(01-05-2023 06:56 AM)emu steve Wrote:  

(01-05-2023 12:44 AM)truEMU07 Wrote:  This was an odd game. At times I thought we would run away with it. Miami had a few skilled guards but none that could hang with our physicality and quickness. And our bigs made all the difference when the shots weren't falling, which was basically the entire game besides the second quarter (which was a great 4-6 from downtown).

I'll make an NFL comp that I think will express my feelings on our WBB perfectly - we give off Minnesota Vikings vibes. 9-3 is great. How much of it is a mirage we're about to find out. Our non-conference NET ranking was 350 out of 361 teams (lowest in the MAC). I want to give the team (and Castro) credit because it is certainly due: they're winning the games they should. But just how good this team is will be determined in the next few weeks with games against BG, Akron, Kent State and NIU in our next 5 games.

I 100% agree with you.

The first step of a successful campaign is to win the games you should and then compete versus the rest. EMU WBB is doing that.

I think a coach becomes vulnerable when he or she doesn't win those 'should win' games.

As indicated in another post the roster is enlarging as things come around.

You're right that EMU should have won by a big margin. Didn't because MOH was allowed to hang around as three EMU players each committed 4-fouls resulting in MOH shooting many foul-shots. Also, MOH scored 3-three's off 3 offensive rebounds, and but for Olivia Smith shooting her three's well (4-9) other EMU players shot just 1-12 on three's. And EMU players would not have missed as many lay-ups as they did if they would just get slow down and pause in the air before they released the ball.

I wouldn't put any stock in EMU's pre-season NET ranking as freshman Olivia Smith has adjusted her shooting form and exploded last night by scoring 18-points. In her prior game, Smoth scored 15-points. And Austin scored 16-points and Skanes 14-points playing MOH.

In her last two games, Smith has shot 61 percent (11-18) on fga's, and shot 50 percent (6-12) on three's. She's now averaging 10.2 ppg for the season.

Before last night's win, the NCAA's NET ranking for EMU was 202, and BG's loss last night to Ball State, was at 52 in the nation. Massey has up-dated it's rankings after last night's game, and now ranks EMU 164th and BG at the 78th best team in the nation.

EMU posts a 9-3 record compared to BG's 11-2 record.

One difference between the two teams is that in non-conference games BG averaged 82 ppg compared to EMU's 67 ppg.

However, in the only MAC game played to date, BG scored 73 points compared to EMU's 68-points. Although BG played Ball State, EMU is ranked by Massey as having a better defense than both BG and Ball State. As such, I believe the game might well be closer than the national rankings indicate as conference play is a whole new ball games.

The emergence of Smith as a scorer changes the offensive landscape for EMU, as EMU also has Austin, Skanes, Eke, and Pineda, who can all score. This team gives fans hope that EMU can upset BG at BG, and notch it's second straight MAC win.

To do so, EMU will need to both shoot well and not brick as many three's as they did last night. Some players may be be better off shooting more two's.

EMU is tough defensively inside, but EMU perimeter defenders need to deny BG the 3-ball, cut-out their excessive fouling.

As for the Vikings, they'll probably face my Giants in the play-offs. I'm looking forward to the re-match.