SEC Set Your TiVo will take a look ahead at each week’s key games. See bottom of the post for the Official RTC Star System.
Two days. The SEC has given us two whole days of no basketball action. Take Monday and Tuesday to spend time with your significant other and/or children. Tell them you love them and that you enjoy their company. Then on Wednesday night, you have a choice: Shall you spend an unprecedented third day with the people-that-you-love-the-most-after-March? Or is there a game that needs to be seen?
Arizona at Florida – Wednesday, December 7, 7 PM on ESPN3 (***)
Arizona is still trying to figure things out this season. Sean Miller has started eight different players, most recently removing center Kyryl Natyazhko from the starting lineup. In Saturday’s 53-39 win over Northern Arizona, the Wildcats featured a three-guard set featuring Kyle Fogg (11 PPG, 41.4% 3FG), Jordin Mayes (7.4 PPG) and Nick Johnson (10.8 PPG, 46.4% 3FG). That leaves 6’7″ Jesse Perry (10.5 PPG, 9.1 RPG) and 6’6″ Solomon Hill (12.4 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 3.1 assists per game) in the frontcourt.
Patric Young identifies aliens and subliminal advertising using the eyewear provided by Billy Donovan (Photo via John Raoux / AP)
In the paint, Arizona may find themselves outmatched. 6’9″ Patric Young and 6’7″ Will Yeguete played up to their size in a losing effort against Syracuse. If 6’10” forward Erik Murphy can contribute — he’s been cleared to play — Arizona will have a tough time covering all the locations from which Murphy can score. Arizona must not over-commit to interior defense or else Kenny Boynton, Bradley Beal and Erving Walker will bomb away. Arizona has one of the best three-point defenses in the country even though they allowed 8-12 3FG shooting in a 61-57 loss to San Diego State.
Georgia Tech at Georgia – Wednesday, December 7, 7 PM on Fox Sports South, ESPN Full Court and ESPN3 (**)
Points are hard to come by in the Peach State. Georgia Tech is averaging just 65 points per game; Georgia is averaging 59. Both teams have been breaking even — literally; they are both 4-4 — due to defense. Georgia Tech has allowed an average of 59 points on 37.3% FG, while Georgia averages 61 allowed points on 40.8% FG. This game may come down to three-pointers: The Yellow Jackets have allowed an average of six 3-pointers made a game and the Bulldogs on average make the same.
Junior guard Glen Rice Jr. (14.8 PPG, 35.0% 3FG, 7.2 RPG), son of former NBA All-Star Glen Rice, will be a tough defensive assignment for the Georgia guards. Conversely the Bulldogs’ Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (13.9 PPG, 5.3 RPG) will have a significant challenge if Rice, Jr., is tasked with defending him. Mark Fox might need senior guard Dustin Ware (6.4 PPG) to break out of his slump and provide some extra scoring, three points at-a-time.
Vanderbilt at Davidson – Wednesday, December 7th, 7 PM on ESPN3 (*)
Will Vanderbilt be able to regroup after its Friday night collapse against Louisville?
Yes, yes Vandy will.
The Official RTC Star System
***** – 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 2014
* – don’t waste bandwidth (yours or the tivo’s) of any kind on this game