Boy. It's the LET'S KILL ETSU FOOTBALL BOWL with Stanton and Andrews.
I wonder why Andrews hasn't killed it at Morehead.
My feeling is that he would have by now if the fans and alumni had let him. I do think though that he dropped them down to non-scholarship football. I do not know anything about the situation there but I am guessing that they stopped him from killing it.
The good news is that if we play like we did in the 2nd half against Murray State, we'll win. The bad news is that if we play like we did against Murray State the first half, we'll lose. How's that for a brilliant analysis?
The last 2 times we've played, they've beat us by double digits (2006:77-56; 2008:71-61). MSU is 3-4 on the season (1-1 in conference) with wins against Brescia (NAIA), UT-Martin, and St. Catharine (NAIA), & losses against Kentucky (75-59), Murray State (86-56), Kent State (63-57), and Louisiana-Monroe (74-73).
In terms of players, they lost Leo Buchanan, their leading scorer from a year ago (15 ppg). However, they have NBA-prospect (see links below) Kenneth Faried, who destroyed us on the glass last year (17 boards, 3 blocks). He's a superb athlete that doesn't quit. Many have labeled him as Dennis Rodman like. He's averaging 18 ppg, 12.5 rpg, and nearly 2 bpg and 1.5 spg this season. Against Kentucky, he had 17 pts., 7 boards, 2 blocks, and 2 steals. He's the best forward we've faced all season. We will need to put a body on him AT ALL TIMES!
NBA DraftExpress (has him going in the 2nd round in the 2010 draft):
http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-mock-draft/2010/
NBA DraftExpress:
http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Kenn...ried-5325/
Article about Faried during last year's NCAA tournament:
http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3988832
To throw out another lame sports cliche, the only thing we can do is worry about us. Spefically, has Bartow made some headway in a week's worth of practice in terms of figuring out who will play point?
Here's a statistical look of both teams:
http://statsheet.com/mcb/teams/compare?t...ssee-state
A few things.
Andrews did not drop Morehead State to non-scholarship football status. That was done back in the mid-90s. In fact, MSU played ETSU in their final year of scholarship status football.
I have talked to some people about how it works at MSU. To make a long story short, most of the Pioneer League schools are private schools. Since they have high tuitions and the players pay their own way, the Pioneer League schools take in more money than they spend on the program.
MSU isn't a private school, but the philosophy is still the same. Because of this, when Andrews came aboard the football program was a little nervous, but he saw how it operated and gave non-scholarship football his approval.
Because of that, I have felt it is something ETSU should look into. Frankly, if Andrews likes it, then I think it would be a quality compromise solution.
While non-scholarship football wouldn't be an ideal circumstance, having something is better than nothing, and many non-scholarship football programs, such as Austin Peay, have become scholarship programs.
Who starts in this game?
Most effective group against Murray St. seemed to be Grimm, Tubbs, Williams, Hubbard, and Ward.
Do you go with those five? Isiah Brown has been spotty in the post. Does he still deserve a starting spot?
Could Davis and Sollazzo go into a funk if you start Grimm?
(12-16-2009 02:25 PM)Bucfaithful Wrote: [ -> ]The good news is that if we play like we did in the 2nd half against Murray State, we'll win. The bad news is that if we play like we did against Murray State the first half, we'll lose. How's that for a brilliant analysis?
The last 2 times we've played, they've beat us by double digits (2006:77-56; 2008:71-61). MSU is 3-4 on the season (1-1 in conference) with wins against Brescia (NAIA), UT-Martin, and St. Catharine (NAIA), & losses against Kentucky (75-59), Murray State (86-56), Kent State (63-57), and Louisiana-Monroe (74-73).
In terms of players, they lost Leo Buchanan, their leading scorer from a year ago (15 ppg). However, they have NBA-prospect (see links below) Kenneth Faried, who destroyed us on the glass last year (17 boards, 3 blocks). He's a superb athlete that doesn't quit. Many have labeled him as Dennis Rodman like. He's averaging 18 ppg, 12.5 rpg, and nearly 2 bpg and 1.5 spg this season. Against Kentucky, he had 17 pts., 7 boards, 2 blocks, and 2 steals. He's the best forward we've faced all season. We will need to put a body on him AT ALL TIMES!
NBA DraftExpress (has him going in the 2nd round in the 2010 draft):
http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-mock-draft/2010/
NBA DraftExpress:
http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Kenn...ried-5325/
Article about Faried during last year's NCAA tournament:
http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3988832
To throw out another lame sports cliche, the only thing we can do is worry about us. Spefically, has Bartow made some headway in a week's worth of practice in terms of figuring out who will play point?
Here's a statistical look of both teams:
http://statsheet.com/mcb/teams/compare?t...ssee-state
Thanks Bucfaithful for some insight on the upcoming BASKETBALL GAME!!!!!
I realize there are some very passionate people both for and against football on this board (which personally I can't wait to see football return to ETSU), but it is nice to every once in a while read a post in the basketball threads that has to deal only with basketball (you know upcoming games, recruitment, current status of players, etc).
Isiah has BY FAR been our most successful post player. There have been a few spots where J.C. looks better, but it seems pretty apparent to me that Isiah is our post.
To me, it looks like the thing limiting Isiah the most is not himself, but Murry. Murry pulls him every time it looks like he's getting into the flow. 5 minute stretches are not enough. Murry needs to leave him in for 8-10 minutes at a time at least a couple times a game. Big men often take a few minutes to get going, and I don't think Isiah is any different.
It seems to me that Isiah is being treated similarly to the way Andrew Reed was. One mistake and he's gone for half the game. I HATE that philosophy from Murry. LET THE KID LEARN!! Plus, Isiah is a way better ball handler and much more athletic than either Ward or Poderis. He's still raw, but in the big games, he's been more effective than either of our other options.
(12-17-2009 01:19 AM)Running_Fool15 Wrote: [ -> ]It seems to me that Isiah is being treated similarly to the way Andrew Reed was. One mistake and he's gone for half the game. I HATE that philosophy from Murry. LET THE KID LEARN!!
I concur a 100%
(12-17-2009 12:19 AM)Baxterboy Wrote: [ -> ]Could Davis and Sollazzo go into a funk if you start Grimm?
If so, they need to grow up.
Just for fun, I just checked the Sagarin ratings and found out that the Bucs are roughly 5 point favorites in the game. Hope it holds true!
Could Davis and Sollazzo go into a funk if you start Grimm?
[/quote]
Sollazzo is above that. He'll just try harder. He hasn't seen very many minutes at the point anyway. He needs to be in the mix, however. If someone can start 12-13 games last year, play competitively with Tiggs and Pigram, and help a team get to the Big Dance, he definitely knows what he is doing. He just needs to be given a definite role and the opportunity to get in the flow of the game. When it comes crunch time, Adam S. shines.
Faried can kill us, and I believe Maze Stallworth (SG) got us pretty good last year too. I remember Faried was all over Seth last year in the middle. He's quick & athletic. Isaiah really needs to step up this game.
We have not done well up there in recent history, and we need this win to propel us into the conference season. I also noticed Jacksonville got their first win last night vs. Bethune-Cookman. They play Campbell Saturday.
I guess Tubbs will play w/ a mask since Bartow said he will 'play through it?' I hope he can adjust to it quickly, we'll need him.
(12-17-2009 01:19 AM)Running_Fool15 Wrote: [ -> ]Isiah has BY FAR been our most successful post player. There have been a few spots where J.C. looks better, but it seems pretty apparent to me that Isiah is our post.
To me, it looks like the thing limiting Isiah the most is not himself, but Murry. Murry pulls him every time it looks like he's getting into the flow. 5 minute stretches are not enough. Murry needs to leave him in for 8-10 minutes at a time at least a couple times a game. Big men often take a few minutes to get going, and I don't think Isiah is any different.
It seems to me that Isiah is being treated similarly to the way Andrew Reed was. One mistake and he's gone for half the game. I HATE that philosophy from Murry. LET THE KID LEARN!! Plus, Isiah is a way better ball handler and much more athletic than either Ward or Poderis. He's still raw, but in the big games, he's been more effective than either of our other options.
I hadn't thought of the Andrew Reed comparison, but that is spot-on. I also agree Running_fool about Bartow's reactive decision-making during games. Psychologically, that reactivity messes with a player's psyche and confidence. In terms of Isiah, he does things on defense and offense that only a discerning eye can spot. First, while he's struggling to score, he's an excellent low-post passer. Second, he's a great screener. On defense, he's a great overall defender, even though he struggles against big post players. To me, whether Isiah starts or not is not even debatable. Without question, J.C. has earned some P.T. for his hustle and bruiser-style play, but he should be providing depth, not starting IMHO.
Who should start? The givens are Tubbs, Hubbard, and Brown. I would also give the start at PG to Cooley and Sollazzo at the SF, or vice-versa. I think Cooley has been the best overall PG, even though he's more of a combo guard. Though he makes freshman mistakes, he has a reliable shot, can break the press, and is exceptional in transition. I've also noticed that when Cooley's on the court, the team seems to flow better (see the 2nd half at Murray State).
I think I would go w/ Cooley at the point and Williams at the SG. Sollazzo & Grimm would be quick off the bench, I think they've earned minutes. Certainly, Micah has. Jacolby "the turnover machine" Davis would or should be mired at the end of the bench. Sorry - I just don't see Jacolby turning into much.
In this game, we need to score quickly and get out of the gate faster, take the crowd out of it -- the past 3 games we've started at a snail's pace and played catch up the whole way. Finally, press the living hell out of them w/ a 10 man rotation.
You won't get a consistent 10 man rotation as long as Murry is in charge - he only has 1 way, and that's 7-8 guys. And zone.
Anyway, I was at the Morehead game last year, and Faried abused us down low just about every imaginable way. Murry can't have his hyperactive finger on the trigger for Brown in this game, because Faried will make our post guys look bad at some point this game, he's simply good enough to do that. If your #1 guy makes some occassional mistakes against a really good player, playing your #2 or #3 guy against him isn't going go any better. Personally, I know there's a size disadvantage, but I'd like to see Hubbard against Faried at some spots this game, and have Ward rough him up a little bit. Does Poderis come in for some fouls this game?
I'd also like to see Cooley and Sollazzo get more time at the point & the 3; the offense doesn't look as stagnant when they're in there, and we'll need that with Tubbs looking at the goal throught a mask.
But we'll see what Murry ends up doing...
Saw in the paper where Grimm is expected to start at the point. After the gritty effort he gave Saturday, I have no problem with that. I hope Cooley and Sollazzo do get some good minutes though, wherever they fit in the lineup.
(12-17-2009 12:49 PM)ETSUfan1 Wrote: [ -> ]Saw in the paper where Grimm is expected to start at the point. After the gritty effort he gave Saturday, I have no problem with that. I hope Cooley and Sollazzo do get some good minutes though, wherever they fit in the lineup.
I wouldn't neccessarily rely on what was in the paper. It will probably come down to who performed well in practice this week.
(12-17-2009 12:49 PM)ETSUfan1 Wrote: [ -> ]Saw in the paper where Grimm is expected to start at the point. After the gritty effort he gave Saturday, I have no problem with that. I hope Cooley and Sollazzo do get some good minutes though, wherever they fit in the lineup.
See I have a major problem with this, Bartow is not being consistent with his choices which undermines his credibility with the team. When Cooley went through that 4-5 stretch where he played really well he didn't get the start. Grimm has an average half of basketball(yes I said average, look at the stat sheet) and suddenly he's the starting PG???
What kind of message does that send?