Thursday, January 31, 2008

This Week in the Atlantic Sun

There is a really good women's game coming up this week: Kennesaw State at ETSU. KSU is 5-2 in conference, 10-9 overall. East Tennessee is 6-1, 10-10.

Kennesaw State is led by Brittney Henderson, who is averaging 13 points and 9 boards fr the season. Greteya Kelley has also done well in conference play, averaging 14 points a night in the A-Sun.

ETSU counters with two solid guards in Siarre Evans and Michelle DeVault, both double-digit scorers and solid rebounders and defenders. Leticia Belcher's post play has improved dramatically in conference play; in seven starts, her efficiency rate is up around 14, one of the best in the conference.

This match-up will be the classic cncflict between tempo and defense. ETSU likes to run and shoot a lot of 3's. Kennesaw makes its living creating turnovers and playing well in the half-court. Kennesaw's 22 steals helped them beat Lipscomb last week despite going 0-7 on 3's.

The game could come down to who shoots free throws better. ETSU shoots 71% as a team, while KSU is a hair under 65%. Given how they've been playing lately, I like ETSU -- especially at home -- but Kennesaw has the horsepower to give them a good game.

The other game on the women's side that looks to be close is Stetson @ Lipscomb. Neither team is in the upper echelon of the conference, but they play comparable styles and are relatively close in talent. If both teams play well, this could be a good game. But if one team lapses -- as both are prone to do at times -- the othe rhas a chance to run away and hide.

Not mchh to wrtie about on the men's side. Kennesaw is at Upstate Firday night in what looks to be the best match-up. But if Kennesaw keeps playing like they did this weekend against the Boulevard, USCU is in trouble. I don't know that Kennesaw has three straight superior performances in them, but we shall see.

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