Marshall Thundering Herd at Southern Miss Golden Eagles
Reed Green Coliseum – Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Friday, February 7, 2014, 9:30 pm Eastern, TV: CBS Sports Network
Opening Line: Southern Miss -19
Current Line: Southern Miss -18 1/2
Opening Total: 138
Current Total: 139
Opening Money Line: Southern Miss -2775 / Marshall +1725
Current Money Line: Southern Miss -3700 / Marshall +2300
The Southern Miss Golden Eagles are 19-3 this season and 6-1 in Conference USA. The Golden Eagles are a half game behind 7-1 UTEP in the Conference USA standings. Southern Miss takes on the 8-15 Marshall Thundering Herd Friday night in Hattiesburg. The Thundering Herd are tied for 13th place in the conference at 2-6.
Marshall leads the series 9-7 against Southern Miss but the Golden Eagles are 6-0 in the series in Hattiesburg. Marshall won the only meeting last year in Huntington 88-84. This is the only scheduled meeting between the teams this season.
Marshall is coached by Tom Herrion. The Thundering Herd have key wins over UNC-Wilmington, Western Kentucky, at Rice and Florida International. Marshall has losses at Morehead State, Stephen F. Austin, at East Tennessee State, at Vanderbilt, at Penn State, West Virginia in Charleston, Arkansas State, at South Carolina, at Akron, at UTSA, at UTEP, North Texas, Tulsa, at Louisiana Tech, and Saturday against Florida Atlantic 65-57. The Thundering Herd are 6-11 ATS and the total is 8-9 this season.
Marshall is outscoring teams 77-75 this season. The Thundering Herd are #55 in scoring but #299 out of 351 teams nationally in points allowed. Marshall is shooting 44.7% from the field and 31.2% from 3 point range. The Thundering Herd are #308 in 3 point shooting nationally. Marshall si #343 nationally in free throw shooting at 62.4% from the line. Opponents are shooting 44.3% from the field and 29.6% from 3 point range. The Thundering Herd are #21 in 3 point defense nationally. Marshall averages 38.1 rebounds per game and opponents average 35.4 per game. The Herd are #54 in rebounding and #334 in rebounds allowed. Marshall averages 13.2 assists, 13.2 turnovers, 6.2 steals and 3.8 blocks per game. Opponents average 13.7 assists, 13.3 turnovers, 6.4 steals and 3.1 blocks per game.
Forward Elijah Pittman is suspended indefinitely, after playing in only 9 games. He was the team’s leading scorer averaging 21.4 points a game. Guard Kareem Canty averages 16.3 points, 2.4 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game. Forward Ryan Taylor averages 14 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. Guard Chris Thomas averages 11.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. Forward Shawn Smith averages 8.3 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. Forward TyQuane Goard averages 7.2 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. Tamrom Manning, DaVince Boykins, and Cheikh Sane will also get significant minutes in the rotation. Center Yous Mbao is questionable with a knee injury. Center J.P. Kambola is out indefinitely due to being ineligible.
Southern Miss is coached by Donnie Tyndall. The Golden Eagles have road losses at Louisville, Western Kentucky and Tulsa. Southern Miss has key wins at Depaul, at North Dakota State, at South Alabama, Morehead State, Georgia State, Coppin State and Arkansas Little Rock in a tournament in the Virgin Islands, at Rhode Island, Drexel, at North Texas, Rice, Louisiana Tech, at Old Dominion, at East Carolina, and Saturday against Tulane 78-47. The Golden Eagles have won 5 straight games. Southern Miss is 13-5-1 ATS and the total is 9-9 this season.
Southern Miss is outscoring teams 74-62 this season. The Golden Eagles are #20 in points allowed nationally. Southern Miss is shooting 46.5% from the field and 34.2% from 3 point range. The Golden Eagles make 69.4% of their free throws. USM opponents are shooting 41.8% from the field and 33.7% from 3 point range. The Golden Eagles average 36.5 rebounds per game, and lead the nation in rebounds allowed at 25.3 per game. Southern Miss averages 14 assists, 13.8 turnovers, 8.6 steals, and 2.3 blocks per game Opponents average 12.5 assists, 16.2 turnovers, 6.1 steals, and 3.1 blocks per game.
Guard Neil Watson averages 12.4 points, 2.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.6 assists per game. Guard/forward Michael Craig averages 11.7 points, 8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. Forward Daveon Boardingham averages 10.5 points, 5 rebounds and 1 blocks per game. Guard Jerrold Brooks averages 9.6 points, 2.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. Forward Aaron Brown averages 8.8 points, 4 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game. Jeremiah Eason, Chip Armelin, Matt Bingaya, and Deonte Houston will also get significant minutes in the rotation.
Marshall is 17-35-1 ATS overall, 7-19 in road games, and against teams with winning home records, 2-6 against teams with winning records, and against Conference USA teams. The Thundering Herd are 7-1-1 ATS in the last 9 games against the Golden eagles, including 3-1-1 in Hattiesburg.
Southern Miss is 7-0 ATS at home, 5-0 overall and against Conference USA teams, 4-0 after a straight up win, and against teams with losing road records, and 9-1-1 after a cover. The home team is 5-2-1 ATS in this series recently.
Look Marshall is just not very good, especially without Pittman. They are one of the worst rebounding and defensive teams in the country. Southern Miss is great at preventing rebounds and on defense. The Golden Eagles should win this game handily.
