Marshall U travels to Pittsburgh to take on Duquesne at the Polumbo Center tonight. Hopefully, it's a wild and wooly run and shoot contest.
The Herd comes in at 5-2 with wins over perennial powerhouses EKy, Hofstra, Mt St Mary's, NC A&T, and Bill & Mary at home. Losses @ Maryland and Ohio U where they got blown out.
The Dukes have 3 wins at home over creampuffs likewise. They do have what I consider a quality win at home over Radford. After all Radford does have road victories over ND and Texas. Two losses @ ND and Pitt.
Moo likes the uptempo game. HC D'Antoni is not going to change a thing. He wants to go up and down as fast as possible and get up as many shots as possible. They have not seen a shot they don't like.The Herd is #5 in the country in possessions at 83/gm. In fact they get a shot off every 13.7 seconds.
Evidently D'Antoni thinks that is not fast enough. He is going to give up size in his starting lineup. He is going to sit 6'9" Ira Bennett tonight and instead insert 6'4" guard Rondale Watson into the starting lineup. D'Antonio said, "This is to create more rhythm and speed. Rondale is a senior, he's been here, he's tested. He will allow us a chance to play more wide open."
Marshall already had a heavily guard influenced game. Jon Elmore is the triggerman of the offense averaging 21.4 ppg, and guard CJ Burks is averaging 19 ppg. G Jarrod West chips in another 11 ppg. MU scores 87 ppg.
To say MU is struggling on defense might be an under statement. I'm not sure they play any defense at all. They give up 81 ppg. They play what I call a "Mr Polite" game. You know, like a local pickup game. You let me shoot, I'll let you shoot. Whoever makes the most wins.
Moo has given up over 100 points in 2 of the last 3 games, both on the road.
The Dukes are certainly not a top flight team. But they hung in with ND in South Bend losing by 8 eventually and played cross town rival Pitt tough for a half, and they have not lost at home. Dukes averaging 85 ppg at home.
MU is 0-4 ats last 4 games vs a team with a winning record.
MU is over 4 of last 5 games. I've been on all of these
MU is over 5-2 for the season.
Duquesne is 8-3 over last 11 at home.
Bolta
Add: 1* Xavier -11 to Ohio
If you can't close you can't cover.