Undefeated SMU @ Moody

[Bearcat Rob]

Alright big opportunity here Thursday at 7 on espn, to get a huge win on the road against one of the top teams in the country. SMU comes in as one of three undefeated teams left in college hoops at 13-0 they will likely be somewhere in the top 15 Monday (would be top 10 if voters would stop using their sanction against them). There best win is against a very solid Colorado team they also destroyed Michigan (although I think UM blows). Very well coached diciplined team on both ends of the floor. Offesively they are very efficient averaging close to 83 ppg shooting over 50% from the field and average 19 assists (which is 9th nationally) on the othe other side they only give up around 62 ppg. They are a veteran team led by senior pg nic Moore other players to look out for would be 6-7 senior jordan Tolbert who averages a double double (12 and 10) Ben Moore and and standout freshman shake Milton who scares me because he shoots 48% from three...our advantage lies in the fact that with keith Frazier recently leaving the team they only go 7 deep so we need to get them in foul trouble by attacking the rim. Very small loud gym (brutal to play in) but we are experienced having won here last year, but it will be rocking. Guard play will be crucial cannot afford turnovers against these guys and by no means can down early on these guys at there place and try to claw back. Need big games from Troy and Cobb would like to see Cobb get close to 30 minutes. Gary vs Tolbert will be a fun match up at times, and Evans needs to play confident we need him. Can't wait! Think we put it all together and realize our potential and this kick starts a huge run for the cats!

 

[Bearcat Rob]

Last year was the jermainle sanders game at moody man had the game of his career

 

[Bulldog01]

Milton go post up in corner all game. Teams have us scouted and know corner 3 theirs for taking

 

[UCBearcats]

I'm not sure why everyone thinks teams that play a small rotation of players is somehow a bad thing. A lot of very good teams play small rotations and they do it because they have 7 or 8 players who are all very good. It wasn't until recently with Calipari that playing these types of platoons became a thing but it really only worked for him because he legit had 10 NBA players on his team.

Most very good teams rely on a small rotation of players. SMU has more than 7 guys on their roster, but they only play 7 because all 7 are very good. I'm willing to bet the other guys on the bench who don't play much bring just as much value as Jenifer or Quadri do.

These kids are 20 years old, they can handle playing a high number of minutes.

 

[UCBearcats]

The above being said I think the Bearcats need a big win here and this team always finds a way to lose some games you'd never think they would (see Temple) and win a few you don't think they should.

Not sure how we get it done but I think UC comes away with a big win and temporarily rights the ship. We'll be right back on course for our usual 8-10 seed and a first weekend exit in the NCAA's.

UC - 77

SMU - 73

 

[jacobkdoyle]

I'm not sure why everyone thinks teams that play a small rotation of players is somehow a bad thing. A lot of very good teams play small rotations and they do it because they have 7 or 8 players who are all very good. It wasn't until recently with Coach K that playing these types of platoons because a thing but it really only worked for him because he legit had 10 NBA players on his team.

Most very good teams rely on a small rotation of players. SMU has more than 7 guys on their roster, but they only play 7 because all 7 are very good. I'm willing to bet the other guys on the bench who don't play much bring just as much value as Jenifer or Quadri do.

These kids are 20 years old, they can handle playing a high number of minutes.

They play 7 players who are ALL very good. We don't have that. Our 7th guy is Kevin Johnson.

 

[HoosierCat]

The optimism is just overflowing in this thread.

 

[waterhead]

They play 7 players who are ALL very good. We don't have that. Our 7th guy is Kevin Johnson.

I tend to think of KJ as the 8th man now. I think Deberry is a great sub for the bigs. I also think Evans is a great sub for Thomas and Cobb.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

The optimism is just overflowing in this thread.

UC 66
SMU 65

 

[cincrulz11]

It's going to be a struggle. I'd say our 2 weakest parts of our team right now are 3-point shot defense and giving up offensive rebounds. SMU ranks 8th in 3-point shooting % and 2nd in offensive rebound %, rebounding an insane 44% of their misses.

Their worst 3 point shooter is at 35%. They have guys at 41.7, 47.9, and 64.7 (17 attempts).


Their defense doesn't seem as good as it has been in the past. Hopefully they have an off shooting night and we can play efficient offense.


This one could (probably will) be an eye bleeder.

 

[L-T]

If we have to limit playing time to just the "very good" players, we may be down to just 1 or 2 guys playing. We certainly ain't going 7 deep with "very good" players. Our supposed very best player can't shoot 40% from the field, and barely cracks 30% from three, nor play defense. On the other hand, one of the guys who we think is lower than dirt and should never see the floor, actually shoots 43% from the field, and 38% from three, and has an assist to turnover rate of better than 2:1.

But yeah, let's cut back to just the "very good" players and watch our best player's shooting percentage drop even more and watch him fall apart at crunch time some more because he's drained.

I hope we play good Thursday, but it's hard to see a victory in this one, especially if we cut down to 7 players!

 

[Bearcat_NTS]

Keith Frazier is away from the team and his status for the game is unknown. He averages 12 points, shoots 36.6% from three and plays 29 minutes a game.

 

[cincrulz11]

LT do you recall the day Caupain pissed in your cheerios? Your personal non-stop assault on him is boring.

 

[L-T]

LT do you recall the day Caupain pissed in your cheerios? Your personal non-stop assault on him is boring.

Facts are facts my man. I have no control over whether or not you accept them. Actually, your inability to accept them is boring as well.

Oh, by the way, the big knock on Jenifer.....I'm sure you will recall....was his turnovers. In case you haven't noticed, in the last 7 games, he has 8 assists to 1 turnover. His shooting has also turned back around again. He should not start ahead of Caupain, but he absolutely should give him more breathers than 6-7 minutes a game. The team is much better with a fresh Caupain, and Jenifer seems to be improving.

 

[cincrulz11]

I think everybody would agree Jenifer had one of his best games vs Tulsa and everybody would love it if he could continue to play well.


I'm guessing if people had to choose the most consistent/best player for us this year it would probably still be Caupain. In a season of uninspiring play to this point as a team, he has probably played the closest to what was expected of him.


He has shot way too many 3's, 1 more shot from 3 than from inside the arc, and that isn't really his game. But that is why his overall FG% is low, it's not cause he's struggled inside the arc where he's at a career high 49.3%.

 

[indydoug]

I think everybody would agree Jenifer had one of his best games vs Tulsa and everybody would love it if he could continue to play well.


I'm guessing if people had to choose the most consistent/best player for us this year it would probably still be Caupain. In a season of uninspiring play to this point as a team, he has probably played the closest to what was expected of him.


He has shot way too many 3's, 1 more shot from 3 than from inside the arc, and that isn't really his game. But that is why his overall FG% is low, it's not cause he's struggled inside the arc where he's at a career high 49.3%.

To your point, he has already shot 70 3's this year in 15 games compared to 76 all last year when he shot a VERY high %. He'll do better than 30% the rest of the year but will not approach last year's numbers from 3%

 

[UCBearcats]

Do people even read posts before they respond with their own agendas?? No where did anyone say that UC should only play a 7 person rotation. The first post in this thread mentioned that our potential advantage over SMU was that THEY play a 7 man rotation. I also heard a few on here make mention of that when we played Iowa State. My response was that playing a 7 or 8 man rotation isn't a bad thing and that most good teams play a smaller rotation. SMU plays 7 because they have 7 really good players and they don't want to spend minutes on guys who aren't as good.

 

[cincrulz11]

To your point, he has already shot 70 3's this year in 15 games compared to 76 all last year when he shot a VERY high %. He'll do better than 30% the rest of the year but will not approach last year's numbers from 3%

And I don't think he's looking to take a tons of 3's. A lot of them are late in the clock when the offense doesn't have much going on. He should only be taking them when they are catch and shoot. Nothing off the bounce.

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

UC 66
SMU 65

LOL!!! What I like about you jake is your such a Homer. By the way I hope your right!!!!!

 

[cincrulz11]

Do people even read posts before they respond with their own agendas??

There are some that ONLY respond because of their personal agenda. It doesn't matter what anybody else says.