Saturday, February 27, 2016

Bartow Arena

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers travel to Bartow Arena to play the UAB Blazers on Saturday, February 27, 2016. The opening line for this game has UAB as 10.5 point favorites and the over/under has been set at 144.

The Hilltoppers come into this game with an overall record of 14-14 and a road record of 3-8. They are 11-13 against the spread and their over/under record is 13-11. The Blazers have an overall record of 23-5 and a home record of 15-0. They have an over/under record of 12-11 and they are 12-11 against the spread.

Justin Johnson comes into this contest averaging 15.3 points per game while playing 28.9 minutes per night so far this season for the Hilltoppers. He pulls down 7.6 rebounds per game and dishes out 1.4 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 60% while his free throw percentage is currently at 68%. Aaron Cosby averages 12.7 points per game in 31.2 minutes per contest this season. He averages 2 assists per contest and 3.7 rebounds per game for Western Kentucky. His field goal percentage is 33% for the year while his free throw percentage is 85%.

Chris Cokley averages 13.7 points per game while playing 22.6 minutes per contest this year for the Blazers. He grabs 6.6 rebounds per game and has 1.4 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 58% and his free throw percentage currently is at 71%. Robert Brown averages 13.3 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 30.1 minutes per contest. He also averages 2.9 rebounds per contest and 3.2 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 42% and his free throw percentage is 77%.

Western Kentucky averages 74.7 points per contest this season which ranks them 125th in the nation. Their average scoring margin is -1.4 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a team which has them ranked 95th. Behind the arc they shoot 35% which is good for 138th in the country. They average 38.3 rebounds per game and 12.6 assists per game which ranks them 64th and 212th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 239th with 13.3 per game. The Hilltoppers allow 76.2 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 270th in the nation. They also allow a 46% shooting percentage and a 37% average from behind the arc ranking them 264th and 309th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 34.3 rebounds a game which ranks 101st and they give up 14.7 assists per contest which puts them in 279th place in the country. They force 11.2 turnovers per game which ranks them 302nd in the Division 1.

UAB averages 78.3 points per game this year which ranks them 45th in Division 1 college basketball. Their average scoring margin is 8 and their shooting percentage is 48% as a team which has them sitting in the 23rd spot in the country. Behind the arc they shoot 38% which is good for 37th in the nation. They average 38.3 rebounds per game and 18.4 assists per contest which ranks them 66th and 2nd respectively. In the turnover department the Blazers rank 178th with 12.8 per game. The Blazers allow 70.3 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 129th in the country. They also allow a 42% shooting percentage and a 32% average from behind the arc ranking them 85th and 61st in those defensive statistics. Opponents average 33.8 rebounds a game which ranks 82nd and they give up 13.1 assists per contest which puts them in 167th place in the nation. The Blazers force 12.1 turnovers per game which ranks them 215th in college basketball.

The Hilltoppers average 75.6 points per game on the road this season and they have scored 64.3 ppg in their past 3 contests. They have an average scoring differential of -5.1 on the road and in their past 3 games their difference is 2.7 per contest. The Hilltoppers have an offensive rating of 107.8 and they assist on 48.8% of their shots. In terms of pace they average 69.4 possessions per 40 minutes and their effective field goal percentage is 52%. As a team they have a true shooting percentage of 55% and they shoot 3 pointers on 32% of their shots. Western Kentucky turns the ball over an average of 16.2 times per 100 possessions and they get a steal on 6.5% of their opponents possessions. Their total rebound percentage is 53.4% while their offensive rebound percentage is 34.5%. The Hilltoppers give up 80.7 points per game on the road this season and they have surrendered 61.7 points per contest in their last 3 games.

The Blazers score 82.1 ppg at home and they have averaged 82.7 points per contest in their last 3 games.They have an average scoring differential of 1.7 in their past 3 contests and at home this season they have a difference of 13.7 points per game. The Blazers have a rating on offense of 113 and 65.1% of their shots are assisted. They possess the ball 69.2 times per 40 minutes and their effective field goal percentage for the year is 55%. As an offensive unit they have a true shooting percentage of 58% and they attempt 3 pointers on 33% of their shots. UAB turns it over an average of 15.9 times per 100 possessions and they steal the ball on 8.6% of their opponents possessions. Their total rebound percentage is 53.5% while their offensive rebound percentage for the season is 33.5%. The Blazers give up 68.4 points per contest at home this year and they have given up 81 points per game in their past 3 contests.

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Betting Trends

The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers are 11-13 against the spread

The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers are 13-11 against the over/under

UAB Blazers Betting Trends

The UAB Blazers are 12-11 against the spread

The UAB Blazers are 12-11 against the over/under

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Injuries

12/19/15 C Nathan Smith ACL out for season
12/12/15 F Phabian Glasco Achilles out for season
02/26/16 F Justin Johnson Shoulder probable Saturday vs. UAB
01/27/16 G Chris Harrison-Docks Personal has left team

UAB Blazers Injuries

No key injuries to report

Josh's Pick: Take Western Kentucky

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