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Post by GBPhoenix1 on Jan 1, 2020 14:26:58 GMT -6
The game is Friday night at 7pm at the Resch Center. This is game 1 of a 1 game home stand (see what I did there, no looking ahead!). I would tell you the game is on ESPN+ but I know you all will be their in attendance.
UIC is finally at full strength and is 2-2 in those games. They haven't played the toughest schedule in those games and 3 of the games were at home.
UIC comes into the game as #232 in Kenpom. Their offense generates about 66ppg and is the 255th most efficient. That makes sense as they have a negative assist to turnover ratio, shoot 43% of their shots from 3 point range but only hit 32.7% of those shots. Their 4 leading scorers all shoot about 30% from deep. They commit more turnovers than they force and without Jordan Blount were getting out rebounded pretty regularly.
GB needs to keep sharing the ball and play their game. Also, Jordan Blount is a guy who loves to irritate you. They need to tune him out and get on the glass. Also, UIC's 3 best shooters are guys that don't score a ton. They can't let other guys beat them, contest those shots. I don't want to see WSU 2.0. Overall this is a game GB should be favored in but they need to be ready to play as I am sure UIC isn't going to lay down and will come out firing. If UIC gets hot enough early it might be tough to dig all the way out and GB can't afford that kind of let down right now.
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Post by uscg2012 on Jan 2, 2020 7:41:01 GMT -6
I wonder if Josh McNair is close to coming back?
The last time we will see Ferguson, Boahen, and Ottey at the Resch. Quite the three headed monster. Once again we need to make sure we close out on three point shooters. This game makes me nervous because if these guys are on then we are in trouble.
Have to limit their second chances, therefore Manny Patterson and company will need to keep these guys off the boards. Get the ball up the court quick and hope to steal some points off quick transitions from all these three point shots.
Big Friday night at the Resch, hope to see a large crowd on Friday night and curious to know if any recruits will be in attendance. Have 5 plus scholarships available in 2021 and a large crowd combined with a big win would only help grab one of those 2021 recruits.
Let’s go! Game one of one. Let’s get it done!
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Post by GBPhoenix1 on Jan 2, 2020 10:53:08 GMT -6
A few additional items about UIC.
In the YSU game their offense created plenty of stand still open 3's and they couldn't hit the broad side of a barn. Hopefully that continues.
UIC was doing some ball screening offense which led to a lot of 1 on 1 play. GB gives up the middle a lot to drivers. It will be interesting to see what happens in this game with these factors.
On defense UIC sends ball screens to the baseline. Depending on how much GB actually screens that may or may not be important. However, it would lead to lots of open space for mid range pull ups which GB is very good at.
UIC plays up in the passing lane to deny a lot of passes. GB has had some good back door action in the past again for drives or pull up jumpers. If GB is disciplined easy looks could be a plenty.
UIC plays a full court press like GB does in that they usually have one guy picking up the ball full court. EIU was able to slow GB down with this. Unlike GB, UIC does occasionally trap in their full court press. However, if you beat the trap and know what you are looking for it will be an easy score as they didn't rotate very well after that.
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Post by Heartbroken Phoenix Fan on Jan 3, 2020 18:42:23 GMT -6
First game this year. Cheapest ticket is 19 bucks up five from last year. Is that for everyone game? That isn’t gonna get casual fans for an average team....
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Post by uscg2012 on Jan 3, 2020 18:59:13 GMT -6
First game this year. Cheapest ticket is 19 bucks up five from last year. Is that for everyone game? That isn’t gonna get casual fans for an average team.... If you purchase in advance they are three dollars cheaper FYI
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Post by uscg2012 on Jan 3, 2020 20:54:37 GMT -6
AMARI DAVIS
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Post by uscg2012 on Jan 3, 2020 21:09:13 GMT -6
First game this year. Cheapest ticket is 19 bucks up five from last year. Is that for everyone game? That isn’t gonna get casual fans for an average team.... You saw a big win tonight! How about that defense??? Impressive
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Post by Heartbroken Phoenix Fan on Jan 3, 2020 21:39:48 GMT -6
I still saw some of the same mistakes lincs teams have made since his tenure. This wasn’t a pretty win but a wins a win. The Kam 3 on 1 where he didn’t pass it and missed a contested layup was brutal.
Uic had way too many open 3s. I don’t like the let them shoot and hope they miss strategy. I didn’t see the NKU game but from what I’ve heard they played nice defense.
It is a must to go 5-0 in this homestand if they want to prove they are a legit contender for top 3.
Oakland and NKU are a mess right now and Oakland is their toughest home game on the homestand.
I’ve got free tickets to IUPUI game through work so I’ll be back. Amari has definitely regressed these past five games which I’m fine with because hopefully it means he won’t leave. Part of it is teams are starting to scheme for him but he’s got to not force as many shots and take advantage of the defense. At the end of the game he got a rebound and tried going for a contested layup instead of running the clock out. Linc rightfully was pissed at him and it in a closer game that could have cost them. On the other hand I love his confidence and he’s got a great shot. For some reason he struggles at the line which I really don’t understand as that range is his game. It would be really nice if he works on his 3 game in the offseason. He will be an POY candidate in conference if he can.
A lot of shots rimmed out tonight but they let UIC hang around too long. Some things to clean up for Sunday and gotta keep the momentum going. If they keep winning fans should start showing up again.
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Post by uscg2012 on Jan 3, 2020 21:52:12 GMT -6
Amari has regressed? Huh?
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Post by Heartbroken Phoenix Fan on Jan 3, 2020 21:59:10 GMT -6
Amari has regressed? Huh? His shooting percentage has gone down but it was unsustainable unless it meant he was the next Ja Morant.
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Post by phoenixphan87 on Jan 4, 2020 14:39:57 GMT -6
Outside of a lull in the first half where GB must have missed about ten jumpers in a row, I thought the guys played hard and played well together. Amari got off to a slow start but finished strong- Pipes continues to be the MIP of this team. GB has so many more weapons that anyone outside of WSU in this league. Time to finally beat IUPUI.
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Post by GBPhoenix1 on Jan 4, 2020 18:51:49 GMT -6
They did exactly what you would they would do to UIC. They never backed down, they took a few punches and in the end slowly pulled away from a team that wasn't as good as them.
McClain is crazy. I think he has no self awareness, he probably doesn't even know how ridiculous he looks. Dude was on the court more than some of his bench players.
I think one good thing about this game was the depth of GB's weapons. Multiple guys scoring double digits really speaks to how great their offense can be.
On to the next.
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