Believe it or not, the college hoops season moved on after The Jimmer Show ended last night. That doesn't mean we are ready to get off that mid-major bandwagon just yet, however.
7:00 pm: VCU @ Hofstra: Yes, I am leading off tonight's Pregame Beat with a battle in the CAA. Why? Because the CAA is as strong and competitive nationally as it has been in a while, and this matchup (which is on ESPNU!) pits the two teams that sit atop the league standings at 8-1. Hofstra is led by two-time reigning Haggerty Award winner (best player in the New York Metro region), a big-time scorer that could have been this season's mid-major superstar if that Jimmer dude wasn't roasting the western half of the United States. Hofstra isn't exactly a one man team -- Mike Moore is averaging 14.7 ppg after transferring from Fordham -- so we'll call them one-and-a-half.
VCU, on the other hand, is much more balanced. There are four or five kids on the Commodores roster capable of going for 20 points if they get hot, there are shooters all over the place, and there is size and athleticism up front. It will be interesting to see is VCU's pressure and zone defense can slow down Jenkins, because the 23 ppg scorer is going to need to counteract VCU's advantage on the interior. Instead of me explaining all this to you, why don't you go and watch the game. There's a very good chance that one of these two teams will be dancing come March. Don't you want to know if they are worth the upset pick?
11:00 pm: No. 24 St. Mary's @ Gonzaga: Believe it or not, Gonzaga has so much more riding on this game than the Gaels do. The Zags are coming off of back-to-back losses to San Francisco and Santa Clara to already fall two games behind St. Mary's in the WCC standings. Considering the Gael's dominance in that league, a three game deficit is likely too much to over come. We also have to start considering the NCAA Tournament implications. Gonzaga does not have the resume of an at-large team, and without a sweep of the Gaels, they made be forced to win the WCC Tournament if they do want to get a bid.
St. Mary's is a good team. They don't have the size to matchup with Gonzaga inside, but their perimeter players are much better than what Gonzaga offers. Mickey McConnell and Matthew Dellavedova are as underrated as a back court can get, and Rob Jones is a scrappy, physical 6'5" power forward. This game doesn't quite have the same buzz that is typically does, but considering Gonzaga has their back against the wall, expect a dogfight.
9:00 pm: UCLA @ Arizona: Relevant Pac-10 basketball? On ESPN? Shocking! The Wildcats and the Bruins are tied for second place in the league, one game behind Washington in the loss column. The key here? Reeves Nelson. The UCLA big man has a sprained ankle and is still questionable for whether or not he will be suiting up tonight. The Bruins did get some good news when they were informed yesterday that Joshua Smith would be cleared to play tonight. UCLA will need all the big men they can get to handle Arizona's Derrick Williams, who is the most productive player in the country.
7:00 pm: No. 22 Vanderbilt @ Mississippi State: If Mississippi State truly wants to be taken seriously this season, these are the kind of games that they have to win. At home, against a top 25 team. I just don't see it happening. You're not a "team" just because you all wear the same jerseys on a basketball court.
8:00 pm: Boston College @ No. 3 Duke: Boston College is sixth in the country in offensive efficiency. They are also 229th in the country in defensive efficiency. That kind of defensive effort will let the Blue Devils hang 90 on you. Reggie Jackson, BC's star point guard, truly is a star. If you have never seen him play, I'd recommend tuning into this one.
7:00 pm: Michigan @ Michigan State: The Spartans will be playing their first game without Korie Lucious. Is that the spark that they needed to turn their season around?
Other Notable Games:
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Thursday's Pregame Beat: Some more mid-major goodness |
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