Date: February 6th, 2017

Time: 7:00 PM

Opponent: Wofford (10-13, 5-5 SoCon)

Place: Benjamin Johnson Arena

Television: American Sports Network

Webcast: ESPN 3

Radio online: 640WXSM.com

Wofford 2016-2017 Schedule

Wofford 2016-2017 Roster

Wofford Message Board

WOFFORD 5-8, 5-5: All stats cited are conference only unless noted.
This will not be easy: Wofford is 8-1 at home, losing only in overtime to the Citadel. They have beaten Furman and UNCG in their friendly home confines. They have lost to Chattanooga, ETSU and Western Carolina (!) on the road.

OOC “Best” wins over 10-12 Coastal Carolina and 4-16 Austin Peay. Their shooting has allowed them to play several other teams quite close – Georgia Tech 72-76, Vermont 59-60, Bradley and Kent State. But they just scraped by Mars Hill by 3.

They shoot .397 from 3 in conference (1st in SoCon) averaging 8.3 makes (3rd in conference). 3 guys shoot over .440 (Magee, Garcia and Sawvell), 1 over .375 (Allen), nobody else over .279. Magee and Garcia have almost limitless range. They are also 3rd best defenders against the 3 (opponents make only .314 and 6.6 makes); Bucs are 4th (opponents make .336 with 7.6 makes). Wofford is 2nd in field goal percentage with .489 to ETSU’s .510. Good shooting extends to free throws where they are tops in the SoCon with .830, far above ETSU’s 8th place .698.

With all the shooting firepower they have upped their tempo and scoring, VERY unusual for a Wofford team – almost 20 points over what they usually average. They average 2nd in the conference with 82.8 points – Bucs are tops with 83.2. Scoring margin is 4th at +4.6 behind ETSU (+11.8), Furman (+8.8) and Chattanooga (+5.6). They are also 1st in assists with 16.7, and in assist/turnover ratio with 1.3 (tied with Furman). They excel in running Mike Young’s half court offense.

The Bucs have an edge in defense. The Terriers are next to last in steals with 5.4, compared to ETSU’s 10.0; and have a turnover margin of -0.80 compared to ETSU’s +2.40. ETSU’s field goal percentage defense is better with .408 (tied with Furman for 2nd behind Mercer’s .401) compared to .475 for Wofford at 7th. The Bucs rebound better: a 1st in conference +5.5 compared to +3.0 for Wofford.

They are not a team you want to jump out to a big lead, letting them get confident in their shot. Although with turnovers and transition the Bucs can erase a lead in a hurry. Nor do you want it come down to a free throw competition at the end.

Guards:
6-4 194 So Fletcher Magee; 33.7 minutes, 17.0 points, .441 from 3 (30-68), 3.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.9 t.o.’s, 0.7 steals
6-0 185 Sr Eric Garcia; 34.8 minutes, 17.7 points, .469 from 3 (23-49), 3.1 rebounds, 7.7 assists, 2.1 t.o.’s, 0.8 steals
6-4 180 Fr Nathan Hoover; 22.9 minutes, 6.5 points, .279 from 3 (12-43), 2.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 2.3 t.o.’s, 0.5 steals
6-3 185 Sr Jaylen Allen; 15.5 minutes, 3.3 points, .375 from 3 (6-16), 2.1 rebounds, 1.0 assist, 1.7 t.o.’s, 1.3 steals
6-1 185 Fr Donovan Theme-Love; 9.4 minutes, 2.8 points, .111 from 3 (1-9), 1.3 rebounds

Front Court:
6-8 215 Rs-Sr Ryan Sawvell; 32.8 minutes, 10.9 points, .474 from 3 (9-19), 6.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 2.2 t.o.’s
6-8 235 So Cameron Jackson; 22.0 minutes, 14.2 points, 0 from 3, 6.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 2.2 t.o.’s, 0.9 blocks, 1.1 steals
6-11 240 So Matthew Pegram; 18.1 minutes, 5.8 points, 1 from 3, 4.1 rebounds, 0.9 assists
6-7 218 Fr Justin Tucker; 7.6 minutes, 1.9 points, 0 3’s, 1.2 rebounds

It looks like Mike Young has finally locked into the short rotation that he prefers. Against Mercer 5 guys got over 30 minutes each, with 3 others getting 7 to 10. I'd expect he'll continue with something like this in the games that matter:

Eric Garcia, 38 minutes
Fletcher Magee, 37 minutes
Nathan Hoover, 35 minutes
Ryan Sawvell, 31 minutes
Cameron Jackson, 30 minutes

Matthew Pegram with 10 minutes leads the subs.

Magee scares me the most. He can hit shots from about anywhere under all types of pressure. If we can even slow him a little at their place, I'll be impressed.

(02-05-2017 05:00 PM)Efan Wrote:  Magee scares me the most. He can hit shots from about anywhere under all types of pressure. If we can even slow him a little at their place, I'll be impressed.

Man that kid scares the hell out of me too. Dude's lethal. Reminds me of Parker Smith from UNF a few years back.

Can't stand that kid. Hope AJ manhandles him

I am just hoping Bucs play well for two halves. Play defense and turn them over and score off the defense. We cannot afford to let them run offense all night as they are too good to let do that.

The press with Glass at the head is impressive.

Really glad we started pressing more.

I love it when we feed Hanner in the post. We don't do it enough imo.

Long giving good D on Garcia, while Bradford hangs with McGee with A.J. with 2 fouls.

Are we going to foul ourselves out of this game?

These refs have decided to kill us. The Wofford big man was all over Banks and they are flopping ridiculous.

(02-06-2017 07:43 PM)bucfan81 Wrote:  Are we going to foul ourselves out of this game?

We are giving full effort in that direction. Maybe Jurkin even will see action?

Never seen so much flopping, it's kept Wofford in this game.

(02-06-2017 07:52 PM)Bucster Wrote:  Never seen so much flopping, it's kept Wofford in this game.

I think they've mostly been correct calls. Maybe some flop-ish action, but ETSU's guys *have* been pushing with the off-arm and lowering their shoulders attempting to drive.

(02-06-2017 07:57 PM)posterformerlyknownasthedoctor Wrote:  

(02-06-2017 07:52 PM)Bucster Wrote:  Never seen so much flopping, it's kept Wofford in this game.

I think they've mostly been correct calls. Maybe some flop-ish action, but ETSU's guys *have* been pushing with the off-arm and lowering their shoulders attempting to drive.

I know I'm biased, but it's not even close. #50's flop should have been a technical foul on him. Also, the flop on AJ out top wasn't a charge, either. Look, Young saw what was getting ready to happen -- he was getting ready to get run out of is own gym. They started flopping, refs took the bait. If they're truly bad officials, and I believe they are, they will call a completely different 2nd half.

(02-06-2017 07:57 PM)posterformerlyknownasthedoctor Wrote:  

(02-06-2017 07:52 PM)Bucster Wrote:  Never seen so much flopping, it's kept Wofford in this game.

I think they've mostly been correct calls. Maybe some flop-ish action, but ETSU's guys *have* been pushing with the off-arm and lowering their shoulders attempting to drive.

It is most certainly a flop when the arm is not extended as was the case on AJ and on Glass. #35 was moving under Bradford on Bradford's 3rd fouls.

We're shooting 63+% (83+% from 3!), and have out-rebounded them 18 to 9. Yet without Cromer's long 3 there at the end, would have only been up by 3? Amazing.
We do have an incredible 16 turnovers, but that's partly because we're playing a high-risk strategy (if I may use that term) of trying to feed it inside maybe a bit too much. And to be clear, I don't mean high-risk by design, but by execution. It's almost as if they're 'luring' us into those errors.

With two guys with 3 fouls, and 3 with 2, Payne or Long may be key down the stretch. Or HMP needs to get into beast mode again.

(02-06-2017 08:07 PM)Bucs06 Wrote:  It is most certainly a flop when the arm is not extended as was the case on AJ and on Glass. #35 was moving under Bradford on Bradford's 3rd fouls.

That second foul on A.J. was most likely not a foul, because indeed his arm was not extended. He was pulling it into his own body. If that's the one you're talking about, then I'd agree on that one.

I do think that was the correct call on Bradford.