Tonight’s 79-36 win lacked any real drama, so one was left to manufacture some in order to keep things interesting. In order:
- Would Justin Anderson ever miss?
- Would we double up our hapless opponent, or would CTB pump the brakes?
- Would everyone who played score?
- Would Maleek Frazier get his first career points?
The answers:
- No. Justin made all seven of his shots (and all five of his threes), scoring 20 points in 22 minutes. He’s now 15-22 (68.2%) from deep this season, while his teammates are 14-52 (26.9%). Anthony Gill joined Justin in the clean box score club, making all six of his tries from the floor and scoring 16.
- Both. The starters sat early in the second half, B.J. Stith came in for the first time midway through the frame, the Green Machine played perhaps the longest stint I’ve ever seen them play, and we still won by 43.
- Isaiah Wilkins (0-1 in 10 minutes) and Maleek Frazier (nothing in four) did not score. B.J. Stith did, and then did again, logging the first two baskets of his career.
- No. Maleek was the only player on the team not to even attempt a shot.
There’s nothing to gripe about in the box score. We only committed six turnovers and nine fouls, dished 17 assists on 31 made baskets, and dominated both backboards (84.2% defensive, 51.5% offensive). Mike Tobey was too big (at 7’0,” he had four inches on the tallest Tiger, and his 253 pounds was some 40 more than their heaviest) and showed it by scoring 13 and adding a career-best 16 boards.
Tennessee State’s efficiency rating was 65.9, their effective FG% was 33.3%, and they only made four of 19 threes. They just didn’t have a chance.
The only things — the only things, I swear! — that I feel comfortable griping about are that Malcolm’s jumper looks flat again (he’s now just two of 12 for the season), Evan’s appears to be gone (he’s now 1-9 from three this season and 3-12 overall — remember when he was a feared shooter?), and Darion, B.J., and Malcolm all missed the front ends of one-and-ones.
The team picks up play on Friday against LaSalle, and then again on Saturday against either Rutgers or Vandy.
