SoCon Monster Game of the Week: Wofford at Davidson

Wofford has won eight straight SoCon games ad will go for number nine on Saturday night. They are
down two games to Davidson. If the Terriers are going to make any push at the SoCon title, they must win this game on Saturday night. The Wildcats can get in a real position to clinch the SoCon regular season title. This is a very important game for the Terriers and Wildcats as they battle for the regular season title and fight for respect as they head into the Southern Conference Tournament.

The Terriers have won eight straight games in SoCon play and that is because Karl Cochran, Spencer Collins and Lee Skinner have been playing so well together. Cochran and Collins used to volume shooters but not scoring in a high enough volume. Not so anymore. Cochran is averaging 15.4 points per game, 3.1 assists, 1.7 steals and 0.6 blocks per game, all team highs. He is second on the team with rebounds- 4.9 per contest. In other words, Cochran is playing near SoCon Player of the Year level. He has been unbelievable. I have not thought that for much of his career, but have been forced to reevaluate my opinion due to his stellar play.

Collins has not been quite as good. He is averaging 13.4 points per game. He scored zero against The Citadel and just nine against Furman in the most recent outing. He scored 14 against both Appalachian State and Hiwassee in-between. That means that he is averaging just 9.3 points per game in his last four. He hasn't been getting quite as many shots.

Lee Skinner's play has stepped up lately. He is averaging 11.1 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. In SoCon games he is averaging 10.3 rebounds per game. He has been critical to the Terriers play. He is their tallest player, and, in some ways, their most imporatt. He and Cochran have developed a bond that seems to be making the Terriers play better.

The Wildcats need just two more wins to clinch the SoCon title. Obviously, DeMon Brooks is pretty critical to the Wildcats. He is one of the leaders in the SoCon Player of the Year race. Brooks is the team's leading scorer and rebounder. He's averaging 18.3 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. He finds himself in foul trouble at times and he needs to avoid foul trouble if at all possible in this one. His match-up with Skinner could be entertaining if both stay out of foul trouble. Brooks is shooting an astounding 57.2% from the floor.

To me, Brian Sullivan has turned into the Wildcats most important player.  Sullivan is shooting 37.6% from three point range and averaging 13.2 points per game. He has really picked it up lately, averaging 19.5 points per game in the last four games. Sullivan has turned into one of the best players in the SoCon as of late and needs to continue that hot streak for the Wildcats.

The problem for the Wildcats has been their defense. In recent games, there have been lapses. Most commonly, those lapses seem to be happening away from home. The Wildcats will have to play better defense if they are going to win in the semifinals and finals in Asheville. In this one, I will be watchig the Wildcat defense to see how they play against the Terriers improved offense.

PREDICTION

The Terriers have probably the best SoCon defese. The Wildcats have the best SoCon offese. The Wildcats defense has been downright bad at some points. The Terriers offense has improved a lot since their first meeting earlier this year. That being said, I think the Wildcats will find a way at home because of how effective their offense is. To me, this is the SoCon Game of the Year. Davidson may disagree and say the game at Elon is bigger. I don't care about that one. This one takes the cake. Wildcats 79, Terriers 74.