The Road to Asheville (1-8-20)

Week ten action continues on Wednesday night, with four conference games on the schedule.  At this point in the season, we have three teams with no conference losses, Furman at 3-0, and WCU/Samford at 2-0. Probably the most anticipated game of the four is between two teams with one loss each, which would be ETSU at UNCG.  All four games tip-off at 7 pm



ETSU at UNCG
Interestingly, these two teams are currently tied for fourth place in the conference standings, something neither team expected this early in the season.  ETSU is currently ranked 7th and UNCG 9th in the most recent mid-major top 25 poll and they ranked 3d & 4th respectively in our most recent power poll.  In scoring, ETSU is in 4th place with 77.8 ppg, and second in defense, giving up only 62.2 ppg, while the Spartans are ranked at 8th in scoring at 73.7 ppg and 1st in scoring defense, giving up only 57.ppg. UNCG is 14-16 against the Bucs all-time, but have won their past four meetings. Massey projects a home-court advantage for the Spartans with a 65-62 win over the Bucs.


Western Carolina at VMI
The Catamounts are seeking to improve their conference record to 3-0, as the #2 (tied) Cats travel to Lexington to face the #9 (tied) Keydets. VMI is one of the three teams that are currently 0-3 in conference play. The Cats are now receiving votes in the mid-major top 25 poll (13 points/38th) and the Keydets are unranked. WCU comes in at #5 in the current power rankings, while the Keydets are 9th in that ranking. The Cats are #2 in the conference in scoring offense with 81.5 ppg and 8th in scoring defense giving up 72.2, while VMI ranks 7th in scoring at 73.7 ppg and ranks 5th in scoring defense, giving up 67.6 ppg. WCU and VMI are two of the better 3=point shooting teams, ranking 2d and 3rd respectively, so a hot hand shooting the threes many well determine the outcome of this game. This will be the 61st meeting between the schools with WCU holding a 34-26 advantage, but the Keydets swept the Cats last season with three wins. Excluding a hot hand on the three-point shooting by the Keydets, Massey projects the Cats to win, 81-75 on the road.


Furman at Chattanooga
League-leading Furman travels to Chattanooga to face the #6 Mocs as two of the remaining undefeated teams in conference play will meet in the Round House.  The Paladins are ranked #3 in the most recent mid-major top 25, Chattanooga is unranked in this poll. The Paladins take the top spot in the most recent conference power poll while Chattanooga comes in at #7. The Paladins are currently 3d in scoring in the conference at 78.4 ppg and 3d in scoring defense, giving up 64.1 ppg, while the Mocs rank 10th in scoring at 70.3 ppg and 4th in scoring defense giving up 65.8 ppg.  The Paladins bring a 6 game win streak into the contest and are 5-3 on the road, with 3 OOC losses, while the home-standing Mocs bring a 4 game win streak to the contest, and are 5-0 at home this season. Chattanooga holds a 54-34 lead in the series between the schools, but Furman has won the last five meetings. Massey does not show that home court love for the Mocs and projects a 70-64 victory to the Paladins.


Wofford at Samford
The sixth-place (tied) Terriers travel to Birmingham to meet the second place (tied) Bulldogs in Wednesday night's fourth and final game. The Terriers are receiving votes in the mid-major top 25, as well as, the number two team in this week's power rankings, while Samford comes in at number 6 in that poll. The Terriers are 1-1 in the SoCon, having dropped a 1 point game to ETSU in Johnson City, then rebounded to pick up a  two overtime win over UNCG in Spartanburg. While Samford is 2-0 in conference play, the wins are against two of three last-place teams in the conference, so we don't know how they will fare against the top tier. Wofford is currently 6th in the conference in scoring offense at 74.5 ppg and 6th in scoring defense, giving up 68.9 ppg. Samford comes in 5th in scoring with 77.4 ppg and 9th in scoring defense, giving up 76.8 ppg. Massey projects a road win for Wofford, 81-74 over the Bulldogs.


The rankings
3-0  Furman
2-0  Western
2-0  Samford
2-1  ETSU
2-1  UNCG
1-1  Wofford
1-1  Chattanooga
0-3  Citadel
0-3  VMI
0-3  Mercer

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