Wishing I was somewhere warm

In order to prevent my fingers from being amputated, and to entertain you, I have decided to share with you my predictions for tonight’s slate of CAA action. This requires typing which should, in theory, warm my hands. Monday’s CAA action featured a little bit of everything. The Huskies, missing 3 starters, one of which being 2009-2010 runner up Player of the Year Chaisson Allen, nearly took down 10-3 James Madison. Hofstra upset Drexel at the DAC. W&M’s woes continued falling to UNCW. ODU barely escaped at Towson. And Georgia State improved to 2-0 in CAA play with a win over VCU. That’s last years #2, 3, 5, and 6 seeds losing with the #1 almost taking the L. We’ve all heard any team can win on any given night and Monday proved it. So how about Wednesday?

Game of the Night – George Mason at Hofstra

Charles Jenkins is 23.5 points per game good

Both teams atop the CAA standings at 2-0. Mason has home wins over UNCW and Delaware. Hofstra has wins at Drexel and at home vs Towson. The Pride are coming fresh off a 75-69 victory in Philly. They seem to have the momentum in this one and it’s hard to pick against a team that has Charles Jenkins (even though I find myself picking against them all the time). Both teams are talented are both have pretty good role players. But Mason ranks first in CAA scoring and scoring defense. The Pride have a chance though if they can get to the line. Mason ranks last in free throw percentage while The Fighting Mo’s sit on top. Both teams sit in the middle of every other category. Jenkins needs to be selfish this game, but not high school selfish, smart selfish. Litos has Hofstra 66-65. Give me Mason 77-73 in OT, only on the basis that Hofstra has yet to play a high powered offense.

Georgia State at UNC-Wilmington

Georgia State's team is finally more scary than their mascot

Easily the most deceiving game on the schedule. In what has recently been a bottom-feeder special, GSU enters this game 2-0 in CAA play with wins over James Madison and VCU. No typo there. Wilmington enters this one playing better than expected and comes in with a big loss to Mason and a slight victory over William & Mary. They are in all sorts of bad across the board in national categories while Georgia State comes with decent numbers across the board. Tonight’s difference maker? The Panthers’ Erick Buckner. As Litos a CAAhoops pointed out, Buckner is 33 for 39 from the field in his last couple games. Combined with Eric Buckner who dropped 28 on VCU, UNCW might be a bit worried here. Georgia State also leads the CAA in steals. As long as Wilmington has more turnovers than Georgia State, Rod Barnes might actually be able to start this year 3-0. When was the last time that happened? Litos has the Panthers by 2, 57-55. I’ll agree. Just give me more points for both. Georgia State 69 Wilmington 61.

Battle of the Recently Upset Fan Bases – Drexel at VCU

VCU needs Bradford Burgess to have a big night

You can be damn sure that neither team wants to lose this game. Granted no team wants to lose any game, but there aren’t two fan-bases who would do more to get back on the W train. On Monday, both those trains derailed, crashed, burned, leaked fuel, spilled chemicals, and then some. Think about every bad movie involving a train and then add the depression that comes with watching an episode of Intervention. VCU loses by 10 to Georgia State. Drexel falls from first place after a nut-punching loss to the Long Island Boys. Come to think of it, this actually might be the game of the night. Good thing this one’s on TV. Tune in if you can. The difference in this game? VCU doesn’t lose at home (except to Northeastern). Rams get back to their winning ways, Drexel fans get back to criticizing Bruiser. Litos has got his Rams 69 Drexel 65. Exactly what I was going to pick so give me VCU 68 Drexel 64.

Huskies at Old Dominion

How will Ryan Pierson handle ODU's inside presence?

We all saw/listened to what Northeastern nearly pulled off in Harrisonburg. But JMU doesn’t play defense. ODU does. ODU also rebounds very well. Very well as in one of the best in the country. The Huskies need to be efficient on the scoring end. Anything less than 50% shooting from the field probably equates to a Huskies loss. Northeastern also cannot get dominated in offensive rebounds. Lots of second chances for the Monarchs also probably equates to an L. Being real, no one really had Northeastern beating JMU or ODU. But we saw that even without Chase Allen, Alwayne Bigby, and Vinny Lima, the Huskies can still ball. And if there ever was a time to take down ODU, it’s this, right after the Monarchs were nearly bested by Towson. They’re vulnerable and the dogs are underdogs once again. Litos has ODU 18, Monarchs 76 Huskies 58.

William & Mary at Delaware

Root for the bird

William & Mary is bad. 0-2 to start CAA play and while they may eek out a win here and there, things do not look good in Williamsburg. Delaware enters playing good basketball, but they were just outplayed by a better team in Mason. William & Mary is not a better team. I can’t find one good reason to maybe take the Tribe. CAAhoops= UD 72 W&M 60. Like the double-figure victory. Delaware 71 W&M 58.

Towson at James Madison

The Dukes barely escaped Northeastern and their only CAA loss to Georgia State isn’t looking that bad given GSU’s latest performance. Towson gave ODU one hell of a scare but we’re just not sure that the Tigers have anything left in the tank. Just like Northeastern, the sooner they can get out of Virginia the better. Kennedy doesn’t have anyone that can defend Julius Wells from 3, never mind the Dukes’ 3 other double-digit scorers. Bet on JMU to win big. Litos has JMU 80 Towson 65. Makes sense to me. Give me Madison 81 Towson 63.

So that wraps up tonight’s games. You can listen to the ODU-Northeastern game live at wrbbsports.com. Rumor is you might be able to find the game on channelsurfing.net if you’d rather watch the game. In any case, keep the laptop rolling and put VCU-Drexel on the TV. 7pm, Comcast SportsNet. Hands still freezing. Anyone need a beverage chilled?

Links:

Brian Mull gets you ready for Wilmington-Georgia State

Hofstra’s Defiantly Dutch expresses his “dislike” for George Mason

The best in the biz, Mike Litos rounds out tonight’s games

Until next time, stay classy Northeastern and LET’S GO HUSKIES

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