Well, today is Jim Fox's chance to prep his team for the Fun Belt tourney. The problem is that cagey ol' vet Cliff Ellis (with his 806 career wins) will be on the opposite bench. With all due respect to Coach Fox, Ellis isn't likely to get outmaneuvered. His team scores a lot of points and our defense isn't noted for shutting other D-I teams down. So that leaves one thing for the Apps--outscoring the Chants.

So here's the deal. If the Apps shoot an overall 46% from the floor and 80% from the FT line, they win. Otherwise, we're in for a long afternoon in HCC.

From a more optimistic viewpoint, I view this contest as the first game of the 2017-18 season. All of our freshmen have a season behind them. They should be playing like sophs. In like manner, our sophs are now juniors for all practical purposes. And our juniors should be playing like seasoned seniors. Our lone senior, Matt O'Boyle, isn't likely to be a factor, but he will be in Fox's starting line-up. I wish him smooth passage to his App diploma and a host of great job offers.

Go Apps!

At the end of the 1st half, Apps shooting 50% from the floor and 88% from FT line. Lead 48-30. Knock me over, will ya!

Watch out for Cliff. He'll adjust like a magician! Keep the heat on, Apps!

lol, I was just about to quote you. Good call!

Right on target about Cliff btw. This lead could go very, very quickly. Both teams in some foul trouble too. We've got five with two fouls already.

Under 12 media timeout and coastal has whittled the lead down under 10. Some serious foul trouble looming on both sides. Coastal has three players with four fouls. Unfortunately we aren't taking advantage.

Our strong suit has not been the last ten minutes of ball games.

Getting drubbed this half...outscored 24-9.

This is a pitiful performance...no excuses...this is the most Jeckyl and Hyde team...maybe its that end of the floor.

Agreed. We look totally shell shocked right now. The foul trouble seems to be throwing both teams off but Coastal is hitting their shots unlike us. Texas St is about o beat Monroe, but it'd be nice to roll into the tournament with a win. Especially since we'll likely play coastal again.

We are hanging in there but we are only shooting 16% this half and only 8% from three.

Never poo-pah a win but geez we can sure look like two different teams.

Good on the team for pulling out the win... That first half was great and good free throw shooting through out the night. Let's bring those into the tournament and see if we can't at least get a weekend game

agentpaul001 wrote:Good on the team for pulling out the win... That first half was great and good free throw shooting through out the night. Let's bring those into the tournament and see if we can't at least get a weekend game

Well, Fox is undefeated in March.

Way to hang in there Apps!!

hapapp wrote:

agentpaul001 wrote:Good on the team for pulling out the win... That first half was great and good free throw shooting through out the night. Let's bring those into the tournament and see if we can't at least get a weekend game

Well, Fox is undefeated in March.

Looking at today's remaining games, it looks like the UTA/ULL game will determine who we play on Wednesday. If ULL wins that would be unfortunate, given how badly they drubbed us last game, and it would mean they'd head into the tournament with a solid six game winning streak. Not to mention UTA has an outside shot at a bubble bid if they can win tonight and don't bomb out in the Sunbelt tournament. It'd be nice to be a two bid league for once.

39% from the field, 73% from the line, 27% from 3... thank goodness for rebounding and "free throw defense."

We actually won the game at the FT line as they only shot 54% there. And, of course, as you mention our double digit advantage in rebounds.

Not 100% sure but I believe we draw Louisiana in the first round. The only team that really blew us out in Belt play. We have a hard time matching their athleticism and they are on a bit of a roll including their win v. UTA last night. We will need to play for 40 minutes to secure a win.

Edit: We play Troy in the first round. I think that is a better match up for us. On their floor, we were whistled for 19 fouls to their six. We out scored them from the floor and out rebounded them as well. In a more evenly called game, we have a shot.

If NCAA refs call any tournament game like that one, I'm turning the tv off. The stoppage in play and touch fouls made yesterday's game unwatchable.

We need some sort of offensive post play other than #5 going forward. The lack of post moves at the college level is troubling.

Nice win and hopefully something to build on.

hapapp wrote:We actually won the game at the FT line as they only shot 54% there. And, of course, as you mention our double digit advantage in rebounds.

Not 100% sure but I believe we draw Louisiana in the first round. The only team that really blew us out in Belt play. We have a hard time matching their athleticism and they are on a bit of a roll including their win v. UTA last night. We will need to play for 40 minutes to secure a win.

Edit: We play Troy in the first round. I think that is a better match up for us. On their floor, we were whistled for 19 fouls to their six. We out scored them from the floor and out rebounded them as well. In a more evenly called game, we have a shot.

Agreed, Troy would seem to be a better matchup for us on many levels. ULL is playing well right now, so I'd rather face them later if at all.

Considering our seeding, I think we lucked out on a lot levels. Troy is as good as first round matchup as we could expect. Followed by a Georgia Southern team we beat a few weeks ago and that's lost five of their last seven games. Then a semifinal matchup against likely a Georgia State team that we recently beat (and losers of four of seven). Then it's the finals and who knows at that point.

Asking four road wins will be a lot considering we have only ONE road win all season (against RPI 325 hartford), but at least this year we're playing in the Sunbelt Tournament and every night we get is another opportunity.

We've been inconsistent nearly all season, but man it'd be nice to at least get some weekend games

Beat Troy and anything else is gravy. I've seen about every game and it's obvious that we are physically weak outside of maybe three players,and overall poorly conditioned. Some of that is due to youth,I hope.S&C is as important in hoops as football now. We get knocked around ,and off our game easily , with those few exceptions ,and suck wind late in about every game. I'm convinced we have the talent to compete if the focus and intensity off season is there. This team will rise or fall,and the Fox era, in the weight room.

I am not sure if Coach Fox is reading our post but if you check mine for the last couple of ballgames I was complaining about our lack of foot speed on defense and the need to play a zone sometimes. I have been to most all the home games the last 3 years and this is the first zone that I have seen us play. I do not want to disagree with ASU66 but the reason that we won this game was that we played a zone for most of it and that threw Ole Cliff Ellis and his boys off. When they started to come back was when we left the zone and went back to man to man. Their leading scorer was their point guard shooting lay ups. If we play more zone at the tournament we may win a couple of games. If not we will be back early and the other teams points leader will be a guard shouting lay up after lay up.