AROUND THE SOCON

[furpop16]

IMHO SoCon gonna be very competitive this year. SD doesnt think any team gonna run away with it

I agree, but using KenPom as a guide and with the exception of the UNCG debut, our initial schedule is as light as can be hoped. Then, beginning January 20th, we face WCU, Samford, and Wofford. Would be great to have Foster back before the 20th.

[apaladin]

Speaking of KP FU is back up to #2 in the league at 129, behind SU 109.

[apaladin]

Currently in the NET FU is #5 in the SoCon behind SU, WCU, UNCG, and Citadel.

[Sad Din]

Speaking of KP FU is back up to #2 in the league at 129, behind SU 109.

and per KP, Sammy strength of sched is 341 and Dins are 141.

[apaladin]

UTC just lost at 4-7 Milwaukee in OT.

[apaladin]

UNCG represented well tonight by losing to Texas by 35 and scoring only 37 points. ETSU did win at ECU.

[apaladin]

Sammy blows out Citadel in Charleston before 92 people. Mercer bliws out VMI before 43 people in Lexington.

[tim]

Cit apparently down 3 players too.

[apaladin]

UTC blows out VMI by 48, Sammy beats UNCG 79-70 at home. Sammy and Western only 2 unbeatens.

[Sad Din]

Good news for VMI... they scored 50 vs Sammy in 1 st H
Bad news for VMI... sammy scored 74 on them... in the 1st H

[apaladin]

Good news for VMI... they scored 50 vs Sammy in 1 st H
Bad news for VMI... sammy scored 74 on them... in the 1st H

VMI shot 52%+ for the game and 56%+ from 3 and lost by 38. Final 134-96. Not sure but don’t think there was much defense in this game.

[tya1]

Samford had 19 steals and 15 more rebounds. I haven't watched any of this game but I saw part of their game with UNCG. They are playing a very aggressive full court pressure defense with a lot of trapping. It really helped them get a quick lead against UNCG that they held the rest of the game.

It is the same thing they have been doing since their current coach was hired.If you can't handle the pressure defense you are in trouble. If you can you can exploit it and give them the problems. When VMI beat the pressure they probably got some wide open shots. I think Samford will accept some open shots if they can get 19 steals, most of which probably converted to layups and open threes..

[apaladin]

Yep SU put up 24 more shots.

[furmandad]

I watched most of the game. Only things to add to what’s been said so far - VMI had 26 turnovers, their offense looked like a pick-up game at the park, and Samford pressed full court the entire game, even up 30+ points. The VMI Coaching Staff and players hardly acknowledged the Samford Coaches & players in the postgame “handshake” line.

[tim]

That game could have been interesting except for VMI being pretty inept early against that press. It will be almost impossible for Sammy to win a SOCON tournament with that exhausting style for three days.