And in other C-USA action tonight... ODU improved to 21-5 (12-2 CUSA)
FINAL ODU 82 - UTEP 33 (yes, you read that score correctly)
And in other C-USA action tonight... ODU improved to 21-5 (12-2 CUSA)
FINAL ODU 82 - UTEP 33 (yes, you read that score correctly)
I agree that MTSU was the better team, but I disagree that the officiating wasn’t one-sided. Every time it looked like we were going to get back in the game there would be a call or non-call that went against us. They missed about 10 travels against the Mets in the first half alone. Duruji gets hammered under the basket and they call a jump ball?? We cut the lead from 20 to 6 points with 7 minutes to go and on the next possession it looks like the MTSU player shuffles his feet before the shot, but instead the ref calls a foul and the guy makes the shot and free throw and the lead is back to 9. If they call the travel we have a chance to make it a one possession game, instead the lead jumps to 9. That seemed to to take the wind out of our sails. Basically game over.
A new article has been posted on www.latechsports.com:
It was a struggle in the rebounding category for Louisiana Tech in its final home game of the 2017-18 season.
More...
Discuss it here.
That play was a travel by the MUTS, he drug his pivot foot. It did come at a crucial moment too. But, Tech got away with some stuff too. But, nah, we got whipped fair and square. Down 20+ and the Dawgs go all out with the full-court press and cut the lead to 6 with 7 mins left. It was very predictable we'd go thru a period of "catching our breath" and their lead would grow again. The question was, after a rest period, could the Dawgs mount another all-out run and come all the way back? Nope. We clanked long 3's, and missed two chippy shots at the critical time, and they went on a 9-0 run. Lead was 15 again....game over.
Taken as a whole, the zebras were a non-factor. Our MBB program is stuck in the muck.
4847 fans announced and largest of the year. Over 2/3 capacity. Think about that.
I bet our average attendance won't be down from last year with that number as the final number to tally up. Give 'em a raise!
“The difference in the game was the rebounding,” head coach Eric Konkol said. “You have to give Middle Tennessee credit. They played with good pace and flow. I thought we contested a lot of shots and they made some really difficult ones. But the ones they missed, they got a lot of them back. Their physicality inside was the difference in the game
Same old story different year.
Post game:
Coach Davis on Brandon Walters (6'-10" 255), who had 11 points, 11 rebounds, 2 steals in 18 minutes and played a huge role in MTSU's 19-3 run early in 2H: "When we can get Brandon Walters to play with that kind of purpose, we can play with any team in college basketball."
Final: Middle TN 87 - LA Tech 70
If Rabiddawg could do something about this I guarantee you he would go sign us a DOMINATING INSIDE PLAYER to match up against everybody else's dominating inside players like Brandon Walters, or ODU's Trey Porter, or the big Louisiana player that W. KY signed this year, or...
I know Rabiddawg can’t do anything about it. My comment was directed at Konkol, which is why I took Rabiddawg’s comment out of the quote.
But your plan is spot on. Our Achilles heel for years has been our lack of a true inside presence that can play great defense and rebound the ball. We have enough guards.
Good thing that these games are just practice games for the tourney!
I am sure that, I read that some where!
Have we had a solid all around inside player since Millsap? Dont remember one under White or Rupp. Kyser was a lot of fun to watch on defense but limited otherwise.