We are now a full three weeks into the conference slate of the college hoops season and are chugging ever closer to March. There can't still be surprises in store for us, can there? Of course there can -- this is college basketball, after all. While most people's attention will be diverted by the last college football game of the season as type these words, there will be plenty of excellent hardwood action post-football.
As you can scan the DraftKings rosters, it is worth keeping an eye on the status of LSU guard Dedan Thomas Jr.. The Tigers have been lost without their floor general and he is considered questionable for Tuesday's game at Florida. Be sure to check out RotoWire's College Basketball Injury Report for the latest on Thomas and the other game-time decisions for Tuesday. Vanderbilt guard Frankie Collins and Missouri forward Jevon Porter (see below) are also worth watching.
College Basketball DFS Picks for Tuesday, January 20
We have a huge slate to pick through -- nine early and nine late games. We will start with the bangers, go to some mid-list songs, then talk about the tunes that could scratch a particular itch on a Tuesday evening in January.
Want to see how recent injuries might affect the top DFS plays in college basketball? Head to RotoWire's latest college basketball injury news page or follow @RotoWireCBB on X.
College Basketball DFS Top Players
Michael Ajayi, F, Butler ($9,800)
There are two big factors that one can use to recommend Ajayi. First, there is home-road split. He is very good away from Hinkle (33.8 FP/G on the road), but he becomes superman when playing at home (42.3 FP/G). The second is the opponent: DePaul. The Blue Demons have been competitive under coach Chris Holtmann and are ahead of the Bulldogs coming into Tuesday's action. They have not won a road game in conference and gave up 86 points at the Fieldhouse last year. Ajayi will be going for his 15th double-double and leads Butler with 3.1 assists.
Zuby Ejiofor, F, St. John's ($9,700)
Like Ajayi, Ejiofor was featured in Luke Nemoir's College Players Rising Up Draftboards earlier this month. The Red Storm's big man has done nothing in the last two weeks to slow that rise. He has led St. John's to four straight wins with 17.3 points on 58.1 percent from the field, 5.7 rebounds, 3.- assists and 2.0 steals. Frankly, the board work could use an upgrade, which is why he should dominate in the paint against Seton Hall. There is precedent: last season, Ejiofor averaged 16.5 points and 9.5 rebounds in a pair of wins against the Pirates.
Darius Acuff Jr., G, Arkansas ($9,400)
So many guards in the NBA have come through coach John Calipari's system that is hard to see anything but success at the next level for Acuff. The freshman star has impressed through first half of what may well be his one-and-done season with the Razorbacks. Other than an odd one-assist game against Auburn on Jan. 10, Acuff has been just as dominant in conference as he was in the non-conference slate. Even with that outlier against the Tigers in which he scored 19 points, the 6-3 guard has provided 22.4 points and 6.8 assists to lead Arkansas to a 3-2 record. He will likely rise to the challenge against the intriguing Vanderbilt backcourt (that might include Collins).
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Middle Tier
Ernest Udeh Jr., F, Miami ($6,300)
It may not be wise to take a player coming off a career game, but Udeh's track record is solid enough that there shouldn't be too much of a fall from his 17-rebound game in Saturday's loss to Clemson. The 6-11 senior has grabbed double-digit rebounds in seven of his last nine games. He has three double-doubles in that span, which indicates that offensive is not his primary aim. Udeh scored 13 points in his last home game and Florida State has the worst defensive efficiency on the Tuesday slate, per KenPom.com.
Tariq Francis, G, Rutgers ($6,000)
The 6-1 Francis seems to have found his role on the Scarlet Knights as a super scorer off the bench. He started the first nine games, but has scored 30 points three times since being moved to a reserve role. The NJIT transfer has led Rutgers to a pair of overtime wins with 30 points against Oregon and Northwestern in the last two weeks. He is not a great 3-point shooter (32.4 percent from long range), but has the ability to blow to the basket and get fouled. Francis might have a great advantage in Iowa City and be a nice value.
Sean Stewart, F, Oregon ($5,600)
The Ducks are without their two leading scorers. Center Nate Bittle is out with a foot injury and guard Jackson Shelstad has an injured hand. Someone has to step up. On Saturday against Michigan, it was the 6-9 Stewart who scored a career-high 22 points to go along with eight rebounds. Maybe that was the best Stewart can do, but it was against the fiesty Wolverine defense. Things won't be easier against Michigan State, but Stewart has his opportunity. The Ducks are unlikely to snap their four-game losing streak, but the forward could have some staying power.
Want to see how recent injuries might affect the top DFS plays in college basketball? Head to RotoWire's latest college basketball injury news page or follow @RotoWireCBB on X.
College Basketball DFS Value Plays
Shawn Phillips Jr. F, Missouri ($4,700)
Phillips, the 7-0 senior center for the Tigers, has not really seen a major bump in production while Porter has been out with a lower body injury for the last six games, but there are some promising signs. He has scored in double digits in two of his last three games. Phillips has seen his minutes increase when he can keep himself out of foul trouble. He will be challenged by Georgia's shot-blocking center Somto Cyril, but home court advantage will be on Phillips' side.
Nimari Burnett, G, Michigan ($4,700)
Burnett is a three-year starter for the Wolverines. He equaled his season high on Saturday against Oregon with 15 points on a 10 field goal attempts, which was also a season high. The 6-5 senior has scored in double digits in four of his last six games and has converted 51.2 percent of his field goals over that span. Michigan hosts Indiana and the Hoosiers have dropped their last three games and have allowed 79.3 points in those losses. There will be some openings for Burnett to score again.
Cooper Schwieger, F, Wake Forest ($4,300)
Schwieger was one of those players prior to the season that looked like a nice get for the Demon Deacons. He was coming off a productive seasons for Valparaiso, but the 6-10 junior's production has not translated to a power conference school. He has joined the starting lineup for two of the last three games and has scored a combined 27 points in his last four games. Wake Forest takes on SMU, which is not blessed with much size other than Samet Yigitoglu. Schwieger could be effective as Wake goes for its second straight win.
Check out RotoWire's college basketball starting lineup data to view recent stats, usage trends and identify potential DFS value plays.
