The NBA doesn't have all the great basketball action tonight as the Pac-10 and Conference USA send out their best.
Memphis at UAB - 9 pm ET
Sportsbook.com has Memphis as 4 ½-point favorites to be shown on ESPN2.
Over the last several seasons, Memphis basketball has been known for ultra-talented athletes that can run and score points in bunches. This year's team may lack the physical skills of coach John Calipari's previous teams, yet this squad is proving to be every bit as tough a challenge.
The Tigers (24-3, 16-9-1 ATS) are holding opponents to under 38% shooting and have held nine different teams to 52 or fewer points this season in spite of their up-tempo style.
Memphis is 20-10 ATS after nine or more consecutive wins over the last two seasons (7-2 this year). The Tigers' stupefying 54-game conference winning streak could again be tested at a place where they almost were beaten last year.
UAB (19-8, 12-13-1 ATS) is a dangerous team, they don't make many mistakes and have known quantities that make winning plays. Robert Vaden (18.3 PPG) has an all-around game and Paul Delaney III and Lawrence Kinnard score 16 and 15 PPG respectively.
The Blazers are 12-0 at home (6-5 ATS) and will want to finish what they started last year, blowing a late lead to lose to Memphis 79-78.
Memphis is 7-1 ATS versus teams with winning records. UAB has lost six straight (1-4-1 ATS) to Memphis, however the home team is 6-1 ATS in the last seven meetings.
Arizona State at Washington - 11 pm ET
Washington is a four-point favorite and FSN has the broadcast.
Arizona State (21-5, 14-8 ATS) is nationally ranked and bidding for a Pac-10 title, both rare in their history. The key has been sophomore guard James Harden, who is a one-man wrecking crew at times. Note that ASU is 7-2-1 ATS facing teams with winning home records.
Washington (20-7, 16-8-1 ATS) is 11-4 in the conference and in first place, just a half game ahead of ASU. The Huskies were co-champs in the Pac-10 a couple of times in the mid-1980's, otherwise the only basketball regular season championship was during the Eisenhower administration (1953).
Senior leadership or experienced upperclassmen is often why ordinary teams exceed expectations and Washington has a good pair in bruising Jon Brockman and guard Justin Dentmon.
These two warriors have been through it all in Seattle and are relishing their senior seasons with the help of freshman guard Isaiah Thomas, who has added an extra dimension.
The Huskies are 14-1 and 9-4 ATS at home and will have a raucous crowd at the venerable B.O.A. Arena, the old Hec Edmonson Pavilion.
Arizona State is 6-2 straight-up and ATS in true road games. The Huskies won the earlier meeting in Tempe 84-71 as six-point road dogs.
Note that the road team is 6-1 against the spread in their meetings.
Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
