Hoops look: Troy at New Orleans
February 01, 2008
What: Troy (10-11, 3-7) at New Orleans (14-8, 4-6)
When: 2:30 p.m. CST Feb. 2
Where: Human Performance Center, New Orleans
Last time out: Troy beat ULM 92-71; New Orleans fell at FAU 82-72
Probable starting lineups
TROY
G-Jerome Odem (6’1, 160, Sr.) - 7.1 ppg, 50.7 3pt% (leads Sun Belt)
G-O’Darien Bassett (6’2, 190, Sr.) - 18.2 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 2.4 apg
F-Justin Jonus (6’6, 220, Sr.) - 13.6 ppg, 3.5 rpg
F-Trayce Macon (6’8, 191, Soph.) - 8.3 ppg, 4.9 rpg
C-Jarvis Acker (6’6, 210, Sr.) - 6.8 ppg, 4.1 rpg
NEW ORLEANS
G-Shawn Reynolds (5’11, 175, Sr.) 7.0 ppg
G-Bo McCalebb (6’0, 180, Sr.) 22.8 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.5 spg
G-James Parlow(6’3, 170, Sr.) 8.7 ppg
F-Jacob Manning(6’7, 180, Sr.) 1.4 ppg, 2.4 rpg
F-Ben Elias (6’11, 260, Sr.) 5.4 ppg
What to watch for: New Orleans has lost three straight after rolling off an impressive start, including non-conference wins at Colorado and North Carolina State as well as a big win at North Texas. This is a team that’s very similar to Troy in that it can play with anyone in the league or lose to anyone. If Troy wants to get back in the middle of the Sun Belt race, a win is a must here. There’s no size advantage, as UNO typically plays four players 6-foot-3 or under.
Player to watch, Troy: Trayce Macon. It seems that as Macon goes, so goes Troy. Contributions from O’Darien Bassett and Justin Jonus have been there all season. Can Macon be that third scoring threat on a consistent basis?
Player to watch, New Orleans: Bo McCalebb. Not only is McCalebb one of the best scorers in the country, he’s probably the best defensive player in the league as he leads in the league in steals at 2.5 points per game. The little guy can do it all.
Troy will win if: it forces a lot of turnovers with the press and doesn’t let someone besides McCalebb go for 20-plus
New Orleans will win if: it gets scoring from guys like James Parlow, who scored 25 against Troy last year, and it limits its turnovers
Drew’s prediction: New Orleans wins a close one at home 79-77
