12:00 PM EST-ESPN
13-3 (2-1) 22. Ohio State
at 11-4 (1-1) Indiana
13-3 (2-1) Ohio State
Solid Wins:
-Marquette 74-63 (Home)
-High Point 97-43 (Home)
-Wright State 100-55 (Home)
-Illinois 77-61 (Home)
Losses to Unranked Opponents:
-Iowa 71-65 (Big Ten Home Opener)
Last Game:
-Win Against Minnesota 74-72 in Overtime (Road)
Key Players:
---#0 D'Angelo Russell (FR)
-18.3 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 5.1 APG, & 1.8 SPG
---#2 Marc Loving (SO)
-12.3 PPG & 3.8 RPG.
---#12 Sam Thompson (SR)
-10.1 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 2.2 APG, & 1.0 SPG.
11-4 (1-1) Indiana
Solid Wins:
-#22 SMU 74-68 (Home)
-Pittsburgh 81-69 in ACC/Big 10 Challenge (Home)
-#23 Butler 82-73 (in Indianapolis)
-Nebraska 70-65 (Big Ten Opener on Road)
Losses to Unranked Opponents:
-Eastern Washington 88-86 (Home)
-Georgetown 91-87 in Overtime (Home)
Last Game:
-Loss to Michigan State 70-50 (Road)
Key Players:
---#1 James Blackmon Jr. (FR)
-16.6 PPG & 5.5 RPG.
---#11 Yogi Ferrell (JR)
-16.3 PPG, 3.7 RPG, & 4.9 APG
---#5 Troy Williams (SO)
-12.5 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 1.9 APG, & 1.2 SPG.
---#4 Robert Johnson (FR)
-9.7 PPG, 3.9 RPG, & 2.8 APG.
Prediction:
Both of these teams have very young stars, which I think could play as a disadvantage to Ohio State since they are the road team. Yet again, the Buckeyes had a quality win Tuesday after squandering a twelve point halftime lead at Minnesota. While the Buckeyes are coming off a high, the Hooisers are coming off a twenty point beat-down in East Lansing agianst the Michigan State Spartans. This afternoon I feel like whoever plays better between Ohio State's D'Angelo Russell or Indiana's James Blackmon Jr. will get his team the win. Both players have impressed me greatly in their Freshman seasons as they are both future NBA players in my eyes. Today, I believe Indiana will pull off the "upset" at home because I just do not see them losing two games straight with the talent on their roster.
---Indiana 75, Ohio State 73
4:15 PM EST
10-5 (2-0) Belmont
at 9-6 (3-0) Eastern Illinois
Team Resumés
10-5 (2-0) 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)
Last Game:
-Win Against SIU Edwardsville 73-69 (Home)
Key Players:
---#23 Craig Bradshaw (JR)
-20.6 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 2.8 APG, & 1.9 SPG.
---#35 Evan Bradds (SO)
-13.4 PPG & 5.7 RPG.
---#20 Taylor Barnette (SO)
-10.5 PPG & 2.4 RPG.
9-6 (3-0) Eastern Illinois
Solid Wins:
-Ball State 61-54 (Home)
-Northern Illinois 59-55 (Home)
-Indiana State 60-56 (Road)
-Cleveland State 67-65 (Road)
-Tennessee Tech 61-59 (Home)
-Jacksonville State 59-50 in Overtime (Home)
Power Six Conference Losses:
-Cincinnati 54-49 (Road)
-#23 Creighton 75-53 (Road)
Last Game:
-Tennessee State 64-57
Key Players:
---#35 Chris Olivier (JR)
-12.1 PPG & 5.1 RPG.
---#15 Trae Anderson (JR)
-11.2 PPG & 4.5 RPG.
---#5 Reggie Smith (SR)
-7.3 PPG & 2.4 RPG.
Prediction:
This is where Eastern Illinois' winning streak stops. Today the undefeated in conference play, Eastern Illinois Panthers host the, also undefeated in conference play, Belmont Bruins who have made the NCAA Tournament in three of the last four years. Eastern Illinois has really surprised me this season with their 3-0 start in conference play as their school has the history of not having a strong basketball program. The team with a memorable basketball heritage in this matchup is from Nashville, Tennessee. The Belmont Bruins feature one of the best scorers in the Midwest and arguably the best player in the conference in Craig Bradshaw. Bradshaw showed his scoring ability in his 42-point performance against the Ohio Bobcats. Some players don't score 42 points in two games yet alone one, but he did! Walking into Charleston, Illinois, with Bradshaw is two Evan Bradds and Trevor Barnette. Together Bradshaw, Bradds, and Barnette make up the "Triple B's" and they are a trio that has the capibility to dominate the Ohio Valley Conference. This afternoon, I believe that the Belmont Bruins will bring the EIU Panthers back down to reality and show them that it takes a little more than three wins with a combined record of 1-7 coming into today to rule the Ohio Valley Conference.
---Belmont 77, Eastern Illinois 62
8:00 PM EST-ESPN2
11-2 (1-0) 17. Iowa State
at 14-1 (2-0) 14. West Virginia
Team Resumés
11-2 (1-0) 17. Iowa State
Solid Wins:
-Georgia State 81-58 (Home)
-Alabama 84-74 in Semi-Final of CBE Classic.
-#18 Arkansas 95-77 in SEC/Big 12 Challenge (Home)
-Iowa 90-75 (Road)
Losses:
-Maryland 72-63 in Championship of CBE Classic.
-South Carolina 64-60 (in Brooklyn)
Last Game:
-Win Against Oklahoma State 63-61 (Home)
Key Players:
---#31 Georges Niang (JR)
-15.2 PPG, 5.5 RPG, & 3.8 APG
---#13 Bryce Dejean-Jones (SR)
-13.4 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 3.2 APG, & 1.7 SPG.
---#15 Naz Long (JR)
-12.8 PPG, 3.2 RPG, & 1.9 APG.
---#22 Dustin Hogue (SR)
-11.8 PPG & 4.9 RPG.
---#11 Monte Morris (SO)
-10.1 PPG, 3.5 RPG, & 5.3 APG.
14-1 (2-0) West Virginia
Solid Wins:
-Monmouth 64-54 (Home)
-Boston College 70-66 in Semi-Final of Puerto Rico Tip-Off.
-#17 Connecticut 78-68 in Championship of Puerto Rico Tip-Off.
-NC State 83-69 in Gotham Classic.
-Virginia Tech 82-51 (Home)
-TCU 78-67 (Road)
Only Loss:
-LSU 74-73 (Home)
Last Game:
-Win Against Texas Tech 78-67 (Road)
Key Players:
---#3 Juwan Staten (SR)
-16.1 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 4.0 APG, & 1.4 SPG.
---#5 Devin Williams (SO)
-10.6 PPG & 7.2 RPG.
---#1 Jonathan Holton (SR)
-10.4 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 1.7 SPG, & 1.1 BPG.
Prediction:
Which conference has the most ranked teams in the Associated Press's Top 25? The Big Ten? Maybe the ACC? Why doesn't anyone think the Big 12? The answer is the ACC and the Big 12 as they both have five teams ranked in the Top 25. 20% of the teams in the Top 25 is from the Big 12? News Flash...the teams are good in the Big 12! Tonight's matchup features two of the ranked teams from the conference as the Iowa State Cyclones and West Virginia Mountaineers showdown.
---Iowa State 67, West Virginia 63
PW's Prediction Record Coming into Today: 56-29 (10-5 in the MVC)
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