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Post by iona05 on Dec 2, 2020 5:17:36 GMT -5
I’m sure the HAC will be sold out for this one! Oh, wait.
Go Gaels!
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Post by sigael on Dec 2, 2020 7:43:34 GMT -5
ESPN projects Iona with a 58.1% chance for a win.
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Post by GuyF on Dec 2, 2020 8:05:04 GMT -5
Disappointed that Iona has not done anything with regard to cardboard cutouts.
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Post by ic59 on Dec 2, 2020 9:39:40 GMT -5
Could be cost.
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Post by jerseygael on Dec 2, 2020 9:53:16 GMT -5
The school can charge the fans for cardboard cutouts of themselves.
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Post by GuyF on Dec 2, 2020 10:59:51 GMT -5
Yes, I pitched it multiple times as a Goal Club fundraiser.
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Post by GuyF on Dec 2, 2020 14:02:01 GMT -5
So, some preview info on Merrimack. In the NEC preseason poll, Merrimack was picked 7th. Their best returning player is probably PG Mikey Watkins, but they have no studs on this team. Watkins and G/F Devin Jensen are their highest scoring returning players at 7.5 ppg apiece. But the strength of their team is defense, and they lived in a very effective zone last year and rode it to a great inaugural D1 season. Their zone doesn't just sit there, it's constantly moving around to challenge shooters and make you handle, and as a result they force a lot of turnovers. So, a good test for our offense, given that we just had a huge turnover game vs SHU.
On the offensive end, they tend to shoot a lot of 3s and try to set up layups because they don't have a ton of size. Their only decent big is 6-8, 240-lb Jordan Minor, who averaged 6 and 4. They have no one over 6-8 on their roster. So, Watkins handles a lot and will try to penetrate, and Jenkins is their best outside shooter (43% from 3 last year).
So, if we play defense with the energy we showed vs SHU, we should be in good shape. On offense, if we're sloppy we shouldn't get burned as frequently in transition as of course Merrimack doesn't have SHU's athletes, but this was the thing Pitino was most upset with in the postgame press conference so I expect valuing the basketball will be a priority tomorrow. If we are patient on offense and don't allow our bigs to handle too much, we should be productive enough offensively. Merrimack will be ultra-focused on Ross from the get-go in this one, so getting other players involved early will be a focal point for us.
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Post by Cjb on Dec 2, 2020 14:02:40 GMT -5
Disappointed that Iona has not done anything with regard to cardboard cutouts. My guess is they have enough on their plate these days.
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Post by GuyF on Dec 2, 2020 14:04:19 GMT -5
Disappointed that Iona has not done anything with regard to cardboard cutouts. My guess is they have enough on their plate these days. Most other schools are doing them--including Monmouth.
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Post by Cjb on Dec 2, 2020 14:10:05 GMT -5
My guess is they have enough on their plate these days. Most other schools are doing them--including Monmouth. I’d rather have billboards on I-95.
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Post by gregcrow on Dec 2, 2020 14:11:18 GMT -5
Most other schools are doing them--including Monmouth. I’d rather have billboards on I-95. You would look great on a billboard on the Thruway!
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Post by GuyF on Dec 2, 2020 14:15:46 GMT -5
Most other schools are doing them--including Monmouth. I’d rather have billboards on I-95. Iona didn't pay for that. And I'm not saying they should pay for the cutouts. Very easy to do. Monmouth's fans can buy them for $50. Charge Iona fans $75, get them made for 50 and the Goal Club keeps the rest.
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Post by thehat on Dec 2, 2020 14:27:28 GMT -5
So, some preview info on Merrimack. In the NEC preseason poll, Merrimack was picked 7th. Their best returning player is probably PG Mikey Watkins, but they have no studs on this team. Watkins and G/F Devin Jensen are their highest scoring returning players at 7.5 ppg apiece. But the strength of their team is defense, and they lived in a very effective zone last year and rode it to a great inaugural D1 season. Their zone doesn't just sit there, it's constantly moving around to challenge shooters and make you handle, and as a result they force a lot of turnovers. So, a good test for our offense, given that we just had a huge turnover game vs SHU. On the offensive end, they tend to shoot a lot of 3s and try to set up layups because they don't have a ton of size. Their only decent big is 6-8, 240-lb Jordan Minor, who averaged 6 and 4. They have no one over 6-8 on their roster. So, Watkins handles a lot and will try to penetrate, and Jenkins is their best outside shooter (43% from 3 last year). So, if we play defense with the energy we showed vs SHU, we should be in good shape. On offense, if we're sloppy we shouldn't get burned as frequently in transition as of course Merrimack doesn't have SHU's athletes, but this was the thing Pitino was most upset with in the postgame press conference so I expect valuing the basketball will be a priority tomorrow. If we are patient on offense and don't allow our bigs to handle too much, we should be productive enough offensively. Merrimack will be ultra-focused on Ross from the get-go in this one, so getting other players involved early will be a focal point for us. Looking for us to limit TO's. 22 against Seton Hall. Merrimack won the NEC last year, but their top 2 scorers graduated. Gives our squad a chance at home to put a "W" under their belt. This is a game I would definitely attend if Corona did not exist. Excited
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Post by ic59 on Dec 2, 2020 16:37:11 GMT -5
Any spread on this game? CBS Sports has one on the Syracuse-Niagara game but not one on our game.
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Post by GuyF on Dec 2, 2020 16:42:05 GMT -5
Any spread on this game? CBS Sports has one on the Syracuse-Niagara game but not one on our game. I saw one line with us as 4.5 favs but I don't know if that was an official opening line.
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