We’re only a few weeks away from the official start of conference play in the SEC, which means that teams are still trying to build their NCAA Tournament resumes by picking up quality non-conference wins.
There is only one conference team in action on Monday, as Vanderbilt will try to add a big win to its profile.
Let’s get to the picks.
Season Predictions Record (straight up): 99-24
No. 20 Arizona State at Vanderbilt – 7 p.m. EST, SEC Network
The Sun Devils rallied down the stretch to pick up a two-point win at Georgia, and they’ll hope to keep their momentum going during their two-game SEC swing.
As for the Commodores, they haven’t played in 12 days and figure to be well-rested for a matchup between two opponents who like to play fast on offense.
Both teams rank in the top 80 in average offensive possession length, so points shouldn’t be hard to come by for either side.
These two are very similar in terms of size and experience, but something that stands out for the Sun Devils is their ability to get second-chance opportunities on the offensive side of the court. Bobby Hurley’s team ranks 19th nationally with 14.0 offensive rebounds per game, and the Commodores must limit those extra looks to win this game.
Another key to victory for Vanderbilt will be staying out of foul trouble. Arizona State is 38th nationally in total free throw attempts this season while ranking just 318th nationally in 3-point field goal attempts. That shows that the top priority for this team is attacking the lane rather than settling for outside jump shots.
Of course, it’s also crucial that the Commodores slow down freshman phenom Lugentz Dort, who is averaging 20.9 points per game on the season.
Vanderbilt is still adjusting without Darius Garland on the court, and both Saben Lee and Simisola Shittu are going to need to come up huge here if they want to secure a win.
Arizona State may be a bit more focused in this one after some struggles against Georgia, but it just feels like this game sets up nicely for the Bryce Drew’s squad.
This should be a really entertaining matchup, and I’ll go with the Commodores to pick up the huge victory.
Prediction: Vanderbilt 79, Arizona State 77
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