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Post by shooting the J on Dec 21, 2014 8:59:38 GMT -6
Semi-final: Green Bay 64 vs Arkansas-Little Rock 44 Championship: Green Bay (9-2) vs UC-Irvine (5-5) When: Monday, 12/22, 3:30 PM CST Where: South Point Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada Video streaming: Ustream (free with registration) Radio: WNFL 92.1 FM 1440 AM
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Post by shooting the J on Dec 21, 2014 9:08:54 GMT -6
Tourney Time: Green Bay Set For Las Vegas Holiday Hoops ClassicGreen Bay vs UALR: What to watch forSolid match-up today. I think Little Rock is the original home city of Kenneth Lowe, he moved to Little Chute in middle school. The Phoenix need to extend their winning streak as they drive for an at-large NCAA bid. Another neutral site tournament championship would be nice on the resume. Green Bay enters their game today ranking 15th in the nation in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency. If you don't know what that means, it simply states the the Phoenix are outstanding defensively.
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Post by shooting the J on Dec 21, 2014 14:05:49 GMT -6
Nix open with the 2nd half with 7 straight and now lead 40-31. McKinnie and Fouse leading the way.
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Post by shooting the J on Dec 21, 2014 14:53:26 GMT -6
Dominant 2nd half for the Phoenix, and they win 64-44. UALR averages 73 points per game, but held to 44 on 34% shooting. A UALR box and one defense hold Sykes to 5, but Fouse, McKinnie, and Love all in double figures to lead the Nix. McKinnie looks like his troublesome knee is no longer a factor. On to the Championship tomorrow.
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Post by phoenixphan87 on Dec 21, 2014 18:09:52 GMT -6
UC Irvine defeated Bradley 55-47 so the Phoenix face the Anteaters at 3:30PM Monday
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Post by shooting the J on Dec 21, 2014 19:08:25 GMT -6
Here's Scott Venci's game story: Fouse, McKinnie power Green Bay in Vegas openerUC-Irvine won the Big West last year, returned 4 starters, and was expected to win it again. They've been disappointing so far, with just a 5-5 record. Injuries partly to blame, and they'll be missing their 7'6" shot-blocking menace Mamadou N'daiye again tomorrow. they're still a dangerous team that could right the ship at any moment. The Phoenix will need another total team effort again tomorrow.
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Post by gbalum2007 on Dec 22, 2014 10:37:07 GMT -6
Watching on that UStream feed was painful, but it was better than nothing. I had the audio muted in favor of the Packer game, so maybe that would've helped...
That being said, this game said a lot about what kind of team GB is. The team's alpha dog is more or less shut down, but others stepped up. McKinnie is really blossoming over the last game and a half. Wonder if being late to shoot-around and garnering a "suspension" was a wake-up call, but he has looked like a man possessed, especially on the glass. He's starting to play inside-out, rather than vice versa.
Fouse's long-range jumper remains an enigma of sorts. Some games it looks like a weapon, others it looks like last year. Luckily it was the former this game and he stepped up to hit some big shots when the outcome was still in doubt.
Mays is still a little disappointing. Not sure what else you can say about him. Hampered by foul trouble this time, he's going to have to figure it out, because there will be a game where the team will need him to step-up and be the 2013-14 version of himself.
Wardle seemed to take a lot of the responsibility for the team not being prepared to see the Box-and-One. The best way to beat it is to screen, screen, screen, and screen some more. You have to put one of the zone defenders to a choice of either switching to Sykes or remaining in his zone. The other four on the court need to make hard cuts and hit jumpers. This will not be the last time GB sees this defense this season.
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Post by stillaphoenixphan on Dec 22, 2014 19:35:55 GMT -6
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Post by phoenixphan87 on Dec 23, 2014 12:19:57 GMT -6
I didn't get to watch but listened to some of it and followed the live stats. GB had a 9-0 run early that was erased and surpassed quickly by UCI. Tough to beat a team that makes 10 3's, especially this GB team and their makeup. . FT shooting continues to struggle. Right around 60% for the year. Take away Keifer and it is at 54%.This is the first time all year that GB has scored 70 pts in a game against a D1 school. They will need to win a couple of these types of games in horizon league play.
Looking forward to the rematch at home against Georgia State Saturday
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Post by jonnyindepere on Dec 23, 2014 18:04:43 GMT -6
My biggest concern from the tournament was the large amount of minutes the starters played. Specifically the backcourt. It was my understanding that BW was going to monitor Sykes' minutes in order to avoid what happened last injury (injury).
Depth is a very important factor for a team that has plans to make the tournament and possibly win a game. Irvine had one guy play 30+ minutes, while the Phoenix had four. Aside from McKinnie, who could easily be a starter on any team in the Horizon, our bench rotation has been sporadic. Small will get minutes one game while Francis doesn't get much time and then the next game it flips. Botz, who granted needs to hit shots to play, also seems to jump up and down in minutes.
IMO, BW needs to develop a more consistent rotation to have guys comfortable come Horizon tourney time. It's not good that BW just used Sykes for I believe a full 40 in a loss.
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Post by GBPhoenix1 on Dec 24, 2014 15:48:19 GMT -6
I thought that GB got started just like they wanted to but then let their guard down. Literally they didn't guard a few guys in the first half that led to easy baskets.
In the second half a few close calls didn't go their way, I thought the late fouls on McKinnie and Love were toss ups and GB didn't get either.
In a game like this little things added up. Sykes split the t's to start the game and then after Fouse hit a big three in the first half he got a t that cost a point. Those two things change and the game is tied all else being equal.
UCI's bench was running their collective mouth, it was hard not to get upset as a fan so I can understand as a player and yet I really hated seeing that mental breakdown.
As for the rotation I think we are close to seeing Tevin get some minutes. He has come in for mop up duty and played hard. He did fine against Morehead State in the first half. I think he is ready to give more to the bottom line than Small is right now.
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Post by shooting the J on Mar 15, 2015 13:10:33 GMT -6
UC-Irvine won the Big West tournament last night, and improved is RPI to 88th.
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Post by phoenixphan87 on Mar 16, 2015 16:31:50 GMT -6
Phoenix played them without their 7'6 inch center. Not surprised they won that league with a healthy team.
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