Top 5 (AND 1!) Games to Watch— December 3rd - 9th
This coming week we could not pick just 5 games so we added an AND 1! Before we get to those games, check out the results from the Top 5 games from last week.
Last Week’s Top 5 Games Results:
- #16 DePaul 63, #2 UConn 99
- #14 Iowa 71, #1 Notre Dame 105
- #12 Syracuse 68,#20 Minnesota 72
- #6 Mississippi State 67, #10 Texas 49
- #2 UConn 89, #1 Notre Dame 71
Her Hoop Stats Top 5 AND 1! match-ups for this coming week.
Iowa State at #16 Iowa at 8:00 PM (ET) on BTN Plus
In this in-state rivalry game, we will see how Iowa’s spectacular offense fares against the very impressive Cyclone defense.
Iowa ranks first in two-point percentage (62.2%), second in assists per game (23.8), third in effective field goal percentage (59.4%), and fourth in points per scoring attempt (1.24). Megan Gustafson has been one of the most efficient players in the NCAA. She ranks first in the country in field goals made per game (10.7) and is shooting 75.3% from the field. She also ranks sixth in the country in points per play (1.46) and her total rebound rate (20.6%) ranks in the 98th percentile.
Iowa State ranks 11th in the country in opponent points per scoring attempt (0.80) and is 12th in defensive rebounds per game (31.3). Their two-point percentage of 54.3% ranks 17th and their three-point rate of 39.5% ranks 19th. They are also in the 94th percentile in blocks per game, averaging 5.3. Bridget Carleton will be a player to watch; she leads the Cyclones in points per game (16.0), rebounds per game (10.0), assists (4.7), and blocks (2.5).
#18 Marquette at #6 Mississippi State at 8:00 PM (ET) on SECN+
If you are interested in an offensive showcase, be sure to tune into this game.
Marquette is fifth in the country in points per game (87.8) and tenth in assists per game (19.8). Their assist-to-turnover ratio ranks sixth in the country (1.55). They rank in the 94th percentile in steals per game, averaging 12.2 per contest. Allazia Blockton averages 19.3 points per game and ranks in the 99th percentile in field goals made per game (7.8).
Mississippi State ranks second in the country in points per game (97.6) and points per 100 possessions (129.9). They score 1.04 points per play, ranking third in the country. The Bulldogs also rebound 52.5% of their misses, ranking first in the country. Their block rate (19.8%) ranks third in the country. This is in large part due to 6'7" Teaira McCowan, who is averaging 3.6 blocks per game, ranking fourth in the country. McCowan has a field goal percentage of 71.2%, ranking 19th in the country, and is averaging 19.4 points per game.
#9 Tennessee at #12 Texas at 1:00 PM (ET) on ESPN2
On paper, these teams have very similar numbers and both teams have very balanced team scoring. This game should be a fun one to watch and may come down to the team who has the last possession.
Tennessee is second in the country in opponent points per game (47.4). The Lady Vols rebound 45.8% of their misses, ranking eighth in the country, and they average 49.4 total rebounds per game, ranking fifth in the country. Their steal rate (18.4%) ranks third in the country. The Lady Vols have four players who average over 10.0 points per game.
Texas ranks seventh in opponent points per game, only giving up 50 points per contest. The Longhorns have held their opponents to a 30.5% field goal percentage, ranking fifth in the country. They have also held their opponents to 0.75 points per scoring attempt, ranking third in the country. The Longhorns rebound 46.6% of their misses, ranking sixth in the country.
#19 Kentucky at #5 Louisville at 2:00 PM (ET) on ACCNE
This is our second in-state rivalry game of the week. The Wildcats will have to have a defensive game plan to stop Louisville’s Asia Durr in order to pull off the upset on the road at the KFC Yum! Center.
Kentucky ranks 24th in the country in points per 100 possessions (106.3) and 17th in opponent points per 100 possessions (74.6). Their three-point field goal percentage (41.3%) ranks 14th in the country. The Wildcats’ steal rate (18.3%) ranks fourth in the country. Rhyne Howard leads the team in points per game (18.1) and rebounds per game (6.9). She is shooting 51.1% from three-point land (23–45).
Louisville is 14th in points per 100 possessions (111.8). The Cardinals are sixth in points per scoring attempt (1.21) and their effective field goal percentage (57.5%) ranks eighth in the country. As a team, Louisville ranks sixth in field goal percentage (50.5%) and fifth in three-point percentage (42.8%). Asia Durr leads the team in points per game (21.7) and is 11th in the country in three-pointers made per game (3.7).
#22 South Carolina at Duke at 2:00 PM (ET) on ACCNE
South Carolina and Duke have not had the starts to their season that were expected. Both teams lost key contributors and they are still trying to find their identity. The winner of this game should gain confidence to hopefully turn their season back to the winning cultures their programs are known for.
South Carolina is third in the country in blocks per game (7.6) and their turnover rate (14.5%) ranks 12th in the country. They also are 15th in the country in steal rate (16.3%). Te’a Cooper leads the team in points per game (14.4), and her 12.3 field goals attempted per game ranks in the 92.6 percentile. She had her Gamecock career-high in points (31) against Drake on November 24th.
Duke is 43rd in the country in field goal percentage (45.2%). They average 10.1 steals per game, and their steal rate (14.4%) ranks 48th in the country. Haley Gorecki leads the Blue Devils in points per game (17.1), assists (3.7) and steals (3.0). Her 8.4 three-point attempts per game ranks in the 99th percentile. Leaonna Odom is second on the team in points per game (16.0), and she leads the team in rebounding (8.1). Odom is in the 99th percentile in two-point field goals made this season.
#3 Oregon at Michigan State at 3:00 PM (ET) on ESPN2
Michigan State will hope home-court advantage helps them upset the Ducks. The Spartans will need to be able to score at a high pace and limit the amount of time the ball is in Sabrina Ionescu’s hands, as she is a walking triple-double.
Oregon is third in the country in points per game (120.2) and first in the country in points per scoring attempt (1.26), points per play (1.08), and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.69). Ionescu leads the Ducks in points (19.2), rebounds (8.6) and assists (6.2). Her three-point shooting percentage (50%) is in the 95.1th percentile and she averages 3.2 made three-pointers per game, which is in the 99.0th percentile.
Michigan State ranks 17th in points per 100 possessions (109.6) and 20th in points per play (0.93). The Spartans are 13th in three-point field goal percentage (41.5%). They are seventh in assists per game (20.5) and tenth in assist to turnover ratio (1.37). Jenna Allen leads Michigan State in points per game (14.2) and rebounds (7.5).
Please note, all statistics listed above are as of 12/2/2018.
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