Pepperdine Game Preview: 4-1 Waves Play Green Bay in 1st Round of Great Alaskan Shootout
By Josh Horton
Nov 16, 2013; Green Bay, WI, USA; Wisconsin-Green Bay Phoenix forward Kenneth Lowe (45) dribbles the ball against the Wisconsin-Green Bay at the Resch Center. The Badgers won 69-66. Mandatory Credit: Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports
Pepperdine vs. Green Bay (Great Alaskan Shootout)
Game Time: 6:30 pm PST
TV: CBS Sports Network
Radio: client.stretchinternet.com/client/pepperdine.portal?mode=link#
Team Records: Pepp – 4-1- GB – 2-1
Leading Scorers: Pepp – Davis 19.6 – GB – Sykes 21.0
Leading Rebounders: Pepp – Lane 10.4 – GB – Fouse 10.3
Leading Distributors: Pepp – Major 4.6 – GB – Mayes/Sykes 2.3
Projected Starters
Pepperdine
Jeremy Major
Malcolm Brooks
Nikolas Skouen
Stacy Davis
Brendan Lane
Green Bay
Keifer Sykes
Vince Garrett
Jordan Fouse
Greg Mays
Alec Brown
Pepperdine has surprised a good number of people by starting the season 4-1. The Waves will look to prove that this fast start was not a fluke by playing well at the Great Alaskan Shootout. The first test for Coach Marty Wilson and his squad is Green Bay, who comes in with a 2-1 record.
The Opponent
AP Poll: NR
Coaches Poll: NR
RPI: 25
KenPom: 81
The Phoenix come into the Great Alaskan Shootout with two blowout wins versus division II schools, and a 3-point loss to Wisconsin. So, it is pretty tough to gauge how good Green Bay really is.
We do know that the Phoenix have a stellar RPI, and a prolific scorer in Keifer Sykes. Despite being 5’11”, Sykes is averaging 21.0 points per game, including 32 points against the defensively sound Wisconsin Badgers.
Here’s another thing we know about Green Bay; they were picked to finish 1st in the Horizon this year, edging out Wright State by a single-point.
Keys to the Game
The Frontcourts
Pepperdine has not seen a frontcourt like Green Bay’s all season. The Phoenix posts are tall and imposing and challenge the opposing team’s shots very well (10.3 blocks per game, 2nd in the nation).
Pepperdine is good at blocking shots in its own right, with 7.2 blocks per game which is good for 15th in the nation.
Whichever front-court is more dominant will be an indicator of which team comes out with this game on top.
Major vs. Sykes
Unless the Waves go to a zone, freshman point guard Jeremy Major will likely be matched up with Keifer Sykes.
Sykes is a quick and elusive scorer that loves to get to the rim. On top of that, he has a nice mid-range jumper, and can create off the bounce.
Major is going to have to buckle down and keep Sykes in front of him, or else things will get ugly and Sykes will feast (pun intended) on the Waves defense.