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BUCKNELL at DePaul 2 p.m.: The game of the day in the Patriot League pits the giant killers from Lewisburg against Big East newcomer DePaul in a game that raises the question: How long till they start placing a betting line on games involving the Bison? We ask that question not due to any interest in wagering, but rather out of curiosity about how the oddsmakers might view a game like this. Sure the Bison are getting a lot of ink and some folks who really don't know them and have never seen them are talking about them as favorites next week against Villanova. But we wonder what guys who make their living predicting the outcome of games think about Bucknell's chances against DePaul.

Despite the Bison's wins over Big East schools Pittsburgh (last season) and Syracuse (two weeks ago), it is still hard to view them as a favorite on the road against a Big East club. Even a club like DePaul, which is picked to finish 13 in the 16 team Big East.

The Blue Demons return two starters from last season's team that went 20-11 before losing in the second round of the NIT. The team's leading scorer thus far is not one of those two. Miami (Fla.) transfer Karron Clarke, a 6-6 forward, is averaging 13.3 ppg. Returning starter Sammy Mejia (10.8 ppg) is a 6-6 slasher who gets to the free throw line a lot.

DePaul is 2-2, with wins over Creighton and Northwestern and losses to Northern Illinois and Bradley, two mid majors that both lost in the first round of their conference tournaments last season, neither of which are picked to win their leagues. Does that make this look like a winnable game for the Bison? Well, yes. If they can defend DePaul without getting into the foul trouble that has plagued them in three of their four wins.

Remember the old Wendy's commercials -- where's the beef? It is on the basketball court at DePaul. The Blue Demons' roster includes three guys over 6-8 who weigh more than 250 pounds and the Demons go 10 deep. It is hard to imagine Bucknell winning this one if guys like Chris McNaughton and Darren Mastropaolo spend much of the afternoon riding the pine due to foul trouble.
Bucknell notes | DePaul notes | USA Today matchup |We re DePaul preview |Bucknell Radio

Marist at LAFAYETTE 1 p.m.: The Red Foxes are 1-1 with a close loss at Seton Hall and a lopsided win over Delaware. Through two games, Jared Jordan is Marist's leading scorer, averaging 16 ppg. Two other players, 7-footer James Smith (13.5 ppg) and Will Whittington (10.5 ppg) also average in double figures. Jordan has been the best 3-point shooter of the bunch, knocking down 5-of-12 (41.7 percent) but the fact that Whittington has jacked up 17 from the arc in two games suggests he might be just as dangerous, even though he has made just 3 so far. The 6-3 junior finished in the top five in the nation in both 3-point percentage and 3-pointers per game last season.

Defense, though, not offense, has been Marist's strong suit in its two contests. The Red Foxes are shooting just 41.2 percent as a team, but they have held opponents to 36.6 percent from the field.

In addition to Smith, Marist also starts 6-8 redshirt sophomore Ryan Stilphen, a MAAC all-rookie pick last year up front. That kind of size will pose a challenge for the guard-oriented Leopards.
Lafayette notes | Marist notes | USA Today matchup | Gametracker

Princeton at COLGATE 2 p.m.: At 1-2, these are not your father's Princeton Tigers. Princeton is 10-4 against Patriot opponents in the past six seasons and 4-1 under head coach Joe Scott. But coming off a loss at Lafayette, Princeton, whose only win came at Lehigh, should have a hard time improving to 2-1 against Patriot League teams.

The Tigers don't shoot the ball very well (41.1 percent) and have been getting hammered on the boards by a margin of 12.7 rebounds per game. Sophomore forward Noah Savage (6-5) is the only player averaging in double figures (16.7 ppg) for a team that has scored more than 50 points in only one of its three games.
Colgate notes (pdf) | Princeton notes | USA Today matchup | 'Gate radio

AMERICAN at Ohio 3:30 p.m.:Late starters, the Bobcats have played only one game, beating St. Francis (Pa.) 77-61 over a week ago (Nov. 26). The Bobcats forced 15 first half turnovers in that one, 23 for the game. But their field goal defense was suspect. St. Francis shot 48.9 percent in the loss.

That is about as much encouragement as we can offer fans of the 0-4 Eagles. OU returns four starters from the team that American beat by 9 at home last season. That same OU team went on to finish the year 21-11, losing to Florida (67-62) in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. This year they are picked to win the tough Mid-American Conference. Suffice to say Jeff Jones' squad will have its hands full this afternoon in Athens.
AU notes | OU notes | USA Today matchup | Gametracker