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#Post#: 43237--------------------------------------------------
Game 35: CAA championship game – vs Charleston, 3/12 7pm
By: Checkmate Date: March 12, 2024, 12:41 am
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COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON (26-7, 15-3 CAA)
Last Game: Charleston 61, Towson 56 on 3/10/24
Last Game vs SBU: Charleston 93, Stony Brook 87 on 1/6/24; SBU
15-point first-half lead; C of C 69% second-half shooting
Checkmate Guess the Line: Charleston -7.5
NET Ranking: TBD
KenPom Rating: Stony Brook 173, Charleston 99
KenPom Prediction: Charleston 80, Stony Brook 74
Watch: CBSSN or
(HTM) https://www.cbssports.com/watch/cbs-sports-network
Listen:
(HTM) https://cofcsports.com/showcase?Live=109
TSM Point Watch: 1,333; Next up: 11th – Mitchell Beauford
(2003-08) 1,359
Notables:
6-2/190 jr G Reyne Smith 12.5 ppg, .381 3-pt FG%, .868 FT%, .395
3-pt FG%
6-10/225 jr F Ante Brzovic 12.3 ppg, 6.3 rpg, .475 FG%
6-7/220 jr F Ben Burnham 11.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg, .460 FG%, .373 3-pt
FG%
6-3/180 jr G Kobe Rodgers 9.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg, .508 FG%, .412 3-pt
FG%
6-9/225 gr F Frankie Policelli 9.3 ppg, 5.2 rpg, .823 FT%, .339
3-pt FG%
Hodgepodge of thoughts ...
Number one: Can't believe we're here.
Less than a month ago, we were coming off a 23-point waxing at
Monmouth, which came a week after getting embarrassed at
Campbell, and a week before that, we were licking our wounds
after that brutal loss at Hofstra. We were questioning the whole
direction of this program. And to be fair, reaching this point
doesn't completely erase every iota of skepticism that I've had,
but it has been some three days. Let's hope we have a fourth,
even better day still in the tank.
I don't know that there's anybody on Charleston who I out and
out fear, but you're still talking about a team that has six
guys averaging eight or more a night. Smith can conceivably put
up a big number, but he's been real up and down this year.
Thomas is the bigger offensive force – made obvious by the
per-game average, but to be fair, Charleston doesn't ask as much
of Smith because of that balance.
Towson mucked tonight's game up, and we are going to need to be
physical and get to loose balls like we have been the last two
nights. Everybody's been everywhere. Clarke's on the floor.
Snoddy, Philip, TSM. We are getting AFTER it.
We're 0-6 all time against Charleston, three in our early D-I
stages and three lately. I won't even count last year. We were
overmatched. This year, we all remember the 15 point lead we had
with two minutes left in the first half, and the brutal 8-0 run
that followed going into the locker room. C of C tied it within
the first five minutes ... but we should remember that we went
blow for blow with them until fizzling in the final few minutes.
We led late. Charleston had to go 13 FOR 29 from three to beat
us. Of course, we shot 56% from the field and lost but ... I
dunno, they aren't this big bad unbeatable team like it seemed
last year. Part of it might be because we're much more
competitive. I think we have the athleticism to limit Smith, and
the bigs (with athleticism) to limit Brzovic and Burnham. If
anything, it's these miscellaneous shooters who can do us in
again – Rodgers, Butler and Fulton were a combined 6 for 7 from
deep in our first meeting. Fulton's three was enormous tonight
in their comeback, so there's even more proof. These guys are
all old and battle tested.
And then there's Policelli. Back at our place, to me, he was
pressing. I recall him forcing his first three, fumbling it a
couple times on other occasions, and just never settling in.
Frankly, he was barely noticeable. 3 points, 6 boards, 3
assists. And his results for Charleston have been uneven all
year – some big nights, like the 22 he had against Drexel, but
some disappearing acts too. It's crazy to think that he leapt at
this new opportunity (which I can't blame him for) and the only
thing separating him from the tournament is his old team. CBS
will surely beat that to death tomorrow night.
I think we were right to think of them as this up-and-down
offensive machine last year, but they were sneakily really
strong defensively too. That hasn't continued this year. They
just aren't as good. And they just don't turn the other team
over like they did. Last year: 482 forced turnovers. This year:
385. We only had SEVEN in our first meeting, and we need to
continue taking care of it as well as we have recently – most of
the time. That's still what I'm most worried about. We had 15
turnovers tonight, and some of them felt like back breakers. We
survived, but every turnover will feel like two with a
tournament bid on the line.
Interesting stat: Charleston 33.1% from three on 1051 attempts;
Stony Brook 35.4% from three on 740 attempts.
Sidebar: I listened to that Spaces for a good bit of it. Some
interesting chatter (thanks for the tip, NYR). Kudos to the guys
for doing it; we need more of it. But I'm sorry, after the Brown
game, @ArmchairAD thought SBU was a 12-win team at best? Did I
hear that right? So 5-13 in conference? Or worse? [emoji52]
Somebody's being dramatic. Nobody thought that. More people
could conceive of us making the CAA title game than that and
that's saying something. The consensus: We were a .500 team,
give or take a game on either side.
But here we are at 20 wins and a win away.
Can we rely on bully ball with Maidoh and Fitz like we have?
Perhaps. Brzovic is no shot blocker and neither is Burnham.
Scott is, but I believe in man strength. Maidoh and Fitz are
young adults, and Scott, as a 6-11/210 pound freshman, is just a
pup. We can't abandon what got us here, including spreading the
floor and letting Maidoh go to work from the top of the key. Who
saw this coming? I love how he's looking for it now. His
explosiveness and physicality and maneuverability make it tough
on his defender. But of course, it won't be foreign to Kelsey.
Maybe he still plays it straight up or sags off him entirely to
welcome the mid-range jumper, but I could also see him bringing
a guard to turn him into a passer.
Are we really actually game-planning against a Chris Maidoh
takeover? We are! Unreal tournament.
I like Clarke here too. He can have trouble with length, but
guys like Smith, Rodgers, Fulton ... I dunno, I think he can go
back to work after a quieter night tonight.
Frey's gotta rally. Two threes off the bench. That's all I ask.
The moment has seemed a little big for him at times, but I think
he can stay on the floor defensively here and (pleeeeeease) give
us a boost on the offensive end.
Last but not least, let's admire TSM's stat line for a moment:
Team-high 23 points, 7 for 14, 4 for 7 from three, 9 rebounds
(career high), 2 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks. Guy is doing
everything. He's been a rock.
I think we're there in the end tomorrow night. The grit is
undeniable. We can't say there's no pressure, but we aren't
supposed to be here and aren't supposed to win. Still, we need
big shots and a big effort on the glass against a team that
kills teams with second chances off missed threes. We have to
find shooters – I like Maidoh/Fitz with a foot in the paint at
all times, and our guards pressing up, not unlike St. John's
played us in the season opener. Towson was PHYSICAL with them
and seemingly tracked down all the 50/50s. In our first matchup,
the refs let them play, and with a tournament berth on the line,
I expect the same; let's settle it 5 v 5.
Like I said, I think we're right there and am hopeful for a
result worth celebrating. It's been a heck of a run no matter
what, but you know what I mean. Find a way, fellas.
#Post#: 43238--------------------------------------------------
Re: Game 35: CAA championship game – vs Charleston, 3/12 7pm
By: ecasadoSBU Date: March 12, 2024, 12:55 am
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For all the marbles baby. HOUSE MONEY!
Lets do it one more time. GO SEAWOLVES!!!!
Thank you [member=287]Checkmate[/member] for your unwavering
commitment to Stony Brook basketball and giving us these great
game by game previews
#Post#: 43240--------------------------------------------------
Re: Game 35: CAA championship game – vs Charleston, 3/12 7pm
By: ecasadoSBU Date: March 12, 2024, 12:57 am
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Anyone driving down there tomorrow?
#Post#: 43241--------------------------------------------------
Re: Game 35: CAA championship game – vs Charleston, 3/12 7pm
By: nyrfan1013 Date: March 12, 2024, 6:57 am
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(HTM) https://x.com/caabasketball/status/1767388610964189375?s=46&t=ut9CrGyfRAKsKxkxEQCqog
Not sure if Charleston/Frankie was in the stands but can’t help
but wonder if that’s who Tyler was yelling at.. seemed personal.
#Post#: 43242--------------------------------------------------
Re: Game 35: CAA championship game – vs Charleston, 3/12 7pm
By: Chairman of the Board Date: March 12, 2024, 7:15 am
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i like bully ball- maidoh is having his way in the paint with
baby hooks and fitz is clutch at the stripe.
and how is frankie 6'9", wasnt he 6'7" at SB?
did we have two consecutive games where arguably the opposing
star player gets hurt, comes back, and makes a play, and we pull
the upset?
if we pull this off- and i think we will- i cant see it being by
more than a few points.
wearing red today, GO SB
#Post#: 43243--------------------------------------------------
Re: Game 35: CAA championship game – vs Charleston, 3/12 7pm
By: OldSeawolf Date: March 12, 2024, 7:26 am
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Wow, could hardly sleep last night, I was so pumped. What a run
this has been. The team has certainly saved their best for
last. So happy for the Seniors; it is their experience and
leadership that has driven them to victory. Geno has done a
real good job with coaching and his offense/defense
substitutions overall. You can bet that Geno is playing for a
nice chunk of change tonight.
CoC is quick, and they move the ball exceptionally well. We
need to go with our A-team on Defense. More Sabry, and TO
instead of Frey, tonight. No offense to the kid, but if he
can't give us a couple of treys per night, he's just a liability
out there. TO is not an offensive juggernaut, but he is more
athletic and a better defender. All hands on deck on defense
tonight; we need our best defensive team out there, to slow down
the CoC passing/shooting attack. And let's pound the ball into
our bigs, who I think, are superior to their bigs.
Not sure who this @TheArmchairAD guy is, but I listened to some
of the chatter on that Twitter channel, and I thought he made
some good points regarding pumping up SBU NIL by reaching out to
local businesses, to ultimately help recruit.
And I saw that TSM clip shouting to the stands. He certainly
wasn't screaming towards the cheerleaders. Good observation
that he may have been yelling at Frankie and/or his family. TSM
is a man possessed right now; nothing gonna stop him. He was
amazing on both ends of the floor yesterday, and took his energy
level up to the highest level I have ever seen from him in 5
years.
And finally, excuse the shaky hand, but I thought I'd share a
home video scene from our last (and only) Championship back in
2016. It won't be quite the same on a neutral floor in DC, but
I hope it brings back great memories, and provides great vibes
for tonight:
(HTM) https://www.veoh.com/watch/v1419256739PxkktAT
Here's another more professional one that my son sent me this
morning:
(HTM) https://x.com/verts/status/1767389726934216807?s=46
Same clothes, same underwear, same chair watching the game. Go
SBU! Let's get this done!
#Post#: 43244--------------------------------------------------
Re: Game 35: CAA championship game – vs Charleston, 3/12 7pm
By: Checkmate Date: March 12, 2024, 7:48 am
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[quote author=Chairman of the Board
link=topic=1101.msg43242#msg43242 date=1710245733]
and how is frankie 6'9", wasnt he 6'7" at SB?
[/quote]
So funny. That didn’t even dawn on me. Their website has him at
6-9 😂
#Post#: 43248--------------------------------------------------
Re: Game 35: CAA championship game – vs Charleston, 3/12 7pm
By: Checkmate Date: March 12, 2024, 8:23 am
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Cougars sitting as a 10.5 point favorite at the moment.
Too many.
#Post#: 43249--------------------------------------------------
Re: Game 35: CAA championship game – vs Charleston, 3/12 7pm
By: NoVA_Seawolf Date: March 12, 2024, 8:43 am
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[quote author=Checkmate link=topic=1101.msg43248#msg43248
date=1710249815]
Cougars sitting as a 10.5 point favorite at the moment.
Too many.
[/quote]
I don't care what they're favored at.... at least we're not
playing Vermont ;D
Can't wait to watch this one live. GO SB!!!
#Post#: 43251--------------------------------------------------
Re: Game 35: CAA championship game – vs Charleston, 3/12 7pm
By: Accelerator Date: March 12, 2024, 9:27 am
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It's still surreal that we're even here. Holy crap. And we
crossed the 20 win mark.
Not surprised the bettors are putting down money on Charleston
given how tired we are, but they got hounded by Towson too, and
they're not great defensively... am I being delusional thinking
we could pull it off? Or will it be closer to how JMU waxed the
Cinderella Arkansas State last night in the Sun Belt finals. The
realist in me expected Hofstra to wear us down in the second
half like they did Delaware and they didn't.
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