Date: February 27th, 2017

Time: 7:00 PM

Opponent: UNC-Greensboro (22-8, 13-4 SoCon)

Place: Greensboro Coliseum

Television: none

Webcast: ESPN 3

Radio online: 640WXSM.com (Free)

UNCG 2016-2017 Schedule

UNCG 2016-2017 Roster

UNCG Message Board

Forbes' biggest game to date as ETSU's coach. ETSU wins he gets a regular season championship, at worst a trip to the NIT, and the #1 seed going into a SC tourney that is anyone's to win or lose. I don't even want to think about the scenarios for a loss.

UNCG 10-4; 13-4: all stats are conference only unless noted.
The Bucs are one tough road game win away from a remarkable finish to the regular season with games against Chattanooga, Furman and UNCG, probably the toughest 4 game stretch of the season so far. Certainly the toughest endgame of any of the top 4 ranked SoCon teams.

As much as anything else this game may come down to who’s healthy and ready to go. UNCG isn’t the same without Alonso, the Andalusian Anchovy, and the Bucs aren’t the same without the middle Tennessee terrors (Desonta and A.J.) at full strength.

UNCG’s biggest wins were at ETSU and at Furman. They also beat Chattanooga in Greensboro. But they lost at Wofford, at Chattanooga and at home to Furman and Samford. The home losses to Furman and Samford especially give the Bucs hope.

OOC the only big wins were an early (11/19) win over North Dakota State (19-10 and second in the Summit League) at the High Point NC Tournament and at Big South co champs UNC Asheville by 2. Otherwise the record is full of wins over Southern Wesleyan, Belmont Abbey, Mars Hill, North Carolina A&T, Liberty and Presbyterian. They lost early at 15-15 High Point.

Offensively they’ve got a lot of bigs who set bruising screens and guards who move relentlessly without the ball to run defenders through those screens. They’ve maintained their 3 point percentage (.387) although that is now good only for 4th among all the hot perimeter shooters in the SoCon, and compares to ETSU's 5th in conference .371. They remain 4th in the league in made 3’s (8.3 per game to 7.5 for ETSU). The guards can also cut to the basket and create shots (field goal percentage is 3rd in conference .481 behind ETSU’s .513 in 1st.) They are led by the Andalusian Anchovy’s .510 from 3 (1st in conference and 3rd in all D1!!!) with 53 makes (2nd in conference) and 16.5 points (8th in conference).


Overall field goal percentage is a 3rd in conference .481 (behind ETSU’s 1st place .513). Scoring margin is 3rd in conference +3.8 (behind the Bucs 1st place +11.6).

They play a patient half court game, running you through screens till they find an opening, either to take a 3 or cut to the basket. And they play a patient defensive game with a half strength press that is a threat to steal, but seems focused more on stealing 10 seconds off your offense. Samford runs a similar half strength press, and it also caused the Bucs trouble.

The patience required by BOTH their offense (running through screens for 30 seconds) and defense (working through the press and then having to score in 20 seconds) seemed to get ETSU frustrated and antsy, prone to making bad decisions to try to just force things that were taking too much time. Once UNCG takes a lead, it builds more such pressure.

They have a strong, experienced guard corps of Boquerón So. Francis Alonso, Sr. Diante Baldwin and So Demetrius Troy. Physical 6-3 195 freshman guard Malik Massey has become a part of that rotation. The Bucs could not stop them from finding a good shot. However, their weakness is turnover margin with a 9th in conference -1.94 (Bucs are 2nd at +1.41). They get an 8th in conference 5.8 steals compared to the Bucs 1st place 9.6.

Especially with their problem with turnovers, I have said before that I wonder if a sort of half strength press against them wouldn’t make it harder for them to find the time to run their screening offense. Another poster said that Samford’s medium press caused them problems

The return of 6-9 250 RS-JR Jordy Kuiper from injury and the addition of 6-9 200 RS-FR James Dickey have helped returnees 6-8 255 Sr R.J. White and 6-6 205 Marvin Smith form an improved front court. That sets physical screens and rebounds well. Rebounding margin is a 3rd in SoCon +2.1 (Bucs are first at +5.1). Against the Bucs, R.J. White hit 5 three’s for 15 point – that’s from a guy who has only made 4 other 3’s in 16 other conference games thus far with a percentage of about .200. Leaving him open again would be foolish.

Guards:
6-3 185 So Francis Alonso; 29.7 minutes, 16.5 points, .510 from 3 (53-104), 2.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.8 t.o.’s, 0.8 steals
6-0 191 Sr Diante Baldwin; 30.9 minutes, 14.2 points, .387 from 3 (23-58), 3.2 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 2.7 t.o.’s, 1.4 steals
6-0 187 So Demetrius Troy; 20.9 minutes, 8.6 points, ., .378 from 3 (17-45), 2.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 0.8 steals
6-3 195 Fr Malik Massey; 16.4 minutes, 3.3 points, .444 from 3 (12-27), 1.0 rebounds, 0.5 steals

Front Court:
6-8 255 Sr RJ White; 26.0 minutes, 13.2 points, .533, 9-29 .310 from 3, 6.8 rebounds, 1.9 t.o.’s, 1.2 blocks, 0.6 steals
6-6 205 Jr Marvin Smith; 27.0 minutes, 7.4 points, .314, .288 from 3 (21-73), 3.9 rebounds, 1.8 t.o.’s, 0.7 blocks, 0.6 steals
6-9 250 Rs-Jr Jordy Kuiper; 19.9 minutes, 4.9 points, .487, .182 from 3 (4-22), 5.1 rebounds
6-9 200 Rs-Fr James Dickey; 21.1 minutes, 6.9 points, .642, 0 3’s, 6.9 rebounds, 1.8 t.o.’s, 1.0 blocks, 0.7 steals
6-8 215 Fr. Kyrin Galloway, 8.5 minutes, 2.8 points, 1.9 rebounds, 0.8 blocks

UNCG will try to do it all over, but RJ won't be White-hot this time. Much improved ETSU bigs--most notably our man on a mission, Tevin Glass--will make it a different ball game. Without that 15 point steroid shot from the perimeter, ball game Bucs in the last two minutes of regulation. Health willing.

(02-26-2017 04:23 PM)shampoo Wrote:  UNCG will try to do it all over, but RJ won't be White-hot this time. Much improved ETSU bigs--most notably our man on a mission, Tevin Glass--will make it a different ball game. Without that 15 point steroid shot from the perimeter, ball game Bucs in the last two minutes of regulation. Health willing.

Has anyone heard how Desonta is doing?

Pretty sure he will play. From what I gathered from Jay and Forbes' comments on Saturday, Desonta could have given it a go but given the opponent, decided to sit and rest.

Good luck to you guys tomorrow. Obviously I hope you lose but you hope the same for me. As for RJ he did have 5 3-pointers against you last game but you're right he won't do that again. He won't even shoot 5. He'll definitely shoot one but his 15 or so points will come in the paint like every other game. That was more of an oddity just because he was being left open. Him and Kuiper will shoot the 3 if open. Dickey definitely won't.

RJ is really important to UNCG. He draws a double team on offense and is a big body on defense. His importance is pretty much the reason we lost the early game against High Point. He was inexplicably whistled for 2 fouls in the first 30 seconds of the game so he had to sit. UNCG has adjusted to handle that situation now but it's always better with him in the game.

Any other Buc fans making the trip tomorrow night? I hope I won't be the only one.

(02-26-2017 08:51 PM)Bucster Wrote:  Any other Buc fans making the trip tomorrow night? I hope I won't be the only one.

Yes will be making the drive up from Charlotte.

This guy's calling for the Bucs:

https://sportschatplace.com/college-bask...prediction

Also, I think TJ is averaging right at 3 treys per game. UNCG story says he has 93. TJ needs 16 to break the single season record. A strong post season could do it.

http://m.uncgspartans.com/mobile/ViewArt...M_ID=32200

(02-26-2017 08:51 PM)Bucster Wrote:  Any other Buc fans making the trip tomorrow night? I hope I won't be the only one.

I'll be makin' trip as well

(02-26-2017 10:22 PM)shampoo Wrote:  Also, I think TJ is averaging right at 3 treys per game. UNCG story says he has 93. TJ needs 16 to break the single season record. A strong post season could do it.

http://m.uncgspartans.com/mobile/ViewArt...M_ID=32200

Did you notice how this article describes the automatic NIT bid in the event of a tie? I've never heard that before, but perhaps it goes to whichever of the 3 goes further in the SoCon tournament.

I understanding that it goes to the number one seed regardless

Consequences of the UNCG game for the Bucs: (this post should probably go in this thread)

If Bucs win and get the number 1 seed, likely tournament opponents (barring upset) are:
First game: winner of Citadel/Western/VMI. Second game: winner of 4-5 (Chatt or Wofford). Championship #2 Furman.

If the Bucs lose to UNCG and are seeded #3, likely opponents are:
First game #6 (winner of regular season finale Samford or Mercer). Second game #2 Furman. Third game #1 UNCG.

Of course there will also be an effect on NCAA seeding.

Go the second route and there's 1 more very tough game; and we play both of the top 2 teams in the SoCon; and we suffer NCAA seeding consequences.
That ought to make it worth winning.

UNCG trying to get the students out. Will be interesting to see how many they get.

Ticket in hand

I can't make it to Greensboro, but I'll be at Wild Wings Cafe tonight for the watch party. Anyone else gonna be at Wild Wings?

(02-27-2017 12:00 PM)brock20 Wrote:  UNCG trying to get the students out. Will be interesting to see how many they get.

As a UNCG alum, I will be shocked if a cup motivates these students to come out. Ever since they moved out of the Fleming Gym, attendance has been not only pathetic, but with the Coliseum being so much larger than needed, it always feels like a mausoleum.

Yes, the Fleming Gym was tiny (smaller than Freedom by quite a bit I believe) but man, did it feel claustrophobic and intense.

GO BUCS!

(02-27-2017 12:32 PM)ekxixis1984 Wrote:  

(02-27-2017 12:00 PM)brock20 Wrote:  UNCG trying to get the students out. Will be interesting to see how many they get.

As a UNCG alum, I will be shocked if a cup motivates these students to come out. Ever since they moved out of the Fleming Gym, attendance has been not only pathetic, but with the Coliseum being so much larger than needed, it always feels like a mausoleum.

GO BUCS!

DANG! Wish I could go. That plastic cup looks AWESOME!! Who, in their right mind, would choose some "mystery gift" over that swanky cup? Guess I'll have to bid big on ebay when they get on the after-market. Why didn't Sander think of plastic cups as a student enticement? I just can't get over how much that rocks!