| Team | Moneyline | Spread at DraftKings | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pacific | -190 | -4.5 (-110) | Over 134.5 (-110) |
| Hawaii | +160 | +4.5 (-110) | Under 134.5 (-110) |
Odds as of November 12th, 2021.
Tiger-tastic
Perry inherited a team returning three starters this season (Jalen Brown, Jeremiah Bailey and Pierre Crockrell) and brought in six transfers, five of which came from the D-I ranks.
It all starts with Crockrell, who is one of the surest ball handlers in the conference. The junior point guard posted an assist rate that more than doubles his turnover rate for two straight seasons. He averaged 10 points and four assists last season for a team that went 9-9 overall and 6-7 in WCC play.
So far, so good for the Seattle-area product this season. Crockrell is averaging nine points and four assists in Pacific’s first two games.
The other returning starters should help keep Pacific competitive against the bulk of WCC competition this season — and certainly Saturday night. Brown shot 40% from deep in eight games last season, while Bailey can score from all three levels and ranked 5th in the WCC in steal rate last year.
From an efficiency standpoint, the Tigers check some key boxes. They ranked 2nd in the country in percentage of points scored from within the arc, per KenPom and 29th in percentage of field goal attempts near the rim, per Hoop-Math. The trio of returning players will play a key part in maintaining and improving those standards.
Stock(ton) Watch
The truly interesting aspect of Pacific this season will be Perry’s slough of transfers. Northern Arizona product Luke Avdalovic shot 44% last season — and carries that same percentage over his three-year career. UNLV transfer Nick Blake is a versatile guard who can handle the ball or play on the wing. He started nine games for the Runnin’ Rebels as a freshman last season and will add scoring punch — as evidenced by his 28 points over the first two games.
TIGERS win! TIGERS win! Pacific defeats Hawaii Hilo by an 85-74 margin. Four players for Pacific in double figures (Luke Avdalovic – 17; Jeremiah Bailey – 16; Pierre Crockrell – 14; Alphonso Anderson – 13. Pacific is now 1-1 on the season. #WCCHoops pic.twitter.com/Bx4ffQRUJC
— Pacific Men's Basketball (@PacificMensBB) November 12, 2021
JUCO transfer Khaleb Wilson-Rouse averaged nearly 22 points per game and 40% from 3-point land last season and former Minnesota Golden Gopher Sam Freeman are also worth keeping an eye on Saturday and beyond. The 6-10 Dallas native scored a team-high 14 points against Northern Colorado in a narrow 67-65 loss in the season opener. He brings much-needed size to the interior.
While this crew won’t push Gonzaga (or even BYU or San Francisco) in conference play, Perry’s group should take care of the Warriors on their home floor.
Warriors Out to Play
With Avea and Munoz both out, Ganot will be relying on the likes of Noel Coleman. The 6-1 Belgium native is a former San Diego transfer and defensive-minded guard who owns a career 38%+ from beyond the arc. He’s averaging 14.5 points per game in the ‘Bow’s first two outings.
SPLASH‼️ Noel Coleman nails the WIDE open triple 🌈#GoBows pic.twitter.com/3cE4XYW4qc
— HAWAII BASKETBALL (@HawaiiMBB) November 12, 2021
Bernardo da Silva is the other Hawaii player to watch out for Saturday. He’s averaging a team-best 15 points per game so far this season after playing just five games last year due to injury. He can be a force on the glass on both ends.
Ganot teams have tended to rely on the 3-point shot, scoring from distance at the second-highest rate in the conference last season. This year’s team is loaded with shooters, so look for that trend to continue.
While Hawaii may be able to contend for a conference title and make a return trip to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2016, the Warriors have issues defensively. That said, the ‘Bows ranked 9th in 3-point attempt rate allowed last season and 4th in that category the previous season.. They deny spot-up chances, but rim protection might be an issue. With Freeman’s length and Crockrell’s ability to drive and dish, I like Pacific in this spot.
Pick: Pacific -4.5 (-110)
