The Starting Five

On this episode of The Starting Five, I recap what’s taken place since last time. A handful of high quality games and high quality beatdowns are all on the ledger today. Villanova 76 Wisconsin 66 (OT): 0:00-2:32 Seton Hall 72 Providence 67: 2:33-4:43 Kentucky 78 St. John’s 66: 4:44-7:36 Houston 94 Arkansas 85: 7:37-9:53 North Carolina 71 Ohio State 70: 9:54-12:03 Texas Tech 82 Duke 81: 12:04-14:57...

On this episode of The Starting Five, I make my rerun after giving out the worst bet in the history of basketball. I also recap what’s missed, and what we have to look ahead to (not much). Best Bet: Xavier -2.5 ❌ (deserves two losses) YTD Record: 10-7 Vanderbilt 77 Memphis 70: 0:00-2:21 Creighton 98 Xavier 57: 2:22-6:39 Previews: Villanova vs Wisconsin: 6:40-9:14 Seton Hall @ Providence/Others: 9...

On this episode of The Starting Five, I breakdown Tuesday’s (light) action, and preview Wednesday’s (lighter) action. I bet against my Alma mater, though I think I provide plenty of reasoning and logic behind the pick (side note: I’m on fire picking games off the pod this month, so either ride the wave, or sell high. The latter is probably a better idea). Best Bets Result: Tennessee +1 💰 YTD: 10-...

On this episode of The Starting Five, I kick it off with something different. Noted college basketball pariah Jeff Goodman set the (very niche) CBB Twitter (X) sphere on fire by claiming today had no good games. Fair or foul? (Spoiler Alert: Fair). Joel Klatt then said the NCAA Tournament sucks and is stupid. Fair or Foul? (Spoiler Alert: a little fair but mostly very foul). I then do a normal pre...

On this episode of The Starting Five, I recap the last few days (90% Saturday because we still pretend these are students and thus they can’t play games during the week). I highlight a few of the big games, but then swing around to other notables you might have missed. This includes, LSU, SMU, Santa Clara, Radford, North Texas, and more! Best Bet: Nebraska -1.5 (from Thursday) 💰 YTD: 9-6 Intro/Ne...

On this episode of The Starting Five, I recap another devastating close loss for Florida, an infinitely more devastating loss for Clemson, and another loss for Ohio State that shows they’re probably a Crown team. I also look to get back in the Best Bets win column after (incorrectly) being gun shy yesterday. UConn 77 Florida 73: 0:00-4:13 BYU 67 Clemson 64: 4:14-8:58 Illinois 88 Ohio State 80: 8:5...

On this episode of The Starting Five, I recap the weekend that was, including Duke and Iowa State’s big road games. I touch on a handful of scores, and give a breakdown of tomorrow’s top heavy slate. Best Bets Results: YTD 8-6 Tennessee -1.5 ❌ Marquette +11.5 ❌ Duke 66 Michigan State 60: 0:00-3:51 Illinois 75 Tennessee 62: 3:52-7:31 Iowa State 81 Purdue 58: 7:32-10:52 Louisville 87 Indiana 78: 1...

On this episode of The Starting Five, I do a quick preview, and then get into an absolutely loaded Saturday Slate. Two games feature KenPom top 10 squads facing off, with other great supplemental games as well. Best Bets (8-4 YTD): Tennessee -1.5 Marquette +11.5 Gonzaga 95 Kentucky 59: 0:00-4:17 Xavier 79 Cincinnati 74: 4:18-5:32 Previews Duke @ Michigan State 5:33-8:44 Illinois vs Tennessee: 8:45...

On this episode of The Starting Five, I take the opportunity to go around the country at large and give thoughts on various topics due to the lack of games. This is the place to go for all of my random musings on the sport. South Florida 74 Utah State 61: 0:00-2:03 Preview: Gonzaga vs Kentucky: 2:04-5:41 ACC vs SEC: 5:42-9:08 *A Sunday best bet preview where I will lose a lot of money if the KenPo...

On this episode of The Starting Five, I recap the final day of the ACC/SEC challenge. A weak Thursday slate leaves us light on recaps, but a good day of hoops gives plenty to breakdowns. Best Bets Result: NC State +6.5 ❌ YTD: 8-4 Arkansas 89 Louisville 80: 0:00-4:19 Auburn 83 NC State 73: 4:20-7:55 Virginia 88 Texas 69: 7:56-9:26 Alabama 90 Clemson 84: 9:27-12:29 Vanderbilt 88 SMU 69: 12:30-13:50...

Isn’t it nice to have some good ball back? On this episode of The Starting Five, I breakdown a great day of hoops, featuring some great games from the sport’s biggest brands. I highlight those deserving, and rightfully crucify a couple of players holding their teams back from where they want to go. I also was probably too harsh on Florida. Best Bet Recap: Michigan State -5.5 💰 YTD: 8-3 UConn 61 K...

Finally, some good games! After three days of nothing, this episode of The Starting Five breaks down a great Tuesday slate, headlined by a slew of blue bloods and top teams. UConn @ Kansas: 0:00-3:41 Florida @ Duke: 3:42-6:44 Iowa @ Michigan State: 6:45-11:43 Best Bet: (7-3 YTD) Michigan State -5.5 North Carolina @ Kentucky: 11:44-14:29 Others: 14:30-17:53

The Starting Five returns after a brief Feast Week hiatus, though nothing has been missed the last two days. With a weak Monday before a strong Tuesday ahead, I focus entirely on recaps and other storylines. Michigan 101 Gonzaga 61: 0:00-3:47 Kansas 81 Tennessee 76: 3:48-6:15 Auburn 85 St John’s 74: 6:16-9:24 Other Wednesday games: 9:25-12:48 (Get Wes Miller out of Cincinnati) Michigan State 74 UN...

On this episode of The Starting Five, I try to figure out how the Players Era works (I still have no clue and think half the days I thought games were ended up being wrong). I recap a great day of games, including a thriller between Tennessee and Houston. I also win my best bet instead of losing it by 40 (much better strategy). *Michigan vs Gonzaga is Wednesday. I can’t take even 1% responsibility...

On this episode of The Starting Five, I discuss day one of the Players Era (I don’t like it). I also face the music for perhaps the worst best bet in the history of gambling (only a slight exaggeration), and briefly preview Day 2 tomorrow! Yesterday’s Best Bet: San Diego State +7.5 (should count as two losses honestly) YTD: 6-3 Intro/My take on the Players Era: 0:00-3:18 Iowa State 83 St. John’s 8...

On this episode of The Starting Five, I preview the Players Era. While it sucks we lose the slew of MTEs we once knew, there is still some great basketball to watch and enjoy. *I also don’t know how this event works entirely.* Intro: 0:00-2:26 St. John’s vs Iowa State: 2:27-5:06 Gonzaga vs Alabama: 5:07-8:00 Michigan vs San Diego State: 8:01-11:41 *Best Bet* San Diego State +6.5 (YTD: 6-2) Baylor...

On this episode of The Starting Five, I touch on a pair of ranked games with big expectations and lackluster results. I also go around the country to call out a couple notable results. Finally, best bets look to get back in the win column. BYU 98 Wisconsin 70: 0:00-4:08 Purdue 86 Texas Tech: 4:09-7:09 Roundup: 7:10-9:24 Penn State vs Providence: 9:25-12:04 Best Bet *gulp* Providence -3.5 Record YT...

On this episode of The Starting Five, I recap Wednesday and Thursday, and the beginning of the MTEs. I also preview the Friday slate, featuring two big Friday matchups! Arizona 71 UConn 67: 0:00-4:25 Alabama 90 Illinois 86: 4:26-7:48 Dayton 77 Marquette 71 (OT): 7:49-10:17 Kansas State 98 Mississippi State 77: 10:18-12:52 Texas Tech 84 Wake Forest 83: 12:53-14:20 BYU vs Wisconsin: 14:21-15:58 Purd...

On this episode of The Starting Five, I discuss the Champions Classic. Despite the names, the fans were robbed of any classic finish (due in part to the Peterson injury), but there’s still plenty to discuss. I also go over a really solid Wednesday non-con slate, and I look to continue my best bet performance! Champions Classic: Michigan State 83 Kentucky 66: 0:00-5:30 Duke 78 Kansas 66: 5:31-9:30...

The Starting Five returns from an illness induced absence, and as you can almost certainly tell, it may have been an episode too soon. Nevertheless, I review the highlights from the previous weekend, and preview the Champions Classic! (Sorry for the bad audio in this one. Had to dig deep). Arizona 69 UCLA 65: 0:00-3:00 UConn 86 BYU 84: 3:01-6:23 Nebraska 105 Oklahoma 99: 6:24-9:00 Other Saturday G...

On this episode of The Starting Five, I recap Purdue’s big win, a Backyard Beatdown, and tell Cal to figure it the hell out. I end with a preview of tomorrow’s games, dominated by a battle of former Pac 12 foes in UCLA and Arizona. Purdue 87 Alabama 80: 0:00-6:33 West Virginia 71 Pittsburgh 49: 6:34-8:25 Kansas State 99 California 96: 8:26-9:44 North Texas Collapse: 9:45-10:14 Best Bet Recap (L, 3...

On this episode, I briefly preview 11/12 before digging into previews of a couple interesting games, headlined by Purdue’s return trip to Tuscaloosa. Best Bets: 3-0 YTD Recap: 0:00-3:17 Purdue @ Alabama 3:18-6:47 Pitt @ West Virginia 6:48-7:58 Best Bet: 7:59-10:59

In this episode of The Starting Five, I outline what was possibly the best slate of this young season. Louisville secured a big win over rival Kentucky, Gonzaga looks like a title contender, and more! Michigan 85 Wake Forest 84 (OT): 0:00-1:55 Louisville 96 Kentucky 88: 1:56-5:32 Illinois 81 Texas Tech 77: 5:33-7:32 Gonzaga 90 Creighton 63: 7:33-10:48 Florida 78 Florida State 76: 10:49-12:02 Previ...

On this episode of The Starting Five, I discuss The Weeknd in review (11/7-11/9) and preview Mississippi State and Iowa State (in the Sanford Pentagon). Nothing better than a college hoops Saturday, even if this was a lighter slate. UNC 87 Kansas 74: 0:00-2:47 Utah State 80 VCU 77: 2:48-4:40 Michigan State 69 Arkansas 66: 4:41-6:10 Alabama 103 St John’s 96: 6:11-8:27 Others: 8:28-12:00 Indiana 100...

We review a light 11/6 slate and preview 11/7, most notably with Kansas and UNC Best Bets: (2-0 YTD) UNC -1.5 11/6 Review: 0:00-4:25 Kansas @ UNC: 4:26-7:39 Georgetown @ Maryland: 7:40-9:01 VCU vs Utah State: 9:02-11:46