Is this team capable of getting on a roll? Would love to think so after the performance their last game. So many guys on this team can score 20 or 0.. crazy.
Think that Greg Gordon is the key. He has the athleticism to get to the basket, but his outside shooting is a big question mark. Whenever he's able to replicate Sunday's game we can beat any MAAC team. Hopefully he can.
I'm not doing individual game previews for my podcast any more, but here's a couple notes I WOULD include if I were:
Whatever they've done this year has been without Tahj Staveskie, who would probably be 1st or 2nd team All MAAC if he were playing. Not sure if he's coming back this season, I'm forgetting his story. But they had a good OOC without him, and now have struggled in MAAC play. They've gone from winning at Bonaventure--the MAAC's best OOC game--to losing 5 of 6, with the only win a squeaker at home over Siena. We need to step on them while they're down, especially at home.
The Griffs have been a 3-headed monster (King Ghidora?) in Tahj's absence. 6-2 Jr G Tre Dinkins avg 16p 4a, 6-6 Sr G Siem Uijtendaal 14p 4r, 6-8 (240 lbs) Jr F Frank Mitchel 13p 10r. The first two freakishly shoot the same exact 38.4% from 3, and both shoot better than 81% from the line. Mitchell stinks from the line, 44%, and leads team in FT attempts. They have a quartet of other guys who contribute, averaging between 5-9ppg and grabbing some boards. But they are not particularly deep, generally playing only 7 guys.
Kenpom numbers. They have us a 6-point fav at home, which is a fair number and I assume the Vegas line will be similar if not slanted more our way. Statistically they are meh on both sides of the ball. They are top 100 in offensive rebounding, with Mitchell leading the way, averaging nearly 5 ORs per game. They are also top 100 in 3PFG%, 35.4%, with those 2 guys above as the primary culprits. Some good news: I mentioned Mitchell being awful from the line, well outside of those 2 other guys above, the team isn't great, 344th in the country at 63.7%. On the defensive side, they're VERY good at defending the 3--38th in the country in 3PFG% allowed, at 30.2%. But they don't defend 2s well or block shots, so Greg Gordon should be able to excel again on the offensive end. On D, I am hopeful we don't try to guard Mitchell too often with Gordon, as I can see Gordon getting quick fouls here. A combo of Os/Sully/Terrell would be better. Otherwise, re D, they can hurt us from 3 in transition when breaking the press, so that's something to watch as well.
The greatest poster in the history of the MAAC as determined by THREE separate polls.
Like your suggestion of not having GG guard the League's leading rebounder. Also, think the three man approach makes a lot of sense. We might even wear him down a little.
I'm not doing individual game previews for my podcast any more, but here's a couple notes I WOULD include if I were:
Whatever they've done this year has been without Tahj Staveskie, who would probably be 1st or 2nd team All MAAC if he were playing. Not sure if he's coming back this season, I'm forgetting his story. But they had a good OOC without him, and now have struggled in MAAC play. They've gone from winning at Bonaventure--the MAAC's best OOC game--to losing 5 of 6, with the only win a squeaker at home over Siena. We need to step on them while they're down, especially at home.
The Griffs have been a 3-headed monster (King Ghidora?) in Tahj's absence. 6-2 Jr G Tre Dinkins avg 16p 4a, 6-6 Sr G Siem Uijtendaal 14p 4r, 6-8 (240 lbs) Jr F Frank Mitchel 13p 10r. The first two freakishly shoot the same exact 38.4% from 3, and both shoot better than 81% from the line. Mitchell stinks from the line, 44%, and leads team in FT attempts. They have a quartet of other guys who contribute, averaging between 5-9ppg and grabbing some boards. But they are not particularly deep, generally playing only 7 guys.
Kenpom numbers. They have us a 6-point fav at home, which is a fair number and I assume the Vegas line will be similar if not slanted more our way. Statistically they are meh on both sides of the ball. They are top 100 in offensive rebounding, with Mitchell leading the way, averaging nearly 5 ORs per game. They are also top 100 in 3PFG%, 35.4%, with those 2 guys above as the primary culprits. Some good news: I mentioned Mitchell being awful from the line, well outside of those 2 other guys above, the team isn't great, 344th in the country at 63.7%. On the defensive side, they're VERY good at defending the 3--38th in the country in 3PFG% allowed, at 30.2%. But they don't defend 2s well or block shots, so Greg Gordon should be able to excel again on the offensive end. On D, I am hopeful we don't try to guard Mitchell too often with Gordon, as I can see Gordon getting quick fouls here. A combo of Os/Sully/Terrell would be better. Otherwise, re D, they can hurt us from 3 in transition when breaking the press, so that's something to watch as well.
