Cincinnati at Kansas State under 140 1/2
Cincy is #5. defense, holding opponents to 58.3 ppg. They are #7 in holding opposing teams to 27.5% shooting from 3 pt range and also #7 in 2 pt range at 42.2%. They are methodical on offense at #204 in average # of possessions and #274 in adjusted tempo.
They've played 3 other really good defensive teams. They lost to Villanova 68-60 (128) as one of the elite players in America, 6'8" Dixon went off for 31 of Villanova's 68 points. Dixon is a load for any team and KSU has nobody close to him offensively. The total against Xavier was 133 and 125 in the Dayton game.
KSU is not a run and shoot team. They are #114 in average possession length and #171 in adjusted tempo. They've played three good defensive teams. St. Johns is #17 in defensive efficiency and they both scored 63 in regulation (an OT game). Against the #42 defense Liberty they lost 65-67 and against LSU they lost 65-76.
Neither team is a great shooting team. Both are awful from the FT line, #324 and #309 at 65.3% and 66.8%. So neither should rack up many points on free throws. This is the conference opener and particularly critical for Cincinnati because their next 3 opponents in the Big 12 are all ranked (Arizona, Baylor and Kansas). They could find themselves in deep trouble if they go into those three with a loss in a game they should win. Cincinnati lives on their defense and their focus should high on what produces wins for them.
#106 Grand Canyon under TT 85.5 against #194 Bryant
This Grand Canyon team is not the high octane offense from last year. They've only gone over 79 twice in 12 games. They beat Cal State Fullerton at home in the first game of the season 89-79. 3 games later they topped #158 Norfolk State with an unconscious explosion from 3 pt range (14/24 for 58.3%). On the season they are a bad #292 shooting 30.2% from 3 pt range so this was a fluke from nowhere. They are #206 from 2 pt range at 48.9% and #136 from the FT line at 73.1%.
They managed only 68 pts at #226 UC Davis and 66 at #100 Louisiana Tech. In two of the last 3 games they beat woeful #361 Chicago State 74-51 and #300 San Diego 68-55.
Bryant's defense is slightly above average at #132 defending the 3 (32.1%) and #154 defending the 2 pt shot (50.1%). It should also be difficult to get much in the paint against them with their great size. Their starters are listed at 6'6", 6'6", 6'8", 6'8" and 6'11", one of the tallest in the country. This TT line seems to stink a bit -- maybe too easy.
Hot Forum Topics
