This isn't Larry Bird's Indiana State, but it is IMO the best OOC team ECU will face. It's probably one of the best 5 or so teams on the schedule all year.
Here are the current ranks and NET projections
South Carolina took a 32 point beat down to what is expected to be a pretty marginal Colorado State team yesterday. They aren't looking very hot at the moment. Meanwhile Indiana State is 3-0 (Ball State, Green Bay, ND State) and coming off a 26 point win last night.
I think the tree's have a good coach in Josh Schertz, he's in his 2nd year at and was 337–69 (.830) with 3 Final 4’s in D2 previously. He brought his best player with him from D2 last year Cam Henry who averaged 14ppg 5rpg at Indiana State and he returned this year. They also returned a 15ppg shooter Cooper Neese and most of the other players. There teams wasn't good last year but with what they added that seems to have changed.
Transfered in this season.
The big add has been McCauley from DePaul who has been going off. These are the current averages after 3 games
McNnight was a 6-9, 225lb D2 All American. Reading their board, he's been both injured and sick. Game 1 he didn't play, game 2 he played 3 minutes, and the last game he played 12. It seems like they are ramping him up and ECU could see a lot more of him if he's on the mend. They've been starting 6-7, 215lb Stephens at center in his stead the first few games. McCauley is 6-6, 211, and Henry is 6-6, 210 are the other two starters.
This is a good team that I didn't expect ECU to beat in the preseason, but they way McCauley has come out of the gate and they have played even without McNnight they should be hard to beat. This would be a big win. It would also mean ECU is likely to face Toledo in the 2nd round instead of a hapless Kansas City. Toledo got a vote in the top 25 and beat UAB. If ECU could somehow win those two games I think the 3-0 start and season would take a much different tone of believably.
Honestly McKnight worries me more than McCauley. Could be hard to handle his height. I would like to see Mike experiment a bit more with Pinedo if we are struggling on defense.
ReplyDeleteAre they a half court or transition offensive team? If a half court team I would push the ball more.
ReplyDeleteThey are 64th in pace currently, so I would assume they run. They have been playing a 6-7, 215lb C while their 6-9, 225 D2 All-American was out. He's back and if hes more healthy and plays more vs ECU I'd guess more half-court. Like RW said, he's the one that scares me more, he could be a problem. Before the season I expected he'd be their star.
DeleteSo who do we put against him? I don’t know enough about this ECU team yet, but I don’t think Ludgy is a solution except to give a player some rest.
ReplyDeleteWhoever does will need to guard out on the perimeter some. I'd say Johnson is the best combination of inside/outside of defense. McKnight made 1.3 three's a game at 40% in D2.
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