Midweek Madness: Hoops Edition

I like doing triple headers, So let's do some more

I really enjoyed the triple header post last leek, So from here on out, I will keep doing it.

#18 Kansas St. v #23 Iowa St.

K-State is averaging 66 PPG on offense, They top scorers are Barry Brown (15 PPG), Dean Wade (14 PPG), Xavier Sneed, and Kamau Stokes each at 10 PPG. They are a decent shooting team from the floor, averaging 43% a game. Their top shooters are going to be Dean Wade at 51% and Makol Mawien at 50%. But the Wildcats struggle finding any shots from deep as they average only 33%. Their best deep threat guy is Wade who is averaging 44% with Stokes coming at a distant second with 35%. On defense, they hold teams to just 59 PPG, while forcing 15 turnovers and committing 12.

The Cyclones are averaging 79 PPG on offense. Their top scorers are Marial Shayok (19 PPG), Michael Johnson and Talen Horton-Tucker both at 12 PPG, and Nick Weiler-Barbb (10 PPG). They are a lot better shooting team than Kansas St. at 48% from the floor, with threats like Shayok (50%), Tyrese Haliburton (55%), and Michael Johnson at 58%. They are better from the three as well, averaging 36%. Their deep threats are Haliburton (46%), Weiler-Barbb (39%), and Shayok (38%). On the defensive end, they hold teams to 69 PPG, and force 14 turnovers while just committing 11.

This is a match up of a good defense meets good offense. And while a good defense is great, If you don't have a great offense, your screwed. So I'm going with the Cyclones here as the lack on offense for K-St. and their lack of shooting especially from deep is concerning, because if Iowa St. get off to a great start, The Wildcats can't recover. Iowa St.

Cal v UCLA

Cal is averaging 70 PPG on offense. Their top scorers are Justice Sueing (15 PPG), Paris Austin (12 PPG), Darius McNeill (11 PPG), and Matt Bradley (10 PPG). The are a pretty middle of the pack in the way of shooting from the floor, they average 44% with threats like Andre Kelley (60%) who can be a bully offensively inside the paint. The bears are not bad from the three as they average 35%, but they lack any presence what-so-ever. With their only threats being Matt Bradley (49%), and Darius McNeill (36%). On defense, they hold teams to 79 PPG, they force 13 turnovers while committing only 11.

UCLA is averaging 78 PPG, with their top scorers being Kris Wilkes (17 PPG), Jaylen Hands (12 PPG), Moses Brown (11 PPG), and Prince Ali (10 PPG). They are a good shooting team from the floor, averaging 47% with Moses Brown being a threat in the paint at 65%. They are not as bad as Cal, but as good as well averaging 34%. Their only deep threats are Ali with 36% and Jaylen Hands with 34%. On defense, they hold teams to 76 PPG, and they force 12 turnovers to their 15.

Cal's defense sucks, as they are basically giving UCLA a win here (51% from the floor, and 38% from deep). But like last time UCLA struggles with turnovers as they commit 15, but with a strong presence in the interior and with Cal's poor defense, UCLA will avenge their loss to Utah in which they blew a lead as large as 23 points. UCLA

Pitt v #22 Va Tech

On offense, Pitt is averaging 73 PPG. Their top scorers are Xavier Johnson (17 PPG), Trey McGowens and Jared Wilson-Frame at 12 PPG. Their a decent shooting team at 43% from the floor. But they struggle from deep, only making 33% of their shots. Their deeps threats are Jared Frame (41%), and Johnson (39%). On defense they hold teams to 69 PPG, and force 16 turnovers while committing 14.

Va Tech is averaging 76 PPG, with their top scorers being Nickeil Alaxander-Walker (17 PPG), Kerry Blackshear Jr. and Ahmend Hill with 12 PPG. They are an excellent shooting team from the floor, averaging 49%. With inside guys like Blackshear (51%), and Alexander-Walker  (51%). They are a good shooting team from deep, averaging 41%, with deep threats like Ty Outlaw (49%), Wabissa Bede (44%), Alexander-Walker (41%), and Ahmend Hill (39%). On defense, they are holding teams to 61 PPG, and are forcing 15 turnovers while committing just 12.

Va Tech is looking to redeem themselves after back-to-back losses, They do have a lot of opportunities from deep compared to Pitt. And I do think turnovers will play a factor mostly with Pitt. But with the Hoakies interior presence, and they versatility from deep, they will be hungry for a win and Pitt will unfortunately be on the wrong end in this one. Va Tech