MARYLAND BALTIMORE COUNTY
Record: 19-9 (10-3 America East)
Last Game: W, 68-60, vs. Albany 2/18
Last 10: 8-2
Last Meeting: UMBC 67-63 on 1/31/18; Yeboah team-high 20, 10-for-18 on free throws as a team
CM Unofficial Line: UMBC -6.5
KenPom RPI: Stony Brook 240, UMBC 193
KenPom Prediction: UMBC 73, Stony Brook 67
Listen/Watch:TV:
http://www.espn.com/watch/_/id/3273577/stony-brook-vs-umbc-m-basketballStony Brook radio:
http://www.943theshark.com/listenlive.aspxNotables:6-2/175 gs G Jairus Lyles 20.9 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 3.4 apg, 2.0 spg, .830 FT%, .401 3-pt FG%
6-5/225 so G Arkel Lamar 11.3 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 1.1 spg, .437 3-pt FG%
6-6/215 jr F Joe Sherburne 10.9 ppg, 3.3 rpg, .479 FG%, .438 3-pt FG%
5-8/140 sr G KJ Maura 10.4 ppg, 5.4 apg, 2.1 spg, .870 FT%, .413 3-pt FG%
As disappointing as the season's been, we're still looking at no more than two weeks left until a long spring and summer before the 2018-19 tipoff.
So let's try to leave ourselves with a good taste in our mouths heading into the offseason. It will be tough, as we're likely in line for UMBC, Vermont and Hartford/Albany over the next (and likely final) three. The UNH game was a good start. We saw good energy from the guys in the second half desperation really and some nice moments from the freshmen. And geez, based on what Ball is telling us on the recruiting thread, we are going to steamroll people next year!
Some perspective on the job that Odom has done in his two seasons there. UMBC will be looking for its second consecutive 20-win season, this after winning 21 last year thanks to a run to the CIT semifinals. With this victory, that would bring their win total to 41 over the last two seasons ... or the same number of wins they had over the previous seven (2009-10 to 2015-16). They haven't won 20 in back to back years since 1978-79 and 1979-80, and if they win out and reach the conference title game, they'll tie the 2007-08 record of single-season wins (24). Long story short, we'll see how long he's there, particularly when you consider that Lyles and Maura are gone after this year. On the flipside, a nice new gym and some really good momentum. I tend to think that if a good opportunity arises he'll jump ship.
Part of it is that UMBC's offense looked so so fluid in their game up here. We were in that game, but that's in part because UMBC shot it so poorly. And they were open shots. In their gym, I think a few more of those go in and they beat us by double digits. Also, if Cornish is out, that likely leaves us with just Mac and UC to run the point. UMBC's guards are a nuisance, and a freshman and a fringe PG don't figure to fare well in that environment.
What's strange about this year for UMBC is that they've taken some BAD losses, in particular the loss by 44 at Albany, and the 28-point annihilation at the hands of Vermont
at home in the debut of their new arena. The Catamounts shot 66% from the field in that one, including 21 for 27 from two. I watched a few minutes of that and UMBC was up on them early. Must have unraveled from there. Then again, maybe that's us in a few days #gulp
What I hope on Wednesday is that we see some of what we saw against UNH an aggressive UC, an aggressive MacKenzie, crashing the boards, forcing turnovers, etc. And then for Akwasi to return to form after a couple of off nights.