(11-03-2023 05:13 AM)BellarmineGrad Wrote:  Yours truly has zero interest in gambling, but it's interesting to see the "lines" on games. Saw where one book has UW as a 12.5 point favorite over the good guys on Monday.

Complete disaster last night. Worried that Suder injury is serious. Anybody know the deal with Hopf?

Smith looks like he could be a contributor this year. Same concern about Suder injury and also what about Hopf?

Liking Smith, and still think McKinney can contribute as well, but am also concerned about Suder and Hopf. Hope we learn something soon.

Anybody heard anything else about Suder and/or Hopf? I have not.

(11-09-2023 08:26 PM)BellarmineGrad Wrote:  Anybody heard anything else about Suder and/or Hopf? I have not.

Is Hopf on the bench? In uniform?
I begin to think that his absence is not injury related or someone would have simply said it.
Much better game last night, especially the second half. The main problem in both losses has been turnovers

(11-11-2023 11:17 AM)knightmoves Wrote:  

(11-09-2023 08:26 PM)BellarmineGrad Wrote:  Anybody heard anything else about Suder and/or Hopf? I have not.

Is Hopf on the bench? In uniform?
I begin to think that his absence is not injury related or someone would have simply said it.
Much better game last night, especially the second half. The main problem in both losses has been turnovers

I was hoping someone would know whether Hopf is dressing or at least on the bench. My kiddo is playing HS hoops this year, so I had to follow the K-State game via stat tracking, reading up before and after, etc.

I recall ESPN+ allowing game replays, so maybe I can "Zapruder" the game footage and see if Hopf is there. For what it's worth, he did play (started, even) in the Transy exhibition.

Whatever the reason, hoping Hopf can return soon. Among other things, he gives the Knights some much-needed size -- that whole "trot out a bunch of 6'5" guys and 'gang rebound'" thing didn't always work in D-II, and it definitely won't fly in D-I.

I see the "Chattanooga Choo Choo" is up next. Didn't they just defeat that other university in town? Would be especially sweet, then, if the good guys can knock off the Mocs™.

Bad news, Hopf hurt his knee in practice. Had surgery last week. Likely out for the season.
Also, noticed Merkle has not played for the women in any game so far this season.
Tough start for both programs.

Ugh. Sorry to heat that about Hopf and hope he recovers smoothly.

Does not bode well for this season. Hatton will need to "pull double duty." As has been noted, BU has so many 6'5"-ish guys. It'd be nice if Roberts and/or the freshman Anderson could help a bit on the inside.

I know injuries are a sad aspect of the game, but what's the deal with BU and major, season-impacting ones? For some time now, it seems the Knights have suffered more than their share.

I'd noticed that about Merkle. Saw in the game notes for the women's contest at UCLA that she is injured and didn't make the west coast trip. That's a serious loss for the ladies if she will be out for a significant chunk of time.

P.S. If Merkle heals soon, can she suit up for the dudes as well? They could use her.

For a large segment of the second half BU was playing their "5 combo guard" lineup last night. They were able to hold on with a lead for quite a while. Unfortunately when you get out rebounded 39 to 22 and the Moc's shot a higher % from the field than the Knights you end up on the losing end.

Yeah, that first half rebounding and shooting was brutal. Surprised that: (i) the aforementioned five guard lineup worked so well; and (ii) we didn't see more Smith last night.

Can we get DeVault to come back? If I'm remembering Scotty wasn't too keen on him defensively, but Sam could add some needed size and hit shots.

Next couple of games are winnable, but we'll see; if the "good guys" drop them both, I wouldn't want to be Midway on Tuesday. (Interesting that Midway plays Bellarmine and Morehead State on back-to-back days.)

P.S. Great to see that the latest multimillion gift from the Lansings includes men's hoops as a beneficiary.

The five guard lineup looked really good against Bowling Green. Not sure whether we were that good or Bowling Green was that bad? For sure it looks like Miller and McKinney are going the be in the hunt for more playing time. They both look pretty solid. However anytime a team shoots that well from 3 point range the results are going to be good. Can't count on that every game.

(11-18-2023 08:59 AM)BGrad1971 Wrote:  The five guard lineup looked really good against Bowling Green. Not sure whether we were that good or Bowling Green was that bad? For sure it looks like Miller and McKinney are going the be in the hunt for more playing time. They both look pretty solid. However anytime a team shoots that well from 3 point range the results are going to be good. Can't count on that every game.

I'm guessing you meant Smith, not Miller. Definite agree. I'm surprised at how good Smith has looked putting the ball on the floor.

(11-19-2023 05:00 PM)knightmoves Wrote:  

(11-18-2023 08:59 AM)BGrad1971 Wrote:  The five guard lineup looked really good against Bowling Green. Not sure whether we were that good or Bowling Green was that bad? For sure it looks like Miller and McKinney are going the be in the hunt for more playing time. They both look pretty solid. However anytime a team shoots that well from 3 point range the results are going to be good. Can't count on that every game.

I'm guessing you meant Smith, not Miller. Definite agree. I'm surprised at how good Smith has looked putting the ball on the floor.

Yes I meant Billy Smith.....I guess I had a senior moment.???

(11-18-2023 08:59 AM)BGrad1971 Wrote:  However anytime a team shoots that well from 3 point range the results are going to be good. Can't count on that every game.

Yeah, very much hope I'm wrong, but I don't see a successful season if the Knights frequently rely on a five-guard lineup and "living by the three."

(11-19-2023 11:09 PM)BellarmineGrad Wrote:  

(11-18-2023 08:59 AM)BGrad1971 Wrote:  However anytime a team shoots that well from 3 point range the results are going to be good. Can't count on that every game.

Yeah, very much hope I'm wrong, but I don't see a successful season if the Knights frequently rely on a five-guard lineup and "living by the three."

Ugh. I fear it's going to be a rough season.

Midway is about to get "curb stomped," though, on Tuesday -- I can see the Knights taking it out on them.

Ugh. That double tech in the first half at WVU was a killer.

Good effort by the Knights, though. A couple of those Smith in-and-out missed threes go the other way, and maybe the upset happens.

Onward and upward. Would love to see another win over that other university in town, but it won't be easy.

That game was up for the taking. Our shooting woes puzzle me but Bash shooting 3's is not the answer.
Tipton shooting way off compared to last year. Hopf & Devault were 3 point threats which Hatton is not that probably clogs the middle up some.
Looks like we will live and die on our 3 pt. %

(11-27-2023 12:05 PM)Big Smooth Wrote:  Looks like we will live and die on our 3 pt. %

No doubt. Not an ideal scenario.

Sems DeVault could be getting more minutes this season had he stuck around.

Well, live and die by the three, as we discussed. Rebounding was fairly solid, and it was nice seeing the hustle and all of those steals.

Really good effort, especially without two starters (including the Knights' leading scorer) and a reserve. Any word on how long Ben Johnson is out?

More "dying by the three."

Thought it was a bad sign when I heard about Hopf's injury, but losing Johnson is a killer. Hacker would be seeing minutes too and could help with the outside shooting.

Ugh.