CSNbbs

boxscore http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/boxscore?gameId=273260236

Report http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=273260236

Their defense is offensive to opponents. Read Lowry's comments re their game plan for 2nd half. Easily said, but they can pull it off.
3 starters back from sweet 16 team.
Randal Faulkner and Joe will have a war. Foul calls will be decisive.

This game, of all the OCC games will be the most pivotal. Davidson was nice. To beat SIU, would be great.

Keep in mind what McKillop said in Couch's and or Dip's report. They (Davidson) never played the necessary D.
SIU doesnt have to find that gear. It is all they do, all the time.

It should be a great game assuming WMU doesnt do a Davidson and get puffy chested and does not beat all til then.

I watched that game on ESPNU. My first thought while watching them was "Miami" and Charlie ball. SIU plays some of the most fundamentally sound defensive ball I've seen. They are very deliberate, will run the shot clock down on every possession and still get off good shots. This limits opponents' opportunities and number of possessions. SIU allowed the 3rd lowest pts. per game last year - 56. They will trap you off of screens.

Chattanooga shot horribly and were never a factor in this game, as the basket had a lid on it. We're a better team but that defense can make any team look bad.

Quote:"Our style is going to grind you," Mullins said. "In the second half, I think they got tired of us trapping them. That makes us feel better."

That game was part of the Anaheim Classic. Also in the field, is the Miami Redhawks, whom I also watched defeat S. Alabama. It was the Mike Bramos show - dude was on fire. Final was 64-59 but the game was not that close. USA closed the gap in the final minute. Bramos had 25 of his 28 in the second half, most from 3 pt. range. Couldn't miss.

Should SIU get by Mississippt St. today and Miami upset Southern California, those two defensive minded clubs would meet in the finals. O.J. Mayo may have something to say about that.

Anaheim Classic Bracket

Too bad more people don't have access to ESPNU - it was a veritable feast of college tournament hoops all day yesterday.

Right now, I'm watching the football Chimps vs. Akron Zips and then BG-Toledo.

Quote:Bramos had 25 of his 28 in the second half, most from 3 pt. range.

The staff saw Bramos a number of times in high school. The word I heard after he played in an AAU at K-College was they didn't think he was that good and felt they had better players they could get. This is one I think they missed the boat on.

I agree. Bramos is very good and has been every time I see him play.

I always liked his game whenever I saw him play. When he was in high school, he kind of reminded me of Levi Rost except with a little more upper body strength and willingness to bang down low. Speaking of, is Rost playing overseas anywhere these days?