Under the Radar Game of the Day – Thanksgiving: Western Michigan vs Stephen F Austin

Under the Radar Game of the Day, Thanksgiving Edition: Western Michigan vs Stephen F Austin, 5:30 PM, ASN

Happy Turkey Day college hoops fans!

For some (ok, most) people Thanksgiving is about family, turkey and football.  Traditionally, there were two NFL football games on Turkey Day, though in recent years a third nightcap has been added to the slate.  There are also a couple of college football games tonight, bringing the total number of football games available for one to watch up to five.  Five games.  That’s it.  There are TWENTY-FIVE D1 college basketball games on today, almost all of which will be on TV or streamed.  And some good ones too, including the second round of the Battle 4 Atlantis, semifinals of the NIT Season Tip-Off and Las Vegas Invitational, and opening rounds of the Advocare Invitational and Wooden Legacy.  There is also an interesting triple header of Under the Radar games being played in Nashville, Tennessee today (and the next two days as well) called the Challenge in the Music City.  Today’s lineup for that event (all televised by American Sports Network) is:

3:00 PM – Appalachian State vs Liberty
5:30 PM – Western Michigan vs Stephen F Austin
8:00 PM – Tulane vs Mercer

The middle game of the slate, Western Michigan vs Stephen F Austin, is our Under the Radar Game of the Day.  Western Michigan enters today’s game at 2-2 on the season, having defeated San Diego and non-D1 Rochester at home, while losing on the road to DePaul and UNC-Wilmington.  The Broncos won 20 games last season and played in the CIT.  They are strong off the boards with three players (Thomas Wilder, AJ Avery and Tucker Haymond) all capable of grabbing 10+ rebounds per game.  Despite the slow start to the season, the Broncos, especially if they can find some answers in the backcourt, have a chance to contend for the MAC West Division title this year.

The Lumberjacks of Stephen F Austin entered the year (once again) as the favorite in the Southland Conference and a team that we felt might, with a couple key non-conference victories, be able to push for at-large consideration should they need it.  The biggest problem was that SFA only scheduled a small handful of opponents that would qualify as quality wins, while at the same time doing unthinkable acts such as scheduling the maximum number of non-D1 opponents (4).  The Lumberjacks are 1-2 at the moment, having only beaten a non-D1 team while losing two of the better chances for good wins, at Baylor and at Northern Iowa.  With very few chances left, SFA may already be in a position where their only way into the Big Dance is via the automatic bid.  That being said, a win today over WMU (and two more the next two days in the Challenge in the Music City, over Tulane and Appalachian State) has the feel of a must-win game.  WMU is probably the ‘jacks toughest opponent in the Challenge, and they will need big games from Thomas Walkup and Demetrious Floyd if they want to pick up the victory this evening.

Enjoy the games (and the turkey) everyone, and remember — Thanksgiving is a College Basketball Holiday too!!!