Leatherneck Nation

The Leathernecks are now 7-4 on the season. In the 2015 portion of the schedule, we saw an amazing season opening win at Wisconsin, but also lost a couple of very "winnable" games at Chicago State and Loyola. Western also had losses at Iowa (who is likely to break into some top 25 rankings this week after their win against then #1 ranked Michigan State) and at Creighton.
Still, not a bad start, even if it's a little disappointing that we could easily have been 9-2 at this point. That being said, the Summit League isn't going to be getting any at-large bids, so in the overall scheme of things, these games don't matter quite as much as the rest of the schedule. It's all conference games from here on out, so each game gets us in position for our conference tournament slot.

Up this weekend are two away games.


Friday, January 1st, 1 PM at the Omaha Mavericks
Omaha is 8-6 in non-conference play, with losses against UC Santa Barbara, Colorado, Minnesota, Eastern Michigan, Missouri, and Wyoming (full schedule here: http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketb ... /_/id/2437). Omaha is currently 12th in the country averaging 86 points per game, but 307th in the country in defense, giving up 79 points per game. They're second in the country in free throws attempted and free throws made and 9th in the country in steals per game (9.9).


Sunday, January 3rd, 2 PM at the South Dakota State Jackrabbits
SDSU is 11-3 in non-conferece play, with losses to UMKC, Texas Tech, and Weber State, and wins over Minnesota and TCU (among others...full schedule here: http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketb ... /_/id/2571). SDSU averages 77.9 points per game and gives up 66.7 points per game. This game will be available on ESPN3/WatchESPN.

I'm not able to do much analysis at this point, but I'd say the game at Omaha is winnable but SDSU is going to be pretty tough.

road games will be hard to win but wiu has great shot at the sweep.SDS has been missing their 2 best players and ball handlers(marshall and bittle).they also were their 2 best defenders.without them they are very very beatable.just ask weber st.who put up 99 on them in 99-95 weber st. win and then SDS barely beat midd.tenn at SDS.

It is likely SDSU point guard George Marshall will start against WIU. Jake Bittle is the other starter who has been missing the past few games. He will remain missing for a few weeks. Hopefully a couple of home games will be what the team needs to start the conference season. Other than a couple of games, the defense has been improving with more bench players gaining some experience due to injury. It is good to see the Summit League get started. Happy New Year to the Leathernecks.

Things are looking good right now in the 2nd half.

It would be embarrassing to let this one slip away to a hockey school.

This one is getting a little too tight for comfort. lead down to 6. Not a time to get tentative with the ball.

looks like they have choked it away.

Terrible no-call on Jabari. At the same time, he did not get a good look.

just following via twitter. did they switch to the dreaded "playing not to lose" game plan/.

Ouch. 82-80 Mavs. Too loose with the rock. Nobody wanted to take charge.