The Cowboys are back at it tonight in the first of two matchups with the South Dakota Coyotes. As has been mentioned, the second half of the Jackson State game was a difficult one to watch for Poke fans as a rash of careless turnovers allowed the overmatched Jackson State team to creep back into the game. Although the offense has looked the most dynamic we have seen it in the Shyatt tenure, turnovers continue to be an issue for the Pokes. With what looks to be many teams fighting to get into the upper half of the MWC this season, making every possession count could be the difference between a 5th place finish and a 9th place finish in the conference this season. Moreover, it may end up deciding who gets an NIT invite and who plays in one of the “other tournaments”. I’d like to see Hankerson given a little more freedom on the offensive end. I’d like to see him come off the screens looking to curl to the basket more. I still think his offensive development is going to be the key to how this team performs when the conference schedule rolls around.
Player to Watch: Trevor Gruis (C, 6’10, 235 lbs, Sr.)
Gruis is an example of the type of college basketball player that is becoming a rarity amongst the high-major teams these days. He isn’t overly athletic, doesn’t have a flashy game, and plays below the rim…but he polished what skills he does have over his four years at South Dakota where he has become a textbook fundamental post player. He always makes the right basketball play, which is one reason he shot nearly 60% from the field last year. While the average fan won’t come away overly impressed with Gruis, basketball junkies should enjoy watching this guy do work in the post. Will the athleticism of Nance and Cooke win out over the fundamental play of Gruis? If the answer is yes, the Cowboys should be able to run away with this game.
The South Dakota Coyotes were picked to finish 7th in the 8 team Summit League. They are still looking for their first win of the season, after dropping their first two games on the road to begin the season. They are a poor jump shooting team, so I would look for the Cowboys to run a fair amount of zone in an attempt to make the Coyotes beat them with jump shots. On paper, this game looks like a mismatch. Can the Cowboys validate that on the court? I expect they will.