CUSA MBB Week #13

All games times are CST

Thursday – February 1st

Florida International vs. Louisiana Tech – 6:00 PM (ESPN+)... Bulldogs win 93-53
Western Kentucky vs. Sam Houston – 7:00 PM (CBS Sports)... Bearkats win 79-77
UTEP vs. Jacksonville State – 8:00 PM (ESPN+)... Miners win 79-71
New Mexico State vs. Liberty – 8:00 PM (ESPN+)... Aggies win 79-73 OT

Saturday – February 3rd

Florida International vs. Sam Houston – 1:00 PM (ESPN+)... Panthers win 68-61
Western Kentucky vs. Middle Tennessee – 7:00 PM (ESPNU)... Hilltoppers win 88-65
UTEP vs. Liberty – 8:00 PM (ESPN+)... Flames win 67-65
New Mexico State vs. Jacksonville State – 8:00 PM (ESPN+)... Aggies win 67-65

Week #12 Awards

Player of the Week: Middle Tennessee's Jestin Porter
Freshman of the Week: UTEP's David Terrell Jr.

CUSA Top 20 Attendance for the season thus far...

Conference matchups in BOLD

1. UTEP vs. UC Santa Barbara............................... 7121
2. New Mexico State vs. Western New Mexico.......... 5908
3. New Mexico State vs. Northern Colorado............. 5656
4. New Mexico State vs. Western Kentucky....... 5243
5. New Mexico State vs. UTEP........................... 5216
6. New Mexico State vs. New Mexico....................... 5182
7. Western Kentucky vs. Liberty........................ 5057
8. UTEP vs. Austin Peay......................................... 4871
9. UTEP vs. Texas A&M Corpus Christi...................... 4671
10. New Mexico State vs. Middle Tennessee....... 4634
11. Western Kentucky vs. Jacksonville State...... 4580
12. New Mexico State vs. Sul Ross State................. 4507
13. UTEP vs. Seattle U.......................................... 4391
14. UTEP vs. Wyoming.......................................... 4310
15. New Mexico State vs. California Baptist.............. 4226
16. UTEP vs. Norfolk State..................................... 4193
17. UTEP vs. Western Kentucky.......................... 4151
18. Western Kentucky vs. Florida International...4144
19. New Mexico State vs. Univ. of the Southwest....... 4135
20. Middle Tennessee vs. Florida International... 4122

Current Standings:

Bulldogs 5-1
Bearkats 5-1

WKU
JAX St.~~~ALL 3-3
NMSU

Liberty
UTEP~~~~ALL 2-4
MTSU
FIU

(01-28-2024 05:21 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  Current Standings:

Bulldogs 5-1
Bearkats 5-1

WKU
JAX St.~~~ALL 3-3
NMSU

Liberty
UTEP~~~~ALL 2-4
MTSU
FIU

They way I see it, Louisiana Tech is two games above 0.500, Sam Houston is one game above 0.500, Western Kentucky, New Mexico State, Jacksonville State, UTEP, and Florida International are at 0.500, Liberty is one game below 0.500, and Middle Tennessee is two games below 0.500. There have only been four road victories thus far.

(01-28-2024 04:33 PM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  Florida International vs. Louisiana Tech – 6:00 PM (ESPN+)
Western Kentucky vs. Sam Houston – 7:00 PM (CBS Sports)
UTEP vs. Jacksonville State – 8:00 PM (ESPN+)
New Mexico State vs. Liberty – 8:00 PM (ESPN+)



Florida International vs. Sam Houston – 1:00 PM (ESPN+)
Western Kentucky vs. Middle Tennessee – 7:00 PM (ESPNU)
UTEP vs. Liberty – 8:00 PM (ESPN+)
New Mexico State vs. Jacksonville State – 8:00 PM (ESPN+)

What do we think? Do we find another road win in this week's bunch of games? Western @ Middle? Or another clean home sweep?

(01-30-2024 11:23 AM)inutech Wrote:  

(01-28-2024 04:33 PM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  Florida International vs. Louisiana Tech – 6:00 PM (ESPN+)
Western Kentucky vs. Sam Houston – 7:00 PM (CBS Sports)
UTEP vs. Jacksonville State – 8:00 PM (ESPN+)
New Mexico State vs. Liberty – 8:00 PM (ESPN+)



Florida International vs. Sam Houston – 1:00 PM (ESPN+)
Western Kentucky vs. Middle Tennessee – 7:00 PM (ESPNU)
UTEP vs. Liberty – 8:00 PM (ESPN+)
New Mexico State vs. Jacksonville State – 8:00 PM (ESPN+)

What do we think? Do we find another road win in this week's bunch of games? Western @ Middle? Or another clean home sweep?

Bearkats at WKU would be a good bet if our point guard is still out and we play like we did down there.

(01-30-2024 12:02 PM)WKUApollo Wrote:  

(01-30-2024 11:23 AM)inutech Wrote:  

(01-28-2024 04:33 PM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  Florida International vs. Louisiana Tech – 6:00 PM (ESPN+)
Western Kentucky vs. Sam Houston – 7:00 PM (CBS Sports)
UTEP vs. Jacksonville State – 8:00 PM (ESPN+)
New Mexico State vs. Liberty – 8:00 PM (ESPN+)



Florida International vs. Sam Houston – 1:00 PM (ESPN+)
Western Kentucky vs. Middle Tennessee – 7:00 PM (ESPNU)
UTEP vs. Liberty – 8:00 PM (ESPN+)
New Mexico State vs. Jacksonville State – 8:00 PM (ESPN+)

What do we think? Do we find another road win in this week's bunch of games? Western @ Middle? Or another clean home sweep?

Bearkats at WKU would be a good bet if our point guard is still out and we play like we did down there.

No chance we play that bad again and Lander will be out of concussion protocol. Tops are 9-0 in Diddle Arena this year so it would definitely be a statement from SHSU, but I don't see it.

LaTech and SHSU would both seem to have a decent chance each at a road win this week in Miami.

Would expect Western to take care of MT despite their road struggles.

I think Sam will keep it close against WKU but not expecting a win there.

(01-30-2024 12:39 PM)EatEmUp11 Wrote:  LaTech and SHSU would both seem to have a decent chance each at a road win this week in Miami.

Would expect Western to take care of MT despite their road struggles.

I think Sam will keep it close against WKU but not expecting a win there.

Yeah, I was reading those backwards at first glance. Best chances seem to be the Miami games. I certainly hope that's the case.

(01-30-2024 12:44 PM)inutech Wrote:  

(01-30-2024 12:39 PM)EatEmUp11 Wrote:  LaTech and SHSU would both seem to have a decent chance each at a road win this week in Miami.

Would expect Western to take care of MT despite their road struggles.

I think Sam will keep it close against WKU but not expecting a win there.

Yeah, I was reading those backwards at first glance. Best chances seem to be the Miami games. I certainly hope that's the case.

Haha… your comment crossed me up too. Western doesn’t play AT MT for another month.

Not sure why OP always posts like that but it’s been consistent all year at least.

NMSU has some personnel deficiencies. Florida International exploited our lack of ball handling with their quickness on the perimeter. And Louisiana Tech exploited our struggles on the board (rebounding) with their size and athleticism in the paint. Now Liberty will test our perimeter defense. Fortunately, NMSU seems to shoot the ball better in the confines of the PAC. Better offense and the big crowd have helped NMSU win at home. Otherwise, I don't know if NMSU will get a road win. 8-8 might be the best NMSU can do this season

"Perception wise", Middle Tennessee and Florida International appear to be the most vulnerable teams to loses a home game. But NMSU and UTEP are one bad shooting night away from dropping at game at home. And Jacksonville State is a wildcard. Are they good or are they lucky by beating Liberty?

And, outside of playing Liberty, Sam Houston has already weathered the toughest teams (Louisiana Tech and Western Kentucky) on the home court. So, they are in great shape the rest of the way.

All indications are Saturday's crowd will be greater than 10,000 Aggie fans...

It'll be a good game between Western and Sam. About equal in talent.

I would argue that SHSU has had a favorable conference schedule so far, playing 4 of 6 at home with a road win at cellar dweller MTSU and a 16 point thumping at Liberty. They still have trips to WKU, La Tech, Jax St, UTEP, and NMSU - all of which they are currently predicted to lose according to Kenpom. Not saying they will lose all of those games, but 6 of their last 10 on the road will be tough.

(01-30-2024 02:29 PM)Shadow_Son Wrote:  I would argue that SHSU has had a favorable conference schedule so far, playing 4 of 6 at home with a road win at cellar dweller MTSU and a 16 point thumping at Liberty. They still have trips to WKU, La Tech, Jax St, UTEP, and NMSU - all of which they are currently predicted to lose according to Kenpom. Not saying they will lose all of those games, but 6 of their last 10 on the road will be tough.

For Sure. SHSU has had the easiest schedule thus far. Plus the La Tech and WKU had some really questionable calls that could have affected the outcome.

I expect SHSU will move down several notches once they have to play some tough road games.

Talent wise I think it’s La Tech and WKU, and then everyone one else in the middle except FIU and MTSU

(01-30-2024 07:05 PM)JackedUp Wrote:  

(01-30-2024 02:29 PM)Shadow_Son Wrote:  I would argue that SHSU has had a favorable conference schedule so far, playing 4 of 6 at home with a road win at cellar dweller MTSU and a 16 point thumping at Liberty. They still have trips to WKU, La Tech, Jax St, UTEP, and NMSU - all of which they are currently predicted to lose according to Kenpom. Not saying they will lose all of those games, but 6 of their last 10 on the road will be tough.

For Sure. SHSU has had the easiest schedule thus far. Plus the La Tech and WKU had some really questionable calls that could have affected the outcome.

I expect SHSU will move down several notches once they have to play some tough road games.

Talent wise I think it’s La Tech and WKU, and then everyone one else in the middle except FIU and MTSU

The homecourt advantage has held true in almost every game. After that, it comes down to match ups. Some teams have advantages where others have deficiencies. I can't speak to every CUSA team, but NMSU ball handling under pressure is suspect. Our rebounding and our defensive execute are not consistent. And NMSU doesn't have scorer they can depend on a nightly basis. Most of the good CUSA teams have an alpha scorer (or two) they can lean on during crunch time.

(01-30-2024 02:29 PM)Shadow_Son Wrote:  I would argue that SHSU has had a favorable conference schedule so far, playing 4 of 6 at home with a road win at cellar dweller MTSU and a 16 point thumping at Liberty. They still have trips to WKU, La Tech, Jax St, UTEP, and NMSU - all of which they are currently predicted to lose according to Kenpom. Not saying they will lose all of those games, but 6 of their last 10 on the road will be tough.

Exactly. They may be in the mix but they have a really tough road ahead.

Interestingly I think Liberty got the opposite, a more front loaded schedule. This is a big week for Liberty. If they get swept they are out of the race for 1rst place. But if they got a couple of wins this week they are right back in the race for 1rst.

Betting lines for tonight's matchups:

La Tech (-7.0) @ FIU - total 143.0
Sam Houston @ WKU (-5.0) - total 159.0
Liberty (-5.0) @ New Mexico St - total 136.0
Jacksonville St @ UTEP (-3.5) - total 130.0

2 road teams favored. Will the home teams hold serve again, or will we finally see a couple road W's?

(01-30-2024 12:02 PM)WKUApollo Wrote:  

(01-30-2024 11:23 AM)inutech Wrote:  

(01-28-2024 04:33 PM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  Florida International vs. Louisiana Tech – 6:00 PM (ESPN+)
Western Kentucky vs. Sam Houston – 7:00 PM (CBS Sports)
UTEP vs. Jacksonville State – 8:00 PM (ESPN+)
New Mexico State vs. Liberty – 8:00 PM (ESPN+)



Florida International vs. Sam Houston – 1:00 PM (ESPN+)
Western Kentucky vs. Middle Tennessee – 7:00 PM (ESPNU)
UTEP vs. Liberty – 8:00 PM (ESPN+)
New Mexico State vs. Jacksonville State – 8:00 PM (ESPN+)

What do we think? Do we find another road win in this week's bunch of games? Western @ Middle? Or another clean home sweep?

Bearkats at WKU would be a good bet if our point guard is still out and we play like we did down there.

Sam Houston PG Jayden Ray is also out still due to death in the family
so that will be a wash if WK pg is out

Home teams win three of four tonight.

Tech up 34-15, 8:48 , 1st H. FIU broadcast audio problems finally fixed.

Now 48-19!!

Blowout time.


59-26 at Half. Crazy.