Just some quick notes today.
Big game in the CAA tonight and one that most CAA fans would not have thought would be this important this season is UNCW (14-8,7-3 CAA) plays at William and Mary (11-9, 7-3 CAA) tonight at 7pm for at least a share of second place in the conference (depending on how George Mason does at JMU earlier in the day). No one would have thought the Tribe would be playing for second place in the CAA after an 0-2 conference start and 4-8 overall, but they have won seven of their last eight in conference. The Tribe do it by solid defense as they are second in the CAA in Field Goal Percentage defense. They also use the three to their advantage as they are the third in the CAA in Three Point Field Goal Percentage and also have the most three point field goal attempts in the league with 431 (making 134 for a 36.4 percentage). Nathan Mann shoots 41 percent from three with 115 attempts for the Tribe.
UNCW has finally seem to find a consistent stride, having won five in a row in conference. Unlike the Tribe, the Seahawks do it with offense. UNCW is second in conference scoring averaging 73 points per game and lead the CAA in field goal percentage at 47.3 percent and free throw shooting at 76.6 percent.
This is due in large part to four Seahawks players averaging in double figures led by TJ Carter at 16 points per game (Vladimir Kuljanin, Daniel Fountain and Todd Hendley are the other three Seahawks in double figures).
An interesting stat to look for in tonight's game is that UNCW is next to last in the league in scoring defense at 72 points per game due in large part to being tenth in the league at three point field goal percentage defense at 44.8 percent. In fact they have given up the most three point field goal attempts in conference with 1291, a stat that bodes well for the long distance shooting Tribe.
In other Mid Major news, the ESPN Bracketbuster February 23 TV schedule will be announced on Monday. Most likely look for Drake to play at Butler as the featured game in the BracketBuster since both teams are ranked so highly. Another distinct possibility is seeing either one of the CAA teams, VCU or George Mason to go out and play St Mary's and the other CAA team to go play at Illinois State, since I think ESPN wants to match up the two mid major conferences that have had multiple bids the last two years, the CAA and Missouri Valley. Other possibilities are Davidson playing either Ohio or Akron (with Creighton getting the other MAC team of the two) and Kent State playing at Oral Roberts.
By the way, I am seeing Joe Lunardi get a lot of email grief from college basketball fans opposed to his #4 seeding of Drake. To those folks I simply say the Bulldogs have a #9 RPI, a 19-1 record, and an undefeated record in the Missouri Valley. I think those are worthy enough of a #4 seed at this moment.
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