BracketBusters Preview
2/01/2011 by Tyler Smith
Friday, Feb. 18
7 p.m. - VCU at Wichita State (ESPN2): VCU 18 and 5 is currently in 1st in the CAA. Led by 6'9 Forward Jamie Skeen and Guard Bradford Burgess, The two combined for 28.5 points a game and 14 rebounds a game.There floor leader, Senior point guard Joey Rodriguez leads the team in assist with nearly 5 a game. Wichita St brings an all around attack from several players. J.T. Durley, David Kyles, and Toure' Murry are three guys that could lead the team in scoring any giving night. Wichita St is a deep team with 10 players averaging 13 or more minutes a game. Ill take Wichita State at home to win this one.
9 p.m. - Kent State at Drexel (ESPNU): Following the VCU vs Wichita State game, Kent at Drexel. Drexel has win over Louisville, Old Dominion, and Hofstra. There led by guard Chris Fouch, he is there go to guy to score for the Dragons. Down low they rely on Samme Givens to score and Rebound. Givens is small at 6'5 but he is a great re bounder. Kent State has struggled on the road. 6 of Kent's 7 losses have come on the road. They will rely heavily on Justin Greene to lead them to a victory at Drexel. The Greene VS Drexels front court is going to be the key to this match up. At the end of the day im taking Drexel.
Saturday, Feb. 19
11 a.m. - Hofstra at Wright State (ESPNU): Keeping of BracketBuster Saturday will be Hofstra and Charles Jenkins VS Wright St Guard duo N'Gai Evans and Vaughn Duggins. (seems like hes been there forever) Charles Jenkins is a top 15 guard in the country. Hes got a great build 6'3 220 and he can really score the ball. You will see him in the NBA next year. Slowing Down Jenkins is going to be key for the Raiders. Good luck with that as Jenkins has scored under 15, 1 time in 22 games.The Nutter Center will be filled with a good crowd but i see Hofstra taking the game.
1 p.m. - Austin Peay at Fairfield (ESPNU) The Governors at the Stags!(you dont hear that everyday) Austin Peay is a high scoring team at 75.7 PPG. Fairfield comes in averaging 64 a game. The key to the game will be if the Stags can play there stout defense vs the high scoring Austin Peay. Both teams are in first in there respected conferences. Ill take Autin Peay.
3 p.m. – Iona at Liberty (ESPNU) No Seth Curry, no problem for the flames, currently 10-1 in the Big South. Iona is sitting at 7-5 in the MAAC. Iona has some questionable losses on the road Bryant highlights them. Liberty doesnt have any questionable losses. I like Liberty to win this one the home floor.
5 p.m. – Missouri State at Valparaiso (ESPN2) Valparaiso currently sits in 2nd place in the Horizon League. Missouri State is holding on to 2nd place in the Missouri Valley Conference. Missouri St has 4 of its 5 losses on the road. Valpo has wins over Cleveland State, Butler, and IPFW all at home. The Crusader defend there home court for the win.
5 p.m. – Vermont at Charleston (ESPNU) Senior Andrew Goudelock is a must see. He can score with easy just ask Tennessee, he dropped 31 one in the victory over the Vols. Veromnt has been the staple of the American East conference for the past few years and will more then likely be in the tournament again this year. i like Goudelock to take over and win this game.(Charleston)
7 p.m. – George Mason at Northern Iowa (ESPN2) To NCAA Tournament Cinderella Stories. George Mason comes in with a 17-5 record. Northern Iowa 17-6. The Matchup will be exciting from the tip. UNI always brings a good home crowd. Its a toss up but ill take, UNI.
9 p.m. – Utah State at Saint Mary’s (ESPN2) Utah ST 21-2 vs Saint Mary's 18-4. This is one of the highlights of the BacketBuster. As of late, the Gaels have fallen on hard times with losses to Vanderbilt and Portland, Which are respectable losses. The Aggies are rolling with 16 straight wins. If this was a home game for Utah St i would pick them(there student section is amazing) but its at Saint Mary's.
11 p.m. – Montana at Long Beach State (ESPN2) A match up of two division leaders. LB ST leads the Big West and Montana leads the Big Sky. Ill take the Grizzlies.
Sunday, Feb. 20
1 p.m. - Cleveland State at Old Dominion (ESPN or ESPN2) This match up is going to be fun to watch! ODU swept the A-10 Beating Xavier, Richmond and Dayton. The Monarchs play tough defense. So do there Counterparts Cleveland State. Since the Gary Waters era a lot has changed but the thing that has stuck out the most is the defensive side of the ball. If ODU can get through the tough viking defense and not commit turnovers they will win. I see Gary Waters getting his team ready though. Ill take the Vikings.
Friday, Feb. 18
7 p.m. - VCU at Wichita State (ESPN2): VCU 18 and 5 is currently in 1st in the CAA. Led by 6'9 Forward Jamie Skeen and Guard Bradford Burgess, The two combined for 28.5 points a game and 14 rebounds a game.There floor leader, Senior point guard Joey Rodriguez leads the team in assist with nearly 5 a game. Wichita St brings an all around attack from several players. J.T. Durley, David Kyles, and Toure' Murry are three guys that could lead the team in scoring any giving night. Wichita St is a deep team with 10 players averaging 13 or more minutes a game. Ill take Wichita State at home to win this one.
9 p.m. - Kent State at Drexel (ESPNU): Following the VCU vs Wichita State game, Kent at Drexel. Drexel has win over Louisville, Old Dominion, and Hofstra. There led by guard Chris Fouch, he is there go to guy to score for the Dragons. Down low they rely on Samme Givens to score and Rebound. Givens is small at 6'5 but he is a great re bounder. Kent State has struggled on the road. 6 of Kent's 7 losses have come on the road. They will rely heavily on Justin Greene to lead them to a victory at Drexel. The Greene VS Drexels front court is going to be the key to this match up. At the end of the day im taking Drexel.
Saturday, Feb. 19
11 a.m. - Hofstra at Wright State (ESPNU): Keeping of BracketBuster Saturday will be Hofstra and Charles Jenkins VS Wright St Guard duo N'Gai Evans and Vaughn Duggins. (seems like hes been there forever) Charles Jenkins is a top 15 guard in the country. Hes got a great build 6'3 220 and he can really score the ball. You will see him in the NBA next year. Slowing Down Jenkins is going to be key for the Raiders. Good luck with that as Jenkins has scored under 15, 1 time in 22 games.The Nutter Center will be filled with a good crowd but i see Hofstra taking the game.
1 p.m. - Austin Peay at Fairfield (ESPNU) The Governors at the Stags!(you dont hear that everyday) Austin Peay is a high scoring team at 75.7 PPG. Fairfield comes in averaging 64 a game. The key to the game will be if the Stags can play there stout defense vs the high scoring Austin Peay. Both teams are in first in there respected conferences. Ill take Autin Peay.
3 p.m. – Iona at Liberty (ESPNU) No Seth Curry, no problem for the flames, currently 10-1 in the Big South. Iona is sitting at 7-5 in the MAAC. Iona has some questionable losses on the road Bryant highlights them. Liberty doesnt have any questionable losses. I like Liberty to win this one the home floor.
5 p.m. – Missouri State at Valparaiso (ESPN2) Valparaiso currently sits in 2nd place in the Horizon League. Missouri State is holding on to 2nd place in the Missouri Valley Conference. Missouri St has 4 of its 5 losses on the road. Valpo has wins over Cleveland State, Butler, and IPFW all at home. The Crusader defend there home court for the win.
5 p.m. – Vermont at Charleston (ESPNU) Senior Andrew Goudelock is a must see. He can score with easy just ask Tennessee, he dropped 31 one in the victory over the Vols. Veromnt has been the staple of the American East conference for the past few years and will more then likely be in the tournament again this year. i like Goudelock to take over and win this game.(Charleston)
7 p.m. – George Mason at Northern Iowa (ESPN2) To NCAA Tournament Cinderella Stories. George Mason comes in with a 17-5 record. Northern Iowa 17-6. The Matchup will be exciting from the tip. UNI always brings a good home crowd. Its a toss up but ill take, UNI.
9 p.m. – Utah State at Saint Mary’s (ESPN2) Utah ST 21-2 vs Saint Mary's 18-4. This is one of the highlights of the BacketBuster. As of late, the Gaels have fallen on hard times with losses to Vanderbilt and Portland, Which are respectable losses. The Aggies are rolling with 16 straight wins. If this was a home game for Utah St i would pick them(there student section is amazing) but its at Saint Mary's.
11 p.m. – Montana at Long Beach State (ESPN2) A match up of two division leaders. LB ST leads the Big West and Montana leads the Big Sky. Ill take the Grizzlies.
Sunday, Feb. 20
1 p.m. - Cleveland State at Old Dominion (ESPN or ESPN2) This match up is going to be fun to watch! ODU swept the A-10 Beating Xavier, Richmond and Dayton. The Monarchs play tough defense. So do there Counterparts Cleveland State. Since the Gary Waters era a lot has changed but the thing that has stuck out the most is the defensive side of the ball. If ODU can get through the tough viking defense and not commit turnovers they will win. I see Gary Waters getting his team ready though. Ill take the Vikings.
