Under the Radar Game of the Day – Sunday, February 27: Texas-Rio Grande Valley at Chicago State

Under the Radar Game of the Day: Texas-Rio Grande Valley at Chicago State, 5:00 PM Eastern, ASN

The Centenary Award (click here for details on it) may be decided today in Chicago.  Although the UTR Game of the Day normally focuses in on the top teams from the Under the Radar conferences, this afternoon we are looking at a couple of the bottom ones.  Chicago State enters play today with a record of 4-25 overall and 0-12 in WAC play.  Three of their four victories came against non-D1 competition, making the Cougars the only teams in the nation with only 1 Division I win.  In fact, every team in the nation has at least three Division I victories this year, other than Chicago State.  The Cougars struggles have them in prime position to win this year’s Centenary Award, though to lock it up, they must find a way to avoid a victory at home today against UTRGV — and given that KenPom actually predicts the Cougars will win today, losing the game will not be easy.

UTRGV enters the game today with a record of 7-20 overall (4-20 versus Division I) and 3-9 in WAC play.  The Vaqueros won the first meeting between these two teams back on January 14 by an 82-72 score.  Antonio Green led the way in that victory, scoring 21 points, while Shaquille Hines added 10 points and 14 rebounds.  The Vaqueros are winless on the road so far this season, though today’s game is clearly their best chance for a win away from home on the season.  A win will also move UTRGV a game ahead of UMKC in the conference standings and into sole possession of 5th place as we head into the final week of the conference season.