A loaded men’s college basketball slate is on tap for Friday, with several elite programs set to tip off. Among the matchups to watch, ranked Big Ten rivals clash when #21 Michigan visits #11 Purdue. Elsewhere, #10 Marquette will attempt to slow down Villanova’s Eric Dixon, the nation’s leading scorer. Ahead of tonight’s action, here are my three favorite college basketball player props on DraftKings Sportsbook:
Kam Jones 3+ three-pointers made (+115)
In a down year for the Big East, Marquette remains a national title contender. Shaka Smart’s squad has played tough, physical basketball for most of the season, ranking 37th in defensive rating (96.0). On offense, the Golden Eagles have been carried by the duo of Kam Jones and David Joplin; the pair have combined for 30.0 points per game. The former has taken his game to another level, contributing in just about every category (19.1 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 6.5 APG).
One place where Jones hasn’t excelled this season is from beyond the arc. The senior has connected on 33.0% of his three-point attempts, a steep decline from his career mark of 37.6%. However, that hasn’t stopped the guard from firing away; he’s taken 5.4 shots per game from long distance. Jones’ luck could turn on Friday against Villanova. According to KenPom, the Wildcats have surrendered a three-point percentage of 36.0%, 302nd in the nation, and a three-point attempt percentage of 45.0%, 332nd. At plus-money, Marquette’s superstar is a player worth backing tonight.
Vladislav Goldin 7+ rebounds (+125)
In just a few months, Michigan’s Dusty May has turned the program into a Big Ten contender. The former Florida Atlantic head coach has leaned on a talented group of transfers, including Vladislav Goldin. The senior, playing for his third school in five seasons, has thrived in Ann Arbor. Through 18 games, the Russian has posted 16.4 points and 6.1 rebounds while shooting 64.6% from the field.
Despite his size, Goldin doesn’t produce many double-doubles; the seven-footer has snagged more than nine boards in just two of his appearances. Still, the big man can be a handful for opposing centers in the right matchup. That’s the dilemma facing Purdue on Friday. This season, the Boilermakers are allowing the 33rd-fewest rebounds per game to opponents (31.6). However, there’s just one member of the team’s normal rotation taller than 6’9″, backup Caleb Furst. Whenever Goldin and Danny Wolf are both on the floor, boxing out the Wolverines is near-impossible. With that in mind, Michigan’s leading scorer should be an active presence on the glass tonight.
Great Osobor 4+ assists (+105)
Despite a busy offseason, Washington has stumbled towards a 10-9 record so far. The Huskies have struggled in conference play, going 1-7 against the Big Ten. Things won’t get much easier when the team hosts UCLA tonight. The Bruins aren’t an offensive juggernaut, but Mick Cronin’s crew makes opponents work for every single basket. That’s bad news for a squad scoring 72.3 points per game, 248th in the country.
If the Huskies have any hope of pulling off an upset, they’ll need Great Osobor to be at his best. The senior is Washington’s best player, leading the team in points (15.3 PPG), rebounds (8.6 RPG) and assists (3.4 APG). While a high-scoring stat line is what fans expect, the big man could serve as a creator tonight. One of the only ways to beat UCLA is by passing the ball. Per KenPom, the Bruins are allowing an assist rate of 58.8%, 321st in the nation. If Osobor quickly dishes out of double-teams, there should be plenty of opportunities for his teammates to score.
