(02-15-2022 10:23 PM)RamyEMU Wrote:  Not trying to nitpick on the coach, but Luka played 30 minutes while Noah only played 27 minutes. Does that make any sense?!?! …but I too liked seeing them playing together, even though Luka did not have that great of a game.

I thought Okongo had a great stretch for us with 2 blocks and a rare bucket in just a few minutes. It was very aptly timed by the coach. CMU was trying to pound it inside due to the poor 3 point shooting (prior to the end of the game of course). Okongo really slowed that down.

Monty had a couple nice looking assists and a couple three pointers- and these all came at critical junctures. Despite still looking a bit sluggish.

Nate Scott and Spottesville had some key/critical plays as well. And Binelli hitting 3 threes in the first was huge momentum builder. So overall, a good night for all the seniors.

Noah of course seems to be the key to this team.

Noah was in foul trouble in the first half, picking up his 2nd with over 6 minutes to go in the 1st and not returning to the game. He had his 3rd sometime relatively early in the second half. Luka came in for him both times.

(02-15-2022 11:27 PM)Luckeyone Wrote:  Where was Jihad? How long is McBride out?

Oh good point, Jihad did not play despite a long list in rotation. Pure speculatoon, but:
I think Heath does some kind of a “reward for good practice” thing where he gives guys a few minutes if they earned it in practice rather than for any kind of strategic value. Hence: Okongo 3 min, Ballard 2 min, Rice 3 min. (Although, Okongo’s defense was critical in that spell). Maybe Jihad did not earn it or was the odd man out? Or he is hurt and since not a major contributor announcers did not say anything?

I saw McBride on camera during a time out. He was dressed, and was kind of dancing a little while coach was talking to the players. So I don’t think he is hurt that bad.

(02-16-2022 09:16 AM)truEMU07 Wrote:  

(02-15-2022 10:23 PM)RamyEMU Wrote:  Not trying to nitpick on the coach, but Luka played 30 minutes while Noah only played 27 minutes. Does that make any sense?!?! …but I too liked seeing them playing together, even though Luka did not have that great of a game.

Noah was in foul trouble in the first half, picking up his 2nd with over 6 minutes to go in the 1st and not returning to the game. He had his 3rd sometime relatively early in the second half. Luka came in for him both times.

Ahhh, that makes sense. Thanks

(02-16-2022 09:31 AM)RamyEMU Wrote:  

(02-15-2022 11:27 PM)Luckeyone Wrote:  Where was Jihad? How long is McBride out?

Oh good point, Jihad did not play despite a long list in rotation. Pure speculatoon, but:
I think Heath does some kind of a “reward for good practice” thing where he gives guys a few minutes if they earned it in practice rather than for any kind of strategic value. Hence: Okongo 3 min, Ballard 2 min, Rice 3 min. (Although, Okongo’s defense was critical in that spell). Maybe Jihad did not earn it or was the odd man out? Or he is hurt and since not a major contributor announcers did not say anything?

I saw McBride on camera during a time out. He was dressed, and was kind of dancing a little while coach was talking to the players. So I don’t think he is hurt that bad.

Good point on rewarding playing time based on performance in practice. Hopefully that is true! If so, Binelli must have learned a lesson from the last few games when as soon as he gets in, he immediately committed unnecessary fouls. I think he did not foul last night but once?

Solid road win. Kevin Miller from CMU is pretty good for a true frosh. All Barbee has to do is find 4 more players with that talent level.

When I was driving home yesterday listening to sports radio (97.1) one of the betting sponsors made Eastern Michigan the lock of the day giving up 1.5 points - should have made me some money!

(02-16-2022 09:03 AM)EagleSam Wrote:  

(02-15-2022 10:23 PM)RamyEMU Wrote:  Not trying to nitpick on the coach, but Luka played 30 minutes while Noah only played 27 minutes. Does that make any sense?!?! …but I too liked seeing them playing together, even though Luka did not have that great of a game.

I thought Okongo had a great stretch for us with 2 blocks and a rare bucket in just a few minutes. It was very aptly timed by the coach. CMU was trying to pound it inside due to the poor 3 point shooting (prior to the end of the game of course). Okongo really slowed that down.

Monty had a couple nice looking assists and a couple three pointers- and these all came at critical junctures. Despite still looking a bit sluggish.

Nate Scott and Spottesville had some key/critical plays as well. And Binelli hitting 3 threes in the first was huge momentum builder. So overall, a good night for all the seniors.

Noah of course seems to be the key to this team.

Spottsville hitting those FTs in the waning seconds of the game was huge. Thought for sure he’d miss at least one, but that really sealed it. Same with Noah’s drive where he got the offensive rebound around 3 CMU players and got fouled. Those were winning basketball plays.

Sam, you have been a Spotts fan for a while. Last night I think he finally won over both me and the Cow.

The dude has a horrible shot trajectory and does not handle the ball that well. His physical gifts are few. He does, however, bust his ass on defense and the boards. He always has been strong around the bucket, he can score in the paint. At the end of the day, he just has good court sense and most importantly is ALWAYS available. It took me damn near three seasons, but I'm glad he is at EMU.

Glad to see EMU scoring 75 points with Luka shooting poorly and committing 5-turnovers.

Njie, Okongo, and Ballard played center a combined 27 minutes, the rest of the time Eastern Michigan played small ball.

Good to see CMU shoot less than 50 percent on two’s and 33 percent on three’s. EMU would have won by more than 5 points if Heath had tried to protect it’s sizes le lead by stopping CMU’s three-ball. Also, EMU would have won by more points if EMU had not committed as many dumb fouls.

Not pleased that EMU did not pressure the ball and made but three steals.,

Playing 22-minutes, Monty contributed with his 2-5 shooting on three’s, three assists, 2-offensive rebounds, 1-steal, and no turnovers.

His foul-shooting is good when he does not shoot in one motion, and instead pauses when ball in shooting pocket. Did not do that in CMU game.

Hope he starts against Buffalo and plays more minutes, and shoots more often than he recently has.

Scott’s stats have fallen off in conference play partially due to Covid and also not shooting as often, but he did shoot a whopping 59 percent on 2’s in non-conference play, and for the season has managed to shoot three’s at 33 percent in 13 games compared to McBride shooting 33-percent or better on three’s in 9 games,

Monty has more rebounds, assists, steals, and commits fewer turnovers and personal fouls than McBride.

Monty has committed in last four games over a combined 76 minutes, but one turnover.

(02-16-2022 11:43 AM)emu79 Wrote:  Solid road win. Kevin Miller from CMU is pretty good for a true frosh. All Barbee has to do is find 4 more players with that talent level.

That is an understatement, Miller is incredible as a true freshman. A steal for CMU. Payton Sparks at Ball St as well. Can you imagine how bad those two teams would be without those freshman leading them?

(02-17-2022 05:17 AM)RamyEMU Wrote:  

(02-16-2022 11:43 AM)emu79 Wrote:  Solid road win. Kevin Miller from CMU is pretty good for a true frosh. All Barbee has to do is find 4 more players with that talent level.

That is an understatement, Miller is incredible as a true freshman. A steal for CMU. Payton Sparks at Ball St as well. Can you imagine how bad those two teams would be without those freshman leading them?

Sounds like us with Noah (although he’s not a true freshman). We’d have maybe 3 wins all year without him.

(02-16-2022 05:16 PM)Jerry Weaver Wrote:  

(02-16-2022 09:03 AM)EagleSam Wrote:  

(02-15-2022 10:23 PM)RamyEMU Wrote:  Not trying to nitpick on the coach, but Luka played 30 minutes while Noah only played 27 minutes. Does that make any sense?!?! …but I too liked seeing them playing together, even though Luka did not have that great of a game.

I thought Okongo had a great stretch for us with 2 blocks and a rare bucket in just a few minutes. It was very aptly timed by the coach. CMU was trying to pound it inside due to the poor 3 point shooting (prior to the end of the game of course). Okongo really slowed that down.

Monty had a couple nice looking assists and a couple three pointers- and these all came at critical junctures. Despite still looking a bit sluggish.

Nate Scott and Spottesville had some key/critical plays as well. And Binelli hitting 3 threes in the first was huge momentum builder. So overall, a good night for all the seniors.

Noah of course seems to be the key to this team.

Spottsville hitting those FTs in the waning seconds of the game was huge. Thought for sure he’d miss at least one, but that really sealed it. Same with Noah’s drive where he got the offensive rebound around 3 CMU players and got fouled. Those were winning basketball plays.

Sam, you have been a Spotts fan for a while. Last night I think he finally won over both me and the Cow.

The dude has a horrible shot trajectory and does not handle the ball that well. His physical gifts are few. He does, however, bust his ass on defense and the boards. He always has been strong around the bucket, he can score in the paint. At the end of the day, he just has good court sense and most importantly is ALWAYS available. It took me damn near three seasons, but I'm glad he is at EMU.

I think he’s been underrated around these parts. Not great (not even really good), but uses his “big guard” frame well on defense and, most importantly, doesn’t take bad shots. We have plenty of guys to throw up bricks. I love that even a lot of his misses are high percentage, and the only time this season where he had a high volume, inefficient game was against Akron, when we had no Noah or Monty.

He does make some head scratching decisions, and drives to nowhere a lot, but I think he’s more of an asset than a liability, this season especially.

(02-16-2022 11:43 AM)emu79 Wrote:  Solid road win. Kevin Miller from CMU is pretty good for a true frosh. All Barbee has to do is find 4 more players with that talent level.

True. It is Miller vs The World in '22/'23. I believe the next two highest scorers are graduating so the cupboard is basically bare other than he.

(02-17-2022 06:57 AM)EagleSam Wrote:  

(02-16-2022 05:16 PM)Jerry Weaver Wrote:  

(02-16-2022 09:03 AM)EagleSam Wrote:  

(02-15-2022 10:23 PM)RamyEMU Wrote:  Not trying to nitpick on the coach, but Luka played 30 minutes while Noah only played 27 minutes. Does that make any sense?!?! …but I too liked seeing them playing together, even though Luka did not have that great of a game.

I thought Okongo had a great stretch for us with 2 blocks and a rare bucket in just a few minutes. It was very aptly timed by the coach. CMU was trying to pound it inside due to the poor 3 point shooting (prior to the end of the game of course). Okongo really slowed that down.

Monty had a couple nice looking assists and a couple three pointers- and these all came at critical junctures. Despite still looking a bit sluggish.

Nate Scott and Spottesville had some key/critical plays as well. And Binelli hitting 3 threes in the first was huge momentum builder. So overall, a good night for all the seniors.

Noah of course seems to be the key to this team.

Spottsville hitting those FTs in the waning seconds of the game was huge. Thought for sure he’d miss at least one, but that really sealed it. Same with Noah’s drive where he got the offensive rebound around 3 CMU players and got fouled. Those were winning basketball plays.

Sam, you have been a Spotts fan for a while. Last night I think he finally won over both me and the Cow.

The dude has a horrible shot trajectory and does not handle the ball that well. His physical gifts are few. He does, however, bust his ass on defense and the boards. He always has been strong around the bucket, he can score in the paint. At the end of the day, he just has good court sense and most importantly is ALWAYS available. It took me damn near three seasons, but I'm glad he is at EMU.

I think he’s been underrated around these parts. Not great (not even really good), but uses his “big guard” frame well on defense and, most importantly, doesn’t take bad shots. We have plenty of guys to throw up bricks. I love that even a lot of his misses are high percentage, and the only time this season where he had a high volume, inefficient game was against Akron, when we had no Noah or Monty.

He does make some head scratching decisions, and drives to nowhere a lot, but I think he’s more of an asset than a liability, this season especially.

Absolutely correct. A lot more helpful than harmful the majority of the time. A very solid player.

Unfortunately he's the type of player that needs to be a role player, not a key figure. And on this team he is CRUCIAL.