jimmythegreek
The opening odds start here
UAB +4 (-115) over Marshall:
While both of these squads look to be headed to the NIT come March, something has to give considering the fact that each can't seem to find the left side of the ledger lately. UAB (14-11 6-6) finds themselves 3.5 games behind Old Dominion and losers of their last 4 overall. Marshall (13-12 6-6) has dropped 3 straight themselves and have lost 5 of their last 6 ATS at home. The Blazers don't share the ball particularly well by virtue of assisting on less than half of their field goals. However, they do take care of it relatively efficiently turning it over approximately 17% of the time on their contest possessions. Zack Bryant leads UAB in scoring averaging nearly 15 points per contest while also leading the team in assists (4.0) and steals (2.0) despite shooting only 42% from the floor. Lewis Sullivan (11.4) converts a team leading 53% from the field while sharing the rebounding load with Makhtar Gueye at nearly 7 per game. Two glaring achilles heels for UAB are a presence in the middle as they average only 2.5 blocks per contest while shooting an erratic 65% from the charity stripe. Gueye, who averages 8 points per contest, put up 12 points and 12 rebounds in a 69-62 loss to Charlotte last time out. Contrasting tempos will be on display in this battle. Marshall prefers an up-tempo style of play, while UAB is much more methodical thriving in the half court offense looking for the high percentage shot. Bryant better be able to carry the bulk of the scoring load if the team plans on winning this difficult road game and could use some balance from Sullivan, and Jalen Perry (11.0) in the process. Perry is a legitimate threat beyond the perimeter where he has converted about 37% on his three point attempts.
The Thundering Herd aren't shy nor intimidated by running out on the break as they possess good ball movement in penetrating the action. Jon Elmore (19.6) is one of the best in CUSA and is extremely aggressive in transition and from outside. CJ Burks (18.3) is a fearsome presence from outside and up close shooting 49% overall and leads Marshall in free throw percentage at 80%. Jannson Williams (9.0) is tops on the team in rebounding (4.9) and blocks (2.2) while nearly doubling last season's scoring output. Taevlon Kinsey (9.0) shows versatility and comes off the bench shooting 59% from the floor. Elmore and Burks are at times however careless with the ball averaging about 3.5 turnovers per game . While they don't waste time early in the shot clock scoring nearly 80, they also yield 84 on the defensive end. In their 74-69 loss to Rice, they shot just 38% from the field overall including just 29% from beyond the arc. Jon Elmore finished with eight rebounds and seven assists but went a dreadful 2-for-12 from the land of plenty. Marshall is also one of the worst in the country rebounding the ball (35.3) while allowing their opponents to many more opportunities (47.4) on both sides of the ball.
Look for the Blazers to slow down the Thundering Herd when it comes to tempo as they prefer to have this outcome somewhere in the 60's. If Marshall can get off to a hot shooting start early, UAB will have to play more fast and efficiently to try and catch UM from behind. Either way, one of these squads needs to break their doldrums as of late and will look to soar into the upper half of the conference. Seeding will be primarily important once conference play commences.
Best of luck however you play!
While both of these squads look to be headed to the NIT come March, something has to give considering the fact that each can't seem to find the left side of the ledger lately. UAB (14-11 6-6) finds themselves 3.5 games behind Old Dominion and losers of their last 4 overall. Marshall (13-12 6-6) has dropped 3 straight themselves and have lost 5 of their last 6 ATS at home. The Blazers don't share the ball particularly well by virtue of assisting on less than half of their field goals. However, they do take care of it relatively efficiently turning it over approximately 17% of the time on their contest possessions. Zack Bryant leads UAB in scoring averaging nearly 15 points per contest while also leading the team in assists (4.0) and steals (2.0) despite shooting only 42% from the floor. Lewis Sullivan (11.4) converts a team leading 53% from the field while sharing the rebounding load with Makhtar Gueye at nearly 7 per game. Two glaring achilles heels for UAB are a presence in the middle as they average only 2.5 blocks per contest while shooting an erratic 65% from the charity stripe. Gueye, who averages 8 points per contest, put up 12 points and 12 rebounds in a 69-62 loss to Charlotte last time out. Contrasting tempos will be on display in this battle. Marshall prefers an up-tempo style of play, while UAB is much more methodical thriving in the half court offense looking for the high percentage shot. Bryant better be able to carry the bulk of the scoring load if the team plans on winning this difficult road game and could use some balance from Sullivan, and Jalen Perry (11.0) in the process. Perry is a legitimate threat beyond the perimeter where he has converted about 37% on his three point attempts.
The Thundering Herd aren't shy nor intimidated by running out on the break as they possess good ball movement in penetrating the action. Jon Elmore (19.6) is one of the best in CUSA and is extremely aggressive in transition and from outside. CJ Burks (18.3) is a fearsome presence from outside and up close shooting 49% overall and leads Marshall in free throw percentage at 80%. Jannson Williams (9.0) is tops on the team in rebounding (4.9) and blocks (2.2) while nearly doubling last season's scoring output. Taevlon Kinsey (9.0) shows versatility and comes off the bench shooting 59% from the floor. Elmore and Burks are at times however careless with the ball averaging about 3.5 turnovers per game . While they don't waste time early in the shot clock scoring nearly 80, they also yield 84 on the defensive end. In their 74-69 loss to Rice, they shot just 38% from the field overall including just 29% from beyond the arc. Jon Elmore finished with eight rebounds and seven assists but went a dreadful 2-for-12 from the land of plenty. Marshall is also one of the worst in the country rebounding the ball (35.3) while allowing their opponents to many more opportunities (47.4) on both sides of the ball.
Look for the Blazers to slow down the Thundering Herd when it comes to tempo as they prefer to have this outcome somewhere in the 60's. If Marshall can get off to a hot shooting start early, UAB will have to play more fast and efficiently to try and catch UM from behind. Either way, one of these squads needs to break their doldrums as of late and will look to soar into the upper half of the conference. Seeding will be primarily important once conference play commences.
Best of luck however you play!
