Sunday, November 21, 2010

Chattanooga at Louisville Preview: Is a Mocs Win in the Cards?

Chattanooga travels to Louisville to take on the Cardinals in the Global Sports Shootout. Both teams are 1-0 and the winner will likely become the favorite to win the round robin event, especially since if the Mocs win, they will be 2-0 against the two favorites of the tourney (Louisville and Marshall).

There are many problems for the Mocs. Louisville's has won the battle of the boards in both games, including their home opener against a very good Butler team. The Cardinals upset of Butler really showed just how good Louisville can be. Louisville's opponents have not shot the ball well at all either.

Terrence Jennings has been very good so far, with 13.5 points per game, and seven rebounds per game. Jennings is 6-9, 220 pounds. He will be a very difficult match-up for any Moc.

Rakeem Buckles is the leading rebounder with 9.5 boards per game. Buckles and Jennings are both awful free throw shooters, as Jennings is shooting 50 percent on the season and Buckles is under 43 percent.

Buckles is 6-8 and Jennings is 6-9. They are the two toughest match-ups for the Mocs. Preston Knowles is also a good player at guard, but the Mocs match-up reasonably well with him. Bell should be able to play OK against Knowles. We'll have to wait and see how that match-up works out for the Mocs.

The Mocs are shooting too many outside shots- but they are working a little bit better right now. They are working the ball patiently and if the outside shot is the best shot, then they need to take advantage of it.

Can Buckles or Jennings be slowed down? DeAntre Jefferson and Jeremy Saffore will have to play brilliantly to have any hope of containing them. Chris Early may have to play a near perfect game as well.

Marshall dominated the inside game against the Mocs. Louisville should be able to do more of the same. They can rebound well, and they can score it inside. The Mocs will need to shoot the ball well from outside to have any shot at all of winning.

KEYS TO THE GAME
--Rebounding.
--Mocs patience on getting good shots.
--The Mocs need to not get intimidated by the atmosphere like they were in Knoxville, but have not been since.
--Do the Mocs have enough fouls to give against Buckles and Jennings?

WHAT I'LL DO IF THE MOCS WIN
--Rub it in really good here in the state of Kentucky.
--Really wonder what happened against Austin Peay.
--Not sleep out of jubilation and be very tired at work.

WHAT I'LL DO IF THE MOCS LOSE
--Wonder if the Mocs will ever win another game against a major conference team.
--Dismiss the Mocs chances of winning the Shootout.
--Sigh, and go to bed, knowing that tomorrow is another day.

LEAD PIPE LOCK PREDICTIONS THAT ARE SURE TO GO WRONG
--Several Mocs will foul out, including Jefferson, and possibly even Sam Watson.
--Louisville will not be as excited as they were against Butler, thus meaning that they will again show some signs that will make them tough to predict.
--Louisville will dominate the boards- but Chattanooga will be less intimidated than they were against the Vols, and keep the game closer.
--Louisville 75, Chattanooga 60. Louisville is just too big to think the Mocs can win. The Mocs will shoot well enough to hang around, but won't be able to get the job done in the end.

GO MOCS!

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