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Post by eaglefan on Jan 17, 2024 13:06:56 GMT -6
Date: 1/18, tomorrow Time: 7:30 pm CT Where: Screaming Eagles Arena Watch: ESPN+
3 straight homes starting tomorrow!
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Post by shorthaircut on Jan 17, 2024 13:26:40 GMT -6
UALR is one of those teams that looks the part when they run out of the tunnel. They have 4 players averaging double figures and 2 others around 9 a game. KK Robinson is just a dude, a former top 100 rated player coming out of high school. Their other big addition, the big man from Arkansas who became eligible recently, hasn’t factored into their plans much this year.
UAL takes a lot of 3s and they miss a lot of 3s. Defensively they are struggling again, much like they did last year. We will need an off night shooting from them and control the backboards to win. This is a winnable game if we play well.
UALR 76 USI 71
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Post by eaglefan on Jan 17, 2024 13:37:35 GMT -6
UALR Projected Starters:
G 6’0 180 KK Robinson (17.8 PPG) G 6’4 180 Jordan Jefferson (5.5 PPG) G 6’5 200 Jamir Chaplin (17.2 PPG) F 6’8 230 Jaylen Crocker-Johnson (9.2 PPG) F 6’8 220 DeAntoni Gordon (12.6 PPG)
Plenty of scoring option for the UALR offense, especially the starting guards of Robinson and Chaplin being buckets. Robinson hasn’t particularly been a good 3 pointer shooter this season, while Chaplin has been better. Jefferson doesn’t score much, but is one of the better FT shooters on the team. Starting forwards Gordon and Crocker-Johnson provide good scoring options too. They can shoot 3s, but are sub 30% on the season. Most of the starters play heavy minutes in their games. Interesting, Robinson nearly fouls out in all their away games and their starters on foul prone. Robinson and Chaplin are also their best rebounders.
Looking at the bench, they normally will play 3-4 guys off the bench. G 6’1 180 Bradley Douglas is their main scoring option averaging 10.4 PPG from the bench. He has a low FG%, but has 39% 3FG at a high volume. They also will bring off G 6’1 175 Cougar Downing averaging 8.8 PPG and is their FT specialist. Just coming back into the rotation after missing first half the season, Former 4 star and Arkansas Transfer F 6’10 240 Makhel Mitchell is back. However, he hasn’t done much in the last 4 games. F 6’8 Creed Williamson has played decent minutes averaging 15 MPG. Overall, not a very tall team, they have a 6’11 Serbian player, but everyone else is under 6’10.
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Post by eagle87 on Jan 17, 2024 13:44:13 GMT -6
I’m going to unfortunately have to think we probably lose this game this year. I’ll say
LR. 78 USI 69
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Post by shorthaircut on Jan 17, 2024 17:03:06 GMT -6
USI opens at 3.5 pt underdogs. Vegas definitely gives us a lot of respect.
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Post by eagle87 on Jan 17, 2024 18:13:43 GMT -6
USI opens at 3.5 pt underdogs. Vegas definitely gives us a lot of respect. I have noticed several times this year that Vegas as well as many pollsters give us a lot of respect. I’m assuming some of that might be based on how well we have been able to play lots of close games at home. Sure would be nice to get over the hump and stop losing games by 2-3 points. I think we have lost 4 games by one possession this year…that’s not being very lucky, especially if it’s a home game. It appears we will be down another player with Campion doubtful for Thursday. I’m hoping KP and Causewell can both be on time so they don’t get benched again…that’s why KP didn’t play at SIUE. He fell asleep and was 30 minutes late so he was told he had to stay in Evansville. Believe me I’m ALL FOR following rules but does anyone think if Zack Edy was 30 minutes late because he overslept he would have been told he couldn’t have traveled to IU yesterday? My gut would say no. I’m not saying he shouldn’t be punished because he should be. But imo, the punishment should be something that ONLY affects KP and not something that hurt the team by him not playing. How about making him run for 2 hours after the game? Or, maybe sit out for a half? Or, having him personally apologize to each player and coach for not following team rules? Maybe I’m in the minority here but I just don’t agree with punishment that negatively affects the team and lets down the fans that paid to watch the game expecting to see our best players and effort. He could be punished in multiple ways that don’t hurt OTHERS imo. I’m a little salty because I’m getting frustrated playing every game this year short handed. We as fans and season ticket holders didn’t want to see 2/3 s of a team this year. Injuries can’t be helped but even McCord was cleared to play several weeks ago and still is yet to play 1 play in a game. Tilmon could have been a top 2 scorer this year but was dismissed. KP has been suspended at least 3 games I believe to date and Causewell has been put 2-3 games. Moore was also suspended early in the season for multiple games. After all we lost from last year, we can’t afford to lose our top guys like we have. There’s a great reason we haven’t done as well as we all expected preseason. I just want to stop the disappointment of not having all our guys playing.
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Post by shorthaircut on Jan 17, 2024 19:25:25 GMT -6
USI opens at 3.5 pt underdogs. Vegas definitely gives us a lot of respect. I have noticed several times this year that Vegas as well as many pollsters give us a lot of respect. I’m assuming some of that might be based on how well we have been able to play lots of close games at home. Sure would be nice to get over the hump and stop losing games by 2-3 points. I think we have lost 4 games by one possession this year…that’s not being very lucky, especially if it’s a home game. It appears we will be down another player with Campion doubtful for Thursday. I’m hoping KP and Causewell can both be on time so they don’t get benched again…that’s why KP didn’t play at SIUE. He fell asleep and was 30 minutes late so he was told he had to stay in Evansville. Believe me I’m ALL FOR following rules but does anyone think if Zack Edy was 30 minutes late because he overslept he would have been told he couldn’t have traveled to IU yesterday? My gut would say no. I’m not saying he shouldn’t be punished because he should be. But imo, the punishment should be something that ONLY affects KP and not something that hurt the team by him not playing. How about making him run for 2 hours after the game? Or, maybe sit out for a half? Or, having him personally apologize to each player and coach for not following team rules? Maybe I’m in the minority here but I just don’t agree with punishment that negatively affects the team and lets down the fans that paid to watch the game expecting to see our best players and effort. He could be punished in multiple ways that don’t hurt OTHERS imo. I’m a little salty because I’m getting frustrated playing every game this year short handed. We as fans and season ticket holders didn’t want to see 2/3 s of a team this year. Injuries can’t be helped but even McCord was cleared to play several weeks ago and still is yet to play 1 play in a game. Tilmon could have been a top 2 scorer this year but was dismissed. KP has been suspended at least 3 games I believe to date and Causewell has been put 2-3 games. Moore was also suspended early in the season for multiple games. After all we lost from last year, we can’t afford to lose our top guys like we have. There’s a great reason we haven’t done as well as we all expected preseason. I just want to stop the disappointment of not having all our guys playing. The McCord situation is very bizarre and the minute the season ends we will know soon if he has ulterior motives. If he comes back then the redshirt was a smart move, but I will be very surprised if he isn’t one of the first to hit the portal. I noticed Stan mentioned Hernandez being a senior the other night, so I guess he is pretty set on moving on after year end.
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Post by letsgoeagles on Jan 18, 2024 7:14:43 GMT -6
Given the amount of injuries and distractions surrounding the team, and our lack of fire power, I don't like our chances. The only way we win is if Little Rocks head coach, Darrell Walker, figures out a way to lose it. Little Rock 70 USI 61.
Anybody watch the Bradley and SIU game last night? On the road the Braves came back from a 22 point deficit in the second half to win. How I would love for USI to have some of the talent both those teams have. My mind is so fixed on getting a new team for next season.
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Post by eagle87 on Jan 18, 2024 8:02:14 GMT -6
Given the amount of injuries and distractions surrounding the team, and our lack of fire power, I don't like our chances. The only way we win is if Little Rocks head coach, Darrell Walker, figures out a way to lose it. Little Rock 70 USI 61. Anybody watch the Bradley and SIU game last night? On the road the Braves came back from a 22 point deficit in the second half to win. How I would love for USI to have some of the talent both those teams have. My mind is so fixed on getting a new team for next season. I think you will get your wish on getting a new team next year. I don’t see us having/keeping much of this team in place for next season. Stan is already offering lots of guards knowing guards that can score are sorely needed. Causewell will graduate leaving at least one big to replace and depending on KP, maybe 2 bigs. You can also count on at minimum 2-3 hitting the portal. Hernandez could move on since he already has his degree, although he could play another year if he wants. I really hope we can land some impact players that can come in a play day 1. I watched another former USI player…Stafford…play last night and go off for about 30 points. It saddens me that we could have had Swope and Stafford still on our team but both took off for the MVC where they are dominating in that league. Can you imagine how good we could be this year with both playing 35 minutes a game for us? It’s too late now for them to help us but we need to recruit players again like them that can get 25-30 points a game. I’m just hoping we can get to 10 wins this year considering all the injuries and issued we have, but that won’t be easy for what we have left.
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Post by EagleScreamin on Jan 18, 2024 8:57:08 GMT -6
Swope and Stafford both Juniors doing very well in the MVC.
Edit: Elijah Jones came to USI a year before Stafford/Swope/MilkMan. He is listed on the roster as a Freshman 2 years in a year row because of covid. Don't forget 6'7 Elijah Jones was part of that recruiting class. Just checked his season stats at Green Bay in the Horizon League. Starting Avg 9.2 points / game 64% FG 50% 3pt (only 9/18 so not a big sample size)
Have to think USI would have been a little better this year with these guys. Only question is have they developed more being at their present schools. Stafford and Jones both spent a year in Juco which helped them a lot.
Also, this recruiting class was for Division 2 at the time. The Milk Man was also in that recruiting class and is doing just fine in D1.
That would have been a National Championship caliber roster in D2 at this point.
But times have changed and here we are.
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Post by eagle87 on Jan 18, 2024 9:11:21 GMT -6
Jones would have been a solid player in the OVC. If he is getting 9 points/ game in the Horizon he could get that here too. Just those 3 alone would give s a far superior team to what we currently have. You bring up a great point about development too. No one will ever know if they would be the same if they played in our system however no one can deny they all have D1 level talent…and they all got their start at USI.
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Post by shorthaircut on Jan 18, 2024 9:54:26 GMT -6
The women and Bruce Pearl’s exciting team to watch is carrying me this basketball season. It is hard to watch basketball when your team struggles to make shots. With that said, I will continue to root this team on because as bad as this team is, the rest of this league for the most part isn’t much better.
The silver lining for a team that isn’t great in this league in a given year is one or two impact players the next year can get you back in the hunt. I imagine we will see another exodus from the better players in this league next year. And although that is not good for this league as a whole, it sure helps us in what is a rebuild situation.
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Post by eagle87 on Jan 18, 2024 10:45:44 GMT -6
That’s going to be a permanent problem if the NCAA doesn’t change the portal rules. Anyone on the All Conference team at year end will get offers from bigger mids and some P5s. As you mentioned, it really only takes a few impact players to make us competitive but we have to land them,keep them healthy and not boot them off the team early in the year. Sounds easy, but for us it’s not. We have to do better this off season in recruiting or it’s not going to change. I think it will get a bit easier as we will be half way out of transition jail.
And yes, the women’s team is worth watching this year.
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Post by letsgoeagles on Jan 18, 2024 11:44:54 GMT -6
I do look forward to our next recruiting class, though USI will be a tough sell to a lot kids. Still lots of pluses for sure in attending and playing for our university. Will be a big loss in losing Hernandez, and I can't imagine AJ coming back. KP may or may not be back, I'm not sure...I think a lot will depend on how well he finishes his season and his willingness to play for Stan. I lean more that McCord will stay than leave...if Stan felt McCord was intent on transferring and not dedicated to staying he would not keep him around. We desperately need scorers regardless of position, and a fast defensive guard who can dish the ball. As much as I hate the portal, you can rebuild and change your entire team overnight with the right choices.
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Post by shorthaircut on Jan 18, 2024 12:10:53 GMT -6
I do look forward to our next recruiting class, though USI will be a tough sell to a lot kids. Still lots of pluses for sure in attending and playing for our university. Will be a big loss in losing Hernandez, and I can't imagine AJ coming back. KP may or may not be back, I'm not sure...I think a lot will depend on how well he finishes his season and his willingness to play for Stan. I lean more that McCord will stay than leave...if Stan felt McCord was intent on transferring and not dedicated to staying he would not keep him around. We desperately need scorers regardless of position, and a fast defensive guard who can dish the ball. As much as I hate the portal, you can rebuild and change your entire team overnight with the right choices. With double portal jumpers now in play, it adds another market to dip into. This year will be the biggest numbers the portal has ever seen. If you can keep AJ and McCord all of a sudden things don’t look that bad.
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