With Big Ten teams dominating today's TV schedule, thanks to the Big Ten Network, VAVEL USA's Tyler Bennett and Peyton Wesner have decided to avoid the conference with some mid-major action. So let's dig in, shall we!

2:00 PM EST
5-5 (1-1) Fairfield @ 3-7 Bucknell

5-5 (1-1) Fairfield
Coming In:

---94-88 Win - Loyola (MD)
Good Mid-Major Wins:

---82-81 - Columbia
---74-70 - Rider
Conference Losses:

---101-77 @ Iona
Players to Watch:
#14 Marcus Gilbert
(SR)
---19.4 PPG & 4.5 RPG.
#3 Tyler Nelson (SO)
---12.5 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 3.9 APG, & 1.0 SPG.

3-7 Bucknell
Coming In:

---89-77 Loss @ Princeton
Division I Wins:

---81-76 @ Robert Morris
---80-79 @ Manhattan
Single-Digit Defeats:
---90-82 - Wake Forest
---83-81 - Siena
---62-58 @ Penn State
---81-73 @ Mount St. Mary's
Players to Watch:
#14 Chris Hass
(SR)
---18.0 PPG, 4.2 RPG, & 1.2 SPG.
#23 Zach Thomas (SO)
---14.7 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 2.1 APG, & 1.3 SPG.
#20 Nana Foulland (SO)
---12.3 PPG, 6.5 RPG, & 1.2 BPG.

Bennett:
The season hasn’t started out as planned for the Bucknell Bison, as they return from Christmas break with a 3-7 record to their name. The Fairfield Stags (5-5) haven’t been much better, which puts a big emphasis on this game for both sides, since they look to get back on track with a victory. In front of their home crowd, the likes of Nana Foulland and Chris Hass will lead the Bison to the victory.
---Bucknell 78, Fairfield 75

Wesner:
Stop Marcus Gilbert, stop Marcus Gilbert! For any and all Bucknell Bison players suiting up today, the following is the primary objective. Gilbert, who recently returned from an injury suffered in Fairfield's MAAC conference opener versus Iona, has been phenomenal when on the court, for he is averaging 30.7 points per game in his last three outings (excluding Iona). Therefore, with his talent, it is absolutely imperative to stop--or at least contain--the "star senior." Yet, the Stags have more than just one player to keep an eye on themselves when playing defense. Bison's senior Chris Hass is one dangerous man that seems to play his best against very good competition (Wake Forest, NC State, etc.). Uh, Fairfield is not a power conference school? Correct, but currently Bucknell is 0-3 against Division I opponents on their home court, meaning Hass, and "stud sophomores" Zach Thomas and Nana Foulland will feel some positive pressure to get such a victory prior to the start of Patriot League play. While Fairfield has a "stud sophomore" of their own in Tyler Nelson and arguably more bench depth, Bucknell at home culminated with the production from their "Big Three" will be too much for Gilbert to overcome.
---Bucknell 78, Fairfield 73

1-9 Texas Southern @ 9-3 Syracuse (ESPNU)

1-9 Texas Southern
Coming In:

---83-73 Loss @ Iona
Only Win:

---91-80 - UTSA
Single-Digit Defeats:

---87-81 - Howard
---66-62 @ Stephen F. Austin
---79-71 @ Central Michigan
Players to Watch:
#11 Malcolm Riley
(SR)
---18.2 PPG, 6.4 RPG, & 1.0 SPG.
#99 Derrick Griffin (FR)
---16.5 PPG, 10.5 RPG, & 1.0 BPG.
#2 Chris Thomas (SR)
---14.3 PPG, 4.1 RPG, & 3.6 APG.

9-3 Syracuse
Coming In:

---82-60 Win - Montana State
Resumé Wins:

---79-76 - #18 Connecticut
---74-67 - #25 Texas A&M
"Never Shoulda Happened" Losses:
---79-72 @ Georgetown
---84-72 @ St. John's
Players to Watch:
#0 Michael Gbinije
(SR)
---18.9 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 4.7 APG, & 2.8 SPG.
#10 Trevor Cooney (SR)
---13.5 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 3.2 APG, & 1.9 SPG.
#23 Malachi Richardson (FR)
---12.3 PPG, 4.7 RPG, & 1.3 SPG.

Bennett:
Last season, the Texas Southern Tigers went into one of the toughest places to play, the Breslin Center, and came away with an overtime win over the Michigan State Spartans. On Sunday, they will enter the Carrier Dome and look to pull off a similar upset over Syracuse. This season, it’s tough to predict the type of performance fans will see from the Orange, which brings the possibility of an upset into the mix. However, Trevor Cooney and company will put together a solid performance and come away with the double-digit win.
---Syracuse 80, Texas Southern 69

Wesner:
Well, this could get nasty quick! Although Texas Southern has some very great players that have been fantastic while being run through the gantlet known as their non-conference schedule, a Jim Boeheim team will not allow an upset to occur on their home court. Yes, the Tigers have three elite SWAC scorers in Malcolm Riley, Derrick Griffin. and Chris Thomas; however, the Orange have a trio experienced and talented enough to not only trade baskets with Texas Southern but outscore them completely! Look for Syracuse's 3-2 zone to frustrate "fab freshman" Griffin early and often while Thomas struggles to put the "biscuit in the basket." All in all, the Tigers come into this afternoon failing to keep within ten of any power conference opponent. Today will be not be the day either.
---Syracuse 77, Texas Southern 60

5:30 PM EST
7-3 Middle Tennessee @ 10-3 South Dakota State
***Spotlight Game

7-3 Middle Tennessee
Coming In:

---64-62 Loss @ Georgia State
Very Good Victories:

---78-70 - Toledo in Great Alaska Shootout Championship
---88-81 - Auburn
---83-62 - Belmont
Single-Digit Defeats:

---62-56 - VCU
---64-62 @ Georgia State
Players to Watch:
#20 Giddy Potts
(SO)
---14.8 PPG, 6.2 RPG, & 1.8 APG.
#0 Darnell Harris (SR)
---12.7 PPG, 5.4 RPG, & 1.3 BPG.
#30 Reggie Upshaw (JR)
---12.3 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 2.0 APG, & 1.0 SPG.

10-3 South Dakota State
Coming In:

---99-95 Loss @ Weber State
Very Good Victories:

---85-68 - Weber State
---83-67 @ Illinois State
---76-67 @ TCU
---84-70 @ Minnesota
---56-52 @ Florida Gulf Coast
Single-Digit Losses:

---64-57 @ UMKC
---99-95 @ Weber State
Players to Watch:
#0 Deondre Parks
(SR)
---17.8 PPG, 5.3 RPG, & 1.1 SPG.
#11 George Marshall (SR)
---12.9 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 2.9 APG, & 1.3 SPG.
#24 Mike Daum (FR)
---11.8 PPG & 5.2 RPG.

Bennett:
Through the start of the season, the South Dakota State Jackrabbits have shown why they are one of the top mid-major teams in the country, and why they are considered the front-runner in the Summit League. On the flip side, the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders have surprised many with their strong showing over their first 10 games of the season. In arguably the marquee contest on a quiet Sunday of games, Jake Bittle will put together another strong performance and the Jackrabbits will use home court to come away with a hard-fought win.
---South Dakota State 82, Middle Tennessee 77

Wesner:
Thus far, this journalist has rode with home teams in two matchups. Why change?! In a showdown that could temporarily make the case for an at large bid for the winner, South Dakota State's "star senior" Deondre Parks is about to have the best game of the season--if not his career. Likely matched up against Middle Tennessee's "stud sophomore" Giddy Potts, Parks will use his experience to exploit the defense thrown at him. Also, where is Jake Bittle? Look for him to reassert himself this afternoon and be the difference in the Jackrabbits last game before conference play. While the Blue Raiders do have their complement contributors in Darnell Harris and Reggie Upshaw, South Dakota State's supporting cast around Parks will be too much this late afternoon. Hop on!
---South Dakota State 79, Middle Tennessee 74

Standings:
1. Wesner 164 pts (128-65)
2. Bennett 156 pts (121-72)

***Spotlight Games are worth two points in opposed to one.

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About the author
Peyton Wesner
Editor, that has loved and watched sports. He enjoys traveling the country to watch division one college basketball and professional baseball, basketball, and football. In addition, Peyton is a huge enthusiast of Missouri Valley Conference basketball and International League (Triple-A) baseball as he focuses about these topics and many more on his sports blog Courtside with PW at http://courtsidewpw.blogspot.com/?m=1. You can contact him through his email, [email protected], or his twitter, @courtsidewpw.