By Paul Casey Gotham
The holidays are upon us, and the weekend game schedule moves up a day. Here is the weekly look at games of note.
Thursday, December 22nd
Loyola (10-2/2-0) at Kentucky (10-1) 1pm
“Sonny” Patsos brings his Greyhounds to Rupp for their own Dog Day Afternoon pay day. Patsos has no problem discussing how the money received for playing this game makes the trip necessary: “It’s the business we are in.” Winning this game is not as important to Patsos as is winning the MAAC. This game has long-range goals for the Greyhounds. But make no mistake, Loyola has the ability to make Kentucky uncomfortable just not for 40 minutes…maybe 27, but not 40. While Dylon Cormier gets plenty of ink, Justin Drummond sent a bouquet of forget-me-nots this weekend. Drummond’s 26-point effort at the Reilly Center is sure to impact plenty of scouting reports. Kentucky wins by 11.
American (8-4) at Villanova (6-5) 7pm
Jay Wright has been heard mumbling: “Damn! We’re in a tight spot!” Troubled times for the Wildcats who have not just lost five of seven, but all the defeats have been by double digits. The ‘Cats are hitting just a tad more than 30 percent of their shots from behind the arc. Combine that with a lack of post presence, and Maalik Wayns has little room to create. The Eagles looked occasionally feeble in their 81-55 loss to Georgetown. If American can take care of the ball and limit turnovers, Jay Wright’s Dapper Dan might get ruffled. Like the 2009 NCAA Tournament when American led late, the Wildcats will use their athleticism to sneak out a two-point win. On a side note, George Clooney as Jay Wright in the Jay Wright story?
Davidson (7-3/2-0) at UMass (9-3) 7pm
The Wildcats are coming off an upset of Kansas AT the Phog. A letdown seems obvious except that Davidson has been playing a challenging schedule (Duke, Vanderbilt, Charlotte and Richmond). The Minutemen are somewhat of an enigma. They are taking care of teams they should, but losing by double digits to Florida State and Charleston. The eight-point loss to Miami was not as close as the score might indicate. Still, this is a road game and Davidson’s third in a row. The Minutemen will pick up a quality win by five.
Bucknell (7-5) at Boston University (4-7) 7pm
“Am I chasing this guy, or is he chasing me?” The Bison make a Leonard Shelby transition from hunter to hunted. After falling to #1 Syracuse, Bucknell needs to avoid the trap presented by the Agganis Arena. 17,000 watched Bucknell play in the Carrier Dome. The Bison will need to adjust to the arena built more for BU’s hockey team than hoops. Mike Muscala should get little resistance in the paint as Bucknell wins by single digits.
Princeton (6-6) at Siena (3-7) 7pm
Seems like a lifetime ago when the Saints brought the nation’s longest winning streak into the Gallagher Center. Now, Mitch Buonaguro must feel like Fidel Castro trying to fend off the defections. DeVonte Beard is the most recent student-athlete to leave Loudonville. Among Princeton’s six losses, one came at NC State by two, a six-point defeat at Bucknell and a four-point loss at Drexel. Siena has home court. The Saints will need it. Kyle Downey and Evan Hymes will carry Siena to a four-point win.
Fairfield (7-4/2-0) at UConn (9-1) 7pm
Not ready to predict an upset, but the Stags can use this as a gauge. Derek Needham has looked more like himself since returning from the Old Spice Classic. Rakim Sanders can handle UConn’s physicality. Ryan Olander will need to stay out of foul trouble. UConn’s Jeremy Lamb and Shabazz Napier will have their way off the dribble in a game that fans should not be surprised at the close outcome. Huskies win by six.
Xavier (8-1) vs. Long Beach State (5-5) in Hawaii
The Muskies are in as much of a need of an image makeover as Presidential candidate Herman Cain (if he is still a candidate?). A brawl, a press conference gone awry, suspensions and a thumping at the hands of Oral Roberts might give Chris Mack and his crew a little us against the world mentality. LB’s record is deceiving. Of their five losses one is by four in ot at San Diego State, another by 13 at Louisville, by eight at Kansas and by six at UNC. The 49ers would like nothing more than to keep the X-Men reeling. Obviously, Holloway coming back to lineup makes Pacific Ocean-size difference. But Mark Lyons and Dez Wells will not suit for this one. Long Beach pulls out a seven-point win.
Friday, December 23rd
Providence (10-2) at Rhode Island (1-10) 7pm
Mirror images meet in a battle for The Ocean State. URI recently suspended their leading scorer, Jamal Wilson but coach’s son, Billy Baron and Andre Malone should now be eligible after sitting out per NCAA transfer requirements. Baron and Malone will create energy but not enough. The Friars claim the Dunkin’ Donuts crown with a single-digit victory.
St. Francis (Pa.) (3-8/2-0) at St. Bonaventure (5-5) 7pm
Excuse the Bonnies if they are a little sow out of the gate. They might need time to recover from CJ Leslie’s get-it-done. The Red Flash has one thing going for them. Classes are not in session; few students will attend Friday’s game. Put the co-eds along the court, and the Bonnies might treat St Francis like a baby treats a diaper. Friday night, Demitrius Conger will have third consecutive double-digit offensive performance. SBU by 12.
Manhattan (8-4/2-0) at George Mason (7-4/1-0) 7pm
Don’t look now but the Jaspers are for real. Seven Jaspers average seven (Rhamel Brown 6.9) points or more a game. George Beamon leads the way with 16, but freshman Emmy Andujar is the key The do-it-all small forward can handle pressure, can score, can defend, can do what his team needs. The Patriots are coming off a loss to Duquesne and will have something to prove. Good test for a young Manhattan team who has been able to sneak up on some opponents. Manhattan by three.
Richmond (7-5) at UCLA (6-5) 1030pm
Ben Howland is giving Mitch Buonaguro competition in the defection department. Richmond has been vulnerable to pressing defenses. Something the Bruins lack. The Spiders are in search of an identity on offense which they might have found during an overtime victory versus Old Dominion. Darrien Brothers connected seven times from behind the arc en route to a 38-point barrage. UCLA ranks 314 in the country allowing opponents to hit 39 percent from long range Richmond will make the trip worthwhile. Spiders by five.
What say you? Which games will you follow? Your take?
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