Charleston (13-3 SU, 11-4 ATS, 3-0 CAA) takes on Monmouth (3-13 SU, 7-8-1 ATS, 1-2 CAA) from New Jersey on Saturday at 1pmET from OcenaFirst Bank Center. Last season, the Cougars won both meetings by double digits. Read on for a full Charleston vs. Montmouth prediction on the final score and check out the best NCAAB Cappers!
Cougars are in first place for a change
Charleston is 3-0 in the CAA, which ties them with William & Mary. Nobody is shocked that the Cougars are in first place after winning two straight CAA titles. There was a change this season with Pat Kelsey off to Louisville and former Louisville coach Chris Mack taking over at Charleston. There were major changes in the coaching staff and personnel, but the results are still the same. The Cougars are 118th overall on KenPom and 109th in Adjusted Offensive Efficiency.
The Cougars have won five straight coming into this game with their only loss in the last 10 games coming against Oregon State (74-65). In conference play, they've crushed Hampton (94-67) at home, defeated pre-season favorite Towson 77-69 last Saturday, and beat Hofstra 67-61 on the road on Thursday. In that victory, star center Ante' Brzovic had 23 points and 11 boards to lead the way, while CJ Fulto added eight points, 12 assists and eight rebounds.
Brzovic is the leading scorer (19.3ppg) and rebounder (8.7rpg), while shooting 53.8% from the field and 38.7% from long range. Deywilk Tavarez, a 6-2 Delaware State transfer, adds 12.5 points, while shooting 41% from the field and 38.4% from long range. Charleston is an average team on the boards, ranking 211 in total rebounding percentage. Offensively, they are averaging 79 points per game, while shooting 45.8% from the field and 35.3% from beyond the arc. On defense, they are allowing 74 points per game, 42.3% shooting and 30.9% from long range.
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This will be a tough challenge for Monmouth
The Hawks have played just three home games thanks to a very difficult non-conference schedule that ranks 63rd in the nation according to KenPom. They won just one of those road games, but that came against Seton Hall (63-51). Since that win, they lost five of seven games. That includes a 20-point loss at Delaware last Saturday and a 64-55 home win against UNCW on Thursday. In that game, Monmouth shot just 34% from the field and was outrebounded 44-28. Abdi Bashir Jr. led the way with 18 points in 36 minutes, while Madison Durr added 14 points.
Bashir (6-7, 160) leads the Hawks with 21.4 points per game, while shooting 42.1% from the field and 44.1% from long range. Durr, a 6-5 transfer from The Citadel, adds 10.1 points and 3.2 assists on 33.9% shooting (6-14 3pt). Monmouth averages 66.9 points per game while shooting 38.5% from the field and 35.8% from beyond the arc. They allow 76.5 points per game on 46.1% shooting and 34.4% from beyond the arc. The Hawks have been weak on the boards where they rank 297th in total rebounding percentage. They are also 299th in assist-to-turnover ratio.
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Best Bets for Charleston vs. Monmouth
Full-Game Side Bet
Insiders Status:
Charleston is the much better team in this matchup. They have the experience and the talent to three-peat as the CAA champs. They are bigger with the 6-10 Ante' Brzovic, who is arguably the best player in the CAA. The Cougars are 3-1 on the road and the Hawks have played just three home games. Monmouth is also shooting 38.5% from the field at home, which ranks 358th in the nation. Charleston defends the three overall and they do it on the road (31%). Monmouth also ranks 332nd in total assists per game with 10.7 so they don't make a lot of shots and they are selfish.
Full-Game Total Pick
Insiders Status:
Even with a new coach in Chris Mack, Charleston is going to push the tempo as they rank fourth in the nation in pace of play. They've gone over the total in three of their last four games. The Cougars have averaged 79.8 points per game over their last five contests. That includes a low of 67 points against a very good Hofstra defense on Thursday. They are still shooting 45.8% from the field on the road and 35.3% from three-point range, while Monmouth is giving up 46.1% from the field at home.
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