Game Preview: WKU @ ODU, 1/11/18

A big road game awaits WKU on Thursday, January 11, as the Hilltoppers will face the Old Dominion Monarchs in Norfolk. The Monarchs, currently, sit atop the C-USA standings: 12-3 overall and 3-0 in conference.

Game Information

Day: January 11, 2018

Time: 7:00 pm CST

Location: Ted Constant Convocation Center, Norfolk, VA

ESPN Matchup Predictor: ODU 65.3%, WKU 34.7%

In 2016-17

ODU defeated WKU in both meetings.

-79-67 (1/7/17, Diddle Arena)

-67-53 (2/25/17, Ted Constant Convocation Center)

The Monarchs would end the season 19-12 and fell to Marshall in the C-USA Tournament quarterfinals. WKU went 15-17 and fell to UTSA in the first round of the C-USA Tournament.

In 2017-18

According to KenPom ratings - a system designed to be purely predictive - WKU leads C-USA and comes in at #58 overall. ODU ranks #3 in C-USA and #66 overall.

ODU enters the game 12-3 with wins over Towson, James Madison, Indiana State, Dayton, Maryland Eastern Shore, Richmond, Bowling Green, Fairfield, Norfolk State, Charlotte, Rice, and North Texas. Their losses have come at the hands of Temple, William & Mary, and VCU.

In terms of quality wins (and close losses) the Hilltoppers have the Monarchs beat. WKU has wins over Kentucky Wesleyan, Nicholls State, #5 Purdue (at the time, #18), SMU, EKU, Wright State, Indiana State, Austin Peay, Louisiana Tech, and Marshall. Losses have been to Missouri State, #1 Villanova (at the time, #5), Ohio, Wisconsin, and Belmont.

This Matchup

After handily defeating Marshall on the road - 112-87 - WKU has to turn around and face ODU on the road. To this point, ODU is 5-0 in the Ted Constant Convocation Center...but Marshall was 9-0 at home before falling to WKU. Undoubtedly, WKU Basketball came together and played the most "complete" game with [four-star freshman] Josh Anderson's long-awaited, highly-anticipated debut. Anderson went 6-8 for 16 points and had 1 assist, 1 block, and 1 steal. Darius Thompson led the Tops with 33 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, and 1 block: the second triple-double in the program's history. Justin Johnson posted 27 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block. 5/9 players scored in the double digits. WKU shot 62.5% and connected 15-27 (55.6%) of its free-throws.

However, ODU ranks in the top 100 in the following stats: rebounds per game (40th, 39.9), assists per game (87th, 15.5), and points allowed (13th, 61.7). For comparison purposes, Marshall ranked in the top 100 in points per game (10th, 88.1) and assists per game (12th, 18.2).

In addition, the Monarchs are riding a seven-game win streak (WKU, three-game streak). ODU has not lost a game since December 2, 2017. In their last game, ODU edged North Texas (9-8, 2-2 conference) 63-60. Despite the 3 point margin of victory, the Monarchs never trailed in the contest; the game was only tied for a total of 16 seconds. 4/10 players scored in the double digits. ODU shot 38.0 % and connected 19-24 (79.2%) of its free-throws.

Fun Facts

-In WKU’s regular season wins, the Hilltoppers have won by an average margin of 15.9 points. ODU has won by an average margin of 16.8 points.

-WKU has lost by an average margin of 4.4 points. ODU has lost by an average margin of 6.6 points.

-Darius Thompson (WKU) and B.J. Stith (ODU) are, both, University of Virginia transfers.

Prediction

With Anderson's debut, the WKU Basketball puzzle is, now, only missing Moustapha Diagne (still waiting to hear from NCAA regarding eligibility). However, even without Anderson, WKU was far from struggling. This is an extremely mature and unselfish team that is more than capable of dethroning the Monarchs from their #1 C-USA standing. The Monarchs know as much, and will not be sleeping on the Hilltoppers. Like ODU is to WKU, WKU will be one of ODU's tougher opponents.

WKU - 80

ODU - 76