Thursday's game can be kind of a letdown game. We won our Super Bowl Saturday (we pretended to be the Seahawks and let Toledo play the Broncos). Last year, we could have beaten them with our 'B' game; not this year.

For reasons I can not understand, NIU is playing much, much better than I would have thought.

And, esp., as Highsmith who was playing very well as a frosh is out.

Need to find the matchups for this game.

Looking at NIU's numbers, it's hard to figure out how they're winning games. No one is averaging double figures in points, only two regulars are shooting over 40% from the field, and they are atrocious from 3-point land. All three of those are incredibly hard to "accomplish", and yet NIU is a middle of the pack team. We should definitely not sleep on them, but Montgomery has consistently had a brutal time dealing with the 2-3. We are just a bad matchup for them. Let's see if it holds true again this season.

(02-17-2014 02:42 PM)EagleSam Wrote:  Looking at NIU's numbers, it's hard to figure out how they're winning games. No one is averaging double figures in points, only two regulars are shooting over 40% from the field, and they are atrocious from 3-point land. All three of those are incredibly hard to "accomplish", and yet NIU is a middle of the pack team. We should definitely not sleep on them, but Montgomery has consistently had a brutal time dealing with the 2-3. We are just a bad matchup for them. Let's see if it holds true again this season.

Oh, you remember their 4-pointer (er, 4 point half).

(02-17-2014 02:42 PM)EagleSam Wrote:  Looking at NIU's numbers, it's hard to figure out how they're winning games. No one is averaging double figures in points, only two regulars are shooting over 40% from the field, and they are atrocious from 3-point land. All three of those are incredibly hard to "accomplish", and yet NIU is a middle of the pack team. We should definitely not sleep on them, but Montgomery has consistently had a brutal time dealing with the 2-3. We are just a bad matchup for them. Let's see if it holds true again this season.

The stats provides some clues.

http://www.mac-sports.com/portals/20/MAC...NFONLY.HTM

This should be a real grind it out game (why is it on TV? MAC missed a biggie Saturday.).

NIU is 3rd in defense; last in offense. I guess with good defense a team will steal some wins...

It could be a 57 - 53 game (and that might be optimistic). I'm not sure either team hits 60.

i agree with Steve about the risk of a letdown game. hopefully the fellas can play with some enthusiasm. i'm sure having Sims back will help both on the court and with excitement in the lockerroom. our defense will be solid, as usual.

(02-18-2014 10:26 AM)EMUAARON Wrote:  i agree with Steve about the risk of a letdown game. hopefully the fellas can play with some enthusiasm. i'm sure having Sims back will help both on the court and with excitement in the lockerroom. our defense will be solid, as usual.

This is a crazy game.

If I were a bettor in Vegas, I wouldn't touch it.

It is the infamous road 'trap game' - behind a huge win over Toledo and before Western on the road vs. a team playing well.

On paper we should roll them (as Sam indicates, we have their number) and beat them by 15, yet, the intangibles scary me.

If we beat them by 15, MAC beware!!

40, 45, 55, 25, 41, 44.

Those are NIU's point totals in games against Murphy. Their only win in that span was the 55 point game. So hold them under 50 and win?

The numbers this year point to this trend not changing. NIU still doesn't shoot well, and we are still very good defensively. It's hard to expect a letdown on that end, as Murphy will pull guys in a heartbeat that aren't exerting effort on D.

If we play even an ok offensive game, we should win comfortably. NIU is no slouch defensively either. Get to 60 and we should be fine, but that will be easier said than done.

No road matchup is a gimme, and I have to agree with most of you when you say its a trap game. This week should tell us if we are pretenders or contenders for sure. Gotta battle through the letdown game Thursday, and have to be up to the task to challenge another top notch team in WMU later in the week.

Hypothetically we are a scary matchup for any team in the league and I wouldnt be surprised to make it out of this week 2-0. But maybe thats just me saying that simply because WE HAVE TO win out.

(02-18-2014 11:08 AM)EagleSam Wrote:  40, 45, 55, 25, 41, 44.

Those are NIU's point totals in games against Murphy. Their only win in that span was the 55 point game. So hold them under 50 and win?

The numbers this year point to this trend not changing. NIU still doesn't shoot well, and we are still very good defensively. It's hard to expect a letdown on that end, as Murphy will pull guys in a heartbeat that aren't exerting effort on D.

If we play even an ok offensive game, we should win comfortably. NIU is no slouch defensively either. Get to 60 and we should be fine, but that will be easier said than done.

NIU should have a little better time getting the ball inside this year against EMU, either driving the lane or passing. I don't know if they'll be able to do it enough though. And we've been turning the ball over less, plus our defense is better this year. Obviously we can't rely on our outside shooting, though Bolin has started hitting 3s lately, and Eric Armstead has shown some shooting touch lately. I predict a close game. I think we have a decent shot to win, but wouldn't put any money on it.

(02-17-2014 02:42 PM)EagleSam Wrote:  Looking at NIU's numbers, it's hard to figure out how they're winning games. No one is averaging double figures in points, only two regulars are shooting over 40% from the field, and they are atrocious from 3-point land. All three of those are incredibly hard to "accomplish", and yet NIU is a middle of the pack team. We should definitely not sleep on them, but Montgomery has consistently had a brutal time dealing with the 2-3. We are just a bad matchup for them. Let's see if it holds true again this season.

Rebounds (so we get extra shots - we need them) and defense. Though the wins haven't been against the better teams either.

(02-18-2014 03:40 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(02-17-2014 02:42 PM)EagleSam Wrote:  Looking at NIU's numbers, it's hard to figure out how they're winning games. No one is averaging double figures in points, only two regulars are shooting over 40% from the field, and they are atrocious from 3-point land. All three of those are incredibly hard to "accomplish", and yet NIU is a middle of the pack team. We should definitely not sleep on them, but Montgomery has consistently had a brutal time dealing with the 2-3. We are just a bad matchup for them. Let's see if it holds true again this season.

Rebounds (so we get extra shots - we need them) and defense. Though the wins haven't been against the better teams either.

This could be a 'first to 50' wins game and a remedy for sleeplessness.

Playing against EMU's defense is like getting a root canal.

I'm going to switch from decaf to expresso for this game.

(02-18-2014 04:06 PM)emu steve Wrote:  

(02-18-2014 03:40 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(02-17-2014 02:42 PM)EagleSam Wrote:  Looking at NIU's numbers, it's hard to figure out how they're winning games. No one is averaging double figures in points, only two regulars are shooting over 40% from the field, and they are atrocious from 3-point land. All three of those are incredibly hard to "accomplish", and yet NIU is a middle of the pack team. We should definitely not sleep on them, but Montgomery has consistently had a brutal time dealing with the 2-3. We are just a bad matchup for them. Let's see if it holds true again this season.

Rebounds (so we get extra shots - we need them) and defense. Though the wins haven't been against the better teams either.

This could be a 'first to 50' wins game and a remedy for sleeplessness.

Playing against EMU's defense is like getting a root canal.

I'm going to switch from decaf to expresso for this game.

Yes, it's like 2 guys trying to wrestle while already half submerged in quicksand. They should make sure to sell DVDs of the game to insomniacs.

I will be at the rec/im and have tomorrows game on the xbox.

We are a 5 point favorite tonight.

No over/under for total points. Like would it be like 112 points
and knowledgeable fans taking the under....

One hour before Chad and Sean get it going on the air...

(02-20-2014 05:43 PM)emu steve Wrote:  One hour before Chad and Sean get it going on the air...

Is the game at 7 central or eastern?

Eastern.

(02-20-2014 06:06 PM)EagleSam Wrote:  Eastern.

Thirty five minutes. :)

Game available on TWCS, ESPN3, MACDN, and audio with Chad and Sean.

I'll sadly miss the first half:-(. Thursdays are tough.

Hopefully I get in my car after work and see we held NIU to 4 points again.

I missed the first 60 or 90" of the broadcast, did I hear Chad and Sean mention some super defensive stats?

EDIT: Apparently Chad mentioned during his interview with Murphy that EMU has held their opponents to the lowest FG % in D-I.