Line: Torvik- Broncos -9, 79% win probability; ESPN- 86% win probability, no line yet.
Pepperdine:
7-22 overall, 1-13 in the WCC. Only WCC win is over Pacific.
As I note in the ‘Biggest Week…’ thread, it has been a mess of a season for Pepp. Two grad transfers left the program mid-season, multiple returning vets have missed games with injuries, and their 4star, top recruit, Maxwell Lewis, had to sit out the first 6 games while the NCAA considered an eligibility issue. And also as noted they are extremely young, four true frosh in the rotation. On the positive side, their freshmen class is talented and they seem to be playing better of late though it hasn’t translated to wins.
Key players:
6-5 freshmen guard Houston Mallette (good athlete and skilled player, 2nd in scoring @ 13pts, leads with made 3’s and shooting 38% from 3).
6-9 junior forward Jan Zidek (leading scorer at 13.4pts a game, versatile scoring forward who can score facing the basket out to beyond the 3pt line but not a great athlete, rebounder or defender).
6-2 freshmen pt guard Mike Mitchell Jr. (top 3 pt shooter at 41%, solid athlete and ball handler).
6-7 4-Star freshmen wing Maxwell Lewis (talented athlete, 11pts/game, had recently entered the starting lineup but has missed the last 2 games; not sure his status for Thursday).
The rest of the rotation has been a revolving door but includes freshmen center Carson Basham, 2nd year forward Kendall Munson, senior forward Victor Ohia Obioha (top rebounder and shot blocker). Senior guard Jade Smith was starting but has been out injured of late.
Pepp doesn’t rebound well, doesn’t have a strong back to the basket post and plays a faster pace…all work to our favor. But the Broncos can not overlook the Pepp, there’s enough talent with Mallette, Zidek, Mitchell and Lewis (if he plays) that if we catch them on a hot shooting night we could be in for a fight.
Prediction: Broncos take it 84-77 handle the young but talented Waves.
Pepperdine might be the worst defensive team I’ve ever seen. That said, they’re quite hot shooting. Pretty much Romar’s MO. Rarely a recipe for meaningful success over a large sample size but enough to make them a threat in every game.
And this announcer sounds straight out of 1947 in a kind of charming way.
Nice to have a strong finish to the half. After Mallette came into the game and immediately caught fire, Jalen really stepped it up on the offensive and defensive end. Bediako filling up the stat sheet again.
Not the best defensive showing by our Broncos squad. The game against the Zags gave me hope that our D had stepped up to a new level. However, this feels like a reversion.
Edited to add: vrankic makes 2-3 really boneheaded plays every game. Really frustrating to see a veteran make some horrible decisions with regularity.
Some of these Houston Mallette shots are unreal. This would be like a 20 point lead if he weren’t nailing 16-footers that no good coach would be letting any other player take.
Mallette is taking some very low-percentage shots…and making most of them. Romar has to ride him, right? He’s the Waves’ best player, and only a freshman. I fear he is gonna haunt us for years to come.
Now that is how you finish a game. Giordan, Pipes, Jalen, and Bediako really stepped up. I think Justice will bounce back from the 3pt line on Saturday.