Time to unleash our trademarked Pandemonium defense.

(03-13-2014 06:01 PM)Bucfaithful Wrote:  

(03-13-2014 04:29 PM)BucsFan Wrote:  The Mocs have only 1 senior on their roster so this game should certainly give us some idea of what to expect from them next year. That lone senior however appears to be an important piece as he is averaging 18.3 points and 9.5 rebounds per game.

It just feels good to be playing Chattanooga and it mean something again. Well not that the CIT means a great deal but a win over them as ETSU heads back into the SoCon would sure be nice.

Z Mason's near double-double average and 3 bpg is worthy of All-American recognition. In the SOCON, the media and coaches voted him first-team, as well as SOCON defensive POY. His bio states that he played football at Ole Miss before transferring to UTC. We'll have our hands full with Mason. Other concerns for the Bucs include 6'5" guard Casey Jones, who crashes the glass (6.2 rpg) and scores in double-digits (12.2 ppg); 6'2" Knoxville guard Ronrico White (10.8 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 2.4 apg); and sophomore, Gee McGee, a big 6'4" guard who averages 10.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg, and 2.8 apg.

UTC out-crashed all their SOCON opponents on the glass this season. Given our problems rebounding this season, this is a huge concern. They score a lot too (76 ppg), though not efficiently (44% FG). On the defensive end, they allow almost as many points (75 ppg) as they score, and give up these buckets fairly easily (46% opp. fg).

I suspect this will be a high-scoring affair.

They sound a little Lipscomb-ish with the physical 6'5" and 6'4" scorers - we have trouble stopping those types. But Lipscomb doesn't have anything like Z. Mason. That guy's a real horse. Hope that Hunter is up for the challenge.

Physical, high scoring affair sounds about right.

I hope all Murry does is look at video from the the non-conference portion of the schedule. The coaches and players were still trying to figure each other out...trying to learn a new system, etc. Watching the team in November and December, most Mocs fans didn't think they would win 4 games the rest of the year...fortunately, Will Wade decided to modify his "Chaos" game plan (he just doesn't have the right personnel for it) and once he did that, play improved quite dramatically.

That actually impressed me about Wade, so many coaches want to do it their way and are stubborn and inflexible (especially young coaches trying to make their mark). He and his staff were smart enough to know it wasn't going to work and found something that did. Basically, the Mocs season came in 3 parts...earlier season disarray, mid-season peak, and then they kinda ran out of gas at the end of the season (Wade has gotten just about as much as he could out of a team with no interior height and poor 3-point shooting).

Defending the Mocs is pretty easy...pack in a 2-3 zone and try to eliminate Z Mason...if you can do that, and the Mocs don't have a good 3-point shooting night (which is pretty rare), they're in trouble.

(03-14-2014 02:16 PM)chattanoogamocs Wrote:  I hope all Murry does is look at video from the the non-conference portion of the schedule. The coaches and players were still trying to figure each other out...trying to learn a new system, etc. Watching the team in November and December, most Mocs fans didn't think they would win 4 games the rest of the year...fortunately, Will Wade decided to modify his "Chaos" game plan (he just doesn't have the right personnel for it) and once he did that, play improved quite dramatically.

That actually impressed me about Wade, so many coaches want to do it their way and are stubborn and inflexible (especially young coaches trying to make their mark). He and his staff were smart enough to know it wasn't going to work and found something that did. Basically, the Mocs season came in 3 parts...earlier season disarray, mid-season peak, and then they kinda ran out of gas at the end of the season (Wade has gotten just about as much as he could out of a team with no interior height and poor 3-point shooting).

Defending the Mocs is pretty easy...pack in a 2-3 zone and try to eliminate Z Mason...if you can do that, and the Mocs don't have a good 3-point shooting night (which is pretty rare), they're in trouble.

Thanks for the report, chattanoogamocs. Looking forward to this game, and seeing Mason play. Is he as good as his stats indicate? How would you describe his game?

Z and his stats are legit.

When the guards are playing well enough to break the zone and Z can get into one on one situations...the guy is pretty unstoppable on offense.
He can also hit the three (in their loss in the SoCon tournament to GSU, he was 3-5 from behind the arc, the rest of the teams was 1-15) and he makes his free throws in crunch time.

However, if you can effectively double team him, he can get frustrated sometimes (I saw it happen at Davidson and Samford). But...he always plays hard on defense...and by blocking so many shots, he is good at effecting shots just by the threat of possibly blocking it. Not many people are willing to take it hard to the hole against him (being a former SEC tight end, he is like running into a brick wall)

The biggest problem for the Mocs is that the rest of the team is pretty inconsistent on offense...it makes them a little tougher to scout because they are all capable...but from the Mocs side of it, you never know who is going to be hot. Gee McGhee plays a little bit out of control so one day he looks great and the next he looks terrible. Casey Jones is probably the 2nd most consistent player, but he is not a good 3-point shooter (he is more a slash to the basket kind of guy). It really comes down to if Rico White and/or Marty Bareika can hit some 3's. If either one of them can hit 3 or 4 3-pointers, it opens everything up and the Mocs will have a chance. If those guys shoot poorly, the Mocs just don't have enough offense to get it done.

Next year the Mocs will be quite a bit better...they have 6 guys coming in that are all very specifically picked to play Chaos. You need long arms and quick footwork to play it and there just aren't many on the team that fit that profile right now (even Z isn't really cut out for what Wade is wanting to do...but he is just such a great natural athlete, he can compensate...Z dropped about 30 pounds this year to try and work on his quickness)

(03-14-2014 02:16 PM)chattanoogamocs Wrote:  Defending the Mocs is pretty easy...pack in a 2-3 zone and try to eliminate Z Mason...if you can do that, and the Mocs don't have a good 3-point shooting night (which is pretty rare), they're in trouble.

That sound you hear is Murry Bartow squealing with glee. A 2-3 zone is all ETSU ever plays.

(03-14-2014 04:14 PM)chattanoogamocs Wrote:  The biggest problem for the Mocs is that the rest of the team is pretty inconsistent on offense...it makes them a little tougher to scout because they are all capable...but from the Mocs side of it, you never know who is going to be hot.

Sounds like us, Rembert is going to bring it every night. You might get some combo of Wilson, Riley, Hunter or KGG hot or none of the above, you just don't know.

And in defense of the Mocs...hustle or hard work is never an issue since Will Wade took over...the one thing, win or lose, that is consistent about the Mocs is effort. But quite frankly, the cupboard was relatively empty after three losing season in the last four years and only one senior.

Teams with really strong/quick guard combos seem to be the Mocs biggest weakness...the Mocs went 4-0 versus the SoCon tournament final contestants (WCU and Wofford)...but was 0-2 versus also-ran GSU.

I was thinking, maybe break out the yellow uniforms for this? Haven't seen them yet this year and it is a special occasion.

(03-15-2014 02:03 PM)RodShaw2 Wrote:  I was thinking, maybe break out the yellow uniforms for this? Haven't seen them yet this year and it is a special occasion.

Would love to see that! Didn't we wear them last time in the CIT?

Heard today that ETSU was inviting players from the SoCon teams. Mister, Dennis, Calvin and others. That;s a good idea.

How about a bigger pep band. Surely there are more than 20 people that would play in the band. Invite
the Science Hill pep band to join with ETSU's, they did a good job at the Freedom Hall games. Maybe some of them would come to ETSU and be in the marching band. The atmosphere needs to be loud and proud.

To those attending the game, please wear 'Blue' and make noise.

If we were to win, who would you want to see as our next opponent? VMI isn't too far away so that could make sense.

Heres a pretty good list, so far, of the teams in the CIT. I'd kind of like to see Murray State come to the Dome

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Colleg...Tournament

This is the perfect transition game for the Bucs – goodbye to the ASun, hello to the SoCon. But they had better be ready for it.

I get the feeling that too many people have already written this down as a win. The Mocs started the season struggling, but were 12-4 in the SoCon (5-3 on the road). They are a little like Lipscomb with lots of physical 6’4” – 6’5” guys who can score. Guys like that have been hard for us to defend.

But they have length and rebounding inside that Lipscomb does not (6’6” 235 Z. Mason and 6’7” 225 Lance Stokes). They have a +2.0 rebounding margin compared to -3.2 for ETSU. They knock down 6 blocks in SoCon play compared to 2.7 for the Bucs. The Bucs had better bring their A game or they’ll end a better-than-expected season on a real down note.

The Mocs play an 8 man rotation: 4 guys (Mason, Casey Jones, Ronrico White and Gee McGhee) get 27 to 32 minutes. 6’7” 225 Lance Stokes gets 24. Greg Pryor and Martynas Bareika get 18. Eric Robertson gets 14. They rarely use anyone else.

4 guys shoot 3’s, including star big man Z. Mason (40-115 .348) who will take 3 a game. Other shooters are Ronrico White (35-90 .389), Martynas Bareika (54-152 .355) and Eric Robertson (28-69 ..406). Casey Jones doesn’t shoot 3’s (0-2 on the year), nor do Lance Stokes, Gee McGhee or Greg Pryor.

5 of the 8 guys are excellent free throw shooters (.707 as a team) and they get to the line a lot (26.4 attempts per game). One is bad - big Lance Stokes (.500) – and 2 not so hot, Eric Robertson and Gee McGhee at .630. The Bucs have an edge at the line in percentage (.781 in conference) but don’t get to the line quite as much (25.3 attempts).

UTC goes for the steal (7 per game vs 7.6 for the Bucs). They don’t turn it over much (12.4 to opponents 12.8 for a -0.4 margin). But the Bucs have an edge here with a +2.2 margin (11.9 – 14.1).

FRONT COURT: 6’6” 235 Sr. Z. Mason (32 min., 18.0 ppg, .367 from 3, 9.5 rebounds, 3 blocks); 6’7” 225 Jr. Lance Stokes (24.5 min., 4.1 ppg, 3.7 rebounds). This will be a real test for Hunter Harris. He (and Murry) need to watch the fouls. Lukas will have a very important job to do here – not a lot of minutes, but he’s got to help us match up against these two guys. Give Banks some minutes if necessary – see if he can perform like Devin Harris did. Hunter has been very up and down this year. Now is the time for one of his exceptional games.

BACK COURT: 6’3” 170 Jr. Ronrico White (27 min., 13.2 ppg, .389 from 3); 6’1” 195 Fr. Greg Pryor (18.4 min., 5.6 ppg, .167 from 3), 6’4” 200 So. Eric Robertson (13.6 min., 3.2 ppg)
Nobody averages even 3 assists.

SWING MEN: 6’5” 200 So. Casey Jones (31.2 min., 14.3 ppg, no 3’s, 7.1 rebounds), 6’4” 205 So. Gee McGhee (31 minutes, 9.8 points, .243 from 3, 5.1 rebounds). No 3 point shooting from these guys.

This is a statement game for the Bucs. I’d hate to see this season end with a whimper. We need to make a statement for the benefit of the SOCon next year, and take this season out with some real energy and get something to build on for next year. This Bucs shot selection has deteriorated a bit in the last couple games. We need to go back to smarter decision making. Especially Jalen Riley and KGG, who could be very tough matchups for the Mocs, Jalen with quickness and KGG with size. Jalen ought to be able to blow by their bigger guards the way he did against Lipscomb. I’d love to see us go out with a lot of attacking energy and build on the spirit and enthusiasm on display at the Lipscomb game.

(03-16-2014 09:48 AM)Buced_Up Wrote:  Heres a pretty good list, so far, of the teams in the CIT. I'd kind of like to see Murray State come to the Dome

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Colleg...Tournament

I would like to see one of the Ivy League teams.

(03-16-2014 02:20 PM)Meanmike0001 Wrote:  

(03-16-2014 09:48 AM)Buced_Up Wrote:  Heres a pretty good list, so far, of the teams in the CIT. I'd kind of like to see Murray State come to the Dome

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Colleg...Tournament

I would like to see one of the Ivy League teams.

I think that would be great. I cannot remember ever having played an Ivy League team. Sounds very interesting.

postseason basketball outside of the NCAA tournament often times comes down to what team really wants to continue playing. some do, some do not. hope the Bucs are interested in the season lasting a bit longer . . .

5 of the 10 SoCon members for next season are in post-season play this year...UTC (CIT), ETSU (CIT), VMI (CIT), Wofford (NCAA), and Mercer (NCAA).

(03-16-2014 02:42 PM)bucfan81 Wrote:  

(03-16-2014 02:20 PM)Meanmike0001 Wrote:  

(03-16-2014 09:48 AM)Buced_Up Wrote:  Heres a pretty good list, so far, of the teams in the CIT. I'd kind of like to see Murray State come to the Dome

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Colleg...Tournament

I would like to see one of the Ivy League teams.

I think that would be great. I cannot remember ever having played an Ivy League team. Sounds very interesting.

According to the official record book we have never played any Ivy League team.

The following teams are within 350 miles and are most likely 2nd round opponents (in order of closeness):

Upstate
VMI
Ohio
ECU


My guess is if ETSU wins we will get ECU, if they beat Wright State at home or possibly VMI if they can go to Canisius and win (which is probably not likely). Anyone but Upstate. If Towson wins at Upstate they could just stay down here and play us in JC on Thursday.

Please not Upstate, although it would be nice to finally beat them before we leave