skip navigation

Tipping Off: Saturday, December 19

12/19/2015, 12:15am EST
By Aron Minkoff

CoBL Staff (@hooplove215)
--

Every day during the season on which there are games featuring the 10 Division I teams that CoBL features, we’ll have a Tipping Off running bright and early, letting you know everything you need to know about the match-ups.

As always, we’ll start with a wrap of the previous day’s action, followed by a look at the complete slate; as always, thanks to KenPom’s awesome site for his predictions--though keep in mind this early in the season, his predictions aren’t as reliable:

~~~~

Today’s games

No. 12 Villanova (8-1) @ No. 8 Virginia (8-1)
Where: Bryce John Paul Jones Arena; Charlottesville, Va.
When: 12:00 PM
Watch it: ESPN2
KenPom Prediction: Virginia, 64-60 (70%)

The Skinny: In what will surely be one the best college basketball games on the Saturday Slate across the nation, Villanova gets a shot at top-10 redemption after losing to seventh-ranked Oklahoma a week-and-a-half ago. The ‘Cats possess what is one of the most evenly-paced attacks in all of college basketball with four players all averaging upwards of 10 ppg. With such a strong backcourt containing junior Josh Hart (15 ppg, 7.1 rpg), senior Ryan Arciadiacono (12.3 ppg) and freshman Jalen Brunson (10.8 ppg), ‘Nova is able to control the pace and tempo of the game. One of Virginia’s many strengths is their ability to crash the boards, Villanova will have to win the rebounding battle if they want to win.

~~~

Saint Joseph’s (7-2) vs. Illinois State (5-6)
Where: Hagan Arena; Philadelphia, Pa.
When: 2:00 PM
Watch it: N/A
KenPom Prediction: Saint Joseph’s, 75-66 (82%)

The Skinny: After cementing their status as the second best team in the Big Five, Saint Joseph’s will look to continue and add a fourth game to their current three-game winning streak. The Hawks are led by junior stud DeAndre Bembry (15.9 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 4.2 apg) who has been absolutely tearing it up this season. He is joined by senior forward Isaiah Miles (15.4 ppg, 8.0 rpg) and senior guard Aaron Brown (10.6 ppg).

~~~

Penn (4-5) vs. Ursinus (1-4)
Where: Palestra; Philadelphia, Pa.
When: 2:30 PM
Watch it: N/A
KenPom Prediction: Penn (100%)

The Skinny: After starting out the season to a hot 4-1 start, Penn has dropped their last four games. Playing against Division III Ursinus, the Quakers should have no problem getting back on the winning side of things. Penn has been paced by senior Darien Nelson-Henry (14.6 ppg, 8.7 rpg), who has been absolutely thriving in the new Penn offense this season. Nelson-Henry is joined by a duo of sophomores in Sam Jones (12.7 ppg) and Antonio Woods (11.9). The Penn Quakers have attempted an average of 24.1 3-pointers per game and have only connected on 29 percent of them. That will have to change in order for the Quakers to succeed in Ivy League play; the matchup with Ursinus could help them get into a rhythm.

Ursinus comes into the game with a losing streak of four of their own. The Bears are led by sophomore Remi Janicot (15.7 ppg) and freshman Eric Williams (13.0 ppg).

~~~

Temple (4-5) vs. Delaware State (0-10)
Where: Liacouras Center; Philadelphia, Pa.
When: 4:00 PM
Watch it: N/A
KenPom Prediction: Temple, 74-54 (98%)

The Skinny: Fresh off a Big Five loss to Saint Joseph’s, Temple will look to get back on the winning track against winless Delaware State. The Owls are led by seniors Quenton DeCosey (14.6 ppg, 6.0 rpg) and Jaylen Bond (10.9 ppg, 7.3 rpg). The two are joined by sophomore sensation Obi Enechionyia (11.6 ppg) who has emerged as one of the Owls’ best shooters on the early season, shooting 49.2 percent from the the field and 44.1 percent from three-point range. This should be an easy win for Temple to improve them to .500 before beginning AAC play.

~~~

Drexel (1-7) vs. Penn State (7-3)
Where: Palestra; Philadelphia, Pa.
When: 7:00 PM
Watch it: N/A
KenPom Prediction: Drexel, 65-64 (52%)

The Skinny: Drexel comes into Saturday’s game with Penn State in search of their second win of the season. On the flip side, Penn State comes into Philadelphia looking to build up some momentum in their second to last nonconference tuneup before Big 10 play. This will be a reunion of sorts for a pair of former Roman Catholic teammates in Drexel’s Rashann London (11 ppg) and Penn State’s Shep Garner (15 ppg). The two sophomores have played integral roles thus far this season and both are second on their respective teams in scoring. Drexel is led in scoring by senior guard Tavon Allen (15.5 ppg) and Penn State is led by senior forward Brandon Taylor (16.1 ppg, 6.4 rpg).

~~~

Delaware (5-3) @ Boston College (4-6)
Where: Silvio Conte Forum; Chestnut Hill, Mass.
When: 7:00 PM
Watch it: ESPN3
KenPom Prediction: Boston College, 68-65 (61%)

The Skinny: Delaware will look for a victory ahead of a Dec. 22 matchup with Villanova in what will be the Blue Hens’ second trip to Philadelphia this year. Delaware is led by sophomore guard Kory Holden (15.6 ppg, 4.6 apg), senior forward Marvin King-Davis (14.5 ppg, 9.8 rpg) and junior forward Cameron Hayes (14 ppg, 7.1 rpg).

~~~

Lehigh (1-8) vs. Mt. St. Mary’s (3-7)
Where: Stabler Arena; Bethlehem, Pa.
When: 7:00 PM
Watch it: N/A
KenPom Prediction: Lehigh, 77-62 (66%)

The Skinny: Lehigh will look to add another win on the season against a Mt. St. Mary’s team that has won three of its last four games. Lehigh is paced by junior center Tim Kempton (16.8 ppg, 8.6 rpg) who has really done everything in his power to keep his team competitive in almost each of their games thus far. Assisting Kempton is sophomore guard Kahorn Ross (10.9 ppg, 5.6 apg). Lehigh is a team that is not quite as bad as their record dictates, they have had a fairly tough schedule for a mid-major playing Syracuse, Virginia and Purdue.

~~~

 


Recruiting News:

HS Coverage:

Tag(s): Home  Division III  Aron Minkoff  Events  Delaware  Drexel  Penn  Penn State  Saint Joseph's  Temple  Villanova