Use this thread to talk about anything game-related.

Date: November 30th, 2013  2:00 PM

Opponent: Evansville    (5-1)

Site: Convocation Center

TV: None

Radio:  Ohio Radio

Webcast: Free at OhioBobcats.com

Evansville's media guide, roster and statistics. 

Leaving home a day early because OHIO BASKETBALL! I should be finishing a six hour drive and heading straight to the Convo.

We open as 61/2pt favorites.

Some of you may be too young to remember when the entire Evansville Basketball team was killed in a plane crash in 1977.

http://www.midwestsportsfans.com/2012/12/the-day-the-basketball-died-the-35th-anniversary-of-the-plane-crash-that-took-the-lives-of-the-evansville-basketball-team/

LOL...my buddy committed to going to this game with me before he found out it was up against OSU/Michigan game.  I sold him on being able to watch first half of that game before going to Ohio game and that OSU will probably be blowing out Michigan by then.  

I remember the Evansville plane crash well as it was covered extensively in Dayton. Sophomore center Keith Moon (third from right in back row) was from Kettering. I saw him play twice for Fairmont West as my high school was part of the Western Ohio League back then -- Borna knows that league as his pops coached at Wayne. As Borna and Ted will tell you, Dayton is a basketball town. The 70s saw some very good talent come through the Miami Valley.

I don't remember every player from those days, but Keth Moon was around 6-8 and had that memorable rock drummer name. He had decent feet and shooting touch for a high school big, but his best basketball was in front of him. In high school, his length altered shots around the basket. I don't think he was recruited by UD and back then Wright State was Division 2.  His mom, Donna, was involved in civic activities and was later elected to the Montgomery County Commission. She served with distinction - a politician who knew how to get things done and respected people whose perspective was different than her own.

Here is a link to a longer story about the crash:

http://www.evansvilleliving.com/articles/30-years-after-90-seconds

I will continue on with my analysis despite the emergence of my alter ego.

Very interesting stat sheet for Evansville.  Their guard Balentine, 6-2, averages 27 ppg.  He does it be taking advantage of the new rules and driving to the basket and getting to the line, where he is 55 of 60 on the year.  He also hits over 50% from three.  However, as a team, Evansville has only taken 71 threes out of 313 FG attempts. 

They are shooting a torrid 76% from the line.  They get there a lot more than their opponents.   They are an average to below average rebounding team.  They have a great assist to turnover ratio.

Do we put Ric Johnson on Balentine and hope for the best?  That could be the key to this game, along with trying to outrebound them and get some offensive stickbacks like we did vs. Mercer. 

How do we defend Balentine?  Interesting.

We are 10% similar to the 2012/13 Bobcats

Today was the first live action (well, vidcast) that I've seen.  I was very impressed with the team play.  Very impressed.

Hope Ndour heals quickly. Looked really bad. Sounds like it's a temporary setback. I can do without the second guessing about pulling him out though. Could've happened to anyone, and I can just imagine the knee-jerkers crying about Evansville mounting an amazing comeback with Nick/Mo/Jon/Ric/etc on the bench. Save it.

Besides that, a very complete game by the Bobcats. Defense was stellar, so fast on their feet today. Shots were falling, sure, but the passing seemed really great to get the shots we wanted.

Smallish crowd, but the entire place got into the "you came a loooooong way.... just to lose". Very in sync with the clapping, not just the O Zone. lol. Too funny.

And no clock malfunctions, right?!

On to the next one.

Edit: lot of communication on court this year. Seems more/better than last year.

And little bit of politicking today by UofE. I am always amazed about the guy (Balentine in this case), that during a free throw, chats with an official about how number XX is fouling him in this manner, and sure enough gets a call in the next minute or two. Not dissing him, we do it too. But just interesting. It works, can't blame them.