Opens Princeton +5 1/2 O/U 149 1/2
I think both lines will drift higher by tip-off.
Tough spot.
Ken Pom defense Princeton 213, St. Jo 90. Difficult to see a path to victory for us.
I looked on CBB analytics, and this player stood out:
Rasheer Fleming (#13, Saint Joseph’s): Junior, 6’9".
Defends well, scores well in the paint, and can hit the corner 3.
The starting point spread is usually close to what you’d get from KenPom. St. Joes’s is +8.07 and Princeton is +5.21, a difference of 2.86. That’s per 100 possessions, the average tempo of the two teams is about 68.5 possessions. Add 3 points for the home team and you get 4.96 versus the 5.5 opening line.
Last year’s team would have beaten St. Joe’s if not for Pierce getting in BS foul trouble early.
I’m not expecting this year’s team to win. Just want them play fearless and hard-nosed.
This is the first D-I game after the Myrtle Beach meltdown. We’ll see if they actually made any progress.
Tigers off to a hot start, up 10-5 3 minutes in.
St Jo not really hitting offensive boards.
Per announcers, Princeton coaches saw the same Fleming stats I saw 
This is the Princeton team we’ve all been waiting to see (so far)!
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PU looking more like last year mid-season form. Really showing some aggression on the bozrds, good spacing, cutting, and ball movement. Taking the open treys and hitting them.
Davis still cold from 3
Had a chance to run away a little bit but too many misses at the rim and some hurried iso-ball plays failed to cash in.
Tigers getting a little sloppy but their defense is playing hard. 12 point lead down to 8 with under 4 to play in the half. Gotta hold on.
Up 5 at the half. Could have been more, but the Hawks also missed a few decent looks.
Now that’s more like it! A messy finish but still a great effort on the road vs. a good team.
The energy and activity on defense is FINALLY there. They’re playing as hard as the laissez-faire reffing will allow, which I something I always wished they did.
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Byriel is hitting his 3s, which is huge, though he’s still a butterfingers when not shooting (missed an easy layup and rebound).
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Lee overdribbling (let it fly, X-Man) but 8 rebs and 7 assists already is amazing. He could get a triple-double tonight.
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Fleming keeping St. Joe’s in it with his 3pt shooting (major improvement, wow), but I’ll gamble on that vs. him dunking on us inside.
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Davis needs to get going - let’s see that midrange J he hits so easily.
Abdulahi is being very active with the minutes he’s been given. It’s helping a lot with the ORs and on D.
Outrebounding the Hawks 19-15 is huge.
Lee’s 7 assists reflects less hero ball isos and more ball movement. Less spectacular but much harder to guard!
Tigers had 5 on 4 and Lee blew it there. Situational basketball man.
Refs bailing out St. Joe’s over and over again now.
Steal by Malik -late whistle for a 3rd foul.
Simpson misses a 3 - late whistle for 3 FTs.
Sloppy but holding. Dalen making some uncharacteristic mistakes.