Dr Pepper Classic: Utah Valley Preview

Utah Valley is sitting at 7-8 following their win over Austin Peay on Friday night in the first round of the Dr Pepper Classic. They have played seven games in the month of December, and have not had a two game winning streak or losing streak.

In other words, if the trend holds, the Wolverines should lose on Saturday night against Chattanooga.

The Wolverines played Chattanooga in the Dr Pepper Classic Championship Game a year ago, and the Mocs won by 15. The Mocs lead throughout, and did not put the game away until midway through the second half. The Mocs were comfortably ahead for most of the game, but pulled away late in the second half, to lead by as much as 19. It was a solid performance by the Mocs. Holton Hunsacker (Coach Dick Hunsacker's son) scored 21 points for the Wolverines in that one.

Can the Wolverines get their revenge in the Dr Pepper Classic Championship Game this year? Or will it have to wait for another year? The Great West Conference, which does not have an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, is the home of the Wolverines. They are the favorite to win the conference again this year.

Nick Thompson recorded the first triple double in Wolverines history on Friday night when he scored 13 points, had twelve assists, and ten rebounds. The 6-9 senior who used to play at Oklahoma is averaging 10.7 poins per game, 7.3 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per contest. Thompson is a very good player.

Ben Aird scored 26 on Friday night and Hunsacker scored 21. Alfonzo Hubbard and Jason Johnson are the other two starters, and the starters played 186 of the 200 minutes in the game on Friday night. They shot an amazing 61.1% from the floor. They shot 50% from the three point line and outrebounded Austin Peay by ten.

Aird is the leading scorer, averaging 13.5 points per game. He is also averaging 7.7 rebounds per game, to lead the team. He also averages 1.5 blocks per minute. He is shooting 58.4% from the floor on the year. He has been amazing. The 6-9 player will be a tough match-up for the Mocs.

Hunsacker is averaging 11.7 points per game and 3.4 assists. He has made 28 three pointers on the year, and is shooting 32.2% from three point range. He is also shooting 88.5% from the free throw line. Hubbard is averaging 10.8 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. Jason Johnson is averaging 7.8 points per game and is shooting 40% from three point range. Johnson and Hunsacker could have very good games against the Mocs perimeter defense.

The Wolverines are a pretty good shooting team, with eFG% of 50.3%. They don't turn the ball off too often, but they also don't force too many turnovers. They do not commit a lot of fouls. They are a solid defensive rebounding team, but not a great offensive rebounding team.

With Farad Cobb at point guard, the Mocs may be getting better at protecting the ball. They only turned the ball over 13 times on Friday night, one of their better performances of the year in that department. The Mocs will need to rebound the ball better than they did against Austin Peay.

How the Mocs guard the three point line against Hunsacker and Johnson could have a huge impact on this game. Those two have potential to light up the Mocs, unlike any of the High Point players on Friday night. If the Mocs can contain them from three point range, they will have a real chance to win the game.

LEAD PIPE LOCK PREDICTIONS THAT ARE SURE TO GO WRONG

--The Mocs will outrebound Utah Valley. Not by as much as they should, but they will outrebound them.
--Rico White will continue to excel now that he is playing off the ball more.
--Z Mason will have another high energy performance, where he will get close to a double-double.
--Utah Valley will show some signs of fatigue as they play normally just about five or six players, and playing on the second of two nights, that does not bode well.
--Thompson won't have a huge night.
--Hunsacker and Johnson will both have big nights, along with Aird.
--Mocs 66, Utah Valley 65.  This is not the best match-up for the Mocs. I think this could be problematic in fact. The difference in the game will be the Mocs home court advantage, and the fact that Utah Valley plays so few players and is likely to have some tired legs. Plus, the Wolverines can't possibly shoot that well back-to-back nights, right? We'll see. This is a worse overall match-up for the Mocs than High Point was, though. My confidence level is low.