Thank you.  That explains a lot.   Looks like I will need to become a Peacock subscriber for one month.

1) Not thrilled about the way we match up, given DMV's excellent, as always, preview.
Boards and 3-point shooting--our usual Achilles heels.
The hope is that we were so almost comically inept at shooting the 3, that we were saving
it for this game. Given the law of odds, random fans could probably do better, so maybe we 
are due for a good outside shooting game. A healthy, non-rusty Garrett could make a difference if he regains his shot.
3) After we somehow get this game on Peacock, we are due for all the many joys of another tournament on Flo Sports, as GWAA so eloquently wrote.
   So if anyone finds a way to get Peacock for this game, without signing our life away, please share it.
   In addition to the twin towers of Castro/Hunger, rebounding is where Tyrone Marshall could help
a great deal. Maybe even a leaping Bubu. We need to compete against a team that has a Forward (Nelson) who averaged almost 9 rebounds in 24 minutes, and nearly a double-double in 24 minutes, as reflected in DMV's stats.
   

Ok guys, if you have Instacart+, looks like Peacock Premium is a benefit.
Or a free 14 day trial of Instacart+ with no credit card necessary.
This seems to work, at least on current games--and you can find our game (no guarantees until
it starts playing on your screen) on the upcoming schedule. 
     Next: trying to screw up the courage to face FloHoops again.
 

Line opens at USF -1.5.  It is now USF -2.5.

jf wrote:

1) Not thrilled about the way we match up, given DMV's excellent, as always, preview.
Boards and 3-point shooting--our usual Achilles heels.
The hope is that we were so almost comically inept at shooting the 3, that we were saving
it for this game. Given the law of odds, random fans could probably do better, so maybe we 
are due for a good outside shooting game. A healthy, non-rusty Garrett could make a difference if he regains his shot.
3) After we somehow get this game on Peacock, we are due for all the many joys of another tournament on Flo Sports, as GWAA so eloquently wrote.
   So if anyone finds a way to get Peacock for this game, without signing our life away, please share it.
   In addition to the twin towers of Castro/Hunger, rebounding is where Tyrone Marshall could help
a great deal. Maybe even a leaping Bubu. We need to compete against a team that has a Forward (Nelson) who averaged almost 9 rebounds in 24 minutes, and nearly a double-double in 24 minutes, as reflected in DMV's stats.
   

Yes, Nelson is an incredible rebounder. But his rates were not much better than Castro last year. Also noteworthy, he averaged 4.5 fouls per 40 (prob why he only played 24 minutes) - and that was the best mark of his career. He is very good, but very foul prone.

A couple other points on the matchup

- we have outstanding, arguably elite, perimeter defenders in CJ and Bubu.  They could be very disruptive to USF’s offense.   If Aranguren defends like he did in the opener, that’s another incredibly tough defender. And as I mentioned earlier, USF feels great about themselves after two blowout wins, but they haven’t faced defenders like this.

- USF will want to run and may give us transition opportunities we couldn’t get against Georgetown or Maine.

- While USF is long and athletic up front, they are not likely to overpower us.  Nelson goes 6’10”, 218.  That’s about the same size as Castro, giving up an inch (or so the teams say). 

- Their starting 4 (the freshman Sanders) is a small ball 4 at  6’6”, 185. They will need a lot of minutes from Isiah Jones (6’7, 229), but he is not a great rebounder for his size, partly because he likes to hang around on the perimeter, where he is just a 32.4% career 3pt shooter in over 100 career attempts.  Marshall could have an edge over them.

- DMV rightly wrote up the talented Damian Collins. He’s a solid 6’9”, 200 lbs and a great shot blocker, but he only played 12 minutes in their opener with 0 points and 2 boards. He’s also foul prone and not too much of an offensive force (mostly put backs and dunks when left open, though of course he could be open a lot if we trap a lot and don’t do it well).

- there’s a pattern - all their frontcourt players (excluding the freshman) have a history of relative high foul rates and Hodgkin’s aggressive approach has his Ark St teams fouling a lot.  Last season we were too 25 in the nation in getting to the line.  If we play aggressively, we can get ourselves to the line a lot AND get key guys in foul trouble. 

Again, this team is fast, high tempo and could run us out of the gym if we aren’t executing on offense. But if I’m a USF fan, there’s a lot in the way we matchup that should make them nervous, too.

Garrett out with knee tendinitis. Didn't travel

LFG!!!!!!!!

Can we please burn this gray jerseys?

What's with all the unforced turnovers? Garrett out again.

Rebounding is a problem again.