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Post by austinace on Dec 3, 2023 9:17:06 GMT -6
BYU is a top 20 team and is number one in the nation in scoring margin, beating their opponents by 32.2 points per game. They rank in the top 13 nationally in the adjusted efficiency rankings on both offense and defense. BYU is 12th nationally on offense and 13th in defense. They also like to throw a lot of changing defenses at teams. We will need to be ready for this with a short turnaround time and travel. BYU is a lot like us in that many guys can step up on any given night but based on their results this year and their ranking are likely a "little" better than us in most areas including our strengths.
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Post by ATP on Dec 3, 2023 9:35:53 GMT -6
The BYOB comments range from immaturity, being isolated and probably just inane college homers. I don't pay much attention to the 8 or 10 "experts" who evaluate a non-con road game for a "g5" team. I think the UE perspective would be more practical, that being -- if they play well, they might have a shot at an upset, which is vastly different from assessing a team as having a couple of star players and a bunch of utility guys. If the Aces are 20-point 'dogs, it's probably right where they want to be.
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Post by Incognito on Dec 3, 2023 10:45:18 GMT -6
The BYU game is worth less than each of the remaining 18 conference games. It starts past my bedtime so I just hope I can stay awake until the end.
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Post by sgace on Dec 3, 2023 11:12:08 GMT -6
What I am most concerned about as our Aces come here to Utah to face BYU: 1. The altitude 2. Fatigue Having stated these issues, I just want to believe UE can battle through these two issues and give the "zoobies" a challenge. BYU can be whipped especially when you look at the fact the Cougars seem to dismiss the Aces as a valid opponent. This notion is all over their message boards and in the fact that the BYU players are already overlooking Evansville and to the game against a heated rival Utah later in the week. Keep thinking that way BYU nation...I would love to see your Cougars humbled this Tuesday in the Marriott Center. And we will have the spirit of ACES legend Jerry Sloan on our bench to root his beloved Alma Mater to an upset victory! Go Aces!
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Post by sgace on Dec 3, 2023 11:25:53 GMT -6
Props for posting the links. It is obvious the BYU team and their fans are overlooking our beloved Aces. The Cougars can be whipped and are ripe for being upset. My only concerns for our Aces are overall fatigue from the travel and the altitude in Provo. Believe me, I moved out here 47 years ago and when I would play pickup games at the Y in downtown SLC back in the day, my heart felt like it was going to explode. We need to play 10-11 guys in this one, platooning maybe at each TV timeout. Go Aces! I so look forward to Tuesday night...and an Aces UPSET of BYU! And no, I won't battle the snow and ice of Northern Utah to watch in person...I live in St. George 250 miles south of Provo. I'll follow on ESPN+.
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Post by lawrencevgibson on Dec 3, 2023 11:28:56 GMT -6
Those BYU fans are a bit cocky. I'd lmao if UE embarrassed them in their arena.
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Post by ATP on Dec 3, 2023 13:24:22 GMT -6
I think if you only get out of this what's necessary, it's how this roster stacks up against an established program that isn't in the middle of a program rebuild.
This Aces team needs to compete in a hostile environment if they expect to challenge for the Valley. A road-kill game isn't supposed to matter to BYO. They expect to win that game but it won't hurt them if they don't.
Young guys build confidence when they see their work is paying off.
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Post by austinace on Dec 3, 2023 16:56:20 GMT -6
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Post by bballjunkie on Dec 3, 2023 21:58:39 GMT -6
Some exerpts from the Buy, Sell, Hold article linked above:
1. "BYU will struggle with big, athletic guards that pressure the ball. NC State gave BYU troubles early on with their full-court press...."
This could be an area where the Aces can give BYU fits....rotate guards in and out of the game and apply consistent pressure. Guys like Bailey, Cuff, and Thomas could play a huge role in the game.
2. "My second concern is how teams will attack BYU’s front court. Whether it’s Aly Khalifa or Fouss playing the five, both of those players have defensive deficiencies. Teams with athletic, talented five will cause BYU problems, and teams with high end point guards will look to isolate Aly and Fouss in PNR."
Toumi, Hughes, and Humrichous need to use their ability to score in all 3 levels and pull the BYU bigs away from the basket. Use of dribble handoffs with pick & rolls or pick & pops using those 3 guys may be the centerpiece of the offense to start the game. We need to use guards that play downhill like Cuff, Thomas, and Bailey on these sets. If this is working, I can see a scenario where Haffner does not get a lot of PT...maybe Strawbridge as well.
3. "BYU will also have plenty of games where they expose teams with their three-point shooting and Aly’s ability to draw the opposing big man away from the basket and shred an opposing defense with pinpoint passing in a five-out attack."
Do the Aces take away need for our bigs to chase a guy like Aly and defend against the 3 by playing zone defense? What about trying a 1-3-1 zone to speed up the BYU offense and potentially force BYU into beating us with athleticism and not on open 3s in the structure of their offense.
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Post by ibleedpurple on Dec 3, 2023 23:02:02 GMT -6
I think we need to try our half to 3/4 trap and use our length and give them less time to set up their offense. One area we need to improve is our defense against the 3 pointer however. Agree maybe we mix up the offense and show them something they have not seen us do in the games we have played thus far. One thing over the years of being a bad basketball team is refuse again and again to change things up and surprise our opponents. We have always been so predictable, until now. I feel this staff is not going to be predictable which is great.
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Post by Ace78 on Dec 3, 2023 23:16:41 GMT -6
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Post by 65pointgame on Dec 3, 2023 23:49:40 GMT -6
Props for posting the links. It is obvious the BYU team and their fans are overlooking our beloved Aces. The Cougars can be whipped and are ripe for being upset. My only concerns for our Aces are overall fatigue from the travel and the altitude in Provo. Believe me, I moved out here 47 years ago and when I would play pickup games at the Y in downtown SLC back in the day, my heart felt like it was going to explode. We need to play 10-11 guys in this one, platooning maybe at each TV timeout. Go Aces! I so look forward to Tuesday night...and an Aces UPSET of BYU! And no, I won't battle the snow and ice of Northern Utah to watch in person...I live in St. George 250 miles south of Provo. I'll follow on ESPN+.
You are in a beautiful area of the country. Enjoyed Zion and Bryce several times taking some amazing hikes and scenic drives.
Back in my skiing days, I went to the Wasatch mountains (Alta/Park City) and the altitude never bothered me too much -- although I was younger and running 10k's at the time. So I would think these guys will be able to handle it and there are nutritional tricks to help acclimate to the altitude.
Hope we put up a good fight and even with a loss our RPI should improve. Saw a "Strength of Schedule" stat someplace and our remaining schedule was the toughest compared to other MVC teams. (Due to games against BYU and Cincy)
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Post by ad1770 on Dec 4, 2023 12:26:45 GMT -6
Something just came to mind to me. There is a very peculiar commonality for this game to another game we had.
Four years ago, we beat UK in their barn after they had beat Valley teams the last few years before. (We were huge underdogs)
Now, we play BYU, in their barn, after they have beaten a Calley team the last couple of years. (We are huge underdogs) Could the “shocker be coming again?
Screw keeping it close. Let’s just win the damn game.
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Post by austinace on Dec 4, 2023 12:46:33 GMT -6
BYU is 13 in the coaches poll and 14 in the AP poll.
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Post by ATP on Dec 4, 2023 13:08:18 GMT -6
Something just came to mind to me. There is a very peculiar commonality for this game to another game we had. Four years ago, we beat UK in their barn after they had beat Valley teams the last few years before. (We were huge underdogs) Now, we play BYU, in their barn, after they have beaten a Calley team the last couple of years. (We are huge underdogs) Could the “shocker be coming again? Screw keeping it close. Let’s just win the damn game. The UK upset is still one of the most fun times, and considering they almost wupped SMU right after that -- of course, that UE team had some pretty talented players, even if they didn't contribute to the future. It just seemed so surreal that a team that close to probably making a run at the NCAAs would eventually become an embarrassing wart on Aces history. Good grief, I hope people evaluate their strategies better than that in the future.
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