Hofstra (17-10, 8-6) suffered heartbreak on Saturday, losing 70-66 against CAA-leading UNC Wilmington. Now, the fourth-place Pride will hope to get back on track with a return to Hempstead on Thursday. Awaiting them is Hampton (12-14, 6-7), a squad looking to end the regular season on a high note. Can the Pirates secure a major upset on the road tonight?
Hofstra enters tonight as 11.5-point favorites (-115) over Hampton. The total is set at 133.5 points on DraftKings Sportsbook. Here’s a college basketball pick, preview and prediction for Thursday’s game between the Pirates and the Pride.
Hampton vs. Hofstra prediction, preview
If there’s one thing the Pirates excel at, it’s turning games into ugly, grind-it-out affairs. They’re holding opponents to 68.8 points per game, the 60th-best mark in college basketball. However, Hampton is only putting up 70.1 points per game on the other end of the floor. That’s only good enough for 314th out of 365 Division I schools. Per KenPom, this offense is operating at an adjusted tempo of 64.8, 314th in the nation.
If anyone is going to put up some buckets for the visitors tonight, it’s
Jalyke Gaines-Wyatt. The junior is averaging 12.1 points per game for the Pirates, albeit on mediocre 41/29/76 shooting splits. In fairness to Hampton, the program has been without leading scorer Michael Eley. The senior has missed the team’s last four games due to a foot injury. That places even more pressure on Gaines-Wyatt to produce tonight.
Quality floor spacing isn’t expected from Hampton on Thursday. The team is making just under 30% of its three-point attempts, the 16th-worst mark in college basketball. If there’s room for optimism, double-double threat Xzavier Long (9.5 PPG, 10.1 REB) leads the CAA in rebounding. Getting the center involved down low could provide this offense with a secondary option alongside Gaines-Wyatt.
Hofstra’s backcourt can stand toe to toe with almost anyone. Cruz Davis has been a revelation, leading the CAA with 21.1 points per game. In addition, the senior has added 3.9 rebounds and 4.7 assists. He’s joined by freshman standout Preston Edmead. Through 27 appearances, the youngster is putting up 15.4 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.6 assists. If there’s a criticism of this Pride offense, Davis and Edmead make up almost half of the team’s points per game. Regardless, stopping one, let alone both, of these guards is easier said than done.
With that being said, the Pride have a similar offensive mantra to the Pirates. Their adjusted tempo on KenPom sits at 65.3, placing them at 292nd in the nation. Unsurprisingly, opponents are averaging just 67.8 points vs. Hofstra, 37th-best in college basketball. To boot, the program wields a +6.78 net rating, best among all CAA schools. Keep in mind, the Pride have logged solid wins against high-major programs in Syracuse and Pittsburgh. A date with Hampton isn’t the most intimidating matchup on paper.
Hampton vs. Hofstra pick, best bet
Hampton struggles away from home, going 3-13 on the road. In comparison, Hofstra is 7-2 this season at Mack Sports Complex. Following their brutal defeat last weekend, I’m expecting the Pride to come out firing. That’s bad news for a shorthanded Pirates squad.
