Wednesday Basketball Predictions: NCAA, NBA Previews & Picks

Wednesday Basketball Picks – NCAA, NBA Previews & Picks: There are two games on my schedule for Wednesday Night – as two Big 10 schools go at it in NCAA action while the NBA sees Steve Nash headed to his old stomping grounds to play one of his best friends, Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavericks. It should be a good night of Hoops on Wednesday, here’s the haps…

Phoenix Suns @ Dallas Mavericks (-4.5) (2-17: 9:00 PM ET – ESPN): The Dallas Mavericks fell last night in their first game since “the trade” and Caron Butler was unimpressive to say the very least, tallying up a plus/minus of -13 and shooting 4 for 16 while Haywood finished -16 in just 15 minutes of action. But I’m going to give them a little credit here, and say the first game might be just getting their feet wet. Plus, they were going up against one of the youngest and most athletic defensive teams in the West in Oklahoma. The entire team wasn’t too impressive during the 13 point loss. In the 2nd game of a back to back, Caron and Haywood get to try their games against one of the worst defensive teams in the West when Phoenix comes to town. With Staudamire possibly getting traded any minute, I like the improved Mavericks to beat up on Phoenix. The Suns are playing their second game of a back-to-back as well, and I see them losing on the road here.

Purdue Boilermakers @ Ohio State Buckeyes(-3.5) (6:30pm ET, 2-17): Neither the 4th ranked Boilermakers nor the 12th ranked Ohio State Buckeyes have lost since January. Not a bad Big 10 match-up on Wednesday Night. But I’m all over the Buckeyes in this one. The game should be close, but Ohio State boasts the best player in college basketball in Evan Turner and a 15-0 home record so far this season. Ohio State looks like they are going to be fully healthy, and while Purdue certainly has the players to give Ohio State a run, their mediocre play and close wins against sub-par opponents looks to catch up with them. Take the home team!