Great Alaska Shootout Men's Basketball Breakdown
The Great Alaska Shootout field has slowly been getting worse over the years. The addition of all those exempt tournaments, and the fact that nobody really wants to go to Alaska in November, has weakened the field. But it is still a fun tournament that will guarantee at least one moose sighting.
Murray State vs. Alaska-Anchorage
The Racers have a nice win at Morgan State already this season and should start off the Great Alaska Shootout with a victory over host Alaska-Anchorage on Wednesday, November 23rd. Murray State is looking to compete with Austin Peay in the Ohio Valley Conference and this will be a nice group of games for the Racers.
Dartmouth vs. San Francisco
Dartmouth is heading to Alaska with some momentum. This is a team that nearly won at Rutgers to open up the season. However, Rutgers is not that good and the expectations for Dartmouth are pretty low too. San Francisco, on the other hand, could be a team to watch in the West Coast Conference. They may not be able to compete with the likes of Gonzaga, St. Mary’s and BYU on a consistent basis, but the Dons have a talented frontcourt led by Perris Blackwell and Angelo Caloiaro. If they can stop turning the ball over, USF will leave Alaska with a couple wins under their belt.
Central Michigan vs. New Mexico State
The Chippewas have a brutal schedule and wins will be hard to come by for Coach Ernie Kent and company. Drawing New Mexico State in the opening round of the Great Alaska Shootout does not help matters. But in the Mid-American Conference, Central Michigan should be able to make some noise and the tough road and neutral games in November and December will be beneficial come March. The Aggies had a very disappointing 2010-2011 campaign, but the return of Wendell McKines from a broken foot will help NMSU compete for another WAC title. New Mexico State could end up being the best team in the WAC or they could struggle again this year. Watching them in Anchorage will tell us a lot about how quickly this team is coming together.
UC Irvine vs. Southern Mississippi
Neither UC Irvine nor Southern Miss is expected to make a big splash in their respective conferences. However, this is a great opportunity for both squads to get some positive momentum. The field is not so strong that these teams cannot win a couple games and that would be a good Thanksgiving trip for the Anteaters or the Golden Eagles.
Men's Basketball Games of the Week and Tournament Breakdowns
