jwells
01-18-2019, 12:30 PM
#24 Mississippi State (13-3, 1-2 SEC) at Vanderbilt (9-7, 0-4 SEC)
Tip: 7:30 PM CT TV: SEC Network
Mississippi State looks to build off their opening win of the SEC season while Vanderbilt looks for answers as they search for their first league win.
Vanderbilt Team Stats
Points per game: 77.9 MSU: 79.5
Points allowed: 71.0 MSU: 68.9
FG%: 412-915 (45.0%) MSU: 460-955 (48.2%)
3P%: 127-381 (33.3%) MSU: 151-388 (38.9%)
FG% Allowed: 41.2% MSU: 42.8%
3P% Allowed: 31.6% MSU: 34.2%
Vanderbilt Team Leaders
Simi Shittu (Fr.): 14.1 ppg, 7.8 rpg
Saben Lee (So.): 12.3 ppg, 3.6 apg
Vanderbilt comes in trying to find a new identity following the loss of star freshman Darius Garland to a knee injury after just five games. The Commodores have struggled to get going in SEC play and blew a 9-point 2nd half lead in a loss to South Carolina Wednesday. When I watch the Commodores, the 1st thing that comes to mind is inconsistency. They very much look like a team whose leader and floor general was taken out of the mix, they haven't been able to get it back going with Saben Lee at the helm. From the games I have seen, he is great for a few minutes and then struggles the next. A key for the Commodores to get going is for more consistent play out of him. Freshman big man Simi Shittu is also up and down at times but is very skilled for a freshman and could very much cause us problems if we are not prepared to handle him. My idea for how they will attack us is to get the ball in the paint to Shittu and allow him to work around the rim as well as kick out to their many guards on the perimeter when we undoubtedly double in the post. Our defensive rotations will be key and something we have struggled with early in SEC play.
Defensively, Vanderbilt has been fairly multiple in the action I have seen. On Wednesday against South Carolina, the Commodores played a good bit of zone which was a good idea against a poor shooting Gamecocks team. I expect that Vanderbilt will vary their looks against us and once again it will be important to stay focused and under control to get open looks. As we saw Tuesday, Lamar Peters is the straw that stirs this team's drink. Good execution from him ups the game of everyone else on the floor and quite frankly he is the only player that can be said about. We will also need continued effort that we saw in the final minutes Tuesday to carry over if we want to go on the road and get a victory. The Bulldogs are so emotional that I think we will start well coming off the win on Tuesday but it will be key to keep that up. Quite frankly, I am not sure if this team will do what it takes to win on the road even against a winless SEC team but I am hopeful. This is a massive game that is absolutely a must win with Kentucky and Auburn coming up.
Tip: 7:30 PM CT TV: SEC Network
Mississippi State looks to build off their opening win of the SEC season while Vanderbilt looks for answers as they search for their first league win.
Vanderbilt Team Stats
Points per game: 77.9 MSU: 79.5
Points allowed: 71.0 MSU: 68.9
FG%: 412-915 (45.0%) MSU: 460-955 (48.2%)
3P%: 127-381 (33.3%) MSU: 151-388 (38.9%)
FG% Allowed: 41.2% MSU: 42.8%
3P% Allowed: 31.6% MSU: 34.2%
Vanderbilt Team Leaders
Simi Shittu (Fr.): 14.1 ppg, 7.8 rpg
Saben Lee (So.): 12.3 ppg, 3.6 apg
Vanderbilt comes in trying to find a new identity following the loss of star freshman Darius Garland to a knee injury after just five games. The Commodores have struggled to get going in SEC play and blew a 9-point 2nd half lead in a loss to South Carolina Wednesday. When I watch the Commodores, the 1st thing that comes to mind is inconsistency. They very much look like a team whose leader and floor general was taken out of the mix, they haven't been able to get it back going with Saben Lee at the helm. From the games I have seen, he is great for a few minutes and then struggles the next. A key for the Commodores to get going is for more consistent play out of him. Freshman big man Simi Shittu is also up and down at times but is very skilled for a freshman and could very much cause us problems if we are not prepared to handle him. My idea for how they will attack us is to get the ball in the paint to Shittu and allow him to work around the rim as well as kick out to their many guards on the perimeter when we undoubtedly double in the post. Our defensive rotations will be key and something we have struggled with early in SEC play.
Defensively, Vanderbilt has been fairly multiple in the action I have seen. On Wednesday against South Carolina, the Commodores played a good bit of zone which was a good idea against a poor shooting Gamecocks team. I expect that Vanderbilt will vary their looks against us and once again it will be important to stay focused and under control to get open looks. As we saw Tuesday, Lamar Peters is the straw that stirs this team's drink. Good execution from him ups the game of everyone else on the floor and quite frankly he is the only player that can be said about. We will also need continued effort that we saw in the final minutes Tuesday to carry over if we want to go on the road and get a victory. The Bulldogs are so emotional that I think we will start well coming off the win on Tuesday but it will be key to keep that up. Quite frankly, I am not sure if this team will do what it takes to win on the road even against a winless SEC team but I am hopeful. This is a massive game that is absolutely a must win with Kentucky and Auburn coming up.