Date: February 15th, 2017

Time: 7:00 PM

Opponent: Samford (15-11, 6-7 SoCon)

Place: Freedom Hall

Television: none

Webcast: ESPN 3

Radio online: 640WXSM.com

Samford 2016-2017 Schedule

Samford 2016-2017 Roster

Samford Message Board

Moving over the other post - all stats conference only except as noted.

SAMFORD 9-4, 6-7:

They took the Bucs to double OT before losing at home. Can they do better at our place?

They came closer than we did to beating Wofford at their place – it took an Eric Garcia hook and flop play with 1 second left to get the free throws to send it into a 3rd overtime. They finally lost after 4 overtimes. An exhausted team two days later got whipped on the road by Furman. So they come in to Freedom Hall looking to rebound after a rough patch.

They have also beaten UNCG on the road and Wofford at home. They lost at home to Mercer and Furman. OOC - Best wins were at 12-12 South Alabama and 9-16 St. Louis. Worst loss was at home in double OT to a surprisingly good 11-14 Nicholls State squad. They’ve played several overtime games already.

They are high scorers averaging a 3rd in conference 81.5 to ETSU’s #1 83.5 (the Bucs are 32nd in the country in points scored on the season). But scoring defense is a 9th in conference 82.1 compared to ETSU’s 71.8 for a scoring margin of -0.5 compared to the Bucs #1 +11.8 (ETSU is also 24th in the country on the season in scoring margin). Samford is 276th in the country in points allowed on the season with 76.5. They'd be even worse if the conference stats were used.

They are 3rd in conference in 3 point percentage at .395 compared to #1 Wofford’s .404 (Wofford is 7th in the country on the season and Samford is 24th). The Bucs look like laggards at only 5th in the SoCon with .375 – but on the season they are 47th in the country – the SoCon has a lot of good 3 point shooting teams. An odd point about Samford is that despite the high 3 point percentage, they only make a 7th in conference 7.4 per game compared to ETSU’s 7.6.

And they don’t defend the 3 well, allowing opponents to make a worst in conference 9.5 per game (Bucs allow 8.5).

They are 4th in field goal percentage at .473, while the Bucs lead at .509. (Bucs are 13th nationally in field goal percentage). They are 5th in field goal percentage defense at .445, while the Bucs are 2nd with .411, just behind Mercer’s .409.

Free throws are .767. Bucs are .696. One day that may cost us

In rebounding they are 7th at -0.5, despite the efforts of SoCon leader 6-9 240 Wyatt Walker at 8.8. The Bucs lead at +6.7. The Bucs are also 30th in the country in rebounding margin.

In turnover margin, despite the efforts of their super quick 5-10 freshman Josh Sharkey who leads the SoCon with 2.2 steals, they are 9th at -1.77. Bucs are 2nd at +1.15.

In steals they are 6th at 6.5 while ETSU is first at 9.3. The Bucs are 20th in the country in steals.

We have had trouble handling 6-9 Wyatt Walker’s strong fundamental post moves. Lightning quick Josh Sharkey has a first step faster than any of our defenders – we need help defense to thwart him from finishing, and need to watch for the assists where he is 3rd at 4.5, behind teammate Chris Cunningham who has 6.5 assists, but a little less quickness. 6-5 205 Jr UMass transfer Denzel Dyson is making a real play for POY with 18.1 points on .464 from 3 and 6.8 rebounds.

These guys can beat a good team – or lose to one. They are a cut above Mercer this year. The Bucs should take care of business and win this one.

Front Court:
6-5 205 Jr Demetrius Denzel-Dyson; 33.5 minutes, 18.1 points, .532, .464 from 3 (32-69), 5.8 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 2.2 turnovers
6-9 240 So Wyatt Walker; 28.1 minutes, 12.8 points, .583, 0-1 from 3, 8.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 2.2 t.o.’s, 0.5 steals
6-8 210 Jr Alex Thompson; 23.9 minutes, 9.7 points, .406, .385 from 3 (25-65), 2.8 rebounds, 0.7 steals
6-6 250 Sr Terry Brutus; 10.0 minutes, 2.9 points, .407, 0-1 from 3, 2.w rebounds
6-8 225 Jr Alex Peters; 10.5 minutes, 2.8 points, 0 3’s, 1.1 rebounds
6-7 215 Jr Eric Adams; 7.2 minutes, 2.2 points, .571, 0 3’s, 1.7 rebounds

Guards:
6-2 190 Jr Christen Cunningham; 35.8 minutes, 11.0 points, .363, .286 from 3 (6-21), 3.2 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 2.7 t.o.’s, 0.6 steals
6-2 185 Fr Triston Chambers; 23.0 minutes, 6.5 points, .431 from 3 (27-58), 1.8 rebounds
5-10 170 Fr Josh Sharkey; 23.8 minutes, 9.9 points, .447, .250 from 3 (4-16), 2.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 3.3 t.o.’s, 2.2 steals
6-4 215 Fr Justin Hopkins; 17.8 minutes, 6.3 points, .500, ..400 from 3 (4-10), 2.7 rebounds

Seems like Samford has been stuck at 15 wins for the better part of a month

Samford has 3 conference losses in a row to UNCG, Wofford at home and Furman - all decent teams. The Wofford game should have been in the books as a Samford win, except that a referee got suckered into calling a foul on a patented Eric Garcia hook and flop when Samford was putting the ball in bounds in the Wofford end with 1 second left in the second overtime. Almost the only way that Wofford could tie it in that situation was to steal a foul.

The Bucs should be able to take this - Samford scores really well, we score a little better. Samford doesn't defend so well. We usually defend better. Rebounding, turnover margin and steals are in our favor. Play our game and it should add up to a win.

But as we've seen, Samford is fully capable of making it a long day - as in several overtimes long - and grabbing a win if we're not ready.

Where is Wyatt Walker?

Merriweather giving Cunningham too much space on the perimeter. Denzel-Dyson getting too loose, too.

And we're boxing out horribly, even on the defensive end.

I think I counted about 5 assists for Long in the first half.

(02-15-2017 07:56 PM)posterformerlyknownasthedoctor Wrote:  Merriweather giving Cunningham too much space on the perimeter. Denzel-Dyson getting too loose, too.

And we're boxing out horribly, even on the defensive end.

I think I counted about 5 assists for Long in the first half.

And they're doing it to us without their best player.

Someone guard #20 please....

I hate to say this........but several of our guys are playing lazy defense.

Cromer was 0-6 from 3 before hitting that less-than-a-second-left, 5-ft.-beyond-the-arc bomb.

What an ending.

Stole that one. Gutsy performance at the end when it counted. Tevin Glass!!!!

Mighty, Mighty, Mighty fortunate to survive that one.

Survived and got the W. That is all that matters at this point.

Dont want to see those guys again.
Take the W ...and run

We had a stretch there that all we were doing on offense was taking 3 point shots as the shot clock wound down. Without Cromer hitting that long one near the end we lose this game.

I have only watched Samford for the 2 games we played them, but they look awful good against us. I sure hope we don't play them in Asheville. Padgett is impressive as a coach, always teaching his players during the game, not complaining about officiating, and putting his team in the best position to win the games. Samford is going to be a real competitor to win the league in the next couple of years.

I would be fine with going ahead and getting the Chatt game thread started and just be glad this game is over.

Very lucky tonight. I can't believe Samford almost beat us without Walker though. I thought we'd easily win by double digits without him. We must play better Saturday if we want any chance at the regular season title.

(02-15-2017 09:34 PM)etsubuc Wrote:  We had a stretch there that all we were doing on offense was taking 3 point shots as the shot clock wound down. Without Cromer hitting that long one near the end we lose this game.

Without about 6-8 things going right the last few minutes we lose that game. Really didn't deserve to win, honestly. But yeah, we'll take it.

Gutsy performance with some lucky breaks....Man these Samford boys are going to be GOOD next year.