Look at the games where UNC comes off of long layoffs; usually poor performances and low FG % (for the most part). @ WY on 7 days layoff they lost 70-76 and shot 38%. Home vs Denver of 7 days layoff they won 72-57 and shot 47%. @ Portland St with 6 days layoff they lost 85-69 and shot 39%. At home vs Sac St with 6 days rest they won 79-65 and shot 42%. At home vs Montana with 6 days layoff they lost 64-62 and shot 33%. At home vs NAU with 6 days layoff they won in OT 70-63 (out scored NAU 14-7 in OT) and shot 40%.
Only the Denver game during these long layoffs did they really dominate from start to finish (and even in that game they really didn’t get going until DU’s coach got booted). Vs Sac St and NAU their FG% was around 37% until the end of 2nd half.
In their 1st meeting in Greeley, the Bengals played the Bears tough until about 2 minutes left in the game, ISU had some untimely turnovers and UNC hit their FT’s. UNC won by 12, but the game was much closer than the score shows. ISU got within 67-65 with 2 minutes left but Mike Proctor tipped in his own miss with 1:20 left and made it 67-67, but the Bears made 9 of 10 free throws down the stretch to secure the victory.
Significant Injury Notes:
UNC-Tyler Montgomery: This guy is their “big” man who roams the lane and collects rebounds. He is a big part of their defensive scheme and even though he is not a huge factor on offense, on a team that lacks size already, his absence is HUGE. Neal Kingman has really stepped up in his place on offense, but he doesn’t have the same presence on the defensive end.
ISU-Amorrow Morgan: He is the Bengals leading scorer (23 ppg) and he single handily killed the Bears in their 1st match-up. Not only is he their leading scorer, he is their leader. They have played pretty good without him, but they definitely miss his on the court leadership.
Both will probably not play, and even if they do, won’t be that effective.
Both of these teams match up similarly. They both don’t play with true centers; mostly a 3 guard and 2 forward line-up. The biggest difference is that UNC plays a full court press and trapping defense, and wants to keep the game at a fast pace.
On the other hand ISU doesn’t really press, and play at a much slower pace. Player wise and skill set wise, these teams are pretty equal. Watching 9 or so ISU games, it is hard to believe they are so bad. IMO, they should be a top 5 Big Sky team.
All week on UNC campus the students have been talking about playing Weber St. this Saturday night. I haven’t really heard anyone talk about the match up vs ISU. The UNC and Weber St game could decide the #1 seed in the conference.
I know the players aren’t supposed to look ahead, but with everyone talking about it, it’s hard not to think they aren’t looking ahead. NC on the road tends to get overly aggressive on defense and offense, which leads to foul trouble. When they get in foul, they lose that rhythm I was talking about, and just can’t get into the game.
For ISU, they are finally back at home and will be ready to upset a team they think they can beat. I think they will rally together and play hard for and without their senior leader Amorrow Morgan.
NC is in a tough spot and after such a long lay off, on the road against a desperate hungry team, and Weber St on deck. This game will come down to a last possession.
Leans: (I may play 1,2, 0r all three of these. May not play any. I want to look into a few more things).
(These lines I got from my local this morning).
Idaho St +3 1st Half
Idaho St +5
Idaho St/Northern Colorado U141
Good write up. I"m going to take a look.
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