The Saint Louis University Billikens (9-2) of the Atlantic-10 Conference will host Missouri native Tyler Hansbrough and his No. 2 ranked North Carolina Tar Heels (9-1) of the ACC tonight at the Scottrade Center in Saint Louis. Tip-off time for the ESPNU televised game is 7 p.m. EST.
Poplar Bluff, Mo., native Tyler Hansbrough leads four Heels in double figures with 18.9 ppg in addition to 8.1 rpg. Freshmen Brandan Wright and Wayne Ellington and senior Reyshawn Terry round out the double-digit scorers for UNC. Wright and Terry each grab more than six rebounds per game as well. As a team, the Heels are scoring 90.4 ppg on 50.7 percent field goal shooting, 36.7 percent from 3-point range and 67.9 percent from the free-throw line. Head coach Roy Williams is in his fourth season at Carolina 83-24
Bet on College Basketball at Bodog and receive an Instant Cash Bonus!
North Carolina head coach RoyWilliams knows well the dangers of playing at Saint Louis. His Kansas Jayhawks lost a 14-point decision to a 5-5 Billken team under very similar circumstances on Dec. 23, 1998.
This year's Saint Louis personnel is better than the team that handed the Jayhawks that defeat. The Billikens return Ian Vouyoukas, a 6-10 forward who grabbed 14 rebounds and scored 6 points last year. The senior is nearly averaging a double-double this season (12.5 points and 9.8 rebounds).
Click for Live NCAA Basketball Point Spreads
"It's a good match-up," Williams said. "That youngster is a really good player. I don't remember him having many bad moments (last year). With (Kevin) Lisch and (Tommie) Liddell and the big kid they have three guys who can score. They're gifted individuals."
The Tar Heels, favored by a minus 8 ½-point chalk, have won six straight games since losing to Gonzaga on Nov 22, 74-82. North Carolina has also covered its last four games ATS. This will be Carolina’s first road game since Nov 24 when the Heels beat Tennessee on the road 101-87 and covering the +9-point line as a road underdog.
Bet on College Basketball at Bodog and receive an Instant Cash Bonus!
The Billikens have won four games in a row since dropping a 56-65 decision at Southern Illinois on Dec 2. Saint Louis has also covered three straight ATS including a SU 51-50 win as a home underdog +3 to Missouri State on Monday. The Billikens have covered 5-of-9 games ATS this season with the UNDER cashing in 5-of-9 games.
