Leatherneck Nation

Saturday, January 8 at 2 PM - hosting Oral Roberts and the #10 scorer in the nation, Max Abmas (who is also #2 in 3-pters).
The Golden Eagles are 10-6 this season overall and 4-1 in the Summit League.

• Out of conferences wins: vs NAIA Southwestern Christian, vs NAIA Haskell Indian Nations, vs DII Rogers State, vs Tulsa, @ Houston Baptist, vs UT-Arlington
• Out of conference losses: at Colorado State, at Central Arkansas, vs OK State (OT), at TCU, at Missouri State
• In the Summit League:
  • Won at South Dakota, 82-73
  • Lost at South Dakota State, 82-76
  • Won vs Denver, 83-66
  • Won vs Omaha, 107-62
  • Won vs St. Thomas, 81-66

Net Rating: WIU 168, ORU 117
ESPN BPI: WIU 214, ORU 94
KenPom: WIU 207, ORU 131
Massey: WIU 230, ORU 107
Massey Prediction: 71% chance of ORU win, predicted score of 80-74

The temperature today is in that precarious range where any type of frozen precipitation could have you hating life.  Will be staying home to watch this one.  Originally had plans to do the Frisco thing today but just too crazy with the airlines right now. 

The rule is always "Don't let their best player (Max) beat you."

Another rule "Don't give them the same look every time down the court.  Mix it up on D (to minimize Max)."

 
 

The Biggest difference I notice with ORU is that there much better defensively then last year. When you play a great offensive player you have to make them spend energy at the defensive end. This is a game that I wish was later in the season so that we could get some student support. 

Recruit in the house time to come out and own our house 

Great start just gotta keep max in front 

Turn the game on to a 15 point lead and now down at half.  Must have missed some good stuff, because they looked like shit while I was tuned in.

Towards the end of half to take the lead, Lee has a clear path and doesn't try to dunk???  Dude you're 6-8 and if your not able to go up with 2 hands, you shouldn't be D1.  Instead of either getting fouled or throwing it down, he goes up and under for the miss.

Still have hope, but where's the team from the first few weeks?

That dunk really fired them up we gotta get fired up coming out 

Can we get enough stops on D to stay in this?  

Carius was open under bucket with a small guy on him in the final seconds.  Good effort but just not quite enough.  We can beat any team in this league if we bring the A game every night.
 

Would have liked Luka going towards the hoop on the final play, but it was a last second scramble.