Season opener versus the Crusaders and Coach Chad Lister.

Roster:

# Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. Hometown/Previous School

2 Bryan Butler G 5-10 165 Fr. Charleston, SC/James Island HS
3 Tim Franklin G 5-10 175 Fr. Piedmont, SC/Wren HS
4 Luke Lattimer F 6-4 190 R-Fr. South Bend, IN/St. Joseph's HS
5 Ian Harris G 6-3 175 R-So. Greensboro, NC/Lees-McRae HS
10 Jonathan Bozymowski F 6-6 190 So. Piedmont, SC/Wren HS
11 Casey Belli G 6-2 175 Fr. Acworth, GA/Harrison HS
12 Troy Randolph G 5-10 165 Fr. Powder Springs, GA/King's Way Christian HS
14 Jimmy Ellis G 5-10 165 Fr. Aiken, SC/South Aiken HS
15 Rory Fields F 6-4 170 Fr. Augusta, GA/Curtis Baptist HS
21 Zack Shields G 6-3 175 So. Mount Eden, KY/Spencer County HS
22 Kyler Vitko F 6-6 215 Sr. Alpharetta, GA/Chattahoochee HS
23 Tyler Mains G 6-1 180 Jr. Butler, KY/Pendleton County HS
24 Jason Wray G 6-2 170 So. Fayetteville, NC/Jack Britt HS
30 Kyler Booher F 6-2 185 Jr. Covington, OH/Newton HS
32 Matt Hunter G 6-0 165 Fr. Pontiac, IL/Pontiac Township HS
33 Millan Rodrigo G 6-1 175 Fr. Marrietta, GA/Hillgrove HS
40 Jamaal Pryor F 6-4 185 Fr. Powder Springs, GA/Hillgrove HS
44 Jeremy Eidson C 6-9 245 So. Greenwood, SC/Emerald HS
50 Paul Harrison F 6-8 260 So. Alpharetta, GA/Roswell HS

Looks like this a VERY young team. Predict scores. Remember we played this team last year.

I think that we win by 25

Harrison will be a good test for our inside game. Interesting that in both of our non-Division I games, we scheduled teams with a pretty good inside force. Harrison almost averaged a double double last year as a freshman (16 points 9 rebounds), which is pretty impressive no matter what division you are playing in. Harrison hails from Roswell HS in Atlanta, so I am not sure how a 6'8" 260lb kid that can obviously put the ball in the hoop, slipped out of Atlanta, and into North Greenville, but he sounds like a steal for them.

(11-09-2009 04:35 PM)KennesawBasketball Wrote:  Harrison will be a good test for our inside game. Interesting that in both of our non-Division I games, we scheduled teams with a pretty good inside force. Harrison almost averaged a double double last year as a freshman (16 points 9 rebounds), which is pretty impressive no matter what division you are playing in.

That is bad news for us. It means that we will go back to relying on our outside play if we get stuffed inside or nobody steps up inside.

Not worried about him. I seem to recall John Allison doing very well against them last year.

"Jon-Michael Nickerson (6-for-9) added 14 points while Jonathan Whipple (5-for-6) pumped in 12 and John Allison made all but one of his six shots to finish with 10 points as the Owls shot 60 percent from the floor."

Looks like we did well inside.

We'll be fine in both games. How much we win by depends on how Ingle manages the playing time. I can see him making a lot of substitutions and doing a lot of experiments with the lineups.

I am not going to get too bold until I see this team in real game action. We still have a lot of very young players, and I think we could have some growing pains. Would be nice to get the season off right with two solid wins, even if they are against non-D1 programs. At this point in the year getting a win, and allowing our coaching staff a chance to simplify the rotation are two very important steps along the progression of this season.

I don't think we're as inexperienced as some think. We aren't a veteran team but we will put three seniors on the court. Two of which have a ton of experience. I understand our redshirts didn't get to play officially last year.. but they were practicing with the team and around Ingle and his style of play. Markeith and Ladaris are "freshman".. but they aren't your normal 18-19 year old kids just graduating high school.

We may have some growing pains.. but I expect us to gel fairly quickly. I expect us to have mental mistakes in both of these games.. but I expect the opposition too as well. If we lose one of these games.. its a great cause for concern.

Syracuse just fell to Lemoyne or something like that. Those are the type of scores that worry me. If Syracuse can drop a game like that, then our players need to make sure they come in ready to play. We haven't earned the right at any point to guarantee a win. I agree with you Corn though that we have a little more experience then our roster might suggest, but out of our three seniors I think only JMac has earned consistent time. We really don't know what we will get out of Jay Mitchell at this point with all his injuries, and Whipple has never taken his game to another level. He seems to be pretty much the same player he was when he arrived at Kennesaw. We will rely heavily on several young players, and that is a scary proposition for any fan base.

Good points KB. I hope our team comes out like they have something to prove after a poor season last year. If they can stay focused I feel we are going to cause a stir in the A-Sun. If we lose one of those D-II games I am going to vomit. A loss to a D-II team would seemingly dampen any confidence this team has coming into the season. I want to see our real starters out there at the tip off.

(11-10-2009 07:30 PM)kr983 Wrote:  Good points KB. I hope our team comes out like they have something to prove after a poor season last year. If they can stay focused I feel we are going to cause a stir in the A-Sun. If we lose one of those D-II games I am going to vomit. A loss to a D-II team would seemingly dampen any confidence this team has coming into the season. I want to see our real starters out there at the tip off.

Real starters?

Makes no difference at all. You guys are forgetting that Georgia Tech went into overtime with their D2 opponent on Sunday night. Their point guard only played the first 12 minutes and sat the rest of the game by design. Tech's issues were exposed with the starters on the floor. One guy scored 31 points on them at close range to the basket. They pulled it off in overtime by going to one of the "old reliables (Lawal)" for baskets in the OT.

My thought is that Friday and Saturday will be similar to the first 2 looks we had and the real "lineup" will not emerge for good until we leave the convocation center.

(11-10-2009 08:17 PM)Go Fly Win Owls! Wrote:  

(11-10-2009 07:30 PM)kr983 Wrote:  Good points KB. I hope our team comes out like they have something to prove after a poor season last year. If they can stay focused I feel we are going to cause a stir in the A-Sun. If we lose one of those D-II games I am going to vomit. A loss to a D-II team would seemingly dampen any confidence this team has coming into the season. I want to see our real starters out there at the tip off.

Real starters?

Makes no difference at all. You guys are forgetting that Georgia Tech went into overtime with their D2 opponent on Sunday night. Their point guard only played the first 12 minutes and sat the rest of the game by design. Tech's issues were exposed with the starters on the floor. One guy scored 31 points on them at close range to the basket. They pulled it off in overtime by going to one of the "old reliables (Lawal)" for baskets in the OT.

My thought is that Friday and Saturday will be similar to the first 2 looks we had and the real "lineup" will not emerge for good until we leave the convocation center.

Good points GFWO. These games are never as they seem. We probably shouldn't take too much from it either way. If we blow them out, we shouldn't get too proud, and if it turns the other way then we shouldn't get too down on our team. For some reason these are tricky games to start the season. Once that ball goes in the air, all I know is that A Win is A Win.

I agree you can't take too much out of it.. but we should expect to win agaisnt a D2 squad. It should be an upset if we lose. No ones saying we can't lose, theres plently of examples of great teams being upset. At the same time no one is promising victory.. but we should expect it.

Agreed.

I havent looked but I doubt Georgia Tech's Division II game actually counted as it was just an exhibition game. Our games are actually included in the schedule and count. I seriously doubt that Georgia Tech would have kept their starting PG out of the game by design in a close contest if this game had counted as a W or L for 09 lol. Go fly win, are you putting our walk ons on the floor to start the game if you are ingle? I can see Ingle starting walk ons in the first game but North Georgia is a much better club.

Game day is finally here...can't wait.

Can't make it to tonight's game, but I will definitely be there tomorrow. If I am correct, and I could be wrong, NGU isn't even NCAA. They play in the NCCAA which is the National Christian College Athletic Association. Anyone have confirmation on that? Anyways, I expect a full report from you guys tonight after the game. Can't wait to hear!

I believe you are right Escalade...I don't care if we are playing a women's team tonight - I am just excited for the start of the season. I don't mind scheduling the first game or two as non-D1 as this young team tries to get its legs under them.

On their website it says they compete in both the NCCAA and NCAA div 2. Not really sure how that works. They also dont have a conference, their independent.

I'm still excited. I plan on being there. Hopefully we have a good amount of students showing up.