#298 R.P.I. Jacksonville State @ #254 R.P.I. Virginia Tech:
(Already) 2 up and 1 down on this beginners basketball season, Ohio Valley Conference (O.V.C.) member and little ole Jacksonville State comes to town on Wednesday night down in the New River Valley.
Jax.State got beat by Mid-American Central Michigan 89-83, and then bushwhacked two straight nobodies at home: with a 81-68 win over Fork Valley State and then a total 96-6o rout vs. Oakwood on Monday night.
Meh.
Yah; I too had to wiki those two teams and I still have (next to) no idea what those two wins mean?
I do know that Lindy’s has Cent.Michigan tabbed as #1 in the M.A.C. So that could and maybe even should tell us something right there.
As after an off the charts home upset on Saturday night; I find it fair to wonder out loud if we are about to get Jax’ed up and Alabama Stated all over again?
Jacksonville State at a glance:
- 338th in FG percentage last year (38.1%)!
- 324th in 3-point percentage (28.9%)!
- 3o7th in rebounding margin (-4.9 rpg)
- 82nd in blocks (4.2 bpg)
Returning Starters=1 (JaQuail Townser, former juco transfer)
J’ville Strengths:
- ahhhhhhhhhh, errrrrrrrrrrr, not many.
- Lindy’s writes, and I quote: “The struggles never seem to end (for Jacksonville) … (Jacksonville) won’t have much to work with …”
Even Malc’ can not believe he’s scoring this well. ; ) - #21 Soph. G, 6’2” 164 lb. Malcolm Drumwright has been a pleasant surprise. A team leading 17 points per game (ppg) on 40% from beyond the arc and a sizzling 93% from the charity stripe does not suck. Actually, this is very damn good from a second year baller who was not even mentioned in any of my 2015-2016 pre-season magazines. Bio’ reads like he was more of a defensive stopper in high school.
- t-Fr. G. 6’4” 190 lb. Jared Hamilton is leading the way in board-work at 9.o rpg and chipping in a second best 14 ppg. This from a G who is said to have limited shooting range.
- JaQuail Townser is a 6’3” 195 lb. senior who has nearly doubled his scoring average; now up to 13.3 ppg and he does have some distance on his shot at 46.7% from beyond the arc. Has a history of “undisclosed” injuries, which is typically code for: off-court.
- and that’s about it…
Gamecocks Weaknesses:
- Top-3 scorers from 12 win 2014-2015, gone!
- Top-2 rebounders from 19 L 2014-2015, gone!
- BIG man 6’11” 227 pure athlete playing Center, Ousmane Ba (from The Congo); was expected to do a lot and was considered by several pre-season wraps to be something of a juco transferring coup. Right now he is getting you 2 boards. And that’s it. (zero points sc0re in 3 whole games)
- other than Mister Ba, only one Gamecock stands in north of 6’7” and only 2 peeps are listed north of 210 lbs.!
Jax Bench: (depth= 6 deep, not saying they are good, though coach James Green will throw raw volume based personnel numbers at you, if nothing else)
Loading ...Illation, conclusion (s) and OPT digits:
the takeaway:
The takeaway here is… that this is another O.O.C. (out of conference) unlined Vegas big-board game. Which connotes that homesteading Atlantic Coast Virginia Tech is at least a 30 point favorite to win –if not more.
However, so did Saturday night when Vegas would not touch our season opener with a 10′ pole; or even a 30 point spread.
You feeling safe here?
Me neither.
Although same as last time, we really should win. As I’d have to say that the next to last ranked team in the Ohio Valley Conference (by way of Florida), that is down its best 4 ballers from last year. is someone that we really should beat. And yet, I said the same damn thing last time, in what was my worst basketball prediction ever.
***
Maybe Alabama State was just what Buzz needed to crack that O&M whip a bit in practice? Or maybe we are not much better than last year’s 11 win effort? As I have to ask, are we still eligible for the Emerald Coast Classic Destin, Florida game(s) after the debacle that was Alabama State? Could an L here boot us out of the Emerald Coast Classic in a weeks time?
I don’t know?
I do know nobody this side of the Cotton State thought the Al.State upset could happen.
And now I don’t know what will happen, do you?
(5o% confidence interval, as how confident am I supposed to be?)
Virginia Tech=79, Jacksonville State=65
“LETS GO!”
“Hokies!”
bourbonstreet**