MBB Game 19 Elon, Jan 17 (Sat) 12 PM

[Jojogunne]

Elon (11-5, 3-1), the highest-scoring team in the CAA (85 ppg), will be another good test for us.

The Phoenix have a NET ranking of 150 and defeated #107 Richmond. In league play, they have topped Northeastern, NC A&T and Campbell, but lost at home to Charleston. Next Thursday (1/15), they play Northeastern again.

Three transfer students -- Chandler Cuthrell, Randall Pettus II and Kacper Klaczek -- lead Elon in scoring. Cuthrell and Klacek (LI Lutheran) also set the pace in rebounding.

This will be our first game of the season on the CBS Sports Network. WRHU (HAWC) will also provide coverage.

[Wags]

Elon has suddenly found its way into the top four in the CAA. I guess we can say, Phoenix rising.

[stuball888]

Last I looked we are at #81 in the NET rankings

[EvanJ]

Chandler Cuthrell is the best forward in the CAA, and he has a chance to be the first forward to lead the CAA in scoring since James Madison's Denzel Bowles averaged 0.2 more than Charles Jenkins in 2009-2010. The last fifteen leaders have been guards. In our 24 complete seasons in the CAA, Bowles and Willaim & Mary's Adam Hess in 2003-2004 were the only forwards to lead in scoring. Cuthrell is averaging the most points by a CAA forward since Old Dominion's Petey Sessoms averaged 22.1 in 1994-1995. He is averaging the most points by any forward not in a power conference this season. That is out of 286 teams.

[triplec2195]

The boards have gotten very quiet for this game. Has the SB loss taken all the wind out of our sails?? So for what it is worth we're 5.5 point favorites and ESPN gives us a 79% chance of winning this game. Lets get back on the winning track.

[HUSID74]

Important for us to show up and play better than the last two games. Elon likes to run and score so I think that will be helpful to us in getting our offense going again.
Of course, the status of Biggie and Roberts will be importantas we are seriously lacking depth right now...sound familiar???

[Cards]

Assuming Biggie is still out today (or at least not 100% yet), we will have to deal with DeCady starting again. I have not seen Cuthrell play but I would imagine that he will be DeCady's assignment for the day. So my plea to Joshua would be, please, please, focus on D and boards and NOT shooting. There are other ways to contribute to the offense without scoring.

[dutchPride86]

Assuming Biggie is still out today (or at least not 100% yet), we will have to deal with DeCady starting again. I have not seen Cuthrell play but I would imagine that he will be DeCady's assignment for the day. So my plea to Joshua would be, please, please, focus on D and boards and NOT shooting. There are other ways to contribute to the offense without scoring.

Agree here. Cuthrell is 6'8 225, we're gonna need major minutes from DeCady today like it or not.

As ugly as our offense has been lately, key for me today is not letting offensive struggles impact the intensity with which the team defends, which I think is part of what led to giving up so many 3s vs Stony.

Pretty clear line of demarcation for us now... we're 1-4 when allowing 75+ points and 12-1 when giving up less than 75. Elon averages 85 a game, dont want to wind up in a track meet with this team, especially if Biggie is still out

[triplec2195]

Yeah we need scorers on this team too much pressure on Preston and Cruz and easier for opponents to just having to shut down 2 scorers as opposed to three or 4. Need to get minutes for Roberts and Wills who is showing that he has a lot to contribute to this team. Also want to see German be more consistent if we get 4 players scoring double digits we will be in a good place especially as we have been getting contributions from Sunday and Victory.

[Wags]

Both teams are going to want to start fast after coming off disappointing road losses on Thursday night (Elon, at Northeastern, and of course, Hofstra, at Stony Brook). I think it's particularly important for Hofstra to do that, especially after the last two first halves they had (24 pts. vs. Monmouth and 25 at Stony Brook). They need to reestablish the offense we saw before early, get it in Elon's had that this may be a bad road trip for them instead of Elon thinking they'll salvage the trip after the loss at Northeastern. Get out to a good lead early and have a solid first half in which they score at least high 30s or 40s by halftime. If it's another sluggish first half, they could find themselves in trouble or sweating it out late again. Davis needs the type of fast start we've seen several times earlier this season.

[Wags]

Looks like Biggie is still not ready. He's standing with the other guys by mid-court, watching his teammates warm up, but not warming up himself.

[dutchPride86]

Cuthrell clearly likes to play more like a wing than a center, any idea why staff thought it would be a good idea to have Victory and Sunday try to guard him instead of DeCady? Especially in light of the Stony big torching them from 3 last game.

And Cruz completely passive again to start. Not a good first 4 min despite the early lead

[dutchPride86]

And Cruz completely passive again to start. Not a good first 4 min despite the early lead

9 minutes, 0 shot attempts from Cruz against one of worst defenses in the league (with a lazy turnover and even lazier transition foul). Whether hes trying to save his energy to play 40 mins or is just in a midseason slump, there is no reason he should be playing all 40 min every night right now

And having our 3rd string center try to guard Cuthrell on the perimeter?! Let's just gift them points

[Wags]

32-17, Elon after Hofstra led 8-1. And Hoftra is shooting well, too.

[Wags]

Elon dominating in the paint so far, 24-2.

The Phoenix is 3/10 from 3, but 12/18 from 2.
The Pride is 8/13 from 3, but just 4/12 from 2.

[Wags]

Almost nothing in the paint (26-2, Elon) or at the line (1/2). This would be an Elon blowout if they weren't hitting from 3. Hopefully, that'll open up some things inside.

[Hofstra]

Putrid defensive effort in the first half. Have to see something different in the 2nd. This is a brutal stretch for the team. Just look out of sorts.

[dutchPride86]

28-4 points in the paint. If DeCady didnt get lucky and make 4 threes that half we'd be down 20 right now. And I dont care how many 3s he makes, any possession than ends with a DeCady 3pt attempt is a win for the opponent.

This is more than just missing Biggie. Not sure what happened to this team. Absolute disgrace

Also, if you cant matchup with their bigs man to man off the dribble, how about switch it up and play some zone for a couple minutes?

[triplec2195]

Bad coaching move having our centers guard Cutthrell he’s killing us. Need DeCady on him.

[Cards]

Very strange matchup for HU at the 5 with Cuthrell. He is too mobile and talented for Silas. Need victory to figure things out in the second half.

Cruz being absent early has happened too many times now for that not to be the plan. Whether right or wrong, I guess they want to save him for second half.

Speedy must see more in Decadys offense than we (I) do.