Date: January 13th, 2018

Time: 4:00 PM

Opponent: VMI (5-9, 0-3 SoCon)

Place: Freedom Hall

Television: none

Webcast: ESPN 3

Radio online: 640WXSM.com

VMI 2017-2018 Schedule

VMI 2017-2018 Roster

In the past, I would look at this one as a game we might stub our toe on and look really bad or even lose. But not now. I think this team is rolling now, are highly focused, and we are playing some of the best defense in a long time (all a reflection of the coaching staff). I know nothing of VMI, but unless they have several 3pt sharp shooters, and even if they do, I still see us taking care of business at home in a big way.

It goes without saying —- hold your horses, ONE GAME AT A TIME.

GO BUCS!!!

Very Much Inferior. Enough said.

Just one question......do I have to pay $5 to park?

...and walk far!

ETSU is a 22 point favorite. Wow.

VMI is just one win shy of their win total from last year but two of the wins were non-D1. No good wins but they beat Presbyterian in a blowout, a team that beat UNCG. They had UNCG scrambling last weekend. It took some Oscar worthy theatrics by Alonso to get a foul on a 3 to keep the game out of overtime. Bucs should cruise but the keydets look to be a marginally more difficult challenge than recent years.

(01-12-2018 07:20 PM)MTBuc Wrote:  VMI is just one win shy of their win total from last year but two of the wins were non-D1. No good wins but they beat Presbyterian in a blowout, a team that beat UNCG. They had UNCG scrambling last weekend. It took some Oscar worthy theatrics by Alonso to get a foul on a 3 to keep the game out of overtime. Bucs should cruise but the keydets look to be a marginally more difficult challenge than recent years.

Agreed , we should cruise in this game and we should be able to use our bench more in this game. Having said that, UNCG should have been able to do the same. We didn't play our best against Tusculum. Hopefully.they come out and go for the jugular right off the bat

Go BUCS

Suspect this might go much like Chatt game but really doesn’t matter. Just win. Don’t care how or by how much. Just check the box and get ready for Thursday.

The Keydets are 5-9, 0-3 in conference, 1-6 on the road. But, they came within 10 of VCU on the road (65-75) and within 2 of UNCG (61-63). Take them lightly and they can bite you.

They have decent athleticism in guards 6-0 Bubba Parham (13.1 ppg but .410 FG% and 2.8 t.o.’s, 3.8 rebounds), 6-4 Austin Vereen (10.2 ppg on .430 FG% 3.9 rebounds), 5-11 Keith Smith (7.5 ppg but .409 FG% and 4.2 assists), 6-0 Jordan Ratliff (6.8 ppg on .423 FG%). They get 7.2 steals but give up 7.1. Turnover margin is a poor -1.8, worst in the SoCon and 290th in D1.

They have decent 3 point shooting .339 with 104 makes. Especially from Austin Vereen .475 with 29 makes, Keith Smith with .406 and 20 makes, Bubba Parham with .361 and 26 makes, and Sarju Patel with .391 and 9 makes.

Front court should be a mismatch with Peter and Mladen going against a relatively unathletic pair of 6-10 So. Tyler Creammer (8.5 ppg with 0 three’s, 5.9 rebounds) and 6-8 Will Miller (3.9 ppg with an occasional 3 – 6-19 for .316; only 2.1 rebounds). Bo Hodges power moves ought to work just fine. Peter Jurkin has been averaging 12.3 points in conference on .654 FG%, with 6.5 rebounds. The last 2 games Mladen Armus and the guards have gotten the penetrate and dish game working beautifully for his first ever double digit scoring against D1 opponents (Tusculum and Hiwassee were another level): 14 points and 13 points for a total of 27 points in only 28 minutes on the floor with an ungodly .762 FG% in conference!!! Yeah, I know they’re all from 2 feet, but what a nice array of post moves and finishes with either hand on either side of the basket – he’ll never have Hanner’s raw athleticism, but as a freshman he’s already miles ahead in fundamental soundness.

The one thing that this Buc team has over recent Buc teams is consistency: since stumbling with Troy they have been ready to play solid basketball night after night. Do that now and this one should be fun.

Why is McCloud not available today?

Play tough defense on VMI for 40 minutes and you probably win by 20 or more. They do have some decent shooters and can be a problem if you lose intensity. That appears to have been the reason UNCG struggled. UNCG built a first half double digit lead but lost focus in the second half and VMI began playing inspired.

The freshman guard, Bubba Parham, looks like a good player. He has impressive range on his outside shot.

(01-13-2018 03:37 PM)etsubuc Wrote:  Why is McCloud not available today?

Curious about this as well

(01-13-2018 03:37 PM)etsubuc Wrote:  Why is McCloud not available today?

Funeral of a family member

Sloppy ball so far.

No cheerleaders today either

(01-13-2018 04:14 PM)Bucs06 Wrote:  No cheerleaders today either

They are at a competition in Florida this weekend.

Nice block by Harrison, following him gathering in a board.

And ManMan breaks out of his slump. Great to see that.