Semifinal vs. Quinny

[loyal]

Quinnipiac opens a 1.5 point favorite.

Based on in-season head to head results and a quick turnaround for SP, line seems incredibly low.

Here’s hoping a healthy Hogue providing inside scoring and a yet-to-be identified defensive adjustment (Q carved us up six days ago🤷🏻‍♂️) somehow carries the day.

[cindycrawford]

Lewis was able to easily beat our press resulting in easy baskets.
No point in even trying on tired legs.
Get back quickly and employ multiple defenses changing quickly to confuse.
Io pavo !

[latigo]

Yep. Gonna need to save some energy. The line is moving up now.

Q has been pretty consistent in the games early. 89 and 84 points to 74 and 73. In addition, Q shot 56% and 59% FG's. In the first game SP had 60 attempts to Q's 46. We need to definitely slow this game down and keep it high 60's. Just from a stamina standpoint, not to mention that's not a winning combination. Go Peacocks!

[dreamweaver]

What took so long? It has taken Houge an entire season to learn how not to foul every time he defends someone. This is a player who was expected to lead us in scoring this season, who was always in foul trouble playing about 15 minutes per game. He, along with Reid are our strongest and most physical player, but unlike Reid, he is a big body that can rebound and score. We have waited all season to see him paired with Washington so Corey could move to the wing. We need Houge against Otieno if we are to have a chance, and Houge has the body to do it.

I cringe every time Clarke handles the ball. He trips over his own feet and dribbles into traffic often losing the ball. Reid, has had several bad games in a row. Last night, 1 assist, 4 turnovers. He is reverting to old form. He needs to be better.

In all my years of watching Rider in the MAAC, this is the first year I ever remember them as actually playing tough defense.

I have to applaud Coach Mason for putting Sow on Mervyn James. Sow’s length gave James fits and Houge’s strength was a significant factor against Graham down on the blocks. Both were key factors in keeping Rider scoring under wraps.

We need an A game from everyone tonight and we need to SLOW the game down against Quinny. I don’t know if they can play slow but I know we cannot score enough to play fast. Regardless of what happens tonight, this has been a frustrating but enjoyable season. The guys have given everything they have. That is all we can ask.

[youngalum]

No doubt tonight will be tough. I am not as astute as others when it comes to breaking down games but one thing I have learned picking brackets is the importance of veteran guard play. Quinny with Balanc and Lewis has that in spades. Need everyone's A game tonight. Let's make it a game into the last 4 minutes and see if Quinny can handle the pressure. Like Ric Flair says "To be the man you gotta beat the man....Wooh!"

[spc91]

Agree with all comments. Get Quinny to play our game and we have an excellent shot. We frustrated Rider team that had won 7 straight last night by playing tough defense and keeping them from their usual transition game. Time for the coaches to come up a game plan that will frustrate and slow Quinny down.

[latigo]

SPC91 speaking of which.... I checked out the scores that Q played in MAAC this year and noticed that Niagara, held them UNDER their average of 78 points. Including an OT game that was tied at 63 End of regulation. Q won 75-68. The game Niagara won, 80-66, Niagara was 27-27 from the line. Q 7-11. So in 80 minutes Niagara held them on average to 64.5 points. BLUEPRINT . Let's keep them mid 60's. They have 2, 6 year guards that are very good. Surely we can take a page from Niagara's play book and slow them down. I'm sure I watched some of both games, but don't remember too much. The point is, SP is better defensively than Niagara and should be able to slow them down. The other thing is shooting 20 more free throws. Hydrate and pasta... Go Peacocks!

[figgyprez]

I’m amazed at how astute our posters are. Everyone is right on about tonight. At rbr we guarded no one and got torched. I never sensed that we had a chance to win that day. Must find a way to defend otieno with one or do better denying him the ball. He got it that day wherever he wanted it. Imo of the 4 teams left quinny has the best chance to win a non first 4 game. Their makeup reminds me a little of us in NCAA. They have an undersized but tough big and get points from several spots on the floor with some depth. Question is will they defend like we did and make the game methodical so as to use their offensive assets efficiently or will they go the Iona route and go up and down against an opponent with better athletes and eventually get run out bc they can’t adapt?

[latigo]

Figgy, great observations. I think most teams today like to go up and down the court. SP is old school with defense and just wearing teams out. I prefer that style.

70 is the magic number tonight folks. SP, 0-6 this year ALL games when opponents score 70+. Furthermore, the last time SP won a game and gave up 70+ points was Bucknell November '22. The last conference game to give up 70 and win.... you guessed it, Q February '22.

And of course my favorite, Kaintucky 85-79 (OT. Most agonizing OT game in my life) St Patty's of '22. HEEHEEHEEHEE.

Go Peacocks!

[youngalum]

[oldtimer1]

Agree with all the great comments above. To add....think a lot of tonight rests on our coach. In basketball "take the air out of the ball'. is a well known phrase. In coaching strategy.It's 's easier to slow a game down than to speed it up.

To go back in history ....in '68 long time Villanova coach, Jack Kraft said that we were the 2nd fastest team he had ever seen in college basketball and picked us over our next round opponent, Kansas. Well....guess what! Kansas, with the great JoJo White of Celtics Fame, "took the air out of the ball' and kept the game in the 50's or so on our end. That for a team, (us) that was averaging 90 pts. per game. The game was quite a step down in pace and we were helpless. Hope the same is true tonight as all above have pointed out but it's up to to our Coach to teach our excited players how to control the games tempo. Easy to say yet hard to do in the heat of the moment.

[latigo]

Youngalum, thanks for the post. Although I can't disagree with MAAC Hoops analogy, I like the Peacocks here. I thought Q would be favored by 4 or 5 based on the 2 games earlier as well as only 18 hours rest.

I can't agree more with coach OT on how it's easier to slow down tempo. For starters, you don't press. I think Cindy is right, change defenses up and get back. Crazy thought but I think Clarke comes up with the shot tonight. Just a hunch. Go Peacocks!

[spc91]

Holding the line. Keeping Q in the half court and not allowing them to run. Go Peacocks 🦚

[spc91]

YES!!!!!!!!!!! Just unbelievable!!!

[spc91]

WE REAP WHAT WE SOW!