A very gutsy win for the Rockets. I was impressed with EMUs defense. They didn't give the Rockets anything easy. The Rockets had to work hard for every point.

Likewise, the Rockets D was just as impressive. I thought they played good defense on Acuff but he was just in a zone and it didn't matter how well he was covered his shots were going in no matter what.

Its hard to believe EMU was only 3-3 from the free throw line while the Rockets were 17-20.

Good win. we didn't play good, but we played hard on defense and won. might look back at this one as the game that decided the MAC regular season title. could have easily lost this game if anyone else on EMU got hot. moss was bates shirt all night and shumate and others looked for ways to give help. maddox pick and dunk was sportscenter worthy. if we lost focus or confidence EMU would have stole this game and we'd look back on it as a bad loss. tied for first (Kent has the tiebreaker for seeding). ball st and akron tied for third. niu 5th. ou and buffalo tied for 6th. BG and CMU tied for 8th a game ahead of EMU (who has the worst MAC schedule and gets Akron next).

the freshman lovejoy played well for EMU. the rs freshman legend geeter played well. bates will probably go pro after this season, but if heath keeps his core guys they could be solid next year, very good if bates gets guidance to wait another year before declaring and returns. they got 2 guys, in acuff and farrakhan who can't decide if they are point guards or scorers. both can go off, as can bates, but EMU doesn't quite have an identity. they chuck a lot up. UT takes good shots. we just missed too many tonight. rockets need a high energy double digit win against miami at home next, BG lingers in wait.

(02-11-2023 11:47 PM)emanoh Wrote:  Went to the game. It's such an easy drive from Toledo. What a klunker offensively. To play that bad and win is a credit to the veteran team. We never looked flustered or hurried, even when we were down by 5 in the second half. Like the first time we played them the better team won. Acuff was lights out with the 7 three's, even a few with hands in his face. If Bates could get anything going, it would have been ugly for UT.

JT was having an off night. I'd argue one of his worst in a UT uniform other than his dismal performance in last year's NIT. I didn't think he was in foul trouble. He was on the bench a lot and he just couldn't get into any rhythm. EMU had a lot to do with it, but I though he was getting butchered any time he got near the basket on offense and defense. Glad the refs let them play, but JT is going to have some bruises tomorrow.

To hold Bates to four points was a brilliant coaching and performance by Moss, but man We needed to tighten up on Acuff. EMU's better days are ahead. Next year watch out.

We were down 11 at Toledo, came back and beat the EMUs. This one, K said after the game the team was "flustered." Whatever he did to get them back on track worked.

Acuff, what to do? He was making his own shots, difficult step-backs off drives. NBAer couldn't stop the shot from going off. Acuff was draining them. They probably could have forced more PG out of him, double him after he gets the ball and see if he can hit the cutter.

They did target Shumate physically. He got a full forearm in the chest just lining up for an in-bounds. Dennis took an (inadvertant) chop to the head the ref just looked it off. Dennis gave the ref a look.

All that after a beating in Akron, K needs to keep these guys fresh for the tournament.

Anybody else see Lorrentson as a failed experiment. He just looks totally outmatched out there. Edu did have a nice move to the bucket and finish that brought back some memories of his pre knee surgery days. This would have been a good day for our red shirt cheerleader at the end of the bench


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(02-12-2023 01:40 AM)pono Wrote:  Good win. we didn't play good, but we played hard on defense and won. might look back at this one as the game that decided the MAC regular season title. could have easily lost this game if anyone else on EMU got hot. moss was bates shirt all night and shumate and others looked for ways to give help. maddox pick and dunk was sportscenter worthy. if we lost focus or confidence EMU would have stole this game and we'd look back on it as a bad loss. tied for first (Kent has the tiebreaker for seeding). ball st and akron tied for third. niu 5th. ou and buffalo tied for 6th. BG and CMU tied for 8th a game ahead of EMU (who has the worst MAC schedule and gets Akron next).

the freshman lovejoy played well for EMU. the rs freshman legend geeter played well. bates will probably go pro after this season, but if heath keeps his core guys they could be solid next year, very good if bates gets guidance to wait another year before declaring and returns. they got 2 guys, in acuff and farrakhan who can't decide if they are point guards or scorers. both can go off, as can bates, but EMU doesn't quite have an identity. they chuck a lot up. UT takes good shots. we just missed too many tonight. rockets need a high energy double digit win against miami at home next, BG lingers in wait.

I was at the game. Lovejoy is one to watch. Geeter looks lost on defense alot. EMU constantly gets out rebounded. We need an experienced true point guard who thinks pass first and can play defense and a big man who can block shots rebound and loves to defend. If we can get those out of the portal we will be a team to watch next year.

It was a great road win. They're all good.

Toledo down by five at 6 minute mark and they dug deep, created turnovers, turned up the D volume, and gutted out a win.

great call by Mark and Jay.

it would be nice for Mark to stay out of retirement for a while. BB did a fine job but Mark is tough to beat. it's like he never left.

nice win when things weren't going well.

Hard to cover Acuff and Bates but since Bates only got 4 it played out okay.

Go Rockets!

(02-12-2023 10:09 AM)emu79 Wrote:  

(02-12-2023 01:40 AM)pono Wrote:  Good win. we didn't play good, but we played hard on defense and won. might look back at this one as the game that decided the MAC regular season title. could have easily lost this game if anyone else on EMU got hot. moss was bates shirt all night and shumate and others looked for ways to give help. maddox pick and dunk was sportscenter worthy. if we lost focus or confidence EMU would have stole this game and we'd look back on it as a bad loss. tied for first (Kent has the tiebreaker for seeding). ball st and akron tied for third. niu 5th. ou and buffalo tied for 6th. BG and CMU tied for 8th a game ahead of EMU (who has the worst MAC schedule and gets Akron next).

the freshman lovejoy played well for EMU. the rs freshman legend geeter played well. bates will probably go pro after this season, but if heath keeps his core guys they could be solid next year, very good if bates gets guidance to wait another year before declaring and returns. they got 2 guys, in acuff and farrakhan who can't decide if they are point guards or scorers. both can go off, as can bates, but EMU doesn't quite have an identity. they chuck a lot up. UT takes good shots. we just missed too many tonight. rockets need a high energy double digit win against miami at home next, BG lingers in wait.

I was at the game. Lovejoy is one to watch. Geeter looks lost on defense alot. EMU constantly gets out rebounded. We need an experienced true point guard who thinks pass first and can play defense and a big man who can block shots rebound and loves to defend. If we can get those out of the portal we will be a team to watch next year.

I would agree. Will Acuff and Bates return? That production likely needs to be replaced.

I don’t see Lorrentson as a failed experiment but he has a lot to learn. I was at the UT game Akron Tuesday night and though he hustled ok, he just doesn’t look fluid yet, almost mechanical. He’s clearly not going to be a JT Shumate, but I think there is a place for him on the team to contribute off the bench.

(02-12-2023 10:08 AM)indianasniff Wrote:  Anybody else see Lorrentson as a failed experiment.

Not me. He redirects drives, blocked the other guys big man, and is developing a solid shot, development that will continue if given time. The team doesn't seem out of sorts on either end when he's in. Everyone still seems to know what to do, where to be. Doesn't strike me awkward at all. He's not as diversely skilled nor as knowledgible as guys that have been starting for 2-4 years. That's normal.

I liked the kid last year. His hustle, enthudism and he was deceivingly quick. Covered a lot of territory. On every play, lol. He was Farmer (last year's version) only bigger, all over the place. Edu and Sorrentson are getting better and better awareness, not getting caught up on chasing their guy to the perimeter, leaving the post unprotected. This is about all the team needs when the starters are rested, to extend the clock and prevent easy baskets near the circle.

Duke's all everything seven one five star went scoreless yesterday. Edey fouled out three of them in one game. Finding big guys that can contribute the speed of the game right out of high school isn't something even the top P5s can reliably do.

I feel that a MAC at best brings them in and with good teaching and hard work, they'll give you spot duty a couple years and maybe one or two as a more rounded contributor. Impatience is it's own reward. The Ball St guy is the exception, not the rule and even he has had a spotty sophomore year.

Looking at the box score;

5-23 on the 3 ball. 4-15 in the first half (too many). 1-8 in the second. %21.7 - not good.

They out boarded EMU 44-32 - good

14 turnovers to 11 assists. EUM had 15 turnovers to 9 assists - so that was close

Toledo with 1 block and 6 steals to EMU's 5 blocks and 8 steals. - not good

Nobody was really in foul trouble, but JT and Seth had 3. EMU had one foul out (Lovejoy)Geeter had 4 and Farrakhan had 3. Bates had 10 boards and so did Ray J.

Given our poor shooting, this could have been a bunch closer. Glad to see the rebounding edge.

(02-12-2023 10:25 AM)IamN2daRockets! Wrote:  

(02-12-2023 10:09 AM)emu79 Wrote:  

(02-12-2023 01:40 AM)pono Wrote:  Good win. we didn't play good, but we played hard on defense and won. might look back at this one as the game that decided the MAC regular season title. could have easily lost this game if anyone else on EMU got hot. moss was bates shirt all night and shumate and others looked for ways to give help. maddox pick and dunk was sportscenter worthy. if we lost focus or confidence EMU would have stole this game and we'd look back on it as a bad loss. tied for first (Kent has the tiebreaker for seeding). ball st and akron tied for third. niu 5th. ou and buffalo tied for 6th. BG and CMU tied for 8th a game ahead of EMU (who has the worst MAC schedule and gets Akron next).

the freshman lovejoy played well for EMU. the rs freshman legend geeter played well. bates will probably go pro after this season, but if heath keeps his core guys they could be solid next year, very good if bates gets guidance to wait another year before declaring and returns. they got 2 guys, in acuff and farrakhan who can't decide if they are point guards or scorers. both can go off, as can bates, but EMU doesn't quite have an identity. they chuck a lot up. UT takes good shots. we just missed too many tonight. rockets need a high energy double digit win against miami at home next, BG lingers in wait.

I was at the game. Lovejoy is one to watch. Geeter looks lost on defense alot. EMU constantly gets out rebounded. We need an experienced true point guard who thinks pass first and can play defense and a big man who can block shots rebound and loves to defend. If we can get those out of the portal we will be a team to watch next year.

I would agree. Will Acuff and Bates return? That production likely needs to be replaced.

Bates I doubt it. Acuff yes and he and Noah F can score plenty.

Lorentsson seems to be improved since the fall. He is vocal on D and looks like he knows what he's supposed to do. Not getting pushed around much like he was early in the year. He's a decent ballhandler but still a bit mechanical as another posted noted. The jumper is pure and UT does well with player development. Could be a strong bench player next year with some development.

With Edu need to remember he's had 3 major knee inuries and rehabs and has only played 285 minutes this year and 34 minutes the previous three. By comparison JT Shumate has played about 2500 minutes at UT and another 2000 at D2 Walsh. Can't say if his full explosiveness will ever return, but he should become more fluid and confident in his game as he gets game time and his feel comes back. Not sure if he returns. If he does. I would expect a lot of improvement from what we see this year as he's been uneven. I thought he mostly played well against Akron but made a poor play for every good one vs EMU. He's a good practice shooter, but has never made them in games. Might see that part of his game in the future wherever he's at. Simmons is the key for our frontcourt moving forward though.

Another post on needing a second pg...recruit Sonny Wilson is a true point and TK's highest rated freshman recruit ever. Not sure if he takes a RS next year on a guard heavy roster, but I think he's good enough to come in and be a decent backup pg as a frosh. Smallish, but a well rounded player who is said to have a big and engaging personality that should help him be seen as a leader sooner that later.

EMU: Acuff is an A10 transfer and from the Detroit/EMU area, unlikely he leaves for his final year. Bates plan is to get to the NBA as quick as possible. I'm sure he'll declare, but maybe he'll keep open a window to return if the scouts tell him he's not ready. I doubt it, his jumper is NBA ready but he could certainly use another year to get stronger and more polished. If he goes in the draft he's probably a late 1st/early 2nd rounder and spends most of the season in the G League. Maybe, he's enjoying being a fairly normal college student at EMU without the crazy level of hype that followed him previously. Farrakhan has already transferred once and has 2 years left. Not sure if he'd leave. He's a talent but needs to tighten up some things in his game to be really good. Improved a lot under Heath last year but has been inconsistent this season. Lovejoy is a typical MAC guard. A little undersized and overlooked but clever, athletic and tough. If he gets more reliable on his floater/midrange he'll be good. Reminds me of Akron's Tribble with a little more touch.

UT may not have play their best game, an understatement, but they found a way to gutted out. I will give credit to Acuff, like Bates the last time UT play them, the young man couldn't miss on anything he threw up. The difference in this one, Acuff was the only double figure scorer for them, UT had their scoring spread around and UT knows how to win. Defense and excellent FT shooting went a long ways in this one for the Rockets, Congrats.

EMU made have the athletes and 3 talented players, but they haven't found the formula to win ( 3 MAC wins only) against other MAC teams in this league. EMU has a long haul in their remaining games, they won't make the tourney.

(02-12-2023 11:03 PM)Springboromark Wrote:  UT may not have play their best game, an understatement, but they found a way to gutted out. I will give credit to Acuff, like Bates the last time UT play them, the young man couldn't miss on anything he threw up. The difference in this one, Acuff was the only double figure scorer for them, UT had their scoring spread around and UT knows how to win. Defense and excellent FT shooting went a long ways in this one for the Rockets, Congrats.

EMU made have the athletes and 3 talented players, but they haven't found the formula to win ( 3 MAC wins only) against other MAC teams in this league. EMU has a long haul in their remaining games, they won't make the tourney.

I believe Maddox defended Bates the first game, Moss the second. The difference in Bates point production between the two games against Toledo is amazing.

(02-13-2023 03:54 AM)emu79 Wrote:  

(02-12-2023 11:03 PM)Springboromark Wrote:  UT may not have play their best game, an understatement, but they found a way to gutted out. I will give credit to Acuff, like Bates the last time UT play them, the young man couldn't miss on anything he threw up. The difference in this one, Acuff was the only double figure scorer for them, UT had their scoring spread around and UT knows how to win. Defense and excellent FT shooting went a long ways in this one for the Rockets, Congrats.

EMU made have the athletes and 3 talented players, but they haven't found the formula to win ( 3 MAC wins only) against other MAC teams in this league. EMU has a long haul in their remaining games, they won't make the tourney.

I believe Maddox defended Bates the first game, Moss the second. The difference in Bates point production between the two games against Toledo is amazing.

Moss guarded him in the first game except when he came out for a rest or on switches. Bates just got hot and confident and couldn’t miss. Saturday he couldn’t shoot it in the ocean. Go figure?
Acuff was the opposite, lousy first game, tremendous second game. I’m glad they both weren’t hot at the same game.

(02-13-2023 08:54 AM)WHRocket Wrote:  

(02-13-2023 03:54 AM)emu79 Wrote:  

(02-12-2023 11:03 PM)Springboromark Wrote:  UT may not have play their best game, an understatement, but they found a way to gutted out. I will give credit to Acuff, like Bates the last time UT play them, the young man couldn't miss on anything he threw up. The difference in this one, Acuff was the only double figure scorer for them, UT had their scoring spread around and UT knows how to win. Defense and excellent FT shooting went a long ways in this one for the Rockets, Congrats.

EMU made have the athletes and 3 talented players, but they haven't found the formula to win ( 3 MAC wins only) against other MAC teams in this league. EMU has a long haul in their remaining games, they won't make the tourney.

I believe Maddox defended Bates the first game, Moss the second. The difference in Bates point production between the two games against Toledo is amazing.

Moss guarded him in the first game except when he came out for a rest or on switches. Bates just got hot and confident and couldn’t miss. Saturday he couldn’t shoot it in the ocean. Go figure?
Acuff was the opposite, lousy first game, tremendous second game. I’m glad they both weren’t hot at the same game.

Agreed. Bates was covered in the first game. But he's 6'10" and he wasn't even setting up for shots. Just had the zone, hands in his face and all. Acuff made his own shots off step-backs. Defending that takes a change in tactics and risk of weakening defense elsewhere. As long as we're ahead, why bother?

https://youtu.be/OjPLBWXC6xI

Podcast with TK

Acuff is co-player of the week in the MAC. A well deserved honor

"Tyson Acuff, Eastern Michigan, Guard
Sophomore, Detroit, Mich. (Cass Tech)
Eastern Michigan guard Tyson Acuff put together a career week in a pair of games at Buffalo, Feb. 7, and at home against Toledo, Feb. 9. The Detroit, Mich., native combined to average 35.5 points per game, 20 points better than EMU’s next best scorer for the week, and the single-best scoring average in a set of games for his career. Acuff also limited his turnovers, giving it away just 1.5 times per game during the week, while shooting an incredible .692 from the field and .647 from three-point territory. He also shot 85.7% from the free-throw line. Acuff’s week started with against the Bulls, where he dropped a then-career-high 35 points, going 13-of-17 from the floor, including 4-of-7 from three, while adding 5-of-6 shooting from the free throw line. Acuff, who added five rebounds, joined the 30-point club, marking the second player to reach the marker this year (Emoni Bates – 4 occasions). Not to be outdone, Acuff recorded another career effort against Toledo, dropping 36 points on 14-of-22 shooting and 7-of-10 from deep, a career-best mark and tied for the third-highest total in George Gervin GameAbove Center history (1998-Pres.). All told, Acuff’s 71 points are the best in a two-game stretch for an Eastern player since at least the 1998-99 season."

(02-13-2023 03:16 PM)Sleepy Wrote:  Acuff is co-player of the week in the MAC. A well deserved honor

"Tyson Acuff, Eastern Michigan, Guard
Sophomore, Detroit, Mich. (Cass Tech)
Eastern Michigan guard Tyson Acuff put together a career week in a pair of games at Buffalo, Feb. 7, and at home against Toledo, Feb. 9. The Detroit, Mich., native combined to average 35.5 points per game, 20 points better than EMU’s next best scorer for the week, and the single-best scoring average in a set of games for his career. Acuff also limited his turnovers, giving it away just 1.5 times per game during the week, while shooting an incredible .692 from the field and .647 from three-point territory. He also shot 85.7% from the free-throw line. Acuff’s week started with against the Bulls, where he dropped a then-career-high 35 points, going 13-of-17 from the floor, including 4-of-7 from three, while adding 5-of-6 shooting from the free throw line. Acuff, who added five rebounds, joined the 30-point club, marking the second player to reach the marker this year (Emoni Bates – 4 occasions). Not to be outdone, Acuff recorded another career effort against Toledo, dropping 36 points on 14-of-22 shooting and 7-of-10 from deep, a career-best mark and tied for the third-highest total in George Gervin GameAbove Center history (1998-Pres.). All told, Acuff’s 71 points are the best in a two-game stretch for an Eastern player since at least the 1998-99 season."

Glad we could help.

(02-14-2023 10:47 AM)H2Oville Rocket Wrote:  

(02-13-2023 03:16 PM)Sleepy Wrote:  Acuff is co-player of the week in the MAC. A well deserved honor

"Tyson Acuff, Eastern Michigan, Guard
Sophomore, Detroit, Mich. (Cass Tech)
Eastern Michigan guard Tyson Acuff put together a career week in a pair of games at Buffalo, Feb. 7, and at home against Toledo, Feb. 9. The Detroit, Mich., native combined to average 35.5 points per game, 20 points better than EMU’s next best scorer for the week, and the single-best scoring average in a set of games for his career. Acuff also limited his turnovers, giving it away just 1.5 times per game during the week, while shooting an incredible .692 from the field and .647 from three-point territory. He also shot 85.7% from the free-throw line. Acuff’s week started with against the Bulls, where he dropped a then-career-high 35 points, going 13-of-17 from the floor, including 4-of-7 from three, while adding 5-of-6 shooting from the free throw line. Acuff, who added five rebounds, joined the 30-point club, marking the second player to reach the marker this year (Emoni Bates – 4 occasions). Not to be outdone, Acuff recorded another career effort against Toledo, dropping 36 points on 14-of-22 shooting and 7-of-10 from deep, a career-best mark and tied for the third-highest total in George Gervin GameAbove Center history (1998-Pres.). All told, Acuff’s 71 points are the best in a two-game stretch for an Eastern player since at least the 1998-99 season."

Glad we could help.

It may be disconcerting to give up that many. On the positive, it says there's a lot of high level reasonably close talent willing to come to the MAC. He's a Detroit Cass kid.

No doubt Milner (Grand Rapids, Mi) could pop them like that, if not on a more balanced team. We probably have four that could. Milner, Shumate, Dennis and Maddox. For sure Dennis and Maddox can make their own shot, reliable on the step back jump, or the drive.