Connor O’Brien

Freelance CBB Takes, Analysis, Coverage and the occasional pick. All takes are my own.

[Connor O’Brien @ConnorOHoops]

Welcome to Feast Week. A Viewing Guide

Maui Invitational: Tennessee, Syracuse, Purdue, Gonzaga, Kansas, UCLA, Marquette

Battle 4 Atlantis: North Carolina, Villanova, Texas Tech, Michigan, Memphis, Arkansas

The two main events with loaded fields.

#CollegeBasketball

[Jon Rothstein @JonRothstein]

Erik Reynolds is making the Barclays Center his own personal sanctuary.

A 30-point effort today as St. Joe's upsets top-seeded Richmond.

Hawks are two wins away from the NCAA Tournament.

[Jon Rothstein @JonRothstein]

Problems at home.

Been so dialed in that my wife took our six-month old girl with her to a work trip on the West Coast.

I hope they come back.

But if they don't, dying on your sword is worth it when UConn/St. John's is 24 hours away at MSG.

Remember: Life is about choices.

[NBC Sports Philadelphia @NBCSPhilly]

Look back at the St. Joseph's Hawks remarkable season 20 years ago

@SJUHawks | @SJUHawks_MBB

[Ryan Hammer🔨 @ryanhammer09]

That is what we call a statement W from Carolina. Start to finish.

Heels CAN win a national title this year fs

[Jon Rothstein @JonRothstein]

A massive college basketball weekend is ahead in Philadelphia.

SATURDAY:

Kentucky/Penn (Wells Fargo)
UCLA/Villanova (Wells Fargo)

SUNDAY:

Princeton at St. Joe's

[Connor O’Brien @ConnorOHoops]

In the wise words of legend Phil Martelli, the 2nd most famous basketball arena. Welcome to Madison Square Garden.

[Connor O’Brien @ConnorOHoops]

Illinois leading FAU 82-74 with 5:14 to go in Game 1 of the Jimmy V Classic. Tar Heel and Huskie fans starting to pile in for the main event. #JimmyVClassic

[Connor O’Brien @ConnorOHoops]

Today’s Games To Watch:

Houston @ Xavier 6:30pm (FS1)
Maryland @ Indiana 7pm (BTN)
G.Washington @ South Carolina 7pm (ESPN+)
St. John’s @ West Virginia 7pm (ESPN2)
Purdue @ Northwestern 9pm (BTN)
UConn @ Kansas 9pm (ESPN2)

#CollegeBasketball #B1G #BigEastHoops

[Connor O’Brien @ConnorOHoops]

Dalton Knect is on an absolute tear in this 2nd half. Carolina has no answer for him defensively at the moment. We’re coming in for a landing at the Dean Dome. #NorthCarolina #Tennessee #ACCSECChallenge

[Connor O’Brien @ConnorOHoops]

Just as everyone expected before the season began. Villanova will play in the 5th place game in the inaugural Big 5 Classic.

[Connor O’Brien @ConnorOHoops]

Saint Joe’s with a monumental win for the program over Villanova. Their first win in the Pavilion since 2004. They head to the Big 5 Championship on Saturday to face the winner of Temple/La Salle. #Big5 #Big5Basketball #Philadelphia #THWND

[John Fanta @John_Fanta]

The faces are legendary. The moments live on forever in Philadelphia hoops lore.

Villanova. Saint Joseph's. Tonight, they do battle for the 81st time in a series that started 103 years ago. It's essentially a Big Five semifinal game. With Donny Marshall for it at 6:30 ET, FS1.

[Connor O’Brien @ConnorOHoops]

Player Prop bets I like tonight:

Erik Reynolds 18pts+ (+104)
Armando Bacot 14pts+ and 11rb+ (+225)

#GoHeels #THWND

[Connor O’Brien @ConnorOHoops]

@StockTalks21 @ryanhammer09 His scoring production is a huge factor. I agree he will need to become more of a playmaker and facilitator as well to put him over the edge. While last few Wooden Awards have been big men, it wasn’t too long ago we saw Frank Mason, Trey Burke, and Jalen Brunson win it.

[Connor O’Brien @ConnorOHoops]

North Carolina faces a physical Rick Barnes coached Tennessee team at home tonight. Their first test against a physical team this year? A loss to Villanova in a game where 3 key players fouled out and they logged 30 total fouls. How do the Tar Heels respond tonight? #GoHeels

[Connor O’Brien @ConnorOHoops]

Big Night in Philadelphia Hoops. SJU, Villanova, Temple and La Salle all with a chance to secure a spot in the Big 5 Championship on Saturday at Wells Fargo Center. SJU hasn’t won at Villanova since the ‘04 Jameer Nelson team. Billy Lange has a real shot for his first Villanova W

[Connor O’Brien @ConnorOHoops]

Continued:

Duke @ Arkansas 9:15pm (ESPN)
Georgia @ Florida State 9:15pm (ACCN)
Virginia Tech @ Auburn 9:15pm (ESPN2)

#CollegeBasketball

[Connor O’Brien @ConnorOHoops]

Today’s Games To Watch:

Saint Joe’s @ Villanova 6:30pm (FS1)
La Salle @ Temple 7pm (ESPN+)
Tennessee @ North Carolina 7:15pm (ESPN)
Texas A&M @ Virginia 7:15pm (ESPN2)
Florida @ Wake Forest 7:15pm (ESPNU)
Dayton @ SMU 8pm (ESPN+)
Colorado @ Colorado St. 9pm (CBSSN)

[BIG 5+1 @BigFivePlusOne]

Saturday, March 9th, 2019. That was the last time Fran Dunphy coached in the Liacouras Center. He defeated #25 UCF, 67-62.

Tomorrow night, he reenters with a La Salle team hungry to make the Big 5 championship and fresh off his 600th win. Should be a GREAT one.