Survive and Advance but need help

[X-Expert]

Texas Southern were way overmatched against X. I realize that they had a great run to take a 7 point lead but was never really ever in doubt. However, for X to win tomorrow and beyond, Tre needs help. JP was great last night as was Kanter but while Tre can carry them on his back to a point, they need Goodin. Goodin was an awful shooter earlier this year then something happened where for about six games, he was the best 3 point shooter. Since winning on Sr night vs Providence, he can't shoot (3s or FTs). If he can't hit an outside shot, it really hurts everything else. Providence dared him to shoot hanging back in the paint (as does depaul did) in BE tourney and he couldn't so would try and drive. He would then stop in paint and pass back out because he couldn't get to the basket. I am hopeful that he gets his shot back along with Gates. Marshall is a beast on the boards but hasn't been as effective offensively of late. Bottom line, our Srs will need help to move forward. That being said, if X can get even a little more help from Goodin, Gates, and Marshall, they will be in great shape tomorrow and beyond. I do worry that X blew them out last year but still take X in a close one. 84-79

[titansbaseball01]

I think we can get past FSU with just two or three players playing excellent. However, for us to go past the sweet 16, we will need Tre and JP to play like they did last night (possibly Tre to shoot a little better), at least one of our bigs to have a great game (as Kantner did last night), and have at two more players play at high levels offensively. If Goodin is able to consistently get the rim and make FT's and Gates is able to consistently hit 3's then this team is completely different. I hope Marshall is healthy and effective offensively, but we need his defense most of all. Anything Scruggs brings us is a bonus.

[muskieman]

both have depth and both benches give good productive minutes. Our inside players need to be beast on the boards and make their bunny chances. Of course our go to guys need to be go to productive. Now if one of our guys like gates could be our version of M Bridges.

[thecoach]

Leonard Hamilton is an awful basketball coach. His team will have to win in spite of his incompetence. That said, they can throw a lot of guys at you, and they will likely remember 2017.

[mumuskie87]

Tre, JP and Kerem have been X's leading scorers this season with PPG averages of 19.6, 12.7 and 10.8.
So they were +36 last night over their scoring averages.
Scruggs and Jones are probably the least important from a scoring standpoint although Jones does average 7.0 PPG.
The remaining 4 guys - Marshall, O'Mara, Goodin and Gates - are key.
And they have all struggled as of late.
One by one -
Gates -
Last 13 games has shot 9 for 44 from 3 or 20%. However, if you exclude the St John's game in BET where he went 4-5 from 3, the other 12 games he has shot 5 for 39 or 12%.
In the tournament last year he was 7-16 from 3.
Going to hurt X going forward if he can't make some 3's.

O'Mara -
Last 5 games, he has shot 9-32 from the field or 32%. Up to that point he was shooting 65% from the field so his shooting % in the last 5 games has been half of what was all year.
He shoot 13-19 or 68% from the field in the tournament last year.

Marshall -
Last 5 games - 5-13 from 2 or 38% and 1-5 from 3. His season average from 2 is just under 60% and 3 point % is 36%. And has 11 TO's in those 5 games

Goodin -
He had an 8 games stretch from 2nd Marquette game to the 2nd Gtown game where he went 14-23 from 3 or 61%.
And his assist to turnover ratio was very good - 2.2
His last 5 games he has shot 2-14 or 14% from 3.
His assist to turnover ratio has dipped but is still pretty decent.
Last 5 games - 1.8 Assist/TO ratio

All said and done, these 4 guys are going to have to shoot better for X to continue to advance as teams look to shut down the big 3 for X.

[Anti-Homer]

Texas Southern were way overmatched against X. I realize that they had a great run to take a 7 point lead but was never really ever in doubt. However, for X to win tomorrow and beyond, Tre needs help. JP was great last night as was Kanter but while Tre can carry them on his back to a point, they need Goodin. Goodin was an awful shooter earlier this year then something happened where for about six games, he was the best 3 point shooter. Since winning on Sr night vs Providence, he can't shoot (3s or FTs). If he can't hit an outside shot, it really hurts everything else. Providence dared him to shoot hanging back in the paint (as does depaul did) in BE tourney and he couldn't so would try and drive. He would then stop in paint and pass back out because he couldn't get to the basket. I am hopeful that he gets his shot back along with Gates. Marshall is a beast on the boards but hasn't been as effective offensively of late. Bottom line, our Srs will need help to move forward. That being said, if X can get even a little more help from Goodin, Gates, and Marshall, they will be in great shape tomorrow and beyond. I do worry that X blew them out last year but still take X in a close one. 84-79

Posters,

First of all, my apologies for being off the Board for nearly a week. Please stop "PM-ing" me, as I've already been chastised and received dozens of messages from my co-moderators demanding I start posting again. Apparently, Ollie's Outlet is threatening to pull their ads unless I'm back in action. Unfortunately, I didn't see a minute of the game, but based on the score, it seems like it was another stellar defensive effort (defense at X means outscoring the other team).

The conference I attended was in Fla, and I heard today that one of FSU's best players is injured. I hate to hear of any player getting injured, but if so, X will have caught a major break. I thought X would beat FSU by 6-7 points with them being at full strength anyway, but take away one of their best players (if not the best), and we should be going to the SW 16 will even less stress.

Looking at the box score, it's good to see that JP had a very good offensive game. We'll need more of that, especially against the Zags. They are off to a hot start against OSU. Hopefully, the Buckeyes come back, even if it wrecks one of my polls. I'm not a fan, but Mark Few has our number.

[muskieman]

Posters,

First of all, my apologies for being off the Board for nearly a week. Please stop "PM-ing" me, as I've already been chastised and received dozens of messages from my co-moderators demanding I start posting again. Apparently, Ollie's Outlet is threatening to pull their ads unless I'm back in action. Unfortunately, I didn't see a minute of the game, but based on the score, it seems like it was another stellar defensive effort (defense at X means outscoring the other team).

The conference I attended was in Fla, and I heard today that one of FSU's best players is injured. I hate to hear of any player getting injured, but if so, X will have caught a major break. I thought X would beat FSU by 6-7 points with them being at full strength anyway, but take away one of their best players (if not the best), and we should be going to the SW 16 will even less stress.

Looking at the box score, it's good to see that JP had a very good offensive game. We'll need more of that, especially against the Zags. They are off to a hot start against OSU. Hopefully, the Buckeyes come back, even if it wrecks one of my polls. I'm not a fan, but Mark Few has our number.

So you call Comic con a conference now. I told you to stop sending me those photos of you in that assless Chewbacca outfit because they will not influence the mods to vote for you as a mod and some of us cannot stop the retching. I understand you have issues of grandure but moderating is not in your future. As for the Ollie's ads the ads are based analytics based on the quality of post's which should make you happy because it is one step above the dollar store but ten steps from the half away point in ad sophistication.

As for the game, FSU is a deep team so one player should not be a problem for them although I am sure they would rather be at full strength. FSU plays a solid four off the bench with three other guys making appearances. Their bench, against Missouri, scored almost twice as many points from their bench as they did starters. FSU came in having lost three of four but they are the ACC's third-highest scoring team, averaging 81.8 points. Leading scorer Terance Mann is the guy you mentioned might not play but he has not been ruled out by their coach. He has a groin muscle strain. Mann is their most experienced player and averages a little more than 13 point but has a shooting percentage of 56%. One weakness of FSU is their 3 point defense.

[Anti-Homer]

Posters,

First of all, my apologies for being off the Board for nearly a week. Please stop "PM-ing" me, as I've already been chastised and received dozens of messages from my co-moderators demanding I start posting again. Apparently, Ollie's Outlet is threatening to pull their ads unless I'm back in action. Unfortunately, I didn't see a minute of the game, but based on the score, it seems like it was another stellar defensive effort (defense at X means outscoring the other team).

The conference I attended was in Fla, and I heard today that one of FSU's best players is injured. I hate to hear of any player getting injured, but if so, X will have caught a major break. I thought X would beat FSU by 6-7 points with them being at full strength anyway, but take away one of their best players (if not the best), and we should be going to the SW 16 will even less stress.

Looking at the box score, it's good to see that JP had a very good offensive game. We'll need more of that, especially against the Zags. They are off to a hot start against OSU. Hopefully, the Buckeyes come back, even if it wrecks one of my polls. I'm not a fan, but Mark Few has our number.

So you call Comic con a conference now. I told you to stop sending me those photos of you in that assless Chewbacca outfit because they will not influence the mods to vote for you as a mod and some of us cannot stop the retching. I understand you have issues of grandure but moderating is not in your future. As for the Ollie's ads the ads are based analytics based on the quality of post's which should make you happy because it is one step above the dollar store but ten steps from the half away point in ad sophistication.

As for the game, FSU is a deep team so one player should not be a problem for them although I am sure they would rather be at full strength. FSU plays a solid four off the bench with three other guys making appearances. Their bench, against Missouri, scored almost twice as many points from their bench as they did starters. FSU came in having lost three of four but they are the ACC's third-highest scoring team, averaging 81.8 points. Leading scorer Terance Mann is the guy you mentioned might not play but he has not been ruled out by their coach. He has a groin muscle strain. Mann is their most experienced player and averages a little more than 13 point but has a shooting percentage of 56%. One weakness of FSU is their 3 point defense.

Mman,

Even though FSU is deep like X, losing Mann is a significant loss. He along with Cofer lead FSU in minutes played and points averaged per game this year, and he also is their leading rebounder as a guard, along with being a versatile defender, and is very good on the break. X struggles mightily in transition D as you know. It would have been like losing Tu or Lyons with the 12' Team, but he is built more like Wells. He does not shoot treys well, but shot a ridiculously high percentage from 2 point range (56%), the best for anyone who plays significant minutes and can score outside of CJ Anderson's range. He would have been a nightmare matchup for X, because JP or Trey would have likely guarded him.

However, with/w-o him, I thought X would win, especially if they rebound it well limiting second chances. I think X will mix in zone today, and Gates will probably see more minutes than normal. X dismantled FSU as a dog last year, and Mann is the only player on this team's roster to play significant minutes last year.

X wins 83-75.

[skyhops]

Goodin has to play better especially offensively

[mumuskie87]

Goodin has to play better especially offensively

At minimum, got to make his FT's - has gone 1-5 the last 2 games.
His 3 point shot has reverted back to being awful.
He has a 8 games stretch where he shoots 61% - 14 for 23.
The total of the rest of his games he is 5 for 40 or 12%.

And Trevon hasn't been exactly lighting it up from 3 as of late.
His last 6 games he has shot 15 for 49 from 3 or 31%