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Topic: Official Game 22 Thread: Western Michigan

Topic: Official Game 22 Thread: Western Michigan

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Ted Thompson
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Official Game 22 Thread: Western Michigan

Posted: 2/2/2014 4:33:07 PM

Use this thread to talk about anything game-related.

Date: February 5th, 2014 7:00 PM

Opponent: Western Michigan (12-8, 5-3 MAC)

Site: University Arena

TV: None

Radio: Ohio Radio

Webcast: Free on MAC Digital Network

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Fake Jeff McKinney
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RE: Official Game 22 Thread: Western Michigan

Posted: 2/2/2014 6:40:51 PM

I'm pretty excited for where this season is headed after that 45-minute thriller on Saturday. And there's only one place to go when one gets as excited as I am right now, and that's Kalamazoo, Michigan for Wednesday's game against the Broncos.

One thing not to miss when you go to a game in University Arena, which is what they call the half of Read Fieldhouse they don't use for administrative offices, is get there early, get your hot roasted nuts from Heilman's Confections, and get in your seat in time for the WMU pep band to play "I've Got a Gal (In Kalamazoo)". That song sure takes me back. Now I'm far too young to have known Glenn Miller and His Orchestra, but I think the next best thing may have been my work as a gaffer during Ben Vereen's version on Lynda Carter's "Body and Soul" song and dance special in 1984. It took 6 takes because every time he said the word "pipperoo" a network censor would shut down the production. I could not believe the abuse the censor took from Ms. Carter; you really haven't lived until you've seen Wonder Woman concuss a man with a boom microphone in real life. But Mr. Vereen was a pro and never said an angry word. After a moment like that, I could never understand how they could cast him as the evil uncle on "Webster'. And man, oh man, could that man wear a suit. I made such an impact on me that I spent many years after that trying to convince every coach in the Convo, on both our own and the visiting benches to adapt that look. Stan Joplin is the only man that ever listened to me.

Say what you will about Steve Hawkins, but one thing is certain. The man never, and I mean never, has a hair out of place. And he's got the Broncos on the right track, having won three of their last four.

The game is going to revolve around Shayne Whittington. In losses to Buffalo and Bowling Green, he totaled 12 rebounds. In wins over Central Michigan and Ball State, he ripped down 23 boards. If he's hungry for the ball, he's hard to stop. If he's hungry.

Last year's game at WMU was a grinder but the Bobcats found a way. Don't expect the story to change this time up.

Hey guess what, it might snow. That's going to be a new twist on travel this winter. But I'm so sick of being in the house that I might make the drive. I will feel extra safe passing through Michigan's Route 23 Penal Corridor; inmates are far less likely to attempt to hitchhike in inclement conditions.

Jeff McKinney
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RE: Official Game 22 Thread: Western Michigan

Posted: 2/2/2014 6:59:54 PM

Love the reference to Jop's suits. His red Malcolm X suit was my personal favorite.

I don't know if Hawk has any current grudges against Ohio to bring up as a motivational ploy. The Steve King three incident has gotten a little stale over the years so I don't think that will work. Losing out to TOS' chicanery to miss the bid to the CBI also won't move the current generation.

I'm still shaking my head over Asst Coach Larry Farmer's preseason remark that Kalamazoo was a welcome sight after being stuck in Raleigh, NC, for several years. I may be embellishing that slightly.

Andrew Ruck
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RE: Official Game 22 Thread: Western Michigan

Posted: 2/2/2014 9:58:49 PM

Is anyone other than a fictional man going to be at this game? I'll be working about 2 hours away and may try to jet out at 5:00 to get there in time...but the possible snow storm may derail that.

Andrew Ruck
B.B.A. 2003

perimeterpost
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RE: Official Game 22 Thread: Western Michigan

Posted: 2/2/2014 11:35:01 PM

"Well I could be wrong but I believe Diversity was an old, old wooden ship used during the Civil War era."
- Ron Burgundy

MY STATE. MY TEAM.

The Optimist
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RE: Official Game 22 Thread: Western Michigan

Posted: 2/3/2014 2:51:09 PM

From the WMU board:

Post: #3

RE: Bob Kitties coming to town...

Juice Brown made Ohio pay for the pressuring defense on the perimeter. I'm not sure we have the same capability. Gonna need to make them pay in other ways. Down low? They lack a real C in their rotation. Shayne needs to dominate and Tava needs to Ndour from going crazy on boards. Limit Kellogg's looks from deep and make it difficult for Taylor as well. Their bench is short. Get them in foul trouble and the advantage swings our way.

I agree that getting us into foul trouble is the best gameplan to beat us. We have been pretty good the last couple games about not getting into foul trouble, but we have a number of guys who are known for racking up a couple fouls quick. Still a big concern I have with this team for guys like NDour, Smith and Hall.

I got a chuckle out of the "they lack a real C" comment. Sure, we technically play 2 F's but they are also two of the better post defenders in the league with both Smith and NDour ranked Top 5 in the league in blocks. Shayne Wittington is a "true Center" for them at 6-11, 250 but I don't see him towering over NDour at 6-9 especially with how bouncy NDour is. Their other big, Tava, is only 6-6 and I don't believe he is as bouncy as Jon Smith is.

With how NDour is playing, I think we go to him early and often. I don't think their bigs are anywhere near mobile enough to guard him as he moves outside of the low post. Hopefully our athleticism down low gets their bigs fouling early and often.

I've seen crazier things happen.

shabamon
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RE: Official Game 22 Thread: Western Michigan

Posted: 2/3/2014 3:49:53 PM

Jeff McKinney
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RE: Official Game 22 Thread: Western Michigan

Posted: 2/3/2014 5:03:42 PM

I also don't agree with the comment that our bench is short. Even without Ric, we still have a good bench.

roar-room
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RE: Official Game 22 Thread: Western Michigan

Posted: 2/4/2014 8:03:25 AM

Jeff McKinney wrote:

I also don't agree with the comment that our bench is short. Even without Ric, we still have a good bench.

We have a serviceable bench that has potential. Don't think you're going to convince any of our opponents that getting Kellogg, N'Dour, etc. off the floor isn't the best way to beat us.

Brian Smith (No, not that one)
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RE: Official Game 22 Thread: Western Michigan

Posted: 2/4/2014 2:23:14 PM

Andrew Ruck wrote:

Is anyone other than a fictional man going to be at this game?

Oh, I doubt P.J. Fleck shows up at the basketball games.

Andrew Ruck
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RE: Official Game 22 Thread: Western Michigan

Posted: 2/5/2014 7:46:39 AM

Looks like it opened at WMU as a 1 point favorite and has moved to us as a 1 point favorite. It's a classic toss up.

Andrew Ruck
B.B.A. 2003

Chicken George
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RE: Official Game 22 Thread: Western Michigan

Posted: 2/5/2014 10:28:34 AM

This is your classic "let down" type game. Hope not and they keep the momentum moving forward, which I'm sure they fully intend to do. But it's only natural to have a bit of a hangover after such an emotional home win.

cbarber357
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RE: Official Game 22 Thread: Western Michigan

Posted: 2/5/2014 11:02:43 AM

Ndour has a 7'6" wingspan from what I've heard, has leaping ability, and is 6'9" himself. There center will not have a height advantage

Mark Lembright '85
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RE: Official Game 22 Thread: Western Michigan

Posted: 2/5/2014 11:18:42 AM

For me, a win against WMU tonight would say more about Ohio's team this year than the Toledo victory last Saturday. While the Toledo win was fantastic, it was a home win and a very good MAC team (like Ohio) should win most if not all of the their home MAC games, even against MAC teams as good as Toledo. Road wins are far more difficult (just ask TOS). Western's a very good team who plays very well at home and will probably play with a chip on their shoulder tonight. Ohio beat them twice last year, including the MAC semis. So WMU will come out tonight with vengeance on their mind. So as great as Saturday was, I'll be even more impressed with Ohio if Ohio comes out with a win tonight.

Last Edited: 2/5/2014 11:25:03 AM by Mark Lembright '85

Pataskala
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RE: Official Game 22 Thread: Western Michigan

Posted: 2/5/2014 12:10:23 PM

Mark Lembright '85 wrote:

For me, a win against WMU tonight would say more about Ohio's team this year than the Toledo victory last Saturday. While the Toledo win was fantastic, it was a home win and a very good MAC team (like Ohio) should win most if not all of the their home MAC games, even against MAC teams as good as Toledo. Road wins are far more difficult (just ask TOS). Western's a very good team who plays very well at home and will probably play with a chip on their shoulder tonight. Ohio beat them twice last year, including the MAC semis. So WMU will come out tonight with vengeance on their mind. So as great as Saturday was, I'll be even more impressed with Ohio if Ohio comes out with a win tonight.

Ohio is an oddity this year, though. We're 3-0 in road MAC games (Kent, NIU, EMU) and 3-2 in home MAC games (Ws vs BSU, CMU & Toledo; Ls vs Akron & BG).

I'm hoping Saturday's game provides a springboard for this team, because we really have to avoid a letdown. WMU is 3-1 at home in MAC games this season, with an 11-pt win vs Toledo. They've lost only two home games this season: ND St (16-6) and BG. So they protect the home court.

We will get by.
We will get by.
We will get by.
We will survive.

Jeff McKinney
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RE: Official Game 22 Thread: Western Michigan

Posted: 2/5/2014 3:14:29 PM

* Our big men have to stay out of serious early foul trouble.
* Brown will probably get his points for Western, but we have to control their other players. That means we have to hope a player like Tava doesn't go off for a career game tonight. Against Toledo, Tava was 9 of 9 from the field and scored 25. Western will get some open looks from three. We have to hope they are not on fire, because sometimes they are at home. If so, that's trouble.
* I don't want to see this turn in to a grind it out half court game. If it does, that favors Western, because they often execute very well offensively in the half court. I'd like to see us get out in transition off steals and rebounds as much as possible.
* Don't underestimate Whittington. He's good. But he alone can't beat us.

Ohio69
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RE: Official Game 22 Thread: Western Michigan

Posted: 2/5/2014 3:48:03 PM

My gut tells me this will be one of those MAC road losses that just happen every year.

My head says Christian just knows how to win these games.

Last Edited: 2/5/2014 3:48:56 PM by Ohio69

Can somebody hit a pull up jumper for me?.....

TheBobcatBandit
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RE: Official Game 22 Thread: Western Michigan

Posted: 2/5/2014 5:09:26 PM

This team beat Oakland who we lost too. One of the more underrated teams in the MAC. If we don't bring our A game we're gonna get upset.

The Optimist
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RE: Official Game 22 Thread: Western Michigan

Posted: 2/5/2014 5:14:09 PM

Jeff McKinney wrote:

* Our big men have to stay out of serious early foul trouble.
* Brown will probably get his points for Western, but we have to control their other players. That means we have to hope a player like Tava doesn't go off for a career game tonight. Against Toledo, Tava was 9 of 9 from the field and scored 25. Western will get some open looks from three. We have to hope they are not on fire, because sometimes they are at home. If so, that's trouble.
* I don't want to see this turn in to a grind it out half court game. If it does, that favors Western, because they often execute very well offensively in the half court. I'd like to see us get out in transition off steals and rebounds as much as possible.
* Don't underestimate Whittington. He's good. But he alone can't beat us.

Agree on Tava. Another guy I hope we don't let "go off" is Austin Richie. Only averaging 7.3 a game BUT shooting 39% from 3 and has shown an ability to score big... Dropped 19 when they beat Toledo.

Back to Tava, while he has had some very high-% shooting days and rebounds well, I think we need to exploit his height. Whittington is a very good center but he is not going to be able to step out and cover NDour... Tava is only 6-6... I would imagine that is who they stick on NDour? NDour is a bouncy 6-9. .It'll be interesting to see what they do to cover him.

Hopefully, NDour can keep up this double-double type game AND stevie and nick are able to give us some big scoring from the guard spots.

Last Edited: 2/5/2014 5:16:01 PM by The Optimist

I've seen crazier things happen.

Jeff McKinney
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RE: Official Game 22 Thread: Western Michigan

Posted: 2/5/2014 5:54:44 PM

Coach Christian makes a very good point: we have to make some perimeter shots because the Broncos do such a good job of protecting the lane. Does this mean we may see Mo taking several 15 foot shots or three pointers tonight?

Jeff McKinney
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RE: Official Game 22 Thread: Western Michigan

Posted: 2/5/2014 5:58:01 PM

WMU has a not very good assist to turnover ratio. We have to play aggressively, get some steals, and get some easy buckets.

FearLeon
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RE: Official Game 22 Thread: Western Michigan

Posted: 2/5/2014 8:44:27 PM

Disappointing..but pretty predictable. Team effort of horribleness..especially interior defense. Jon Smith played one of his worst games in a Bobcat uniform tonight. Never seemed into it from the opening tip.

#BleedGreen #TrentIsGOAT

Andrew Ruck
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RE: Official Game 22 Thread: Western Michigan

Posted: 2/5/2014 8:44:54 PM

20-4 run out of nowhere...Committed a foul on seemingly every possession during the run. Ugh

Andrew Ruck
B.B.A. 2003

lovebobcat
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RE: Official Game 22 Thread: Western Michigan

Posted: 2/5/2014 9:09:42 PM

Egg. Laid.

Andrew Ruck
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RE: Official Game 22 Thread: Western Michigan

Posted: 2/5/2014 9:09:49 PM

40 points allowed in the last 10 minutes. FORTY. That is a pace of 160 for the game.

And 15 fouls committed in the last 11 minutes. That is a pace of 54 for the game, enough to foul out an entire starting 5.

Man did we run out of gas or brains or something. What an ugly stretch.

Andrew Ruck
B.B.A. 2003

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