BURN THE HORSE
I’m sure this Hoops for Hope Classic
is legitimate. We’ve seen some photos of the teams around the pool and the
hotel seems nice. But I have no idea how we’ll follow tonight’s game as UALR
(3-2) takes on SMU (5-0) at Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
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UALR vs. SMU8:30 p.m. tonightPuerto Vallarta, Mexico |
Take a look at the Website that PlanBC, the event organizer, has put together. There’s nothing on it. I’m guessing
that means no video, no live stats, no nothing. Hopefully they’ll at least
print out a roster for Ray.
Checking SMU’s Website, they’ve got
CBS Gametracker Live Stats on their schedule, so we might at least get that. Update: We will have live stats at this link.
None of that really matters for
UALR, which will face a stern test in SMU. UALR has played SMU each of the past
two seasons, splitting those games, but this doesn’t resemble those Mustang
teams.
New Coach Larry Brown has taken over
and is guiding a transition to the Big East Conference next season (providing the
Big East still exists at that point).
SMU has three primary weapons,
meaning UALR won’t be able to hone in on just one. Jalen Jones (6-6 guard)
leads the way at 18.2 points per game, shooting 49 percent from the field and
44 percent from three-point range. Ryan Manuel (6-4 guard) averages 16.2 points
per game, shooting 49 percent from the field. And Nick Russell (6-4 guard)
averages 15.4 points per game, shooting 47 percent from the field and 60
percent from three-point range.
That’s the bad news. The good news
is that this SMU team, which has three transfers sitting out this year, has
very little quality depth. Jones, Manuel and Russell all play more than 31 minutes
per game. The starter with the least amount of minutes is Cannen Cunningham,
who is playing 28 per game.
The SMU bench has contributed only
8.9 points per game. And that includes a couple of blowout wins.
SMU starts a frontline of 6-7 Shawn
Williams and 6-9 Cannen Cunningham. Off the bench they get smaller, utilizing
6-2 Brian Bernardi, 6-3 London Giles and 6-4 Uche Ofoegbu primarily.
BURN NOTICE
No doubt SMU Coach Larry Brown is a
good coach. But expect them to have pretty good insight to what UALR wants to
do. SMU assistant coach Tim Jankovich was the head coach at Illinois State last
season. UALR played Illinois State each of the past two seasons, including a memorable
game last year in Normal, Ill., that saw Jankovich get ejected.
KEYS TO VICTORY
BENCH IT: UALR has to get into the
SMU bench. But that task won’t be easy. The SMU starters play a lot of minutes
and they do it without fouling. UALR has to put some fouls on SMU early.
FOCUS FACTOR: The only thing we know
about Puerto Vallarta is what we remember from those stops by The Love Boat
when we were kids. It looks very nice. And the UALR players look like they’re
having a good time hanging out at the pool. But when they hit the court tonight,
they need to be focused in on the game plan.
WIN THE 3: UALR has been solid the
past two games because it has dominated the 3 spot. Winning that battle tonight
will be tough with SMU’s Jalen Jones (18.2 points) filling that position. UALR
needs to win this matchup to have a chance.
VEGAS, BABY
SMU opened a 4.5-point favorite. The line went to 4 and then 3.5 and now is back to 4 points. UALR has been the underdog three times this season, going 1-2 in those games.
PREDICTIONS
It's a clean sweep for our predictors today with everyone going for SMU.:
REAL TIME RPI (5-0) SMU 69, UALR 62
REAL TIME RPI (5-0) SMU 69, UALR 62
THE SPORTS NETWORK (4-0) SMU 75, UALR 62
JEFF SAGARIN (4-1) SMU 74, UALR 71
CBS SPORTSLINE (4-1) SMU 68, UALR 67
OMNI RANKINGS (0-0) Still waiting
BTH AVERAGE (5-0) SMU 71.5, UALR
65.5
