WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2009 - College Basketball Free Pick
Wichita State Shockers (19-4) vs. #24 Northern Iowa Panthers (19-2)
The No. 24 Northern Iowa Panthers will host the Wichita State Shockers on Wednesday night in a Missouri Valley tilt at McLeod Center in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
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The Shockers ended the then-no. 20 Panthers 15-game win streak beating them 60-51 in Wichita back on Jan 19. The Panthers have won seven of the last 10 matchups against Wichita State, but the Shockers still own a 21-18 edge over Northern Iowa in the all-time series.
WSU improved their conference record to 8-3 with a thrilling, 55-54 win over Southern Illinois on Sunday. Graham Hatch had a team-high 13 points and Garrett Stutz put up 12 points off the bench while Clevin Hannah dished out seven assists, and seven points in the win. Hannah, along with Toure’ Murry are the teams leading scorers with 12.4 ppg apiece. Hannah has also posted a team-best 99 assists. The Shockers can attribute this season’s success to solid defense. They are holding opponents to just 59.6 ppg on 40.9 percent shooting, while averaging 70.6 ppg on the season.
Likewise, the Panthers have been just as tenacious at the defensive end of the floor and have earned a spot in the top 25 by positing its third straight with win over Missouri State, 55-54 on Saturday. The victory gave the Panthers the top spot in the MVC with a league-best 10-1 record. Jordan Eglseder led the team with 14 points, while Adam Koch added 10 points and six boards in the win. Koch is pacing the team with 12.7 ppg. Northern Iowa is holding the opposition to just 55.1 ppg and a 40.0 percent shooting while averaging just 64.8 ppg, despite shooting a respectable 45.0 percent from the floor.
The odds makers have the Shockers as +5-point underdogs in this one.
Considering how well both teams play defensively this should be a low-scoring affair.
Look for this to be a close one with the Panthers edging out a 4-point win in the final minute.
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- Wichita State is 7-3 ATS in its last 10 games
- Wichita State is 17-3 SU in its last 20 games
- Wichita State is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
- Wichita State is 6-3 SU in its last 9 games on the road
- Northern Iowa is 10-2 ATS in its last 12 games
- Northern Iowa is 18-1 SU in its last 19 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Northern Iowa’s last 8 games
- Northern Iowa is 7-1 ATS in its last 8 games at home
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