Trying a new format here with emailing from the ol mobile. That's cell phone for those of you not from England.
We're loving Long Beach State on the road tonight in the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky. Ever since Louisville moved into the YUM! Center they've received an extra five points on the spread for the name alone! It's just a way to recognize a facility with an actual exclamation mark in the name and it'll (11 herbs and) spice up the spread too. (Hayyyyy ohhhh!)
This is an even match up here due to the personel alone and due to Louisville's current injury status.
From a straight personel status, the LBC State have a six man, sometimes seven man rotation made up of entirely Juniors and Seniors. They are led by ex-Gonzaga head coach Dan Monson who preceded Mark Few. He was obviously another mid major casualty in the major ranks when he parlayed his Elite Eight run with Gonzaga back in the late 90's to a forgettable 5-6 year run in Minnesota. He has landed in the LBC and has used his first 4 years there to mold this lineup into a definite mid major threat.
You can tell that LB State was full of undisciplined pick up players in their freshmen and sophomore seasons, but Monson has used his patience to mold this group's skill into a disciplined and opportunistic bunch.
LB State is led by Sr. G Casper Ware who will get Reggie Miller type screens to hit open treys. But Ware is capable to create his own trey but his strength is in the open court. He will explode into transition and is fearless attacking the hoop. Being under 6-0 feet tall is no hindrance as his explosive jump gives him some airtime to fanagel (or fahnaygel?) the attempted blocks into easy lay ups and and-1's.
I'll pay to watch Ware on his drives from the wing alone. He has such a quick and explosive first step, to go with such long strides that allows him to be as creative as a Bob Ross painting. Ware definitely doesn't make any mistakes but he has happy accidents on his drives to the hole.
Overall, Ware is a patient player on the offensive side with not forcing the shots he takes which for many are the type of shots that could be forced for 20-25 shots per game. Ware is a very under rated defender as an average one-on-one defender but great great ball denyer. He can ice opposing team top scorers from getting the ball before he can averagely close out and defend him.
JUCO transfer, James Ennis is a 6-5 guard with a wing span longer than Paulsen's go-go gadget arms at KFC! NO ONE and I mean no one can crossover Ennis as his long reach will steal it. As the top of LB States 1-2-2 zone, Ennis' reach gets in the passing lanes so much that they might as well be playing a 2-2-2 zone. His steal totals may not reflect it but his reach is something opposing teams will avoid like QB 's avoided Deion Sanders.
Also look for 6-5 small forward Larry Anderson to take smaller checks into the paint for easy mismatch layups.
LB State has a bad half court defense in terms of their footwork in the post matchups and non-chalant close outs on the wings. But their athleticism and effort on defense will lead to the high percentage shots on their lightening quick transition game. Their team First Step into transition is quicker than Adolph walking through the racoon-infested path to his apartment building!
And Louisville is still a good team, but their depth has definitely been challenged with their rash of injuries early in the season. They are playing with Sr PG Peyton Siva who is severely limited on offense but can play serviceable defense on his sprained ankle.
Fwd. Kyle Kuric is holding up the ship with streaky shooting and opportunistic garbage put backs. And Rakeem Buckles is their only threat as a scorer as Louisville's sixth man. He should be hitting the starting line up soon enough with Louisvilles MASH unit they're displaying.
Louisvilles defense will suffocate most of LB State's posessions but the LBC will get their transition opportunities. But Louisvilles lack of size in the paint will only help LB States obvious athleticism advantage. Plus this team doesn't jack the treys like Rick Pitino coached teams usually do, so the weak close-outs shouldn't be a factor.
LB State may even walk away with another BCS upset like they did in Pitt a couple weeks back, but if they don't, the Easycovers Staff loves the 11 point cushion. Long Beach has followed their Pitt game with a loss to Montana of all schools, but tonights game should motivate them to step their game up immediately from tip off.
vs. Pitt, LB State and Ware were unconscious from down down which led to the 10-12 point cushion they held the whole game, and once they cooled off, Pitt's "Grade-8 dance"-like lack of initiative and LB State's transition made it a trading hoops game. Even if LB State and Ware aren't as hot tonight, their consistent strengths should keep the score close towards another trading-hoops affair.
Again loving the 11 point cushion.
Good luck
CrazyDavoA out!
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