Samford has surprised me the most of any SoCon team this season. I have a great deal of respect for their coach and thought that they might win the league this year., but they have been awful. Of course, they haven't had their best player all season due to injury, and I can't find an update on him anywhere online. Part of me thinks that they will turn this around and still be one of the better teams in the league by March, but they have done nothing to show that to be the case so far.
I read that Wyatt Walker actually warmed up in the game against UTC but still did not play. So it sounds like he might be close to returning but hopefully not versus us. Samford always plays us tough with the exception being the Socon tournament game last year. I agree that Samford is still a team to watch so I hope our guys don't overlook them.
Take this game seriously, Walker or not. The focus and execution at Mercer was excellent. It would be an early conference statement if we followed with a 30 point win at Samford. Focus and execution!
Last year it took ETSU a double overtime to sneak out of Birmingham with a win over an underdog Samford team. Samford has been wracked by injuries, but some of its players are now returning. This is not a game to overlook.
I’m betting that Samford will try starting Wyatt Walker, a 6-9 240 9.7 rebounds per game guy who gives him their only real post presence, and who warmed up but did not play in their win over hapless Chattanooga. Maybe try for a little of that “Willis Reed limping on to the floor for the 7th game against the Lakers” morale boost. If he can’t play for this one it might be best to shut him down and get him ready for next year.
Other Bulldogs may be back from injury, too. 6-8 Alex Peters was back in the lineup against the Mocs for a 20 minutes stretch with 8 points and 5 rebounds to help boost the board work (he’s missed 5 games this year). Cristen Cunningham, their best all around guard from last year, has also been missing for five games, but might be due for return.
But 4 star Alabama transfer Justin Coleman finally seems fully healthy coming off a career game against Chattanooga 28 points on 12-16 shooting (0-1 from 3), 6 assists, 4 rebounds and 3 steals.
They can put the ball in the basket with a FG% a little higher than ETSU .465 to .460, and a 3 point% much higher: .362 with 8.6 makes to the Buc’s .327 with 7.3 makes.
Peters helps with rebounding, but they still struggle without Walker with a rebounding margin of -2.6, ahead of only Western Carolina and the Citadel, compared to a third in SoCon +1.9 for the Bucs. Lack of a post presence also leaves them tied for 8th in blocks with 2.0 per game compared to 3.9 at the top for ETSU.
The Bucs edge is mostly in defensive categories: FG% defense holding opponents to .415 compared to Samford’s .479, and 3 point % defense of .330 to .342. Steals: 8.9 to Samford’s 7.1.
Turnover Margin: +3.64 to Samford’s +0.29.
This is all about intensity and focus. The Bucs brought defensive intensity, along with offensive focus to the Mercer game. And they kept it going for 40 minutes, the most complete game that they played all year. The result was that they never let Mercer smell a victory. But they can’t drop that intensity and focus. This team is not so good that they can afford to play less than their best and win a conference road game. The Troy game or the first NKU game ought to be sufficient reminders of how easily things can turn.
Guards:
#22 6-5 205 Sr Demetrius Denzel-Dyson, 29.5 minutes, 15.5 ppg, .425 (2.6 makes), 5.2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1.5 t.o., 1 steal
#2 5-10 170 Jr Justin Coleman, 29.5 minutes, 12.0 ppg, .390 from 3 (1.8 makes), 2.5 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 2.5 t.o.'s, 1.5 steals
#00 6-2 190 Sr Christen Cunningham, 28.9 minutes, 7.7 ppg, .176 from 3, 2.9 rebounds, 4 assists, 2.5 t.o.'s, 0.5 steals
#3 5-10 170 So Josh Sharkey, 20.5 minutes, 5.6 ppg, .111 from 3 (1-9), 1.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 3.6 t.o.'s, 1.5 steals
#4 6-2 185 So Tristan Chambers, 18.0 minutes, 5.5 ppg, .413 from 3 (1.5 makes), 1.6 rebounds, 0.7 assists, 1.2 t.o.'s
#1 6-2 170 Fr Kevion Nolan, 11.6 minutes, 3.4 ppg, .345 from 3 (1.0 makes), 1.1 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 0.4 t.o.'s, 0.6 steals
Front Court:
#20 6-8 210 Sr Alex Thompson, 22.8 minutes, 10.8 ppg, .304 from 3 (1.4 makes), 3.2 rebounds
#15 6-7 220 Jr Stefan Lakic, 15.3 minutes, 6.7 ppg, .462 from 3 (1.0 makes), 2.3 rebounds
#13 6-7 210 Sr Eric Adams, 21.5 minutes, 6.5 ppg, 0 three's, 6.1 rebounds
#55 6-8 225 Sr Alex Peters, 15.4 minutes, 4.5 ppg, 0 three's, 3.3 rebounds
Coach Forbes on the radio this morning.
- Among the concerns playing Samford is their zone, however he feels that playing Mercer and the zone that they employed was beneficial.
-Hodges did not participate in practice yesterday as he is still feeling some pain from his injury.
-When asked whether he was concerned about ETSU ranking last in the SOCON in 3 point shooting, he said that he wasn't really concerned about them shooting from outside as he knew that they could; he sees it all the time. He didn't see their apparent outbreak of outside shooting at Mercer as an anomaly. He just wants them to keep shooting.
-When asked whether the latest rankings for the Bucs made him concerned that his players would start poll watching, he said that he wasn't. The players were kept too busy in practice to worry about that. He thinks that the "notoriety" is a good thing for the program as it generates interest.
- When asked what his relationship was with Bruce Pearl, he said that it was "cordial" and they he didn't see any purpose in holding "grudges."
Looks like another monster crowd on hand for Samford. Socon attendance is sad.
Walker didn’t even dress. We can’t let this team hang with us, need to go to halftime up 10+.
The old announcer is the most egregiously homer announcer I've ever heard. Referring to Samford "We" need to play better.
That was a terrible traveling call on Obi-Rapu.
Bucs having a hard time getting into it with all the crowd noise rooting for the Bulldogs.
It's amazing to see the transformation in Jurkin. They can't do anything with him.
Jurkin can do whatever he wants. He needs the ball more. Also, safe to say that David has his mojo back.
Williams really struggling against both Coleman and Sharkey. Bad matchups for him, they're just simply better.
Samford will be tough if the man bun (walker) returns this season to his prior abilities. If I was him I'd try for a red shirt and transfer somewhere that gets more than 200 fans at home games.
(01-04-2018 08:33 PM)shampoo Wrote: [ -> ]Walker didn’t even dress. We can’t let this team hang with us, need to go to halftime up 10+.
Your request has been granted, sir.
(01-04-2018 08:44 PM)ETSUfan1 Wrote: [ -> ]It's amazing to see the transformation in Jurkin.
This is not the place to re-litigate this, but I think it's been there all along - or certainly was last year. All he needed was PT to show it.
I'm not saying that there may not have been some incremental improvement, but he could have done 90% of this last year if we hadn't had HMP. Obviously, my opinion.
My 2nd wish is to go up 20 fast, and my 3rd is to win by 25+.
(01-04-2018 08:57 PM)shampoo Wrote: [ -> ]My 2nd wish is to go up 20 fast, and my 3rd is to win by 25+.
There is an Andy Griffith episode for everything.
Three Wishes for Opie Link
I agree with Doc. Jurkin hasn’t actually gotten to play meaningful DI ball until his very last year where he’s now highly welcomed. Although I’m not happy about Rodriguez’s injury, I think it’s a blessing disguise to see Jurkin’s big year and set aside two for Rodriguez.
(01-04-2018 08:59 PM)shampoo Wrote: [ -> ]I agree with Doc. Jurkin hasn’t actually gotten to play meaningful DI ball until his very last year where he’s now highly welcomed. Although I’m not happy about Rodriguez’s injury, I think it’s a blessing disguise to see Jurkin’s big year and set aside two for Rodriguez.
If Rodriguez comes back strong, I completely agree.