Midweek Madness: Hoops Edition

We have some great game this weekend

Another week, another set of basketball games for ya.

#1 Duke v #13 FSU

Duke head back on the road for a match up against the #13 Seminoles. Duke is averaging 92 PPG. Led by freshman R.J. Barrett (23 PPG), and Zion Williams (20 PPG). The Blue Devils have guys who can score, but the players that you should look out for will be Zion (66% FG), R.J Barrett and Tre Jones (46% FG). But Duke doesn't seem to be much of a threat behind the arch as they average 32% from behind the arch every game. The guys that can be a threat are Cam Reddish (34%), and Tre Jones (33%). and they seem to be prone to turnovers as they average 13 TO per game But despite their flaws, they are a good passing team averaging 18 assist per game. But for all their flaws on offense, they make it up on defense as they suffocate teams to just 64 PPG, and force 17 TO per game, and limit teams to just 37% from the floor and 29% from 3.

The Seminoles are averaging 79 PPG, which is a serious drop off from Duke's 92. They have three guys that are a threat from the floor, those being Terance Mann (12 PPG, 54% FG), Mfiondu Kabengele (11 PPG, 48% FG), and Trent Forrest (10 PPG, 49% FG).They are a better 3-pt shooting team than Duke with the biggest deep threat for FSU coming from Terance Mann (42%), and M.J. Walker (42%). And just like the Blue Devils they are terrible at committing turnovers averaging 15 To per game. Their defense is also good as well, holding teams to 68 PPG, and force 17 TO per game.

While I think that the Seminoles have a chance to upend the #1 team in the nation. With the explosiveness of Zion and the rest of a good Duke squad, I'm putting my money on Duke as a safe bet even though I think FSU has a really good chance to win against this Duke squad. It will be a tough battle in Tallahassee, Duke will pull away late in the 2nd for a comfortable win. Duke 

Depaul v #24 St. John

St. George had a devastating loss against Villanova after being up double digits late in the second half. But overall, St. John is averaging 84 PPG, and have 6 players that are averaging 10+ points per game, those being Shamorie Ponds (20 PPG), Mustapha Heron (16 PPG), LJ Figueroa (14 PPG), Marvin Clark (13 PPG), and Justin Simon (10 PPG). They also have 3 players averaging 50% or better from the field: Shamorie Ponds and Justin Simon (50% FG), and LJ Figueora (54%). Their threats from deep are Marvin Clark (42%), Mustapha Heron (47%), and Shamorie Ponds (40%). They allow 72 PPG on defense and force 17 TO per game while committing just only 11 on offense.

DePaul is averaging 77 PPG on offense with 4 players averaging 10+ points as well, those being Max Strus (19 PPG), Eli Cain (14 PPG), Femi Olujobi (10 PPG), and Devin Gage (10 PPG). The Blue Demons are not that great from behind the arch as the only threats are  Eli Cain (40%) and Femi Olujobi (37%). But have players that can be threats from the floor as most of Depaul's players are averaging around 42-45% from the field, but the person watch out  for will be Olujobi who is 64% from the floor. Now they don't do well with turnovers as they average 14 TO per game. And the only thing that seems to stand out on defense is the turnovers as they force 14 TO per game.

Overall, St. John looks like a really good shooting team with a bunch of high scoring players. Even without Ponds who is out with a hand injury. I think St. John's defense will do very well to limit this Depaul team especially when its prone to turnovers. St. John