Official first game is tomorrow.

What's the word on Campbell?

Sorry for the duplicate thread! I'll copy and paste what I posted in that one here, so CG can decide if that thread can be deleted:





We've played 2 solid halves of basketball (Half 1 against Clemson; Half 2 against WPU), and 2 not so good halves of basketball. So which version will we get against Campbell? Can we put it all together and play 2 great halves in one game? It sure would be nice heading into a monster home game against Stanford 3 days later.

Campbell should not be looked past whatsoever. Not only do they usually get up in a big way for their games against us, but they are actually a pretty solid basketball team in their own right.

Picked to finish 4th by the Big South coaches behind Radford, Winthrop and Hampton, the Camels' hopes for the '18-19 campaign begin and end with Senior guard Chris Clemons, whose career with the Camels seems like its stretched on for 7 years or so.





Clemons, who was the Big South Freshman of the Year in 2016 and reached the Big South 1st Team in both 2017 and 2018, is picked to be the Big South's Player of the Year in 2019. And for good reason. Coming off a 2017-18 campaign where he averaged 24.9 points, good for 4th in the nation, Clemons declared for the draft following the season to test the waters, but did not hire an agent and returns for his senior campaign. At 5-9 he'll likely have to prove he is as adept a distributor and defender as he is a scorer to get taken in the NBA Draft next year. And certainly an NCAA Tournament appearance could only help provide him with exposure and a bumped draft stock.

Joining Clemons in the starting backcourt is 6-4 junior shooting guard Cory Gensler, who poured in a team-high 22 points, including 5-9 from 3, for the Camels on Oct 27 in an 83-59 exhibition victory over Belmont Abbey. Gensler out-scored Clemons (17 points), who came off the bench and played limited minutes (16). This was likely done to protect his health and also to give other players opportunities for much-needed minutes. Gensler started 32 of 33 games last season for Campbell but averaged just 7.2 points per game as a sophomore. Perhaps he's in line for a lot more usage on offense this season, especially with Marcus Burk and his 15.1 ppg (2nd on the team) gone.

The other remaining returner for Campbell is 6-7 senior big man Andrew Eudy. The Pennsylvania native and versatile forward/center was 3rd on the team in scoring (9.3 ppg), 1st in rebounding (4.8 rpg), 1st in blocks (1.9 bpg), 2nd in assists (2.7 apg), 2nd in FG % (.548), 3rd in steals (1.0 spg), and among shooters on the team that took at least 50 3-pointers, was also tops in 3-pt percentage (.451). His efficiency and all-around play makes him a pain to deal, as opposing teams have to account for him on both ends of the court. Put a traditional big man on him, and Eudy can pull his defender out to the perimeter. Go small and he can dominate underneath. He's the 2nd most important player on the roster, as the Camels employ a 4-guard lineup and utilize Eudy as their only starting big. Against Belmont Abbey, Eudy chipped in 9 points, 6 boards and 4 assists.

It's difficult to project who will be the other 2 regular starters for Campbell, which is a departure from last season, when all 5 of their regulars were in the starting lineup at least 97 % of the games. However, we at least know who got the first cracks at starter minutes in their exhibition contest. 6-6 freshman wing Isaac Chatman (30 minutes), 6-4 junior guard Trey Spencer (28) and 6-3 sophomore guard Ja'Cor Nelson (18) joined Gensler and Eudy in the starting lineup, while 6-1 sophomore guard Jordan Whitfield added 18 minutes of work off the bench.

Chatman was the most effective of the group, putting up 12 points on 5-7 shooting (1-2 from 3), 4 rebounds, 2 blocks, 2 steals, 2 assists, and just 1 turnover. He likely has a starting spot locked up. The 5th spot in Campbell's 4-guard lineup could vary over the course of the season, if the Belmont Abbey contest is any indication. Spencer shot just 1-6 from the field (0-4 from 3). Nelson committed a team-high 5 turnovers. And Whifield, who did not attempt a shot, was 2nd in turnovers with 3.

Against Belmont Abbey, Campbell had assists on 22 of their 32 made field goals. They play a selfless brand of basketball, as even Clemons doesn't force anything; his points come largely within the flow of the offense. The Camels play fast, as evidenced by their 76.5 points per game on 55 shots per contest. But they don't sacrifice much of a defensive presence in the middle, as they blocked 133 shots (4.0 per game) in 2017-18. And last season, they gave us all we could handle in Trask, falling in an 88-84 thriller. And even against the 2016-17 Seahawk juggernaut, they were competitive in a 96-75 loss at Buies Creek, in a game that was a little closer than the final score indicates.

Expect a dogfight in this road contest against our oldest rivals, a game which will go a long way in showing what kind of team we are, and whether we have the horses to beat Stanford on Friday.

The biggest problems I see are the following:

1) Who spends the most time on Clemons? Ty Taylor would be my first choice. But what happens when he's not in the game?

2) When Cacok is in the game, he will of course be lined up with Campbell's only high-usage big, Eudy. That means he'll get pulled out to the perimeter a lot, leading to a lot of drives to the hoop and some offensive boards.

Possible solution: Emply some 3-2 zone. It won't help us rebound but it'll certainly allow us to defend the perimeter while maximizing our defense's ability to cover both Clemons and Eudy effectively.

Also, problem # 3: I will be working the Women's home game while this one is going on, so I won't be able to watch or listen. Sad times. I'll be relying heavily on everyone's updates/analysis for when I catch up post-game!

(11-05-2018 11:02 AM)Seahawk Nation 08 Wrote:  Also, problem # 3: I will be working the Women's home game while this one is going on, so I won't be able to watch or listen. Sad times. I'll be relying heavily on everyone's updates/analysis for when I catch up post-game!

Man that sucks! Was hoping to see you up there!

Roll call- Anyone else from the board going?

I agree with Taylor on Clemmons. Maybe Jacque gets some time on him, I've always liked his energy on defense. You're not gonna stop Clemmons from scoring, you just have to make him work as hard as possible to get those points. I'd imagine Taylor will get the first shot on him. The Stretch 5 big concerns me, as DC15's has never looked comfortable guarding on the perimeter. DC15 is going to have to stay out of foul trouble if we want to win, that will be a certain for the whole season. I don't know much about Campbell, but I'm hoping our added depth shows. I'd say that's our biggest advantage overall in this one.

We usually have played them later on the schedule when their students are gone & they play us really tough there. With students there, it could be a difficult night. They simply play us very tough at the creek.

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(11-05-2018 11:13 AM)Seahawkhoops Wrote:  

(11-05-2018 11:02 AM)Seahawk Nation 08 Wrote:  Also, problem # 3: I will be working the Women's home game while this one is going on, so I won't be able to watch or listen. Sad times. I'll be relying heavily on everyone's updates/analysis for when I catch up post-game!

Man that sucks! Was hoping to see you up there!

Roll call- Anyone else from the board going?

I'll be there along with a couple of guys I graduated with... Haven't gotten our tickets yet... Where is everyone sitting???

(11-05-2018 11:15 AM)Gary Miller Wrote:  

(11-05-2018 11:13 AM)Seahawkhoops Wrote:  

(11-05-2018 11:02 AM)Seahawk Nation 08 Wrote:  Also, problem # 3: I will be working the Women's home game while this one is going on, so I won't be able to watch or listen. Sad times. I'll be relying heavily on everyone's updates/analysis for when I catch up post-game!

Man that sucks! Was hoping to see you up there!

Roll call- Anyone else from the board going?

I'll be there along with a couple of guys I graduated with... Haven't gotten our tickets yet... Where is everyone sitting???

I think mine are a few rows up in 105. Going with two buddies, neither with DUB ties but both will be rooting with us

(11-05-2018 11:13 AM)Gary Miller Wrote:  I agree with Taylor on Clemmons. Maybe Jacque gets some time on him, I've always liked his energy on defense. You're not gonna stop Clemmons from scoring, you just have to make him work as hard as possible to get those points. I'd imagine Taylor will get the first shot on him. The Stretch 5 big concerns me, as DC15's has never looked comfortable guarding on the perimeter. DC15 is going to have to stay out of foul trouble if we want to win, that will be a certain for the whole season. I don't know much about Campbell, but I'm hoping our added depth shows. I'd say that's our biggest advantage overall in this one.

Jacque is a solid option. Kid can be a real pest on defense, and has the low center of gravity to perhaps handle a similarly-sized Clemons better than some of our taller defenders.

(11-05-2018 11:02 AM)Seahawk Nation 08 Wrote:  Possible solution: Emply some 3-2 zone. It won't help us rebound but it'll certainly allow us to defend the perimeter while maximizing our defense's ability to cover both Clemons and Eudy effectively.

This bears watching. Last year it seemed that there were times when we would have benefited from playing zone but didn't, seemingly because it was not the style of defense that Coach McGrath was trying to install. It will be interesting to see what happens when that is the case this year.

(11-05-2018 12:27 PM)70shawk Wrote:  

(11-05-2018 11:02 AM)Seahawk Nation 08 Wrote:  Possible solution: Emply some 3-2 zone. It won't help us rebound but it'll certainly allow us to defend the perimeter while maximizing our defense's ability to cover both Clemons and Eudy effectively.

This bears watching. Last year it seemed that there were times when we would have benefited from playing zone but didn't, seemingly because it was not the style of defense that Coach McGrath was trying to install. It will be interesting to see what happens when that is the case this year.

Yep. I think a happy medium needs to be found. I'm totally fine with our identity on defense being a team that tries to play tough man-to-man defense. But there's no reason you can't mix in zone from time to time without sacrificing your core concept.

My hope for C.B. McGrath's progression as a coach is that his career arc resembles something like Wes Miller's at UNCG, without taking quite as long to get there. He needs to embrace some things that work at the mid-major level while still maintaining his core identity from his Kansas/UNC days. That balance will allow him to have success here and, if he ever looks to move on, at the higher levels as well.

First chance to see the team with scaled down playing time and starters cemented in place. Will be interesting to see who McGrath beging to give more PT to as we move towards a big game against Stanford and then conference play.

Off the bench I expect to see a lot of O'Connell, Estime, Brown and Elmore.

Gasden, Sims and Gary with some, but not much time.

We really need a win to set the tone for the rest of a very tough OOC schedule. Davidson, Stanford, UNC, Georgia State, UNCG and ECU will all be tough outs. In fact, we will likely be underdogs in all of those games. If we can come out 7-6 in OOC I will consider it to be a win for the team.

(11-05-2018 04:19 PM)82hawk Wrote:  First chance to see the team with scaled down playing time and starters cemented in place. Will be interesting to see who McGrath beging to give more PT to as we move towards a big game against Stanford and then conference play.

Off the bench I expect to see a lot of O'Connell, Estime, Brown and Elmore.

Gasden, Sims and Gary with some, but not much time.

We really need a win to set the tone for the rest of a very tough OOC schedule. Davidson, Stanford, UNC, Georgia State, UNCG and ECU will all be tough outs. In fact, we will likely be underdogs in all of those games. If we can come out 7-6 in OOC I will consider it to be a win for the team.

underdog Vs EZ?

(11-05-2018 04:55 PM)Seahawkhoops Wrote:  

(11-05-2018 04:19 PM)82hawk Wrote:  First chance to see the team with scaled down playing time and starters cemented in place. Will be interesting to see who McGrath beging to give more PT to as we move towards a big game against Stanford and then conference play.

Off the bench I expect to see a lot of O'Connell, Estime, Brown and Elmore.

Gasden, Sims and Gary with some, but not much time.

We really need a win to set the tone for the rest of a very tough OOC schedule. Davidson, Stanford, UNC, Georgia State, UNCG and ECU will all be tough outs. In fact, we will likely be underdogs in all of those games. If we can come out 7-6 in OOC I will consider it to be a win for the team.

underdog Vs EZ?

Yeah, may have gone one too far there....

Still no line on the game.

GAMEDAY!

(11-06-2018 09:55 AM)Gary Miller Wrote:  GAMEDAY!

Let's gooooooooo

(11-06-2018 10:11 AM)Seahawk Nation 08 Wrote:  

(11-06-2018 09:55 AM)Gary Miller Wrote:  GAMEDAY!

Let's gooooooooo

Some nasty weather predicted there tonight, hoping it doesn't affect the game!

104 D12, subject to change

(11-05-2018 11:15 AM)Gary Miller Wrote:  I'll be there along with a couple of guys I graduated with... Haven't gotten our tickets yet... Where is everyone sitting???

Still no point spread for this one. And that's also the case for a lot of games across the country. Strange.