American – Game 18 (PL 2)

[LU65Participant]

One last word on the Worcester debacle………

It’s true, we came out flat against Holy Cross and played uninspired ball for 20 minutes of the game. Problem was it was in the first 20 and the 19-point hole (3:08 of the 1st) we dug was just too deep to crawl out of. Blame and shame goes to all who suited up for the Brown and White that night and, to the extent you believe the coaches didn’t prepare our players for what they were about to see and experience, you can point fingers their way, too. Suffice it to say, I doubt you’ll see it again out of this bunch.
Don’t take this wrong – we stunk up the joint – but as a fan of Lehigh basketball, I think it only fair that we look at some of the highlights of our play and the extraordinary play of two Crusaders. When you piece it all together the result is the same: "L" for us and a "W" for them. No argument here. But……..

we made somewhat a game of it in the 2nd half, by out-scoring Holy Cross 45 to 37 and never showed "quit" once down by 19.

we witnessed the further maturation and got solid (minutes) out of Corey Schaefer (17), Justin Mineri (13), and Conroy Baltimore (3).

we protected the ball well, turning it over only 8 times.

got 6 assists and 1 turnover out of our PGs

but, we had no answers for the brilliant and completely unexpected play seen out of Crusader subs Jordan Stevens (7 for 10…17 pts.) and starter, Davd Dudzinski (9 for 11….23 pts.). Career games, each.

Now onto AU, a game lehigh90 calls a "must." No one could have said it better. We can’t afford to go down 0 and 2 while our top contenders for the League crown start-out the year 2 and 0. It’s a must see game that had better show us to be contenders and not, as the saying goes, pretenders. The pressure is squarely on Reed to have them ready to play. So much has been made of our start, a loss here would wipe-away all the good it took weeks to build. Problem is, American is not a bad basketball team. They lay claim to the league’s top scorer – if only by the slightest percentage point (sorry, CJ) – and are riding high after dispatching of Colgate 82-54. In that game, the Eagles ran roughshod over the visitors, hitting 18 of 30 (.600) in the first half (sound familiar?) and protected its home court – something we must do tomorrow. Yet, with AU, you’re not sure what you’re going to get. Will it be the team that beat an 11 and 5 St. Joe’s squad or the team that loss to UMES (64-62) and Mount St. Mary’s (49-42)? Give a listen to their coach after the Colgate win (thanks to and compliments of Hooptime)……..

http://news.hooptimeonline.com/post/155 … coach-jeff

And, a recent Jeff Jones video interview…..

http://www.aueagles.com/sports/m-baskbl/index

Game Notes

http://www.lehighsports.com/assets/1/wo … /47255.PDF

Rankings and Chances of Winning

School / Real Time RPI / Ken Pom / Sagarin Predictor

LU / 120 / 88 / 86
AU / 165 / 216 / 218

Ken Pom: LU should win 77-63 (89% chance)*
Sagarin: LU should win by 13*

* Where have we heard that before!

Who intends to make it to Stabler? With students out on Holiday Break, the team needs all the support it can get.

[LU65Participant]

AU Game Notes:

http://www.aueagles.com/sports/m-baskbl … 111_Lehigh

All you wanted to know about AU. Question still remains, "Will #3 (6’5" Sr. Guard Troy Brewer) play. All we read is that he is not listed as a probable starter.

[LUHoops00Participant]

I hope that you’ll be right, I’m sure an effort like HC won’t happen again, and if it does then this team is in big trouble.

American is must win, you have to hang a W up and give them their first loss. Must protect home court, and have to get into BU game 2-1 with shot at handing them their first loss as well. Fun stuff this PLeague, let’s go LU.

[norcalfanParticipant]

"LUHoops00" wrote: I hope that you’ll be right, I’m sure an effort like HC won’t happen again, and if it does then this team is in big trouble.

American is must win, you have to hang a W up and give them their first loss. Must protect home court, and have to get into BU game 2-1 with shot at handing them their first loss as well. Fun stuff this PLeague, let’s go LU.

I will breathe when the game is over. This PL is the most unpredictable league I have ever seen. Makes me crazy. I hope Mackey has a great game, all of the players for that matter. Go LU!

[lfnadminKeymaster]

Brewer, according to Tom Housenick, is not playing for AU – a big plus for the boys in Brown.

On a side note, I’ve created a new Facebook group for the "Hoops Wing" of Lehigh Football Nation:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lehigh-Ho … 0039426135

Not sure if I’ll be doing in-game commentary of this game – but I will be at certain points during the season. (No Twitter support, incidentally.)

[LUHoops00Participant]

Missed first half, but norcal you have to watch the 2nd half, might be your favorite half of LU bball ever…with JH & JA lighting it up from deep. Big big win, big 2nd half, nice to get that first W out of the way, nice effort holding serve at home.

1.) Such a different team when mackey is rolling, just amazing, he was the 3D man…drive, dribble, dish the ball tonight. 8 assists, got into teeth of defense, impressive.
2.) When JA is active, huge help to front court, great effort tonight.
3.) Nice to see JH awaken and contribute in 2nd half, hopefully good confidence boost.
4.) CJ – gets 26, ho hum, stud.

LUHoops00

[norcalfanParticipant]

"LUHoops00" wrote: Missed first half, but norcal you have to watch the 2nd half, might be your favorite half of LU bball ever…with JH & JA lighting it up from deep. Big big win, big 2nd half, nice to get that first W out of the way, nice effort holding serve at home.

1.) Such a different team when mackey is rolling, just amazing, he was the 3D man…drive, dribble, dish the ball tonight. 8 assists, got into teeth of defense, impressive.
2.) When JA is active, huge help to front court, great effort tonight.
3.) Nice to see JH awaken and contribute in 2nd half, hopefully good confidence boost.
4.) CJ – gets 26, ho hum, stud.

LUHoops00

Ha Ha Ha! My seniors were on the floor tonight. All three J’s did a superb job. I am looking at the rerun now. I had to work, darn. I am so glad this one is over. Mackey was the engine. TEAMWORK and DEFENSE wins games. Now don’t get comfortable LU! Great win!

[lehigh90Participant]

Nice win. Didn’t shoot very well from 2, but great night from the 3 point line. If JA, JH and AD make 8 3’s in a game, nobody is going to beat us. Nice step up from our role players. Maybe this team has some senior leadership after all. HG with a donut? That can’t happen anymore.

[LU65Participant]

I spoke to Chris before the game and would encourage all to give a listen to his (Hooptime) postgame interview with CJ, Hinkle, Coach Reed and Coach Jones.

http://hooptimeonline.com/

They tell the store far better than me and was sitting on top of the action behind the Lehigh bench.

Stats that may not be obvious:

3 Starters (JH, MM, and HG) went without a basket in the first half

Our bench out-shot our starters in terms of FG% (.538 to .340)

Attendance of 998 actually looked understated for the first time.

9 or perhaps 12 points (difference makers to extend lead in 2nd half) came as a direct result of perfectly executed high screens set by JM on which MM would dribble penetrate and kick-out for open 3’s – fun to watch

In the battle for league supremacy in scoring, both CJ (26 last night) and Hinkle (22 last night) went 8 for 18 from the field

Hinkle 7 – Lehigh 2 after first couple of possessions left Hamilton wondering what just happened. It didn’t get much better for our team co-captain the rest of the way thru the first half. But, once joined in the defensive effort by Adams, we gained control of Hinkle and, without many other scoring options (Brewer out with an injury), AU was left wondering where to turn for production. A more relaxed Hamilton began to hit his shots in the 2nd half and contributed, big time, to the win. Long overdue. Could be turning point in his season. Bears watching.

Adams’ 3 for 4 behind the arc was a surprise, to say the least. Had been 2 for 12 going into the game and 8 for 31 in his first three campaigns. Funny as it may seem, he doesn’t seem to miss many in practice. Will we see more?

CJ recorded 5 steals raising his total to 2.44 spg – good for 16th in the nation

All home teams won last night. Now 6 and 2 for the season.

Good to be 1 and 1 heading to Colgate.

[norcalfanParticipant]

They tell the store far better than me and was sitting on top of the action behind the Lehigh bench.

Stats that may not be obvious:

3 Starters (JH, MM, and HG) went without a basket in the first half

Our bench out-shot our starters in terms of FG% (.538 to .340)

Attendance of 998 actually looked understated for the first time.

9 or perhaps 12 points (difference makers to extend lead in 2nd half) came as a direct result of perfectly executed high screens set by JM on which MM would dribble penetrate and kick-out for open 3’s – fun to watch

In the battle for league supremacy in scoring, both CJ (26 last night) and Hinkle (22 last night) went 8 for 18 from the field

Hinkle 7 – Lehigh 2 after first couple of possessions left Hamilton wondering what just happened. It didn’t get much better for our team co-captain the rest of the way thru the first half. But, once joined in the defensive effort by Adams, we gained control of Hinkle and, without many other scoring options (Brewer out with an injury), AU was left wondering where to turn for production. A more relaxed Hamilton began to hit his shots in the 2nd half and contributed, big time, to the win. Long overdue. Could be turning point in his season. Bears watching.

Adams’ 3 for 4 behind the arc was a surprise, to say the least. Had been 2 for 12 going into the game and 8 for 31 in his first three campaigns. Funny as it may seem, he doesn’t seem to miss many in practice. Will we see more?

CJ recorded 5 steals raising his total to 2.44 spg – good for 16th in the nation

All home teams won last night. Now 6 and 2 for the season.

Good to be 1 and 1 heading to Colgate.[/quote]
Oops it’s late. See next entry.

[norcalfanParticipant]

LU65,

Good recount of the players and their contributions. I think what we saw was a team buy in. I noticed some instances where the starters were actually encouraging the non starters. I am not a coach, but merely a fan, but I have been around basketball and other sports long enough to know that no team buy in, no win. Keep working together LU! Coaching is also a large part of the game. Go LU![/quote]

[Author]

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