Author Topic: Game 20: at Albany 1/23/19 7pm  (Read 1336 times)

Checkmate

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Game 20: at Albany 1/23/19 7pm
« on: January 21, 2019, 10:02:01 pm »
ALBANY
Record:
5-14 (0-3 America East)
Last 10: 2-8
Last Game: UMBC 65, Albany 64 on 1/19/19
Last Game with SBU: Stony Brook 69, Albany 60 on 3/3/18 in AE quarters; Yeboah 18, Saintel 17
Checkmate Unofficial Line: Stony Brook -8
Net Ranking: Stony Brook 131, Albany 285
KenPom RPI: Stony Brook 148, Albany 301
KenPom Prediction: Stony Brook 70, Albany 65
Yeboah Point Watch: 1,100
Division I: Currently 7th. Next up: Dave Coley (2010-14) 1,222
All-time: Currently T-18th. Next up: Dave Burda (1983-86) 1,100; Frank Prantil (1983-87) 1,119
Listen/Watch:
TV: http://bit.ly/MBBGm20Vid (ESPN3)
Stony Brook radio: http://bit.ly/WUSBSports_FM
Notables:
6-1/175 jr G Ahmad Clark 17.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 4.2 apg, 2.1 spg, .776 FT%
6-3/190 rfr G Cameron Healy 16.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg, .404 3-pt FG%, .900 FT%
6-8/245 rfr Adam Lulka 9.3 ppg, 7.0 rpg, .534 FG%
6-6/235 sr Devonte Campbell 7.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg, .375 3-pt FG%
6-3/190 fr Antonio Rizzuto 6.7 ppg, .353 3-pt FG%

UA hasn't had many lean years, and I don't expect many more as long as Will Brown's there. This year, though, this is a lean year up in the Capital Region.

As a result of the departures of Joe Cremo (Villanova) and David Nichols (Florida State), as well as Greig Stire (who I hated), Travis Charles and Alex Foster to graduation, the cupboards were nearly bare coming into the year. Campbell, the top returning scorer, is physical but by no means a go-to guy. Clark certainly wasn't ready to take on that kind of role either. With Clark in the starting lineup are four freshmen, and their inexperience up and down the roster has shown this year.

How inexperienced? Well, only three people on this year's team logged so much as a single minute last year at UA – Campbell, Clark and junior walk-on Nick Fruscio, who played six minutes last year and is up to three this year. Granted, Healy and big man Brent Hank redshirted last year so they were with the program, but didn't contribute on the floor to the 22-win team from a year ago. Other than that, Brown is working with an entirely new group. He plucked Rayshawn Miller from UMass, Kendall Lauderdale and Sasha French from the junior college ranks in California and Reece Brooks from a juco in Texas. A fourth juco transfer, Jeremiah Starks, never even got to suit up, having suffered a career-ending knee injury.

The results haven't been what they're looking for, and it's difficult to put a positive spin on an 0-4 start in conference. But nine of their 14 losses have been by single digits. They lost to Holy Cross in OT, by UMBC at their place by a single point, and they played a good Yale team pretty tough on the road too. Yeah, I know all that's a stretch, but it should remind us that this is a wounded animal here. They can lift their spirits in a big way if they can pick off their rival and knock them from the unbeaten ranks in conference. And they're capable of doing it.

If it's going to happen, it will start with the backcourt – Clark and Healy. Clark's a little erratic for me. From the games I've watched, he's shown to have questionable shot selection, a situation that I'd imagine is worsened due to the need for him to be the guy. The shot works – he made nearly 42 percent of threes last year – but that figure is down 10 percent this year. But still, he's gone over 20 in 10 of their 19 games, which means he's plenty capable of putting up a big number against us. Don't think that's lost on our coaching staff though. Clark's had some lows too, including a five-point afternoon against UMBC, 3 for 15 against Vermont, 2 for 14 against Providence, 1 for 14 against Holy Cross. I'm sure he will be Elijah's assignment on Wednesday night.

Healy has been a nice spark offensively after sitting out last year. It really feels like the offense comes down to him and Clark, with a general lack of punch otherwise. This is not an explosive or athletic team we're talking about. Healy likes to fire away from deep. Lulka's a wide body but not someone you're going to run a lot of plays for – like most AE pivots. Campbell? Somebody who can help you but limited offensively. Basically, they replaced Cremo/Nichols with lesser options, and their seemingly endless stream of physical bigs with inexperienced ones.

Looking forward to Saturday? Yeah, I am too. But let's hope the guys aren't. Let's put together 40 minutes of sound basketball. We've had ebbs and flows in all four conference games, and it's rare that we've been able to exhale a bit. I'd love to dispel any worries of a letdown early on, but I expect a typical hard-nosed, hard-fought battle against our arch rival.
« Last Edit: January 22, 2019, 01:27:10 pm by Checkmate »
"Of all the money e'er I had, I spent it in good company." – The Clancy Brothers, "The Parting Glass"

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VA_Seawolf

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Re: Game 20: at Albany 1/23/19 7pm
« Reply #1 on: January 22, 2019, 12:35:11 am »
Albany sucks this year, but they're still Albany, and they're still out rival. We've got a big one against Vermont coming up on Saturday at home. I hope the team doesn't look past this one. It's on the road and Albany has always given us trouble. All I can hope for is that the Maine game was a wake up call for this team and they don't underestimate the Puppy Dogs. I'm sure there is still some salt on UA's end for us ending their season in the tournament last March. We really had no business taking that one on paper yet we did!!

Seawolf97

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Re: Game 20: at Albany 1/23/19 7pm
« Reply #2 on: January 22, 2019, 11:37:00 am »
Cant start off slow again and turn the ball over as we always seem to do.  I  think think this will be another close one . Albany always rises to the occasion with us.  SBU 67 Albany 60

guest369

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Re: Game 20: at Albany 1/23/19 7pm
« Reply #3 on: January 22, 2019, 01:01:49 pm »
If the Maine game didn't give these guys a kick in the ass, I don't know what will. They can't keep coming back from down 20 forever.
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ibosbu

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Re: Game 20: at Albany 1/23/19 7pm
« Reply #4 on: January 22, 2019, 04:24:18 pm »
Otchere is turning into a nice player...learning to stay out of foul trouble. Very pleased with Boals recruiting so far.

Seawolf97

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Re: Game 20: at Albany 1/23/19 7pm
« Reply #5 on: January 22, 2019, 05:31:31 pm »
I can only Big Jeff as a junior and senior.  He could very well out do Warneys numbers .

OldSeawolf

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Re: Game 20: at Albany 1/23/19 7pm
« Reply #6 on: January 22, 2019, 05:34:44 pm »
A must win!  Losing this game, going into the biggest game of the year, is not an option. SBU by 12.
How old a Seawolf am I? I followed them during their Final 4 DIII hoops run in 1977-78 (they were called the Patriots then)

Checkmate

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Re: Game 20: at Albany 1/23/19 7pm
« Reply #7 on: January 23, 2019, 05:32:09 am »
Vegas has us as a six-point favorite tonight.


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"Of all the money e'er I had, I spent it in good company." – The Clancy Brothers, "The Parting Glass"

Checkmate

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Re: Game 20: at Albany 1/23/19 7pm
« Reply #8 on: January 23, 2019, 10:34:42 am »
Vegas has us as a six-point favorite tonight.


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It's down to five now. A 16-3 team goes in to face a 5-14 team and we aren't that far from it being a pick 'em.
"Of all the money e'er I had, I spent it in good company." – The Clancy Brothers, "The Parting Glass"

OldSeawolf

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Re: Game 20: at Albany 1/23/19 7pm
« Reply #9 on: January 23, 2019, 10:43:12 am »
Vegas has us as a six-point favorite tonight.


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It's down to five now. A 16-3 team goes in to face a 5-14 team and we aren't that far from it being a pick 'em.

Maybe it has something to do with the caliber of wins we've been having against these poorer teams.  Vegas is invariably correct though.  I think Coach Boals will have them ready tonight - I stand by my -12 above.
How old a Seawolf am I? I followed them during their Final 4 DIII hoops run in 1977-78 (they were called the Patriots then)

Checkmate

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Re: Game 20: at Albany 1/23/19 7pm
« Reply #10 on: January 23, 2019, 11:46:30 am »
Vegas has us as a six-point favorite tonight.


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It's down to five now. A 16-3 team goes in to face a 5-14 team and we aren't that far from it being a pick 'em.

Maybe it has something to do with the caliber of wins we've been having against these poorer teams.  Vegas is invariably correct though.  I think Coach Boals will have them ready tonight - I stand by my -12 above.

We've won some close ones, they've lost some close ones, Vermont on the horizon for us. Will these records correct themselves? We have to be careful. They've beaten us in the past on the boards and at the line.

It's down to 4 1/2 on BetOnline.
"Of all the money e'er I had, I spent it in good company." – The Clancy Brothers, "The Parting Glass"

OldSeawolf

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Re: Game 20: at Albany 1/23/19 7pm
« Reply #11 on: January 23, 2019, 11:54:32 am »
Vegas has us as a six-point favorite tonight.


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It's down to five now. A 16-3 team goes in to face a 5-14 team and we aren't that far from it being a pick 'em.

Maybe it has something to do with the caliber of wins we've been having against these poorer teams.  Vegas is invariably correct though.  I think Coach Boals will have them ready tonight - I stand by my -12 above.

We've won some close ones, they've lost some close ones, Vermont on the horizon for us. Will these records correct themselves? We have to be careful. They've beaten us in the past on the boards and at the line.

It's down to 4 1/2 on BetOnline.

I've watched pieces of a few of their games, and they don't impress me at all.  I think you hit the nail on the head on your game analysis, when you said that they don't have a go-to guy on this team.  That said, Albany players hate us, Will Brown hates us, the UA fans hate us.  They will be ready for us; this is their game of the year to date.  But, I think we'll be ready for that, and the tough environment at SEFCU (although the students may still be on break).  Going against Vegas here - SBU by 12!
How old a Seawolf am I? I followed them during their Final 4 DIII hoops run in 1977-78 (they were called the Patriots then)

ibosbu

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Re: Game 20: at Albany 1/23/19 7pm
« Reply #12 on: January 23, 2019, 12:15:29 pm »
With the kind of down year they are having, I'm sure Will Brown circled this game on the calendar and will have his team fired up for this game. It is the one game that won't take much to motivate them to try to win at home. We can't take it easy. I hope Boals doing the same. Its a rivalry game.

Chairman of the Board

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Re: Game 20: at Albany 1/23/19 7pm
« Reply #13 on: January 23, 2019, 01:31:10 pm »
what i really like about our team this year (other than good FT shooting and less threes) is the ability to play from behind.  i feel like in the past, once we were down 8-10, we never came back.  we are over the mental hump.

and with 30+ games per season, you will be down.

who wants to play a team that comes from behind?  no one.
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OldSeawolf

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Re: Game 20: at Albany 1/23/19 7pm
« Reply #14 on: January 23, 2019, 01:38:44 pm »
what i really like about our team this year (other than good FT shooting and less threes) is the ability to play from behind.  i feel like in the past, once we were down 8-10, we never came back.  we are over the mental hump.

and with 30+ games per season, you will be down.

who wants to play a team that comes from behind?  no one.

Agreed, and I think the huge improbable comeback against GW set the tone for the season. We lose that game, and who knows where we are......well..... at least 15-4.
How old a Seawolf am I? I followed them during their Final 4 DIII hoops run in 1977-78 (they were called the Patriots then)