Date: February 16th, 2013

Time: 4:00 PM

Opponent: Mercer (17-9, 10-3 ASUN)

Place: ETSU / MSHA Center

Television: none

Webcast: ASUN.tv (Free)

Radio online: ETSUBucs.com (Free)

Mercer 2012-2013 Schedule

Mercer 2012-2013 Roster

ETSUHoops.com Opponent Preview

Bartow could learn a great deal about poise and positivity from his 19-yr.-old freshman: “Right now I’m just not hitting shots,” he [Wilson] said. “Most of them haven’t even been contested shots; they’re shots I was making earlier. I’ve got to find a way to get over it. http://www.johnsoncitypress.com/Sports/a...?id=104839

As for the game, I have a feeling we're going to win. Jarvo and Rashawn have substantially stepped up their games, and John may have leaped forward in his development. If we can win the war on the glass, and our bench can hold serve (this is a concern-Hoffman goes far deeper into his bench), we'll win this game.

Here' hoping that Lester drops 30 in a Bucs win.

statsmack,,,,,,,,, http://bucsbeat.com/east-tennessee-state...ack/mercer

stats comparison,,,,,,,,, http://bucsbeat.com/east-tennessee-state...ats/mercer

1. Walton tries to do too much, thinking he can repeat what happened Thursday, and gets in foul trouble. He may still have a decent game, but it'll be nothing like the last one.

2. Nor will we have anywhere close to 16 assists. We'll probably have closer to 16 turnovers, although hopefully not quite that bad.

3. Coursey makes someone eat leather.

4. ETSU is playing with an average 5-boards-per-game deficit; it's possible that may be crucial. If we're lazy there, Mercer will eat us alive. I'm not saying they *will*, just that we have to be aggressive on the glass.

5. Lester Wilson may be the "wild card" for this game.

6. We will have to play very, very well to even have a chance at this one. Mercer, although undefeated at home this year, is only 6-6 on the road.

Mercer has lost on the road to Jacksonville (49-47) and Kennesaw (83-75) and were beaten pretty badly on the road at Northern Kentucky (63-46). On the other hand they just had a very convincing road win at Upstate (70-59). And Mercer does have road wins at Alabama and Florida State.

Last time out, we got killed inside with Mercer getting 27 points out of their post position, including 17 to Coursey, who also got 5 rebounds and 4 steals. Mercer's season average out of the post is a mere 11 points. Walton had a bad night with 2 rebounds, 4 points, Harris had 4 rebounds and 6 points and Lester had 4 rebounds and 3 points on 1-7 shooting. Bigs must do better.

Our guards did better, with even Mario getting 7 points on 2-5 from 3, 7 rebounds and a steal. Oh, I forgot, we’re not playing him anymore, are we?

I always want to say that “this will take a solid focused 40 minutes” or some such thing. And I sure would like to see us get that. But you know – ETSU has frequently beaten teams like FGCU with 15 minutes of excellent basketball this year. They’ve got the ability to explode and do that.

I want to remind Lester of something that he said early in the season: “I just went back to high school”. Forget the last shot, forget Murry, and do what you know you can do.

If Kennesaw, Jacksonville and UNK beat them at home, then so should we.

(02-16-2013 03:53 AM)posterformerlyknownasthedoctor Wrote:  1. Walton tries to do too much, thinking he can repeat what happened Thursday, and gets in foul trouble. He may still have a decent game, but it'll be nothing like the last one.

2. Nor will we have anywhere close to 16 assists. We'll probably have closer to 16 turnovers, although hopefully not quite that bad.

3. Coursey makes someone eat leather.

4. ETSU is playing with an average 5-boards-per-game deficit; it's possible that may be crucial. If we're lazy there, Mercer will eat us alive. I'm not saying they *will*, just that we have to be aggressive on the glass.

5. Lester Wilson may be the "wild card" for this game.

6. We will have to play very, very well to even have a chance at this one. Mercer, although undefeated at home this year, is only 6-6 on the road.

Also I think that they will be keying on John after Thursday's game. This is a perfect time to use Lester and let him do this thing like we know he can. I think Lester will be the key to the game and will have one of his better games of the year today.When he gets in the groove his is a great scorer. And of course he will then open up Reshawn and Jarvis. If Hunter and Kinard also have good games who knows what can happen?

(02-16-2013 09:23 AM)bucfan81 Wrote:  

(02-16-2013 03:53 AM)posterformerlyknownasthedoctor Wrote:  1. Walton tries to do too much, thinking he can repeat what happened Thursday, and gets in foul trouble. He may still have a decent game, but it'll be nothing like the last one.

Also I think that they will be keying on John after Thursday's game.

That's a large part of the reason #1 is up there. He'll likely get more "attention" than he has all year. If that does transpire, it could possibly (and early on in the game) open up KGG and Harris. (Oh wait - never mind; that would require bartow adjusting to something.) Or maybe JWIII could do the kickout thing for our shooters. Although so far he hasn't looked to do that much, he *does* have passing skills.

Looks like we might not have Jarvis. Nursing a foot injury

5 minutes into game. 3 points

10 minutes into game. 3 points

looking dead out there

Down 20-7. Mercer 5-9 on 3's.

We've caused 2 turnovers when we pressed but allowed 5 3's when we play zone.

Of course it doesn't really matter if we keep throwing up bad shots and missing free throws.

(02-16-2013 04:20 PM)Buced_Up Wrote:  10 minutes into game. 3 points

Looks like we should be over 10 points by halftime......

Zone has given up 7 3's now. That zone defense works so well.

(02-16-2013 04:31 PM)tcrunner25 Wrote:  

(02-16-2013 04:20 PM)Buced_Up Wrote:  10 minutes into game. 3 points

Looks like we should be over 10 points by halftime......

That's an attitude I like! Stay positive and sure enough, we're at 13!...

I've seen more points in a half out of developmental children's leagues. Better coaching, too!

Not too many years ago, this would have been a huge upset. The fall of ETSU basketball can now be measured by the fact that this would have been a home upset victory. And, attendance continues downward.

http://www.etsubucs.com/media/mbasketbal...16-13).pdf

Where to start? Mercer makes half of their 3-pt attempts (48% to be exact). Bartow has successfully handcuffed what was the leading freshman scorer in the nation. The student section was absent, once again. Hoffman goes deep into his bench, while Murry plays the same guys who he exhausted 48-hrs prior (Perhaps our tired legs accounted for our errant FT's?). Most damning of all, we are the same team that we were in November, even after adjusting for competition.

Fortunately for us, because Bartow has established himself as such a premier coach during his decade at ETSU, someone will steal him after this season.

Student attendance keeps getting worse. Maybe 20 students today. This is something that has to change. But then again, why would they want to come out to watch ETSU play opponents that don't move the meter, and with a team that is one of the worst we've had in years.