Know Your Opponent: Winthrop Eagles edition (plus Lipscomb thoughts)

Before we get into the the game tonight, let's look back to Saturday real fast. After an slow start the first 6 minutes, the Bearcats got into an offensive rhythm and put it on the Bisons 80-52. The maligned UC offense shot 54%, and made 10 3s. They shot 36, which is still too many. This isn't a good enough shooting team to put up that many shots. Especially when UC is an above average 2 point shooting team. Lance Stephenson lead the way with 19 points and 5 assists. Dion Dixon put up 15 in his second straight double digit outing. Rashad Bishop was 5-5 for 13 points, and Larry Davis and Ibrahima Thomas, in his 1st start, both put in 10. Another bad shooting game for Deonta Vaughn. 2-9, 1-8 from 3, for 5 points. Vaughn had 7 assists, but man, he needs to shake his slump. He is only shooting 34% on the year, and 26% from deep. The Bearcats defense had 8 blocks. 3 from Biggie McClain. Nice to see him getting involved. Thomas and Toyloy had 2 each.

Now let's take a look towards tonight. The Winthrop Eagles come into town looking for a big win. The Eagles were routed by Clemson, and went down to Charlotte by 10 their last time out. The Eagles don't score much, and don't have a player averaging double digits. But, they have 10 players averaging 10 minutes a game. So they rotate a lot it appears. Numbers wise, Andy Buechert is the star going for 7 and 7 a game. This one should get ugly. I am looking for another 20+ point win and a strong defensive performance. Without further adieu, let's hit the numbers.

All stats taken from KenPom.com, the Polls, and the school's websites. For reference, there are 347 teams in the NCAA

Record: 7-3

KenPom Rank: 55

AP/USA Today Rank: NR

Strength of Schedule (KenPom): 140

Tempo: 67.6 (218)

Offensive Ratings (Rank)

Efficiency: 101.3 (163)

Effective FG%: 48 (193)

Turnover %: 20 (120)

Off. Rebound %: 38.5 (38)

FTA/FGA: 27.6 (323)

3%: 27.6 (315)

2%: 51.4 (68)

FT%: 61.4 (325)

Point Distribution (% of total points)

3: 25.5 (207)

2: 59.5 (29)

FT: 15 (331)

Defensive Ratings (Rank)

Efficiency: 86.6 (14)

Effective FG%: 43.1 (29)

Turnover %: 20.1 (214)

Off. Rebound %: 27.5 (28)

FTA/FGA: 32.3 (84)

3%: 31 (72)

2%: 41.2 (25)

Block %: 11.3 (78)

Steal %: 9.1 (220=9)

Point Distribution (% of total points)

3: 31.9 (50)

2: 48 (289)

FT: 20.1 (192)

Statistical Leaders

Points (top 3): Lance Stephenson 13 Yancy Gates 10.6 Deonta Vaughn 9.7

Rebounds (top 3): Yancy Gates 6.6 Rashad Bishop 5.3 Lance Stephenson 5.1

Assists (top 2): Deonta Vaughn 4.1 Lance Stephenson 2.7

Blocks: Ibrahima Thomas Yancy Gates 1.3. (Let's face it, Thomas shouldn't count having only played 3 games)

Record: 5-5

KenPom Rank: 275

AP/USA Today Rank: NR

Strength of Schedule (KenPom): 276

Tempo: 68.2 (191)

Offensive Ratings (Rank)

Efficiency: 82.9 (333)

Effective FG%: 39.7 (339)

Turnover %: 21.6 (203)

Off. Rebound %: 31.3 (226)

FTA/FGA: 34.9 (213)

3%: 27.3 (319)

2%: 39.3 (336)

FT%: 64.8 (264)

Point Distribution (% of total points)

3: 19 (316)

2: 58.8 (38)

FT: 22.2 (114)

Defensive Ratings (Rank)

Efficiency: 93.7 (81)

Effective FG%: 48.1 (149)

Turnover %: 25.9 (16)

Off. Rebound %: 31.6 (125)

FTA/FGA: 42.5 (258)

3%: 33.1 (137)

2%: 47.2 (154)

Block %: 8.7 (168)

Steal %: 15.5 (7)

Point Distribution (% of total points)

3: 28.5 (126)

2: 47.5 (299)

FT: 24 (74)

Statistical Leaders

Points (top 3): Andre Jones 9.6 Reggie Middleton 7.7 Matt Morgan 7.6

Rebounds (top 3): Andy Buechert 7 Mantoris Robinson 5.5 George Valentine 4.6

Assists (top 2): Reggie Middleton 2.3 Andre Jones 2

Blocks: Matt Morgan 1

Winthrop is very, very, very limited offensively. They are one of the worst teams in the country on that end of the floor. They d up because they have to. Vaughn, Davis, Dixon, Parker and Stephenson have to take care of the ball. It will be interesting to see how much Cashmere Wright plays. He really fell in the dog house against UAB and didn't play much against Lipscomb. I'm expecting this one to be played at a slow pace, and ultimately, for the Bearcats to be too much for the Eagles. I think this is the game Deonta Vaughn breaks out. I'm thinking 20 here. Lance for 16, Gates 13, Dixon 8. Let's hope that hovering Bearcat is the logo of victory.