Set Your Tivo: 12.13.10
Posted by Brian Otskey on December 13th, 2010
***** – quit your job and divorce your wife if that’s what it takes to watch this game live
**** – best watched live, but if you must, tivo and watch it tonight as soon as you get home
*** – set your tivo but make sure you watch it later
** – set your tivo but we’ll forgive you if it stays in the queue until 2013
* – don’t waste bandwidth (yours or the tivo’s) of any kind on this game
Brian Otskey is an RTC contributor.
Tonight begins a week of almost nothing of significance in the college basketball world. Many schools have finals this week resulting in the annual light schedule for this week. All rankings from RTC and all times eastern.
Florida Atlantic @ Siena – 7:30 pm on Time Warner Cable Sports (*)
Siena enters the game at 2-6 coming off three straight losses. The Saints were expected to contend at the top of the MAAC but they’ve looked ordinary so far. It would be foolish to write them off however as they have quality talent for a mid-major league, talent that’s experienced for the most part. Surprisingly, Siena is 0-4 at home under the direction of first year head coach Mitch Buonaguro. He does have two star players though as Ryan Rossiter and Clarence Jackson are back for their senior seasons in upstate New York. Rossiter has been outstanding, averaging 20/13. Those 13 rebounds are good enough for second in the country behind Kenneth Faried of Morehead State. A key matchup in this game will be Rossiter against FAU’s Kore White who had 18/8 in a win at Mississippi State and was 5-8 from the floor in a victory over South Florida. At 6’8/245, White possesses the height and strength to bang with the 6’9/235 Rossiter. The Owls are 5-4 against D1 competition and have won three straight, including the wins against MSU and USF. They’re led by former St. John’s head coach Mike Jarvis who is trying to work his way back up the coaching ladder. Florida Atlantic takes good care of the ball, ranked eighth in offensive turnover percentage. They should win the turnover battle against a Siena team that averages 16 turnovers a game. Siena may be shorthanded as Owen Wignot missed their last game against Fairfield with a head injury. Wignot has been a valuable weapon, hitting 13 of his 21 three point attempts this season. Jarvis has a shooter of his own in leading scorer Gregg Gantt, averaging 15 PPG and 40% from three. The senior duo of Rossiter and Jackson should do most of the scoring for Siena and Rossiter should especially look to take advantage inside. FAU gives up 51% shooting from inside the arc on average but White should be able to contain him somewhat, at least you’d think so. This should be a pretty good game between two decent mid-major teams, despite Siena’s record.
Green Bay @ Wisconsin – 8 pm on Big Ten Network (*)
The Badgers may have some revenge on their mind tonight as they welcome the Green Bay Phoenix to the Kohl Center. Green Bay won last year’s game at home in overtime behind Bryquis Perine’s 22 points, their first win over Wisconsin in 16 attempts. The Phoenix are just 3-6 against D1 competition this year under first year coach Brian Wardle but shouldn’t be intimidated in this game having already faced Marquette and San Diego State this season. Wisconsin knocked off rival Marquette in Milwaukee on Saturday led by Jordan Taylor. The Badger point guard scored 21 points as Wisconsin picked up a key road victory. Green Bay is going to be severely undersized in this game with just one key player taller than 6’6. Freshman Alec Brown is seven feet tall but just 215 pounds, making him vulnerable to the stronger and more experienced Keaton Nankivil and Jon Leuer. Senior Rahmon Fletcher is Green Bay’s best player, averaging 17 PPG on 49% shooting. The 5’10 Fletcher actually scored 18 points against top-15 San Diego State so we’re sure Bo Ryan knows he can play. Wisconsin will stick to their deliberate system and try to grind this game out against the weak Phoenix defense, ranked just #277 in defensive efficiency. Taylor and Leuer almost certainly will take advantage of that for the home squad. Green Bay may keep this close early but Wisconsin’s superior talent, rebounding and defense will eventually wear down the Phoenix giving the Badgers another comfortable home win in the friendly confines of the Kohl Center.
