorgetown at 12:00 ET, No. 10 George Washington
conference play entering Saturday's action and all buthosts Richmond also at 12:00 ET and No. 18 North
George Washington (which plays today) were inCarolina St hosts Maryland at 2:00 ET. Georgetown
action. Of the nine, SIX won and THREE lost.(on a five-game winning streak) is favored by 3 1
The winners were Bucknell, Duke, Gonzaga,2-points with a total of 128. Pitt, which won its first
Memphis, Penn and West Va. The losers were15 games this year, is 2-2 over its last four, including
Delaware St, LSU and Northern Arizona.My free playan 80-76 loss at No. 1 U Conn last Monday. While the
for Sunday is Seton Hall over Rutgers in collegeHoyas are favored, they have lost five straight to
hoops at 12:00 ET. Coming off a 2-1 day in BKB, I'vethe Panthers.No. 10 George Washington puts its
now gone 5-2 71.4% since a poor Wednesday.perfect 7-0 Atlantic-10 mark on the line today, as
Sunday I'm featuring a lone CBB game, one of mywell as its first top-10 ranking in a half-century (was
coveted 15* plays. My Super Bowl XL selectionranked No. 7 back in 1956!), when the Colonials host
carries a 22* rating, the highest star-rating I give. Itan 11-9 Richmond team. GW is favored by 16 points
represents my 22nd year in the business. Be sure towith a total of 127.No. 18 North Carolina St, 13-1 at
check back at 10:00 ET, as I may be adding a latehome, will host Maryland, a team that lost its leading
BKB play.While three conference unbeatens fell onscorer (Chris McCray) to academic suspension three
Saturday, four more struggled to win. No. 2 Dukegames ago. The Terps have lost two straight, as
edged Florida State in OT (97-96) in a game thatMaryland head coach Gary Williams remains tied at
featured 26 ties and 17 lead changes. No.3 Memphis348 career wins at his alma mater, with former
won its 10th straight game, winning 84-79 at Rice.Maryland coach Lefty Driesell. The Wolfpack are
The 8-11 Owls, gave the Tigers all they could handle.favored by seven points with a total of 152.Vince
No. 11 West Va struggled early but finally put awayCarter recorded his second career triple-double on
Cincinnati, 66-57 and Bucknell trailed by eight at theSaturday (28-13-10), as the Nets won their 10th
half, before winning 68-59 at Colgate. The Bison shotconsecutive home game, beating the Heat 105-92.
67 percent in the second half plus made 16-of-19The Pistons hardly looked like the league's best team
free throws.Three conference unbeatens lost onlast night at Indiana, as the Pacers beat them
Saturday. LSU lost at Alabama 67-62, Delaware St of93-85.Meanwhile, the Dallas Mavericks won their 11th
the MEAC lost to a 7-13 South Carolina St teamstraight game 110-91 over the Sonics, matching the
63-51 and Northern Arizona of the Big Sky lost 73-61NBA's longest winning streak this season. The Mavs,
to a 10-12 Eastern Washington team.Illinois saw itsnot known as a defensive team, have held all 11
33-game home winning streak ended last night, whenopponents to under 100 points during the streak, a
Ron McBride's potential game-winning shot at thefranchise record.Super Bowl Sunday features a light
buzzer was ruled to have been released after the3-game schedule in the NBA. ABC has Houston at the
clock had gone to 0:00! Penn State, which had lost 18New York Knicks at 12:05 ET. The Rockets have
straight games to ranked opponents, beat No. 6both Ming and McGrady back (11-6 with both in the
Illinois, 66-65, as a 19 1/2-point underdog! Earlier thislineup this year) but the Knicks are expected to be
week, Southern Illinois had its 33-game home winningwithout Marbury. Jalen Rose makes his Knick debut
streak snapped by Creighton.However, it wasn't allbut there is no early line on the game.The Kings get
bad news this week for the "33-club", as last nighta quick rematch with the Jazz today, after
Gonzaga had little trouble with Santa Clara inSacramento lost 89-79 Friday night in Utah. The
Spokane. The Bulldogs led the Broncos by 25 pointsamazing stat from that game was, Sacramento's
midway through the second half and tied a0-for-20 in FG attempts in the 4th quarter! Utah
school-record by winning its 34th straight homeoutscored Sacramento 34-12 in the quarter. Today's
game, 85-71. However, the win wasn't muchgame, a 12:30 ET start, has no early line as the
consolation for Gonzaga bettors, as the Bulldogsever-lovable Ron Artest is questionable with a hip
were 18-point favorites.There are 11 gamesinjury.Super Bowl XL is set to kickoff at 6:30 ET. The
scheduled in college hoops on Super Bowl Sunday.Steelers are favored by four points with the total
CBS televises No. 19 Oklahoma at Kansas. Oklahomahovering around 47. Good luck on the game. That is,
has won five straight but has lost its last sevenif you have my side!Larry Ness is a documented
games in Lawrence. The Jayhawks are a young teammember of the Professional Handicappers League.
but they seem to be getting it together, having won