By Sean Kennedy
Today’s Action
6:30 PM: Temple (2-3, 0-0 AAC) vs. UAB (4-1, 0-0 C-USA) [neutral site]
In the final game of their Charleston Classic experience, Temple will take on the UAB Blazers. The Blazers name stems from the school wanting to ‘blaze’ a new trail in athletics; the dragon mascot wasn’t introduced until 1995. As for the team, UAB’s lone loss of the year was a double-overtime thriller against New Mexico in the opening game of the Classic. UAB is 2nd in the nation in rebounds per game, with four players averaging at least 7 rebounds, including 6’5″ senior Rod Rucker, who is top 25 in the nation at 11.0 rpg. Even with all the trees for the Blazers, the team’s engine is junior guard Chad Frazier, who paces the Blazers with 20.4 ppg and 5.8 apg.
The Owls got off to great starts their last two games, but coughed up the leads both times and needed a late three against Georgia to earn a split. UAB represents another tough foe for Temple, and they’ll need to play a full 40 minutes to have a chance in this one. Ultimately, there’s too much size and depth for the Blazers; UAB takes this contest.
9:30 PM: La Salle (3-2, 0-0 A-10) vs. Providence (5-0, 0-0 Big East) [neutral site]
After defeating Morgan State, the Explorers have moved on to the semifinals of the Paradise Jam tournament. La Salle will next take on the Providence Friars, who remain undefeated on the season after a 87-80 victory over Vanderbilt Friday. Not only do the Friars have one of the best defenses in the nation, but they’re led once again by 6’1″ senior guard Bryce Cotton. Cotton leads the team in scoring with 18.8 ppg, while also averaging an impressive 6.4 assists per game, good for top 20 in the nation. In addition to Cotton, the forward tandem of LaDontae Henton and Kadeem Batts each average at least 13 points and 8 rebounds per game. Those three upperclassmen have high hopes of making noise in the new-look Big East this season.
Providence represents the stiffest test of the season for the Explorers, who have struggled thus far against a fairly weak slate of non-conference opponents. La Salle fans are still waiting for the team to step up and meet its potential after its tournament run a season ago. Maybe the tropical setting is just what the Explorers needed to jump start their season. However, my money would be on a tough Friars squad ending La Salle’s dreams of paradise glory.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
