OPENING NIGHT 11/9 NOTES--Staring At The Floorboards
TOLEDO @ VALPO
Lottich has (reportedly) installed a more modern offense, straying
from his highly patterned motion with the addition of every Wisconsin
role player from the last few years (only a slight exaggeration). Of
course we won’t get to see the fully revamped Valpo offense until Kobe
King is eligible in mid Dec, but until then, the Crusa…er….Beacons will
likely be relying on their typically solid defense, and they’ll need it
against one of the best offensive schemes in midmajor basketball. Coach
K’s space and pace offense shouldn’t lose too much without Marreon
Jackson, as Dennis and Rollins are one of the strongest backcourt
tandems in the MAC. Unfortunately, the Rockets already lost Edu for the
third straight season, meaning they’re once again going to be extremely
vulnerable at the rim, which is where Valpo’s post driven offense will
be heading with the ball every trip down court, especially without King
available. Krikke and the B1G frontcourt could have a field day.
However, they could have some issues defending nominal 5 Shumate in
Coach K’s 5 out offense. Bit of a chess match in terms of personnel
here.
EVANSVILLE @ CINCINNATI
No one plays slower than the Aces under Lickliter, as the offense is
ball screen after ball screen after ball screen until Givance or Newton
find a shot or shooter from behind the arc (in 10 seasons, Lickliter’s
teams have fallen out of the top 10 in 3PTA rate just twice (and they
were 16th and 23rd in those two years). Wes Miller will have Cincy
pressing, as that was his bread and butter at UNCG, I’m just not sure
how quickly he’ll implement that. It is however an effective strategy
against the Aces, as they were pressed at a top 50 rate nationally as
teams attempted to make them initiate those ball screens further and
further away. As good as Givance was in ball screen offense, he was
worse defensively. In fact, Evansville graded out in the 1st percentile
nationally in halfcourt D per Synergy- a deadly combo of poor perimeter D
AND no rim protection. There’s little to suggest that cocktail changes
for the better this season, meaning DeJulius, MAW, Saunders, Davenport,
and Newman could have a field day attacking the rim.
INDIANA STATE @ GREEN BAY
The Trees are an intriguing team, as Josh Schertz will attempt to
install a super uptempo, pace and space offense in the country’s biggest
grinder conference, the Mo Valley. Schertz brought a slew of versatile,
grab and go wings with him from Lincoln Memorial to form a rim
attacking, drag screen kick out offense around dynamic guard Tyreke Key.
Unfortunately, he’ll be facing a team in Green Bay that’s looking to
slow the game to a crawl and work a methodical, swing based halfcourt
offense. The good news for ISU is that Will Ryan’s squad allowed the
64th highest transition rate last year, an area I’m sure he’s looking to
shore given his coaching pedigree. Really wonky game with mostly new
rosters on both sides and contrasting styles. It should also be noted
ISU is already battling a slew of injuries.
NICHOLLS ST @ NORTHERN IOWA
AJ Green reportedly looks great for UNI, but now Born is out with a
wrist injury (although a return for the opener hasn’t been ruled out).
If Jacobson was intending to ease Green back in minutes wise, that plan
might be quashed already. Contrasting styles here, as Nicholls runs a
lot of ball screens through Gordon, which is a tall order against UNI’s
staunch pack line D. Nicholls also loves to crash the O glass and run
off misses- UNI is built on D rebounding (in 15 years, UNI has fallen
out of the top 15 nationally in DREB% just 5x) and denying transition
attempts. UNI’s offense often flows through Phyfe in both posts, and
while big bodied Lyons graded out in the 95th percentile in Synergy’s
post defense, he’s likely going to be pulled away from the rim for
stretches. Tough opening night matchup scheme wise for the SLC’s likely
best team.
BRADLEY @ SOUTH DAKOTA STATE
SDSU runs some of the best continuity offense in the entire country,
but Wardle and company saw it last year. Unfortunately they got torched
to the tune of 1.19 PPP, due in large to a blistering 17-26 three point
shooting performance from Henderson’s litany of lanky shooters. It
wasn’t all bad news for the Braves, who typically fare well against
continuity schemes, as they limited Wilson and scored at 1.14 PPP
themselves, dominating the rim, FT line, and O glass. With the addition
of potential world beater Leons and the return of Henry and Mast, it
should be more of the same for the Braves offensively, but the backcourt
lacks firepower this year. If SDSU is earthly in their shooting (not a
given, since they were the 2nd best 3PT shooting team in the entire
country), the Braves can certainly compete here given their scheme and
length against Wilson.
--
Terre Haute Tribune Star
Valentine Taps Former Player for Director of Player Development--
Loyola Phoenix
Counting down the Top 10 most important Missouri State Lady Bears entering the 2021-22 season--
Springfield News-Leader
Valley Student Writers preseason poll--
The Standard
UNI men’s basketball excited about possibilities with deep roster--
Cedar Rapids Gazette
Jacobson says current UNI team has all the right pieces--
Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier
Domask efficient in first game in over 10 months--
Southern Illinoisan
Saluki Basketball 5@5: SIU looks to clean up turnovers, a big exhibition crowd, and where you might catch Amarillo High School--
Southern Illinoisan
2021-22 Evansville Men's Basketball Season Preview--
The Missouri Valley
