Seawolves Fans

Athletics => SBU Men's Basketball => Topic started by: Checkmate on February 04, 2018, 06:11:33 pm

Title: Game 25: vs. UMass Lowell 2/8
Post by: Checkmate on February 04, 2018, 06:11:33 pm
UMASS LOWELL
Record:
9-13 (3-6 America East)
Last Game: W, 88-64, at Maine 1/31
Last 10: 3-7
Last Meeting: UMass Lowell 82, Stony Brook 79 (OT); Yeboah team-high 23; lost six-point lead with 2 1/2 minutes left in regulation; 10 for 20 on FTs
CM Unofficial Line: Stony Brook -2.5
KenPom RPI: Stony Brook 237, UMass Lowell 306
KenPom Prediction: Stony Brook 77, UMass Lowell 70
Listen/Watch:
TV: http://www.espn.com/watch/_/id/3273411/umass-lowell-vs-stony-brook
UMass Lowell radio: http://goriverhawks.com/showcase
Stony Brook radio: http://www.943theshark.com/listenlive.aspx
Notables:
6-2/210 rsr Jahad Thomas 19.5 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 4.2 apg, 1.7 spg, .521 FG%
6-1/195 sr Matt Harris 12.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg, .841 FT%, .374 3-pt FG%
6-3/185 jr Ryan Jones 10.9 ppg, 4.6 rpg, .369 3-pt FG%
6-4/190 so Rinardo Perry 9.2 ppg
6-7/225 jr Josh Gantz 8.2 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 1.1 spg, 1.1 bpg, .480 FG%

All right, we've plummeted in that territory where we run the risk of playing (edit) Vermont in the first round of the conference tournament. We're in the 7 spot now by virtue of the buzzer-beating win over Maine, and would climb to 6 if we prevail on Thursday, leapfrogging the River Hawks. Any situation where you avoid Vermont in the 1/8 game gives us a least a little hope of making some noise – UMBC, Hartford, Albany, we've all been in games with them. The 4/5 game it all but impossible to get to the way we're playing and with UNH two games up with six to go.

Lowell has rounded into shape a bit, having won three of its last four after starting the year 0-5 in conference. They're coming off a 24-point drubbing at Maine, which is a good win no matter what. Thomas was his usual stat sheet stuffer, going for 19, 13 and 6.

One guy to watch out for is this freshman Obadiah Noel, who's coming off a 10-point, seven-rebound night against Maine. He went for double digits in all three Maine wins, and didn't in their six losses. His season high is a 19-point night in a loss to Central Connecticut State. On the year, Noel has won three AE Rookie of the Week honors, one better than a few players, including Olaniyi. Maybe that turns into a nice little battle over the next three years.

In a season with a million lineup changes, I think we're going to see Olaniyi, Yeboah and Iroegbu take us down the home stretch. As I said in the Hartford recap, those guys just look like they want it more than the others. Granted, shots weren't going down as frequently as we'd have liked, but I want guys whose actions show that they haven't given up.
Title: Re: Game 25: vs. UMass Lowell 2/8
Post by: Moveitfred on February 05, 2018, 11:25:43 am
I might be wrong (and I guess this is part of the conversation this year for us) but I don't think the men play an 8/9 game. I think the AE women do, however. For the men I think they simply *ahem* do not invite the last place team to the party.

Anyone know, is that correct?
Title: Re: Game 25: vs. UMass Lowell 2/8
Post by: Checkmate on February 05, 2018, 11:45:49 am
I might be wrong (and I guess this is part of the conversation this year for us) but I don't think the men play an 8/9 game. I think the AE women do, however. For the men I think they simply *ahem* do not invite the last place team to the party.

Anyone know, is that correct?

I wondered the same thing, but simply guessed that they'd follow the same format as the women. I can't think of a good reason why they wouldn't.
Title: Re: Game 25: vs. UMass Lowell 2/8
Post by: Hammertime on February 05, 2018, 11:56:20 am
I might be wrong (and I guess this is part of the conversation this year for us) but I don't think the men play an 8/9 game. I think the AE women do, however. For the men I think they simply *ahem* do not invite the last place team to the party.

Anyone know, is that correct?

I wondered the same thing, but simply guessed that they'd follow the same format as the women. I can't think of a good reason why they wouldn't.

Correct. Last place team in the AE goes golfing. Their season is over..
Title: Re: Game 25: vs. UMass Lowell 2/8
Post by: Checkmate on February 05, 2018, 01:31:17 pm
I might be wrong (and I guess this is part of the conversation this year for us) but I don't think the men play an 8/9 game. I think the AE women do, however. For the men I think they simply *ahem* do not invite the last place team to the party.

Anyone know, is that correct?

I wondered the same thing, but simply guessed that they'd follow the same format as the women. I can't think of a good reason why they wouldn't.

Correct. Last place team in the AE goes golfing. Their season is over..

Sent a note to the AE, which confirmed this. No 8/9 game.
Title: Re: Game 25: vs. UMass Lowell 2/8
Post by: VA_Seawolf on February 06, 2018, 12:11:41 am
I might be wrong (and I guess this is part of the conversation this year for us) but I don't think the men play an 8/9 game. I think the AE women do, however. For the men I think they simply *ahem* do not invite the last place team to the party.

Anyone know, is that correct?

I wondered the same thing, but simply guessed that they'd follow the same format as the women. I can't think of a good reason why they wouldn't.

Correct. Last place team in the AE goes golfing. Their season is over..

Sent a note to the AE, which confirmed this. No 8/9 game.

Good. There shouldn't be. I even laugh at the P5 conferences who invite all 14 teams to the tourney sometimes. At least there those are stronger programs who have a shot at the at large. At the low-mid major level, there's really no good reason your conference tourney should go past 8 teams. I'd argue it should be that way in general. Make the regular season at least mean something.
Title: Re: Game 25: vs. UMass Lowell 2/8
Post by: ry1nik on February 06, 2018, 08:32:42 am
I might be wrong (and I guess this is part of the conversation this year for us) but I don't think the men play an 8/9 game. I think the AE women do, however. For the men I think they simply *ahem* do not invite the last place team to the party.

Anyone know, is that correct?

I wondered the same thing, but simply guessed that they'd follow the same format as the women. I can't think of a good reason why they wouldn't.

Correct. Last place team in the AE goes golfing. Their season is over..

Sent a note to the AE, which confirmed this. No 8/9 game.

Good. There shouldn't be. I even laugh at the P5 conferences who invite all 14 teams to the tourney sometimes. At least there those are stronger programs who have a shot at the at large. At the low-mid major level, there's really no good reason your conference tourney should go past 8 teams. I'd argue it should be that way in general. Make the regular season at least mean something.
I'd even limit it to four teams. It's not in any weak conference's best interest to have a "lucky" weak team sneak into the NCAAs just to embarrass itself and the conference.
Title: Re: Game 25: vs. UMass Lowell 2/8
Post by: OldSeawolf on February 08, 2018, 08:51:08 am
I might be wrong (and I guess this is part of the conversation this year for us) but I don't think the men play an 8/9 game. I think the AE women do, however. For the men I think they simply *ahem* do not invite the last place team to the party.

Anyone know, is that correct?

I wondered the same thing, but simply guessed that they'd follow the same format as the women. I can't think of a good reason why they wouldn't.

Correct. Last place team in the AE goes golfing. Their season is over..

Sent a note to the AE, which confirmed this. No 8/9 game.

Good. There shouldn't be. I even laugh at the P5 conferences who invite all 14 teams to the tourney sometimes. At least there those are stronger programs who have a shot at the at large. At the low-mid major level, there's really no good reason your conference tourney should go past 8 teams. I'd argue it should be that way in general. Make the regular season at least mean something.
I'd even limit it to four teams. It's not in any weak conference's best interest to have a "lucky" weak team sneak into the NCAAs just to embarrass itself and the conference.

I agree; also, devalues the worth of the regular season.  The converse argument, I presume, would be that half the teams would be playing their freshman kids now, since their seasons would be realistically over already.
Title: Re: Game 25: vs. UMass Lowell 2/8
Post by: Chairman of the Board on February 08, 2018, 10:07:01 am
this is the way everything is headed.  this player is all this, all that.  everyone is all-conference.  hundreds of all america selections.  tournaments dilute with larger fields, more play in games (which essentially is a bye for the seeded teams), etc.  No one is left out so no one feels bad.
Title: Re: Game 25: vs. UMass Lowell 2/8
Post by: Moveitfred on February 08, 2018, 10:17:13 am
this is the way everything is headed.  this player is all this, all that.  everyone is all-conference.  hundreds of all america selections.  tournaments dilute with larger fields, more play in games (which essentially is a bye for the seeded teams), etc.  No one is left out so no one feels bad.

Don't forget social media cred, too. Deep 3s and tomahawk jams make for some pretty cool posts. Box outs for rebounds and short jumpers off the glass, not so much.

Hey, hoping for a barn-burner tonight with a lot at stake for those 6/7/8 AE tournament seeds!
Title: Re: Game 25: vs. UMass Lowell 2/8
Post by: VA_Seawolf on February 08, 2018, 11:57:07 am
Last time we played UML was an embarrassment in an elementary school gym. No good reason to think so, but I think at home we manage to sneak out a win against them.
Title: Re: Game 25: vs. UMass Lowell 2/8
Post by: Moveitfred on February 08, 2018, 12:57:13 pm
Against every fiber of my better judgement, I'm going to predict a wacky "all-upset" night in the AE:

UA over UVM
Bing over UMBC
Maine over UNH
and *drumroll*
SBU over UML

Let's see how wrong I am...
Title: Re: Game 25: vs. UMass Lowell 2/8
Post by: Chairman of the Board on February 08, 2018, 01:16:08 pm
ill watch the first half.  if we miss more than 8 three pointers, im shutting it off
Title: Re: Game 25: vs. UMass Lowell 2/8
Post by: OldSeawolf on February 08, 2018, 02:35:07 pm
Against every fiber of my better judgement, I'm going to predict a wacky "all-upset" night in the AE:

UA over UVM
Bing over UMBC
Maine over UNH
and *drumroll*
SBU over UML

Let's see how wrong I am...

I'm with you, except I think UNH will take Maine.
Title: Re: Game 25: vs. UMass Lowell 2/8
Post by: OldSeawolf on February 08, 2018, 02:35:51 pm
ill watch the first half.  if we miss more than 8 three pointers, im shutting it off

Wow, so you're only going to watch until the first media timeout?????   ;D
Title: Re: Game 25: vs. UMass Lowell 2/8
Post by: Chairman of the Board on February 08, 2018, 02:56:53 pm
 ;D

heh, no, i'll give it a half.  if we are 2/11, it goes off.  ::)
Title: Re: Game 25: vs. UMass Lowell 2/8
Post by: Checkmate on February 08, 2018, 08:00:33 pm
About the best half we have played all year. UC from 60 to beat the buzzer.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Game 25: vs. UMass Lowell 2/8
Post by: OldSeawolf on February 08, 2018, 09:06:37 pm
Aside from Thomas who is a beast, not sure how UML competes with such a small lineup. Happy for Jake, with his career high of 16. UC with a strong game. Glad to see Chef getting some extended minutes; he’s got a freshman body like Yeboah did last year, but is raw as heck-he did a few nice things tonight.
Title: Re: Game 25: vs. UMass Lowell 2/8
Post by: Chairman of the Board on February 08, 2018, 09:21:18 pm
a few thoughts:

-we did ok with FT tonight, 17/25 is good for us

-it's like we havent prepared at all to bring the ball up against a press; i saw petras taking the ball up twice, id full court us all 40 min

-all the favorites won so we are in sixth place

-i still think we need to get tougher in the paint but just having someone IN the paint is an improvement

-im getting more comfortable with olaniyi handling the ball.  that, and 6 boards is a good outing for a FR

-we kept threes to just 20 attempts, and won!
Title: Re: Game 25: vs. UMass Lowell 2/8
Post by: Moveitfred on February 08, 2018, 09:51:39 pm
Close to a month since the last win, so just good to see them finally get another. Tough to read too much into it, I suppose, although if anything better really is happening the next two games against the other bottom-feeders give SBU every opportunity to start a little win streak.

Good to see them make a few free throws, as that could have been disastrous down the stretch with Thomas seemingly scoring 2and1s every time down.
Title: Re: Game 25: vs. UMass Lowell 2/8
Post by: Seawolf97 on February 08, 2018, 09:58:00 pm
A balanced game tonight and Petras with 16 points yikes.    Good all around  playing glad to see Ochefu  getting minutes and baskets .  We are not top notch yet but a win is a win .
Title: Re: Game 25: vs. UMass Lowell 2/8
Post by: Checkmate on February 08, 2018, 10:36:10 pm
That we played our best game had a lot to do with the opponent, but nevertheless, it was nice to finally have a breather.

This was McKenzie’s best game. The offense flowed better with him and he had some nifty dishes in the halfcourt set and in transition. Only four assists but he could have had eight. You can see his confidence growing, and my confidence is also. He deserves the starting job.

Second straight game starting three freshmen. Ochefu looks like a young fawn out there but I like what I’ve seen.

We did what we didn’t do the first game - pound it inside against a much smaller team. Ochefu got some looks early, and Petras had some easy ones in there. He also was active defensively. As a team, we drove it a lot and had some rare uncontested shots.

40 points in the paint, 43 bench points.

Great to see Sekunda back, even if he plays a secondary role. We may need him to hit some big shots down the stretch.

It’s seeming more and more like UC is option #2 offensively - and I can’t disagree with it. He’s been solid, particularly in terms of just flatout effort. Also it looks like Boals is comfortable with Olaniyi in some key spots on the other end. Worth noting: Harris and Jones combined for 29 in their win at their place; they had just six tonight for UML.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Game 25: vs. UMass Lowell 2/8
Post by: VA_Seawolf on February 09, 2018, 12:48:03 am
Didn't watch a second of this game, but seeing the W makes me happy. Also glad to hear we didn't just shoot hail mary threes all game like we usually do.
Title: Re: Game 25: vs. UMass Lowell 2/8
Post by: OldSeawolf on February 09, 2018, 06:54:26 am
One other observation - I watched the game on ESPN3 - the arena looked half-empty.  This is not good.  The kids are back in session; I'm hoping it was the Thursday night exodus from campus that kept them away.   I know that winning helps at the gate, but I hope this was just an attendance aberration between maybe the kids going home for the weekend and UML not being a big drawing card on the schedule.
Title: Re: Game 25: vs. UMass Lowell 2/8
Post by: Chairman of the Board on February 09, 2018, 09:12:43 am
That we played our best game had a lot to do with the opponent, but nevertheless, it was nice to finally have a breather.

This was McKenzie’s best game. The offense flowed better with him and he had some nifty dishes in the halfcourt set and in transition. Only four assists but he could have had eight. You can see his confidence growing, and my confidence is also. He deserves the starting job.

Second straight game starting three freshmen. Ochefu looks like a young fawn out there but I like what I’ve seen.

We did what we didn’t do the first game - pound it inside against a much smaller team. Ochefu got some looks early, and Petras had some easy ones in there. He also was active defensively. As a team, we drove it a lot and had some rare uncontested shots.

40 points in the paint, 43 bench points.

Great to see Sekunda back, even if he plays a secondary role. We may need him to hit some big shots down the stretch.

It’s seeming more and more like UC is option #2 offensively - and I can’t disagree with it. He’s been solid, particularly in terms of just flatout effort. Also it looks like Boals is comfortable with Olaniyi in some key spots on the other end. Worth noting: Harris and Jones combined for 29 in their win at their place; they had just six tonight for UML.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

and whaddya know- we put our bigs on the court, played in the paint, moved the ball, took high % shots, and won. 

i still think ochefu needs more toughness (and better hands) but if christie isnt ready to go next fall, we are headed for emergency mode.

i noticed the empty seats.  if you cant beat UML last time around, why go out in the cold and watch this game.  more importantly, why sign with SB.  bigger problem.
Title: Re: Game 25: vs. UMass Lowell 2/8
Post by: Checkmate on February 09, 2018, 09:35:04 am
That we played our best game had a lot to do with the opponent, but nevertheless, it was nice to finally have a breather.

This was McKenzie’s best game. The offense flowed better with him and he had some nifty dishes in the halfcourt set and in transition. Only four assists but he could have had eight. You can see his confidence growing, and my confidence is also. He deserves the starting job.

Second straight game starting three freshmen. Ochefu looks like a young fawn out there but I like what I’ve seen.

We did what we didn’t do the first game - pound it inside against a much smaller team. Ochefu got some looks early, and Petras had some easy ones in there. He also was active defensively. As a team, we drove it a lot and had some rare uncontested shots.

40 points in the paint, 43 bench points.

Great to see Sekunda back, even if he plays a secondary role. We may need him to hit some big shots down the stretch.

It’s seeming more and more like UC is option #2 offensively - and I can’t disagree with it. He’s been solid, particularly in terms of just flatout effort. Also it looks like Boals is comfortable with Olaniyi in some key spots on the other end. Worth noting: Harris and Jones combined for 29 in their win at their place; they had just six tonight for UML.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

and whaddya know- we put our bigs on the court, played in the paint, moved the ball, took high % shots, and won. 

i still think ochefu needs more toughness (and better hands) but if christie isnt ready to go next fall, we are headed for emergency mode.

i noticed the empty seats.  if you cant beat UML last time around, why go out in the cold and watch this game.  more importantly, why sign with SB.  bigger problem.

The crowd was BAD. My section normally isn't bad, even mid-week, but it was very sparsely populated last night. The student section was lifeless compared to some other games.

Attendance came in around 2,300 so half full; it felt like it was a third full at tipoff.

Here's the UC heave in case you missed it.

https://twitter.com/JeffBoals/status/961801217625247744
Title: Re: Game 25: vs. UMass Lowell 2/8
Post by: Chairman of the Board on February 09, 2018, 09:46:35 am
the thursday exodus mentioned above is the biggest problem the U has going for it.  it impacts everything.  we have a whole thread on how to fix it too.  otherwise, UA is going to run right past us in EVERY possible category.

---

anyway.  im glad we won, and glad that we experimented with the game plan we've been discussing here.  if we somehow end up in the AE title game against VT and somehow sturdy hits a last second, OT, NBA range, go-ahead three, ill gladly eat all these words/posts.
Title: Re: Game 25: vs. UMass Lowell 2/8
Post by: VA_Seawolf on February 09, 2018, 10:10:51 am
We're 9-16 with a 4-7 record in a low major conference. This is likely our worst season in at least a decade. The bad attendance isn't shocking at all. Hard to expect large crowds when you're having a year like this one.
Title: Re: Game 25: vs. UMass Lowell 2/8
Post by: Checkmate on February 09, 2018, 10:41:21 am
We're 9-16 with a 4-7 record in a low major conference. This is likely our worst season in at least a decade. The bad attendance isn't shocking at all. Hard to expect large crowds when you're having a year like this one.

I don't think any 3V resident is not going to the game because we suck. Win or lose, it's a good experience.
Title: Re: Game 25: vs. UMass Lowell 2/8
Post by: OldSeawolf on February 09, 2018, 11:29:36 am
Checkmate, thanks for posting the end-of-half heave.  ESPN3 cut out with 54 seconds left in the half.  Pretty cool make.

Hey, we're in sole possession of 6th place.  Don't know about you guys, but I'd like to catch NH, and play at Albany, for payback from last year.   Hartford just dominated us last game with their passing and shooting, and I'd like to avoid them if at all possible.

Full disclosure:  I'm not helping with the attendance this year - have only gone to 2 home games (3 if you include Maryland at the Coliseum).