Pepperdine vs. Hawaii Odds
| Pepperdine Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+4.5 -110 | 140 -110o / -110u | +160 |
| Hawaii Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-4.5 -110 | 140 -110o / -110u | -190 |
Pepperdine travels to Hawaii for a late-night college basketball dream.
The two schools face off as part of the Diamond Head Classic, a holiday tournament featuring eight total teams.
Pepperdine comes to the island having lost three of its last four games, with its only victory coming against D-II California State.
Additionally, the Waves have yet to win a game away from home this season, holding a 6-2 record on their home floor.
On the other side, Hawaii's season hasn't been much more impressive.
The Warriors have not recorded a victory versus any team inside the top 200 so far this season. They also finished out the month of November with an embarrassing 53-51 loss to No. 299 Texas A&M-Commerce.
Both of these teams have an opportunity to right the ship in a tournament that will be played until Christmas Day.
Pepperdine Waves
In 2019, Lorenzo Romar returned to Pepperdine to be the head coach — he previously served the Waves during a run from 1997-1999.
This season, Romar has his work cut out for him, as he has one of the youngest teams in all of college basketball.
The Waves rank 314th nationally in D-I experience, averaging 1.14 years as a team.
Stylistically, the Waves run a high-tempo offense and are not afraid to take their fair share of 3s.
Pepperdine has the 30th-highest Adjusted Tempo rating in the country, averaging 72.8 possessions per game.
This fast-paced style is due in large part to an offense that get 37.6% of its total points from distance (31st nationally).
This affinity for settling for the outside shot is shown in the Waves' average offensive possession length that lasts just 15.6 seconds, which is the 24th-fastest in the country.
The Waves will run into trouble if they hope to stick to this offensive style against a Hawaii team that has simply not allowed its opponents to be successful from 3-point range.
The Warriors have allowed the 10th-fewest 3-point-attempts in the country at just 28.8 per game.
As a result, Hawaii opponents are only getting 22.1% of their total points from beyond the arc this season (355th nationally).
If Pepperdine is forced to score from the interior against a stout Hawaii perimeter defense, it may be a long game.
The Waves rank 235th nationally in 2P% at just 48.2%.
Pepperdine will need to change its offensive game plan to have any success on the island.
Hawaii Warriors
In his eighth year as the Hawaii head coach, Eran Ganot is looking to build on a 17-11 season a year ago.
The Warriors return 56.8% of their minutes from last year's team, giving Hawaii a significant experience advantage on Thursday night.
Hawaii will look to use this experience to record its first notable win of the season.
The Warriors have had a strength of schedule that ranks 355th nationally, which has resulted in zero impressive wins.
Despite this poor schedule, the Warriors have shown some life to start the season, particularly on the defensive end.
Through nine games, the Warriors rank 25th in the country in effective FG% defense. Hawaii has achieved this ranking through a top-55 ranking in both 2P% and 3P% allowed.
Even though Hawaii has struggled on the offensive end, it has shown solid fundamentals, which have resulted in key extra possessions.
The Warriors rank just outside the top-60 nationally in turnover and offensive rebounding percentage.
These extra possessions will come early and often against a Pepperdine unit that has ranked outside the top-230 nationally in both of these categories defensively.
Although Hawaii is still searching for answers on offense, its advantage on the glass and ability to take care of the basketball will give it the upper hand on Thursday night.
Pepperdine vs. Hawaii Betting Pick
Neither of these teams have been very impressive to start their 2022 seasons.
That being said, I don't see how Pepperdine will be able to score at a consistent clip against Hawaii's defensive front.
If Hawaii is able to see some shooting progression on the offensive end, this could be a shocking start to the Diamond Head Classic for Pepperdine.
