Wednesday NCAAB

Temple @ Buffalo

My Temple Owls roll into Alumni Arean tonight looking to keep their perfect record in tact as they face the 2-5 Bulls.  With quality wins against Kent State, Rice, and a very tough Delaware team on Sunday the Owls sit at 3-0.  This is their best start since 2000 and they have won those 3 games by an average of 11 ppg.  Offensively the Owls are generating 79 ppg behind 47% FG shooting and 30% from beyond the arc.  At the charity stripe they are connecting on 72%, but this number must improve as the competition gets tougher.  They are averaging 17 assist per game to go along with 34 boards.  Temple takes the floor with 4 of it's 5 starters averaging double digit points and they are led by Scootie Randall and his 21.7 ppg.  Khalif Wyatt (my favorite Owl) is putting up 14.7 ppg while Anthony Lee and Hollis-Jefferson are both contributing with 12.7 and 10.3 ppg respectively.  More impressive however is the fact that Lee and Hollis-Jefferson are both above 70% FG.  While Buffalo is averaging 68 ppg if we take out their win against Division II Mansfield they are actually only scoring at a 60 ppg clip.  Herein lies their problem tonight.  To only put up 60 ppg against the likes of W Illinois, Yale, and Canisius is not going to bode well against an aggresive defensive team like Temple.  Buffalo is a full 13 ppg behind their average last year (not counting Mansfield) which was at 73 ppg.  They have been below 40% FG three times this young season and only have one player averaging DD points per game.  That player is Junior Javon McCrea and not only does he lead the team in scoring at 17 ppg but he also leads the team on the boards at 6.1 RPG.  Unfortunately for Buffalo one man is not going to beat Temple.  Look for the Owls to carry this one from start to finish and look for an 8-12 point margin in the end.

Temple Owls -6       50 Units

But, what the hell do I know? 

tennistudly - BOL with your play sir.  I feel confident in the Owls tonight. 

George Washington @ James Madison

The GW Colonials hit the road tonight for a matchup with the 1-4 JMU Dukes.  JMU can sum all of its problems up in one word....Defense.  While averaging 65 ppg thus far the Dukes are giving up 80 ppg defensively.  In its last 2 (both losses) against ND State andMiami-OH the Dukes have mustered only 51 ppg.  JMU is allowing opposing teams to connect on 52% of their FG as well as 43% from beyond the arc.  They are being outscored by almost 15 ppg and are losing the battle on the glass as well by a 4 RPG margin.  GW is the tale of two teams even though we are so early in the season.  In their last 4 GW has put up 76 PPG in it's wins and only 52 PPG in it's losses.  That 24 PPG swing has coach Lonergan scratching his head! 

The key to this game is simple....which GW team shows up?  Based on JMU's inability to play defense I feel that the GW team that averaged 76 PPG shows up tonight despite being on the road.

George Washington +2       25 Units

Good luck PIDI!!! I remember following you back in '07 and '08, while you tore up the NBA. Welcome back.

2-0-0   +75 Units

But, what the hell do I know? 

Hey nice work yersterday. I sent you a friend request. Anything today?