Midweek Madness: Hoops Edition

More Madness!!

Its a new week which means, more games

USC v UCLA

UCLA is averaging 79 PPG on offense. Their top scorers are Kris Wilkes (17 PPG), Moses Brown (12 PPG), Jaylen Hands (12 PPG), and Price Ali (10 PPG). They guy USC should watch out for is Brown as he averages 68% from the floor. UCLA doesn't pose a real threat from deep, but their best shooters are Prince Ali (36%), and Kris Wilkes (31%). On defense they hold teams to 75 PPG while also forcing 11 turnovers a game compared to their 15 they commit per game.

USC is averaging 78 PPG on offense. Their leading scorers this season are Bennie Boatwright (17 PPG), Nick Rakocevic (15 PPG), and Jonah Mathews (12 PPG). All of UCS's lineup can shoot well, but a couple of people to keep an eye on is Rakocevic (52% FG), and Boatwright (48% FG). Their threats from deep are Mathews (38%), Shaqquan Aaron (38%), and Boatwright (37%). On defense they are holding teams 74 PPG, and are forcing 14 turnovers a game to their 12.

This has the makings for a close game. UCLA will most likely win the rebound battle on the defensive end. But I see USC taking advantage of the amount of turnovers that UCLA will commit. And with USC averaging 16 assists per game, they have the ability to move the ball around to find guys who are open and can shoot. I'm going with USC on this one. USC 

Minnesota v Penn St.

The Gophers are averaging 75 PPG on offense. Their top scorers are Amir Coffery (16 PPG), Jordan Murphy (14 PPG), Dupree McBrayer (11 PPG), Daniel Oturu (11 PPG), and Gabe Kalscheur (10 PPG). They shoot pretty well from the floor, but you might want to pay close attention to Oturu (56%), and Murphy (49%). The Gophers don't have much of a shooting presence from deep except for Kalscheur at 39%. On defense they hold teams to 70 PPG, and force 13 turnovers to their 13.

Penn St. is averaging 68 PPG on offense. With their leading scorers being Lamar Stevens (18 PPG), Rasir Bolton (12 PPG), and Josh Reaves (10 PPG). They are above average when it comes to shooting from the floor except for Mike Watkins at 60%. And like Minnesota, they dont bring a real presence from deep except for Myles Dread (37%), and Reaves and Bolton (35%). On defense they hold teams to 68 PPG while forcing 14 turnovers per game compared to their 13.

Both teams have their flaws, and their both pretty even, but for a winner, I'm going with the Gophers as this game is going to come down to who can shoot better than the other, and Minnesota wins that battle, plus, Penn St hasn't been good all year and its at Minnesota. Minnesota