The NC-Double-Eh Schedule - Dec. 11

There were just too many games to decide on so I gave you a Marquee Match Up for every part of your Saturday.  Find out who else is playing throughout the next 14 hours right here ...

Marquee Match Up(s)

1:00pm Eastern Kentucky @ Minnesota

For all of you Devoe Joseph fans, it’s safe to say that he’s back in the regular rotation for good now.  He’s been a little inconsistent but he has only played three games so far this season.  I think you should make this your brunch game simply because Joseph can go off if given the chance and he looks like he’s playing great defence too!  It’s a deadly combination to have back, especially with Al Nolen listed as sidelined indefinitely with a foot injury.  And don’t forget about Mo Walker who has been having great games in the minutes he’s been given of late.

4:00pm Louisiana Tech @ McNeese State

Here we have a game people!  Olu Ashoalu and Louisiana Tech take on Diego Kapelan and McNeese State.  Both players are one of their team’s respective stars.  Both players provide a set of killer skills that can win games.  Both guys can get the W if given the chance.  What more can you want?  Oh yeah, I had a Twitter conversation with Mr. Kapelan a little while ago and he informed me that he’s 2-1 against Olu lifetime so I’m sure he’s got an extra incentive to try and get this victory.  This has all the trappings of good one.

4:00pm Texas State @ Texas

After rolling thought November, the Longhorns ran into a tougher than advertised USC team that roped them in for a very bad loss Dec. 5.  In that game, Texas looked ineffective on offense and lost on defence.  That would also go for the rookies Tristan Thompson and Cory Joseph.  Before the USC game, Thompson had back-to-back double-doubles and Joseph was just shooting the lights out.  Against the Trojans, the two were a combined 15 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists and shot 5-of-15 from the floor in 38 and 37 minutes.  Playing a weaker opponent than USC today, the duo may look to help get the Longhorns back on track and if they do they should have monster games. 

7:00pm Colgate @ Syracuse

Kris Joseph has been a little on the enigmatic side this season.  He’s looked as every bit the player he's been advertised but has been, or has seemed to have been, out shone by his teammates more often than not this year (see Jackson, Rick and Jardine, Scoop).  That seems a little strange for a player that has been pegged a potential NBA Draftee.  This game against Colgate will not be a gauge of his talent by any means, we know he is, but it may show us if he has the ability to play at the level he can against a lesser opponent with that killer instinct some people think he make be lacking.  I for one am definitely curious if he can do it as the main cannon.

And here is where everyone else is playing today …

1:00pm Tennessee-Martin @ IPFW

2:00pm Gardner-Webb @ Arizona State

2:00pm Boston University @ Harvard

2:00pm Fairleigh Dickinson @ Iona

2:00pm Detroit @ Eastern Michigan

2:00pm Lafayette @ Long Island – Lafayette’s Jared Mintz had 28 points against NJIT three days ago and hasn’t scored in single digits yet this season.  Long Island’s Kyle Johnson can score 28 points in a given game and has been held to single digits for the last two.  Both teams are about even with talent so it will likely come down to what these two players can do for their teams.

2:00pm Binghamton @ Manhattan

2:30pm Wisconsin @ Marquette

3:00pm Mississippi @ Ark-Little Rock

4:00pm Kansas State @ Loyola (IL)

4:00pm Bryant University @ Columbia

4:00pm Niagara @ St. Bonaventure – Andrew Nicholson is coming off a phenomenal game against St. John’s where he not only had his third straight double-double (fifth in the last six games) posting 19 points and 13 rebounds but he also hit the game winning shot to upset the Red Storm 67-66.  What type of game will he have against Niagara?  If he has a monster one, I think it’s safe to say that he’s finally beginning to blossom.

4:00pm Rider @ Drexel

4:30pm Cleveland State @ Sam Houston State

6:00pm Central Arkansas @ Grambling State

6:00pm Portland @ Denver – Nem Mitrovic has been playing great for Portland of late having connected for a season high five threes in the loss against Washington Dec. 6 on his way to 15 points.  There’s only been two games so far this season that Nem hasn’t hit at least two threes and he didn’t attempt any in one of them.  Don’t expect this to be one of those games he comes up empty. 

7:00pm Virginia Commonwealth @ Richmond

7:00pm Charlotte @ Davidson

7:00pm Youngstown State @ Robert Morris

7:00pm St. Peter’s @ Wagner – Do I really need to explain to you why you should watch Wagner’s Tyler Murray?  He is coming off a tough night in the loss to Columbia Dec. 7 where he went 4-of-14 from the floor but he still managed to score 18 points on helped by his 9-of-10 from the line.  I think he’ll be looking to come out firing in this one to help his team over the .500 mark.

8:00pm Idaho @ Seattle

8:00pm Kennesaw State @ SIU-Edwardsville

8:00pm Lipscomb @ Tennessee Tech

8:30pm Gonzaga @ Notre Dame – Gonzaga seems like a ship that is on the verge of sinking that no one wants to acknowledge might do so.  In the midst of it all, Rob Sacre is playing pretty well.  He’s posted back-to-back double digit rebounding games against two very tough teams in Illinois and Washington State.  Notre Dame will likely prove to be just as tough and it will be interesting to see if Sacre will be up for the challenge against his third high major team.  Kelly Olynk continues to plug away somewhat efficiently in his floor time while Manny Arop seems to continue his yo-yo play in his inconsistent minutes.

9:00pm New Mexico State @ New Mexico

9:00pm Cal Bakersfield @ Utah State