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#7 seed Jackrabbits face #2 seed Tommies. The Tommies have a stable of competent players. HC Tauer has found the right mix of NIL transfers to add each year. It will require very high intensity from the Jackrabbits for 40 minutes find the upset. The Jackrabbits will know the defense is around them as there will be continuous physical contact promoting turnovers for the points off turnovers. Let's hope the Jackrabbits have a sharp edge today. Go Jacks!!
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Best to remember these are kids and they are doing everything they can to entertain us, be scholars, and all in all be great humans. Jackedforlife -
I am FAR FAR from a gambling expert, but if my very amateur effort to see what Vegas thinks is correct, I dont think they exactly love STU. If I see it correct, they only have them favored by 5.5. that feels pretty small for a 2 vs 7 matchup
if I was a gambler, I would have zero interest in touching that. I am guessing STU fans like their chances, but in their home game against us this year, they failed to cover that.
I am not a gambler at all and the little bit that I do, my superstitions insist that I NEVER bet on Jacks games. I just thought checking what the so called experts think might be interesting. I wont be making any bets today. I also dont make predictions, but I will say I like our chances today
I ask you all this. Are we expecting the typical Jacks crowd tonight for our underdog team in a game that starts at 8:30 ish on a week night?
Go Rabbits!! -
One thing to always consider when you play the Tommies, is how will the officials call the game?
If they are consistent, it will help us.
The Tommies seem to follow the old Detroit Pistons philosophy of "they can't call them all" and play a very handsy and grabby type of defense.
Dufault alone probably fouls 3 times a possesion.(Honestly, if that guy was two inches taller, he'd never play because he'd be in constant foul trouble. But they let him get away with it, bc he's small)
They have some very good players led by Minnessale, who is very impressive and I would guess will get offers from bigger schools for next year.
For the record, I'm not blaming them for playing that way...they kind of had to at first, going through the transition with a lot of smaller guys. Their offense is really boring but effective. Lots of high ball screens from their post (when it's Bjerke, he'll shoot the 3 on the pick and pop) and then lots of just one on one...
Tough matchup for the Jacks. But a tough matchup for anyone when they are playing well. Physical defense and individual talent to go one on one.
STILL, I like the fight in the Jackrabbits. I think. If the Jackrabbits can hit some shots early (which always seems to be with the issue with our team this year), and get in the game from the get go... I think this could be a battle. They almost beat them up there on the Tommies court. We had a pathetic shooting effort the second time against them at home. And some of that was certainly due to their defense.
Go Jacks!Comment
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I can't say I expect anything tonight. I could see us winning or getting beaten by 15 points. I reject the thought that we are flooded with role players. We have talent to look St. Thomas in the eye. I don't like our game plan, but I have made that point before; I doubt this team will change the game plan. If we hit threes, we look good, but it is very easy to die by the three. Our plan has been to drive into a congested lane, with referees who (being polite) are "letting them play," and try to lay the ball in the basket through contact. South Dakota did very well running a double team at Mr. Wilkinson; may he handle such double teams much better today.
It comes down to mental toughness. When one of our guys drives and goes up for the shot, getting hacked, he must be STRONG WITH THE BALL, control and reset after the hack, and then hit the shot before he comes down. (I have many times brought my knees up to my stomach to avoid a violation when I have reset in these circumstances.) We have some very good players, but I doubt they believe sufficiently in themselves, We come back to attitude, or perhaps I should say arrogance. Our guys need to know that they can adjust after the hack and take good shots even when they are fouled.
Never look at the referee or expect anything from him. Let Coach speak to the refs. Our guys need to be ready to play without referees. Our rebounding has improved dramatically. This is only one of many things we need to do well tonight.
Go Jacks.Comment
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I agree with a lot of what you say sir. I highlighted a couple. if I recall correctly, you have asked for the team to use the mid range game more this year. I agree with you that the mid range game has disappeared far too much from the game overall. the trend in the game is to shoot 3s or take the ball all the way to the hole. players with a mid range game are rare in general
for the Jacks, Sayler has VERY VERY easily the best mid range / pull up game. I do think KG and Mors could try to just pull up more at 8-10 feet but if I was coach Pete, I am absolutely telling Joe to start the game using his mid range game!!!
I would love to see Sayler start the game looking to come off of every screen and get in the 10-15 foor range. I think that is a weakness in STU defense and Joe is easily the player who can take best advantage of it. so I really really hope he does not come out today shooting 3s early.
secondly, I am demanding that the MOST important stat in the game is rebounds!! absolutely crush them on the boards. anyone who allows an O board to STU is getting a seat next to me for a moment.
finally, we need to eliminate silly TOs. we need to keep TOs close to single digits. my thought is absolutely no more than 12. I think if we dominate the boards we can live with 6 TOs per half. I would prefer 4Comment
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I said mid range jump shots, LetGoRabbits, but maybe I wasn't clear that I meant uncontested mid range jump shots. A game or three ago, Mr. Mors was hotly defended in the land and hit a 14 foot turn around jump shot. This is a mid range shot but it isn't what I meant. I meant a player fakes the three and takes two dribbles CROSSING INSIDE THREE POINT RANGE as his defender is in the air, out of the play. Then he shoots off the second dribble before any defender has a chance to react. If he takes two more dribbles, the entire defense has collapsed on him. Once he does this, he can fake the dribble and then hit the three. He can pass fake and hit the three. We need to mix things up. (This team needs to be introduced to shot fakes and pass fakes.)
When a man takes the three with an athlete jumping at him, he has a reflex to rush; if he rushes, he will miss. The defender boxes him out. Four defensive players get rebounding position. When a man fakes the three and moves toward the basket, the man who jumped at him is in no man's land. The other four defenders must stop the ball and watch the passing lanes. If the sweet 16 misses, the shooter can follow his shot and the bad guys are not in good rebounding position.
Another application is to pass inside the three point line where the offensive player is two steps closer to the basket. This will relieve the congestion in the lane.
As we play, the other team must watch the three point line and clog the lane. Shots like the turn around jumper I mentioned come from defense in the lane. If we started taking those "sweet 16s" the defense is FORCED to come away from the basket to defend. We need to make the bad guts defend the ENTIRE FLOOR, not just a small part and the line.
There are many systems and every coach must make his system work. Every Jack must have every detail in place on every shot. We can win tonight if we cut out mistakes and play with mental toughness.
Go Jacks.Comment
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I hope we attack them on the offensive end and make the official blow the whistleComment
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2 min in and Garry has two fouls. Dumb.Comment
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This one is going to come down to who can make more 3’s. Most nights that will be St Thomas. Minessale on fire early.Comment
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Did Fenton pay the Summit refs tonight to help keep St Thomas in the league?Comment
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EXCEPT for the second one being the most blatant offensive foul you will ever see. KG should have one foul and minnesally should have one that would probably take a bit of his aggressiveness away on the drives. plus he also got two fouls called on Joe and minnesally created ALL the contact on both of them
it is beyond ridiculous that a team with the defensive game plan of grab and push and hold as often as possible makes it thru the half with only 7 fouls while the Jacks get called for nine.
I think Doctor Johnny has his doctorate from the Dawn Plitzulwite school of whining, moaning, and grumpy face makingComment
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point one, CHECK. point two, NOT SO MUCH
honestly I am very surprised the called Bjerke for the two consecutive obvious shoves in the back. Bjerke and The Doctor Jonny were also surprised. they both figured once they called it once Bjerke had free reign to do it as often as he wanted for the rest of the gameComment
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Hey Farmer remember that the coach is an arse statistic you were talking about? I think we know why Johnson from Denver got POY for the menComment
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