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December 2, 2009 at 9:54 pm #1270
Game Notes are up!
http://www.lehighsports.com/assets/spor … 120309.pdf
Zahir shown as "projected starter." Of course, he was given the same status in the Stony Brook Game Notes. Does anyone know the extent of his injury? While I’m at it, is there any word on the health of our flu victims: Hamilton and Maneri? Hate to think we’ll have to enter tomorrow night’s contest with 3 freshmen starters again.
December 2, 2009 at 11:20 pm #1271A closer look at the 2-3 Columbia Lions reveal……
a. they win at home and lose on the road, beating BU by 14 and Longwood by 11 at Levien Gym and dropping contests at DePaul by 6, Syracuse by 15, and Sacred Heart by 5.
b. they win when dropping 3’s at a rate of greater than 43% and lose when falling short of that target, e.g., DePaul (33.3%), Syracuse (42.9%) and Sacred Heart (27.3%).
c. they win when out-rebounding their opponent as was the case with BU (38 to 27) and Longwood (47 to 33); they lose when they get out-rebounded as was the case with DePaul (28 to 33), Syracuse (31 to 36), and Sacred Heart (35 to 36).
d. they win when their star performer, sophomore guard Noruwa Agho, hits for 23 or more points and lose when he doesn’t.
So, we simply out-rebound them, limit their 3’s and hold Agho in check – all while playing them in an arena where they do not lose. No wonder Sagarin has the Lions a 5 point pick. If Carrington is unable to go, the number is too small.
I’m sure Doctor Reed has committed the Sacred Heart tape to memory and has fashioned a winning game plan. Now, the question remains can we execute it with our without Carrington, Hamilton and Maneri? A tall task. A win here will certainly be a "good" win.
December 3, 2009 at 4:54 am #1272Zahir suffered a strained ACL on 12/25. The expected recovery time is 1-2 weeks, making it possible that he would be back for Columbia but not likely. Because Maneri was in uniform on Monday, I expect him to be available tomorrow.
Coach Reed blamed the players for not being ready to play on Monday, and especially seems to blame Hall and Buchberger for not providing adequate leadership. I blame him for choosing to start three freshman rather than turning to his more experienced players. As if that was not enough, he also asked Knutsen to move from the 4 (where he has been successful) to the 5. Hall had a poor game, but was on the floor with three freshmen much of the time. I love the early play of these freshmen, but they are still freshmen. This early in their careers, it would be smarter to mix them into the game from the bench and not to have them in the game together. Here is a look at the +/- point differential while Lehigh players were in the game:
Greinier (FR) -21 in 23 minutes
Knutsen (FR) -20 in 25 minutes
McCollum (FR) -19 in 25 minutes
Hall (SR) -19 in 19 minutes
Keefer (JR) -16 in 18 minutes
Buchberger (SR) -8 in 21 minutes
Ojo (JR) -4 in 13 minutes
Small (JR) -4 in 17 minutes
Safstrom (JR) 0 in 15 minutes
Adams (SO) +1 in 17 minutesBasketball more than a game of scoring points. It is also stopping your opponent and helping your teammates. This is a game that we likely would not have won regardless, but in hindsight, would have faired better with a starting lineup of, say, Hall, Buchberger, Ojo, Adams and Safstrom.
December 3, 2009 at 1:20 pm #1273Thanks for the info on Zahir and the "minute recap." Very helpful. As for ZC, I can’t see him back tonight either. While it would be nice to see him suit up for Dayton on Saturday, why risk it. That day will belong to Buchberger and McColllum our Ohio twins. Resting Zahir for another two week (Dartmouth on the 17th) seems more likely giving him 7 games to get on track before the start of the PL season.
As for tonight, I’ll go with: Hall, McCollum (can’t keep this talented scorer out of the lineup after one bad game), Buchberger (playing better and will be the man to guard Agho), Adams (first career start and deserving after last game’s performance), and Mineri with his beef to go out against their big (still only 6’7") guy under the boards, Grimes (9.2 ppg and 8.4 rpg). Can’t see turnover-prone Safstrom getting the start but should see time in a match up with their 7-footer and number two rebounder, Ampim (5.2 PPG). Continue to like the energy Small, Keefer and Ojo bring off the bench, with Knutson, Grainer and Hamilton spelling Adams and, at times, Mineri. After playing with a full deck for games 1-5, it’s not easy now – as proven in the SB game – having three of our big guys come up lame or sick. Anxious to see how Reed juggles the talent he has tonight.
December 3, 2009 at 5:11 pm #1277Should be a good game, if I can will go. Saw SB last nite at SJU. Can see why we lost. They are large and shoot 3s. Last nite missed and lost vs us they hit.
December 3, 2009 at 7:24 pm #1279Hope to see you there, Rich. I’ll be behind the LU bench wearing a white LU sweater.
December 3, 2009 at 8:29 pm #1281I’ll try. Depends on when I can get out of the City
December 3, 2009 at 10:16 pm #1284"LU65" wrote: Thanks for the info on Zahir and the "minute recap." Very helpful. As for ZC, I can’t see him back tonight either. While it would be nice to see him suit up for Dayton on Saturday, why risk it. That day will belong to Buchberger and McColllum our Ohio twins. Resting Zahir for another two week (Dartmouth on the 17th) seems more likely giving him 7 games to get on track before the start of the PL season.
As for tonight, I’ll go with: Hall, McCollum (can’t keep this talented scorer out of the lineup after one bad game), Buchberger (playing better and will be the man to guard Agho), Adams (first career start and deserving after last game’s performance), and Mineri with his beef to go out against their big (still only 6’7") guy under the boards, Grimes (9.2 ppg and 8.4 rpg). Can’t see turnover-prone Safstrom getting the start but should see time in a match up with their 7-footer and number two rebounder, Ampim (5.2 PPG). Continue to like the energy Small, Keefer and Ojo bring off the bench, with Knutson, Grainer and Hamilton spelling Adams and, at times, Mineri. After playing with a full deck for games 1-5, it’s not easy now – as proven in the SB game – having three of our big guys come up lame or sick. Anxious to see how Reed juggles the talent he has tonight.
1. Amprim is only 6’6", not 7’0". Their 7-footer is Crimmins but he doesn’t play much and isn’t very good. Craig is also 7’0", but he hasn’t played this year due to injury.
2. Against Bucknell, Agho hit 7-8 on threes and many were from five feet beyond the arc. The last few were from five feet behind the arc with a defender draped all over him. If he shoots like that, it’s tough to stop him. I imagine at some point he’ll show he’s human however. Bucknell led with five minutes left and then got blown out down the stretch – a lot of threes followed by a bunch of FT’s and a couple of breakaways.
December 4, 2009 at 7:53 pm #1294Great game if you were a spectator with little interest in the outcome or a guy holding LU +6. Sadly, I was neither. With 8 lead changes and 8 ties and no one able to stretch a lead beyond 8 points, it was fun. The 626 fans got into it and so did the coaches, especially the oft times stoic Reed. Great to see the LU bench so animated, cheering one come back after another and the work of guys who happen to be on the floor at the time. Nine got into the scoring column with only Dave Buchberger missing out going 0 for 1. He’ll get a pass from me and the others wearing the brown and white for the work he did holding Noruwa Agho to 5 points in 30 minutes of play. Too bad our best defender couldn’t be everywhere as two other Columbia guards, Scott and Foley combined for 35 points (10 for 16 from the floor and 12 for 15 from the line). Before, I forget ……….Bison, you’re right, Ampin wasn’t 7 foot tall…..just 6’6". Although he played like he was pulling down 6 boards in 23 minutes while going 3 for 4 and dishing out a couple of key assists. Looking for Lehigh highlights, you have to go no further than the forecourt play of freshmen Knutson (career best 17) and Greiner (6 boards and 7 points in 25 minutes), along with sophomores Adams , and Mineri. Wasn’t it Holden Greiner the one no one ever talked about when the subject to turned to incoming frosh. It was always CJ McCullum and Gabe Knutson. Not so, any more as he continues to chip in 7 + points a night in his 22 minutes on the floor. The four of them (Knutson, Greiner, Adams and Mineri) are doing their part (and more) to keep the post warm until Zahir returns, scoring 37 of the team’s 70 points last night. Another bright spot has to be the return to form of our leader, Marquis Hall (19 pts., 6 boards, and 5 assists.). With all this good news, there has to be some bad. There is. What’s up with CJ, our Ohio Gatorade Player of the Year? A 1 for 12 night on the heels of a 1-8 outing a few nights ago vs. Stony Brook. This, after going 24 for 49 in his first 4 collegiate games. Bad looks at the basket? No, not really. Nerves? Hard to imagine………you’d think they crop up in games 1 thru 4, not now. Whatever it is, let’s hope they pass. But, then again, maybe not soon enough as we travel to Ohio tomorrow to take on the Fliers of Dayton – a three and one half hour drive from Canton, home of CJ McCollum.
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