NIT Quarterfinals: #3 BYU at #1 Southern Miss.

National Invitation Tournament Quarterfinals

#3 Brigham Young Cougars at #1 Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles

Reed Green Coliseum, Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

 Wednesday, March 27, 2013. 5:00 PM PDT.

Southern Mississippi hails from Conference USA, is 27-9 on the season and 12-4 in C-USA regular season play. The Golden Eagles are on a two game winning streak and 14-1 at home this season.

BYU is 23-11 on the season, 10-6 in WCC regular season play, 6-8 away from home and currently on a two game winning streak.

TV: ESPNU

Radio: KSL 1160 AM & 102.7 FM along the Wasatch Front, KMGR 95.9 FM in Manti, KSUB 590 AM in Cedar City, KDXU 890 AM in St. George and KTHK 105.5 FM in Idaho Falls.

Satellite Radio: BYU Radio, Sirius XM 143.

Online: Live audio from KSL and video from ESPN3.

The Cougars have run through the NIT so far. First it was an 82 possession, 90 point, victory over Washington. Last night Mercer was routed, 90-71, by a 1.272 points per possession version of the Cougars. Next up, Southern Mississippi. The Golden Eagles are a defensive minded team, holding teams to 0.93 points per possession. At home they're exceptionally strong on defense, their top eight performances in terms of points allowed per possession came at home.



Outside of Provo the Cougars have a losing record. They aren't the offensive juggernaut they are at home. Of their eight worst performances in terms of points per possession seven came away from home and seven were losses. The one remaining, a home win over Utah.

If BYU plays like a cheetah (7th highest tempo in the NCAA) then Southern Mississippi is a snail (219th). BYU can win this game on the road against a strong defense if they can play at their speed. The Golden Eagles are 5-5 against division one opponents when forced to play at or above BYU's average tempo. When playing in their comfort zone, 66 or fewer possessions, they are 14-2.

The most obvious difference visually will be the height disparity. Southern Mississippi's tallest player is 6'7''. BYU's third tallest player is 6'7''. Despite this the Golden Eagles don't rely on the three point shot for points, but they do rely on it for defense. Opponents of the Golden Eagles score 36.5% of their points from deep, the fourth highest percentage in the nation. That bodes well for BYU, as the Cougars were scorching hot from long range last night. Brock Zylstra and Matt Carlino went a combined 9-18 from deep.

However, the Golden Eagles are good at winning games against teams that score from deep. If they are doing that tomorrow, there's always Brandon Davies inside who may just have the biggest height advantage of his career.