[6:30 PM] Vanderbilt v. Marquette

Who will WIN this matchup?

Vanderbilt Commodores (0-0)

Marquette Golden Eagles (0-0)

 

Current odds:

Vanderbilt Commodores: (-118)

Marquette Golden Eagles: (+105)

 

• ESPN simulations have Vanderbilt as 71.6% favorites to win the game.

• XX% of sports bets are currently on Marquette to win as (TBD) favorites.

• With Ellenson gone, the anchor for the team will likely be senior and preseason All-Big East second-team honoree Luke Fischer, who like the Golden Eagles started out strongly last season before fading a bit during Big East play. Jajuan Johnson and USC graduate transfer Katin Reinhardt are the only other seniors on a squad that will get significant minutes from two juniors and three sophomores, most notably Haanif Cheatham.

• The Commodores brought in a new coach after Kevin Stallings departed for Pittsburgh and he is former Valparaiso coach and NCAA Tournament hero Bryce Drew. With the departure of Wade Baldwin IV and Damian Jones to the NBA, Fisher-Davis is the top returning scorer for the Commodores after averaging 9.7 points last season.

• Despite having only 10 scholarship players, Drew should have a powerful frontcourt thanks to the duo of senior Luke Kornet and redshirt freshman Djery Baptiste. The 7-1 Kornet averaged 8.9 points last season, but was the team’s leading rebounder with 7.3 per game in addition to tying for third in the nation in blocks at 3.0 per game and the 6-10 Baptiste is set to play after choosing Vanderbilt over the likes of Connecticut.

• The addition of the 6-6 guard Reinhardt gives the Golden Eagles a proven scorer to help replace the 17 points per game that they received from Ellenson. Reinhardt has averaged 11.4 points over his career after scoring in double figures as a freshman at UNLV and in two seasons at USC. An increased role for Matt Heldt, a 6-10 center who averaged only 5.1 minutes and less than a point a game as a freshman, could help to offset the loss of Ellenson’s 9.7 rebounds.

• Fisher-Davis (79-for-177) and Roberson (30-for-69) were among the SEC leaders in 3-point percentage last season at 44.6 and 43.5, respectively.

 

StreakSmarts Pick: Marquette Golden Eagles

Confidence: 4/10

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