The Utah Utes have fought their way to the NIT semifinals thanks to their white-hot shooting from beyond the arc. In Utah’s last two games, the team has shot 48.1 percent from three-point range – a drastic improvement over its 37 percent average for the season as a whole. The Utes will likely need the deep ball to keep falling when they take on the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers in the semis of the NIT on Tuesday.
- The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Utah’s last 6 games with an average combined score of 133.8 ppg.
- Utah is 7-2 SU in its last 9 games against teams with winning records.
- Western Kentucky is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games against the Pac-12.
Diminutive guard Justin Bibbins has been the engine that drives Utah all season long but the senior has been inconsistent during the NIT. Bibbins has seen his points per game diminish every game in the tournament despite his persistence of having the ball in his hands. Luckily, Utah’s secondary scoring has been top-notch, with Sedrick Barefield and Tyler Rawson averaging 18 and 14.5 points respectively in the last two contests.
Depth is not Western Kentucky’s strong suit but the Hilltoppers managed to get past Oklahoma State in the quarterfinals despite mediocre performances from Justin Johnson and Darius Thompson. Freshman guard Taveion Hollingsworth scored a career-high 30 points while Dwight Coleby tallied a double-double. But there is no way around it, Western Kentucky cannot continue its climb toward the NIT title without Johnson contributing again.
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs Utah Utes Matchup
Team Betting Records & Power Rankings
The Utah Utes sit at 22-11 (18-11-2 ATS) on the college basketball season. By comparison, the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers are currently 27-10 (23-12 ATS). Looking to bet on the total points scored? Utah is 11-20 OU, and Western Kentucky is 17-16-2 OU.
According to new college basketball power rankings here at OddsShark, it's the No. 209-ranked Utes and the No. 72-rated Hilltoppers in this matchup.
Statistical Matchup
When it comes to rebounds, visiting Western Kentucky ranks No. 119 in NCAA Basketball Division 1 with 35.7 per game. That compares with Utah’s No. 201 ranking in that category. The story is different when it comes to three-point shooting where Utah is college basketball's No. 34-ranked team at 9.3 treys per game, while Western Kentucky rates No. 254 with 5.38 per game.
Recent Outings Betting Recap
The Hilltoppers got 30 points from Taveion Hollingsworth as Western Kentucky ran past Oklahoma State 92-84 on Wednesday at Gallagher-Iba Arena.
The Utes grabbed a 67-58 win over the Gaels on Wednesday, behind a 19-point effort from Sedrick Barefield at McKeon Pavilion.
- Western Kentucky is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games
- Western Kentucky is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
- The total has gone OVER in 9 of Western Kentucky's last 13 games
- Utah is 11-4-1 ATS in its last 16 games
- Utah is 9-2 SU in its last 11 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Utah's last 6 games
