Conference tournament weekend rolls on this Saturday with an intriguing afternoon tip-off. The MEAC championship game pits #3 NC Central (14-17, 8-6) against #1 Howard (22-10, 11-3). Hanging in the balance? A trip to the NCAA Tournament. With a ticket to the big dance on the line, expect both schools to come out with plenty of intensity.
Howard enters today as 12.5-point favorites (-112) over NC Central. The total is set at 143.5 points on DraftKings Sportsbook. Here’s a college basketball pick, preview and prediction for Saturday’s game between the Eagles and the Bison.
NC Central vs. Howard prediction, preview
The Eagles come into this one with a bit of momentum, having reeled off four wins over their last five outings. That includes two straight wins in the MEAC Tournament, against Maryland Eastern Shore and Delaware State. Still, according to the advanced metrics, this group is fortunate to even be three games under .500. On the season, NC Central ranks 352nd out of 365 Division I schools in net rating on KenPom (-21.38). However, they’ve recorded the nation’s 23rd-highest luck rating (+.082).
A limited offense will need to be at its best against a terrific Howard defense (more on that later). That means a stellar showing from leading scorer Gage Lattimore. The sophomore selection is putting up 16.7 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game while leading the conference in three-point shooting (38.9%). Co-star Khouri Carvey (13.6 PPG) is no slouch, either. However, no other Eagles player is averaging double-digit points per game this season. The MEAC’s third-slowest adjusted tempo on offense (66.0) has played a factor as well.
As for the Bison, this group makes it’s mark on the defensive end of the floor. Opponents are averaging just 67.9 points per game against them, 40th-best in college basketball. Teams are shooting 30.4% from three-point range against Howard, 18th-lowest in the sport. The team has done this without possessing much size. Only one player over 6’7″, center Danas Kazakevicius, is garnering more than ten minutes per game. Instead, HU has done most of its defensive damage by generating turnovers and poor shots.
Howard has been on a heater, earning a win in seven straight contests. That includes a tournament-opening 78-61 win against South Carolina State on Friday. If there’s a weakness for this crew, it’s an inconsistent (at best) scoring attack. The Bison have delivered KenPom’s 283rd-ranked adjusted offensive efficiency (103.4). Still, they are fortunate to have a pair of stars in Cedric Taylor III and Bryce Harris. Together, the pair are averaging 34.5 points, 13.3 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game. In addition, starters Cam Gillus (10.5 PPG) and Ose Okojie (10.3 PPG) should play a notable role tonight.
NC Central vs. Howard pick, best bet
On paper, it’s difficult to pin down anything North Carolina Central does exceptionally well. In comparison, Howard has won the two meetings between these schools by a combined 47 points. Another dominant showing from the Bison and their stifling defense feels like a fitting way to cap off their terrific season.
