I want to apologize for this 4 Point Play being a week late. A busy work and school schedule mixed with an unexpected visit to the ER this past weekend got me backed up on a lot of stuff, hopefully y'all didn't cry too much from missing a week of college basketball review.
Anyway, this week will be featuring a top team in a top conference that has pretty much no one talking about them along with an Ohio Valley leader that has become a household name come March. A rising star in the East and a solid rock out West will round out this week's 4 Point Play.
Virginia Cavaliers
The Cavaliers have been a behind the scenes team all year, yet they have crept into first place in the loaded ACC with a 13-1 in conference record after Syracuse's stunning loss to Boston College on Wednesday. Virginia will control their fate headed into March with four games left and the Orange of Syracuse coming to town next Saturday. Between now and then, Virginia will enjoy two more home games against Notre Dame and Miami (FL), neither of which have a winning record in conference play. The Cavaliers have only one bad loss on the year with the other four losses coming by a combined 20 points. That bad loss was the result of a road trip to SEC, middle-of-the-pack Tennessee at the end of December. The Volunteers piled on and shut down the Cavalier's offense to run away with an 87-52 win. Although they own the 47th hardest schedule in the country, Virginia has only played four Top 25 teams throughout the year and own only one win, a 48-45 road victory over Pitt, throughout those tests.
If you want a lot of scoring come March, go ahead and avoid Virginia games. The Cavaliers are 292nd in the country in scoring per game and have hit 80+ only once this entire season and average just over 65 points a game. However, who needs to score when you have one of the most dominant defenses in the country? Virginia shuts down all of their opponents and have only given up 75+ twice this season. They are the leading team in shutdown defense in the country only allowing an average of 55.3 points per game. Although, they don't do much crazy against their opponents with limited steals (5.8), blocks (4) and rebounds (25) per game, this defense does lead the country in opponent field goal percentage limiting their opponents to 41.6% shooting from the field.
Player Spotlight: Malcom Brogdon, sophomore guard for Virginia, is an extremely efficient player (43% from the field) and the Cavalier's main offensive threat with 12.3 points per game. Brogdon is deadly accurate from the charity stripe with an 88% average and only ten misses on the year. His 160 rebounds and 68 assists are both second on the team for the season while he leads the Cavs with 37 steals and a 1.13:1 turnover-steal ratio.
Toughest Game Left: A visit from Syracuse this Saturday will pit the top two teams in the ACC against each other for the first time all season
Predicted Finish: 26-5 and first in the ACC
Belmont Bruins
The Bruins are first in the Ohio Valley East, first overall in the Ohio Valley Conference and the only team in the conference to have 12 wins in conference along with 20+ wins overall, and this isn't a fluke. With two games left in their season, Belmont, a semi-regular March Madness contender, is setting the stage for another return to the top 68 and is easily the team to beat in the Ohio Valley. Just like many smaller mid-majors, Belmont's schedule doesn't look all that impressive at first glance with only two Top 25 teams and a four game losing streak. However, the Bruins own a 1-1 record against the AP Top 25 with both games sending Belmont away from home. In easily their biggest win of the year the Bruins visited then #12 UNC and stole a three point victory, 83-80. The biggest question mark for this talented Bruins team is the fact that they have played in 12 games that were decided by single digits, winning all but one. Can the Bruins continue to close out tight games come March?
Shooting 50% from the field will help any team make a run for March Madness. Couple that with 80 points per game alongside 15 assists and you get one dominant offensive unit. Their rebounding is less than stellar, but when you shoot 50% there aren't all that many chances for you to collect a ball off the glass. In order to win in March, though, their defense will need to step up and start shutting down opposing offenses. As of now, the Bruins have allowed an average of 75 points per game. A five point margin for error is not an extremely comfortable pillow to have come tourney time.
Player Spotlight: Craig Bradshaw, a sophmore guard, is the second leading scorer for the Bruins and one of the most efficient players on the floor. Bradshaw hits 52% of his shots from the field and 42% from three point range. The biggest hole in his game is his turnover-steal ratio which registers at a pitiful 2.25:1.
Toughest Game Left: Both of their final games on on the road to less than formidable opponents so either one is fair game for a let down. Tonight against SIU-Edwardsville and March 1 at Jacksonville State
Predicted Finish: 23-8, first in Ohio Valley East
North Carolina Central Eagles
Having run off thirteen straight wins, the Eagles of North Carolina Central haven't lost in over a month, own a two game lead in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and are in prime position to go March-ing for the first time in school history. The Eagles' upcoming schedule will pit them against one team with a winning record and four teams that have yet to win thirteen games this season, but such is life in the lower tier conferences and the Eagles are seemingly beating whomever they play. The Eagles are, however, taking a hit for having absolutely no wins against top 50 RPI teams and one win against the top 100. That one win was a quality one though against in-state rival North Carolina State. The Eagles forced an overtime game at NC State before coming away with a 10 point, 82-72, win in mid November. Since that early game, NCC has played two top 100 opponents, unbeaten Wichita State and ACC member Maryland, and lost in back to back road games.
Yes, the Eagles haven't played the highest quality of opponents throughout the year but that doesn't diminish the fact that they keep their opponents from scoring no matter what. Allowing just under 60 points a game, this defense is extremely talented and has yet to allow a team to put up more than 77 points in a game. Eleven times the Eagles have held their opponents to 55 points or less while allowing more than 70 in only five games. That shut down defense is key to the wins for this program though seeing as the offense has only managed to score 80+ in seven games this year and is averaging a mediocre 73 points per game. Although scoring is not a highlight of the games, the Eagles are one of the most selfless teams in the nation averaging 15 assists per game while shooting 46% from the field.
Player Spotlight: Emanuel Chapman a senior guard for the Eagles is not my usual spotlight player in that he only averages just above six points per game and has scored just 161 points on the year. However, Chapman is an incredible threat off the boards with 4.2 rebounds per game, a pure assist guy with a team leading 178 assists on the year (6.8 per game) and a threat to pick your pocket every time with 58 steals for the season.
Toughest Game Left: A visit to Norfolk State on March 6 looks to be the only stumbling block in NCC's path for first time March-ing
Predicted Finish: 25-5 and first in the MEAC
New Mexico State Aggies
A half game separates the Aggies from the first place Utah Valley Wolverines in the Western Athletic Conference. Oh, and the next game up for the Aggies? Two days from now at Utah Valley (you can go ahead and mark this one down as an early March Madness game for the WAC). Although New Mexico State owns a grand total of one win against Top 50 RPI teams, the Aggies have eight wins against the Top 150 while sitting with an RPI of 82. The Aggies' most intriguing games thus far this season have been the home and away Battles of New Mexico against the Lobos. The Aggies lost at home in the midst of a four game losing streak before grabbing a six point victory on the road over New Mexico to split the season's series.
Anchored by a disciplined 49% field goal percentage, the Aggies are one of the most efficient teams in the country. That efficiency backs up an inconsistent defense by scoring 78+ per game. Their defense has holes but one of them is not shot blocking where they average over six blocks per game which allows them to keep opponents just shy of 70 points. Nine of the Aggies have played at least 10 minutes in 23+ games this season, but only three players average double digits.
Player Spotlight: Daniel Mullings a junior guard for NMSU is the Aggies' most rounded player. Mullings leads the team with 16.9 points per game and is a dangerous option from all across the field with a 31% shooting average from beyond the arc and a 46% average from the general field. He is also a top threat to rebound (142 on the year), steal (53 for the season) and pass the ball off (3.3 assists per game).
Toughest Game Left: As I said earlier, the early March Madness game on February 27 (tomorrow) will pit the top two WAC powers against each other
Predicted Finish: 24-8 and first in the WAC
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Rectifying Society's Deranged Game
I've been mulling over this topic for some time trying to find the right words with the right angle (I even have four of my 14 drafts dedicated to this topic) because this post isn't necessarily about the Catholic Church, the March for Life, sex or even abortion. This post focuses on something deeper. Something that many politicians, celebrities and people refuse to comment on because it has become so ingrained in the world's culture that to be against it is to be seen as "out of touch" or "too traditional" or just plain "close minded." It's something that I have witnessed multiple times throughout my life and something that has destroyed several friends and hurt others, including myself.
As a Catholic, I was raised to believe in many things; the Trinity, Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, the hierarchy of the Church, respect for the pope, etc. Although each of these were important to me as a growing Catholic, one of the biggest fundamentals that I learned growing up in a devout Catholic family and over 13 and a half years of Catholic education is the preciousness of love, and therefor sex. This teaching was fundamental to my life for 17 and a half years until I first had sex which started a real downward spiral in my life. That's not the point of this post though, this isn't some personal internet diary for the world to see. I only wanted that out in the open for two reasons. First, to show my that I can be an idiot, ignorant and make mistakes (I know, it's hard to believe). Second, as a point of reference. I know what I am talking about and, seeing as this post will be from my point of view, it only makes sense to share my POV with y'all.
Anyway, back story diatribe in the back of your mind, there has been an extreme attack on traditional values over the last decade. We have been bombarded with violence, sex, curses, substance abuse, cruelty and disregard for others like never before. Violence is portrayed nightly on our news reports while almost every movie has some subplot of sex and strong language. Hundreds of video games have become successful because of their portrayal of violence and cruelty where you are rewarded for shooting or knifing other players in Call of Duty and Halo. Game of Thrones and House of Cards, two incredibly successful series, portray a life of almost constant bloodshed, cruelty, harsh words, lust and/or indecency towards others in the hope of greater personal gain. It is almost impossible to not have been exposed to this degradation of humanity and yet society is becoming (slightly) numb to it.
I've been known to enjoy the thrill of a CoD killstreak or a Halo headshot, so, no I'm not here to preach about the evil of video games. (And as a side note to those out there who do preach against video games; maybe look further than the game seeing as it is only a symptom of the real problem) Television, internet, books and video games feature something abnormal, that's why people enjoy them. Honestly, how many people would want to read a book or watch a show about a normal person getting an office job at a mediocre firm and living a normal life with normal stressors but nothing supernatural, comical, or out of the ordinary happening? Even our "reality" shows are scripted so they can actually be something that the average person would want to watch. We can forgive the media for these breaches of humanity when we realize that they are there as an escape from reality.
What should not be forgiven is the real life degradation of society, and, ultimately, human life. We may see war every day on XBox, but in the United States, we are extremely lucky to have only a small percentage of our men and women exposed to such devastation. We know "sex sells" better than most countries and we see some part of it almost everywhere we turn. We judge underage binge drinking to be a "mistake" more than a problem. We are more worried about getting kids off of drug possession charges than we are about their mental state. Dropping the f bomb is so close to being a common occurrence that people are trying to think of a worse curse to use. People will vehemently rage about dog fighting rings but will rarely bring up the horrible conditions of the foster care system in the States. We pass the homeless all the time and have been conditioned to look away rather than talk to them. Abortion decimates the entire world every minute of every day and yet we are still calling it a woman's choice.
The degradation of human life has diverse symptoms in our world today; the ones I listed above are only the tip of the iceberg. However, as I did specify above, abortion is, in my eyes, the ultimate act of degrading. Not only is it a legalized form of murder, but it is a form of murder against the most innocent of all. A human life that has done nothing wrong, has not had the chance to sin and does not even have a name yet is ended. Just as the reason for murder does not matter, neither does the reason behind abortion. (And if you would like to bring up the "special pleading" argument of rape and mother's health cases, I'd be happy to dismantle that non-argument in the comments below)
Although the trend of a pro-life society is rising up with many people recognizing the horrors of abortion and abortion clinics in the states, too many people are doing little to nothing to stop this atrocity. This is not specifically the fault of each individual person so much as it is simply the pattern that follows in our misguided society. Sadly, we are living in an extremely passive society that argues that if it doesn't directly affect me, I shouldn't care about it- unless it has something to do with a group of people who have been "historically oppressed."
Hundreds of so-called social justice warriors fight against supposed wrongs done to "minorities" while turning a blind eye to the egregious assault on human life that is abortion. This is just blatantly hypocritical and wrong- no, wrong isn't the right word, it's hypocritical and defective, as much of society has become. From politics to religion to the treatment of celebrities to the blatant disregard for children, our society has become defective and needs to be fixed.
As I hinted at earlier, we are starting to reach the peak of this degradation age. The solution is right in front of us but, because it's not the easy choice and won't magically solve every problem in the book right away, many people are as timid as a chick leaving the nest. Traditional values are changing, there's no questioning that. However, much like the Catholic Church, the oldest living organization in the world, sometimes the best course of action is to reach back and hold onto some sliver of the past. That sliver? The preciousness of children and the innocence therein.
And where do children come from? Yes, Jimmy? "When a mommy and daddy love each other very much they make children!" Well, as we all know that's probably the most simplistic way to put it but there's this act called sex that is really the start of that whole amazing process and we, as a defective society, have taken sex and attempted to remove responsibility, procreation and love from the mix.
Sex is no longer a connection between committed lovers, it is a right of passage. It is the main focus of many short relationships and the outcome of many Friday night parties. The pressure to lose your "V-card" before your 18th birthday is beyond unreasonable. Speaking from experience as a teenager who felt that very pressure, it ruins sex. It becomes a primal activity between two separate entities. Sure the act is fun but it is not what I was raised to believe sex was supposed to be.
Now, I know what I just said isn't popular- I probably wouldn't be writing about it if it was- and that people enjoy sex too much and just want to be able to do what they want no consequences. I know that. But, as my parents taught me and your parents should have taught you, life is hard, life won't give you everything you want, you have responsibilities and there are consequences for your actions. And when it comes to sex there are two main responsibilities that come into play and very serious consequences to that action (notice that consequences, although the word has a negative connotation, are not all bad and in this case some of them are pretty damn amazing).
The first responsibility that you have when having sex is to make sure you are making love instead of sleeping around. Here's a little factoid for all of you groaning out there: each time you have sex, a love drug (okay, it's called oxytocin but whatever) is released which bonds you to your partner. It's meant to strengthen a healthy, genuine, loving relationship. Some people might go ahead and take this as a form of slut shaming but if you want to tell me that I'm a slut-shamer then just be sure to realize that biology and chemistry are slut shaming first.
The second responsibility of sex is recognizing that there is some potential, no matter how much birth control you use or what kind of condom you buy, that a baby is going to be formed. Which is freaking awesome (and if you don't think so you must not like chocolate, puppies, Lion King or happiness...). So you want a choice to not have a kid? Good! just don't have sex. You aren't ready for a baby? Completely fine, skip the coitious and go to post-coitious cuddling (I promise it's pretty awesome). You can't handle being a mother/ father? Understandable, don't do the do.
I know I'm going to get flak from parents, Christians, religion teachers and friends for what I'm about to say but I'm going to go ahead and say it. I'm not here to preach an abstinent society. You don't have to wait until marriage to have sex. All I'm asking is that you recognize the responsibility that goes into sex. Know the consequences, accept the responsibility and make sure you and your partner are on the same wave length when it comes to having sex. (Oh and if you even think your partner does want to wait do not be a manipulative asshole and push them into it, they'll only hate you for it later on and if you're a guy I'll punch you for it)
As a Catholic, I was raised to believe in many things; the Trinity, Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, the hierarchy of the Church, respect for the pope, etc. Although each of these were important to me as a growing Catholic, one of the biggest fundamentals that I learned growing up in a devout Catholic family and over 13 and a half years of Catholic education is the preciousness of love, and therefor sex. This teaching was fundamental to my life for 17 and a half years until I first had sex which started a real downward spiral in my life. That's not the point of this post though, this isn't some personal internet diary for the world to see. I only wanted that out in the open for two reasons. First, to show my that I can be an idiot, ignorant and make mistakes (I know, it's hard to believe). Second, as a point of reference. I know what I am talking about and, seeing as this post will be from my point of view, it only makes sense to share my POV with y'all.
Anyway, back story diatribe in the back of your mind, there has been an extreme attack on traditional values over the last decade. We have been bombarded with violence, sex, curses, substance abuse, cruelty and disregard for others like never before. Violence is portrayed nightly on our news reports while almost every movie has some subplot of sex and strong language. Hundreds of video games have become successful because of their portrayal of violence and cruelty where you are rewarded for shooting or knifing other players in Call of Duty and Halo. Game of Thrones and House of Cards, two incredibly successful series, portray a life of almost constant bloodshed, cruelty, harsh words, lust and/or indecency towards others in the hope of greater personal gain. It is almost impossible to not have been exposed to this degradation of humanity and yet society is becoming (slightly) numb to it.
I've been known to enjoy the thrill of a CoD killstreak or a Halo headshot, so, no I'm not here to preach about the evil of video games. (And as a side note to those out there who do preach against video games; maybe look further than the game seeing as it is only a symptom of the real problem) Television, internet, books and video games feature something abnormal, that's why people enjoy them. Honestly, how many people would want to read a book or watch a show about a normal person getting an office job at a mediocre firm and living a normal life with normal stressors but nothing supernatural, comical, or out of the ordinary happening? Even our "reality" shows are scripted so they can actually be something that the average person would want to watch. We can forgive the media for these breaches of humanity when we realize that they are there as an escape from reality.
What should not be forgiven is the real life degradation of society, and, ultimately, human life. We may see war every day on XBox, but in the United States, we are extremely lucky to have only a small percentage of our men and women exposed to such devastation. We know "sex sells" better than most countries and we see some part of it almost everywhere we turn. We judge underage binge drinking to be a "mistake" more than a problem. We are more worried about getting kids off of drug possession charges than we are about their mental state. Dropping the f bomb is so close to being a common occurrence that people are trying to think of a worse curse to use. People will vehemently rage about dog fighting rings but will rarely bring up the horrible conditions of the foster care system in the States. We pass the homeless all the time and have been conditioned to look away rather than talk to them. Abortion decimates the entire world every minute of every day and yet we are still calling it a woman's choice.
The degradation of human life has diverse symptoms in our world today; the ones I listed above are only the tip of the iceberg. However, as I did specify above, abortion is, in my eyes, the ultimate act of degrading. Not only is it a legalized form of murder, but it is a form of murder against the most innocent of all. A human life that has done nothing wrong, has not had the chance to sin and does not even have a name yet is ended. Just as the reason for murder does not matter, neither does the reason behind abortion. (And if you would like to bring up the "special pleading" argument of rape and mother's health cases, I'd be happy to dismantle that non-argument in the comments below)
Although the trend of a pro-life society is rising up with many people recognizing the horrors of abortion and abortion clinics in the states, too many people are doing little to nothing to stop this atrocity. This is not specifically the fault of each individual person so much as it is simply the pattern that follows in our misguided society. Sadly, we are living in an extremely passive society that argues that if it doesn't directly affect me, I shouldn't care about it- unless it has something to do with a group of people who have been "historically oppressed."
Hundreds of so-called social justice warriors fight against supposed wrongs done to "minorities" while turning a blind eye to the egregious assault on human life that is abortion. This is just blatantly hypocritical and wrong- no, wrong isn't the right word, it's hypocritical and defective, as much of society has become. From politics to religion to the treatment of celebrities to the blatant disregard for children, our society has become defective and needs to be fixed.
As I hinted at earlier, we are starting to reach the peak of this degradation age. The solution is right in front of us but, because it's not the easy choice and won't magically solve every problem in the book right away, many people are as timid as a chick leaving the nest. Traditional values are changing, there's no questioning that. However, much like the Catholic Church, the oldest living organization in the world, sometimes the best course of action is to reach back and hold onto some sliver of the past. That sliver? The preciousness of children and the innocence therein.
And where do children come from? Yes, Jimmy? "When a mommy and daddy love each other very much they make children!" Well, as we all know that's probably the most simplistic way to put it but there's this act called sex that is really the start of that whole amazing process and we, as a defective society, have taken sex and attempted to remove responsibility, procreation and love from the mix.
Sex is no longer a connection between committed lovers, it is a right of passage. It is the main focus of many short relationships and the outcome of many Friday night parties. The pressure to lose your "V-card" before your 18th birthday is beyond unreasonable. Speaking from experience as a teenager who felt that very pressure, it ruins sex. It becomes a primal activity between two separate entities. Sure the act is fun but it is not what I was raised to believe sex was supposed to be.
Now, I know what I just said isn't popular- I probably wouldn't be writing about it if it was- and that people enjoy sex too much and just want to be able to do what they want no consequences. I know that. But, as my parents taught me and your parents should have taught you, life is hard, life won't give you everything you want, you have responsibilities and there are consequences for your actions. And when it comes to sex there are two main responsibilities that come into play and very serious consequences to that action (notice that consequences, although the word has a negative connotation, are not all bad and in this case some of them are pretty damn amazing).
The first responsibility that you have when having sex is to make sure you are making love instead of sleeping around. Here's a little factoid for all of you groaning out there: each time you have sex, a love drug (okay, it's called oxytocin but whatever) is released which bonds you to your partner. It's meant to strengthen a healthy, genuine, loving relationship. Some people might go ahead and take this as a form of slut shaming but if you want to tell me that I'm a slut-shamer then just be sure to realize that biology and chemistry are slut shaming first.
The second responsibility of sex is recognizing that there is some potential, no matter how much birth control you use or what kind of condom you buy, that a baby is going to be formed. Which is freaking awesome (and if you don't think so you must not like chocolate, puppies, Lion King or happiness...). So you want a choice to not have a kid? Good! just don't have sex. You aren't ready for a baby? Completely fine, skip the coitious and go to post-coitious cuddling (I promise it's pretty awesome). You can't handle being a mother/ father? Understandable, don't do the do.
I know I'm going to get flak from parents, Christians, religion teachers and friends for what I'm about to say but I'm going to go ahead and say it. I'm not here to preach an abstinent society. You don't have to wait until marriage to have sex. All I'm asking is that you recognize the responsibility that goes into sex. Know the consequences, accept the responsibility and make sure you and your partner are on the same wave length when it comes to having sex. (Oh and if you even think your partner does want to wait do not be a manipulative asshole and push them into it, they'll only hate you for it later on
Thursday, February 13, 2014
Week 5 of 4-Point Play
Four mid-majors headline this week's 4-Point Play all with potential to be bracket-busting dark horses come March Madness. The Bulldogs of Gonzaga are back to their usual dominant self while the MAC is yet again showing their quality as a sleeper conference. LA Tech's basketball program is attempting to reflect the football team's success over recent years and the Lobos are clawing to stay relevant behind #5 San Diego State in the Mountain West.
Gonzaga Bulldogs
Zaga is primed for another West Coast Conference championship but need to be ready for a road game gauntlet that starts at BYU and finishes at Saint Mary's to finish out the season. The Bulldogs have yet to lose a game by more than 10 points but hail only two quality wins out of conference. Their first quality win featured a 12 point shutdown of New Mexico State at home. Their second came the following outing when the Bulldogs pulled out an 80-76 win over the extremely inconsistent West Virginia Mountaineers. Aside from an extremely unusual loss at Portland in early January, the Bulldogs have only one questionable loss to the Dayton Flyers on a neutral court while their other two losses came against up and coming Kansas State and talented Memphis, both away from home.
You want efficiency? Look no further than the Bulldogs. Although they only average 78 points a game, Gonzaga drains over 50% of their shots from the field. They are also one of the top 15 most efficient teams in the country according to Team Rankings. They also pound the defensive glass to grab 26 rebounds off opponents missed shots and 73% of all available defensive rebounds. Their 78 points per game is more than plenty when their defense allows just 65 points a game and have allowed over 75 points only six times on the season. Three Bulldogs have pulled down over 110 rebounds on the season while two others have eclipsed the 100 assist mark for the year. The team's top six minute contributors (all averaging over 25 minutes a game) shoot for just under 51% from the field and four of them shoot better than 35% from beyond the arc.
Player Spotlight: Kevin Pangos, 6'-2" junior guard, is the Bulldog's leading scorer (15 per game) and grabs just under four rebounds, collects over four assists and grabs at least one steal a game. His 43% from the field and 42% from downtown make him a deadly option anywhere on the court including his stunning 89% average from the charity stripe.
Toughest Game Left: at BYU on February 20 and at Saint Mary's March 1
Predicted Finish: 26-5 and first in the WCC
Toledo Rockets
The Rockets are the premier team in the Mid-American Conference this year. Although they are tied with Akron for best conference record (8-2), Toledo is undoubtedly the team to beat over the next three weeks. The Rockets sailed through the first 12 games of the season with only five of those games being decided by less than double digits. Their first loss came at the hands of the Andrew Wiggins-led Kansas Jayhawks at the end of December. However, their worst game came over a week later in their first conference game at Western Michigan. The prolific Rockets were held to 76 points for only the second time of the year and their sub-par defense allowed 87 points for the fourth time. Toledo followed that loss up with a six game winning streak before a hard fought OT loss at Ohio. Their best game and biggest win on the season came during that six game streak in a trip to Akron. The Rockets stomped the Zips in a 75-61 battle of top dogs.
With one of the most dominant offenses in the country, it's no surprise that Toledo is averaging over 83 points per game and shoots 48% from the field. They can, and do, run with most any team they play including being one of only four teams to put up 83 on a stingy Kansas defense. Five Rockets average double digits and three of them average over 14 points per game. Although they have left over 180 points at the free throw line due to a 73% team shooting percentage from the stripe, Toledo boasts three players who have eclipsed the 330 point mark on the season. Their defense leaves much to be desired allowing almost 75 points per game and grabbing just over 24 rebounds with less than three blocks a game.
Player Spotlight: Rian Pearson, 6'-4" senior guard, does a little bit of just about everything and a lot of some things. Pearson averages 14.7 points per game to go along with over five rebounds, four assists and just under two steals each game. He also shoots just under 50% from the field and over 40% from beyond the arc. His only weakness is his shooting from the charity stripe at just over 65%, cashing in on 60 of 91 chances this season.
Toughest Game Left: Western Michigan on March 1
Predicted Finish: 28-3 and first in the MAC
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
Louisiana Tech is one of the top mid-major programs in the country with one of the most effective offenses in the country that compliments an incredibly fast defense. Sitting a half game back in Conference USA, the Bulldogs have all the makings of a quality March Madness team and a schedule that could send them coasting into the conference championship. The offense has only been held under 70 three times this season and the defense has only allowed five opponents to reach 80+. A huge loss to Oklahoma State saw the Bulldog offense held to less than 60 for the only time this season. However, LA Tech bounced back at Oklahoma two weeks later and beat the Sooners 102-98 in overtime. Through the season's final six games, only two of their opponents, Middle Tennessee and Old Dominion, own a better than .500 conference record.
These Bulldogs seem to be able to do everything. They shoot over 46%, score an average over 84 per game, pound the glass to grab 40 rebounds, and finds the open man for 16.5 assists per game. And that's just their offense. Their defense will steal the ball from just about everyone en route to nine steals a game, they'll block over five of your shots and grab over 27 of the missed shots. Oh and they hold teams to under 68 points a game. Seven players for LA Tech average over 20 minutes a game and three of them average double digits, three grab at least four rebounds per game and six of them average at least one steal per game.
Player Spotlight: Alex Hamilton, 6'-4" sophomore guard, shoots over 47% from the field and is the team's leading scorer with over 370 points on the year. Hamilton is second on the team in assists (3.2) and steals (1.4) per game.
Toughest Game Left: at UAB on March 2
Predicted Finish: 26-5 and second in Conference USA
New Mexico Lobos
The Lobos are in an extremely top heavy conference along with #5 San Diego State in the Mountain West but are making the most of their chances to scratch their way into March Madness with an 18-5 record this year. A disappointing loss last night at Boise State sent New Mexico a full game behind the Aztecs but they are still two games ahead of second place UNLV who they visit next week. This loss to the Mustangs was their closest of the year and only the second to be decided by one possession. Their other four losses include two neutral site games against Massachusetts and Kansas, a tough game against New Mexico State, and their first meeting against UNLV. Before their home loss to the Aggies, New Mexico visited New Mexico State and posted a nine point win on the road. A week before their neutral site showdown with Kansas, the Lobos hosted Cincinnati in early December and earned themselves a quality, resume-boosting 63-54 win.
New Mexico crashes the boards harder than most teams in the country translating to limited second chance points for their opponents and multiple opportunities on the offensive side of the ball. The Lobos average just under 39 rebounds per game with 27 of those coming off the defensive glass. They also love the passing game and share the ball well averaging 15 assists per game. Only three Lobos average double digits, but all three of them average over 14 and one, Cameron Bairstow, averages over 20 points a game. Five Lobos have eclipsed 36 assists on the season while Kendall Williams averages five per game and has 115 on the season.
Player Spotlight: Kendall Williams, 6'-4" senior guard, is the Lobos' second highest scorer but his all around game play gives New Mexico an edge that Bairstow doesn't have. Williams averages over three rebounds alongside five assists and his fast hands result in just under two steals per game. He shoots over 43% from the field, 79% from the stripe and 43% from beyond the arc.
Toughest Game Left: at San Diego State on March 8
Predicted Finish: 24-7 and second in the Mountain West
Gonzaga Bulldogs
Zaga is primed for another West Coast Conference championship but need to be ready for a road game gauntlet that starts at BYU and finishes at Saint Mary's to finish out the season. The Bulldogs have yet to lose a game by more than 10 points but hail only two quality wins out of conference. Their first quality win featured a 12 point shutdown of New Mexico State at home. Their second came the following outing when the Bulldogs pulled out an 80-76 win over the extremely inconsistent West Virginia Mountaineers. Aside from an extremely unusual loss at Portland in early January, the Bulldogs have only one questionable loss to the Dayton Flyers on a neutral court while their other two losses came against up and coming Kansas State and talented Memphis, both away from home.
You want efficiency? Look no further than the Bulldogs. Although they only average 78 points a game, Gonzaga drains over 50% of their shots from the field. They are also one of the top 15 most efficient teams in the country according to Team Rankings. They also pound the defensive glass to grab 26 rebounds off opponents missed shots and 73% of all available defensive rebounds. Their 78 points per game is more than plenty when their defense allows just 65 points a game and have allowed over 75 points only six times on the season. Three Bulldogs have pulled down over 110 rebounds on the season while two others have eclipsed the 100 assist mark for the year. The team's top six minute contributors (all averaging over 25 minutes a game) shoot for just under 51% from the field and four of them shoot better than 35% from beyond the arc.
Player Spotlight: Kevin Pangos, 6'-2" junior guard, is the Bulldog's leading scorer (15 per game) and grabs just under four rebounds, collects over four assists and grabs at least one steal a game. His 43% from the field and 42% from downtown make him a deadly option anywhere on the court including his stunning 89% average from the charity stripe.
Toughest Game Left: at BYU on February 20 and at Saint Mary's March 1
Predicted Finish: 26-5 and first in the WCC
Toledo Rockets
The Rockets are the premier team in the Mid-American Conference this year. Although they are tied with Akron for best conference record (8-2), Toledo is undoubtedly the team to beat over the next three weeks. The Rockets sailed through the first 12 games of the season with only five of those games being decided by less than double digits. Their first loss came at the hands of the Andrew Wiggins-led Kansas Jayhawks at the end of December. However, their worst game came over a week later in their first conference game at Western Michigan. The prolific Rockets were held to 76 points for only the second time of the year and their sub-par defense allowed 87 points for the fourth time. Toledo followed that loss up with a six game winning streak before a hard fought OT loss at Ohio. Their best game and biggest win on the season came during that six game streak in a trip to Akron. The Rockets stomped the Zips in a 75-61 battle of top dogs.
With one of the most dominant offenses in the country, it's no surprise that Toledo is averaging over 83 points per game and shoots 48% from the field. They can, and do, run with most any team they play including being one of only four teams to put up 83 on a stingy Kansas defense. Five Rockets average double digits and three of them average over 14 points per game. Although they have left over 180 points at the free throw line due to a 73% team shooting percentage from the stripe, Toledo boasts three players who have eclipsed the 330 point mark on the season. Their defense leaves much to be desired allowing almost 75 points per game and grabbing just over 24 rebounds with less than three blocks a game.
Player Spotlight: Rian Pearson, 6'-4" senior guard, does a little bit of just about everything and a lot of some things. Pearson averages 14.7 points per game to go along with over five rebounds, four assists and just under two steals each game. He also shoots just under 50% from the field and over 40% from beyond the arc. His only weakness is his shooting from the charity stripe at just over 65%, cashing in on 60 of 91 chances this season.
Toughest Game Left: Western Michigan on March 1
Predicted Finish: 28-3 and first in the MAC
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
Louisiana Tech is one of the top mid-major programs in the country with one of the most effective offenses in the country that compliments an incredibly fast defense. Sitting a half game back in Conference USA, the Bulldogs have all the makings of a quality March Madness team and a schedule that could send them coasting into the conference championship. The offense has only been held under 70 three times this season and the defense has only allowed five opponents to reach 80+. A huge loss to Oklahoma State saw the Bulldog offense held to less than 60 for the only time this season. However, LA Tech bounced back at Oklahoma two weeks later and beat the Sooners 102-98 in overtime. Through the season's final six games, only two of their opponents, Middle Tennessee and Old Dominion, own a better than .500 conference record.
These Bulldogs seem to be able to do everything. They shoot over 46%, score an average over 84 per game, pound the glass to grab 40 rebounds, and finds the open man for 16.5 assists per game. And that's just their offense. Their defense will steal the ball from just about everyone en route to nine steals a game, they'll block over five of your shots and grab over 27 of the missed shots. Oh and they hold teams to under 68 points a game. Seven players for LA Tech average over 20 minutes a game and three of them average double digits, three grab at least four rebounds per game and six of them average at least one steal per game.
Player Spotlight: Alex Hamilton, 6'-4" sophomore guard, shoots over 47% from the field and is the team's leading scorer with over 370 points on the year. Hamilton is second on the team in assists (3.2) and steals (1.4) per game.
Toughest Game Left: at UAB on March 2
Predicted Finish: 26-5 and second in Conference USA
New Mexico Lobos
The Lobos are in an extremely top heavy conference along with #5 San Diego State in the Mountain West but are making the most of their chances to scratch their way into March Madness with an 18-5 record this year. A disappointing loss last night at Boise State sent New Mexico a full game behind the Aztecs but they are still two games ahead of second place UNLV who they visit next week. This loss to the Mustangs was their closest of the year and only the second to be decided by one possession. Their other four losses include two neutral site games against Massachusetts and Kansas, a tough game against New Mexico State, and their first meeting against UNLV. Before their home loss to the Aggies, New Mexico visited New Mexico State and posted a nine point win on the road. A week before their neutral site showdown with Kansas, the Lobos hosted Cincinnati in early December and earned themselves a quality, resume-boosting 63-54 win.
New Mexico crashes the boards harder than most teams in the country translating to limited second chance points for their opponents and multiple opportunities on the offensive side of the ball. The Lobos average just under 39 rebounds per game with 27 of those coming off the defensive glass. They also love the passing game and share the ball well averaging 15 assists per game. Only three Lobos average double digits, but all three of them average over 14 and one, Cameron Bairstow, averages over 20 points a game. Five Lobos have eclipsed 36 assists on the season while Kendall Williams averages five per game and has 115 on the season.
Player Spotlight: Kendall Williams, 6'-4" senior guard, is the Lobos' second highest scorer but his all around game play gives New Mexico an edge that Bairstow doesn't have. Williams averages over three rebounds alongside five assists and his fast hands result in just under two steals per game. He shoots over 43% from the field, 79% from the stripe and 43% from beyond the arc.
Toughest Game Left: at San Diego State on March 8
Predicted Finish: 24-7 and second in the Mountain West
Friday, February 7, 2014
Week 4's 4-Point Play
After a week that saw AP Top 25 teams go 13-11 over Saturday and Sunday, the power of the underdog is starting to show for this season. This week we'll be looking at three teams from smaller conferences who are still at the top of the national game and one AAC member, Southern Methodist, who is looking to jockey for position among the elite of the AAC, Louisville and Cincinnati.
Mercer Bears
The Bears of Mercer are quite possibly the most well-rounded offense in mid major basketball this season. With a top 30 offensive unit, the Bears have only lost twice in the Atlantic Sun Conference. Their biggest win, out of conference, came in a close battle at Ole Miss which saw Mercer emerge on top 79-76 at the end of December. The team's four out of conference losses came at the hands of Texas, in a three-point heartbreaker, Evansville, Ohio University, and Oklahoma. All of the Bears' losses, including both conference losses, came on the road. Mercer is undefeated at home where they score close to 88 points per game while allowing only 61 points for an average margin of victory of 27 points at home. On the road, the Bears own a 6-6 record and give up just over 78 points a game but only manage to score an average of 74 points.
Mercer is one of the top offensive units in the country, however, they only have two players that average double figures. Although double figures allude many of their players, seven players average better than five points per game and eight players average at least two rebounds. This effort on the boards allows for multiple second chance shots and very few opportunities for their opponents to miss shots. In fact, the Bears average close to 39 rebounds a game in total with 27 of those coming off the defensive glass. Their defense also only allows 67 points a game on average while their offense consistently scores over 80 points. In half of their games this season, the Bears have scored at least 80 while in only nine games have they scored less than 75. They are 10-2 when they score 80+ and 6-3 when they can't reach 75.
Player Spotlight: Langston Hall, 6'-4" senior guard, is the only Bear to average more than 30 minutes per game. Hall's the leading scorer (13.8 points per game) on the team along with leading in assists (140) and steals (33). He posts a decent field goal percentage (39%) but is dynamite from the stripe (85%).
Toughest Game Left: at Florida Gulf Coast on February 21
Predicted Finish: 25-6 and first in the Atlantic Sun
Southern Methodist Mustangs
With only one "bad loss" on their resume, the Mustangs are primed to make a run for a decent seed in March. SMU also holds a pair of quality wins over then #17 Connecticut and then #22 Memphis. SMU has lost to Arkansas, Virginia, Cincinnati, Louisville, and South Florida. Only two of those teams, Arkansas and South Florida, are not in the nation's top 25 as of this week. Each loss has also occurred away from their home court. While the resume is not the greatest of the AAC teams, the Mustangs are a capable team who, with a smothering defense, can shut down and takeover just about anyone they are put up against.
Although the Mustangs only average 72 points per game, their defense, which only allows 61 points a game, is the real key to SMU's success in the AAC. The Mustangs average 38 rebounds a game by punishing the defensive glass with close to 27 defensive boards per game. They are also an incredibly quick team who can block, averaging just under five blocks a game, and steal (7.5 per game) at will. However, the real skill in this Mustang unit revolves around their patience and discipline, translating to a 49% field goal percentage which is in the top 10 of the country. Eight players average at least five points and two rebounds per game. Their Achilles heel, however, is the three point line with only two players attempting more than 50 on the year and only Nic Moore making above 40% of those deep shots.
Player Spotlight: Markus Kennedy, 6'-9" sophomore forward, is undoubtedly one of the most talented sophomores in the country and makes his presence known each time he steps on the court. One of only two double digit scorers for the Mustangs, Kennedy averages over 12 points a game and almost doubles the second best rebounder on the team with 171 boards on the year. He also leads the team in steals (36) and blocks (33) and posts a remarkable 56% from the field. His only weakness is making it from the stripe where he only manages 57%.
Toughest Game Left: Tonight against #7 Cincinnati
Predicted Finish: 24-7 and third in the AAC
Delaware Fightin Blue Hens
These Blue Hens are quite fierce and extremely consistent. They put up 80 points a game and are undefeated in, and running away with, the Colonial Athletic Association. At 18-7 and 10-0, Delaware is in the midst of a 12 game winning streak stretching back to New Year's Day. Their last loss came at St. Bonaventure in an 80-73 game on December 30. The Fightin Blue Hens lack any signature wins to highlight their offensive talent but they are set to easily win an automatic bid into the NCAA tournament in March.
The Blue Hens score 80 points almost every time out on the court. In fact, they've only been held under 80 points 11 times this season and have scored 90+ in four contests. However, much of Delaware's success is due to this prolific offense because their defense allows 76 points per game. The Blue Hens have only been able to draw up nine double digit wins this season alternatively they've played 10 games decided by five or less points. Their one real strength on defense is their ability to grab rebounds stopping teams from getting many second chance points. Delaware has five players who put in over 27 minutes per game and each of them score in double figures with one, Devon Saddler, averaging over 20 points per game. Much of the strength of this team comes from their starters with only two other players averaging over 10 minutes a game and neither of them scoring over six points on average.
Player Spotlight: Devon Saddler, 6'-2" senior guard, leads the Blue Hens with 21 points per game and posts a remarkable 46% from the field. Saddler also averages four rebounds and 3.2 assists per game. He's also the team's second best three point shooter with a 38% average from downtown.
Toughest Game Left: At Towson on February 17
Predicted Finish: 24-7 and first in the CAA
IPFW Mastodons
The Mastodons are 8-1 and are averaging close to 80 points in 2014 after following a three win homestand with a drubbing at the hands of South Dakota State on Thursday. Two early losses by a combined two points have kept the Mastodons down to earth but a high octane offense that has only been held under 66 points three times, all defeats, is eager to bounce back and score a trip to March Madness for the first time in school history. Their worst performance came in a 90-68 blowout loss at home to Eastern Kentucky and was the second game that saw the Mastodons' defense give up 90+ this season. IPFW's most solid performance was a crucial 11 point win at home over the now co-top team in the Summit League.
The Mastodons have topped 90 points five times this season. That is in large part due to their disciplined shooting decisions that adds to an impressive 49% field goal percentage for the team. IPFW is an extremely deep team with eight players putting in at least 20 minutes per game. While only three players average double digits, seven players shoot at least 46% from the field. Four players average better than 40% from beyond the arc which adds another dimension to this already potent offense. The saving grace for the Mastodons' defense is their quick hands and their ability to make the most of opponents mistakes. As a team, they steal the ball almost seven times a game with two players averaging better than a steal per game.
Player Spotlight: Pierre Bland, 6'-2" senior guard, is one of the teams most well rounded players averaging just under double figures per game (9.6 ppg). Bland leads the team in assists (4.1) and steals (1.8) per game and defensive rebounds on the season (97). He is also in the top three of the team in rebounds (115), field goal percentage (51.9%) and 3-point percentage (44.1%).
Toughest Game Left: Tonight at North Dakota State
Predicted Finish: 24-7 and first in the Summit League
Mercer Bears
The Bears of Mercer are quite possibly the most well-rounded offense in mid major basketball this season. With a top 30 offensive unit, the Bears have only lost twice in the Atlantic Sun Conference. Their biggest win, out of conference, came in a close battle at Ole Miss which saw Mercer emerge on top 79-76 at the end of December. The team's four out of conference losses came at the hands of Texas, in a three-point heartbreaker, Evansville, Ohio University, and Oklahoma. All of the Bears' losses, including both conference losses, came on the road. Mercer is undefeated at home where they score close to 88 points per game while allowing only 61 points for an average margin of victory of 27 points at home. On the road, the Bears own a 6-6 record and give up just over 78 points a game but only manage to score an average of 74 points.
Mercer is one of the top offensive units in the country, however, they only have two players that average double figures. Although double figures allude many of their players, seven players average better than five points per game and eight players average at least two rebounds. This effort on the boards allows for multiple second chance shots and very few opportunities for their opponents to miss shots. In fact, the Bears average close to 39 rebounds a game in total with 27 of those coming off the defensive glass. Their defense also only allows 67 points a game on average while their offense consistently scores over 80 points. In half of their games this season, the Bears have scored at least 80 while in only nine games have they scored less than 75. They are 10-2 when they score 80+ and 6-3 when they can't reach 75.
Player Spotlight: Langston Hall, 6'-4" senior guard, is the only Bear to average more than 30 minutes per game. Hall's the leading scorer (13.8 points per game) on the team along with leading in assists (140) and steals (33). He posts a decent field goal percentage (39%) but is dynamite from the stripe (85%).
Toughest Game Left: at Florida Gulf Coast on February 21
Predicted Finish: 25-6 and first in the Atlantic Sun
Southern Methodist Mustangs
With only one "bad loss" on their resume, the Mustangs are primed to make a run for a decent seed in March. SMU also holds a pair of quality wins over then #17 Connecticut and then #22 Memphis. SMU has lost to Arkansas, Virginia, Cincinnati, Louisville, and South Florida. Only two of those teams, Arkansas and South Florida, are not in the nation's top 25 as of this week. Each loss has also occurred away from their home court. While the resume is not the greatest of the AAC teams, the Mustangs are a capable team who, with a smothering defense, can shut down and takeover just about anyone they are put up against.
Although the Mustangs only average 72 points per game, their defense, which only allows 61 points a game, is the real key to SMU's success in the AAC. The Mustangs average 38 rebounds a game by punishing the defensive glass with close to 27 defensive boards per game. They are also an incredibly quick team who can block, averaging just under five blocks a game, and steal (7.5 per game) at will. However, the real skill in this Mustang unit revolves around their patience and discipline, translating to a 49% field goal percentage which is in the top 10 of the country. Eight players average at least five points and two rebounds per game. Their Achilles heel, however, is the three point line with only two players attempting more than 50 on the year and only Nic Moore making above 40% of those deep shots.
Player Spotlight: Markus Kennedy, 6'-9" sophomore forward, is undoubtedly one of the most talented sophomores in the country and makes his presence known each time he steps on the court. One of only two double digit scorers for the Mustangs, Kennedy averages over 12 points a game and almost doubles the second best rebounder on the team with 171 boards on the year. He also leads the team in steals (36) and blocks (33) and posts a remarkable 56% from the field. His only weakness is making it from the stripe where he only manages 57%.
Toughest Game Left: Tonight against #7 Cincinnati
Predicted Finish: 24-7 and third in the AAC
Delaware Fightin Blue Hens
These Blue Hens are quite fierce and extremely consistent. They put up 80 points a game and are undefeated in, and running away with, the Colonial Athletic Association. At 18-7 and 10-0, Delaware is in the midst of a 12 game winning streak stretching back to New Year's Day. Their last loss came at St. Bonaventure in an 80-73 game on December 30. The Fightin Blue Hens lack any signature wins to highlight their offensive talent but they are set to easily win an automatic bid into the NCAA tournament in March.
The Blue Hens score 80 points almost every time out on the court. In fact, they've only been held under 80 points 11 times this season and have scored 90+ in four contests. However, much of Delaware's success is due to this prolific offense because their defense allows 76 points per game. The Blue Hens have only been able to draw up nine double digit wins this season alternatively they've played 10 games decided by five or less points. Their one real strength on defense is their ability to grab rebounds stopping teams from getting many second chance points. Delaware has five players who put in over 27 minutes per game and each of them score in double figures with one, Devon Saddler, averaging over 20 points per game. Much of the strength of this team comes from their starters with only two other players averaging over 10 minutes a game and neither of them scoring over six points on average.
Player Spotlight: Devon Saddler, 6'-2" senior guard, leads the Blue Hens with 21 points per game and posts a remarkable 46% from the field. Saddler also averages four rebounds and 3.2 assists per game. He's also the team's second best three point shooter with a 38% average from downtown.
Toughest Game Left: At Towson on February 17
Predicted Finish: 24-7 and first in the CAA
IPFW Mastodons
The Mastodons are 8-1 and are averaging close to 80 points in 2014 after following a three win homestand with a drubbing at the hands of South Dakota State on Thursday. Two early losses by a combined two points have kept the Mastodons down to earth but a high octane offense that has only been held under 66 points three times, all defeats, is eager to bounce back and score a trip to March Madness for the first time in school history. Their worst performance came in a 90-68 blowout loss at home to Eastern Kentucky and was the second game that saw the Mastodons' defense give up 90+ this season. IPFW's most solid performance was a crucial 11 point win at home over the now co-top team in the Summit League.
The Mastodons have topped 90 points five times this season. That is in large part due to their disciplined shooting decisions that adds to an impressive 49% field goal percentage for the team. IPFW is an extremely deep team with eight players putting in at least 20 minutes per game. While only three players average double digits, seven players shoot at least 46% from the field. Four players average better than 40% from beyond the arc which adds another dimension to this already potent offense. The saving grace for the Mastodons' defense is their quick hands and their ability to make the most of opponents mistakes. As a team, they steal the ball almost seven times a game with two players averaging better than a steal per game.
Player Spotlight: Pierre Bland, 6'-2" senior guard, is one of the teams most well rounded players averaging just under double figures per game (9.6 ppg). Bland leads the team in assists (4.1) and steals (1.8) per game and defensive rebounds on the season (97). He is also in the top three of the team in rebounds (115), field goal percentage (51.9%) and 3-point percentage (44.1%).
Toughest Game Left: Tonight at North Dakota State
Predicted Finish: 24-7 and first in the Summit League
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