Pre-Game Meal- Longwood

LIKELY STARTERS
Longwood (0-6)
G Martiz Washington (6-0 So)
G Kevin Swecker (6-1 Sr)
G EJ Dawson (6-2 Sr)
F Dana Smith (6-5 Sr)
F Billy Robinson Jr (6-7 Sr)

Mocs (2-3, 0-0)
G- Keegan Bell (6-1 RSo)
G- Josh Odem (6-5 Fr)
F- Ridge McKeither (6-5 Jr)
F- DeAntre Jefferson (6-8 Jr)
C- Jeremy Saffore (7-1 RJr)

NOTE: I don’t see how you don’t start Jefferson at this point. He’s playing better than anyone else on the team right now. It’s a big lineup, but a combination that might be worth trying.

KNOW THY OPPONENT

Here’s a link to the Longwood Lancers men’s basketball athletic site- http://www.longwoodlancers.com/index.aspx?path=mbasket

The Lancers are being outrebounded by an average of 41-31 per game. This has been a major source of frustration for the Lancers so far this year. They are shooting just 39.4 percent from the field, and 24.3 percent from three point range.

Antwan Carter is the team’s leading scorer, despite the fact that he comes off the bench. He’s playing just under 25 minutes per game, and scoring 16.0 points per game. Dana Smith is averaging 14.5 points per game. Carter is also garnering 6 rebounds per game, while Smith is pulling down 7 per game.

Aaron Mitchell was supposed to be one of the Lancers star players. However, Mitchell has fallen on hard times and not started the last two games (being replaced by Washington in the starting five). Mitchell is shooting just 26 percent and 7.7 percent from three point range. He can not seem to find the range yet.

The best three point shooter for a player who has more than ten attempts on the season is Kevin Swecker, who is shooting 27.6 percent (8 for 29) from three point range. This team is really struggling from three point range.

The Lancers are forcing 15.3 turnovers per game, while committing 14.2. Those are better than expected numbers from a team that is 0-6.

The Lancers are a decent free throw shooting team. They are making exactly 70 percent on the season. The problem is that they do not get to the line very often, going there just fifteen times per game.

ANALYSIS

At this point, the key may be if the Mocs come up with the desire to play or not. The Mocs were outrebounded by a much smaller Texas-Pan America team. Longwood is just as outmanned in terms of height as the Broncos. The Mocs will need to dominate the boards if they want to come away with the win.

The Mocs have the size advantage. Jefferson, Saffore, and McKeither will need to be great from down low and take advantage of the edge that they have. Alexander Starling (of Bethune-Cookman) had a solid game down low in Friday’s game. The Mocs will need a similar performance.

The Mocs are shooting just 29.4 percent from three point range. That is not good. This is not a good shooting team. The Mocs are shooting 41.4 percent from the field. So they should be taking more shots from closer, where they perform much better.

The Mocs are turning the ball over 19.2 times per game. The Lancers have not been great at forcing turnovers, but the Mocs have been more than willing to give it up this year. They will need to try to keep possession of the ball.

Yesterday, the Mocs put the full court press on the Broncos, and it did not seem to work. In fact, it seemed to cause the Mocs foul problems to some degree, and the need to play a lot of different guys. Sam Watson is seeing a lot of playing time for a walk on. He did play well yesterday, however. So the questions about his playing time have been answered to some degree. Still, the Mocs full court pressure did not pay dividends and maybe they should lay off against this Lancers team and see what happens.

QUESTIONS I WANT ANSWERED

- Will we play with a little heart, desire, and focus, or will we take this whole trip off?
- Can the Mocs score in their halfcourt offense?
- Will the Mocs pound the ball inside? If so, will they be able to make the free throws that will inevitably come?
- Will Bell take over a game, like he should be capable of doing?

PREDICTION

Whew. I’m scared to pick this one. Yesterday’s horrific performance is still fresh in my mind. Yet, I just have a hard time imagining that the Mocs play like THAT again. This is a team that people are starting to downgrade drastically, and that may be a mistake. After all, they beat ETSU, who beat College of Charleston, Appalachian State, and Arkansas. Winning away from home is always the hardest thing for a young team to learn to do. Maybe today is the day. I’ll keep my fingers crossed. Mocs 64, Longwood 63.