2nd Round CIT: EKU vs Evansville Preview

Eastern Kentucky had Gardner Webb down by 15 and they were doing it without their most celebrated player. Mike DiNunno went cold against the Runnin' Bulldogs but Cory Walden and Glenn Cosey picked up the slack though combining for 48 points and 10 threes.

Evansville is coming off a route of Tennessee State and will look to knock out both representatives from the OVC in back to back rounds. The Purple Aces were led by their superstar Colt Ryan, who hit 9 out of 10 free throws on his way to 22 points.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING:

Aces fans, I expect a Robert Morris-esque postseason environment at the PAC on Saturday.

— Jonathan Lintner (@ECP_Lintner) March 20, 2013

Tomorrows game will not be played in the Ford Center but instead the much smaller Physical Activities Center in Evansville. With a seating capacity of only about 2,200 expect a small but loud Evansville crowd.

FOUR FACTORS:

The graph above shows us that EKU shoots a little better and gets to the line more. Evansville, however, has scored 84 points in 2 out of their last 3 games. With the way Evansville has been scoring and EKU going with a 4 guard set, we could see a high scoring, back and forth contest.

PREDICTION:

I am starting with the safe bet that Mike DiNunno bounces back from his poor performance in North Carolina. If Cosey and Walden stay hot it could be a nightmare for Evansville.

This game is in Evansville, Indiana and will be played in, what will probably be, a sold out Physical Activities Center. The Colonels, however, feed off the opponents crowd. EKU relishes the opportunity to quiet a crowd and I'll just say, they enjoy doing things that get under the home crowd's skin.

In the end, EKU's offense will see them through to the 3rd round.

Eastern Kentucky 77 Evansville 68