Valparaiso Beacons vs Southern Illinois Salukis Prediction, 1/24/2024 College Basketball Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Valparaiso Beacons vs Southern Illinois Salukis

Date: Wednesday, January 24, 2024

Location: Banterra Center in Carbondale, IL

TV: ESPN+

The Valparaiso Beacons (6-13) are hitting the road to Banterra Center on Wednesday where they will go up against the Southern Illinois Salukis (12-7).

The Valparaiso Beacons faced off with UIC and went home with a win by a final score of 84-77 in their last game. Valparaiso wrapped up the contest having earned a 45.0% FG percentage (27 out of 60) and converted 8 out of their 19 shots from 3-point land. At the charity stripe, the Beacons converted 22 of their 24 tries for a rate of 91.7%. Pertaining to getting rebounds, they compiled 40 with 11 of them being offensive. They also recorded 11 dimes in the game while forcing the other team into 5 turnovers and earning 2 steals. In reference to the defense, Valparaiso let their opponent shoot 46.9% from the floor on 30 of 64 shooting. UIC recorded 18 dimes and had 3 steals for this contest. In addition, UIC grabbed 24 rebounds (5 offensive, 19 defensive), but didn't notch a block. UIC ended up shooting 70.0% from the charity stripe by burying 7 of their 10 shots. They made 10 out of their 25 tries from beyond the arc. With respect to personal fouls, the Beacons walked away with 13 while UIC finished the game with 21 personal fouls.

Cooper Schwieger is a guy who played a role in this contest. He ended up going 44.4% from the floor and also recorded 3 dimes. He saw the court for 34 mins and pulled down 9 boards. He notched 19 points on 4 out of 9 shooting.

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Valparaiso will enter this matchup with a record of 6-13 on the season. They are averaging 67.9 points per game (315th in D-1) while shooting 40.7% from the floor. The Beacons are shooting 32.0% on shots beyond the perimeter (131 of 410) and 72.9% from the free throw line. As a team, Valparaiso is pulling down 35.1 boards per game and is sitting with 230 assists this season, which is 259th in D-1 in terms of passing. They are turning it over 11.8 times per contest and as a group are committing 16.1 fouls every game.

On the defensive end, the Beacons are able to force 12.7 turnovers every game and they draw 16.2 fouls. They are ranked 308th in college hoops in allowing assists to the opposition with 273 conceded for the season. The Beacons defense is allowing a field goal percentage of 44.7% (501 of 1,122) and they surrender 38.0 boards per contest as a group. They are relinquishing 34.2% on shots from beyond the perimeter while they are 183rd in college basketball in points per game allowed (71.7).

In their last game, the Southern Illinois Salukis took a loss by a final score of 61-57 when they played UNI. When talking about attacking the glass, Southern Illinois allowed UNI to grab 26 in total (5 offensive). They shot 37.5% from three-point range by hitting 3 out of 8 and walked away from this one shooting 18 out of 31 at the free throw line (58.1%). The Salukis permitted UNI to convert 20 out of 45 attempts from the floor which gave them a rate of 44.4% in the game. Overall, the Salukis finished 20 out of 53 from the floor which had them shooting 37.7%. With regard to shots from 3-point land, Southern Illinois converted 6 of 26 tries (23.1%). They were able to bury 11 of them for a rate of 91.7%. UNI earned 16 fouls in the game which took the Salukis to the charity stripe for 12 shots. They also turned it over 13 times, while recording 4 steals in the game. The Salukis pulled down 25 defensive rebounds and 7 offensive boards totaling 32 in the game.

Xavier Johnson ended up being a major contributor for the Salukis for the contest. He buried 5 out of 18 for the matchup for a field goal rate of 27.8%, and had 3 rebounds. He tallied 17 points in his 40 minutes on the hardwood and totaled 5 dimes in this contest.

Southern Illinois has a record of 12-7 for the campaign. When it comes to offense, the Salukis are hitting on 46.6% from the field, which ranks 84th in the nation. Southern Illinois has 1,386 points for the campaign (72.9 per contest) and they average 32.7 rebounds per contest. Their rate of dishing out assists is at 14.7 times per game (104th in college basketball) and they are turning it over 10.9 times per game. The Salukis have committed 17.5 fouls every game and they connect on 75.9% from the charity stripe.

The Salukis on the defensive end are ranked 33rd in the country in points per game surrendered with 64.6. They are forcing 10.8 turnovers on a nightly basis and have allowed teams to shoot 43.1% from the field (167th in the country). The Southern Illinois defense concedes 27.9% on shots from behind the 3-point line (90 of 323) and opponents are making 67.7% of their free throw attempts. They give up 10.7 dimes and 31.8 boards every game, which is ranked 36th and 39th in D-1.

Who will win tonight's NCAA basketball game against the spread?

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Southern Illinois

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