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GunkBig, big game tonight for the Cougs. As close to a must win as you can get. Will be a tough contest.
SMC shoots the ball well and scores points. They rank 13th in the nation in points/game (79.3) and 10th in shooting percentage at 49.8%. But it's basically a toss up as BYU scores 79.1 points/game and shoots 46% from the field.
Where we have an advantage is in rebounding. BYU ranks 16th at 41.1 boards a game while SMC is 115th at 36.7. Basically, we grab about 4 more boards a game than they do. In a close contest, I like that advantage.
SMC's leading scorer is senior PG Delladova (aka Dellawhatever or jerk-my-head-back-like-I'm-constantly-getting-hit). The offense revolves around him. He averages 17 points and 6+ assists a game. Containing Dellawhatever is a must, but he's crafting and very physical, so don't hope for more than keeping him in check.
SMC next best player is 6'4" junior G Holt. Holt averages 12 pts/game but if he gets hot, he can carry the team. Holt is relatively quick. Dellawhatever and Holt make a great combo. If one of them has a bad night or is contained, we stand a legit chance.
SMC's front court is a bit of a work in progress. At the beginning of the season they were basically a no-show; however, as of late they've come together and SMC's coach has figured out how to get quality minutes from his big guys. None are world beaters, but as a collective unit they perform well. Each of their starters are averaging around 10 pts/game.
To when, we're going to have to come out on fire. No slow start with SMC. We need to get them worried upfront and playing panicked. Where we have another advantage is steals with 163 on the season compared to SMC's 98. If we can rush them, hopefully we can get them making turnovers, which they make fewer of than we do.
Davies has to stay out of foul trouble. And, I'm sure they'll try to get him in early foul trouble with Dellawhatever and his mouth guard taking it him.
I like the traps and pressure Rose has been putting on WCC guards lately. That ought to help, but we can't cheat too much because if either Holt or Dellawhatever get open that's a bucket.
Play our tempo, keep SMC on their heals, and play tight perimeter defense and I think we got this.
GO COUGS!
SMC shoots the ball well and scores points. They rank 13th in the nation in points/game (79.3) and 10th in shooting percentage at 49.8%. But it's basically a toss up as BYU scores 79.1 points/game and shoots 46% from the field.
Where we have an advantage is in rebounding. BYU ranks 16th at 41.1 boards a game while SMC is 115th at 36.7. Basically, we grab about 4 more boards a game than they do. In a close contest, I like that advantage.
SMC's leading scorer is senior PG Delladova (aka Dellawhatever or jerk-my-head-back-like-I'm-constantly-getting-hit). The offense revolves around him. He averages 17 points and 6+ assists a game. Containing Dellawhatever is a must, but he's crafting and very physical, so don't hope for more than keeping him in check.
SMC next best player is 6'4" junior G Holt. Holt averages 12 pts/game but if he gets hot, he can carry the team. Holt is relatively quick. Dellawhatever and Holt make a great combo. If one of them has a bad night or is contained, we stand a legit chance.
SMC's front court is a bit of a work in progress. At the beginning of the season they were basically a no-show; however, as of late they've come together and SMC's coach has figured out how to get quality minutes from his big guys. None are world beaters, but as a collective unit they perform well. Each of their starters are averaging around 10 pts/game.
To when, we're going to have to come out on fire. No slow start with SMC. We need to get them worried upfront and playing panicked. Where we have another advantage is steals with 163 on the season compared to SMC's 98. If we can rush them, hopefully we can get them making turnovers, which they make fewer of than we do.
Davies has to stay out of foul trouble. And, I'm sure they'll try to get him in early foul trouble with Dellawhatever and his mouth guard taking it him.
I like the traps and pressure Rose has been putting on WCC guards lately. That ought to help, but we can't cheat too much because if either Holt or Dellawhatever get open that's a bucket.
Play our tempo, keep SMC on their heals, and play tight perimeter defense and I think we got this.
GO COUGS!