Cappers Sports Picks - The Experts

No. 23 Wisconsin will be looking to bounce back from a lopsided loss to a top-ranked foe when it hosts Jacksonville State in a non-conference matchup on Thursday night in Madison, Wis.

After recording impressive victories over No. 7 Marquette and Michigan State, the Badgers (7-3) saw their six-game winning streak come to a halt with a 97-73 setback to No. 1 Arizona on Saturday.

Wisconsin stayed close early before the Wildcats closed the first half with a 25-8 run for a 48-31 lead at the break.

The Badgers seemed to regain their defensive identity during their winning streak, allowing just 56.7 points per game. They outrebounded opponents by 11.2 per game, including Marquette by 38-23 and Michigan State 36-22.

Wisconsin, however, was outrebounded by the Wildcats 39-30 and outscored 42-32 in the paint. After limiting each of the six previous opponents to 46.2 percent shooting or less, Arizona connected on 58.3 percent of its shots — including 12 of 26 from 3-point range.

After consecutive losses, including a come-from-ahead defeat to Southern, Mississippi State coach Chris Jans had a simple message for his Bulldogs on Saturday before they played Tulane in Atlanta.

Message received. The Bulldogs roared to a 62-34 lead at halftime and cruised to a 106-76 win, ending their brief skid and providing themselves with a reset.

Mississippi State will try to keep that level of play going on Wednesday night in Starkville when it hosts Murray State in another non-conference contest.

The Bulldogs (7-2) hit 58.6 percent of their field-goal tries Saturday and led by as many as 41 points in the second half against a good opponent. Freshman Josh Hubbard came off the bench to score a game-high 22 points, increasing his scoring average to a team-high 16.7 points per game.

Meanwhile, the Racers (3-5) haven't gotten off to the start they wanted. They've lost five of their last six, including Saturday night's 53-49 defeat at Austin Peay in which they made only 19 of 51 shots from the field, including 7 of 25 from the 3-point line.

No. 12 Tennessee will look to extend a pair of streaks on Tuesday when it hosts winless Georgia Southern in Knoxville, Tenn.

The Volunteers (6-3) answered a three-game skid against three ranked foes with a convincing victory over George Mason on Tuesday and delivered a spirited comeback versus then-No. 20 Illinois on Saturday. The 86-79 triumph over the Fighting Illini not only gave Tennessee back-to-back victories but also extended its nonconference home winning streak to 25 games.

Dalton Knecht scored 13 of his 21 points in the second half against Illinois. Knecht, who averages a team-best 19.2 points per game, has led the Volunteers in scoring in seven of his nine games this season.

Tennessee received double-digit scoring performances from all of its starters for the first time this season. Jonas Aidoo recorded 14 points and seven rebounds, Santiago Vescovi added 12 and nine, respectively, Josiah-Jordan James scored 12 points and Zakai Zeigler added 11.

While Volunteers coach Rick Barnes was content with what he saw on offense, he was quick to credit his charges for their play at the other end of the floor. Tennessee enjoyed a 43-34 edge on the boards against Illinois, who entered the game ranked among the national leaders in rebounds.

North Carolina State has been encouraged on several levels after nearly a weeklong layoff in its schedule.

The Wolfpack will try to rebuild some momentum starting with Tuesday night's game against visiting UT Martin in Raleigh, N.C.

The addition of wing MJ Rice, a transfer from Kansas, is expected to have long-term benefits. Rice made his Wolfpack debut in the team's most recent game, scoring 11 points in less than 11 minutes off the bench in a 93-61 victory over Maryland-Eastern Shore.

NC State (6-2) has won two games in a row following a two-game skid that included a 72-52 loss against Ole Miss. Tuesday's game will mark the Wolfpack's return to PNC Arena after the UMES game was held at Reynolds Coliseum.

UT Martin (6-4) had an eight-day layoff before defeating visiting NCCAA member Ecclesia 110-52 on Sunday. Half of the Skyhawks' victories have come against non-Division I teams.

The moods are decidedly different as Tulsa and Oklahoma State go into their nonconference, neutral-site matchup Sunday in Oklahoma City.

Oklahoma State is accustomed to beating its in-state rival, having gone 75-39 in the series, including an 82-56 victory last season in Stillwater.

This year, however, has presented a series of early disappointments for the Cowboys (3-5). Oklahoma State has dropped two consecutive games, including a 70-68 defeat Tuesday at Southern Illinois, the Cowboys' only true road game of the season.

Coach Mike Boynton, who said Oklahoma State fans "deserve an apology" after a season-opening loss to visiting Abilene Christian, is still looking for answers. In four of the defeats, the Cowboys had opportunities to tie or take the lead in the waning seconds.

Blake Hinson will have a hard act to follow when Pitt hosts Canisius on Saturday evening.

The Panthers' senior guard sank nine three-pointers and scored a career-best 29 points in an 80-63 road win over rival West Virginia on Wednesday night. Pitt (6-3) had 38 attempts from 3-point range, making 16, while providing an offensive barrage that left the Mountaineers behind in the second half.

Pitt averages 30.0 attempts from distance per game, which is easily the most in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Hinson is making 4.3 3-pointers per outing, which ranks second in Division I behind only Hofstra's Tyler Thomas (4.5). He attempts 9.6 from the 3-point line each time out -- which ranks fourth in the country -- and has led the Panthers in scoring in five of its nine contests this season.

The Golden Griffins (6-4) will likely have their hands full with the scoring threat.