Pappy, I look at GSU season stats and just as I suspected when you considered their rebounding and turnover margin they come out a +0.2. Their rebounding margin is -6 and their turnover margin is +6.2.

Their philosophy is like Richardson's was. They are willing to lose the battle of the boards to win the scramble on the court. And it is working very well for them. No one has called their hand yet. When a team has a system and the players to run it, and stays within that system, they will be successful; and GSU has theirs running in high gear right now. I would love to for us to be the ones that slow them down, but I just don't see it. We don't have the horses to run in that race.

Probably the only way they will get upset is with a very good point guard whom they cannot panic, and a team dominates them on the boards, and a cold shooting night for them. But that combination won't happen very often in this league. I expect them to run the table.

I don't mean to be disloyal, but I have to confess that I do not see much of a chance of our beating GSU (despite what RealtimeRPI said). Their strengths fit right against our weaknesses. We are susceptible to turnovers, and tend to blow up when teams go on runs. Our perimeter defense is not good. We do not force opponents into many turnovers. We might beat them inside, but that is not where the game will be won.

In order for us to win, we are going to have to be VERY hot from the 3-point line and get at least one of their Big Two in serious foul trouble early - and that is not likely to happen, because we do not have the personnel to be able to put that kind of offensive pressure on those two.

I hate to say it, but I will be surprised if we stay within 20, even at home.

(02-03-2014 09:20 PM)MICHAELSPAPPY Wrote:  I don't mean to be disloyal, but I have to confess that I do not see much of a chance of our beating GSU (despite what RealtimeRPI said). Their strengths fit right against our weaknesses. We are susceptible to turnovers, and tend to blow up when teams go on runs. Our perimeter defense is not good. We do not force opponents into many turnovers. We might beat them inside, but that is not where the game will be won.

In order for us to win, we are going to have to be VERY hot from the 3-point line and get at least one of their Big Two in serious foul trouble early - and that is not likely to happen, because we do not have the personnel to be able to put that kind of offensive pressure on those two.

I hate to say it, but I will be surprised if we stay within 20, even at home.

Under normal circumstances I would agree, but Shield's teams somehow can scrape out some wins against superior teams on occasion. Maybe this will be our night. I'm not conceding a win yet. Especially if Will and James are at full strength by Thursday.