Date: January 3rd, 2011
Time: 7:30 PM
Opponent: Mercer (3-10, 0-2 ASUN)
Place: Mercer University Center
Television: None
Webcast:
ASun.tv (subscription)
Radio online:
ETSUBucs.com or
640WXSM.com
Mercer 2010-2011
Schedule
Mercer 2010-2011
Roster
This is not going to be an easy game. In their last 4, Mercer is 1-3 but in those games....
They beat Navy by 5.
Lost to Georgia by 3 in a game they lead almost the entire way.
Lost to Charlotte by 1.
Lost to Ga Tech by 9.
We had better take this one seriously.
Mercer has been tough at home in every game this year. This will be a single digit game one way or the other. Mercer is solid the first 30 minutes, it's that last 10 minutes where the team seems to go cold for a long stretch. I'm guessing the Bears pull this one out with the home court edge.
Mercer scout:
The post-"Flo" and Emerson era has begun, and as expected, Mercer is struggling without these two fine players. Mercer, thus far, is 3-10 on the season with a win against D3 paty cake Oglethorpre University, as well as wins against Western Carolina & Navy. Mercer got spanked at Belmont and lost by double digits at David Lipscomb. They've played great at home, losing respectably to Georgia and Charlotte. MU's OOC schedule has not been as rigorous as ours.
It's hard to lose and a 2,000 pt. scorer in Florence and not struggle the following year. Mercer, offensively, is only averaging 65 ppg (we're only averaging 66 ppg). Like us, they're not especially efficient on offense, averaging only 42% and 29% from the field and 3-pt land respectively. Defensively, they're middle-of-the pack, giving up about 70 ppg.
Personnel wise, Mercer goes approximately 9 deep, playing 5 players 20 minutes or more, and 4 players playing 10 minutes. Mercer is statistically led by the seniors: swingman Brandon Moore (12 ppg, 6 rpb),guard Jeff Smith (15 ppg,3 rpg, 4 apg, and forward Brian Mills (13 ppg, 6 rpg). Mercer also has one of the better freshman in the league in Langston Hall. Hall is tall point guard (6'4") who is already filling out the statsheet in his young career: 8.5 ppg-44%fg,75% ft,45%3-pt) ,3.5 apg, 3.0 rpg. Hall is maximizing his 33 mpg.
My keys to the game:
1. Great rebounding has been a constant this year. Continue to attack the glass.
2. Man up-just because they haven't shot it well doesn't mean they won't shoot it well. How many times have we heard, "Coming into this game they didn't shoot it well, but tonight..."
3. Pound the ball to Isiah--their frontcout players cannot athletically match up with him.
4. Micah & Justin-play with swagger
5. Although the jury is still out on whether Adam can be an offensive threat, continued offensive production from him gives our offense an added dimension.
6. Get Coach Hoffman T'd up. The bully coach (sorry Mercerfan) doesn't like it when he can't impose his will.
That's a fair assessment, Faithful. Hoffman loves to control the game and push the boundaries (I like that). Can't allow any T's though, not in a game like this where every point is critical.
http://www.johnsoncitypress.com/Sports/a...p?ID=84983
J.C. Press, 1/03/11
Bucs return to scene of latest championship
By Kelly Hodge
Press Managing Sports Editor
khodge@johnsoncitypress.com
The last time East Tennessee State’s Bucs visited Macon, Ga., they came home with a championship.
Coach Murry Bartow isn’t sure what that’s worth as the Bucs prepare to play the Mercer Bears early in a new season tonight, but he figures winning the Atlantic Sun Conference tournament in the University Center last March can’t hurt.
“Obviously we have good memories of that building,” Bartow said Sunday as his team prepared to board their bus outside the Dome. “We played four games in there last year. We lost to Mercer during the regular season but were fortunate to win the three that counted.”
The last one was a raucous 72-66 victory over the Bears in the A-Sun championship game. The Bucs went on to the NCAA tournament for the second straight season, while the Bears were left to ponder what-if.
It looks like they might still be a bit hung over from the loss. They’re off to a 3-10 start this season and lost their first two conference games, at Belmont and Lipscomb.
“The thing that concerns me,” said Bartow, “is, No. 1, last year they beat us two of three. Second, we’re on the road, which is always tough. And third, their team has been in a lot of close games. The last three were Georgia, Georgia Tech and Charlotte, and they were right there in all three.”
Of course, the Bears couldn’t turn being “right there” into victories. They have lost seven of their last eight, and now they face a team that is 9-2 against them all-time.
“Their record obviously is not good,” said Bartow, “but they’re a pretty dangerous team.”
The Bucs (6-7) may be getting their act together as conference play heats up. They have won their last two games and looked good doing it, routing Appalachian State 78-51 just before Christmas in Cancun, then winning their conference home opener last week with a 72-59 win over Campbell.
Bartow thinks the picture has begun to clear for his team.
“We’re in a much better groove today than we were a week or two weeks ago,” he said. “The rotation is much clearer, the starting lineup is much clearer.”
Much of the credit for that goes to Adam Sollazzo. The junior point guard is back in the starting lineup and asserting himself on the offensive end.
Sollazzo has scored at least 14 points in three straight games after not reaching double figures in the first 10. His 17 against Campbell stands as a career high, and he also dished out five assists.
“We’ve found some new scoring with Adam,” said Bartow. “He’s playing really well, with a lot of confidence. That’s scoring we didn’t have. Then it just comes down to the four other players; they need to be consistently good for us.”
Included in that group is Justin Tubbs. The senior guard knocked down five 3-pointers and scored 21 points in the win over the Camels, pushing his season average to 9.8. He has made 29 of the team’s 68 threes.
Tubbs can erupt at any time, or not at all.
“That’s what gives coaches ulcers and a lot of gray hairs,” said Bartow. “We’ve told Justin that we just want him to play with great energy and not focus so much on scoring. If you look at his last three or four games, he’s been incredible on the defensive end, he’s rebounding, and the shots are going in.
“A lot of shooters are (streaky), and that’s certainly true with him. He has some practices that are just unbelievable. It’s a matter of taking that to the games.”
Mike Smith continues to lead the Bucs in scoring (15.1) and rebounding (6.9). Micah Williams is averaging 12.4 points and Isiah Brown 10.9 and 6.8 rebounds.
Mercer is led in scoring by senior guard Jeff Smith (14.8). Brian Mills (12.9) and Brandon Moore (11.7) are also in double figures; the senior forwards each average 5.8 rebounds.
Don't let them get out ahead of us early is one key. Yes, I know, we got away w/ it vs. App & Campbell, but don't do that on the road. I believe that happened last year @ Mercer and it was lights out. I think ol' Bruce Grimm was running the point that night, but my memory isn't the greatest so I may be wrong there.
If we get double digits out of Sollazzo, we're going to be very tough to beat. One of the things I often say to my buddies is that if we can get consistent scoring out of the point position, it makes us a different team and clearly much more efficient offensively. Tubbs shot well last time we played in this building, and I do remember the key 3 pt shot he last year late in the ASun final that paved the way to the victory. We need him to lead, Mike needs to be physical inside, and Isaiah should have good game as Faithful pointed out. Every conference game is critical, especially since we lost to the worst team in the league. Micah was quiet last time out -- if Mercer defends Sollazzo better we'll need Micah (at the very least) to step up.
I'm worried about this game (hell, I worry about every game), but get the feeling (hopefully I'm right) the team is starting to get in a groove and will play well.
(01-02-2011 09:32 PM)GoBucsGo Wrote: [ -> ]Don't let them get out ahead of us early is one key. Yes, I know, we got away w/ it vs. App & Campbell, but don't do that on the road. I believe that happened last year @ Mercer and it was lights out. I think ol' Bruce Grimm was running the point that night, but my memory isn't the greatest so I may be wrong there.
If we get double digits out of Sollazzo, we're going to be very tough to beat. One of the things I often say to my buddies is that if we can get consistent scoring out of the point position, it makes us a different team and clearly much more efficient offensively. Tubbs shot well last time we played in this building, and I do remember the key 3 pt shot he last year late in the ASun final that paved the way to the victory. We need him to lead, Mike needs to be physical inside, and Isaiah should have good game as Faithful pointed out. Every conference game is critical, especially since we lost to the worst team in the league. Micah was quiet last time out -- if Mercer defends Sollazzo better we'll need Micah (at the very least) to step up.
I'm worried about this game (hell, I worry about every game), but get the feeling (hopefully I'm right) the team is starting to get in a groove and will play well.
If Sollazzo starts making a decent FT% he can average 8+. If he does that most night's ETSU is golden. All the other parts are in place.
How long will it take Mercer to win under Bob Hoffman? His coaching record surpasses Murry...but it's apples and oranges. Murry was coaching with the big boys at UAB. Hoffman's record is 400-171. He ranks among the top 25 active collegiate coaches in winning percentage. The most significant win I can remember is when they beat Southern California...it was a few years ago...before Hoffman showed up.
The Bucs should clean their clock...but you remember last year... The Bucs had never lost to these Maconers...and ETSU was beaten twice. Under Murry...you just never know.
Another slow start...down 12-4. C'mon Bucs!
Press 'em into the ground!
Mercer getting fouls called on them like they're on the road. ETSU not too far behind with 7, but you don't expect this many calls at home.
ETSU 11
Mercer 19
8:20 - 1st
Why did Mike Smith shave his head? Superstitious Murry may have him glue hair trimming back on if this turns out badly.
Nah...Bucs are to good and they will over come the Bears.
Wow, that was one s-l-o-w start! Back within 2 @ half, but too many turnovers, and what D-1 team can get away with shooting 33% from the line??? 4 for 12! Do they have a blindfold on at the line???
Smith, Tubbs, Williams, & Brown all w/ 2 fouls. Luckily Jeff Smith for Mercer has 3. Coach, get Wilkinson out of the doghouse! We need all the bodies we can get.
I agree. We've played pretty poorly overall other than O Boards yet only down 2. Free Throws????
Should be OK.
Good grief they're calling this game tight.
Love Adam's aggressive play!
Could be a game of attrition.
Three 3's in a row. Guess what D we are in?
Ridiculous... ETSU players need to go to free throw school.