MBB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[Dr. Acula]

I'm going to make a mental note of who this officiating crew is in the box score.  These guys are BAD.  Both ways so not against Mount or anything. 

[BillyRayJimBob]

"That's not my stat ... No, that's not my stat ... I said, that ain't my stat, garsh dang it!!!" (With some respects to Greg Thomas).
85.2% from the foul line ... 100% in the first half. Happy the fall-off in the second half was not impactful, but a couple of clutch free throws in the final minute or so were.

Pick 2,3, or 5 games from last year that you could play some sort of bonus card where the Purple Raiders shoot 85% from the free throw line. Impact on the season?

[D3 Poster]

Mid-December look... Mount & Muskies in their own group, with Ott in the next tier and then lump everyone else in the third bucket.

Watching the M&M game, I can see why Doc A commented as he did.

[Dr. Acula]

I haven't seen everyone play yet, but that is my sense as well regarding the top 2.  I wouldn't put Ott in their own group yet, but that was based off the Mount game where they did not impress me. 

Muskie is a good team.  Davis is so good at getting to the rim.  Even more impressive because you don't even have to respect his perimeter shooting and he *still* gets in the paint and scores.

Yesterday was a good game (19 lead changes) that could have been even better if there weren't so many fouls killing the flow of the game for stretches.   

Casenhiser came out scoring their first 8 points and 11 total in the first 7 minutes on only 5 shots.  He was feeling it from 3.  Unfortunately he picked up his second foul just under 12:00 and had to sit until the last couple minutes of the half (where he picked up a 3rd foul).  He picked up a 4th foul early in the 2nd half and had to sit again for a long time.  He barely played 20 minutes which stinks because he was shooting like he could have scored 30+ yesterday.  He still ended up with 16.

Hamilton picked up the slack with 23 points and 6 assists and our new favorite stat...12-14 FT.  Farrington was not a focal point of the offense yesterday (to my untrained eye) in terms of getting lots of touches (5 FG att).    Laurich got more touches than normal and put up a double double with 15 and 10 on 12 shots.

Second game back and Taylor already asserted himself as the 6th man.  There is still some rust such as a couple miscommunications on whether he was cutting or staying leading to turnovers, but this game is a classic example of why Fuline likes Taylor specifically and players like him historically.  Swiss army knife.  6'5", defends any position, efficient offensively and high hoops IQ.  11 pts (3-3 FG, 1-1 3pt, 2-2 FT), 8 reb  (3 off reb), 2 ast, 2 blk, 2 stl, 0 TO.

I came away from that game very positive about the Raiders.  Your two best players did not even play like they normally do and you won on the road in a close game.  Taylor is only going to get better as he gets his legs under him.  This team has room to get better and that's exciting as a fan.