bearcat jeff
Hoops Moderator
- Joined
- Feb 24, 2010
- Messages
- 7,502
As we all know the Crosstown Shootout can be somewhat unpredictable. It doesn't always matter who has the better team or the better season. This game is a point in time.
Filled with emotion and the desire for local (and national) respect it is the best inner city rivalry in college basketball hands down. As a whole the game rivals any other in intensity and drama.
We can talk x's and o's and player match ups but this game is often decided by a role player having a good game. He may not lead the team in scoring but they often score enough, rebound enough to be the difference. I think today it will be no different.
That's not to take away from the givens. UC needs Gates to come to play and they have to have good perimeter play, especially from Cashmere Wright. On defense they must contain X's big three of Frease, Lyons and Tu (keep Tu off the foul line).
Maybe I'm way off base here but my gut is telling me a Walker or a Mbodji will play a big part in who wins this game. It could be a Dez Wells or a G'Lawn Guyn but somebody off the radar will play a part in their teams victory today.
My guess is UC will go inside and X will attack and kick. Elbows will fly and tempers will flare. Rebounds will be hard to come by. A star will have a good, maybe even a great game, and others will wonder why their touch was off on this day of all days.
But in the end I think the edge will go to the team whose role players step up and play their roles. There isn't a big difference in the starting 5 of either team and I think both squads will play well today.
I'm expecting a very entertaining game and a very intense one. I think it will be one of the better Shootouts in recent years. Both teams have big reasons to want this game. Both feel they have something to prove and want to own this city.
I'm going to pick UC in a 68-64 upset today because I do think they will play inside out and I think Mbodji gives them the edge once you get past Gates and Frease. Of course I've been wrong about the Shootout before.
Filled with emotion and the desire for local (and national) respect it is the best inner city rivalry in college basketball hands down. As a whole the game rivals any other in intensity and drama.
We can talk x's and o's and player match ups but this game is often decided by a role player having a good game. He may not lead the team in scoring but they often score enough, rebound enough to be the difference. I think today it will be no different.
That's not to take away from the givens. UC needs Gates to come to play and they have to have good perimeter play, especially from Cashmere Wright. On defense they must contain X's big three of Frease, Lyons and Tu (keep Tu off the foul line).
Maybe I'm way off base here but my gut is telling me a Walker or a Mbodji will play a big part in who wins this game. It could be a Dez Wells or a G'Lawn Guyn but somebody off the radar will play a part in their teams victory today.
My guess is UC will go inside and X will attack and kick. Elbows will fly and tempers will flare. Rebounds will be hard to come by. A star will have a good, maybe even a great game, and others will wonder why their touch was off on this day of all days.
But in the end I think the edge will go to the team whose role players step up and play their roles. There isn't a big difference in the starting 5 of either team and I think both squads will play well today.
I'm expecting a very entertaining game and a very intense one. I think it will be one of the better Shootouts in recent years. Both teams have big reasons to want this game. Both feel they have something to prove and want to own this city.
I'm going to pick UC in a 68-64 upset today because I do think they will play inside out and I think Mbodji gives them the edge once you get past Gates and Frease. Of course I've been wrong about the Shootout before.
