Gameday news and notes

Men's basketball

Akron vs. Oral Roberts is one of the top games of the week to watch, according to a writer for CollegeHoopsNet.com.

Both teams are capable of upsets in March, he writes. His prediction is Oral Roberts 74, Akron 71.

• Draftexpress.com says Akron has an outside shot at an at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament, if they should need it. Beating Oral Roberts would be "a nice road win."


• For some reason, I can't find a spread on this game. One thing I know is that Akron is 20-8-2 against the spread in its last 30 games. That's really good.


• Danny Sheridan also declines to predict an outcome.

This game is somewhat difficult to predict. When Oral Roberts plays its best, the Golden Eagles can beat anyone in the country. When they don't, they are just an average mid-major team.

Quade Milum and Jeremiah Wood will need to play very well for Akron to win. They must allow few offensive rebounds and attack the basket to get Caleb Green in foul trouble. Green fouled out in ORU's 75-57 loss at cross-town rival Tulsa.

Oral Roberts has gone nine for 59 from 3-point territory since drowning Kansas in long-range shots last month. Although Green is the unquestioned star, their inside-out offense only works when the 3-pointers fall. Ken Tutt and Marchello Vealy are the main outside shooters.

The Golden Eagles have been prone to turnovers, too. Nick Dials and Dru Joyce should be running the break a lot off steals and long rebounds. Assuming Akron shoots a decent percent from 3, the Zips will win.

Prediction: Akron 77, Oral Roberts 71.