This up-coming Saturday, EMU faces NIU that last night beat KSU on the road, 65-63.

NIU had three players that scored in double-digits, and NIU shot 53.8 percent (7-13) on three’s, and committed 15-turnovers. KSU shot terrible from beyond the arc, concerting on but 20 percent (4-20) on three’s.

NIU now has 4-9 overall record, and is 1-1 in MAC play. It previously was thumped by Toledo, a team KSU had beaten.

NIU has averaged 64.8 ppg in MAC play.With such a low team scoring, not necessary to text about their players. NIU’s conference opponents have averaged 76 ppg,

As a team, NIU does a terrible job defending the rim as conference opponents have shot 53.2 percent on two’s.

EMU has a 7-7 overall record, and is tied with Akron for third in MAC play with a 2-1 MAC record. EMU has won 5 of it’s last 7 games. Only 5 MAC teams have lost less than two or more conference games.

EMU leads the MAC in scoring, averaging 65.5 ppg, and has a 10-point scoring margin over it’s conference opponents who average 75 ppg. EMU now has a killer offense as it’s spreading the court and leaving the middle open, thus opening driving lanes for perimeter and bigs alike.

While EMU recently beat a weak CMU team, CMU did beat Buffalo.

Since scoring on two’s is EMU’s strength, it would be wise for EMU not to be foolish like KSU was jacking-up three’s only to see them miss the target. Shooting two’s also allows EMU to get to the foul-line that they don’t do shooting three’s. And teams shoot a far higher equivalent percentage at the foul-line than they do on two’s and three’s.

Although EMU shot 35 percent on three’s in the CMU game, EMU is only shooting 30.9 percent on three’s thru 3 MAC games.

EMU has a very strong offense, and it’s interior defense is improving.

As EMU is shooting an astounding 63.8 percent on two’s ( highest in MAC play) in conference play, and is first in the MAC in number of two’s scored. EMU has a decided advantage shooting two’s over conference opponents who are shooting 48.5 percent on two’s. One can only hope that 2-point shooting percentage continues to decline as it did in the CMU game as CMU shot only 40 percent in two’s.

But EMU still needs to demonstrate improvement in stopping the three-ball. Basketball today is a math game. HC Heath needs to realize he can afford to give up a few more two’s, at the same time reducing the number of three’s made by opponents. If he had extended his perimeter defenders, he would have done just that, and CMU would have scored in the low-60’s not the high 60’s as they did. EMU has to stop allowing conference opponents to shoot 38.5 percent on three’s as they have.

It’s very important that EMU improve it’s three-point defense if it’s to beat teams like Toledo and Ohio.

EMU also needs to cut-down on fouling. The 18 fouls EMU committed in the CMU on it’s home-court is unacceptable. Ballard, Spottsville, and Golson each committing 3-fouls are far too many. They need to be told not to foul especially when EMU has a lead, and also shown how to play good defense without fouling. It can be done.

Unless EMU cleans up defending the three point line and excessive
Fouling, playing both Toledo and Ohio will be much closer scoring games than they should be.

EMU is doing a great job of winning the all-important turnover battle as EMU commits 5 less turnovers per game than it’s conference opponents (12.7 EMU turnovers per game compared to opponents 17.7 turnovers per game). EMU ileads to MAC in steals averaging 9 per game.