Bucknell – Game 9

[LU65Participant]

Game Notes

LU’s

http://www.lehighsports.com/custompages/Game%20Notes/Men's%20Basketball/2014-15/20%20-%20Bucknell%20Notes%201.28.15.pdf

Bucknell’s

http://www.bucknellbison.com/fls/32100/pdf/mbb/MBBNotesLehigh15.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=32100

Ken Pom
Lehigh (10-9, 4-4) ranked 205th (PRI #167)
@
Bucknell (11-10, 6-2) ranked 201st (RPI #166)
Bucknell wins 69-65 (67% chance)

Around the League
Holy Cross by 1 over Loyola
American by 2 over Navy
Army by 5 over Boston U.
Colgate by 4 over Lafayette

Commentary

“From the frying pan and into the fire”
That may be the buzz in and around the Lehigh locker room as our guys prepare to face a red hot Bison team who comes into the contest riding a four game winning streak during which they averaged 78+ ppg. Of concern is the fact that their “3s” have seemingly come as frequent as their “2s.” This, in large part due to the play of 6’5” Jr. Guard, Chris Hass; 5’11” Sophomore Guard, John Assinaro ; and 6’2” Freshman Guard, J.C. Show. Together they have hit 60% (30 of 50) of their long range attempts during that 4-game stretch. Note: The Bison now lay claim to the #1 spot in 3-point effectiveness during league game at 45.4%. On Saturday, we shut down Lafayette’s 3-popint specialist, Joey P., and held the Leopards, as a whole, to 31.6% from deep. That and more may be required of us if we are to put down the Bison on Wednesday. It won’t be easy but you got to think we have Bucknell’s attention, knowing we have held our last three opponents to an overall field goal success rate of 37.9% and just 25.3% from deep. They say “Defense wins Super Bowls,” let’s hope it applies to PL basketball games, as well.

When it comes to post play, here’s the Tale of the Tape:

Tim Kempton vs. Nana Foulland

Sophomore —- Freshman
6’10” — 6’9”
14.3 PPG —- 8.8 PPG
8.9 RPG —- 5.4 RPG
.474 FG% —- .520 FG%
.698 FT% —- .517 FT%

In short, limit the impact of the Bison 3 point shot and hope that KR and others are successful in getting the ball down low to either TK or JG. After all, they have, over the past three games, hit on 65+% of their combined field goal attempts and, if sent to the line, could be counted on to hit 69% of their tries. Seems like a plan to me.

[TMHParticipant]

Another nice writeup LU65. Not necessarily a must win game but close to it. At 6-2 in league play, I want to bring both Bucknell and Colgate closer to the pack. We seem to play better on the road, so this game is winnable.

[Bison137Participant]

Foulland is certainly mo Tim Kempton at this point – but he has been showing some improvement. In his 8 PL games, he is averaging 11.3 ppt and 6.3 rpg, while shooting 55%. Also leading the league with 2.0 bpg. FT shooting, which has been a problem, is up to 60% in league play. It will be interesting to see if he can stay out of foul trouble without letting Kempton score at will.

I know some of you know JC Show from his HS days. In league play he is leading the league in 3-pt pct. unfortunately he is dealing with plantar fasciitis, which is limiting his minutes. Prior to that becoming an issue, he was starting.

Bucknell has been hitting an unsustainable pct on threes in recent games. That can’t last, so their defense will have to improve to keep winning.

• This reply was modified 9 years, 2 months ago by  Bison137.
• This reply was modified 9 years, 2 months ago by  Bison137.

[toddcuddParticipant]

Don’t let 137 sell Foulland short. He’s exactly the kind of player that gives TK trouble – tall, athletic shot-blocker.
IMO Bucky is our toughest PL match-up this year. Between Foulland and shooters, could be rough.
this will be a fun matchup for 3 years.

[lfnadminKeymaster]

I agree, the presence of Foulland makes this a different sort of matchup tomorrow. We are going to need to get big minutes from Kempton, JG and JC to win this game – and Sojka, the place where officiating went to die, is always of concern when it means getting our bigs in foul trouble. Keeping them with minimal fouls will be critical.

[LU65Participant]

Good read on tonight’s opponent:

As more players develop, Bucknell becomes a clear contender

[Go Lehigh TU OwlParticipant]

JC Show played for my HS alma mater, Abington Heights. I’m familiar with this kid’s accomplishments in football and bball. He comes from an athletic family. His father is/was a college AD iirc.

[jimk72Participant]

You had a feeling they would eventually get hot from outside, but in my opinion, too many turnovers in the second half were the difference. The three point bank by Thomas was the ultimate dagger. Only consolation, this isn’t the one you want to win. But it still s***s.

[toddcuddParticipant]

Yup, that one stings. Would not have expected to be up 16 in 2nd, at Sojka. But to see it get away? Ouch.
Fouls a big problem tonight too.

[RichHParticipant]

Missed last part of game. WTF. How did we blow a 16 pt lead?

[toddcuddParticipant]

Offense sputtered with TK on the bench a lot, and bucky (predictably) got hot. Frosh Thomas burst into flames – including a bank-shot 3, for his third consecutive made 3.
Where I grew up, that didn’t count if he didn’t call “glass”…

[vanParticipant]

how did we blow a 16 pt lead? some of these guys need to work on their BB IQ. Really stupid shot selection early in the shot clock in the second half when we had the big lead. Everybody wants to be a hero and forget it is a team game.

[lfnadminKeymaster]

Forgotten in the foul calls (10 vs. 4 in the second half) and the foul trouble (big men on bench, just as I feared) might be the sequence at the end of the first half, when Bucknell came back from a double-digit lead. It was kicked off by a boneheaded freshman-like turnover by KR that was converted into a hoop on the other side and got Sojka up and around. Bucknell fed off that energy – it was curiously lacking most of the half – and cut it to within 3. It could have easily been tied, too, had that member of the Bison made that final shot.

This game was lost on mental toughness and momentum management, pure and simple. We would do everything right and keeping everything together for a long stretch, and then one play would puncture the balloon and we couldn’t regain the momentum. The silver lining is that this is the opportunity to be a really good lesson for this team. You’re good, guys, but in order to be champions, you have to win games like this one.

• This reply was modified 9 years, 2 months ago by  lfnadmin.

[SouthsiderParticipant]

Most of you are way too kind. This was a total meltdown. As someone mentioned above, the shotclock is your friend when you have a big lead, use it! Alston was out of control,sit him! Reed starting to remind me of Coen, no fire in the belly. How many times are we going to see big leads evaporate??? No excuse for this one. NONE!

[StablerBumParticipant]

Luckily, I wasn’t able to watch the game. Who was guarding Zach Thomas during his 12 straight point run? I hope Holba has good feet and can help contain guys like Thomas and other stretch 4’s next season.

People keep mentioning turnovers, but it looks like we only had 11. Not a terrible number. Was LU just not getting good shots in the second half?

Random stat I’d like to share, our #2 and #3 shooters as far as three point field goals attempted are shooting 28% and 22% respectively from 3. Maybe they shouldn’t be shooting so many?

[Author]

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