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Post by sect3purple on Mar 7, 2024 1:33:12 GMT -6
My choice for the starting 5: Ben, Cuff, Kenny, Toumi, and Bailey (with strict orders to look for the open man and only drive to the basket when he sees an opening ). I think a starting 5 who won't dig a hole for us the first 5 minutes of each half gives us a fighting chance. And fight we must do!
Regardless of who starts, we've got to play smart and energized - we tend to wait around and just try to match baskets instead of aggressively looking for team points. Energy, confidence, and smart play without stupid turnovers should give us the lead, instead of only trying to keep pace, especially from a hole we usually dig with the players that usually start. And, Kenny? I like him. His steals are gifts to us of more possessions. This team is too soft in many positions - I hope we play with toughness under the basket - in layups and rebounding!
I'm hoping for a Purple Ace upset on Thursday. The confidence from that could propel us on to another win. I remember just a while ago that we had people on this site saying that we could compete with any team in our conference. Well, it's time to do just that! GO,ACES!
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Post by austinace on Mar 7, 2024 9:09:40 GMT -6
My choice for the starting 5: Ben, Cuff, Kenny, Toumi, and Bailey...I remember just a while ago that we had people on this site saying that we could compete with any team in our conference... From a perspective of our best five players on the floor, I don't necessarily have any issue with this lineup, other than possibly Cam for Chuck. However, the problem becomes basketball is a 40-minute game (and possibly longer). Over the course of the game, we need to sub players in and out (for rest, foul trouble, matchups, etc). Rags (like many coaches) likes to do mass substitutions. Antonio, Gage, Cam and Josh make up our normal nine-man rotation. To me, Antonio and Gage are not our strongest offensive threats (Gage is one dimensional) and both are undersized. So, to me that should be taken into account in the substitution pattern where both are not on the floor at the same time (normally). Also, with the above starting five, there is only one basketball and Chuck (and Toumi for that matter) can take away from Ben's touches. So, it is almost better to have Chuck on the floor when Ben is getting his 10 minutes of rest every game to balance the offensive threats out. So, it's more about looking at this for the whole 40-minute game and not just who starts, but we certainly don't want to get in a hole and that to me has more to do with our undersized, D1 challenged starting backcourt (if I had to pick one thing to pick on one thing). Obviously, we have to upgrade our guard play next year. Hopefully we can get good enough guard play by committee in this tournament to win a game or two or more...So having Chuck come off the bench is probably better for multiple reasons: He gives us energy and he is more likely to be on the court when Ben is getting his rest. I think I would start Cam and bring Chuck and Gage off the bench...At the end of the game it should be who is playing the best and gives us the best chance to win that game (which is almost always going to include Ben and some combination of the other guys). And yes, with a healthy Ben, we can compete with any team in our conference on any given night. Hopefully he is closer to 100% with the extra rest last game. Now let's go and win this game today.
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Post by Aces&Eights on Mar 7, 2024 9:26:04 GMT -6
Cuff and Bailey made the MVC All Bench team for a reason! Their contributions are to bring a spark to the team after the first 4 minutes segment each half.
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Post by ad1770 on Mar 7, 2024 10:22:00 GMT -6
Who is with me? In the Lou today.
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Post by austinace on Mar 7, 2024 10:22:20 GMT -6
Game Day in St. Louis:
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Post by aradace on Mar 7, 2024 11:29:49 GMT -6
I think the Aces can win this game. That being said, I think Ben has been at 75% or less since he has come back. I appreciate his want to but he just has not been himself since his return. I will take a Ben at 75% over other players. Just my thoughts. Would love for him and the rest of Aces to have an outstanding game tonight. Go Aces!!
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Post by sect3purple on Mar 7, 2024 12:07:05 GMT -6
Cuff and Bailey made the MVC All Bench team for a reason! Their contributions are to bring a spark to the team after the first 4 minutes segment each half. Yes, and for most games this year they were brought in after the first 4-5 minutes of each half, but that "spark" they provided was usually used in digging us out of the hole that the starters had put us in. I just think it would make more sense to start the game with better offensive players and let them build a strong starting lead. I would use the starters as much as possible, resting them as needed. Best players, used for most of game, seems like a better path to winning to me. I see it on winning teams all year...actually has nothing to do with rewarding a starting position, it just means getting the most out of the most-capable players. Just my opinion. Go. ACES! Let's win this game tonight!
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Post by purplesquirrel on Mar 7, 2024 12:22:14 GMT -6
Who is with me? In the Lou today. I’ll be at the Enterprise Center tonight. Looking forward to an Aces victory!
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Post by Ace78 on Mar 7, 2024 12:58:07 GMT -6
Missouri State up at halftime, 27-14, over Murray State. Mo. State playing an aggressive defense. Murray State shooting at 18% ... they haven't been able to get good shots.
Update: Missouri State demolishing Murray State, 41-21 with 12 minutes to play.
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Post by justaacesfan on Mar 7, 2024 13:55:44 GMT -6
Man it’s tournaments basketball make it take it!! Put your best players on the floor and go get the W. All this chemistry talks at this point is out the door. We need to win!! And Ben can’t do it by himself. Dig ourselves in a hole today and we win be home by noon tomorrow LOL
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Post by ad1770 on Mar 7, 2024 14:20:47 GMT -6
Missouri State up at halftime, 27-14, over Murray State. Mo. State playing an aggressive defense. Murray State shooting at 18% ... they haven't been able to get good shots.
Update: Missouri State demolishing Murray State, 41-21 with 12 minutes to play.
Final score, Missouri State 60, Murray 35. Roadkill and I am surprised by that.
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Post by lawrencevgibson on Mar 7, 2024 14:21:54 GMT -6
Missouri State up at halftime, 27-14, over Murray State. Mo. State playing an aggressive defense. Murray State shooting at 18% ... they haven't been able to get good shots.
Update: Missouri State demolishing Murray State, 41-21 with 12 minutes to play.
MoSt 60
MSU 35
Very lopsided score for these two teams.
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Post by austinace on Mar 7, 2024 15:07:03 GMT -6
Missouri State up at halftime, 27-14, over Murray State. Mo. State playing an aggressive defense. Murray State shooting at 18% ... they haven't been able to get good shots.
Update: Missouri State demolishing Murray State, 41-21 with 12 minutes to play.
MoSt 60
MSU 35
Very lopsided score for these two teams.
Will be interesting to see how they do against Indiana State tomorrow at noon. Limiting a team to 35 points is impressive.
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Post by 83Ace on Mar 7, 2024 15:08:09 GMT -6
Missouri State up at halftime, 27-14, over Murray State. Mo. State playing an aggressive defense. Murray State shooting at 18% ... they haven't been able to get good shots.
Update: Missouri State demolishing Murray State, 41-21 with 12 minutes to play.
Final score, Missouri State 60, Murray 35. Roadkill and I am surprised by that. Wow.
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Post by austinace on Mar 7, 2024 15:17:09 GMT -6
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