NIT picking

[leo from jersey]

ISU also has speed. The thing is Minnesota wasn't very good. We need all our guys to show up (Reynolds, Vik) and I can see Reed playing a big part. Minnesota didn't have a Newman on defense. I bemoan the fact that DatDay's defense won't be in there, but you play with who you got.

[Lobot]

Avila is a skilled player, not to be underestimated. I remember after Brian Scalabrine had retired from the NBA and all these former college players challenged him to 1-on-1 games... and he mopped the floor with all of them.

Avila was briefly on our radar during the Brannen era.

[JohnFrancis]

Avila is a skilled player, not to be underestimated. I remember after Brian Scalabrine had retired from the NBA and all these former college players challenged him to 1-on-1 games... and he mopped the floor with all of them.

[sedz]

My comment wasn't meant as a knock. He's a great player who deserves great nicknames. I've seen several Indiana St games this year, they can really score. Avila reminds me of Cameron Krutwig from Loyola's 2018 final four team.

[leo from jersey]

Cream Abdul Jabbar
Larry Nerd
Steph Blurry

I watched him - don't let him fool you . The offense goes through him at the top of the key with the others spreading the floor. This works great with the wider lane. He can dribble and actually is a good passer. They run old school plays for easy baskets through him, he and the others can drill the three. He even took the ball up the court. Most of the time he isn't charging to get down the court and can be beaten under the basket. This game is when Vik is needed for the low post scoring. The inside is available for points. Aziz defense underneath might not be dominate due to their offense. I can see ODY being a big help hanging out with that 21. The Cats have not seen this style but a couple of days in the film room will help them out. ISU is very entertaining. Watch the pick & roll with 21, but his passing while looking slow is spot on too. This should be interesting.

[sedz]

The leading scorer is Robbie Avila, a sophomore 6'10" center (17.4 ppg; 6.4 rebounds), but he doesn't really hang out around the basket on offense. Avila shoots extremely well at home (43.1% treys; 83.1 FT).

Cream Abdul Jabbar
Larry Nerd
Steph Blurry

[swilsonsp4]

The Gophers essentially quit playing defense late (and they aren't very good at it anyway). In the final minute, 76-63.

Final: 76-64 (officials reviewed a MN shot & ruled it a trey).

The arena sounds to be extremely loud, as the background noise to the announcers was quite noticeable. This will not be an easy game for the Cats. UC are a far better team than MN, who lack athleticism. If the Bearcats can keep the Sycamores from getting out and running, and cover the shooters, they can advance.

Ryan Conwell (South Florida transfer) hit 6-of-8 treys. The lefty is a 40.8% shooter from outside. In fact, their entire team can shoot (50.5% FG, 38.5% 3P, 79.8% FT). They average 84.4 ppg.

They also do not go deep into their bench. All five starters average 30+ minutes/game. The leading scorer is Robbie Avila, a sophomore 6'10" center (17.4 ppg; 6.4 rebounds), but he doesn't really hang out around the basket on offense. Avila shoots extremely well at home (43.1% treys; 83.1 FT).

[Lobot]

Indiana St. has a 10 pt lead on Minnesota at the half. Not insurmountable but if that lead holds, the game will be in Terre Haute.

[swilsonsp4]

In Terre Haute at the half: IN State 38, MN 28. The Sycamores ran out quickly to an 18-point lead. They want to run, run, run. Per KenPom, they are #38 in pace of play. They move the ball quickly and get open shots. ISU, though, are not a good rebounding team. The Gophers have dominated the boards, 20-12 (8-0 offensive).

The Sycamores took advantage of early poor passing and turnovers, letting them get out. Eventually, though, MN got the ball inside and cut the lead to 8. At that point, late in the half, two horrible FT shooters demonstrated their lack of skill for the Gophers, going 1-for-6. That allowed ISU to keep separation.

Minnesota's leading scorer failed to tally but had 7 rebounds. But he picked up his second foul, then reacted to the second call and earned himself a technical and a seat on the bench at 9:00 left in the half..

The Sycamores are considerably quicker than the Gophers.

[leo from jersey]

I am with you concerning playing Oguama more in conference play may have helped the team to get a few more wins. Oguama played 8 minutes yesterday and had 3 rebounds, 1 steal, and took part in helping to create two turnovers. I just do NOT get the rationale for NOT playing Oguama in the conference even when the match-ups FAVORED UC. Oguama is a damn good defender. He is not going to hit for 20 points any time soon, but he makes it very difficult on the guy that he is defending to get a shot off. He can play defense on the perimeter and in the paint. I wonder what Kelvin Sampson could do with a player like Oguama.

James had a heck-of-a-game in his first college start. James can score, especially from mid-range. However, James has a problem passing the ball. He has a I-can-do-it-by-myself-for-the-team mentality. Yesterday, James played 38 minutes and only had 1 assist. However, he had 25 points. So, it makes me wonder if James is a SCORING point guard or a non-passing shooting guard. Either way, this young man knows how to score and he is pretty good at it.

Let's see what happens the next game, if James starts. A career is NOT determined by just one game.

Last comments. I was surprised that UC ran away with the score in the Bradley game. That makes three straight wins at home where two of the wins were blow-outs. Let's hope that Minnesota can get the win today. Also, after this weekend, UC will be one of 24 college teams in the nation STILL PLAYING. This does not include the teams playing in the CBI.

I think he has great shooting guard skills. Would like to see him and SL with a true point guard. I was thrilled with the game yesterday, but Bradley had slow defenders and then gave up. 25 points a game is hard to do and I think JJ can be mid to high teens. I like him, but right now he must play the point. Let us see if CWM goes get a distributer in the portal. Next year though, the team might be scrambling for minutes with the 3 coming in. Two are locals and can score. I am excited, but I want the passer.

[leeraymond]

I just wonder if more minutes for Jizzle and Ody in the second half of the season might have given a few more wins in those close games, if that might have put us in the NCAA Tournament.

I am with you concerning playing Oguama more in conference play may have helped the team to get a few more wins. Oguama played 8 minutes yesterday and had 3 rebounds, 1 steal, and took part in helping to create two turnovers. I just do NOT get the rationale for NOT playing Oguama in the conference even when the match-ups FAVORED UC. Oguama is a damn good defender. He is not going to hit for 20 points any time soon, but he makes it very difficult on the guy that he is defending to get a shot off. He can play defense on the perimeter and in the paint. I wonder what Kelvin Sampson could do with a player like Oguama.

James had a heck-of-a-game in his first college start. James can score, especially from mid-range. However, James has a problem passing the ball. He has a I-can-do-it-by-myself-for-the-team mentality. Yesterday, James played 38 minutes and only had 1 assist. However, he had 25 points. So, it makes me wonder if James is a SCORING point guard or a non-passing shooting guard. Either way, this young man knows how to score and he is pretty good at it.

Let's see what happens the next game, if James starts. A career is NOT determined by just one game.

Last comments. I was surprised that UC ran away with the score in the Bradley game. That makes three straight wins at home where two of the wins were blow-outs. Let's hope that Minnesota can get the win today. Also, after this weekend, UC will be one of 24 college teams in the nation STILL PLAYING. This does not include the teams playing in the CBI.

[leo from jersey]

another thought - If VIK is conscripted, they may place him on a national BB team. IT is not NBA or overseas money, but it beats being on the front line. My hope is that he gets his stuff in order and have a quality life doing what he wants to do.

[leo from jersey]

I've always thought this was a contributing factor. I think mentally he's got to be super stressed. To my knowledge his family is still in Anapa.

That said, I see him coming back next season simply due to familiarity and lack of options. Outside of basketball or a conversion from a student visa to a work visa, his options are not great as there are now quite a few countries currently rejecting Russian passports and visas. I really hope someone at the university is working with immigration on him getting that conversion done so he can stay in the country. You can't send him home right now. He'll get immediately conscripted into the miilitary.

Isn't there a height restriction in the Russian army. I know the US is 6 ft 8. I would think if one was fearful of war, they would try harder to stay away. Different people react differently, but the Russian war was more intense when Vik was playing good. Regardless he needs some help as his student visa is good for what - one more year unless grad school. UC has help for the students, and I know the athletic department has good resources. Vik is no help to the team right now and I wonder how much longer the staff will show patience. CWM knows he has to win next year. Choices are not always easy when dealing with people and jobs. I am sure CWM has offered help. I am sure John Cunningham has procedures already in place as we saw with a player a couple years ago. I wish all the best, but sometimes things are not always best for the locker room. A winning player wants to win and I know CWM wants camaraderie amongst the team. At least my hope is that he does.

[Lobot]

Just spit ballin’ here but wonder if the conflict his
country of origin is in has anything to do with it.
I’ve been hard on him as he seems to only want to
launch 3’s but I know with the addition of Reynolds
and Bandago his role has changed. Then I
wondered about the conflict. He seems to be a
gentle giant type & maybe it’s affecting him ?

I've always thought this was a contributing factor. I think mentally he's got to be super stressed. To my knowledge his family is still in Anapa.

That said, I see him coming back next season simply due to familiarity and lack of options. Outside of basketball or a conversion from a student visa to a work visa, his options are not great as there are now quite a few countries currently rejecting Russian passports and visas. I really hope someone at the university is working with immigration on him getting that conversion done so he can stay in the country. You can't send him home right now. He'll get immediately conscripted into the miilitary.

[leo from jersey]

tOSU won. Could it be. Both teams need to win and then - here it is --The Battle of Ohio played in Indiana. Here's hoping.