Eastern Kentucky Colonels (3-2) vs. Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (5-3)
Eastern Kentucky Colonels vs. Western Kentucky Hilltoppers 12/3/23 – An intriguing NCAA Men’s Basketball game is on the horizon as the Eastern Kentucky Colonels, with a 3-2 record, are set to take on the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, who hold a 5-3 record. This matchup is scheduled for Sunday, December 3, 2023, at 5:00 PM ET at the E.A. Diddle Arena. As fans prepare for this exciting game, they are eagerly seeking college basketball team insights to understand the dynamics of this matchup.
The Colonels have an impressive scoring offense at over 90 points per game behind star forward Isaiah Cozart. However, their defense allows opponents to shoot 45% from the field. The Hilltoppers have a more balanced attack with guard Don McHenry leading the way. They’ve struggled to score at times but boast a stout defense holding teams under 45% shooting. This clash of styles makes for an exciting contest.
Cozart is a dominant inside presence for Eastern Kentucky, averaging a double-double. His 66.7% shooting is exceptional, but struggles at the charity stripe could leave points on the board. McHenry provides versatile scoring for Western Kentucky as an accurate shooter inside and out. His distributing ability fuels the offense as well. The individual matchup between these standouts could swing the outcome.
Eastern Kentucky Colonels vs. Western Kentucky Hilltoppers 12/3/23 Game Info
| When: | Sunday, December 3, 2023 at 5:00 PM ET |
| Where: | E.A. Diddle Arena |
| TV: | |
| Stream: | Sofascore |
Isaiah Cozart (Forward) vs. Don McHenry (Guard)
Cozart is a dominant force in the paint for Eastern Kentucky, leveraging his strength and athleticism to bully defenders down low. Through five games, he’s averaging a stellar 16.6 points and 11 rebounds per game on an extremely efficient 66.7% shooting. His physicality allows him to carve out position in the post where he has a lethal turnaround jumper and can finish through contact. On the glass, Cozart uses his strength, length and leaping ability to clean up misses on both ends. Additionally, he provides immense interior defense with nearly 6 blocks per outing. However, Cozart lacks versatility in his game—he has attempted zero 3-pointers and struggles when forced away from the basket. Foul trouble has also hindered his impact, as aggressive play inside leads to fouls.
On the other side, McHenry leads a balanced Hilltoppers’ attack with his versatile scoring and distribution. He’s averaging 12.8 points while shooting efficiently from both inside the arc (44.3%) and from 3 (25%) while also facilitating with 2.8 assists per game. This versatile inside-out scoring threat forces defenders to play tightly on the perimeter, opening driving lanes which McHenry can exploit with crafty moves off the bounce. In spot up scenarios, his shot making ability produces points quickly. However, McHenry’s smaller stature limits his defensive impact, which could pose issues against the massive Cozart. He also turns the ball over more than you’d like from a primary distributor.
NCAAB Odds/Point Spread: Western Kentucky Hilltoppers -4.5, Total Odds: 153.5
The oddsmakers have Western Kentucky favored by 4.5 points at home. This implies they should control the pace and cover through well-rounded scoring and defense. The total suggests a reasonably high-scoring affair in the 150s. Our analysis supports WKU covering at home behind McHenry’s ability to exploit EKU’s porous defense.
Eastern Kentucky Betting Trends
Eastern Kentucky’s scoring offense has led to frequent overs, while their defense allows enough scoring to also produce high totals. Their effective shooting supports beating large spreads as significant underdogs as well. However, their poor free throw shooting causes issues late in games. Backing EKU with the points seems wise, while the over has plenty of value.
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Betting Trends
Western Kentucky has trended under on team totals and 1H totals while going .500 ATS overall. Their defense keeps scores low, but inconsistent offense hinders covering large spreads. Home dominance suggests they should cover narrowly here as favorites. The under looks good given their scoring struggles against solid defenses.
Our analysis shows Western Kentucky’s defense and balanced scoring neutralizing Eastern Kentucky’s interior attack enough to cover the small spread at home. Back WKU -4.5 behind McHenry’s efficient scoring and distribution. The under also holds value given both teams’ reliance on defense and vulnerability to scoring droughts or shutdowns. With a professional sports analysis approach, we predict a 73-68 Hilltoppers win in a defensive battle.
Free Pick and Prediction: Western Kentucky Hilltoppers 73, Eastern Kentucky Colonels 68