Happy New Years Everybody and to start 2015 let's forget about the Wisconsins, Virginias, and even the Kentuckys, so we can get back to the Mid-Majors programs. Today, is all mid-major action in Division One Men's Basketball with only one ranked school playing, the twenty-third ranked Northern Iowa Panthers of the Missouri Valley Conference (Evansville/Northern Iowa Game Preview is on MVC New Years Special). So sit back, relax, and watch the great College Bowl Games January first has to offer, but do not come complaining to me that when one of these mid-majors destroy your bracket in March.
2:00 PM EST
6-7 Southeast Missouri State
at 8-5 Belmont
Team Resumés
6-7 Southeast Missouri State
Solid Wins:
-Southern Illinois 55-54 (Home)
"Never Should Have Happened" Losses:
-All losses have came against superior opponents that were clearly better than SEMO.
Key Players:
---#23 Jarekious Bradley (SR)
-15.4 PPG & 4.5 RPG.
-He is the Redhawks best player and leader in points per game.
-Best Free Throw shooter at 90.3%.
-He shoots a high volume of shots at a low percentage as he is currently averaging a little over 14 shot attempts per game while shooting at an average of 37.6% from the field.
---#1 Nino Johnson (SR)
-10.3 PPG, 6.8 RPG, & 2.2 BPG.
-4-year player for Southeast Missouri State, 3-year contributor.
-Center and rim-protector of the Redhawks despite standing at only 6'9".
-He shoots by far the best percentage from the field (57.6%) (most likely because most of his shots are from close range) but shoots the worst on the team from the charity stripe (42.6%).
---#4 Antonius Cleveland (SO)
-10.1 PPG & 4.5 RPG.
-Started as a Freshman last year while averaging 9.1 PPG & 2.8 RPG.
-All three of his shooting averages have decreased since last season (48.2 FG%, 16.7 3P%, & 45.7 FT% this year.)
8-5 Belmont
Solid Wins:
-Western Kentucky 64-63 (Road)
-Ohio 83-81 (Road)
-Middle Tennessee 63-59 (Home)
"Never Should Have Happened" Losses:
-Wright State 73-70 (Road)
Key Players:
---#23 Craig Bradshaw (JR)
-19.6 PPG, 3.7 RPG, & 2.6 APG.
-He is the best player on the Bruins and is twentieth in the nation in points per game.
-Bradshaw injuried his right calf in Belmont's 63-59 over Middle Tennessee State. The injury caused him to miss the next three games, which all resulted in Bruins' losses.
-Pure scorer, that has the ability to shoot inside (51.9 FG%) and outside the arc (45.9 3P%), take his opponents off the dribble and even post them up.
-Scored 42 points in a 83-81 win over Ohio on November 29, which was a season high in NCAA Division One Men's Basketball at the time of performance.
---#35 Evan Bradds (SO)
-12.9 PPG & 5.3 RPG.
-Much improved and more aggresive player as a Sophomore.
-He is not an outside threat but shoots very well inside the arc (63.7%).
-He is the second part of my "Big Belmont B's" with Bradshaw and Barnette.
---#20 Taylor Barnette (SO)
-10.8 PPG, 2.3 RPG, & 1.9 APG.
-He is a three point specialist that takes a little under 80% of his shots from beyond the three point line.
-Does not get to the line much for free throws and averages only one attempt per game at 63.6%
Prediction:
Belmont struggled greatly without Bradshaw and Barnette due to injuries but with them being back in the lineup, I see the Bruins rolling on to 1-0 in conference play. Personally, Southeast Missouri State has been average this season and really needs their star, Jarekious Bradley, to have a big game to pull of the win in Nashville. A thing that concerns me for the Bruins is Bradshaw since returning from his injury. I understand that one of the two games with against a tough Butler Bulldogs squad but he had only averaged 13 points per game since returning to the lineup. Belmont will need more production from Bradshaw or the other two "B's" (Bradds & Barnette) to ensure a win this afternoon.
---Belmont 72, Southeast Missouri State 57
NOTE
Circle November 15th on your calenders as there is a possibility of both teams going into the matchup undefeated when Belmont travels to Murray State to take on the Racers.
4:00 PM EST
8-6 (0-2) Pacific
at 4-9 (0-1) Loyola Marymount
Team Resumés
8-6 (0-2) Pacific
Solid Wins
-Mercer 55-48 in 3rd Place Game of Great Alaska Shootout.
Conference Losses
-San Francisco 77-71
-Santa Clara 57-40
Key Players:
---#2 T.J. Wallace (SO)
-14.3 PPG, 6.0 RPG, & 2.5 APG.
---#5 Dulani Robinson (JR)
-11.0 PPG, 3.2 RPG, & 3.1 APG.
---#12 Eric Thompson (JR)
-8.4 PPG & 4.9 RPG
4-9 (0-1) Loyola Marymount
Solid Wins:
-DePaul 72-69 in 7th Place Game of Diamond Head Classic.
Conference Losses:
-Pepperdine 69-56 (Home)
Key Players:
---#1 Evan Payne (SO)
-19.7 PPG & 2.8 RPG.
---#24 Ayodeji Egbeyemi (SR)
-9.7 PPG & 3.9 RPG.
---#42 Marin Mornar (JR)
-7.5 PPG, 3.6 RPG, & 1.7 BPG.
Prediction:
In my opinion it will all come down to which Sophomore can score more Pacific's T.J. Wallace or LMU's Evan Payne. I feel like Payne is the better scorer of the two but on the other hand, I think Wallace is the better all-around, efficient player. Today, I think Wallace will shut down Payne on the offensive end since he is few inches taller but nevertheless the Lions have home court advantage, which will play a huge factor down the stretch.
---Pacific 65, Loyola Marymount 64
5:00 PM EST
11-4 (1-1) BYU
6-7 (1-1) Santa Clara
Team Resumés
11-4 (1-1) BYU
Solid Wins:
-Long Beach State 95-90 (Home Opener)
-Utah State 91-81 (Road)
-Hawaii 90-70 (in Salt Lake City)
-Stanford 79-77 (Home)
-Massachusetts 77-71 in Overtime (Home)
Non-Ranked Opponent Losses:
-Purdue 87-85 in Overtime in 5th Place Game of Maui Invitational.
Key Players:
---#3 Tyler Haws (SR)
-22.1 PPG, 4.3 RPG, & 2.6 APG.
---#20 Anson Winder (SR)
-14.9 PPG, 4.1 RPG, & 1.9 APG.
---#5 Kyle Collinsworth (JR)
-13.6 PPG, 7.8 RPG, & 5.6 APG.
---#1 Chase Fischer (JR)
-13.4 PPG, 2.0 RPG, & 2.5 APG.
6-7 (1-1) Santa Clara
Solid Wins:
-Rider 68-60 in 7th Place Game of Orlando Classic.
-Washington State (Home) 76-67
-Pacific (Road) 57-40
"Never Should Have Happened" Losses:
-Cal Poly 69-58 (Home)
Key Players:
---#3 Brandon Clark (SR)
-16.2 PPG, 3.8 RPG, & 4.3 APG.
---#23 Jared Brownridge (SO)
-15.2 PPG, 3.3 RPG, & 2.1 APG.
---#20 Denzel Johnson (SR)
-8.2 PPG & 3.4 RPG.
Prediction:
I cannot pick against Tyler Haws in his Senior seaon unless he plays a top-ten ranked team in the nation and last time I checked Santa Clara is not a top-ten ranked school in the country. There is no way BYU should lose today with their high-powered offense but the Cougars did refeive all five of last season's conference losses on the road. Today I am also looking forward to see how Santa Clara's Clark and Brownridge play against one of the best teams in the West Coast Conference. Lastly, who knows maybe Kyle Collinsworth will have another triple-double.
---BYU 77, Santa Clara 69
PW's Prediction Record so far: 35-19
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