Pepperdine vs. IUPUI Game Preview
By James Pigott
Pepperdine Waves (7-3) vs. IUPUI Jaguars (3-9)
Date: Saturday, December 27, 2014
Time: 1:00 PM PT
Location: Firestone Fieldhouse, Malibu, CA
TV: None
Livestream: PepperdineSports.com
Live Stats: Pepperdine GameTracker
PROJECTED STARTERS
Pepperdine
Jeremy Major, 9.8 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 3.7 APG
Shawn Olden, 9.3 PPG
Atif Russell, 9.1 PPG, 3.7 RPG
Stacy Davis, 16.2 PPG, 8.6 RPG
Jett Raines, 11.0 PPG, 6.3 RPG
IUPUI
DJ McCall, 4.9 PPG
Marcellus Barksdale, 9.0 PPG, 4.4 RPG
Mason Archie, 8.5 PPG
Justus Stanback, 1.2 PPG
Aaron Brennan, 6.8 PPG, 3.7 RPG
MEET THE OPPONENT
IUPUI is having a very difficult time putting the ball in the basket this season. They are shooting less than 41% from the field as a team, and are averaging under 61 points per game. Their leading scorer only averages 9 points per game, so they have no resemblance of a go-to scorer. However, they have shown the ability to win some close games, including 2 overtime victories. Also, they stayed right with the Richmond team that beat Pepperdine before losing by four points. Their best distributor, PJ Boutte, is a transfer from University of Detroit who comes off the bench.
KEYS TO THE GAME FOR PEPPERDINE
Push the ball up the floor and make this a running game with IUPUI. Pepperdine has two great ball-handlers and facilitators in Jeremy Major and 6th man Amadi Udenyi (5.5 APG, 4th in the WCC). They need to look to find the talented big man duo of Stacy Davis and the much improved Jett Raines, both of whom should have an advantage in strength against IUPUI. It would be helpful if Lamond Murray could come off the bench and provide consistent offense for the Waves as well.
PREDICTION
IUPUI will have some success trying to keep the score down early, but the Waves will prove to be too talented offensively. Pepperdine 68, IUPUI 54.