Date: January 25th, 2017

Time: 8:00 PM

Opponent: Samford (13-7, 4-3 SoCon)

Place: Pete Hanna Center

Television: none

Webcast: ESPN 3

Radio online: 640WXSM.com

Samford 2016-2017 Schedule

Samford 2016-2017 Roster

Samford Message Board

They handed UNCG their only conference defeat thus far, on the road at UNCG by 11 points, 73-62.

And they had an open shot for their best shooter to tie at Chattanooga in the last seconds, but freshman sharpshooter Tristan Chambers took his eyes off the ball and let it go out of bounds for an unforced error.

Of course they also lost at home by 10 to Furman 73-83, and at home to Mercer by 3, 65-68, to stand 4-3 in conference.

But, they went on the road, kicked UNCG's butt and gave Chattanooga all they could handle. What more do you need to know?

Well, a little more to come after rehearsal.

I don't like all the hype i'm seeing on twitter for the Chatt game ahead of this game at Samford. I hope we show up ready to play

Samford: 13-7, 4-3 All stats cited are in conference only.

Best games probably the 10 point road win at UNCG 73-62, and the 4 point road loss at Chattanooga where they blew an open shot to tie before fouling for the final margin.

Best OOC win probably at 9-10 South Alabama. Worst OOC loss probably at home to 10-10 Nicholls State.

A totally reconstructed team with only 6-9 240 Soph Post Wyatt Walker, 6-2 190 Jr Point Guard Christen Cunningham and bit player 6-8 Jr. Alex Peters returning. Rebuilt with transfers (6-5 205 Jr. wing Denzel-Dyson from UMass, 6-8 210 Alex Thompson from Auburn, and 6-6 250 Terry Brutus from Ole Miss) and quality freshmen (guards 5-10 170 Josh Sharkey, a speedy baby faced ball hawk – 3.0 steals in conference - from Philly who looks about 13 years old, and marksman 6-2 185 Tristan Chambers - .584 from 3 in conference).

Good balance between front court (6-5 205 wing Denzel-Dyson with 13.8 points, 5.0 rebounds; 6-9 240 Wyatt Walker 12.5 points and 10.8 rebounds; 6-8 210 Alex Thompson 8.6 points and 2.1 rebounds) and guards (Christen Cunningham 9.7 points, 7.2 assists, Josh Sharkey 10.7 points, Tristan Chambers 8.3 points).

Rotation is 3 guys with 29 to 33.6 minutes (Walker 28.9, Dyson 32.1 and Cunningham 33.6), 3 productive guys with 22-23 minutes (Thompson 23.3, Sharkey 22.7 and Chambers 22.0) and 3 bit players (Brutus 11.0 minutes, Alex Peters 10.4 minutes and freshman Justin Hopkins 14.3 minutes).

They average 78.2 points in conference with +1.3 point margin. Compared to ETSU 82.7 and +13.3 margin. They tie ETSU for 3rd fewest made 3’s per game in conference (6.7), but shoot a good .381 percentage. They’ve got 3 strong 3 point shooters in Dyson (13-33 .394), 6-8 Thompson (12-31 .387) and freshman Tristan Chambers (17-31 .548!!). However Samford allows the most 3’s in conference, 9.9 per game, and the second highest percentage to opponents .379.

Not strong rebounding: -3.0 rebounding margin, ahead of only VMI and Citadel in the SoCon. Compare the Bucs best in conference +5.9. However Wyatt Walker averages 9.9 in conference and Dyson 5.3. Next best is Hopkins with only 3.1.

Not a good turnover margin, -1.2 compared to ETSU’s excellent +3.43. Get only 6.7 steals compared to 11.4 for top ranked Bucs.

Did I mention that they spanked UNCG at their place? And barely lost in Chattanooga? We’d better be as fired up and ready for these guys as for the Mocs.

Front Court:
6-5 205 Jr Demetrius Denzel-Dyson; 32.1 minutes, 15.7 points, 13-33 .394 from 3, 5.3 rebounds, 1.9 t.o.’s
6-9 240 So Wyatt Walker; 28.9 minutes, 13.7 points, no 3’s, 9.9 rebounds, 1.9 t.o.’s, 1 block
6-8 210 Jr Alex Thompson; 23.3 minutes, 8.6 points, 12-31 .387 from 3, 2.1 rebounds
6-6 250 Sr Terry Brutus; 11.0 minutes, 3.4 points, no 3’s, 2.7 rebounds
6-8 225 Jr Alex Peters; 10.4 minutes, 3.1 points, no 3’s, 0.7 rebounds

Guards:
6-2 190 Jr Christen Cunningham; 33.6 minutes, 9.7 points, 1-11 .091 from 3, 2.0 rebounds, 7.2 assists, 2.7 t.o.’s, 1.0 steals
5-10 170 Fr Josh Sharkey; 22.7 minutes, 10.7 points, 2-8 .250 from 3, 2.1 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 3.2 t.o.’s, 3.0 steals
6-2 185 Fr Triston Chambers; 22.0 minutes, 8.3 points, 17-31 .548 from 3, 1.1 rebounds, 1.0 t.o.’s
6-4 215 Fr Justin Hopkins; 14.3 minutes, 4.4 points, 4-13 .303 from 3 on the season but 0-2 in conference, 3.1 rebounds

They've all essentially become must win games now.

(01-23-2017 07:23 PM)Buced_Up Wrote:  I don't like all the hype i'm seeing on twitter for the Chatt game ahead of this game at Samford. I hope we show up ready to play

I don't Twitter (thank God), but you are right. We need to be ready to play. Several teams are capable of winning the SoCon regular season title, and the eventual champions will be the team that brings consistent effort to each and every game.

I believe the Bucs have the most talent. Now is the time to settle in, with everyone giving great effort, but also playing relaxed and under control. Easier said than done, but right now, it seems to me that Merriweather is hitting all of those notes. He's a pleasure to watch on offense, with or without the ball, and on defense, whether his man has the ball or not. Constant, relentless effort. Just a special player.

Bradford played an outstanding game against Wofford. Throughout the year, he has been a superb defender, and on offense he has excellent ability to take the ball to the rim or pull up for the short jumper. When he is hitting 3's -- and I think the Bucs need him to look for this shot more often -- he's a defender's nightmare.

Cromer is getting close. He's looking more like himself on offense. As others have suggested, he needs to stop officiating and concentrate on playing. I think that would go a long way toward cutting down his turnovers and occasional defensive lapses.

To varying degrees, the big men all have the same problem -- hanging on to the ball. But, they are shooting efficiently and defending well. And, if Glass's 3-point shot would start dropping, he would present some real problems for opposing defenses.

Burrell does so many things well. I expect him to just keep getting better and better down the stretch. Payne and Long are going to be very important, too. We are 20 games into the season, and they should be adjusting to the new team, new competition level. I'm hoping Payne goes on a hot streak that last's the rest of the year. I love Long's effort and his ability to drive the ball. Perhaps more than anyone, he would benefit from relaxing a little and playing under control.

We need to keep running Williams out there. He's shown some flashes, and the more experience he gets, the less he is going to look, think, and play like a freshman. In the tournament, when teams have to play night after night, we are going to need him.

This team is fun to watch, and when we're good, we're really good. Our depth is a big, big plus that should serve us well. We simply need consistent effort from now through the tournaments (SoCon and NCAA).

I don't "do" Twitter, either, and if what you're relating is true, then I exactly agree. This team *should* know better, certainly after just having tasted defeat from Furman, but one never knows about young kids. I know Forbes is working against looking past the Bulldogs.

I really fear this game. They certainly have the pieces in place to give us serious trouble. I'm not 'predicting' a Samford victory, but am stopping just barely short of that. But I'm not predicting an ETSU victory, either.

All bets are off, as far as I care. Whoever wants this one more will win.

As Kentucky, Kansas and Villanova just demonstrated, you've got to be ready and want the win in conference games or you will lose.

glad to see vegas still thinks decently of us. ETSU -4

Note the body language on the ETSU bench. Completely uninterested, unengaged. Are they working their cross word puzzles?

I think we're gonna need Jerald Fields or Dillion Sneed to deal with that Brutus brute. Hard to handle.

Chattanooga and UNCG are both trailing big. Chatt is at home vs VMI.

I've seen two passes thrown away up high and about three more close. It's one of the most obvious signs when the team's responding poorly to pressure and/or losing focus. Samford up 7 and it can become Furman all over if they don't tighten up. Let's go, Bucs!

Thank goodness Bucs went on a nice run!

Burrell is feelin' it, killin' it, and not concealin' it!

But I think the storyline might really be "How Cromer Got His Groove Back".

(01-25-2017 08:44 PM)shampoo Wrote:  But I think the storyline might really be "How Cromer Got His Groove Back".

I have inside information on Cromer. He was dealing with personal issues and it is better they happened now rather then tourney time.

(01-25-2017 08:47 PM)BucFan1244 Wrote:  

(01-25-2017 08:44 PM)shampoo Wrote:  But I think the storyline might really be "How Cromer Got His Groove Back".

I have inside information on Cromer. He was dealing with personal issues and it is better they happened now rather then tourney time.

....and I assume you mean something other than, and prior to, the tornado, correct?

Great recovery from down 7 to lead by 8 at halftime! When the Bucs have at least two guards performing in double digits early, they get it done.