Date: January 3rd, 2019

Time: 7:00 PM

Opponent: Samford (11-4, 1-1 SoCon)

Place: Freedom Hall (6,149)

Television: none

Webcast: ESPN 3

Radio online: 640WXSM.com

Samford 2018-2019 Schedule

Samford 2018-2019 Roster

Samford Message Board

I innocently wandered over to the Samford Message Board to see how their few respondents felt about the upcoming game. Mostly they are moderately pleased with Samford's early season start, but aren't under any illusions about their team moving forward. One messenger felt that the Samford team was too foul prone and given to too may turnovers to have sustained success this year.

Moving this to keep the thread together:

Next up is the most surprising team in the SoCon, at a solid 11-4, ranked 5th in the SoCon by Kenpom at 160th in D1. This after a 10-22 season last year followed by a mass transfer of players. None of their top 7 scorers returned and their leading returning rebounder is 5-10 Josh Sharkey who averaged 2.1 last year.

But 7-0 240 Senior USF transfer Ruben Guerrero (15.1 ppg but no 3’s; 8.5 rebounds, 2.1 blocks) and 6-5 200 Alabama transfer Brandon Austin (11.8 ppg on .428 with 2.6 makes from 3 and 4.3 rebounds) have been big time performers. 6-8 200 true freshman Robert Allen, called a “junkyard dog” by Padgett, scores 8.5 ppg mostly from short range and grabs 7.5 rebounds. 5-10 Jr Josh Sharkey has doubled his scoring from 7.3 last year to 14.5 and has found a 3 point shot (.361 with 0.9 makes up from .173 last year) to go with his 2.86 steals.

They took #75 Belmont to OT in Birmingham, came within 13 of #11 Tennessee in Knoxville and gave #99 UNCG (without Dickey) all they could handle being tied at 75-75 with about a minute left, also in Birmingham. But they almost got whipped at home by non D1 Miles in a schedule that has been fairly weak. Highest ranked D1 wins have been over #139 Jacksonville St at home, #197 Purdue Fort Wayne on the road and #256 Morehead St in OT at home. Conference will be a tougher challenge for the Bulldogs. Once they get tested in the SoCon they could wind up looking better than we think they are now. Or not so good.

3 pt percentage is a fine .392 (22nd in D1), but with only 7.2 makes (222nd in D1). Shooters are Austin (.436 with 2.6 makes), Kevion Nolan (.538, first in SoCon, with 1.9 makes), and Sharkey (.361 with 0.9 makes).

Rebounding margin is +3.0 with 7-0 240 Senior USF transfer Ruben Guerrero snatching 8.5 (to go with 15.1 points), and 6-8 200 true freshman Robert Allen getting 7.6.

Junior Josh Sharkey is 8th in D1 with 2.86 steals. Turnover margin is a weak -1.3.

FG% defense is a strong .388 (37th in D1) with shot blockers Guerrero (2.1) and Allen (0.8) patrolling the middle

Rotation is heavily dependent on 6 guys: 4 get 29 to 33 minutes (Guerrero, Allen, Brandon Austin and Josh Sharkey). JUCO Jr G Myron Gordon gets 26 and Soph G Kevion Nolan gets 21. Others get 11 minutes (Fr G Deandre Thomas and Fr F Logan Dye) or less with very limited production.

Our bigs should get a more physical challenge from Guerrero (a fine low post scorer and rebounder) and "Junkyard Dog" Allen than from Furman. Sharkey is still about the quickest guy in the league, although he got schooled by Isaiah Miller – but Daivien shouldn’t try to make it a 1 on 1 matchup. They did play UNCG very tough at home, leading 48-36 at half, and being tied at 75-75 at the end. Kenpom has us a 9 point favorite, 73-64.

This should be a fun game, and a challenge. We need to play the kind of consistent 40 minute game we did against Furman. It would be great if we could get the kind of fan support that we got against Furman. Take care of business.

Guards:
#0 6-5 200 R-Jr Alabama Transfer Brandon Austin, 29.1 minutes, 11.8 ppg on .436 with 2.6 makes from 3, 4.3 rebounds
#3 5-10 170 Jr Josh Sharkey, 33.6 minutes, 14.5 ppg on .361 with 0.9 makes from 3, 4.1 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 4.7 t.o.’s and 2.86 steals
#4 6-3 180 Jr Myron Gordon, 26.6 minutes, 11.2 ppg on .273 with 0.7 makes from 3, 2.5 rebounds
#1 6-2 170 So Kevion Nolan, 21.5 minutes, 8.7 ppg on .538 from 3, first in SoCon, with 1.9 makes from 3, 2.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1 t.o., 0.9 steals
#5 6-4 190 Fr Deandre Thomas, 11.6 minutes, 2.9 ppg on .444 from 3 with 0. 6 makes, 1.5 rebounds

Front Court:
#32 7-0 240 R-Sr USF Transfer Ruben Guerrero, 29.3 minutes, 15.1 ppg on .644 FG%, no 3’s, 8.5 rebounds, 2.0 t.o.’s, 2.1 blocks
#21 6-8 200 Fr Robert Allen, 30.7 minutes, 8.5 ppg on .250 with 0.5 makes from 3, 7.6 rebounds, 2.0 t.o.’s, 0.8 blocks
#22 6-8 235 Fr Logan Dye, 10.6 minutes, 3.5 ppg on .571 FG%, no 3’s, 2.1 rebounds, 1.0 t.o.’s
#15 6-7 220 Sr Stefan Lakic, 7.6 minutes, 1.4 ppg, 1.5 rebounds

(01-01-2019 04:03 PM)BigIslandBuc Wrote:  I innocently wandered over to the Samford Message Board to see how their few respondents felt about the upcoming game. Mostly they are moderately pleased with Samford's early season start, but aren't under any illusions about their team moving forward. One messenger felt that the Samford team was too foul prone and given to too may turnovers to have sustained success this year.

This Bucs team has work to do if they want to achieve their potential. They can't afford to be overlooking teams like Samford.

ALL the Bulldog losses so far have been to solid teams: by 18 on the road to #26 Ohio State, by 13 on the road to #11 Tennessee, in OT to #75 Belmont and to #95 UNCG in a game where they were tied with a minute to go. They don't really know yet how good they can be.

(01-01-2019 05:01 PM)swvabucsfan Wrote:  

(01-01-2019 04:03 PM)BigIslandBuc Wrote:  I innocently wandered over to the Samford Message Board to see how their few respondents felt about the upcoming game. Mostly they are moderately pleased with Samford's early season start, but aren't under any illusions about their team moving forward. One messenger felt that the Samford team was too foul prone and given to too may turnovers to have sustained success this year.

This Bucs team has work to do if they want to achieve their potential. They can't afford to be overlooking teams like Samford.

ALL the Bulldog losses so far have been to solid teams: by 18 on the road to #26 Ohio State, by 13 on the road to #11 Tennessee, in OT to #75 Belmont and to #95 UNCG in a game where they were tied with a minute to go. They don't really know yet how good they can be.

Here's hoping that they are prevented from finding out tomorrow.

Every game will be a challenge from here on out. As we overcome our weaknesses and hopefully get tougher and somehow get the right teams at the right times (luck) we should win this thing. Go BUCS !!!

Other than a few sloppy passes we've played another really complete first half!

Dominating the boards and sharing the ball well on offense, not much to bicker about in the first half.

Haven't been liking the way this whole half has been developing. Forbes I think waited two possessions too long to take a TO.

I think Forbes is trying just a bit *too* hard to get Guerrero in foul trouble. It ain't workin' -- and we've lost our outside mojo.

ETSU only scored *7* points in the first ~9:30 of the second half - finally broken by Boyd's two deep ones. Too much futility trying to continually force it inside. Yes, that's been our strength, but when Sammie collapsed in, Forbes didn't pull it back out to counter. All imo, of course.

FT shooting is KIILLING us. If we lose this game, that'll be the reason.

Sharkey travel when sliding with loose ball near the 5 min remaining mark. I didn't think it was traveling unless you used your hands or feet, or tried to stand. THe simple act of sliding with the ball isn't traveling.....is it?

Whhhheeeewwwww.............

17-rebound margin will increase that stat. Rodriguez 19; Armus 17. Good gracious.

I'm not sure how the second-chance points (43-5?!!) and bench points (51-5?!!) ended up, but both were absurd numbers.

We were 5/14 on FT, but then hit the last 7.

Sharkey had 14 of their 17 total assists.

(01-03-2019 08:38 PM)BucFan1990 Wrote:  Sharkey travel when sliding with loose ball near the 5 min remaining mark. I didn't think it was traveling unless you used your hands or feet, or tried to stand. THe simple act of sliding with the ball isn't traveling.....is it?

It is indeed. Although on rare occasions I have seen them not call it and the crowd usually goes nuts.

It was the tale of two halves tonight. We outscored them by 15 in the first half, and they did the same in the second half. Free throw shooting continues to be an achilles heel for us at times. Even though this shouldn't have gone to OT, I liked the fact that our defense stepped up when it needed to in OT.

Lucky tonight.

(01-03-2019 08:38 PM)BucFan1990 Wrote:  Sharkey travel when sliding with loose ball near the 5 min remaining mark. I didn't think it was traveling unless you used your hands or feet, or tried to stand. THe simple act of sliding with the ball isn't traveling.....is it?

They tweeked that rule several years ago. I used to be automatic traveling if you hit the floor (the concept being 3 points of contact with the floor). But then they changed it to "if no attempt is made to 'advance' the ball" [paraphrasing], then it's not traveling. I.e., if the player down only tries to pass it, or call time out, then it's ok. But sliding, or scooting, is still traveling, as I understand it.

(01-03-2019 09:18 PM)posterformerlyknownasthedoctor Wrote:  

(01-03-2019 08:38 PM)BucFan1990 Wrote:  Sharkey travel when sliding with loose ball near the 5 min remaining mark. I didn't think it was traveling unless you used your hands or feet, or tried to stand. THe simple act of sliding with the ball isn't traveling.....is it?

They tweeked that rule several years ago. I used to be automatic traveling if you hit the floor (the concept being 3 points of contact with the floor). But then they changed it to "if no attempt is made to 'advance' the ball" [paraphrasing], then it's not traveling. I.e., if the player down only tries to pass it, or call time out, then it's ok. But sliding, or scooting, is still traveling, as I understand it.

Appreciate the clarification. I wasn't sure of the details

Can anyone shed any light who Padgett was yelling at on the sideline? Sharkey is a good player, but he lost his poise a bit in overtime. Regardless, Samford is a tough outfit.