Reinhardt Preview: Time To Get A Win

Reinhardt lost five of their first six games. The Eagles were 1-5, with a win over Bob Jones, and a 30 point loss to Jacksonville State. Then the Eagles got on a roll. They beat Point University and Virginia Intermont (two conference foes). They beat Tennessee Temple by six at home (a team they lost to on the road by two earlier in the year). Then they beat Truett-McConnell. That evened up their record at 5-5, and a loss to Southern Polytechnic State left them 5-6 heading into this game.

That gives the Mocs a positive feeling about this game. The Mocs are bumbling and have lost six straight home games since beating Tennessee Temple in the opener. This game at noon is always very intriguing for the Mocs. There is a real chance of a dead crowd, a team ready to go home for Christmas, and another team fired up about an opportunity to come up with a win over a D1 school that will make their season.

With the way the Mocs have responded to the crowd so far this year, this is very dangerous. The noon crowd may not be overly excited. The Mocs need to come out and put this away as quickly as they can to put the Eagles chances to rest as early as they can.

The Eagles only play one player who is over 6-5. The 6-7 forward Matt Porter is averaging 7.7 points per game, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks. The Eagles other four starters are all 6-3 or less. It's hard to imagine how they competed with a Tennessee Temple team that was so much taller, but they beat them once and lost by two once in Chattanooga.

Quinton Wood is 5-11, 175 pounds. He averaged 18.6 points per game and 3.8 rebounds, along with three assists. Wood will be a challenge for the Mocs. He scored 19 against Jacksonville State, his other D1 competition this year. Carlton Shumake has a big body. He is 6-3, 244 pounds. He is averaging 10.8 points per game and 6.8 rebounds per contest.

The Mocs should be aware of the potential pitfalls of playing a non-D1 after College of Charleston lost to Anderson last week. But with a team full of young guys, it may be tough to get them to take this game seriously. Reinhardt was down single digits to Jacksonville State in the second half, before losing by thirty.

The Mocs will have an absolutely massive size advantage.Every player should be taller than the person guarding them. This will be a real opportunity for Drazen Zlovaric to get on track. Z Mason should also be able to dominate inside.

The guards may have their hands full with Wood. Ronrico White may be able to get on track as well, though. Gee McGhee, who has been able to get to the hole relatively easily, should be able to get to the basket in this one.

LEAD PIPE LOCK PREDICTIONS THAT ARE SURE TO GO WRONG

--The Mocs, one of the better rebounding teams in the country, will dominate the boards against the Eagles. If they don't, that will mean the Mocs did not show up and have a real chance to get beat.
--White, Zlovaric, and Mason will need to be the emotional leaders and get this team focused on the game ahead of them, keeping them focused and not letting them think about the Christmas Break and put this one away early. My gut feeling says that will be a battle.
--This would be a good night for the Mocs to find their shooting touch. They made just two threes against Tennessee Temple earlier this year. Don't expect much better in this one.
--McGhee and Zlovaric are the players that will lead the Mocs in scoring.
--Mocs 82, Reinhardt 61. My gut tells me that the Mocs do not take this game seriously enough and that Reinhardt hangs around. They never really have the Mocs on the ropes or anything, but this game will never get out of hand either. The young and inexperienced Mocs will struggle with the atmosphere and the break ahead to focus on what needs to get done. The Mocs will win, but it won't be a work of art.

GO MOCS!