Conference USA Basketball Game of the Week: NIT Previews

#6 BYU at #3 Houston (Wednesday 8:30 P.M.):
Houston has to be considered one of the favorites to reach the NIT Final Four at Madison Square Garden. They have the weakest of the #1 seeds in their region (Louisville) and #2 Missouri State has not defeated a quality non-conference team all season. However, they have to get past this game. BYU was on the NCAA Tournament bubble for much of the last month of the season. The Cougars are a high-scoring group that also allow lots of points. They had won six in a row and 10 of their last 11 heading into the Mountain West Conference tournament. There, they bowed out in the first round to Utah. Trent Plaisted is a very good inside player, while Keena Young combines with him to give BYU a solid frontcourt tandem. In the backcourt, Brock Reichner is an outstanding three-point shooter; Jimmy Balderson is a quality all-around performer; and Rashaun Broadus gives the Cougars a good point guard. On the other side, Houston has won 10 of their last 13, with the only losses coming to Memphis (twice) and UTEP—all on the road. The Cougars have an excellent backcourt in Oliver Lafayette, a super scorer, and Lanny Smith, one of the league’s best point guards. Ramon Dyer leads a deep group of athletic forwards that can score and rebound well even though they are underisized. Jahmar Thorpe is another member of that group.

Prediction: Both teams share the same nickname and like to score. At home, Houston has the advantage due to their backcourt play and their edge in athleticism. Harris will be a key difference in the backcourt.

Houston 74, BYU 68
(update: final Houston 77-67)

#9 UTEP at #1 Michigan (Thursday, 7:00 P.M.):
First of all, how did UTEP get a nine seed in the NIT Tournament? They went 11-3 in the conference and have wins over Pacific and UAB. Apparently, a Wake Forest that went 3-13 in the conference deserved a seed four spots higher than the Miners. It’s sort of like Air Force making the NCAA Tournament—but that’s another discussion for another day. The Miners won their first NIT game over Lipscomb by shooting 67% in the first half and jumping out to a 19-point halftime lead. Jason Williams, one of the best all-around players in the conference, had a triple-double. He has carried the team since John Tofi went down with an injury. On the perimeter, the trio of Edgar Moreno, Stefon Jackson, and Kevin Henderson are all solid players who can produce in a variety of ways. They combined for 48 points, 14 assists, and 8 steals in their previous win. Michigan was a lock for the NCAA Tournament until they lost 7 of their last 9 games to drop them to the bubble, and eventually, the NIT. Daniel Horton is an excellent point guard who can score and distribute. He has carried the Wolverines recently. Courtney Sims is a solid inside player who has a lot of potential. He has shown flashes of that potential, but not enough. Dion Harris and Lester Abram are two athletic players on the wing who can do a lot of things. However, Abram is coming off of an injury and only played 13 minutes in their last game.

Prediction: Unfortunately, UTEP received a terrible draw in the NIT. Without Tofi, the Miners might not have the personnel to defend Sims down low. Moreover, Horton is a phenomenal point guard and will take advantage of UTEP's inferior talent in the backcourt.

Michigan 76, UTEP 65