A busy Saturday awaits us in the SoCon. Let’s take a look at the early matchup's on the docket for Saturday. Furman faces Mercer at 4:30 in the game of the day, while UNCG travels to VMI for a Saturday, with tip-off set for 1 p.m. at Cameron Hall. Below are previews of those two games.
Mercer (7-7, 0-1 SoCon) at Furman (11-4, 2-0 SoCon)
Without question, the game everyone will have their mind on around the SoCon will be between Southern Conference rivals Furman and Mercer, who are two of the favorites to claim the 2017-18 Southern Conference title.
After all, the Paladins were the pick by the league’s media to win the title, while the Bears were the coaches’ favorite to claim the 2017-18 league crown. But I would make the argument that this game is crucial for Mercer, as the Bears opened league play last Sunday with a 19-point (74-55) home loss to reigning champion East Tennessee State. The thought of starting 0-2 in the Southern Conference against the field this league has to offer this season might be too steep a hill to climb.
Meanwhile, Furman has done what it has supposed to so far, and the Paladins look very much like the team many thought they would be, although there were some question marks early on in the season, like the 19-point home loss to Big South member Winthrop earlier this season.
The Paladins opened Southern Conference last weekend with an 87-57 road win at VMI, and opened their SoCon slate at home in strong fashion, defeating The Citadel 107-67. The Paladins have now won 18 of their last 19 Southern Conference `home games at Timmons Arena.
Furman has been outstanding from three-point land in their past two outings, connecting on 33-of-71 from long-range. Ninety-nine of Furman’s 194 points in the past two contests have come via the three-point field goal. In the win over The Citadel last time out, the Paladins registered a school-record 31 assists and tied a school mark for three-pointers made against an NCAA Division I opponent, with 17. The 33 combined three-pointers in back-to-back games rank as a school record.
However, the Paladins have looked good in their last nine games, winning eight of them, with the lone loss being a 66-61 setback at Tennessee--a team that beat this same Mercer squad 84-60 a little over a month ago. Furman has shot 50% or better from the floor in seven of those eight wins, with the lone game that has not been true in being the 64-50 win over Tennessee Tech back on Dec. 2. Furman
But Mercer has shown up well in some other non-conference games, narrowly missing big-time upsets at a pretty good Alabama team (L, 79-80) and dropped a double-overtime heartbreaker at Memphis (L, 81-83). Furman and Mercer will be meeting for the 23rd time Saturday, with Furman holding a narrow 12-10 all-time series edge.
Furman won both games between the two last season by a combined six points. The Paladins were 71-67 victors in Greenville just after the New Year, and claimed a 70-68 win in Macon, thanks to a Daniel Fowler in the final seconds in early February. The Paladins have claimed three-in-a-row against the Bears and have won four of the last five between the two.
Who To Watch:
The Bears are led by a dynamic backcourt, consisting of Ria’n Holland (21.0 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 31 assists) and Jordan Strawberry (9.1 PPG, 3.9 RPG) have been the leaders in the backcourt this season, and Holland is having an outstanding season so far in 2017-18.
However, Holland struggled against the Bucs on Sunday, connecting on just 5-of-12 shots from the field and finished with 12 points. Holland still ended up leading the Bears in scoring, but Mercer shot the ball at only a 39.2% clip in Sunday’s loss to the Bucs. Holland still enters the contest against the Paladins leading the nation in three-point field goal percentage, connecting on 58.2% (39-of-67) of his shots from long-range this season.
Another player that struggled to get things going in the Bears’ backcourt last Sunday was Demetre Rivers (9.9 PPG, 2.4 RPG), who struggled shooting the basketball in the last game against East Tennessee State, connecting on just 1-of-7 shots from the field and were just 1-for-5 from three-point range in the 19-point loss to the Bucs. He finished 3-for-4 from the free throw line against ETSU to finish with six points. Rivers has scored in double figures six times this season, including a season-high 24 points in the 80-79 loss to Alabama.
Stephon Jelks (10.1 PPG, 7.2 RPG) and Desmond Ringer (7.1 PPG, 2.3 RPG) will comprise the frontcourt for the Bears on Saturday afternoon. Jelks has been pretty much the glue guy for the Bears so far this season. He is having a season comparable to his sophomore season, which saw him garner All-SoCon honors. Jelks battled an injury during the ETSU game after a tough knock in the opening half of play, but should be 100% Saturday against the Paladins.
Jelks had five points and six boards in the loss to the Bucs. Jelks has found himself in double figures six times this season, scoring a season-high 22 points in the loss to La Salle. Jelks is one of the best inside-outside threats in the Southern Conference, entering the game against the Paladins having knocking down 58.1% (20-of-38) of his three-point field goal attempts.
Ringer is coming off a strong performance for the Bears against East Tennessee State. In the setback to the Bucs, Ringer totaled 10 points and 12 rebounds for the Bears against ETSU last Sunday.
Off the bench for the Bears, keep an eye on freshman guard Marcus Cohen (4.9 PPG, 1.1 RPG) and Jaylen Stowe (3.7 PPG, 2.8 RPG), who have provided quality minutes in the backcourt, while Cory Kilby (4.4 PPG, 2.6 RPG) is a big man that can step out and hit the long-range effort as a big man.
Furman comes into Saturday’s clash with a lineup as deep as any in the Southern Conference.
Devin Sibley (16.3 PPG, 4.7 RPG) leads the way for the Paladins. The preseason Southern Conference Player of the Year is coming off his eighth 20-point effort of the season, posting 26 points in the lopsided home win over The Citadel. Sibley now has 1,609 points for his career, which moved him into 12th-place in school history in scoring. He also had 10 rebounds and five assists in the win over the Bulldogs.
Sibley is joined in the backcourt by consistent performers senior wing Daniel Fowler (11.5 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 2.9 APG), senior point guard John Davis III (11.9 PPG, 2.7 RPG) and junior Andrew Brown. Against VMI last weekend, Fowler became the 43rd player in Furman basketball history to eclipse the 1,000-point plateau.
Underneath the basket, Furman has been buoyed by its Mr. Reliable—Matt Rafferty (11.3 PPG, 8.2 RPG, ). The 6-9 junior from Hinesdale, Illinois flirted with a triple-double last time out against The Citadel, posting 10 points, 11 rebounds and dished out seven assists. Rafferty has scored in double figures in 11 out of 14 games this season for the Paladins, including scoring a career-high 22 points earlier this season in a win over Big South favorite UNC Asheville.
Off the bench, keep an eye on Jordan Lyons (8.1 PPG, 1.3 RPG), who has posted 17 and 20 points in Furman’s last two games. The 20 points against The Citadel is a career-high. Lyons is 10-of-18 from three-point land in the past two outings.
Final Score Prediction: Furman 73, Mercer 68
UNCG (10-4, 1-0 SoCon) at VMI (5-8, 0-2 SoCon)
UNCG has had a week off since its huge SoCon opening win over Wofford last Saturday night, as the Spartans were able to overcome a 14-point halftime deficit to get the win.
VMI will have a quick turnaround following its 92-53 loss on the road to Wofford Thursday night, and the Keydets haven't been greeted kindly as they have entered Southern Conference play this season, with 30 and 39-point losses to both Furman and Wofford. On Saturday, the Keydets will face another one of the SoCon's top teams, in the UNC Greensboro Spartans.
Saturday's matinee' meeting between the Keydets and Spartans will mark the 22nd all-time meeting between the two programs, with the Spartans holding a 13-8 all-time series edge. Last season, the Spartans claimed both meetings against the Keydets, posting a 74-67 win in Greensboro at Fleming Gym to close the season, while posting a 91-82 win at Cameron Hall.
Who To Watch:
The Keydets come into Saturday's early afternoon clash with one of the youngest teams in the Southern Conference, however, VMI has some reputable young talent. One of those players is freshman Bubba Parham (12.7 PPG, 3.7 RPG). Parham was one of two Keydets in double figures against the Terriers, finishing with 11 points on 4-of-10 shooting from the field, including 2-of-5 shooting from three-point land. He led the way against Furman, posting a game-high 21 points in the 87-57 home loss to the Paladins last Saturday.
In the starting five, Parham will likely team with sophomores Garrett Gilkerson (5.2 PPG, 3.3 RPG) and Keith Smith (7.9 PPG, 3.3 RPG) on Saturday afternoon. Both have proven they can be effective compliments to the young Parham at times this season, however, have been too inconsistent as scorers.
The same can be said of the VMI front court, which features Tyler Creammer (8.8 PPG, 6.2 RPG) and Will Miller (4.2 PPG, 2.2 RPG). Both have shown plenty of potential to score the basketball at times this season, but neither has done so consistently. VMI has certainly missed veteran forward Armani Branch, who has yet to play this season, sitting out with an injury.
Off the bench, the Keydets will look to veteran junior guard Austin Vereen (9.9 PPG, 3.9 RPG), who along with Parham, has been one of VMI's top perimeter threats this season.
UNCG counters with a lineup that has shot the ball extremely well and play some of the best team defense in the country through its first 14 games this season. The Spartans come in leading the SoCon in scoring defense (61.9 PPG), field goal percentage defense (41.6%), and three-point field goal percentage defense (29.6%). The Spartans also lead the SoCon in rebounding margin, thanks in large part to having the top rebounder in the Southern Conference--James Dickey (8.3 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 2.2 BPG).
The tremendously athletic Dickey has been a huge part of the success the Spartans have had over the past couple of seasons, and not only does Dickey show proficiency on the backboards, but he also does as a rim protector as a shot-blocker. Dickey's 2.2 blocks-per-game also leads the SoCon.
Dickey will team with senior 6-9 Dutchman Jordy Kuiper (6.3 PPG, 5.4 RPG) in the paint. Kuiper has shown the ability to display an excellent inside-outside game for the Spartans this season, and can stretch and test teams defensively with his ability to consistently hit from the perimeter. He has been a solid replacement for all-conference performer R.J. White, who graduated last year.
Rounding out the front court will be Marvin Smith (11.1 PPG, 4.6 RPG), who like Dickey, has been an excellent defensive presence for the Spartans this season, especially when he is given a 1-on-1 assignment.
The UNCG backcourt of course features one of the SoCon's best perimeter shooters in a league that features several dangerous three-point threats. Junior guard Francis Alonso (18.4 PPG, 2.1 RPG) has been excellent shooting the ball from the perimeter so far this season for the Spartans, and is having a season worthy of consideration for league player of the year accolades.
Alonso ranks second in the SoCon to only Wofford's Fletcher Magee in three-pointers made, having connected on 54 triples this season, and has posted an impressive 45.3% shooting clip from long range this season. He will team with Demetrius Troy (6.5 PPG, 1.6 RPG) in the backcourt Saturday.
Off the bench, UNCG has relied on maybe the most athletic guard in the Southern Conference this season, in Isaiah Miller (7.4 PPG, 2.1 RPG). The Newton High School product--the same high school that produced former SoCon Player of the Year and Furman standout Stephen Croone--has produced some impressive aerial acrobatics this season for the Spartans. Miller has probably conjured up memories of former Spartan standout guard Trevis Simpson with his athleticism.
Final Score Prediction: UNCG 78, VMI 60
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