Thursday we have Akron at noon.

The winner advances to the semis vs. the winner of WMU/BSU.

Last year we 'had' Akron until we let the game slip away at the end (last minute).

We go to CLE having won 3 of our last 4. No Dukes, UCLAs, etc in the list but 3 of 4 is still better than 2 of 4, 1 of 4 etc.

Akron finished the season losing 3 of 5 I believe. Two of those losses were to BG and MU. They can be beat. We have to limit their passing this time around and close out on shooters. Steele has to play early to limit Johnson. We don't have another body that can hang.

http://www.mac-sports.com/documents/2016...cket16.pdf

(03-07-2017 04:00 PM)Time2Fly Wrote:  Akron finished the season losing 3 of 5 I believe. Two of those losses were to BG and MU. They can be beat. We have to limit their passing this time around and close out on shooters. Steele has to play early to limit Johnson. We don't have another body that can hang.

This would be the perfect game to switch to a man defense, even if it is only for short spurts.

(03-07-2017 04:55 PM)TheWoodenNickle Wrote:  

(03-07-2017 04:00 PM)Time2Fly Wrote:  Akron finished the season losing 3 of 5 I believe. Two of those losses were to BG and MU. They can be beat. We have to limit their passing this time around and close out on shooters. Steele has to play early to limit Johnson. We don't have another body that can hang.

This would be the perfect game to switch to a man defense, even if it is only for short spurts.

Only thing that scares me about switching to M2M against Akron is that Big Dog will eat us alive in the low post. At least in the zone, we can keep him up high and have some help defenders sag off. Since he's such a good passer, it's really a "pick your poison" against him: Let him take somebody one-on-one or kick it to an open shooter. I'll always take my chances with the lower percentage 3-point shot than to have a bulldozer like Johnson either score easily or get fouled.

(03-07-2017 04:00 PM)Time2Fly Wrote:  Akron finished the season losing 3 of 5 I believe. Two of those losses were to BG and MU. They can be beat. We have to limit their passing this time around and close out on shooters. Steele has to play early to limit Johnson. We don't have another body that can hang.

Hmmmmmm.... Akron lost to BG and MU recently? If I were coach, I would watch their films and emulate what each of those teams did that worked offensively and defensively. BTW, did BG and MU play zone against Akron?

Lol :-)

(03-07-2017 05:39 PM)EagleSam Wrote:  

(03-07-2017 04:55 PM)TheWoodenNickle Wrote:  

(03-07-2017 04:00 PM)Time2Fly Wrote:  Akron finished the season losing 3 of 5 I believe. Two of those losses were to BG and MU. They can be beat. We have to limit their passing this time around and close out on shooters. Steele has to play early to limit Johnson. We don't have another body that can hang.

This would be the perfect game to switch to a man defense, even if it is only for short spurts.

Only thing that scares me about switching to M2M against Akron is that Big Dog will eat us alive in the low post. At least in the zone, we can keep him up high and have some help defenders sag off. Since he's such a good passer, it's really a "pick your poison" against him: Let him take somebody one-on-one or kick it to an open shooter. I'll always take my chances with the lower percentage 3-point shot than to have a bulldozer like Johnson either score easily or get fouled.

The issue is that even in the zone we end up with Johnson one on one once the ball is in his hands. Honestly though, I wasn't terribly impressed with Johnson the last time out. He's big. I don't think he's a remarkable scorer or rebounder. But you're right, we have to keep him away from the rim. He's so big that he pushes our defenders back and gets 2 footers

(03-07-2017 04:00 PM)Time2Fly Wrote:  Akron finished the season losing 3 of 5 I believe. Two of those losses were to BG and MU. They can be beat. We have to limit their passing this time around and close out on shooters. Steele has to play early to limit Johnson. We don't have another body that can hang.

Don't tell anyone, but as you know Akron has the best record, but Western has been, by far, the hottest team down the stretch. I don't remember when WMU lost a game.

Incredible!!

BTW, this is a video from WMU @ CMU. Look at the crowd.

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketb...=400917158

(03-07-2017 10:53 PM)emu steve Wrote:  

(03-07-2017 04:00 PM)Time2Fly Wrote:  Akron finished the season losing 3 of 5 I believe. Two of those losses were to BG and MU. They can be beat. We have to limit their passing this time around and close out on shooters. Steele has to play early to limit Johnson. We don't have another body that can hang.

Don't tell anyone, but as you know Akron has the best record, but Western has been, by far, the hottest team down the stretch. I don't remember when WMU lost a game.

Incredible!!

BTW, this is a video from WMU @ CMU. Look at the crowd.

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketb...=400917158

Re: Video. Crowd was impressive. Of course this is a real rivalry. For comparison I watched Tulsa at Tulane the other day and the crowd at Tulane looked very much like what EMU draws. Tulane faces many of the same challenges as EMU.

O/T but the #8 seed WMU defeated #1 CMU on the women's side.

Upsets happen....

Going O/T again, but UofM MBB's plane was involved in a moderately serious aborted takeoff because of excessive winds. They were going to D.C. for the B1G tourney. Team seems okay. Plane is not.

The MAC is mostly a bus league. I assume our guys safely bused to CLE.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/26968...=editorial

Game Day: Less than 6 hours away.

(03-09-2017 06:18 AM)emu steve Wrote:  Game Day: Less than 6 hours away.

Hope for the best... Expect the worst.

(03-09-2017 06:43 AM)TheWoodenNickle Wrote:  

(03-09-2017 06:18 AM)emu steve Wrote:  Game Day: Less than 6 hours away.

Hope for the best... Expect the worst.

Akron is a 4-point favorite.

Today's games (plural) will be on DirecTV for those who have it.

Chance to record the game. If EMU wins, keep it, otherwise, delete it.

game day! let's goooooooo. to hell with re-litigating the zone defense or murphy's future with EMU, today is all about taking down the #1 seed in the MAC tournament.

(03-09-2017 09:37 AM)EMUAARON Wrote:  game day! let's goooooooo. to hell with re-litigating the zone defense or murphy's future with EMU, today is all about taking down the #1 seed in the MAC tournament.

Amen! I'd love it if we were the team that knocked Akron out. If Raven and Willie can get hot, and we limit Big Dog's dominance, it's a definite possibility.

We were sooooo close to dumping them last year. I'll be jumping for joy if we make it happen this year.

We're more talented than last year. Akron might beat us 2 out of 3 times... we just need today to be that special 3rd time.

who's watching the game while at work, or skipping work to watch the game? i'm so lucky that i work from home, so watching isn't a problem for me.

(03-09-2017 10:11 AM)EMUAARON Wrote:  who's watching the game while at work, or skipping work to watch the game? i'm so lucky that i work from home, so watching isn't a problem for me.

No power at work for me, so I can watch now. Let's go!!


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