(02-23-2016 09:15 AM)emu steve Wrote:  

(02-23-2016 09:01 AM)Time2Fly Wrote:  Yes, this week is spring break. I wouldn't expect much of a crowd for the game tonight. However, as the games become more exciting I hope we see more community and alumni fans out. I don't think we will see JTIV put up another dud. Those two monsters of UT did an excellent job of keeping him contained but clearly (per naz's performance) they may have given him a bit too much attention. I think he will bounce back tonight. WMU has a couple of big guys (a freshman and sophomore I believe) which could cause issues but hopefully they learned from UT and give Thompson a little more room to operate. If they don't we could see another big game for Naz. All of that said, beating WMU this year is a game at the guard/SF spot. We gotta find a way to stop Wilder and Haymond. Wilder went nuts on us earlier this season. Jordan Nobles playing some D and Bond having a similar defensive performance to the the other night is key to winning this one. I think we can beat them with length and athleticism.

Excellent points.

One thing, and I think you made the point well, is that we have a number of offensive weapons. WMU can 'pick their poison.'

As you indicate Naz looks good when the opponents double on JT4.

Mangum has been shooting very well.

So the 'bottom line' is who will have big game(s) [plural] tonight? JT4? Naz? Mangum? Lee?

To me, it doesn't really matter, points are points and rebounds are rebounds regardless of who gets them.

That said, a hot shooter behind the arc does more damage than a big man like Naz.

A 3-point shooter who shoots 50% is averaging 1.5 points per shoot. That's like shooting 75% of 2-pointers. FT% are usually worth about 0.7 points per attempt. So fouling a shooter is like giving up 1.4 points, on average.

While I completely agree with your logic and do believe that a deadly 3-point shooter is key. I think we have seen that when this team tries to live by the 3, they easily die by it. They have to put in the emphasis inside the arc and use that to free up our spot up shooters (Mangum). Toney and Lee using their ability to drive to move and scramble defenses is huge for our shooters. While Mangum got us out to a big lead, we can't expect he will shoot 50% as he definitely went through a LONG shooting slump in the middle of the season after starting hot. I'm glad to see him getting hot again but don't want to rely on him shooting 7/8 from three.

(02-23-2016 09:39 AM)Time2Fly Wrote:  

(02-23-2016 09:15 AM)emu steve Wrote:  

(02-23-2016 09:01 AM)Time2Fly Wrote:  Yes, this week is spring break. I wouldn't expect much of a crowd for the game tonight. However, as the games become more exciting I hope we see more community and alumni fans out. I don't think we will see JTIV put up another dud. Those two monsters of UT did an excellent job of keeping him contained but clearly (per naz's performance) they may have given him a bit too much attention. I think he will bounce back tonight. WMU has a couple of big guys (a freshman and sophomore I believe) which could cause issues but hopefully they learned from UT and give Thompson a little more room to operate. If they don't we could see another big game for Naz. All of that said, beating WMU this year is a game at the guard/SF spot. We gotta find a way to stop Wilder and Haymond. Wilder went nuts on us earlier this season. Jordan Nobles playing some D and Bond having a similar defensive performance to the the other night is key to winning this one. I think we can beat them with length and athleticism.

Excellent points.

One thing, and I think you made the point well, is that we have a number of offensive weapons. WMU can 'pick their poison.'

As you indicate Naz looks good when the opponents double on JT4.

Mangum has been shooting very well.

So the 'bottom line' is who will have big game(s) [plural] tonight? JT4? Naz? Mangum? Lee?

To me, it doesn't really matter, points are points and rebounds are rebounds regardless of who gets them.

That said, a hot shooter behind the arc does more damage than a big man like Naz.

A 3-point shooter who shoots 50% is averaging 1.5 points per shoot. That's like shooting 75% of 2-pointers. FT% are usually worth about 0.7 points per attempt. So fouling a shooter is like giving up 1.4 points, on average.

While I completely agree with your logic and do believe that a deadly 3-point shooter is key. I think we have seen that when this team tries to live by the 3, they easily die by it. They have to put in the emphasis inside the arc and use that to free up our spot up shooters (Mangum). Toney and Lee using their ability to drive to move and scramble defenses is huge for our shooters. While Mangum got us out to a big lead, we can't expect he will shoot 50% as he definitely went through a LONG shooting slump in the middle of the season after starting hot. I'm glad to see him getting hot again but don't want to rely on him shooting 7/8 from three.

Completely agree with what you say.

3-point shooting can be a great weapon IF it is a strength of a team. 3-point shooting is not a strength of EMU teams.

So, as you indicate, we go to a WEAKNESS, not a strength, we are not helping ourselves.

When the opponent is missing shots and we are rebounding well, we have players like Toney, Lee, Bond, etc. who can get us transition buckets...

anyone else going to the game tonight? it's nice to see quality players come into the Convo and Wilder is as good as most. i'm looking forward to our guards battling him and i'm really looking forward to watching Bond continue to be a terror in getting loose balls, knocking the ball out of defenders' hands (particularly after they just grabbed a rebound) and pushing the ball in transition.

I know many of you are clamoring for my prediction tonight anxiously waiting for me to channel in the results. I was at our first game in kzoo where we looked lethargic and not ready to play but managed to get the game close late in the second half. I believe Hawkins is an average coach but he was smart enough to use his Ball State scouting report and implement their offense that was executed quite well in game 1. We let an average player (#4) have a career day spotting up and shooting on our zone. So.....without further ado:

My heart:

EMU 76 WMU 71

My Head:

EMU 69 WMU 65

Timmy B just continues to replay the Tayshaun Prince block on Reggie Miller game after game!!!!

Sloppy game. Maybe trying too hard to get it inside.

13-2 run to give us the lead. The run fueled by tough defense(multiple blocks and steals) leading to easy points. Even left a few out there trying to get too cute with an alley-oop.

Impressive half defensively. Lots of blocks/steals. Keep up that intensity and our offense will figure itself out.

Nobles noble effort. Two buckets.

Willie Mangum. I guess he answered my "will he stay hot" question.

8 turnovers from Wilder.

Checking the scoreboard: "Too early to call" (both NIU/CMU and BSU/UT are too close to call).

(02-23-2016 08:29 PM)FrankAnderson Wrote:  8 turnovers from Wilder.

He's looked awful. The top of our zone has been very active tonight, but I think there have been several unforced errors. He just seems out of it.

Can we get some confirmation from someone at the game that Stone is on the bench? From what I see on ESPN3 I only see Alvano, Perry, Price, Martin and then the transfers.

(02-23-2016 08:36 PM)EAGLE KING Wrote:  Can we get some confirmation from someone at the game that Stone is on the bench? From what I see on ESPN3 I only see Alvano, Perry, Price, Martin and then the transfers.

He's not on the bench. Hasn't been the last several games. No clue why. Perhaps hurt?

(02-23-2016 08:38 PM)EagleSam Wrote:  

(02-23-2016 08:36 PM)EAGLE KING Wrote:  Can we get some confirmation from someone at the game that Stone is on the bench? From what I see on ESPN3 I only see Alvano, Perry, Price, Martin and then the transfers.

He's not on the bench. Hasn't been the last several games. No clue why. Perhaps hurt?

That's the only thing I could see. His Twitter still shows EMU. Must be a heck of an injury that he can't even be on the bench for a home game. Not trying to start wild speculation.

In my head this game is tomorrow. Had the wife and kids all set go. Kind of bummed.
I desperately want a better seed than NIU.
Has Price played tonight? Wondering about the rotation.

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(02-23-2016 08:41 PM)masttg Wrote:  In my head this game is tomorrow. Had the wife and kids all set go. Kind of bummed.
I desperately want a better seed than NIU.
Has Price played tonight? Wondering about the rotation.

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No Price so far.

(02-23-2016 08:41 PM)masttg Wrote:  In my head this game is tomorrow. Had the wife and kids all set go. Kind of bummed.
I desperately want a better seed than NIU.
Has Price played tonight? Wondering about the rotation.

Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk

Price hasn't played yet. Going with the same 7-man rotation as the Toledo game with Lee and Nobles off the bench (Blake Brown played like 10 seconds). I think it's gonna catch up with us come tourney time, but it's definitely the best 7 guys on the squad.

Looks like CMU is pulling away from NIU.

We could be tied with NIU for 8th place.