The Catamounts are 4-5, while going 0-1 in the SoCon. Samford beat them in Birmingham on Thursday night, 63-58. They beat William & Mary and DePaul on the road with losses to UTEP, Clemson, and Samford. At home, they Bradley, while losing to Mercer and Gardner Webb.
The Catamounts rank 209th in the country in scoring, and 111th in rebounding, while ranking 271st in field goal percentage.
Mike Williams is the Catamounts leading scorer, as the only player averaging double figures for Western Carolina. He has 15.8 points per game. He also leads the team in assits, with 3.4 per game. He shoots nearly 79 percent from the free throw line, while shooting 35% from three point range.
Harouna Mutombo is second on the team in rebounding, with 4.6 rebounds per game. He is scoring nearly eight points per game. He is shooting just 31% from the free throw line, though.
Blake Gallagher does not play a lot of minutes, but is averaging 4.0 rebounds per game.
Richie Gordon leads the team in rebounding and is second on the team in scoring. Gordon is averaging 9.3 points per game, while coming up with 5.7 rebounds per game. They average turning the ball over fourteen times per game.
Against Samford on Thursday, Williams was the only player in double figures with 20 points. Trey Sumler had nine points off the bench, and Mutombo had seven points. Richie Gordon was the only starter other than Williams that scored more than five points with eight. Western Carolina turned the ball over 17 times, while forcing 18 turnovers. They outrebounded Samford by three, 32-29. They shot just 35.2% from the floor.
The Mocs will have to come up with a way to contain Williams. It is the second straight game they will be facing a guard that can really control the game. They did a good job of containing Donald Sims, even though he scored 28 points. Can they control Williams in the same way? Can they keep him from scoring in big bunches?
Wattad also shot better against Appalachian State. The Mocs need him to keep on shooting well. Will the Mocs be able to score 80 points again? Maybe not. The Mocs are going to struggle getting close to 80 points against most teams, but if they only turn the ball over close to eleven times, like they did against the Mountaineers, and can find a hot scorer, and rebound, then the Mocs will be able to score lots of points. Obviously.
KEYS TO THE GAME
--Wattad needs to stay hot shooting. PLEASE!
--Limit turnovers. Bell needs to slow down- he tends to get out of control and needs to just try to contain his speed up the court. That is the best way to limit the turnovers.
--Control Williams. Don't shut him down- that probably won't happen. Just control him.
--Rebound.
WHAT I'LL DO IF THE MOCS WIN
--Be really excited about the week off before playing Murray State with lots of momentum.
--Wonder how this team possibly lost to Jackson State and FIU in their two games prior to this home stand.
--Watch the SEC Championship Game in happiness.
WHAT I'LL DO IF THE MOCS LOSE
--Wonder why this team is so streaky.
--Hope and pray for a win at Elon.
--Watch the SEC Championship Game in sadness.
--Take a deep breath, sigh, and remember tomorrow is another day.
LEAD PIPE LOCK PREDICTIONS THAT ARE SURE TO GO WRONG
--More Mocs will score in double figures than the Catamounts.
--Williams will be the leading scorer for either team.
--Jefferson will be the Mocs leading scorer (call it a gut feeling).
--Early will set a career high in points (previously 13).
--Chattanooga 76, Western Carolina 68. This game will be close all the way, but the Mocs will come up with the big plays down the stretch and come away with the win. Wattad won't shoot particularly well in this one, and will be held down, but other Mocs will pick him up, as the Mocs will get to 2-0 with two home wins against division rivals.
GO MOCS!
No comments:
Post a Comment