Wait no longer for the marquee matchups. The Maui Invitational has served up two games between top 10 teams tonight. We have to touch on both. Here are the College Basketball Picks for November 21st!
College Basketball Picks – November 21st
Purdue vs Tennessee (+3.5) (O/U 134.5)
The Boilermakers were poised coming into the season after the way their tournament was cut short, and they haven’t blinked yet. Purdue turned a 5-point halftime deficit into a 10-point win vs Gonzaga on the back of Zach Edey’s 25 points. Jonas Aidoo will draw the assignment of containing Edey inside without much backup from Tobe Awaka. Awaka injured an ankle on Monday vs Syracuse, and the status for Tuesday is unknown.
Tennessee relies heavily on their defense but has been getting steady offensive output from Northern Colorado transfer Dalton Knecht. Knecht is averaging 19 ppg for the Volunteers this season in a role tailor-made for him. Tennessee is winning despite Senior Santiago Vescovi’s shooting woes. He has not hit a shot beyond the arc in 3 out of 4 games. Vescovi led Tennessee in both 3-pointers attempted and made by a wide margin last season. He is just 3/14 to start this year.
Tennessee can defend the guard play from Purdue and will have to battle inside with Edey shorthanded. Taking the top-ranked defense in the country with the points and on the Moneyline.
The Pick: Tennessee Volunteers Moneyline
good gameday morning pic.twitter.com/I7Pmxqk1gF
— Tennessee Basketball (@Vol_Hoops) November 21, 2023
Marquette vs Kansas (-4.5) (O/U 157)
Marquette relied on a 17-0 run in the second half to down UCLA in their opening Maui game. You won’t find a bigger Tyler Kolek fan in the country however, the Marquette offense was on missing posters for the first 20 minutes of that game. The Golden Eagles weren’t shy from deep in the first half but only hit 5 of 18 from beyond the arc. Most teams will find themselves in a deficit if 18 of their 31 first-half field goal attempts were from deep.
Kansas moved on past Chaminade in their opening game Monday. Marquette will prove to be another test for Kansas this season. The Jayhawks took down a young Kentucky team, but their inability to hit from outside showed as a team. Going 6/18 from beyond the arc in the game against the Wildcats isn’t eye-opening either way, but look closer to see Dajuan Harris was 5/6, and the rest of the team was 1/12. It will be curious to see who steps up offensively next to Dickinson and Harris.
This game will come down to how well Marquette defends Hunter Dickinson. Oso Ighodaro will be the anchor as Marquette’s tallest starter, but will they double-team Hunter? Marquette would be wise to test the outside shooting of Kansas early. Backing the Golden Eagles in Maui in a great early-season matchup.
The Pick: Marquette Golden Eagles +4.5
The @WBsilverlining highlights from tonight’s win over UCLA, 71-69 #MUBB | #WeAreMarquette pic.twitter.com/oxzjqeHxHQ
— Marquette Basketball (@MarquetteMBB) November 21, 2023
