PURDUE

Purdue has already played 10 games in this young season, and they have won 8 of them, with their only two losses coming against the Crimson Tide of Alabama and the #11 ranked Xavier Muskateers.

They lost by 9 to #15 ranked Alabama, but did notch an impressive 13 point win over Miami (FL). Last game, in their three point loss to Xavier, Robbie Hummel scored 17 points, but needed 21 shots to do so, connecting on only one-third of them while missing 6 of his 8 threes too. So it could hardly be considered a good game. Guard Lewis Jackson contributed 12 points on a much more efficient 3 of 8 from the floor.

Last year, the Boilermakers were one of the Cinderella VCU victims, falling by 18 to the VCU squad, after going 26-8 in the season and posting a 14-4 in conference record. Sometimes, there is no stopping a hot team, and Purdue certainly fell victim to that clause.

Robbie Hummel has been the main show for the Boilermakers so far. The 6’8″ 215 pound senior forward is posting 18.8 points per game and 5.1 boards, while playing 31 minutes a game. No other player is seeing more than 30 minutes a game, and only two others (Ryne Smith, and Lewis Jackson) average double figures. Jackson, a 5’9″ waterbug point guard, is a great finisher around the hoop and made 54% of his two point shots last season while also hitting 67% of his shots from 6 feet and in (CBSSports).

WESTERN CAROLINA

After looking like they were in trouble after a three game skid, the Catamounts have come back to win three straight games, with victories over FAMU (a 16 point blowout), Samford, and UNC Greensboro. Tonight will be a much bigger test for the Catamounts, who finished 18-15 last season with a 12-6 Southern Conference record.

They played the best defense in the conference last season and gave up less than a point per possesion to in conference opponents. Only the College of Charleston and Wofford managed to have big games against Western Carolina, and that did end up being their downfalll, when they gave up 86 points to Wofford in the Southern Conference semifinals.

If they continue the kind of defense they played last year and can flow better offensively, they can have nights like their last three occassions, and possibly make a conference bid in March. To do so, they will rely on the trio of Haronna Mutombo, Brandon Boggs, and Trey Sumler. The three combine for 38.6 pionts per game, 57% of the offense. Mutombo, a 6’4″ senior, is having his best collegiate season since his freshman year, when he averaged 14.4 points per game. This year, he is putting up 14.8 points per game while shooting slightly worse from the field than last year’s 49.3% (47.6% this year). He’s putting the cap on a very good college career and will be considered one of the better Catamounts to have come through the program when it is all said and done.

If you feel confident in either teams at the odds set by Bookmaker in the onset of this article, we suggest backing up a bet there, where they offer a 5% return on lost bets and a great cashout system. Also, you should give thoughtful consideration to a paid pick plan from Maddux Sports for the 2011-2012 season. At reasonable prices, you are buying the opportunity to line your pockets very deeply!