'16/'17 Hoops OOC

This topic contains 14 replies, has 7 voices, and was last updated by StablerBum 8 years, 4 months ago.

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November 22, 2016 at 2:18 am #29537

StablerBum
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Wanted to start an overall OOC hoops thread in addition to the game specific threads.

I checked in on the two mid-major polls today, and was disappointed that in the Mid-Major Madness poll (small group of writers from a single website) Lehigh isn’t even one of the 31 “Others receiving votes.” So not even in the top 56, despite them having Yale at #16 and Princeton at #21.

In the more traditional College Insider MM Top 25 (coaches vote), Lehigh is 8th in “Others receiving votes” or #33 overall. This poll has Princeton at 15 and Yale at 16.

November 22, 2016 at 2:23 am #29538

StablerBum
Participant

If you had asked me going into the season if I would take 1-2 in the first three games, with an OT loss, and a 3 point loss – I think you would have had to take it.

It hurts a bit more in reality since the Xavier game was winnable, and the late lead at Yale that was given away. But overall 1-2 from these three games is definitely solid and keeps expectations high for this team.

Hoping that Kahron is back soon. Think we will need him against SEC athleticism/pressure from Miss St.

November 22, 2016 at 2:28 am #29540

TMH
Participant

It would be a shame if Kahron has to sit out the Arkansas St. game. My guess is that is the target return date but only if the medical staff gives the OK.

November 22, 2016 at 5:38 am #29543
Bison137
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Mississippi State’s best player, Quindarry Weatherspoon, hurt his wrist over the weekend and is out for the season. He was a preseason 2nd team All-SEC and was averaging almost 20 ppg. LU should have a good shot to win the game Friday.
- This reply was modified 8 years, 5 months ago by Bison137.
- This reply was modified 8 years, 5 months ago by Bison137.
November 22, 2016 at 10:09 am #29546

jimk72
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And congrats to the Bison knocking off SEC’s Vanderbilt 75-72 last night, coming back from early double digit deficit. Biggest win for program and Patriot league in a while. Always nice to beat Power Five teams.

November 22, 2016 at 4:08 pm #29548

LU65
Participant

B137 is correct. Weathespoon did hurt himself over the weekend and is out for the season. The injury, we are told, “will require surgery” and occurred late in the 89-68 win against Boise State on Friday in a game the sophomore All-SEC guard scored a career-high 25 points. Yet, the team responded with a “W” over UTEP two days later on Sunday. In that game, the Box Score shows an apparently hurt (?) Weatherspoon netting 9 on 2 for 9 shooting while pulling down 3 boards. Yes, the 6’4” sophomore was their leading scorer, 2nd in boards, and quite a player, but like many other teams we’ll face this year (even ourselves….with JC stepping in for KR), good teams find a way to win. Mississippi State runs an 11-man roster with 9 seeing double-digit minutes and I’m sure with four days rest they’ll be more than ready – albeit a man short – to take down that team from up north that almost beat Xavier.

November 22, 2016 at 4:19 pm #29549

Bison137
Participant

[quote quote=29548]B137 is correct. Weathespoon did hurt himself over the weekend and is out for the season. The injury, we are told, “will require surgery” and occurred late in the 89-68 win against Boise State on Friday in a game the sophomore All-SEC guard scored a career-high 25 points. Yet, the team responded with a “W” over UTEP two days later on Sunday. In that game, the Box Score shows an apparently hurt (?) Weatherspoon netting 9 on 2 for 9 shooting while pulling down 3 boards.[/quote]

UTEP is a much weaker team than Lehigh however. Ranked #217 by Pomeroy. Was #215 last year.

November 22, 2016 at 8:43 pm #29564

RichH
Participant

Cant fret over 1st 2 Ls. I worry about KR back in time for Ark St and Lieb back this year.

November 22, 2016 at 9:07 pm #29565

toddcudd
Participant

I think Mid-Major Madness may have heard you, StablerBum. Just saw this:

We need to talk about Lehigh

November 22, 2016 at 10:04 pm #29566

TMH
Participant

Todd,
That was a nice article but I don’t understand their poll of mid major teams where 55 of them got votes but not Lehigh who beat #21 Princeton, lost in OT to #16 Yale and lost by 3 to #7 in the entire country Xavier. Who does that?

http://www.midmajormadness.com/2016/11/21/13702378/mid-major-madness-power-rankings-week-2-saint-marys-gonzaga-rhode-island

November 23, 2016 at 12:11 am #29569

toddcudd
Participant

Totally agreed, TMH. Just makes me wonder – if they are a really small shop, maybe it was a pure oversight. I’m sure that there are conferences that they monitor regularly, and PL probably isn’t high on their list. And then the article posted was the “oops” when they caught the mistake.
It’s all just fun at this stage of the season anyway, but there’s no sensible reason why LU wouldn’t be on that list.

November 23, 2016 at 3:07 pm #29588

StablerBum
Participant

Ark St won again last night. Brings them up to 5-1 on the year and clearly outperforming expectations. Only loss is on the road to a good NDSU team and they have the road win over Gtown. They’ll also have 4 days to prep, and Lehigh will be coming off Miss St. Friday night.

This is going to be a tough weekend after the holiday. Really hope the guys can find at least one if not two W’s down South.

November 23, 2016 at 5:17 pm #29589

toddcudd
Participant

PL performance in OOC continues to be interesting. After Bucky’s win over Vandy, HC beat Harvard last night. American also put in a solid effort vs. Wagner and kept it interesting till the end. I think American is going to be more dangerous than expected; they have a couple of frosh playing major minutes, and playing well. With some time for the new guys to better learn that system, I think they’ll be better than expected.
A pleasant side-effect of adding the sports tier to my cable package for the Xavier game – I’ve got access to a bunch of games I wouldn’t have seen otherwise. I got Bucky on the SEC network on Monday, and plan to catch some Colgate at Penn St. tonight on Big 10 network.

December 9, 2016 at 2:46 am #29973

StablerBum
Participant

Couple of interesting stats thus far in the OOC.

– Lehigh is dead last in opponent FT% (351 out of 351). Teams are hitting over 80% and obviously there is no “defense” against free throws so this basically comes down to a combination of luck and opponent skill. May have played a factor in some of these close games however.

– Lehigh is also #316 at forcing opponents turnovers. Last year the team was #139, so that is a pretty steep drop off. Part of the issue against Stony Brook wasn’t just that Lehigh turned it over 19 times, but also that they only forced 8. That was a major contributor to the FGA difference that led to the loss.

– The above stat is also reflected in steal %. Last year Lehigh ranked #63 and this year they have dropped all the way to #222.

Obviously quality of competition plays into this, but it certainly looks like the defense is not being nearly as disruptive as a year ago. The free throws stat is random, but could have played a role in the Yale (14-17 FT) and Stony Brook (17-19) losses.

I said going into the season that I would consider 5 or more OOC wins a success, and that is still possible despite a few bad (read: incredibly frustrating) losses. Hoping that with some added focus and consistency they can string together some wins to close our the OOC.

December 15, 2016 at 6:02 am #30066

StablerBum
Participant

Lehigh’s best win thus far (Princeton) is losing some luster and will likely continue to do so. The Tigers lost at home to a decent St. Joe’s team tonight, but more relevant to the rest of the year, they lost two all conference players for the season to injury.

What was hopefully going to be a top 100 win is likely now a middle of the pack Ivy league win. Mississippi State also lost at home tonight, but to a pretty good ETSU team.

After those two, MSM, St. Francis PA, and Robert Morris all have KenPom ratings north of 250. Letting that Yale game slip away in the last few minutes, and just not showing up to Stony Brook both sting.
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