Diamond Head Classic Preview

The Middle Tennessee Blue Raider basketball club is nine games through the 2017-2018 campaign. Touting a 7-2 record, the Blue Raiders were riding high after victories over Florida Gulf Coast, Vanderbilt and Ole Miss before getting derailed by Auburn this past Saturday.

With the taste of defeat still fresh, MT now heads to Hawaii Friday for the Diamond Head Classic.

The tournament consists of MT, Princeton, Akron, USC, Davidson, New Mexico State, Miami (Florida), and Hawaii.

Many of these teams were playing in the big dance last season. MT, Princeton, USC, Miami and New Mexico State all put on their dancing shoes.

Let's look at the path that is in front of MTSU in this tough tournament.

We have covered MT inside and out so far this season. Let's turn the page and take a gander at what MT's first round opponent in the Diamond Head Classic has. We will go in depth on this one since it is the first guaranteed matchup.

Heading into this tournament, Princeton is an underwhelming 5-6. They have had to run the gauntlet of a daunting schedule, though. They opened up with Butler, dropping the ballgame by 10 points. Things did not get any easier, as they were defeated by BYU by nine, St, Joseph's by 13, Lehigh by nine, Miami by 28, and George Washington by 11. They do boast wins over Fairleigh Dickinson, Lafayette, Monmouth, Cal-Poly and most recently USC - showing that they are starting to piece some things together as that win marked three in a row for them.

Looking at what Princeton has on their hands - they are spearheaded by two main cogs in the machine: Junior guards Devin Cannady and Myles Stephens. Cannady is really filling it up, averaging 18.8 points a game. Despite being 6-1, Cannady scraps for rebounds, averaging 3.9 boards an outing. Cannady is lethal from behind the three point line as well, where he is hitting over 47.6 percent of his shots.

On the other side of the coin you have Stephens, who is averaging 16 points a game and a team-leading 5.9 rebounds per game. Like Cannady, Stephens is dynamite from three-point land, where he's hitting 42.9 percent of his shots this year.

MT will need to get up and get in Cannady and Stephen's air space, especially when they are pulling the trigger from deep. Also, you better not send Cannady to the free throw line. To this point, Cannady is hitting 91.4 percent of his free throw shots.

While Cannady is deadly from the charity stripe, the numbers take a dip when the rest of the team shoots. While MT is averaging 74 percent from the charity stripe, through ten games, Princeton is hitting 71 percent; so it's pretty much a stalemate in that regard.

Going deeper into the numbers - while Middle has been hitting only 32 percent of shots from three point land, Princeton is hitting 40 percent of their attempts. You could say three point shots are their calling card. Sophomore guard Jose Morales is a threat from deep too. He does not average a ton of points, but he picks his spots and hits around 40 percent of his three-point tries. He is impressive getting his shot off considering he is only 5'9. Senior guard Amir Bell and forward Sebastian Much also average just under 40 percent from deep.

Princeton's field goal percentage mirrors MT's. As of Monday Princeton hits 45 percent, while MT hits 47 percent. Do not let Princeton's record deceive you. They have tested themselves and do have the capability of piecing together a solid game and defeating MT. They are a very guard oriented team and run an intricate offense, with constant motion and constant screens. While everyone knows and has heard of the Princeton offense - it's a whole other beast to actually play against it, especially when you rarely do.

PREDICTION:

I ultimately think that MT's rebounds from the mostly embarrassing performance against Auburn. Princeton should show flashes of hope but I think MT holds on and wins. Look for Nick King to play much better in this one and I expect that we'll start seeing the old Giddy Potts on a more regular basis after his last outing too.

Final Score: MT 79, Princeton 68

POTENTIAL SECOND ROUND MATCHUPS:

If MT beats Princeton, they will face the winner of USC and Akron. If they lose they play the loser of this matchup. In last years' tournament Southern Cal was an 11 seed and won the play-in game versus Providence and the round of 64 game against SMU. They ultimately lost to Baylor. Akron is not too shabby as well, being one of the powers in the MAC.

INSIDE SCOOP ON USC:

- Current record 6-4.

- Started the season firmly entrenched in the top 25.

- Tested themselves in non-conference play against Vanderbilt, Texas A & M, SMU, and Oklahoma

- 6'11 forward Chimezie Metu is their leading scorer with 18.5 points and eight boards a game.

- Four players average double figures in scoring.

INSIDE SCOOP ON AKRON:

- Current record 6-2

- Two losses to Dayton by 13 and Marshall by 22.

- They are hitting 39 percent of three-point shots

- Headlined by sophomore forward 6'6, 215 pound Daniel Utomi. 20 points, seven boards a game. Hits 50 percent of three pointers.

- Possess stud guard Malcolm Duvivier who averages 13 points a game.

-Struggles with 62 percent from free throw line.

PREDICITON:

USC-75, Akron-65

We have established that the winner of MT/Princeton plays winner of Akron/USC and that the loser plays the loser. On the other side of the bracket we have Davidson, New Mexico State, Miami and Hawaii. Here's a look at what they each bring to the table

INSIDE SCOOP ON NEW MEXICO ST.

- Current record is 9-2.

- Notable wins over New Mexico (twice), Colorado State, UTEP (twice), and Illinois.

- Losses to Saint Mary and San Diego.

- Shoot an anemic 61 percent from foul line and 31 percent from beyond the arc.

- Led by senior guard Zach Lofton, who averages 19.5 points and 4.6 rebounds a game.

- Leading rebounder Jemerrio Jones (senior forward) averages 11.6 rebounds a game.

INSIDE SCOOP ON DAVIDSON:

- Current record 4-4.

- In Atlantic 10 conference

- Tough schedule including North Carolina, Nevada, UNC-Wilmington, Virginia, and Charlotte.

- Connecting on only 46 percent of their field goal attempts.

- Headlined by Peyton Aldridge. (6'8, 225 lbs), who is averaging 21.5 points and 6.9 boards a game.

PREDICTION:

NMSU-78, Davidson-62

INSIDE SCOOP ON MIAMI:

- Current record is 9-0.

- Ranked 6th nationally.

- Notable wins over Minnesota, Princeton (by 28), Navy and George Washington.

- Bugaboo is free throws, where they shoot 57 percent on the year.

- Five players averaging double figures when it comes to points.

- 6'11 sophomore F Dewan Huell leads team in scoring with 13.3 points and 6.3 rebounds a game.

-Leading rebounder is a guard, Bruce Brown Jr., who pulls in 7.9 rebounds a game.

INSIDE SCOOP ON HAWAII:

- Current record is 7-2.

- Losses at Utah (20) and at home against Nevada (13).

- Not a real deep threat as a team, converting 28 percent from three-point range.

- Shooting 67 percent from the free throw line.

- Even scoring distribution on this team. Senior F Michael Thomas is the leading scorer with 12.6 points a game.

PREDICTION:

Miami 84, Hawaii 66.

I think that MT defeats Princeton and I think USC defeats Akron.

On the other side of the bracket, I think that New Mexico State defeats Davidson and that Miami defeats Hawaii.

That means set the final four matchups as MT vs. USC and Miami vs New Mexico State. From there, I think MT beats USC in a closely contested battle while Miami cruises past NMSU.

In the championship game, I have Miami defeating Middle Tennessee, 80-66. The Hurricanes are on a roll right now, and MT will have done themselves some favors with the NCAA selection committee though with their showing in Hawaii.