DePaul Blue Demons at Arizona St Sun Devils
Wednesday, December 12, 2012, 9:00 pm Eastern, TV: Pac 12 Network
Wells Fargo Arena – Tempe, Arizona
Opening Line: Arizona St -4
Current Line: Arizona St -6
Opening Total: 154
Current Total: 152 1/2
Opening Money Line: ASU -230 / DePaul +190
Current Money Line: ASU -260 / DePaul +220
The 6-3 DePaul Blue Demons travel west to take on the 8-1 Arizona St Sun Devils. This is the fifth meeting all time between the schools. DePaul leads the series 3-1, including 68-64 last year in the Old Spice Classic in Orlando. Arizona St will travel to Chicago next season to complete a home and home.
DePaul is coached by Oliver Purnell. The Blue Demons have won 4 straight games after a 2-3 start. DePaul has losses to Gardner Webb at home, and Wichita St and Western Kentucky in a tournament in Cancun, Mexico. Wichita St is 9-0 this season and Western Kentucky is 8-2, so those losses can be excused on a neutral court. DePaul doesn’t really have a quality win unless you count a road win at 3-5 Auburn.
Arizona St is coached by Herb Sendek. The Sun Devils have also won 4 straight games. The only loss came in the championship game of a tournament in Las Vegas to then #14 Creighton by 14 points. ASU has also racked up wins against inferior competition. The Sun Devils beat 4-4 Arkansas in the semifinals of the Las Vegas tournament.
DePaul is outscoring teams 77-68 this season. The Blue Demons are shooting 45.1% from the field and 30.7% from 3 point range. DePaul makes 68.7% of their free throws. The Blue Demons are averaging 39.2 rebounds a game and giving up 33.3. DePaul opponents are shooting 40.7% from the field and 29.5% from 3 point range. The Blue Demons are averaging 15 assists, 10 steals, 5 blocks and 15 turnovers per game.
Forward Cleveland Melvin averages 18.6 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.8 steals, and 1.2 assists a game. Guard Brandon young averages 16.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.4 steals a game. Forward Moses Morgan averages 9 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1 steal a game. Forward Donnavan Kirk averages 7.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks a game. Forward Jamee Crockett averages 7 points, 5 rebounds and a steal. Worrell Clahar, Charles McKinney, Durrell McDonald, and Derrell Robertson, Jr make up the rest of the rotation.
Arizona St is outscoring teams 79-67 this season. The Sun Devils are shooting 48% from the field and 35.2% from 3 point range. Arizona St is #29 in scoring and #32 in field goal percentage. ASU makes 65% of their free throws. The Sun Devils average 38.3 rebounds per games and gives up 33.2. ASU opponents are shooting 38.2% from the field and 35% from 3 point range. The Sun Devils average 16 assists, 8 steals, 8 blocks, and 14 turnovers a game.
Guard Jahii Carson averages 18.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 5.3 assists. Guard-forward Carrick Felix averages 15.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 2 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game. Guard Evan Gordon averages 11.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals per game. Center Jordan Bachynski has 10.9 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 5.6 blocks a game. Forward Jonathan Gilling averages 9 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. Chris Colvin and Eric Jacobsen.
These two teams both have losses to ranked Missouri Valley Conference teams at neutral sites. Neither has been tested otherwise. I think Arizona St simply has too much firepower, especially at home. The Sun Devils win and cover.
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