American vs. No. 16 Florida
When » Sunday, 2:45 p.m.
Radio » 1500 AM
AU spells RPI
This is one of several challenges this month for AU (5-2), which fell at West Virginia (5-1) on Wednesday, and will play at Northwestern (5-0) and at No. 3 Pittsburgh (8-0) before Christmas. American, the preseason pick to win the Patriot League, is sparked inside by 6-8 F Steven Lumpkins (13.3 ppg, 8.9 rpg), outside by 6-5 G Troy Brewer (13.1 ppg, 4.9 rpg), and all around by 6-9 F Vlad Moldoveanu (21.3 ppg, 5.7 rpg).
Gators lacking bite
With an experienced lineup back, and beefed up by heralded freshmen Patric Young and 6-7 Will Yeguete, Florida (5-2) was the preseason pick in the SEC. But coach Billy Donovan’s Gators, after being ranked as high as No. 9, might be out of the top 25 after Wednesday’s 57-54 loss at Central Florida. Florida also fell at home last month to powerful Ohio State, 93-75.
Like the cicadas
This is Florida’s first appearance in the BB&T since playing in the inaugural event in 1995. The Gators are propelled on the perimeter by 6-2 G Kenny Boynton (14.6 ppg) and 6-8 F Chandler “Big Shot” Parsons (10.4 ppg), who last year made a 75-footer to beat N.C. State and 3-pointer at the buzzer to topple South Carolina. It also will be a Verizon homecoming for former Georgetown F Vernon Macklin (9.6 ppg, 5.9 rpg).
George Washington vs. Navy
When » Sunday, 5:15 p.m.
TV/Radio » MASN/1430 AM
GW has no shot
Shooting woes have contributed to the slow start of GW (2-4), which is hitting 35.2 percent, ranking No. 338 out of 347 teams in Division I. The Colonials have struggled to replace last year’s top two scorers, graduated F Damian Hollis and sophomore G Lasan Kromah, out indefinitely with a foot injury. Junior PG Tony Taylor leads GW in points (13.8 pg), assists (4.3 pg) and steals (1.2 pg).
Double-time for Mids
Up-tempo Navy (3-6) has scored at least 80 points in its last three games. The difference has been improved 3-point shooting and 6-7 freshman sixth-man J.J. Avila, who has averaged 17.3 points and 5.3 rebounds the last three games. After missing three games with a lacerated left hand, G Jordan Sugars is expected back Sunday. The 6-4 junior leads the Mids in scoring (12.2 ppg) and rebounding (5.0 pg).
Been here, done that
GW has played all of the previous 15 BB&Ts, winning the title three times (1997, ’99, ’04) when a tournament format was used. This is the third straight BB&T appearance for Navy, which lost to GW last year, 81-69. The Mids trailed 61-60 in the second half before Tim Johnson hit back-to-back 3-pointers, allowing the Colonials to pull away. Johnson has hit just 11 of 39 shots this year.
Maryland vs. Temple
When » Sunday, 8 p.m.
TV/Radio » MASN/980 AM
Operation shutdown
Maryland (6-2) is coming off a suffocating defensive effort, holding host Penn State to 21.6 percent shooting from the floor and 11.1 percent from the arc in a 62-39 victory. Sophomore F Jordan Williams (17.1 ppg, 11.8 rpg) has been a powerful force inside. The Terps have played in all 15 BB&T events, winning four times (1996, ’98, ’00, ’01) when a tournament format was used.
No swagger
The Old Spice Classic was odoriferous for Temple (4-2), which lost to inexperienced California and mediocre Texas A&M. Returning standouts Juan Fernandez and Lavoy Allen from a 29-win team, Temple was ranked in the top 25 and a preseason choice to win the Atlantic-10. But the Owls have shot poorly from 3-point range (24.5 percent), ranking No. 342 out of 347 teams in Division I.
Less is Moore
Sophomore G Ramone Moore (11.7 ppg), an end of the bench reserve last year, has shaped up and leads the Owls in scoring. Struggling 6-4 PG Fernandez (11.0 ppg) has more turnovers (19) than assists (16) and is shooting just 33.3 percent. With 6-11 Eric Micheal (11 blocks) and 6-9 Allen (9 blocks), Temple has inside presence to battle Terps’ standout Williams.
