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
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