Daily Archives: February 24, 2011

>Marquette-UConn

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>Marquette at Connecticut

   It’s been a tough week for the Huskies, first losing to Louisville Friday, then this week learning of NCAA sanctions following an investigation of the program since a report by Yahoo! Sports in March 2009 that former team manager Josh Nochimson helped guide recruit Nate Miles to the school, giving him lodging, transportation, meals and representation.

The Huskies will not receive a postseason ban, but the program was hit with scholarship reductions for three academic years, recruiting restrictions, permanent disassociation of a booster and three years probation.  They will also be without coach Jim Calhoun this game, as he will be attending the funeral services for his sister-in-law.

   But what the Huskies will really need to focus on is stopping Jimmy Butler, who is averaging 18 ppg and 6 rpg against them in three career games. 

   The Golden Eagles may need to improve on their 2-9 mark against AP Top 25 teams to gain an NCAA tournament berth. Six of those losses have been by five or fewer points.  Prediction: Huskies win 75-69

>Loyola-Valpo

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>Loyola at Valparaiso 

   This season has been common to recent years for the Ramblers.  A hot start gives them confidence and their fans optimism, but then the conference part of the season rolls around and the fire seems to fizzle out as the season goes along. 

   The Ramblers started the season 7-0 and looked to have a lot of momentum going into their game against national runner-up Butler.  Although the Bulldogs squeaked by, it sent the Ramblers into a bit of a downspiral, as they lost eight of their next 11 games.  While their 15-13 record doesn’t exactly knock them out of any postseason race, a win here and against Butler (the third and second place teams) would go a long way. 

   Geoff McCammon leads four Ramblers in double figures at 14 ppg.  Ben Averkamp and Terrance Hill are right behind him at 12 and 11.5 ppg, respectively.  Walter Gibler is the other double digit scorer at 10 ppg.  Jordan Hicks, who broke his foot for the second time in two years, was averaging 12 ppg before his injury in early December.

   Valparaiso is one of three teams in the Horizon League that has amassed 20 or more victories (Butler and Cleveland State are the others).  The thing that has led them to a 20-9 record and 11-5 conference record has been its offense efficiency.  The Crusaders are in the top 75 in scoring, averaging over 73 ppg, 21st in assists with 16 apg and 14th in field goal percentage, hitting 48 percent of their shots. 

   Brandon Wood leads four Crusaders in double figure scoring, pouring in 17 ppg.  He has scored more than 20 points in the teams’ last three games.  Next are Cory Johnson (14 ppg), Ryan Broekhoff (11 ppg) and Howard Little (10 ppg).  What is crazy statistically for Valpo is that those four are also the top rebounders, averaging between 4.2 and 4.8 boards per contest.  Little and Broekhoff lead the team at 4.8 rpg a pop.          Prediction:  Valpo wins 81-74