The Road to Asheville (1-11-20)

Week ten games continue on Saturday, with all ten teams playing in conference action.  At this point in the season, we have only two teams with no conference losses, Furman at 4-0, and WCU at 3-0, and three teams without a conference win, the Citadel & Mercer at 0-3 and VMI at 0-4. The day tips off at 2 pm and finishes up with two games starting at 7 pm.


Samford at Chattanooga
The day starts with the #4 Bulldogs paying a visit to the Roundhouse in Chattanooga, Tenn. to face the #7 Mocs. Samford is currently 2-1 on the season, with a loss to Wofford, while the Mocs are 1-2 in conference play with losses to Furman and Western Carolina. The Bulldogs come in at #6 in our power poll, while Chattanooga holds down the #7 position. The Bulldogs hold down the number 5 spot in the conference in scoring offense, averaging 76.5 points per game (ppg) but are giving up 76.2 ppg in scoring defense for 9th place. The Mocs are averaging 70.1 ppg, good for 10th place in the conference and are giving up an average of 66.2 ppg, good enough for 4th place. Samford is led by Josh Sharkey, averaging 18.6 ppg, good enough for 2d place in conference scoring, while the Mocs are led by Matt Ryan, with 14.1 ppg. Massey gives the Mocs a big home-court advantage and projects a 74-67 win by the Mocs over the Bulldogs.


VMI at ETSU
At 4 pm, the last place Keydets will face the 3d place Bucs in Johnson City, Tenn. The Bucs are owners of a 9 game home winning streak, and the Freedom Hall has become one of the, if not the toughest places in the SoCon to play for a visiting team. After a loss to Furman last Saturday, the Bucs traveled to Greensboro on Wednesday, where they beat the Spartans. ETSU currently comes in at #7 in the Mid-Major Top 25 poll, and us #3 in our conference power ranking. The Keydets are not ranked in the Mid-Major poll and holds down the #10 position in our power ranking. ETSU is currently in 4th place in the conference in scoring offense, posting 77 ppg, while giving up 61.9 ppg, for 2d place in scoring defense.  VMI is scoring 74.4 ppg (6th place) but is giving up 69.3 ppg (6th place). Massey projects an 82-59 win by the home team.


Mercer at Western Carolina
Mercer visits Cullowhee to face the Catamounts at 5 pm. The Bears are currently tied for 8th place in the conference standings with an 0-3 conference record, while the Cats are in 2d place with a 3-0 conference record. Currently, Western is in 5th place in the power rankings, while the Bears are in 10th place in those same rankings. Western holds the second place in scoring offense averaging 82.6 ppg, and 8th place in scoring defense, giving up 73.1 ppg. Mercer is in 9th place in scoring, at 71.1 ppg and 7th place in scoring defense, giving up 72.1 ppg. The Cats are also perfect at home this season, with a 6-0 home record, the Cats are also on a 4 game winning streak, while the Bears have lost 4 of their last 5 games and are on a two-game slide coming into the Ramsey. Massey projects an 83-72 win for the Cats.


The Citadel at Wofford
In the first of two evening games, the Bulldogs will travel to Spartanburg to face the Terriers. Wofford is currently tied for 4th place in the conference with a 2-1 record, while the Citadel, at 0-3 is ranked tied for 8th place. In this week's power ranking, Wofford comes at #2 while the Citadel comes in at #8. The Terriers are currently in 7th place in the conference in offensive scoring, averaging 74 ppg, and are #5 in scoring defense, giving up 69.4 ppg.  The Bulldogs are #1 in scoring offense, posting 83.6 ppg, and 10th in scoring defense, giving up 78.9 ppg. Should the visiting Bulldog, get hot with the three-point shot, anything can happen, however, Massey projects the Terriers defend the home court and pick up a 90-74 win over the Bulldogs.


UNCG at Furman
The second of the two evening games may well be the most anticipated of the day. Conference leader Furman, hosts the current #6 team in the conference rankings, UNCG. Both teams are in the top 25 of the Mid-Major Top 25 rankings, with Furman coming in at #3 and the Spartans at #9.  In our conference power rankings, Furman is also ranked #1, and UNCG ranked at #4. The Paladins are also undefeated at home this season, currently at 7-0, and bring in a 7 game win streak, while the Spartans are 2-2 in conference play, having dropped games to Wofford and ETSU. Massey projects a 69-63 win for the Paladin in Greenville at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena.