Wednesday, November 30, 2022 Kansas State vs. Butler (NCAAB) - 6:30 PM EST Premium Pick Pick: Money Line: -150 Butler Rating: 9* Mike's First CBB Game of the Season (WIN) Hats off to brand-spanking new HC Jerome Tang (former assistant & associate HC for 19 years @ Baylor) for jetting out to an excellent 6-0 SU start. Upon further examination, they compiled that record versus the likes of Kansas City, Rhode Island & Texas Rio Grande Valley. HC Thad Matta (also coached @ Xavier & Ohio State) & his 4-3 SU Bulldogs (lost in the Big East quarter-finals LY) have taken a legitimately seasoned route playing away from home against Tennessee, North Carolina State & Penn State. Both teams have their bread n' butter with the Wildcats having 6'5" senior forward Keyontae Johnson (17.7 PPG in 6 games) who last played in December 20' for Florida after collapsing on the court. So far, he's teamed up nicely with 5.8" senior guard Marquis Nowell ( 15.3 PPG) whose matured since transferring in from Little Rock. I'm not convinced how they'll survive handling the tougher part of a Big 12 slate later. This team just isn't Bruce Weber's 2017-18 squad that reached the Elite 8. This team lost in the Big 12 first round last season. I feel they can hang here but Butler should take it down the stretch. Why? Because this seasoned Butler team has its talents too with 6'4" super-soph Jayden Taylor (16.4 PPG) & 6'2" junior guard Chuck Harris (13.3 PPG). My bottom line says let's look @ other numbers that point in our direction. The Dogs' are definite humpday hotties turning a solid 6-1 ATS their last 7 mid-weekers while the Cats' are polar opposites going a no-show 0-5-1 versus the number in that same category. Butler has responded in a BIG way in 2 key area. First, they have come back to go a rolling 8-0-1 spreadwise when coming off a SU loss. Lastly, if they're off an ATS loss, they've gone a take-me-to-the-window 6-0 versus the number. Let's get ready for an earlybird tonight (6:30) as we go to the historic Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis to play the BUTLER BULLDOGS on the ML as my 9 Star First CBB Game of the Season! NOTES: Butler got an excellent contribution from their center Manny Bates (22 points, 10 rebounds) & shot 55% as a team in their 76-64 win @ Hinkle on Wednesday night. Mike Handzelek's 2022-23 CBB Overall Record: 1-0 100%
 

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