American U. – Game 5

Forum Forum Lehigh Sports Lehigh Men’s Basketball American U. – Game 5

This topic contains 33 replies, has 11 voices, and was last updated by  toddcudd 9 years, 2 months ago.

Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 34 total)
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  • #17606

    LU65
    Participant

    LU’s Game Notes:

    http://www.lehighsports.com/custompages/Game%20Notes/Men's%20Basketball/2014-15/16%20-%20American%20Notes%201.14.15.pdf

    AU’s Win over Colgate this past weekend:

    http://aueagles.com/sports/m-baskbl/2014-15/releases/20150110Win over Colgate on Saturday

    Tomorrow’s Game:

      >
      KenPom Rankings

    LU (7-8, 1-3) ranked 232rd
    @
    AU (9-7, 2-2) ranked 176th

    AU wins 56-51 (75% chance)

    Here are a couple of interesting KenPom stats to bear in mind. One, American U., like us, does not rebound the ball very well on offense. In fact, at 20.3%, only 4 teams across America do it worse. Two, American U. takes their time on offense, plodding along at a per possession time of 22.1 seconds. That’s 350th or next to last/slowest in the country. We, on the other hand, push matters along at an accelerated rate of 16.4 seconds/possession. What style will win out? Will either team break from their norm? Will frustration lead to turnovers?

      Commentary

    This one won’t be ease. It seems I said that before heading into Army and things turned out fine. So, who knows, maybe we’ll come with energy, determination and enough skillful play to upset the Eagles of American. And, an upset it would be. AU, even minus Tony Wroblickly, is showing early strength and remains undefeated at home this year setting down St. Francis (PA), Mount St. Mary’s, Holy Cross and Colgate. And, Lehigh’s latest memory of Bender Arena isn’t a particularly good one as we connected on just 15 field goal attempts in a 44-64 drubbing some 11 months ago. Austin Price was our only force that day scoring 20 and registering 5 steals.

    I know I’m not alone when I say I’ll be most anxious to see how we come out of the gate – confident and ready to take the game to them or hesitant and playing not to lose? The former: we win. The latter: we’ll be taking Holy Cross on Satruday.

    #17616

    lehigh90
    Participant

    I look at this game and first impression would be loss, which for this team means we win the game by 8.

    #17618

    LU65
    Participant

    Yeah, I hear ya,90.

    Here’s a look at their Game Notes:
    http://aueagles.com/sports/m-baskbl/2014-15/releases/20150113 90.

    Note they also highligh “pace of play.” Will be anxoius to see how we game-plan to it. Will it be a run and gun or match patience with patience? In their previous four home wins, AU has slowed it down to the point where opponents have managed just 46, 45, 49 and 69 points. In that last game against Colgate, The Raiders had just tallied 54 points in regulation before scoring another 15 in two OTs before eventually losing the game.

    Anxious to bet a look at their three guards (two @ 6’5″ and all upperclassmen) who each average over 39 mpg and score doulbe digits ppg with the weakest coming in with a FG% of .438. Unprecedented to say the least and a real test of our perimeter defense.

    #17620
    jimk72
    jimk72
    Participant

    With the way this season has gone I have completely abandoned any hope of understanding what makes them tick. Or tock. Or Jekyll. Or Hyde. I’ve been reduced to a diehard fan hoping for the good Jekyll tonight.

    #17621

    toddcudd
    Participant

    That’s exactly where I am too, jim. Just gonna be a fan and hope for the best. I can’t figure anything out. Our FG% is worrisome, though.
    Just one observation – I think we’re unlikely to dictate pace. So far in PL play, our games have been consistent with opponent’s pace. The one exception was BU; that game was high pace, contrary to their style – but they were also going all Globetrotters on us, so pace didn’t mean much in that one…

    #17622

    lfnadmin
    Keymaster

    The Columbia game is a bad omen in regards to how pace affects this team. Keys to win is all about knocking down the (limited) opportunities that they do get. Smart shots will win the game.

    #17623
    RichH
    RichH
    Participant

    Oh well.

    #17624
    RichH
    RichH
    Participant

    Two close losses to AU tonite. SJU beat Providence only solace today.
    May have to pay more attn to wrestling this year.

    #17625

    LU15
    Participant

    Keep the faith rich! long way to go.. any chance football recruting makes any progress before Holy Cross or Navy?

    #17626
    RichH
    RichH
    Participant

    Official visits will tell the tale later this month. FBS coaches now out of their dead period,so info ,good and bad,should pick up. Right now have some possible verbals,haven’t been able to confirm yet.
    Hope you’re right. Not that we played badly just not good enuf to win. Nice to see CB on court banging.

    #17630

    pafan11
    Participant

    Another lose attributed to youth by commentators and others. Unfortunately not sure this team gets older next year. I suspect major turnover at the end of season. I would not be surprised to see multiple transfers and staff departures. Played 12 guys last night in contrast to 7 basically playing every minute for AU. Not sure today’s athlete or least these athletes are willing to be role players in a 12 man rotation (not to mention 3 more players that will expect playing time next year).

    #17635
    StablerBum
    StablerBum
    Participant

    Tough L. They played ok, not great. Reading Doc’s quote about switching all screens it is disappointing there wasn’t a stronger contest on the PeeWee shot.

    Tim did a better job finishing than he has recently and put up a very nice line.

    JG really struggled, dropping a couple of passes that would have led to easy hoops.

    The unforced turnovers (throwing the ball away on the perimeter for a backcourt, AP being lazy/sloppy and getting his pocket picked late game) are really tough to swallow. Also, does anyone else think this team (TK, JG, and BA come to mind) gets a ton of travelling violations?

    I could see a couple of transfers at the end of the year, but I don’t foresee any sort of mass exodus. The AU 7 man rotation is pretty crazy, as three of their guys are amongst the top players in the country for minutes – I don’t see them as representative of a normal program. The team hasn’t been playing well, so I applaud Reed for being willing to give other guys a shot.

    #17636
    van
    van
    Participant

    Of interest to me was the contribution from CB, he did some nice things in the 3 min he got. would be OK with me if these guys never attempt another 3 pt shot, ugh. and sure wish announcers would stop calling SC a 3 pt specialist. will BA ever improve his D?

    #17637

    pafan11
    Participant

    Stable,
    I applaud any move Doc makes to improve this team, but it seems to me that rotation is more about keeping everyone happy than about performance. After some very quick research you will find that four out of the top five teams in the PL only have 5 or 6 players averaging 15+ minutes per game. LU has 8 at 15+ with SC not far behind minus some early season games with little minutes. Might have something to do with the inconsistency?

    #17638
    RichH
    RichH
    Participant

    pafan
    Not clear do you posit that stat as the cause or effect as to inconsistency. No expert but youth seems major culprit.

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