Wednesday, November 28th, 7:00 p.m. (et)
FACTS & STATS: Site: Ted Constant Convocation Center (8,424) — Norfolk, Virginia. Television: Local. Home Record: Georgetown 2-0, Old Dominion 3-0. Away Record: Georgetown 1-0, Old Dominion 0-1. Neutral Record: Georgetown 0-0, Old Dominion 0-2. Conference Record: Georgetown 0-0, Old Dominion 0-0. Series Record: Old Dominion leads, 2-1.
GAME NOTES: The fifth-ranked Georgetown Hoyas will attempt to remain unbeaten on the season this evening, as they invade the Ted Constant Convocation Center to tangle with the Old Dominion Monarchs. The Hoyas are taking part in just their fourth game of the season and first in a week, as they disposed of Ball State on the road last time out in a 57-48 decision on November 21st. Prior to that contest, the Hoyas had knocked off William & Mary (68-53) and Michigan (74-52) at home. The Monarchs are already taking part in their seventh game of the year, splitting the first six. After opening the season with three wins in the first four games, the Monarchs found the going quite rough last week in Nevada, as part of the Las Vegas Invitational, falling to top-ranked North Carolina (99-82) and then sixth-ranked Louisville (64-53). This is the fourth all-time meeting between these two teams. Old Dominion has taken a 2-1 series advantage thanks to a 75-62 win in McDonough Arena a year ago.
The Hoyas are a defensive-minded team and that certainly reflects the philosophy of head coach John Thompson III. The team likes to get physical up and down the court and the result is a scoring defense yielding just 51.0 ppg. Georgetown is holding foes well under 40 percent shooting overall (.355) and under 30 percent from long range (.284). In addition, the team is outrebounding opponents by eight caroms per outing. All-American candidate Roy Hibbert leads the way from his center position. One of the top big men in the nation, Hibbert is off to a nice start this year, leading the team in scoring (17.0 ppg), rebounding (7.0 rpg) and blocked shots (10). Jessie Sapp provides adequate perimeter support (13.7 ppg), while doling out a team-high 5.0 apg. Behind 16 points from Hibbert last week, the Hoyas were able to remain unbeaten, holding off a tough Ball State program. Hibbert was joined in double figures by Sapp and DaJuan Summers, who chipped in with 11 points apiece.
The Monarchs are not a team to take lightly. Although they did not win a game in Las Vegas last week, they were able to put forth a solid offensive effort against the Tar Heels (82 points scored), as well as a defensive one against Louisville (64 points allowed). In the loss to the Cardinals, sophomore Gerald Lee did his best to lead his team to victory, netting a career-high 20 points, on 8-of-11 shooting. Brian Henderson hit four three-pointers to add 14 points to the cause, but the well dried up after that, as the remaining starters combined for just six points, all by Marsharee Neely. Lee and Henderson have been the top offensive threats for Old Dominion in the early stages of the season, averaging 12.2 and 10.2 ppg, respectively. Lee is converting a solid 61.2 percent of his shots and also leads the team in rebounding with seven boards per game.
Wednesday, November 28th, 7:00 p.m. (et).
FACTS & STATS: Site: Breslin Center (14,759) — East Lansing, Michigan. Television: ESPN. Home Record: NC State 1-1, Michigan State 3-0. Away Record: NC State 0-0, Michigan State 0-0. Neutral Record: NC State 3-0, Michigan State 1-1. Conference Record: NC State 0-0, Michigan State 0-0. Series Record: NC State leads, 5-1.
GAME NOTES: The 23rd-ranked NC State Wolfpack have traveled to East Lansing for a matchup with the Michigan State Spartans as part of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. NC State figures to enter this contest with plenty of confidence, as the club is coming off a 69-68 victory over Villanova in the championship game of the Old Spice Classic. The Wolfpack have now posted three consecutive victories since their only defeat of the young season, a two-point setback against New Orleans. Michigan State has won 29 straight non-conference games at the Breslin Center, a streak that will be on the line this evening. Like the Wolfpack, the Spartans own a 4-1 overall record, and they are coming off Saturday’s 75-71 victory over Oakland, a game that was much more competitive than expected. NC State owns a 5-1 lead in the all-time series with Michigan State, but the Spartans won the only previous meeting in East Lansing. The teams haven’t met since the first round of the 2002 NCAA Tournament.
J.J. Hickson is averaging 18.0 ppg and 8.0 rpg while shooting 75 percent from the floor, tremendous numbers for the 6-9 freshman. While he has clearly been the most productive player at the offensive end for the Wolfpack, it should be noted that Courtney Fells, Gavin Grant and Brandon Costner all own an identical scoring average of 10.8 ppg. NC State is netting 66.6 ppg as a team while limiting foes to 60.8 ppg on 35.4 percent shooting from the floor. In the narrow victory over Villanova on Sunday, Fells scored 21 points on the strength of a 4-of-6 effort from three-point range. Grant and Hickson tallied 15 points apiece, while Ben McCauley netted 10 points. It was Grant’s free throws with less than a second remaining that won the game. Costner only had two points in that contest, far below what he is capable of. The Wolfpack overcame 22 turnovers with 53.5 percent shooting from the field.
Michigan State is scoring 78.6 ppg this season on 50.2 percent shooting from the floor, and the club is limiting opponents to 68.0 ppg on 38.0 percent efficiency. The Spartans have done an outstanding job on the boards, outrebounding foes by 11.4 rpg. Raymar Morgan has been the most productive offensive performer for the squad, as he is netting 17.4 ppg on 60 percent shooting from the field. As for Drew Neitzel, he is netting 14.6 ppg and dishing out 4.6 apg while knocking down half of his three-point attempts. Against Oakland on Saturday, Goran Suton posted 15 points and a career-high 20 rebounds. Morgan scored 20 points in that contest for the Spartans, who earned a 41-33 rebounding advantage and a 23-9 edge in points from the foul line.
Wednesday, November 28th, 7:00 p.m. (et)
FACTS & STATS: Site: Cintas Center (10,250) — Cincinnati, Ohio. Television: Local. Home Record: Oakland 2-1, Xavier 2-0. Away Record: Oakland 0-2, Xavier 0-1. Neutral Record: Oakland 0-0, Xavier 2-0. Conference Record: Oakland 0-0, Xavier 0-0. Series Record: Xavier leads, 2-0.
GAME NOTES: The 23rd-ranked Xavier Musketeers put their new ranking on the line this evening, as they play host to the Oakland Grizzlies at the Cintas Center in the Queen City. The Musketeers jumped into the top-25 this week thanks in large part to Saturday’s 80-65 pasting of then eighth-ranked Indiana in the championship game of the Chicago Invitational. The victory was the fourth in five games for Xavier this year and the third straight entering this contest. Trying to halt Xavier’s momentum will be an Oakland team in desperate need of a big win. The team has wins over Adrian and Eastern Michigan this season, but has dropped two straight games, including a 75-71 heartbreaker at Michigan State on Saturday. Xavier has won both prior meetings with Oakland, with the last coming in 2004.
The Grizzlies are certainly a formidable offensive team, as they are averaging a solid 79.0 ppg, despite shooting just .414 from the floor overall. The team has yet to find its groove from the floor or from the free-throw line for that matter (.568). The futility from the charity stripe is a bit concerning considering the team ranked fourth nationally last season in free-throw percentage. Still, there is every reason to believe that this team will snap out of its cold shooting thus far. Derick Nelson and Brandon Cassie are quite the one-two punch offensively, with Nelson leading the team in both scoring (18.8 ppg) and rebounding (9.0 rpg), with Cassie not far behind (17.8 ppg). Johnathon Jones (11.2 ppg) gives the team a third option. In the close loss to Michigan State, Cassie led the way with 20 points, thanks to five three- pointers. Nelson was right behind with a near double-double of 19 points and nine rebounds. Jones chipped in with 10 points and seven assists. The Grizzlies were outrebounded 41-33 and outscored at the free-throw line 23-9, two main reasons preventing the upset of the Spartans.
The way with which the Musketeers dispatched the Hoosiers this weekend, certainly has to give this team a huge boost of confidence as the Atlantic 10 schedule looms ahead. Junior B.J. Raymond was outstanding in the win, posting his first career double-double with career-highs of 19 points and 10 rebounds. C.J. Anderson joined Raymond for top scoring honors with 19 points of his own, adding eight rebounds and four assists for an impressive statline. Drew Lavender and Josh Duncan chipped in with 13 and 12 points, respectively. Xavier possesses a balanced offensive attack that averages 80.6 ppg. Five players are averaging double figures, led by Anderson and Raymond at 13.6 ppg each. Duncan is next in line with 12.8 ppg, with Derrick Brown (11.4 ppg) and Lavender (10.8 ppg) rounding things out.
Wednesday, November 28th, 8:00 p.m. (et)
FACTS & STATS: Site: Allen Fieldhouse (16,300) — Lawrence, Kansas. Television: Local. Home Record: Florida Atlantic 0-0, Kansas 5-0. Away Record: Florida Atlantic 0-3, Kansas 0-0. Neutral Record: Florida Atlantic 1-2, Kansas 0-0. Conference Record: Florida Atlantic 0-0, Kansas 0-0. Series Record: First-ever meeting.
GAME NOTES: The fourth-ranked Kansas Jayhawks close out a season-opening six- game homestand this evening, as they welcome the Florida Atlantic Owls to Lawrence for a non-conference affair at the Allen Fieldhouse. Kansas had breezed through the first four games of the season, posting double-digit wins in each outing. However, the team got a real test last time out, edging out a tough Arizona squad in overtime, 76-72. KU’s 5-0 start is its first since the 2004-05 season. The Owls are at the other end of the basketball spectrum, wining just once in the first six games. FSU enters this game with a three- game losing streak in tow, including a 77-66 setback at UMKC on Monday. This game marks the first-ever meeting between these two teams on the hardwood. FAU coach Rex Walters will return to his alma mater, where he won two Big Eight Championships and was part of the 1993 Final Four team.
Carlos Monroe was outstanding last time out, hitting 10-of-17 of his shots, en route to a 26-point performance. He completed a double-double with 13 rebounds, but the monster game was not enough in an 11-point loss to UMKC. Jeff Parmer added 12 points to the cause, but the Owls were outrebounded 36-32 and allowed the Kangaroos to knock down 13 three-pointers. The team also played without the services of standout junior guard Paul Graham III, who missed his first game of the season. Offensively, the team was paced by Graham (17.8 ppg) in the first five games, but he has been suspended for conduct detrimental to the team. The 6-8 Monroe has been a force inside and will now need to step up and take more of a leadership role. Monroe is currently averaging a double-double with 17.2 points and 10.7 rebounds per game. The scoring pool dries up after that, as FAU is averaging just 65.7 ppg. To make matters worse, the team is allowing a whopping 78.8 ppg and a -13.2 scoring margin is certainly no recipe for success.
The Jayhawks are outscoring their opponents by 25.8 points per game, so it is clear that this talented group is getting it done at both ends of the court. Kansas is averaging a steady 89.4 ppg and definitely has the kind of scoring depth needed to beat even the most explosive offensive teams. Even without the services of talented sophomore Sherron Collins (16.0 ppg), there is still plenty of scoring options to choose from. Forward Darrell Arthur is a force down low, averaging 15.0 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. Darnell Jackson aids the cause up front with 10.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. The backcourt has a number of versatile performers with Mario Chalmers (12.4 ppg, 6.0 apg), Brandon Rush (10.0 ppg), Rodrick Stewart (8.2 ppg) and Russell Robinson (8.0 ppg, 4.0 apg) all delivering at times this year. In the thrilling win over Arizona, Arthur led the offensive charge with a team-high 20 points. Rush accounted for 17 points , while Chalmers and Stewart tallied 14 and 13 points, respectively. Despite shooting a miserable 2-of-10 from behind the arc, the Jayhawks still finished an impressive 50 percent from the floor overall. In addition, KU forced Arizona into 25 costly turnovers, turning them into 22 points.
Wednesday, November 28th, 8:00 p.m. (et).
FACTS & STATS: Site: Frank Erwin Center (16,496) — Austin, Texas. Television: Local. Home Record: Texas Southern 0-0, Texas 3-0. Away Record: Texas Southern 1-4, Texas 0-0. Neutral Record: Texas Southern 0-0, Texas 2-0. Conference Record: Texas Southern 0-0, Texas 0-0. Series Record: Texas leads, 1-0.
GAME NOTES: In what appears to be an extremely lopsided matchup, the eighth- ranked Texas Longhorns welcome the Texas Southern Tigers to the Lone Star State capital for a non-conference clash. Not much has gone right for Texas Southern this season, as the team enters this game with a 1-4 record. The Tigers were most recently in action on Saturday against Kentucky on the road, and that tilt resulted in an embarrassing 83-35 defeat. Considering that tonight’s game presents an even stiffer challenge in regard to competition level, it is hard to imagine Texas Southern entering with much confidence. Texas is off to a tremendous start, as the team has won its first five games, all by 15 or more points. On Saturday, the Longhorns cruised to a 97-78 decision over a strong Tennessee squad in the championship game of the StubHub Legends Classic. They are averaging nearly 100 points over the last three games, as generating offense has not been a problem. Texas routed the Tigers in the only previous meeting between the two teams, taking a 90-50 decision in Austin one year ago to the day.
The stats from the Kentucky game are downright embarrassing for Texas Southern, which shot 20.8 percent from the floor, including 2-of-20 from three-point range. The Tigers finished that contest with only four assists against 23 turnovers and permitted the Wildcats to make good on 61.1 percent of their field goal attempts. Leading the way in the ugly defeat was David Burrell, as he was the only Texas Southern player to reach double figures with 11 points. The four other starters for the squad managed only 16 combined points, and Matthew Miller was held scoreless on 0-of-7 shooting from the floor. Norwood is scoring 16.8 ppg, but he is shooting only 32.4 percent from the floor.
Four players are scoring in double figures for Texas this season, and A.J. Abrams leads the pack with 22.8 ppg on 58.3 percent shooting from the floor, including 55.6 percent efficiency from three-point range. D.J. Augustin checks in with 17.0 ppg on 54.4 percent shooting from the field, and he has dished out 39 assists in only five contests. Connor Atchley is contributing 12.4 ppg, and Justin Mason rounds out the foursome with his 11.2 ppg. Texas is putting up 86.0 ppg on 56.7 percent shooting from the floor, including a stellar 52 percent efficiency from behind the three-point arc. Defensively, the squad is limiting foes to 59.2 ppg on 34.3 percent shooting from the field. The four double-digit scorers all scored more than 20 points apiece in the victory over Tennessee last time out, a feat rarely achieved in college basketball. Texas connected on 63.6 percent of its field goal attempts in that contest, including a 10-of-20 showing from three-point range.
Wednesday, November 28th, 9:00 p.m. (et).
FACTS & STATS: Site: Reed Arena (12,500) — College Station, Texas. Television: ESPNU. Home Record: Alabama 2-1, Texas A&M 4-0. Away Record: Alabama 1-0, Texas A&M 0-0. Neutral Record: Alabama 0-0, Texas A&M 2-0. Conference Record: Alabama 0-0, Texas A&M 0-0. Series Record: Alabama leads, 6-1.
GAME NOTES: The ninth-ranked Texas A&M Aggies of the Big 12 Conference will host the Alabama Crimson Tide of the SEC tonight at Reed Arena in College Station. Alabama has won three of its first four outings, but the team hasn’t exactly played what anyone would consider stiff competition. The lone loss came at home to Belmont, and in the most recent outing against Southern Miss, the Tide barely managed a 79-77 win. As for Texas A&M, it owns a perfect 6-0 record that includes five double-digit victories. The Aggies flexed their muscle last time out with a 70-47 thrashing of Ohio State in the championship game of the NIT Season Tip-Off. They also handled Washington rather easily and appear to be every bit as good as their high national ranking suggests. Alabama holds a 6-1 series lead over Texas A&M, and the most recent meeting took place in 1999.
It is obvious through the first four games of the season that Richard Hendrix is the go-to guy for Alabama at the offensive end. Hendrix is averaging 23.8 ppg on his staggering 71.2 percent shooting from the floor, and that average would be even more impressive if not for 55.3 percent efficiency from the foul line. Alonzo Gee checks in with 15.0 ppg and 8.5 rpg, and Mykal Riley adds 13.0 ppg for the Tide. Alabama is netting 84.0 ppg as a team on 48.9 percent shooting from the field, and the club is permitting 79.2 ppg to the opposition. Rebounding has clearly been an area of strength for the Tide, as they are pulling down 10.2 rpg more than their foes. Gee posted 25 points in the narrow victory over Southern Miss on Friday, and Hendrix finished that game with 20 points, 11 rebounds and three blocked shots. Riley added 15 points for Alabama, which committed only eight turnovers in the clash.
Strong defense and rebounding have been key to the success of Texas A&M thus far, as the team is pulling down 13.1 rpg more than the opposition while limiting foes to 58.0 ppg on 36.5 percent shooting from the floor. At the offensive end, the well-balanced Aggies are scoring 75.5 ppg on 48.9 percent shooting. Josh Carter leads A&M with 13.0 ppg on the strength of his 40 percent efficiency from three-point range. Joseph Jones checks in with 11.5 ppg, and DeAndre Jordan adds 10.3 ppg and 8.5 rpg. Amazingly, Jordan has connected on 29-of-33 field goal attempts. The Aggies limited Ohio State to 24.1 percent shooting from the floor and outrebounded the Buckeyes by a 46-30 count. Four players scored in double figures for A&M in what was a balanced offensive showing.
Wednesday, November 28th, 9:00 p.m. (et)
FACTS & STATS: Site: Value City Arena (19,049) — Columbus, Ohio. Television: ESPN. Home Record: North Carolina 2-0, Ohio St. 3-0. Away Record: North Carolina 0-0, Ohio St. 0-0. Neutral Record: North Carolina 3-0, Ohio St. 1-1. Conference Record: North Carolina 0-0, Ohio St. 0-0. Series Record: North Carolina leads, 8-2.
GAME NOTES: One of the games in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge takes place in Columbus this evening, as the top-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels come calling on the Ohio State Buckeyes. Roy Williams’ Tar Heels have won each of their first five games to start the 2007-08 season, including knocking off BYU (73-63) in last week’s championship game of the Las Vegas Invitational. The Buckeyes aren’t undefeated like UNC, but they aren’t far off the mark, having captured wins in four of the team’s first five games. The lone loss came in the championship game of the NIT Season Tip-Off in New York, as OSU got routed by nationally-ranked Texas A&M, 70-47. The team bounced back however, with Sunday’s 90-57 pasting of Virginia Military. The Buckeyes aren’t in awe of taking on top-ranked programs. In fact, OSU has won six of its last seven matchups with the nation’s number one ranked team. OSU though, has struggled in this event, going just 1-4 in five previous games in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. The Tar Heels haven’t fared much better, with a 3-5 overall mark. North Carolina has won eight of the last nine meetings with Ohio State though, including a shootout win in last year’s event (98-89).
The Tar Heels may just have the most talented team in the country and it has certainly shown in the early going thus far. The team is averaging a robust 92.2 ppg this season, getting it done on a solid .524 shooting. Defensively, the team has been impressive as well, limiting opponents to just 69.8 ppg, while forcing a whopping 21.2 turnovers per outing. It all starts with All- American forward Tyler Hansbrough. The ultra-talented junior is shooting a scorching .607 from the floor this year and leads the team in both scoring (23.0 ppg) and rebounding (9.0 rpg). Wayne Ellington provides fireworks from long range, averaging 17.0 ppg, while delivering on 48 percent of his three- point opportunities (12-of-25). Danny Green has been superb off the bench, adding 13.2 ppg, while point guard Ty Lawson is both a scorer (10.6 ppg) and deft distributor (team-high 24 assists). In the win over BYU last time out, it was once again Hansbrough leading the way, scoring 21 points. Ellington poured in 15 points, while Green once again provided a spark off the bench with 14 points.
The Buckeyes probably lack the offensive arsenal to hang with North Carolina in a shootout, but the team does provide the kind of defensive pressure that could slow down the high-flying Tar Heels. So far on the season, opponents are netting just 62.8 ppg, shooting under 40 percent from the floor (.370) and under 30 percent from behind the arc (.270). The team does a decent job in putting points on the scoreboard, as three Buckeyes are currently averaging double figures. Kosta Koufos is the team’s top scorer and rebounder, averaging 18.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per game. Sharpshooter Jamar Butler gives the team balance with his perimeter play. Butler is averaging 15.6 ppg, while shooting 51.4 percent from long range (19-of-37). David Lighty rounds out the double-digit threats, with 10.2 ppg. Koustos was unstoppable in the recent win over VMI, as he abused the Keydets in the paint to the tune of 22 points and 14 rebounds. Butler added 12 points thanks to four three-pointers. In the process, Butler became the school’s all-time leader in three point baskets (138). Lighty chipped in with 11 points, while Evan Turner and Matt Terwilliger came off the bench to tally 10 points each.
Wednesday, November 28th, 10:30 p.m. (et)
FACTS & STATS: Site: Pauley Pavilion (12,800) — Los Angeles, California. Television: FSN Prime Ticket. Home Record: George Washington 2-0, UCLA 4-0. Away Record: George Washington 0-1, UCLA 0-0. Neutral Record: George Washington 0-0, UCLA 2-0. Conference Record: George Washington 0-0, UCLA 0-0. Series Record: First-ever meeting.
GAME NOTES: Winners of six straight to open the 2007-8 season, the second- ranked UCLA Bruins put their flawless record on the line this evening, as they host the George Washington Colonials in non-conference action at Pauley Pavilion. Ben Howland’s team already has some big wins on the season, including capturing the CBE Classic title with a 68-63 victory over Michigan State last week. More recently, the team routed Yale over the weekend, 81-47. Karl Dobb’s Colonials are 2-1 on the young season. GW opened the new campaign with home wins against Mount St. Mary’s (77-62) and Boston University (69-56). However, the team traveled to Maryland-Baltimore County this past weekend and dropped an 89-79 decision. This game marks the first-ever meeting between these two teams.
The Colonials have played this season without the services of starting point guard Travis King, who is out the entire year due to injury. Despite not settling on any one player at the point, GW has still been able to generate a steady 75.0 ppg. The frontcourt is the strength of this team, with forwards Rob Diggs and Wynton Witherspoon leading the way. Diggs is shooting .615 from the floor thus far and paces the team with 20.0 ppg. He is also has a team- high seven blocks thus far and is second on the team in rebounding (8.3 rpg). Witherspoon is next in terms of scoring (15.0 ppg) and ranks third in rebounding (5.3 rpg) and first in steals (6). Damian Hollis adds to the low post dominance with 9.3 points and a team-high 8.7 rebounds per game. In the 10-point loss to the Retrievers, Witherspoon scored a team-high 21 points. Diggs poured in 19, followed by Hollis and Xavier Alexander, who chipped in with 10 points each. Still, the Colonials were beaten up on the boards (42-32) and hit just five three-pointers compared to 12 treys for UMBC.
The Bruins certainly like the physical aspects of the game and should be able to match GW’s frontcourt intensity throughout this matchup. Freshman center Kevin Love has proved to be one of the premiere big men in the nation in the early going. The 6-10 phenom leads the team in both scoring and rebounding, averaging a double-double with 19.3 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. Guards Josh Shipp and Russell Westbrook provide plenty of perimeter balance, with 15.5 and 12.3 ppg, respectively. This is not a team that relies on explosive offensive play, averaging a modest 74.7 ppg. However, defensive pressure is something this team thrives on, limiting foes to just 51.7 ppg. The team also boasts a +12.2 rebounding edge and is forcing 19 turnovers per game. In the team’s 34-point win over Yale, the Bruins shot .547 from the floor and placed four players in double figures. Love and Westbrook led the way with 15 points apiece. Luc Richard Mbah a Moute posted a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Shipp added 12 points in the winning effort.
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