SEMO'S coach has been trying to stress defense all year, especially from the arc. He has told them if they start getting more stops that will lead to a better offense. Up until the last half of their last game it hadn't taken hold. They were playing C. Arkansas who I know isn't a good team but the following is good against ANY DI team I don't care who they are. UCA was up by 7 at the half. In the first half they shot 59.26% from the floor and 40% from the arc while SEMO shot 37.93% from the floor and 25% from the arc. Now to start the second half comes a run like I've never seen from ANY DI team against another my entire life. The first 9 minutes and 50 secons SEMO goes on a 36-1 run and end up winning 87-63. In the second half UCA shot 26.67% from the floor and 20.0% from the arc while SEMO shot 61.11% from the floor and 55.56% from the arc.
The whole purpose of me sharing this is to let you know that the players have finally seen that what the coach has been trying to get them to do actually works and now they believe. If ever a SEMO team was built to play defense it's this one. They are mostly guards with a few small forwards. Playing Indiana is a whole other animal. Which SEMO team will show up? I don't have a clue.
What I listed above is the reason I wouldn't take Indiana in this game. Indiana first half might not be a bad bet. I guessed wrong on the line movement as it's now Indiana -24. Last night it was -26. If it gets back to 26 I'll take SEMO because like Indiana's last game the back door will be open. I do however like the over in this one. Both of these teams are pretty good from the ft line. Indiana has a big edge on the glass, as does every team that plays SEMO. A couple of things SEMO is very good at is creating turn overs/pg #49 at 11.7 while Indiana ranks #331 at 17.0. T/O margin SEMO #12 at +5.9 while Indiana #333 at -5.7. Steals/pg #14 at 9.6 while Indiana is #188 at 6.3.
2* #535 SEMO/#536 INDIANA O149 1/2 -103