Not a bad Sunday slate:
2 PM
#10 Michigan State @ Northwestern - Big Ten Network
Northwestern is in the top-5 nationally in preventing turnovers in the offensive zone and A/FG ratio so when you combine that at a top-50 tempo, you've got a pretty offense to watch. Their athletic 6'10 225 senior big Pete Nance is their stud: 16.3p, 8r, 2.9a, 2b, 42.3 3p%. Defensively, Northwestern has the 2nd lowest opponent 2p% against a team like Michigan State who only shoots the 34.3% of their FGA (261st most in nation).
UCF @ SMU - ESPNU
Both teams are coming in with good momentum: SMU are winners of seven straight and UCF dominating Michigan. Both teams have great guards:
SMU's Kendric Davis: 21.6p, 4.7r, 5.2a, 1.5s, 50.3 fg%, 39.5 3p%, 88.8 ft%
UCF's Darin Green: 15.9p, 45% from three.
Richmond @ Saint Louis - CBSSN
Chris Mooney has gotten
his seat hot a few seasons ago and it's getting hot again after four fifth-year returnees created high pre-season expectations but a 9-5 start to the season. What got fans excited is the continuity of having four fifth-year returnees in their starting five. They still play like a classic Mooney team: beautiful offense w/ crisp passing, lots of threes, no turnovers...and crappy defense. On the contrary, Saint Louis' expectations took a major hit once Javonte Perkins tore his ACL in October, but Travis Ford has done a nice job leading the young Bilikens. Their leading scorer is three-point shooting stud Gibson Jimerson (16.3p, 39.7 3p%).
8 PM
Drake @ Missouri State - ESPN+
Any MVC game involving two of Loyola-Chicago, Drake and Missouri State playing together will always be a recommendation from me. Missouri State has been the 15th best shooting team in the country thanks to junior wing Isiaih Mosley (18.1p, 46.8 3p%) and senior big Gaige Prim (14.8, 8.4r, 59.5 fg%, 42.9 3p%) making up one of the best inside-outside duos in the country.
Drake is a similar team: 69th (nice) best shooting team in the country led by top-100 '20 recruit and coach's son, freshman Tucker DeVries (13.5p, 36.4 3p%). Sometimes DeVries plays as their small ball 5 and when they want to go big, former Seton Hall big Darnell Brodie is their load. Two teams that shoot well and play questionable defense = a fun game.