I am with you Riki!  Davon's scoop was one for the "alltime CNU" highlight reel.   Also, Theo's three.....Spear's from the baseline....Dante's three.... and Blasingame's jump hook were all big shots down the stretch.  Plus, wow, offensive rebounds for a change.   What a difference those made!

 I think we all agree Ed is much better around the basket and he brings a LOT of energy.  Blasingame played a great game, buy could have used some rest last night; 36 minutes working your arse off against some strong RMC post players was taking a toll.   Ron Spears played some nice minutes also and hit a BIG shot from the baseline.   Like most lefties he has a nice stroke.

Congrats to our Captains on a great game last night!   Was DEFINITELY a good one for the fans.   An interesting lineup down the stretch!  Some big, no HUGE plays made by everyone in the last 7 or 8 minutes.   

1) I don't think CJ will send Riley back to 6th man this early in the season.  He'll give the team a chance to develop chemistry.  However, Ed needs to play  Jamar Claxton style and not Jeremy Romeo style.  He causes match up problems and needs to use this to his advantage inside. 
2) Theo is a heck of ballplayer and has a silky smooth shot, but I think he is yet to develop Romeo's toughness and I think Jeremy's senior leadership is much overlooked.  One of the challenges this year, who is the go to guy in crunch time?
3) Blasingame look frustrated last night.  SVA played a lot of zone, not sure why we didn't attack the soft spot in the middle more.   He was in foul trouble (hope this is not a trend and one was OBVIOUS frustration!), but he picked up two huge offensive rebounds late in the game and had one no look pass to Davon that was outrageous after one of those rebounds.
Yes, we were fortunate to win, VERY.   Sometimes you gotta win ugly and quite frankly a lot times you have letdowns after a tough game. 

I am with the Capt, who were those guys last night?!  Defense was terrible, T-E-R-R-I-B-L-E!  Listening to post game on 99-1 last night, LMAO, the color guy blamed it on the big guys lack of defense!!  From my perspective they were left out to dry a WHOLE lot last night.   The SVA guards were dribble penetrating at will.  And ONLY the left handed guy went left!    OK, I could go on and on and on and on, but hey, it's a "W" 'nough said.   Hope the "real" Captains show up tonight!

Good luck Captains this weekend.   Some random observations of a basketball fanatic! 

1) CNU guards Barton and Seldon are as good as any guards in D-III, hands down.   Keep it up!

The difference maker as to how fare we go will be the play of our big men and the bench. 

2) Lewis is a talented #4 and he can be unstoppable.  Two things:  watch the silly fouls (reaching) and play strong around the basket.   **Do not always settle for the outside shot.  Outstanding job against VWC after a slow start.   We need you on the court during crunch time!!!

3)  Riley has some GREAT moves around the basket.  Key there is he is not Romeo the three point shooter, but his inside play offsets Romeo's outside play.  Plus Ed can rebound and block shots with the best of them.    See ** above.   Great post moves. 

4)  Blasingame showed his potential and skills in the match up with Adair.    Two things:  play with enthusiasm always!  I saw it against VWC.  Offensive rebound, CNU needs offensive rebounds, go for it!  Nice job of handling the ball against the press at VWC.   Not many 6'8" guys at the D-III level can do that. 

5) The bench.  Baker is a great addition.  Silky smooth.  Kraut really NICE job in 6 minutes played against VWC.  Love to see you shoot when you have the opportunity.  I have watched during warm-ups; nice stroke.   Big Mike Witham, throw that weight around big guy, you're as strong as they come, make'em pay.   

Lastly, passes to the post.   OK, but, sometimes it goes in, comes out, our big guys reset and it does not go back in.  Take your time and make'em pay.   

Great college game tonight!  Captains let one get away, up 71 – 66 with two minutes left.  VWC scored the last six points to pull it out.  Two sophomores played well, both finished with 15 points.  Blasingame played well against Adair the college player of the year in 2006.  Adair is one heck of a smart player, but Blasingame used his height advantage well against him.  Nice to see him be aggressive on the offensive end, hope to see more of that.  Davon hit some big shots and did a great job of running the offense!

Ed, Korey and Donta all had some outstanding moments. 

Blasingame missed a one and one with about 25 seconds left.  But the real story was "turnovers!"  We had 17 to VWC's 7.  Couple of key ones at the end.  Theo Baker has a great future at CNU.  Nice job by Mike Witham and Justin Kraut off the bench when the team got into foul trouble. 

 

Narch, I agree with most of what you're saying.  However, a good official communicates well and often.  You'll hear the good refs do this throughout a game.  The players have to adjust, but a good referee can help them adjust.  Granted it does not always happen.  But when one team makes 41 trips to the line and the other 29 it's a little hard to get into a rhythm and is definitely NOT a fan friendly game.  I went to most every game last year at CNU and have been to many high schools games in this area.  Many of the refs are the same.   A couple have a "serious" tude.  We had one particular ref who would "tee" you up if you exhaled wrong and he REALLY seemed to enjoy it.  But will have to say the majority are very, very good.

Refs do not win or lose games, but they can impact the ebb and flow of a game.   

Listening to some of the comments after the game Friday I think the live scrimmages the team played were called much differently.  If that's true it's a shame because it would have been an op for the zebras to start getting their points across.  The players have to adjust accordingly during games, but still if you've been practicing and scrimmaging one way it makes it really tough.  

Agree spacing would help, but don't think you'll see it early on especially against man-to-man, though should be better against zones.  CNU has been running the same offense for some time, I believe it's a variation of the "flex."   It was pretty successful as the season wore on last year.  But it is pretty crowded down low for our big guys and if they don't move quickly they get doubled by "quick" guards.   And small quick guards are a "staple" of D-III!!!

We were a pretty good defensive rebounding team last year.   The one area I hope we'll improve in is offensive rebounds, especially with Riley starting at the 3.  Obviously rebounding is a lot about blocking out, especially on the defensive end.  But offensive rebounding is more about tenacity, toughness and desire with a little technique added in.  I think our 3, 4 and 5 are capable.   What they cannot do is pace themselves over concern for a short bench.   In other words "sic'em" on the boards!

Personally I think the team will be fine, certainly it would be a bit of a speedy generalization to make any predictions on this team after one game.   Just like last year it will take some time to develop chemistry and for some players to get their game legs.  GIve the big guys some time,  afterall they did lead the nation in blocked shots last year and Blasingame was second in the USA South in rebounding.  Actually it's nice to see Korey lead the team in rebounding for a change.  If he keeps that up and Blasingame can at least average close to last years totals they will be fine.
Lastly, CJ will have to find some depth on the bench, but I bet he will have someone come in the Spring semester, much like Jamar did to add depth and toughness on the inside. 

A problem as stated by "rick tiki" (I love that handle!) is the players must be smart enough to adjust to the refs.   Hopefully it was a lesson well learned Friday night. 

Echols had 36 points and 12 rebounds.  Heard CJ on the post game and he said it was his fourth school in four years?  CJ was very upset with the way the game was called.   As CNU85 and CJ said, it really put us on our heels and took away the aggressiveness.   Blasingame had 6 blocks CNU85.  Thought the ref was going to tee him up when he got his third foul he was so ticked off.   He started slow last year, but tough to do with the schedule the Captains have.   Coleman or Witham would have really helped tonight.  They had better pick it up or it will be a long night Tuesday.  

Nice article in the Daily Press today with the Captains outlook.  Good luck to Matt Coleman, he'll be missed.  CNU will have no trouble scoring this year, but I think a lot of their success will depend on rebounding and defense.   Hopefully Blasingame IS 100%, it would be sad to lose 9.2 rpg when your next highest is 5.2!  I think there defense will be the key, it's nice for the guards to have Riley, Lewis and especially Blasingame's shot blocking ability backing them up.   Regardless they'll certainly light it up. 

CNUs roster may surprise you a bit as to who is missing.  Couple of the big men are gone and the other one (starter) is not 100%.  I'll try to get more info, lol, however my source left the team!   They should be OK and very competitive with barton, seldon, riley and lewis.  Bench could be a little challenged.