Chicago State at Eastern Illinois 12/3/20 - College Basketball Picks & Predictions

One of the worst college basketball teams of last season will be on display when Chicago State travels on the road to Lantz Arena to take on the Eastern Illinois Panthers. Both teams come in 0-3 on the year with Chicago State falling to Ohio, #5 Illinois, and North Carolina A&T by an average of 38 points. Eastern Illinois is coming off three tough games to highly touted opponents, the Panthers gave a tough game to Dayton but fell 66-63 for there third straight loss to start the season. 

Chicago State, again, fares to be one of the worst teams in college basketball this season scoring just 47.7 points per game to rank 269th/270 eligible teams in scoring offense this season. Only one player is averaging double-figures that being freshman guard Jordan Polynice. Chicago State returns 74.5% of their scoring from last years’ team that failed to win a single conference game. 

Polynice has already worked his way into the starting lineup through three games and if their much to be excited about for Chicago State, he is it. He’s averaging 10.7 points through three games in 25 minutes per contest. Senior guard Xavier Johnson is coming off the bench this season and has struggled from the field shooting just 22.7% from the field averaging 6.7 points per game.

Eastern Illinois has had a challenging start to their season with Wisconsin and Marquette before nearly knocking off Dayton on the road. In their first home game, the Panthers will be looking to notch one in the win column. And they should have a chance to do so against an inferior Chicago State team.

Leading the Panthers is senior guard and leader, Josiah Wallace. Wallace has led the team in scoring the last two seasons and will likely do so again this year. Against talented opponents, Wallace is averaging 14.3 points a game and shooting 41% from the field and 50% from beyond the arc. 

The Panthers are loaded with senior leadership with their entire top 7 of players being in their final year of eligibility. Eastern Illinois returns 84% of their scoring from last years’ team that ranked in the top-100 of scoring offense in college basketball averaging 74.3 points per game. 

Chicago State has been abysmal on the defensive end this season allowing 85 points per game ranking 240th in scoring defense. KenPom ranks the Cougars 356th/357 in adjusted defense and has them ranked 355th overall. Eastern Illinois is allowing 72.7 points per game, again against superior opponents; the Panthers rank 184th in adjusted defense and 159th overall.