MBB @ Troy (1/29 7pm & 1/30 5pm)

[APPdiesel]

Currently sitting in 1st place in the east with an opportunity to put some separation between us and 2nd place Coastal Carolina (.5 game back). Troy is a team App ought to beat by 8-15 if we play our game.

App State 12-5 overall, 6-2 in conference, 3-3 on the road
Troy 6-9 overall, 1-5 in conference, 3-0 at home

Troy is on a 5 game losing streak. Their series vs Georgia State was postponed. We split with them on Jan 1st and 2nd (56-69 and 90-59 respectively).

Players to watch out for: Kam Woods (12.4 ppg), Zay Williams (12 ppg and 17 blocks on the year), and Nick Stampley (9.5 ppg and 13 blocks on the season). 3 of Troy's top 4 scorers are forwards. They appear to be a team that likes to pound it inside.

App leaders: Adrian Delph (12.9 ppg and 40 3's made), Donovan Gregory (11.5 ppg and 27 steals), Michael Almonacy (10.7 ppg and 38 3's made).

[Rick83]

Beginning of 4 straight road games...and then Coastal at home and then on the road...a tough stretch for sure.

[hapapp]

Beginning of 4 straight road games...and then Coastal at home and then on the road...a tough stretch for sure.

With 5 of the next 6 on the road, we are 2-2 against the first two opponents and then take on 2nd place Coastal. Huge stretch where we can enhance our hold on first. With this unique schedule one's position in the standings can change quickly.

[APPdiesel]

I find it weird that the upcoming Coastal series is a home and home on back to back nights. We play them at 6pm at our house, then 3pm at their house the next day. So strange.

[BUTCH1991]

I find it weird that the upcoming Coastal series is a home and home on back to back nights. We play them at 6pm at our house, then 3pm at their house the next day. So strange.

Home Thursday, away Saturday.

[APPdiesel]

Thanks, I missed that. My mistake. Still strange that it's a split H&H.

[hapapp]

I know we beat Troy by 31 at home and their only win in conference was the opening game. It is worth noting that Troy at 1-5 has played all its games on the road. If one looks at the East standings, the positions almost exactly track the number of home games played to date. App and Coastal have played the most at 6 and 5 respectively. Those in the middle of the pack have played an equal number at home and on the road. After seeing AppStateMania post the records and home-away games, it makes this road trip even more critical.

[APPdiesel]

I know we beat Troy by 31 at home and their only win in conference was the opening game. It is worth noting that Troy at 1-5 has played all its games on the road. If one looks at the East standings, the positions almost exactly track the number of home games played to date. App and Coastal have played the most at 6 and 5 respectively. Those in the middle of the pack have played an equal number at home and on the road. After seeing AppStateMania post the records and home-away games, it makes this road trip even more critical.

That's interesting because logic would suggest with limited arena capacities that home court advantage would be somewhat nullified.

[T-Dog]

Top two in the east division get a first round bye, so that's the goal. I think if App splits the road series and holds serve at home (only three home games left), then Top 2 should be assured.

[spacemonkey]

Top two in the east division get a first round bye, so that's the goal. I think if App splits the road series and holds serve at home (only three home games left), then Top 2 should be assured.

There is always a chance the conference tournament is cancelled and the NCAA takes the regular season champ. OR the conference plays a modified championship game where the east regular season champ plays the west regular season champ. (Maybe 3 game series)

I think the regular season champ could be very important this year.

[HurricaneYosef]

Home Court, Neutral Court, Covid Court, On the Road, I don't care where. Troy is baddddd and we should sweep them this weekend just like we should have swept them a few weeks back

[hapapp]

Home Court, Neutral Court, Covid Court, On the Road, I don't care where. Troy is baddddd and we should sweep them this weekend just like we should have swept them a few weeks back

They’re so bad their one conference win was against us. They are 1-5 but they have been competitive in most of their games. Yes, we are the better team but a road sweep in the East has been an oddity this season. No doubt a sweep would go a long away to keep our hold on the top spot but I expect a competitive series.

[Saint3333]

Teams that get byes likely don’t split the season with Troy, must sweep series.

[app97]

Home Court, Neutral Court, Covid Court, On the Road, I don't care where. Troy is baddddd and we should sweep them this weekend just like we should have swept them a few weeks back

They’re actually not bad on defense.

[MAD Doctor]

Win App!

[bigdaddyg]

Is it reasonable to expect the haves to not lose to the have nots at this point in the season? Have we done enough to be in the Haves? I think so. That being said we really need to go down there and sweep them. Even a split would not be good.

[agentpaul001]

Top two in the east division get a first round bye, so that's the goal. I think if App splits the road series and holds serve at home (only three home games left), then Top 2 should be assured.

There is always a chance the conference tournament is cancelled and the NCAA takes the regular season champ. OR the conference plays a modified championship game where the east regular season champ plays the west regular season champ. (Maybe 3 game series)

I think the regular season champ could be very important this year.

You're very right, especially if any more of the games get postponed. I don't believe any of the games have been rescheduled yet, but I could absolutely see the scenario above.

[hapapp]

Is it reasonable to expect the haves to not lose to the have nots at this point in the season? Have we done enough to be in the Haves? I think so. That being said we really need to go down there and sweep them. Even a split would not be good.

The difference between the haves and have nots in the Belt is not that great. Not sure anyone in the East has a winning record on the road this season. I would imagine we will be favored to gain the sweep but it’s not likely to be a cakewalk.

[Stonewall]

Deeeeeeee feeeeeeense

[APPdiesel]

If we can sweep Troy and at minimum split with Coastal and Georgia State in the next 2 weeks we’ll be in a really strong position.

I love what Kerns is doing!!!