Mississippi State

[GarradJ21]

Cincinnati Bearcats (9-1) @ Mississippi State Bulldogs (8-1)
Saturday night 8:30 PM SECN

Mississippi State is currently ranked #22 and after beating Clemson this weekend will probably #20 or #19.

This is the 4th game of the 5 hard game stretch. This will be the most difficult test of 5 games and maybe that hardest all year.

Worried about this game for not only playing a top 25 team on the road but also the game after the shootout. I trust Cronin to have our team ready.

Being in the AAC we only have so many chances for good quality road wins. We have had one extremely good road win in each of the past two years, Iowa State (2 years ago) and Wichita State (last year). We will have a few more chances this year with Houston & UCF, but still this could really help our resume.

Many people said they'd be satisfied over the 5 game stretch with going 3-2. We really need to start thinking 4-1 or 5-0 now. Lets goo!!!!

 

[cincycpaw]

A win here would be great! Cautiously optimistic...

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

A win here would be great! Cautiously optimistic...

Need to board and guard the 3 pt line. Miss St had 19 3's last game. A team record I believe. They are long and athletic. In my opinion this is the toughest game of the 5. A win here would be really impressive.

 

[cincrulz11]

2 weeks ago i didn't like our chances very much but i think we have a decent shot now.


its all about keith williams. we all wondered all offseason how could we score after cumberland. williams has answered the call. he can get to the rim whenever he wants and he's the best offensive rebounding guard ive seen in a while.



the 7 man rotation is becoming clear and its pretty solid. nsoseme is a rebounding machine and cane can give us a kick as long as he isn't settling for 80% 3's.



if we bring the defense like we did vs xavier i like our chances. have to make sure peters doesn't get any open looks, but can probably treat quinndary weatherspoon like we did goodin and marshall. nick weatherspoon is shooting 55% but only 20 attempts (shot 30% last year on 87 attempts).

 

[waterhead]

Cincinnati Bearcats (9-1) @ Mississippi State Bulldogs (8-1)
Saturday night 8:30 PM SECN

Mississippi State is currently ranked #22 and after beating Clemson this weekend will probably #20 or #19.

This is the 4th game of the 5 hard game stretch. This will be the most difficult test of 5 games and maybe that hardest all year.

Worried about this game for not only playing a top 25 team on the road but also the game after the shootout. I trust Cronin to have our team ready.

Being in the AAC we only have so many chances for good quality road wins. We have had one extremely good road win in each of the past two years, Iowa State (2 years ago) and Wichita State (last year). We will have a few more chances this year with Houston & UCF, but still this could really help our resume.

Many people said they'd be satisfied over the 5 game stretch with going 3-2. We really need to start thinking 4-1 or 5-0 now. Lets goo!!!!

I will still take 4-1 in a heartbeat! But 5-0 would probably up my expectations to a whole other level. I have already moved them up a couple of notches.

 

[sedziobs]

Statistically, these are two very similar teams in many aspects. Miss St is a very balanced team, ranking #25 in offensive efficiency and #26 in defensive efficiency. We hold the edge in all but 3 of the 8 "Four Factors", those being shooting, defensive rebounding, and preventing free throws. One key to the game may be limiting their free throw attempts. Miss St has the 12th lowest free throw rate in the country, but when they get to the line they convert at 77%, which is 22nd best in the country.

 

[cincrulz11]

Statistically, these are two very similar teams in many aspects. Miss St is a very balanced team, ranking #25 in offensive efficiency and #26 in defensive efficiency. We hold the edge in all but 3 of the 8 "Four Factors", those being shooting, defensive rebounding, and preventing free throws. One key to the game may be limiting their free throw attempts. Miss St has the 12th lowest free throw rate in the country, but when they get to the line they convert at 77%, which is 22nd best in the country.

hopefully the refs allow a physical game in general. sometimes, like against unlv, we don't really have much of a chance to keep them off the free throw line if the refs call a foul any time 2 players touch.

 

[justinhub2003]

Interested to see what kinda crowd miss state brings in.

This is their first good home game.

Either way, what I see when I watched miss state last year was tons of athleticism and talent but very little basketball IQ.

I truly think we can confuse this team with our defense

 

[icehole3]

its all about keith williams

I agree with this some, to me it's all about getting Moore, Johnson and Frederick up to where Williams is at. They mist be fully developed by the Tourney.

 

[Cin City]

Defensively we must set the tone. After their 19 3's against Clemson, they are going to be trigger happy. Can't let them get comfortable on the perimeter. Rebounding is key.

 

[cincrulz11]

i can already picture mick now if somebody helps off peters and gives him a wide open 3.


we're almost going to have to live with it if some of their other guys hit 3's, but it can't be peters.

 

[waterhead]

I agree with this some, to me it's all about getting Moore, Johnson and Frederick up to where Williams is at. They mist be fully developed by the Tourney.

I don't think it's reasonable to think they can get to where Williams is at. Hell I don't even think Williams would be where Williams is at if it weren't for Evans leaving. It takes minutes to gain some confidence.

Talent wise I don't think Moore or Fredericks can get there anyway. Johnson probably has the talent. Moore would have to start shooting volume 3's around 40%+ to add that type of value to the team. Fredericks is versatile but not really great at anything.

 

[icehole3]

I don't think it's reasonable to think they can get to where Williams is at. Hell I don't even think Williams would be where Williams is at if it weren't for Evans leaving. It takes minutes to gain some confidence.

Talent wise I don't think Moore or Fredericks can get there anyway. Johnson probably has the talent. Moore would have to start shooting volume 3's around 40%+ to add that type of value to the team. Fredericks is versatile but not really great at anything.

They need confidence and that comes with minutes. I don't expect them to get as many minutes as Williams but increase their minutes and reduce others some is what Im hoping.

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

They need confidence and that comes with minutes. I don't expect them to get as many minutes as Williams but increase their minutes and reduce others some is what Im hoping.

We are entering the part of the schedule were I don't think minutes are going to increase for some players. Roles have been defined and the bench is much shorter at this point of the season. If I was them I would be trying to make a impact in practice. Lots of value in helping the team prepare for opponents. Also you never can predict injuries or foul situations.

 

[cincycpaw]

We are entering the part of the schedule were I don't think minutes are going to increase for some players. Roles have been defined and the bench is much shorter at this point of the season. If I was them I would be trying to make a impact in practice. Lots of value in helping the team prepare for opponents. Also you never can predict injuries or foul situations.

I agree. Seems like the bulk of the minutes will go to:

Jenifer, Cumberland, Williams, Scott, Brooks, Broome, Nsoseme. With Fredericks and Moore getting some as fouls or matchups define. Then very few minutes left for Logan Johnson. I hope he sees as many minutes as he can against decent competiton (we know from Eggs game that he is unlikely to see many minutes against Miss st, UCLA, Houston, UCF ...)

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

I agree. Seems like the bulk of the minutes will go to:

Jenifer, Cumberland, Williams, Scott, Brooks, Broome, Nsoseme. With Fredericks and Moore getting some as fouls or matchups define. Then very few minutes left for Logan Johnson. I hope he sees as many minutes as he can against decent competiton (we know from Eggs game that he is unlikely to see many minutes against Miss st, UCLA, Houston, UCF ...)

Definitely agree.

 

[waterhead]

They need confidence and that comes with minutes. I don't expect them to get as many minutes as Williams but increase their minutes and reduce others some is what Im hoping.

After UCLA we might see a 3 game stretch where Johnson and other bench players can get extended minutes. Any experience can help if and when we need to call on them

 

[Lawrugby89]

I agree. Seems like the bulk of the minutes will go to:

Jenifer, Cumberland, Williams, Scott, Brooks, Broome, Nsoseme. With Fredericks and Moore getting some as fouls or matchups define. Then very few minutes left for Logan Johnson. I hope he sees as many minutes as he can against decent competiton (we know from Eggs game that he is unlikely to see many minutes against Miss st, UCLA, Houston, UCF ...)

All this is subject to how they play. If they win this way like against Xavier, then great. If not, then you look at other options of which Logan Johnson is the first.

 

[david aka the TYZ]

At this point I think Fredricks is the only player we should hope or expect to see much improvement/increased role moving towards March. Maybe Moore if his shot starts falling consistently. I love Logan and his potential for the next 3 1/2 years but he isnt going to unseat Jenifer as the starting PG. Our goal this year is not to have Logan starting nor is it our best or only chance to win come March.

 

[icehole3]

We are entering the part of the schedule were I don't think minutes are going to increase for some players. Roles have been defined and the bench is much shorter at this point of the season. If I was them I would be trying to make a impact in practice. Lots of value in helping the team prepare for opponents. Also you never can predict injuries or foul situations.

Im willing to accept 2 maybe even 3 losses to get these guys meaningful minutes, that's how important I think it is to advance in the Tourney. 2 or 3 games I would sit Brooks and Broome. They can afford it to get Moore, Fredericks and Johnson meaningful minutes, just my 2 cents.