We’ve had a great week here with our write-ups and hope that it has translated into some cashes for you. Here’s a look at one of our Bucketheads that cashed every day this week. We love seeing this, and the consistency of green is impressive!
While no one is going to be swimming in a money bin if they win a CBB GPP, it’s still a lot of fun to play and there is some cash to be won!
Tonight we close the week out with a hefty 8-game slate. Each game broken down in the ladder below. Games are listed in order of tip and for those of you having a few cold ones this evening the late slate makes up the last 5 write-ups. Do your research and let’s get to work! Let’s finish the week strong Bucketheads!
Georgia State @ #2 Duke
Not much to say about this game really. I don’t see a Duke player getting more than 25 minutes, so we might be looking at some lower priced options. On the bright side, Georgia St is top 50 in adjusted tempo so the points should be flowing…well, for one team anyway. The Panthers are ranked #312 in Effective FG% defense.
Tre Jones (G, $7900) has the Q tag but he should play as he didn’t show any concussion symptoms. He should be a solid cash bet for 4x, even with limited minutes. Vernon Carey (F, $7200) is still a bit of a crapshoot. He should dominate this matchup but needs to stay out of foul trouble, just hoping for minutes basically, making him a strong GPP play.
The rest of the Dukies are grab bag. Matthew Hurt (F, $5300) finally got going last game coming off the bench, hitting 6x, favorable matchup for him again. Wendell Moore (F, $3900) played 25 minutes last game, has 29% usage so a great flier option. Cassius Stanley (G, $6100) has had a consistent 4x floor and feels like a matter of time before he breaks out.
Justin Roberts (G, $6800) and Kane Williams (G, $5900) lead the Panthers on offense. Each should play 35+ minutes in this one. Williams got up 18 shots in the last game. Even with an awful script, that is encouraging. Josh Linder (F, $5100) only played 5 minutes in their first game then exploded for 19 points and 12 boards against Charleston in 23 minutes. Freshman Joe Jones (F, $3900) is getting 23 mpg at the 4 and backup 5 making him a cheap dart.
West Virginia @ Pittsburgh
This is a sneaky important resume builder for both teams. Pitt already beat FSU at home, but promptly lost to sneaky good Nichols St. 3 days later. WVU is a fringe tournament team that needs to build a great resume as a mid-tier Big 12 team. Pitt has been dominated on the glass and WVU is a top offensive rebounding team in the nation, which sets up well for the Mountaineer bigs. Pitt’s guards get a pace up game, which will increase their usage and possessions.
West Virginia played at a relentless pace in game 1 vs. Akron, dropping 94 points. Underrated freshmen guard Miles McBride (7300) stole the show, finishing with 11, 6 boards, 4 assists, and 4 steals in 29 minutes off the bench. Huggins has raved about him all offseason, so he’s going to play a lot. The only issue here is his price as a freshman on the road.
One of the top plays on the slate is Derek Culver (F, 6700). He averaged almost a double double I really like the upside of Jermaine Haley and Emmitt Matthews, especially as high ceiling GPP options, but their price stinks. Matthews could still get 4x, but Haley at 8200 is nuts.
I’m in wait and see mode on how the minutes shake out for Jordan McCabe, Taz Sherman, and Chase Harler. 5-star freshmen and Gatorade POY Oscar Tshiebwe (F, 3900) started in game 1, but only played 12 minutes. However, he had 3 fouls in the first half, which significantly limited his opportunity. You’d have to be a real grouch not to consider Oscar at this price.
The Panther guards lead the way for Pitt. Trey McGowens (7400) and Xavier Johnson (5700) both play 80+% of the minutes, take 22% of the shots, and have a 30% and 24% assist rate respectively. McGowens is a solid rebounder as well. Ryan Murphy (G, 6300) actually leads the team in shot %, including 23 shots combined in the last 2 games. I’m good with any of the 3 guards in a pace up game, but Johnson’s price point stands out as a great value.
Brown (F, 6000) is their best true big man and is playing 70% of the minutes, including a solid block percentage. He’ll be needed against the massive front line of WVU. Au’Diese Toney (G/F, 3800) and Justin Champagnie (G/F, 3900) are both playable price saving options. They are each playing 60% of the minutes; Champagnie is more of an offensive weapon while Toney appears to be a better defender and shot blocker. Overall, there are a lot of really strong options in this game.
Alabama @ Rhode Island
The Nate Oats era hasn’t exactly gotten off to the healthiest of starts. The Tide sit at 1-1 with a home loss to Penn already on the resume. Season ending and lingering injuries have made it hard for Bama to establish any continuity and it shows in their early play.
Oats is imposing his style, the team is 7th nationally in tempo, but has had 8 different players start the first two games. This is team will continue to figure themselves out and we will continue to monitor for DFS purposes.
Kira Lewis (G, 9100) does not need monitoring. The 18-year-old sophomore is an absolute stud. With this game projected to be close (pk) and an over under near 150, Lewis should hit his lofty price tag.
If you want to pivot from Lewis, Jaden Shackelford (G, 6300) should be on your radar. He has taken 20 threes in two games and has a 30% shot rate so if he gets it, it’s going up. John Petty Jr. (G, 5800) is also safe from a minute perspective and can fill in ancillary stats.
I am not interested in guards James Boldin (4300) and Herb Jones (4300) as they have been missing time or playing through nagging injuries. These are good players at cheap price points – so it’s hard to resist. Same is the case for Alex Reese (F, 5600) and Galin Smith (F, 3800).
The forward’s ailments have created an opportunity for freshman Javian Davis (F, 4700). He started and went for 19-9 last game. RollBamaRoll.com said Davis, “might well be the inside presence that the team needs and has searched for.” If he is, he’ll have his hands full.
Cyril Langevine (F, 7700) has been a monster this year for Rhode Island averaging 11 points and 8.5 rebounds per game – wait – 8.5 OFFENSIVE rebounds per game 16 rpg total! I think he is a lock and load in this pacey match-up. 50% of Alabama’s shots this year have come from 3 so there will be plenty of opportunities for boards.
After Cyril the Rams are kind of hard to figure out. They have 6 players who play 18 minutes or more per game that all have a usage between 16-18%. Sharing is dumb.
Dotwin (G, 5600) has scored double figures both games and plays a ton of minutes. Almost as much as Fatts Russell (G, 6500) who runs point plays 93% of the minutes. Tyrese Martin (G, 6200) does a bit of everything.
Gardner-Webb @ #6 North Carolina
The Runnin’ Bulldogs of Gardner Webb travel intrastate to Chapel Hill to face off against the Tarheels in what is expected to be a massive blowout. In spite of that, the Bulldogs do return much of the core of their NCAA tournament team from last year. However, they have gotten off to a rocky start, dropping their first two games of the season. The Bulldogs prefer a more deliberate tempo and have been exposed on the interior, giving up 57% inside the arc. They’re also averaging 19 turnovers a game. The Tarheels have Cole Anthony.
Speaking of Anthony (G, $9700), he’s your price king tonight. GW has done a decent job guarding the 3 (27%) and minutes could become a factor, but tough to fade the kid. As mentioned, the Bulldogs get exposed inside so Garrison Brooks (F, $7400) and Armando Bacot (F, $5000) are both excellent plays. Bacot’s price dropped $1500 after exiting the last game early with a head injury, which only netted him 0.75DK. He’s expected to start tonight and is in smash position for GPP. On the flipside, Justin Pierce (F, 7000) took advantage of the extra minutes last game and posted 18 points and 12 boards, which caused his price to jump $1000. He’s still a very viable cash play tonight as a shooter, but I suspect his minutes will return closer to 20 with Bacot’s return, or maybe he’s just awesome. GL
Leaky Black (G, $5300) hasn’t improved his shooting as much as I hoped, but he can do enough to generate 4x so low risk cash play with some potential to pop if he can get going. Andrew Platek (G, $4500) hasn’t blown the roof off either, but he’s getting 26 mpg for UNC so always has a shot to go.
Jose Perez (G/F, $6600), Eric Jamison (F, 5800), and Nate Johnson (G, $5400) will get the lion’s share of the work for the Bulldogs. Perez is getting 30% usage and shots. He’s only shooting 30% from 2 which is 16% below his average last season which makes him an intriguing GPP option. No one else really jumps out in this one.
Minnesota @ Utah
Although the 145 ½ over under is pretty nice, the pricing absolutely stinks here. Minnesota is coming off 62 and 56 point efforts, which is #notgood. They’ll get a break tonight, as Utah isn’t good defensively, but the pricing makes it difficult.
Daniel Oturu (F, 8800) is a great rebounder, showing elite level blocking ability, and hasn’t scored less than 15 points in a game this year. He’s averaging a double-double and there is nothing scary about Utah’s defense. I just wish he was closer to $8k in price.
Marcus Carr (G, 8200) is playing 84% of the minutes with 30% usage, 40% assist rate, and is even rebounding a bit. He got exposed by Butler, but Utah could care less about defense. His usage makes him a GPP option and with all the value, we gotta spend up somewhere.
Gabe Kalscheur (G, 4400) was a 41% 3 point shooter last year and is averaging 10 shots per game. He’s also hitting only 31% from deep this year. He’s a viable GPP option as a proven bucket getter who’s playing 85% of the minutes. Payton Willis (G, 6400) is averaging 15 real points a game, including 28 3PAs in just 3 games. Like Kalcheur, he’s very scoring dependent, but he’s clearly got the green light to chuck it.
Alihan Demir is the other starter, but his production has been limited. Pitino plays a light bench, so while I don’t love the pricing for MN, if you want to fire up Carr or Oturu given all the value out there, I wouldn’t blame you.
For how poorly priced Houston is, the same can be said for Utah, but in the opposite direction. I guess that’s what happens when you beat a team by almost 100. I can make a case for two Utes and that’s it.
Riley Battin (F, 5900) is a stretch big that loves to shoot the 3 and is a solid rebounder. He should approach double digit shot attempts and is a serviceable rebounder. Branden Carlson (F, 5100) is a 7 foot frosh and very solid rebounder, but he’s the 5th scoring option and only plays about half the minutes. So I guess I can only make a case for one Ute. Oh well. It’s not often you can use a My Cousin Vinny gif and have it make sense, so I had to seize the moment.
Timmy Allen, Both Gach, and Rylan Jones are good players, but there is no way I’m paying $8k+ with all the other options on the slate.
#8 Gonzaga @ Texas A&M
The Zags are averaging 101 points per game, but haven’t played anyone rated under 265th nationally per Ken Pomeroy. This will remain the case until mid-December, with the exception of a road game at Texas A&M (66th) tonight.
The Aggies however are a team in transition from Billy Kennedy to Buzz Williams. A&M is dealing with hobbled players (Josh Nebo) and suspension (TJ Starks) while floundering out of the gate as evidenced by a narrow home win over 230th Louisiana-Monroe on Monday.
Savion Flagg (G/F, 8700) really let down DFS players in that one. Despite massive ownership the fantasy stud put up an uninspired 11.3 DK. I assume the sour taste left in our mouths will lead to low ownership today.
Jay Jay Chandler (G, 5800) was the one to step up and assume Flagg’s offense last game. He also benefits the most from the Starks suspension. Also at guard newcomers Quinton Jackson (5400) and Andre Gordon (4600) have become alternate scoring options capable of going off.
Wendell Mitchell (G, 3800) feels like a steal but he has done nothing to verify a price tag any higher and is falling into NBA Tony Snell territory. In the paint, Nebo (F, 5300) returned from injury last game and played well in 18 minutes. His size will be needed tonight.
For the Zags it all starts up front with 6 of their top 9 players being eligible at the forward position. Filip Petrusev (F, 8500) has been sensational through three games, but level of competition has to come in to play.
Cody Kispert (F, 7800) was a favorite last year when he was just a 3 and D guy. Now he is stuffing ancillary stats and averaging 31.7 DK a game as the teams SF. Freshmen Anton Watson (6900) and Drew Timme (5200) split time at the 4.
In the backcourt we do have a fun revenge narrative here as Admon Gilder (G, 5000) faces his old team. He averaged double figures as an Aggie in the 2016 and 2017 seasons. Gilder starts and has been getting 25 mpg thus far.
More expensively in the backcourt is the intriguing Joel Ayayi (G, 7200) who has a 10 point game, a 13 rebound game, and 7 assist game this year, but not collectively. He comes off the bench as Ryan Woolridge (G, 6200) is the team’s starting PG.
BYU @ Houston
In 3 games this year, BYU hasn’t been a factor on the offensive glass and doesn’t block many shots. Defensively they focus on stopping the 3 ball as well. TJ Haws (G, 6600) is back for his 300th season of college basketball. He’s got around 28% usage and 25% assist rate. Not a great matchup, but that type of usage is solid. 6’5 Jake Toolson (G, 6700) is a Utah Valley transfer that is lighting it up so far this year, including 40 points over his last 2 games. I prefer both of these options to Arizona transfer Alex Barcello (G, 6000), whose minutes are solid but ancillary stats are limited.
Dalton Nixon (F, 4200) has taken at least 8 shots every game this year and had 33 DK points last time out. He’s really the only consistent option down low for the Cougars and you can’t argue with the price. He’s more productive than Connor Harding, who Kenpom classifies as “nearly invisible” in terms of offensive production, and has a higher minute share and usage than Zac Seljaas. Both Harding and Seljaas are priced higher than Nixon.
Go ahead and mark me down for some DeJon Jarreau (G, 5100) heat. Jarreau played with two studs in Robinson and Davis last year, which limited him to roughly 18 minutes/game last year. Despite the limited action, Jarreau had the 4th highest % of possessions and 2nd highest assist rate in conference play last season. With Robinson and Davis now gone, Jarreau should get the minutes Bucketheads have been craving, giving him smash the slate upside. He’ll be joined in the backcourt by KU transfer Quintin Grimes (G, 6300), who has a 5-star pedigree and will get up plenty of shots, making him very viable against a beatable BYU frontcourt.
6’3 freshmen guard Caleb Mills (5400) can do a bit of everything, as evidence by his opening line of 7 points, 6 boards, 4 assists and 2 steals. Nate Hinton (F, 4500) and Fabian White, Jr. (F, 4100) prices stand out as well. Hinton played 28 minutes in the opener, including 8 boards. White is their best big, took 10 shots in the opener, and finished with 10 points and 6 boards. So many good options for the Cougars tonight.
UNLV @ UCLA
Last year UCLA finished the season ranked #17 in adjusted tempo according to KenPom. This season they are ranked #332 (reminder: there are 353 D1 basketball programs). In other words, the Mick Cronin effect has already set in, and it’s a nightmare for Bucketheads.
To make matters worse, it takes UNLV 20 entire seconds to get through an offensive possession, so you can probably hedge your DFS entry fees by taking the under in this one. For our east coast Bucketheads, your insomnia cure starts at 11:00 pm.
The Bruins are a little overloaded at wing which complicates matters as there won’t be many points to go around, and it’s difficult to predict where they might come from. Tyger Campbell ($5200) seems to be locked into the PG role for 35+ mpg. His assist rate (29%) should give him a high enough floor as a cash option.
Chris Smith (G, $6500) and Prince Ali (G, $5500) should hog up the majority of the minutes at the 2 and 3. If I had to pick one, I’d pocket the $1000. Jules Bernard (G, $4900) flashed in his last game, going 7x. He has 29% usage and 35% of his team’s shots, so it’s going up, he just needs minutes making him a cheap GPP option.
UNLV is letting teams shoot 56.5% from 2, so Jalen Hill (F, $7000) should be in play coming off a double-double. Cody Riley (F, $4300) is the starting 4. I expect UNLV to dominate the boards, but he’s cheap and he’ll play.
For UNLV, I do like Donnie Tillman (F, $4500). He was a starter and one of the main scoring options for Utah last season. He secured a late waiver to play this season and had a breakout game against Cal with 17 points and 8 boards on 13 shots. His priced edged up $600 but still an excellent value, even in this stinker. UCLA giving up 39% from 3, so shooters get a small bump, making Amauri Hardy (G, $7500) and Jonah Antonio (G, $4000) viable in GPP.
Elijah Mitrou-Long (F, $7600) and Cheikh Mbacke Diong (G, $6100) have both seen price increases and aren’t attractive GPP plays to me, even with 30+ minutes. Both are low usage players and UCLA is an exceptional rebounding team, lowering Diong’s value there.