GAMEDAY

[NewYorksCowboy]

Well folks, today is the day. MWC Tourney is underway for the Pokes against an interesting UNLV team. I hope we get past the Rebels, I really love watching Sobey play, his heart is something special. I would love to see the Senior Sobey lead us to a few wins here.

What do you all think the keys are to todays game?

I think rebounding is huge. UNLV are men amonst boys on the glass. They are going to get their fair share of offensive boards, but I think the key is limiting them, and forcing their guards into bad shots offesnviely.

We need Soney, Adams and Grabau to really step up and outplay their guards.

Obviously, Cooke needs to be up for the challenge downlow and not get into early foul trouble.

I think even if we lose today, the one positive that we can get out of this is that Cooke, Grabau and Adams are getting really valuable experience, and some confidence and momentum heading into next year.

I say the Pokes squeak this one out, but UNLV is definately the favorite. Here's to hoping the Pokes bring the A-game!

 

[BeaverPoke]

I think the Pokes can win this.

My keys to the game: Hit the 3's. We know that UNLV will be more physically dominating, We need to hit our 3's to keep with.
Adams needs to keep playing like Rajon Rondo and putting up 20+ while closing in on a triple double.
Sobey needs to be the Sobey we have seen lately.
Final key to the win: While UNLV is going to dominate the glass, when there are those "key" moments in the game, we need to get those rebounds. The ones where we can break out in transition we need those, the ones where UNLV can just put it back up easily if they get it, we need those.

Timely shots, timely boards, monster play out of Sobey and Adams. Also, a Grabau 3 parade would be cool too.

 

[Bryoming]

Our bench is key in this one. If we can get solid minutes out of Bentz, Haldorson, and Washington we'll be in good shape. By quality I mean come in and don't screw up. Sobey, Adams, and Grabau are going to carry the scoring load, and we're going to ask the world of Cooke to handle the post. If we play with the same mindset as the CSU game this will be a good one. If not it could get ugly.

 

[BeaverPoke]

Our bench is key in this one. If we can get solid minutes out of Bentz, Haldorson, and Washington we'll be in good shape. By quality I mean come in and don't screw up. Sobey, Adams, and Grabau are going to carry the scoring load, and we're going to ask the world of Cooke to handle the post. If we play with the same mindset as the CSU game this will be a good one. If not it could get ugly.

One thing I have noticed since Nance went out, is that our guards are almost all of the scoring, which is fine because it with the new hand-check rule, it causes the other team to get into foul trouble quick.
The issue is then, can we make our FTs?

If they are fouling Grabau, Adams, and Sobey while we are in the bonus then great, if they are fouling Cooke while in the bonus, then shit...

 

[Bryoming]

Our bench is key in this one. If we can get solid minutes out of Bentz, Haldorson, and Washington we'll be in good shape. By quality I mean come in and don't screw up. Sobey, Adams, and Grabau are going to carry the scoring load, and we're going to ask the world of Cooke to handle the post. If we play with the same mindset as the CSU game this will be a good one. If not it could get ugly.

One thing I have noticed since Nance went out, is that our guards are almost all of the scoring, which is fine because it with the new hand-check rule, it causes the other team to get into foul trouble quick.
The issue is then, can we make our FTs?

If they are fouling Grabau, Adams, and Sobey while we are in the bonus then great, if they are fouling Cooke while in the bonus, then shit...

Cooke did well with his free throw chances against CSU. You can tell that he's been working on them. He's not going to be an 80% FT shooter anytime soon, but he won't be a liability from the line like he was earlier in the year.

 

[stymeman]

not as optimistic as I see UNLV shaking their rust etc and we just aren't deep enough, sorry, think it'll be a long day, sure hope I'm wrong!!!! It's been a fun season tho!!!!

 

[kdwrightuwyo]

The key will be sinking buckets. We don't have the guys to out rebound the Rebs. We will need a 60+% shooting night.

 

[TheRealUW]

The key will be sinking buckets. We don't have the guys to out rebound the Rebs. We will need a 60+% shooting night.

Agreed. I just don't see anyway around the Rebels demolishing us on the glass. I expect UNLV to end up with at least 10 more offensive shots from offensive rebounds alone.

There are only 2 ways to overcome the rebounding disadvantage that is almost a certainty in this game:
1) Shoot lights out
2) Hold the Rebels to a dismal shooting percentage

Neither of those will be easy tasks, but it's what is going to be required if the Pokes want to advance.

 

[stymeman]

another thing is the game's at 2:30 hence a Huge crowd won't be a factor, maybe the other teams will root and give us a home court advantage of some kind