HBCUs shall be taking part in beneath the brightest lights because the third annual Chris Paul HBCU Problem will happen this weekend.
Howard, Jackson State, North Carolina A&T and Texas Southern shall be competing at Michelob ULTRA Enviornment at Mandalay Bay Resort and On line casino in Las Vegas.
The Chris Paul HBCU Problem follows the HBCU Tip-off to make up the HBCU basketball showcases introduced by the Chris Paul Basis and the Naismith Basketball Corridor of Fame. Each showcases give HBCU basketball packages publicity in entrance of a nationwide viewers. The expertise is nice for the gamers and the coaches acknowledge the significance of the chance.
“We’re excited to compete on this yr’s occasion. Chris Paul has accomplished an amazing job giving HBCUs a possibility to showcase their skills in entrance of followers, professional scouts, and extra. Coming off a MEAC Championship season, we will’t consider a greater platform to proceed to indicate the world what makes The Dream Manufacturing facility so particular each on and off the ground. We’re honored to symbolize Howard College in Las Vegas, and we wish to thank Chris and the official sponsors of the occasion for the invitation.” Howard coach Kenneth Blakeney stated.
Let’s check out the matchups.
North Carolina A&T vs Texas Southern
North Carolina A&T and Texas Southern each return for the second straight yr. Final yr each groups left Las Vegas with one win and one loss. Texas Southern suffered a heartbreaking 67-66 loss in extra time to North Carolina A&T however rebounded the subsequent day with an 82-77 win over Hampton. After defeating Texas Southern, North Carolina A&T misplaced 70-66 to 2023 MEAC runner-up Norfolk State, who was undefeated within the first two years of the HBCU Problem.
North Carolina A&T is coming into this yr’s problem with out a win this season. The Aggies are actually on a nine-game shedding streak after a 67-62 loss to North Carolina Central. The Aggies will depend upon Landon Glasper, who averages 18.1 factors per sport. Proper beside him, Camian Shell shall be an element of their matchup as he averages 8.9 factors and 6.6 assists per sport. Not too long ago, Shell had seven factors, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, and three steals of their loss to NCCU. Shell additionally recorded a double-double of ten factors and 11 assists of their loss to Excessive Level. Defending needs to be the main target for North Carolina A&T as their have allowed a mean of 87.3 factors per sport towards their opponents
Texas Southern, like North Carolina A&T, enters the problem winless on the season. The 2023 SWAC champion has began the yr off 0-7, however they wish to flip issues round this weekend. The Tigers are properly rested as this shall be their first sport in over two weeks. The Tiger’s main scorer, PJ Henry, scored ten factors of their final sport towards Purdue however scored 27 factors within the earlier sport versus Drake. Though Henry struggled towards Perdue, Zytarious Mortle picked up the slack with 25 factors off the bench. The Tigers are available with season averages of three.1 blocks per sport and 5.7 steals per sport. The offense might want to step up because the Tigers solely common 55.9 factors per sport. Texas Southern averages 36.1 rebounds per sport in comparison with North Carolina A&T’s 28.3 rebounds per sport. Texas Southern’s key to victory shall be to reap the benefits of the rebounding convert to second-chance factors.
Howard vs Jackson State
Howard and Jackson State will make their HBCU Problem debut this yr. Jackson State enters the weekend 2-7 on yr. Their final sport led to a loss to #4-ranked Houston. Ken Evans Jr. averages 18.8 pointers per sport and is anticipated to bounce again after scoring six factors towards Houston. Evans has scored 20 factors or extra in 5 of 9 video games this season together with two 30-point video games. If he can get right into a rhythm, he might be the difference-maker towards Howard. The Tigers steal the ball from their opponents on common 6.9 instances per sport. Keiveon Hunt has 14 steals on the season. Howard has not had an issue scoring, so Hunt and Jackson State must placed on an all-around defensive effort to get the win.
Coming off an 88-49 blowout win over Regent, Howard arrives with a file of 4-6 . The 2023 MEAC champion shall be led by Seth Cities, Bryce Harris, and Marcus Dockery. The three all common double figures in scoring with Cities averaging 17 factors per sport. Cities has scored greater than 25 factors twice and shot 44% from three. Howard averages 37.2 rebounds per sport together with a mean of 27 defensive rebounds per sport of their final 5 video games. The Bison have all the time been a second-half crew this season as they common 40.4 second-half factors per sport. Persevering with to attain 77.5 factors per sport and rebounding are the keys to a Bison victory.
The Chris Paul HBCU Problem will tip-off on Saturday, December sixteenth, 8:30 PM ET with Texas Southern and North Carolina A&T. Jackson State and Howard will observe at 11:00 PM ET. Sunday’s video games will start at 6:00 PM ET with Texas Southern and Howard. Jackson State and North Carolina A&T would be the final sport of the HBCU Problem at 8:30 PM ET. All video games will air on ESPN+.
HBCU TIP-OFF GAMEDAY AI ADVANCED STATS
Howard vs. Jackson State
Howard | OVR 4-6 | MEAC 0-0 | NEUTRAL 0-0
Seth Cities is available in averaging 13.2 factors and 1.9 assists per sport.
The Bison have averaged 27.0 defensive rebounds of their final 5 video games.
Howard tends to complete video games sturdy. The Bison common 40.4 second-half factors per sport. This quantity is the best within the MEAC (convention common is 36.5).
Jackson State | OVR 2-7 | SWAC 0-0 | NEUTRAL 0-0
The Tigers recorded a mean of 12.8 offensive rebounds per sport of their final 5 outings, marking a rise from their season common of 11.6.
The Tigers steal the ball from their opponents on common 6.9 instances per sport. That disruptive effort is led by Keiveon Hunt, who has swiped 14 steals up to now this season (eleventh within the SWAC).
Jackson State has allowed (on common) 1.16 factors per defensive possession up to now this season. That worth places them eighth within the convention (SWAC common is 1.12).
Texas Southern vs. Howard
Texas Southern | OVR 0-7 | SWAC 0-0 | NEUTRAL 0-0
Zytarious Mortle confirmed out for Texas Southern with 25 factors on 10-of-22 capturing within the crew’s final matchup towards Purdue. Mortle (third on the crew in complete factors) will look to maintain the scoring up towards the Bison’s protection.
The Tigers are available with season averages of three.1 blocks per sport and 5.7 steals per sport. Kenny Hunter has been their particular person blocks chief (1.1 per sport) whereas PJ Henry has led them in steals (1.2 per sport).
Texas Southern runs a deliberate, slow-paced offense. The crew averages simply 68.3 possessions per 40 minutes, which ranks because the second-slowest within the SWAC. The Tigers rating roughly 0.81 factors per possession of their methodical offensive method.
Howard | OVR 4-6 | MEAC 0-0 | NEUTRAL 0-0
Exhibiting a lower from its season common of twenty-two.0, Howard has solely averaged 17.8 makes an attempt from the charity stripe in its final 5 video games.
Boxing out has been a current focus for Howard. Of their final 5 video games, the Bison have managed a mean of 27.0 defensive rebounds.
Howard is a superb second-half crew. The Bison common 40.4 second-half factors per sport, which is the perfect within the MEAC (convention common is 36.5).
Gameday AI content material is produced utilizing Synthetic Intelligence expertise powered by Enhance Sport earlier than being permitted and printed by HBCU Gameday.
