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Post by williamtsherman on Mar 10, 2019 9:08:33 GMT -6
I'm actually giving BSU more of a chance than most people around here. Mostly because Eastern is just not that good.
*EMU (147) is actually still ranked below BSU(136) in Kenpom's rankings, and 3rd to last in the MAC. This may indicate the Ken needs to take another look at how he weights recency in his algorithm, but it does point out that EMU is not very good.
*It's March and strange things happen due to the pressure. Unfortunately, by this point we have a decent sample size to suggest that Whitford is not one of those coaches who knows how to take advantage of that. Rather it seems he gets taken advantage of. That's why he is Jimmy One Win.
*But here would be the biggest reason for some BSU optimism: The two most frequent three point shooters might suddenly remember how to shoot. Persons is shooting .328. He once had an entire season shooting .419. Mallers is shooting .307, Last year he shot .337. Deficiencies in turnovers and allowing offensive rebounds will be harder to turn around, but it happens sometimes that shots suddenly start falling.
*Another thing that would help is if Teague gave up wandering the perimeter shooting .236 and instead went to work on the offensive glass and posting up strong, where it seems like his physical attributes would give him some productivity. Of course this would mean a change in habit for the player and would require that the coach give up his asinine "stretch" fixation, which is not working at all.
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Post by redbirdman on Mar 10, 2019 10:25:59 GMT -6
I think the difference between the two is very little & EMU will no doubt be looking past us.Murphy is not a good coach. The real key is if our team wants to win or turn in the uniforms. I think the game will depend on how much Persons wants to keep playing.
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Post by bsu0 on Mar 10, 2019 11:54:18 GMT -6
Just lose and get it over
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EMU
Mar 10, 2019 13:03:51 GMT -6
Post by david75bsu on Mar 10, 2019 13:03:51 GMT -6
ESPN shows us as a 52+ percent chance of winning tomorrow night. Eastern has won four of its last five game, we have lost four of our last five. That includes our loss at Esatern this past week - go figure! IMO, the stars are not aligned in our favor nor in Whit’s recent history at the end of the season. I hope the Cards win. I’ll be watching on ESPN+. I feel I will be depressed at the end of the day even though I know our odds.
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EMU
Mar 10, 2019 13:29:39 GMT -6
Post by rgmillikan on Mar 10, 2019 13:29:39 GMT -6
I'm actually giving BSU more of a chance than most people around here. Mostly because Eastern is just not that good. *EMU (147) is actually still ranked below BSU(136) in Kenpom's rankings, and 3rd to last in the MAC. This may indicate the Ken needs to take another look at how he weights recency in his algorithm, but it does point out that EMU is not very good. *It's March and strange things happen due to the pressure. Unfortunately, by this point we have a decent sample size to suggest that Whitford is not one of those coaches who knows how to take advantage of that. Rather it seems he gets taken advantage of. That's why he is Jimmy One Win. *But here would be the biggest reason for some BSU optimism: The two most frequent three point shooters might suddenly remember how to shoot. Persons is shooting .328. He once had an entire season shooting .419. Mallers is shooting .307, Last year he shot .337. Deficiencies in turnovers and allowing offensive rebounds will be harder to turn around, but it happens sometimes that shots suddenly start falling. *Another thing that would help is if Teague gave up wandering the perimeter shooting .236 and instead went to work on the offensive glass and posting up strong, where it seems like his physical attributes would give him some productivity. Of course this would mean a change in habit for the player and would require that the coach give up his asinine "stretch" fixation, which is not working at all. Kenpom doesn't factor in though that BSU has lost 10 straight MAC play In games plus If BSUs kenpom ranking was based strictly on MAC play they'd rank around 200th. I hope I'm wrong but I have EMU prevailing 76-70.
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Post by cardfan on Mar 10, 2019 13:59:08 GMT -6
I can see us winning tomorrow and then getting thrashed in Cleveland so who cares?
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Post by williamtsherman on Mar 10, 2019 14:01:27 GMT -6
Vegas has EMU a 2.5 pt favorite, which seems about right to me.
I wouldn't factor in the 10 straight play-in losses. At least not the earlier ones. What bearing does Billy Taylor's, or Ronnie Thompson's team's results have on this game? I would factor in Whitford's team's results because they have the common thread of Whitford….which isn't a good common thread.
Sometimes you will hear gambling talk about how an NFL team has, say, a 3-10 record as a home underdog on Monday nights....as if that has some importance. A record like that is going to potentially stretch back through multiple coaching regimes and multiple roster turnovers. It's just silly. It's like they believe the color of the uniform, or the design on the helmet, affects how they play as an underdog at home on Mondays.
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EMU
Mar 10, 2019 15:37:17 GMT -6
Post by proctorp on Mar 10, 2019 15:37:17 GMT -6
I haven't seen the urgency nor the desire from this team for the past three games let alone most the season. The only thing Monday might bring is the inept coaching both programs possess, which might just make this a toss-up. I will go with EMU by 2.
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Post by reevo on Mar 10, 2019 16:09:50 GMT -6
Unless Trey and Teague wear their big boy pants, Thompson will have 30 points and 20 boards. Regardless, this season will go down as the most disappointing, most inept and colossal melt down in Ball State Basketball history. Even more so than the 2001 season.
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Post by lmills72 on Mar 10, 2019 20:38:33 GMT -6
The biggest loss when we beat EMU will be that we can no longer use the moniker Jimmy One Win. It has such a nice mix of flow and derisiveness that it'll be hard to replace.
The only things I've come up with are 2 Win Whit or James II, King of the Quarterfinals. They really just don't come close to Jimmy One Win.
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Post by cardfan on Mar 10, 2019 20:52:09 GMT -6
Do we count a play in game as a win or do we make him win in Cleveland before we remove the Jimmy One Win?
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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EMU
Mar 10, 2019 23:31:10 GMT -6
Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2019 23:31:10 GMT -6
There's not much confidence amongst the EMU folks, at least not on their message board; for instance:
"I now wish we had finished #5. Would rather go against instead WMU and Kent".
"Don't get me wrong, I'm nervous for this one too, but BSU has really been under-performing all conference season. Bad losses at home against NIU last night, 0-2 vs. Ohio, 0-2 vs. Miami, etc. They definitely could get hot and beat us, but there's a reason why they're in the 11 seed".
Then there's this strange bit of acumen:
"Yeah, I’m terrified of the Ball State game. I think James Whitford has one of the best gameplans against the zone in the entire conference. It will be tough to beat them for a third time. They have dead-eye shooters who have been mostly cold against us this season...all it takes is Mallers or Persons catching fire, and we are probably toast".
OK, Whitford has a gameplan against the EMU zone; there you go, or something.
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EMU
Mar 11, 2019 1:02:59 GMT -6
via mobile
Post by rmcalhoun on Mar 11, 2019 1:02:59 GMT -6
Well shit its like a secret weapon none of us knew we had.. A gameplan thats cute and Mallers on fire. Id take Mallers luke warm right now
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EMU
Mar 11, 2019 4:26:16 GMT -6
via mobile
Post by bsu1 on Mar 11, 2019 4:26:16 GMT -6
There's not much confidence amongst the EMU folks, at least not on their message board; for instance: "I now wish we had finished #5. Would rather go against instead WMU and Kent"."Don't get me wrong, I'm nervous for this one too, but BSU has really been under-performing all conference season. Bad losses at home against NIU last night, 0-2 vs. Ohio, 0-2 vs. Miami, etc. They definitely could get hot and beat us, but there's a reason why they're in the 11 seed".Then there's this strange bit of acumen: "Yeah, I’m terrified of the Ball State game. I think James Whitford has one of the best gameplans against the zone in the entire conference. It will be tough to beat them for a third time. They have dead-eye shooters who have been mostly cold against us this season...all it takes is Mallers or Persons catching fire, and we are probably toast". OK, Whitford has a gameplan against the EMU zone; there you go, or something. If we play the right way. Trust the process.
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EMU
Mar 11, 2019 5:19:35 GMT -6
Post by sweep on Mar 11, 2019 5:19:35 GMT -6
There's not much confidence amongst the EMU folks, at least not on their message board; for instance: "Don't get me wrong, I'm nervous for this one too, but BSU has really been under-performing all conference season. Bad losses at home against NIU last night, 0-2 vs. Ohio, 0-2 vs. Miami, etc. They definitely could get hot and beat us, but there's a reason why they're in the 11 seed".Then there's this strange bit of acumen: "Yeah, I’m terrified of the Ball State game. I think James Whitford has one of the best gameplans against the zone in the entire conference. It will be tough to beat them for a third time. They have dead-eye shooters who have been mostly cold against us this season...all it takes is Mallers or Persons catching fire, and we are probably toast". OK, Whitford has a gameplan against the EMU zone; there you go, or something. WTF...............These guys act like they are in the Final Four, win or lose both these teams stink.
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