Bradley:
The Braves are 8-1 on the season and are coming off an Missouri Valley Conf play win over Southern Illinois. Their lone loss is to Washington State by 17 in their 2nd game of the season. No other major or mid-major teams on their schedule to date. Their best win is a Quad III vs. Middle Tennessee (ranked #133 or Torvik). They do play USF next Wednesday so they’ll be a interesting comparison for us.
Starters:
6-7 wing Christian Davis (10.3pts, 4.1 rebs, 1.2 blocks, 50% from 3)
6-6 wing Zek Montgomery (13.8pts, 56% from 3)
6-9 forward Darius Hannah (12.9pts, 6.1rebs, 1.2 blocks)
6-8 forward Almar Atlason (11.1pts, 45% from 3)
5-8 point guard Duke Deen (13.8pts, 4.7assists, 41% from 3)
Bench: Jaquan Johnson point guard (5.4pts, 2.9 assists, 1.6 steals); 7-1 center Ahmet Jonovic (6.1pts, 4.8rebs).
The Braves offense has been highly efficient, with the top ranked eFG% of 61% namely but shooting it extremely well from 3 at 45%. However, their schedule has been very weak (currently ~260th strength of schedule); so how much their success on offense is a result of the weak schedule is unknown.
For the Broncos, this is the toughest game in what is a relatively easy stretch of games (Fresno St. through WCC opener vs. Pepperdine). If the Broncos can win this game, there is a legit opportunity to go on a 6 game winning streak heading in to the USF game in the 2nd WCC game.
Stewart and Bryan have played well of late. Tilly and Mahi have been solid, Cam has been providing energy off the bench. But Bal and O’Neil continue to struggle; if the Broncos are going to make some noise in WCC play, those two are going to have to step up and produce at a higher level.
Prediction: Broncos prevail in a close one, 75-72.
I thought I knew who Jack Jones was: a crooner from my childhood and the husband of Shirley Jones, who played the mother in The Partridge Family.
Nope. I got the wrong crooner named Jack; she was married to Jack Cassidy, of course. Jack Jones was the man who sang the Love Boat theme. Got my middle-aged 70s lounge singers mixed up. Hey, it could happen to anybody.
Make a similar contribution to American culture and you too might have a basketball event named after you!
Reminder on the early 1:30pm start time.
Current ESPN line is Broncos -3.5…big difference from the Torvik line.
It was finals week for the Broncos. Hopefully they took care of business in the classroom and also had some good practices and are eager to get back on the court.
The trend of who’s contributing and who isn’t continues…Stewart, Mahi and Tilly with very good 1st halves and on efficient shooting. But Bal with just 4pts on 0-2 from 3 and 0 from O’Neil.
I’m always one to say scoring isn’t everything and D, rebounding, playing smart, etc. are also critical; but Bal and O’Neil’s strength are supposed to be scoring and neither are shooting it well. Neither are difference makers on defense, though O’Neil is an OK rebounder.
I’m all about defense. Our bench played well defensively. Yes. Cam brings energy no doubt.
He has been put into the WORST possible situation. He’s playing OUT OF POSITION and is being forced to play guys inches and pounds over him. When you’re smaller - you have to be more physical and it’s just unfair that Cam is the backup 5 when O’Neil has three inches on him.
I am so deflated that my kid who was top 100 power forward coming to Santa Clara (had offers from Pac-12, ACC, and SEC) has been given the shaft for FOUR YEARS. So over it.
I’ll just share with him how proud I am with his perseverance and encourage to leave it all on the court this year and focus on next steps for a successful future.
Just have to weather some Bradley scoring and stay steady. They are a good shooting team and are bound to go on some offensive runs; just have to answer ourselves and be efficient on O, limit turnovers and attack the basket and not settle for 3’s too often.
Smallest guy on the floor, Deen at 5-8 is killing us.