Two days out and we need to get this ball rolling. The conversation has already started in the TSU thread. So here's to a great game and hopefully an owls victory. We need to pack out the Convocation Center on Thursday!
P.S.--Sorry KB, not as good as yours haha. Tried to keep it uniform but I failed...got it backwards.
two keys to thursday's game that are pretty much understood for any basketball game are #1 we have to rebound. If we get outplayed in the paint it's going to be a long night. And secondly, our 3 pt shooting this season has been atrocious. If we cut down on the 3 pt attempts our overall FG % would go up. So we need to win the battle on the boards and be smart in our shot selections. Our athleticism, and being at home, should keep us in the game, and if we can rebound and be smart with our shots we should have a chance. If I recall, the past two seasons we've split the home and home with both Belmont and Lipscomb. My point is, we have to have these first two, #1 to get off to a good start in conference, and #2 because as history shows, we fight uphill battles in Nashville.
Edit: We have to play good D especially against this team. In their last four games the lowest FG % they've had overall was 47%. That 47% was in a 9 point loss to Wright State. Something to note--Wright State shot a ridiculous 56% from the field in that game.
KSU on the other hand, outside of North Greenville the first game of the season in which we shot 52%, the highest FG % the Owls have had was against D-II North Georgia and even then they only shot 44%.
Defense has got to keep us in this one much like it did in St. Louis.
We will have to be tough in the paint to win this one. Rebounding and forcing turnovers will be key as Belmont has had the hot hands this year. I agree about defense being critical as well. However, it looks like we have been a little too aggressive in a few of our games. There is a fine line between playing good defense and being overzealous on D. It seems like we often miss steals and allow the other team an easy basket. This has to stop. If you go for the steal you better get the ball. Also, foul trouble has really allowed teams to take it to us from the line (ND). Sending teams into bonus with tons of time left is a big no no. With this in mind, I don't think our team has put together a complete game this season. I still feel we are capable of big things. We have tons of talent on the team and if they can put it together the A-Sun needs to watch out! We are more athletic than Belmont so if we can use this to our advantage without making mistakes we will win. I think our fg % is going to be better tomorrow. Just a funny feeling.
Good comments above. I agree with them all to be honest. Rebounding, shot selection, and defense are all big keys to winning against Belmont. Will be interesting to see how we matchup.
Who's going to be in attendance at the Convocation Center tonight for the game? I will be there sitting in the seats directly above the baseline.
(12-03-2009 12:46 AM)Escalade2121 Wrote: [ -> ]Who's going to be in attendance at the Convocation Center tonight for the game? I will be there sitting in the seats directly above the baseline.
I plan to be there as long as tickets are available. I had trouble raising someone in the ticket office, so I'll buy them at the door. I'm bringing my family and hoping for a good game on both sides. I'll probably be wearing a blue Belmont sweatshirt. I hope my K State friends say hi.
You always seem to play Belmont tough. I think you'll win tonight.
I am just looking for improvement from our youngsters. Cant make it tonight but I will be watching on Asun.tv
(12-03-2009 12:46 AM)Escalade2121 Wrote: [ -> ]Who's going to be in attendance at the Convocation Center tonight for the game? I will be there sitting in the seats directly above the baseline.
I'll be there too. This will be my third game. According to the power ratings at
http://www.statfox.com/cbb/power/default~ViewType~C.htm Belmont would be a hypothetical 17 point favorite in this game. Man, I didn't realize they were that good. I'm new to Atlantic Sun basketball so I guess I'll find out tonight. I had serious concerns that KSU was allowing the Division II NCCAA North Greenville Crusaders to hang around and kill them inside. I just hope that the games against some much better competition have helped prepare them for tonight.
I'm trying to watch this on Asuntv...but it only shows the girls game right now. My watch says 7:02.
Anyone else getting it?
Missed the first part of the 1st half, and got in when it was about tied at 18. We were getting good looks for the most part, just couldn't knock anything down. Need to continue to get the ball in the lane. We got good shots when we were able to penetrate or feed the post. Didn't think the defense was terrible, except we need to defend the pick and pop a little better. We didn't play a great half, and we are in the game. We need to play a lot better to win this game.
Whew.. Big shot by Markeith. Not going away quietly. Lets hope we peform better in OT
Can't start OT by giving up 3 layups and a wide open 3 and expect to win. We looked and played like an inexperienced team tonight.
Neither team played well, but in the end they played better than we did. Tough loss but good to see our guys compete. Tip your hat to Belmont.
OT play was awful. They allowed wide open lay ups. We need to get better in the paint. We live and die by the three. Teams are giving us open looks outside. We just need to knock them down. That said we are young and I still believe in these guys. It is early December and I expect the team to get better and better. These guys are going places just wait.
(12-03-2009 08:16 PM)KennesawBasketball Wrote: [ -> ]Missed the first part of the 1st half, and got in when it was about tied at 18. We were getting good looks for the most part, just couldn't knock anything down. Need to continue to get the ball in the lane. We got good shots when we were able to penetrate or feed the post. Didn't think the defense was terrible, except we need to defend the pick and pop a little better. We didn't play a great half, and we are in the game. We need to play a lot better to win this game.
just got back from the game and its beginning to seem like this teams M.O. is fall behind, battle back, and repeat. it seemed like every time we tied it up or got close, our offense went stagnant and they pulled further ahead. one more frustration was the offensive mindset, especially in the 2nd half. we were back to holding the ball for about 20-25 seconds before doing anything. im not sure what the idea was with the whole perimeter game. the whole game we spent time passing the ball around the top of the arc looking for a shot. consequently, i thought we forced a lot of shots, and took quite a few ugly ones. another thought...i really feel spencer should have the ball at the point and bring it up the court 100% of the time, or at least as long as he's in the game. there was one play in the game they went iso 1-on-1 like the nba, spencer crossed over and buried a three.
KB i agree. overall defense was good, but i cant tell you how many wide open looks they got from the corner off a pick and roll. that was probably the most frustrating, and of course the three easy layups to begin OT.
On a positive note, there was a great crowd there tonight. the numbers seem to keep growing. be interesting to see the exact amount.
Belmont gave us opportunities to win the game, and we simply didn't take them. Up until Heramb and Markeith's two threes that sent it into overtime, we had 5 straight possessions (we got an offensive rebound on one of them, so that really makes 6) that we didn't score. We were down 5, and held Belmont to no points, and we couldn't put the ball in the hoop. All we needed was one basket during that time period and it is a different ballgame. 2 baskets and we probably win. We also killed ourselves from the free throw line tonight.
Tough beat tonight, because we could have won. Doesn't mean that we should have won, but it was ours to have. Unfortunately when we gave Belmont the opportunity to win it, they took advantage and ran away with it in overtime.
Good news is that our guys kept fighting. Everytime you thought the game was over, even in overtime, we would suddenly cut the lead back to 4 points. We just need the killer instinct earlier in the game. We seem to play our best when our backs are against the wall.
Just a little side note for saturday...Lipscomb dropped 98 on Mercer tonight.