64 - 56 The first half of last night’s game was a clinic on both ends. We scored 37 points, moved the basketball for good looks (58.3% shooting in the frame), and held the Explorers to 39.1% shooting while keeping them off the free throw line (just one attempt) and cold from three (1-6).
The second half was rougher. We were ahead 48-28 with 13:16 left when Jordan Price started getting into the lane (he attempted all 11 of his free throws in the second half), our rotations on the post traps were a step late after being superb in the first half, and our offense was given fits by Rutgers’s switches on screens and started hacking up turnovers. This one got as close (to 58-54 in the closing minutes) before good foul shooting (I know, right?) locked it up. It wasn’t my favorite game of ours — and, to be honest, I watched more of the football game despite favoring basketball — but we survived to advance. It was a sign of things to come that Malcolm (20) and AG (16 and 10) led us in scoring, as those are the guys with the most diverse offensive skill sets at their respective spots, and the guys that will be getting us baskets when things get tight all season long.
We play Rutgers for the title at 9:30 tonight. The Scarlet Knights are 3-2 under ex-NBA’er Eddie Jordan, with wins over Fairleigh Dickinson, St. Francis NY, and Vandy worked in with losses to George Washington (by 17) and a confounding 18 point loss to St. Peter’s. Rutgers is turnover-prone (21.3 percent of possessions) and has struggled to make shots (44.3 EFG%, 30.1% from three) so far this season. One thing makes me wary of Rutgers: their go-to guys are two seniors in 5’10” Myles Mack (16.4 ppg, 10-28 from three) and 6’9” Kadeem Jack (14.3 ppg, 15.2% of available offensive boards). Give me an opponent full of undisciplined, athletic two-and-done types over one led by veterans.
Probable Starters for Rutgers:
G: Myles Mack – 5’10” 175 lb senior #4
On top of being their leading scorer, he also keys the offense (36.6% assist rate, 5.2 per game). He can hit the three (35.7%), but thrives on getting to the line (51.8 FT rate). He’s a pesky, gambling defender (3.8 steals per game, 6.4 steal percentage, 16th in the country).
G: Bishop Daniels – 6’3” 176 lb junior #2
Daniels’s shooting splits (.333 from the floor, .615 from the line, two of eight from three) are pretty rough, and his assist rate (11.5%) is dwarfed by his turnover percentage (27.7%).
F: Junior Etou – 6’7” 230 lb sophomore #10
Etou has attempted the second most shots (47) and third-most threes (15, he’s made four) on the team, and scores 9.8 points per game.
F: Kadeem Jack – 6’9” 235 lb senior #11
Jack is off to an absurd (15.2%) start on the offensive glass, and it might not just be a hot streak: he grabbed 10.3% last season.
F: Greg Lewis – 6’9” 245 lb junior #35
Lewis is a big body on defense (6% block rate) who chips in on the defensive boards (17.9%). He scores when given the chance, but doesn’t take many (15 shots).
Rutgers Bench:
Mike Williams (22 minutes per game) amounts to a sixth starter, and he’ll be an offensive threat as soon as he stops being awful (11-39 from the floor, 6-22 from deep). 6’8” freshman D.J. Foreman gets the backup minutes up front, andd 6’5” senior Malik Kone on the wing, but neither are that great at anything in particular.
