Thursday, January 1, 2015

Georgia State pregame

If we cannot handle Louisiana at home, there is not much chance we can handle Georgia State on the road, but you actually have to play the games to have an outcome. The Panthers are 8-4. Their losses were to Iowa State, Colorado State, Old Domnion and Green Bay. Their best win was probably over Green Bay.

They probably will start 6-10, 6-6, 6-6 across the front line, with no one taller than 6-8 to bring off the bench.

They will keep Hunter and Harrow in the game every minute they can (35-plus, probably). They play what looks like an 8-man rotation, but obviously it is the other three guys who are rotating. Their overall defense is outstanding (39.6%) and their perimeter defense is solid (33.2%). Their rebounding is much improved this year (only minus 2) and it is a group effort, because no one averages as many as 6 per game. They shoot the ball well.

Their big strength is in the turnover battle. They have turned the ball over 125 times, but opponents have coughed it up 195 teams. Our having two point guards on the floor much of the time should be an asset for us.

In the losses to Old Dominion and Colorado State, they got pounded on the boards, and against Green Bay they had a few more turnovers than usual.

Sagarin has Georgia State by 17. RealtimeRPI has them by 16. I hope we stay that close.

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