(11-27-2016 08:56 PM)shampoo Wrote:  Who has Samford played? Walker is doing something right, but does competition have any bearing?

(11-27-2016 08:31 PM)MercerFan Wrote:  I figured I'd post on your board, since it's most active and I like you guys...until our teams play each other

ETSU -- I'd give the nod to ETSU as the top team at the moment. The 5-1 record is strong. The strength of schedule (263) is weak though. You can only play who's in front of you, and they've been an impressive bunch. Led by Cromer with 19.4 pts. Next leading scorers are bunched together with Payne (10.6), Burrell + HMP with 9.2 apiece. Banks is shooting a ridiculous 20/24 as well. The next two games being non-D1 is strange (finals week or something?), but going @ Dayton the week after (RPI 30) will be a huge test. No obvious weaknesses from your group... teams are going to have to show up for a full 40 minutes to win.

UTC -- Impressive start, but not nearly what some were anticipating. I watched them play KSU the other day and they struggled for much of the game to get separation. This was also with KSU's best player on the bench in foul trouble. Yes, they put the Owls away... but I expected more. Tuoyo is still a monster (16.3 pts, 8.0 boards, and 63% shooting). Once again, a team that you better not have any droughts against.

Mercer -- I place us 3rd at the moment, which I think is both fair and promising. Newcomer Ria'n Holland (20.2 pts) is 2nd leading scorer by average, and 1st in total points (121). The starting 5 is electric with Holland joined by Strawberry, Rivers, Jelks, and Ringer. 6'10" N'Ganga is getting a few minutes a game, and still trying to find his role. Ryan Johnson has emerged as a solid 6th man, but there's several options on the bench that Hoffman is cycling thru in these early games. Ethan Stair remains out with injury, and would be a nice addition if he could recover.

The only other stat I have to comment on... Samford has a guy named Wyatt Walker that is averaging an unheard of 14.2 boards to go along with 14 pts a game. He's been double figures in rebounding in all 5 games, and is an absolute monster on the offensive boards. The 6'9" 240 pounder is going to require some serious game planning. The numbers are video-game-like. His 14.2 boards lead 2nd place Tuoyo (8.0/game) by 6.2! I thought it was a misprint at first. It's not.

(11-27-2016 09:58 PM)MercerFan Wrote:  

(11-27-2016 08:56 PM)shampoo Wrote:  Who has Samford played? Walker is doing something right, but does competition have any bearing?

Pretty decent competition. He did it against Cincinatti, San Diego, and New Mexico State.

I did find one ETSU weakness too, which is 61% free throw shooting (9th SoCon). Will teams 'hack a shaq' on your bigs? I'm also assuming it's your bigs missing the shots.