Valparaiso will win if: The Crusaders can continue their hot shooting on the road. Valparaiso has shot at least 45 percent from the perimeter in five of its road games this season. The Crusaders had 10 3-pointers at the O'rena last season and figure to get plenty of perimeter opportunities on Friday.
Oakland will win if: The Grizzlies can apply lessons they've learned from a brutal stretch of non-conference games. Oakland just finished a stretch of playing five straight games against high-major opponents which led Valparaiso coach Bryce Drew to refer to Oakland as "the best 4-10 team in the country."
Notes: Valparaiso leads the all-time series 18-6. The teams split last season's two games with the home team each being victorious in Oakland's first year in the Horizon League. ... Oakland point guard Kahlil Felder is second in the NCAA in minutes per game (38.9) and assists (100). ... Felder was named the Horizon League Freshman of the Year last season while Alec Peters was named to the Preseason All-Horizon League team. The First Team snub of Felder was a topic of conversation at the Horizon League Media Day in October. ?
Oakland will win if: The Grizzlies can apply lessons they've learned from a brutal stretch of non-conference games. Oakland just finished a stretch of playing five straight games against high-major opponents which led Valparaiso coach Bryce Drew to refer to Oakland as "the best 4-10 team in the country."
Notes: Valparaiso leads the all-time series 18-6. The teams split last season's two games with the home team each being victorious in Oakland's first year in the Horizon League. ... Oakland point guard Kahlil Felder is second in the NCAA in minutes per game (38.9) and assists (100). ... Felder was named the Horizon League Freshman of the Year last season while Alec Peters was named to the Preseason All-Horizon League team. The First Team snub of Felder was a topic of conversation at the Horizon League Media Day in October. ?
