The Road to Asheville (1-4-20)

Week nine action continues on Saturday with all ten teams scheduled for conference play. Going into play on Saturday, there are still 5 teams without a conference loss, ETSU, Furman, & UNCG at 2-0, and WCU & Samford at 1-0.  All ten teams have played at least one conference game at this point, and two teams have 2 losses, the Citadel & Mercer.


At 1 pm, two-games will tip-off play, Western at the Citadel and Samford at VMI.


Western at the Citadel
The 1-0 Cats travel to Charleston to face the 0-2 Bulldogs. The Citadel is 2-3 in their last 5 games, and are coming off two straight losses, including a narrow loss on the road at Samford on Wednesday, and the Cats bring a two-game win streak to the contest. The Cats are ranked at number four in this week's power rankings and the Bulldogs come in at number nine. The Bulldogs lead the league in offensive scoring, and this game may well come down to the team that is best able to hit their long ball shots, as both teams put up lots of three-point shots. Massey projects a 90-85 Western victory over The Citadel.


Samford at VMI
In the other early game on Saturday, the Bulldogs from Birmingham continue their mini-tour of military schools as they travel to Lexington to face the home-standing Keydets. The Bulldogs just pulled off a one-point win over the Citadel Wednesday, while the Keydets dropped a home game to the Paladins. Samford is holding down the seventh spot in our power rankings this week, while VMI comes in at number 10.  Massey projects that the Bulldogs pick up their second conference win in as many outing with a 78-76 win over the Keydets.


ETSU at Furman
Two of the remaining undefeated teams in conference play will faceoff in Furman's Timmons Arena on Saturday at 4 pm when the #5 Bucs meet the #9 Paladins as ranked by Collegeinsider' Mid-major Top 25. The last time out, Furman's Jordan Lyons scored a season-high 40 points, making 10 of 12 three-point attempts. Lyons singlehandedly scored almost as much as the entire Buccaneer team on their last outing (49) in their win over Wofford in Johnson City. Another poor start for the Bucs will spell doom in Timmons where the Paladins have rolled off 6 straight wins this season. The Bucs come in at the #1 position in this weeks power poll, while the Paladins come in at #3. Massey gives the home-court advantage to Furman, projecting a 71-68 victory over the Bucs. 


Chattanooga at Mercer
Two teams without a conference win up to this point in the season will meed in Macon Saturday afternoon. Chattanooga, the winner of three straight comes to Hawkins Arena to face off with the home-standing Bears, losers of 3 out of their last 4 games and a 4-3 home record this season.  Mercer has lost to two of the top teams in the SoCon (UNCG & Furman) but was very competitive in both games. Number six in our power ranking Mocs are 4-5 in games played away from home in Chattanooga and Mercer comes in at number eight in those rankings.  Massey projects the Mocs win streak will continue with a 69-67 victory over the Bears.


UNCG at Wofford
In what has been designated as the SoCon Game of the Week, the Spartans visit the Richardson Indoor Stadium. Ranked #7 on the Mid-Major Top 25, the Spartans bring their 4 game win streak to Spartanburg to face the Terriers, who own a 5-1 record on their home floor. The Terriers are coming off a 1 point loss to ETSU in Johnson City. The Spartans are ranked number five on our power ranking, while the Terriers come in at number five. Massey gives the home-court advantage a little extra for this game as Massey projects the Terriers will be a 67-85 winner over the visiting Spartans.


---------------------------------------------