3-unit play

A matchup featuring the top two most efficient defenses in the CAA is what we have in store for you tonight, and one where the pace should be slow. Drexel operates at the slowest pace tempo in the conference and comes in 341st nationally in tempo. Monmouth has a slower than average tempo and should struggle here against a solid Drexel defense that does not allow open looks from deep and does well to defend the painted area. 

Monmouth does not shoot a lot of three point shots and its overall effective field goal percentage is 290th nationally. These guys shouldnt see a ton of success getting to the charity stripe. Last time against the Dragons, Monmouth scored just 51 points in a game that played to 60 total possessions and now have to try to do it again on the road here. Not going to go well. 

The Defense will step up, and Drexel is a horrific offense at getting to the foul line or shooting it from in close. This should be a game played in the low 60's. Under

(3 Unit Play Under) 

We might be getting a bit of an inflated total here as Evansville just played the Redbirds of Illinois State to an 88-80 final, but these Purple Aces struggle on offense and the majority of their games in the league-portion of their schedule have trended to lower scoring affairs. 

Evansville cannot shoot the ball well from 2- or 3-point range and offensive rebounds are non-existent. I would expect several empty trips against the Salukies that are equipped with the third most efficient defense in the Missouri Valley Conference. SIU defends the painted area well, and Evansville will not get many trips to the line here in this matchup. 

While SIU has had some higher finals recently, they played two teams in a row who want to run and push the pace. This defense did however hold Illinois State and Northern Iowa to 50 points, and I would expect a strong defensive showing here. We like the under in this matchup. 

(4 Unit Sun Belt Total of the Year Under) 

TOP PLAY TOTAL!

South Alabama plays at one of the slowest paces in the country, 318th nationally and the Jaguars are THE slowest team in the Sun-Belt conference. The Jags struggle shooting the ball from deep and seek to work the ball into the painted area which plays right into the strength of the Southern Miss defense. I would expect USA to struggle to get quality touches on the block in this one. 

The Jags defense will throw itself into this crazy zone look that has really frustrated its opponents and forcing Southern Miss to shoot over it will be the strategy tonight. The Golden Eagles rank 363rd nationally, nearly DEAD LAST in the country, in three-point shooting percentage, while also ranking 353rd nationally in 3-point attempts. These guys do not want to shoot the ball from deep but Southern Miss will be forced to do so tonight, and the offense should look a little out of its element against the Richie Riley zone defense. 

The Jags will control the pace here and I would expect this game to be played closer to 62-64 possessions, with both offenses struggling. South Alabama is not going to send USM to the foul line and offensive rebounding from both sides should be kept to a minimum, so put backs and 2nd chance points I expect to be limited here. 

We love the under in this matchup and have made it our SUN BELT TOTAL OF THE YEAR!