Final road trip stop - Grand Canyon

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Danster21
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Final road trip stop - Grand Canyon

Post by Danster21 » Tue Nov 19, 2019 1:37 pm

Your Montana State Bobcats are stopping by Phoenix to take on Grand Canyon. It's the 4th and final away game in this road trip, the longest one of the year for the Cats.

The game opened up with the Antelopes as -6 favorites but is now -5.5. The Cats are 4-0 against the spread and GCU is 0-3. This is mostly because they're coming off high expectations, with a solid chance to lead the WAC, but they've disappointed yet. They have one win, over Arkansas-Pine Bluff, a middling SWAC team. Their losses include two major programs (Illinois, and San Diego State) but also a D2 Davenport.

I personally think the Cats need to win this game to earn the respect they deserve. They've done amazingly this year under Sprink, but haven't gotten any midmajor love outside of mentions of Frey's late game stunner @ UNCG. My score prediction: Offense still feeling effects of the long trip and short breaks, but defense holds true, 63-53 Cats.

EDIT: ESPN link - https://www.espn.com/mens-college-baske ... =401166436



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Cledus
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Re: Final road trip stop - Grand Canyon

Post by Cledus » Tue Nov 19, 2019 1:46 pm

One of the most important stats you never read about is opponent field goal percentage. This is important because it’s an indicator of what kind of looks the other team is getting. The Cats in all five games have had a better FG% than their opponents. Through five games, opponents are averaging 34.7%.

By comparison, the Cats are averaging 46.1%. They’ll win a lot of games if they keep this up.


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GoldstoneCat
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Re: Final road trip stop - Grand Canyon

Post by GoldstoneCat » Tue Nov 19, 2019 3:20 pm

Tough game at the end of a successful trip. This is exactly the game past cat teams wouldn't even get off the bus for. I'm excited to see how we play, how we're able to handle a little success, and if defensive effort is still solid in the 4th game in 5 days. What a solid win this would be, if we can get it!



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RickRund
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Re: Final road trip stop - Grand Canyon

Post by RickRund » Tue Nov 19, 2019 3:50 pm

Massey has us dropping this one by 4, 77-73...
Sorry Massey, you may be wrong on this one...

GOOOOOO BOBCATS.


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BelgradeBobcat
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Re: Final road trip stop - Grand Canyon

Post by BelgradeBobcat » Tue Nov 19, 2019 4:51 pm

I don't know much about GCU except that they spend a lot of money on basketball-thus they can buy games like ours and not go on the road that much. They are going to be very tough to beat in Phoenix. We are also playing our 4th game in 5 days so legs will be heavy. It's a homecoming for Guliford and Kirby-so hope they shine. To me this game is gravy-the road trip is already a massive success.



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Helcat72
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Re: Final road trip stop - Grand Canyon

Post by Helcat72 » Tue Nov 19, 2019 8:00 pm

The game is listed on ESPN3 to be broadcast.....


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BelgradeBobcat
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Re: Final road trip stop - Grand Canyon

Post by BelgradeBobcat » Tue Nov 19, 2019 8:17 pm

Watching from the GCU website: https://gculopes.com/watch/?Live=371&type=Live

Very annoying announcers.



Cats15
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Re: Final road trip stop - Grand Canyon

Post by Cats15 » Tue Nov 19, 2019 8:19 pm

They have a very impressive crowd! Cats probably aren’t used to the noise from coming off the tournament they they played in a pretty much empty gym.



Danster21
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Re: Final road trip stop - Grand Canyon

Post by Danster21 » Tue Nov 19, 2019 8:25 pm

I'm so glad they're getting used to playing from behind. They're making a 7-0 run rn and put themselves in the lead after being down early. Staying out of foul trouble *knocks on wood* early is also going to be a boon. We certainly learned our lesson.



GoldstoneCat
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Re: Final road trip stop - Grand Canyon

Post by GoldstoneCat » Tue Nov 19, 2019 8:45 pm

Looks good so far, legs look good and defensive effort and rebounding has been really solid. I'm sure they'll have a run, but we're not outmatched.



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BelgradeBobcat
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Re: Final road trip stop - Grand Canyon

Post by BelgradeBobcat » Tue Nov 19, 2019 8:53 pm

up 30-28 at halftime. Had a nice lead but it is slipping away as we've bricked some from the field and the free throw line. I think we might have only one three pointer-Fernandez. If we get some shots to fall we could be alright.



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RobertCats
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Re: Final road trip stop - Grand Canyon

Post by RobertCats » Tue Nov 19, 2019 8:54 pm

Belo is playing great! Some impressive low post moves that we haven’t seen in a while!



Danster21
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Re: Final road trip stop - Grand Canyon

Post by Danster21 » Tue Nov 19, 2019 8:55 pm

Hm, I'm both happy and disappointed we're only up 2 at half. Going into the game I'd be more than pleased to guarantee the lead going into half, but given the lead we'd amassed at points during that half, I just think about what could have been. But I guess that's why you score as much as you can, because it only takes one point to get the dub. Let's keep it up and come out hot next quarter! I feel like most of the errors have been mental (letting guys get open for easy 3s, sloppy turnovers, missing FTs, etc.) but it's a good chance to show that Sprink can use half time well. It's easy to recover physically, every player does that, but recovering mentally is a coach's job.



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BelgradeBobcat
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Re: Final road trip stop - Grand Canyon

Post by BelgradeBobcat » Tue Nov 19, 2019 8:57 pm

I don't know if MSU keeps track, but I predict Belo will set a school record for dunks by end of his career.



Danster21
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Re: Final road trip stop - Grand Canyon

Post by Danster21 » Tue Nov 19, 2019 9:19 pm

This has not been our most inspired basketball of the year I'll say. Let's reel it back, guys.



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Re: Final road trip stop - Grand Canyon

Post by WYCAT » Tue Nov 19, 2019 9:20 pm

It's starting to unravel. Having trouble scoring and they've gotten hot. Feels like some home cookin' from the officials too.


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Re: Final road trip stop - Grand Canyon

Post by WYCAT » Tue Nov 19, 2019 9:22 pm

Much better all the sudden. We're on a 7-0 run and back up 2


You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves." - Abraham Lincoln

Danster21
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Re: Final road trip stop - Grand Canyon

Post by Danster21 » Tue Nov 19, 2019 9:31 pm

This game is going to come down to possesses it last 👀



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Re: Final road trip stop - Grand Canyon

Post by WYCAT » Tue Nov 19, 2019 9:39 pm

And they go on a 7-0 run to go back up 2.


You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves." - Abraham Lincoln

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Re: Final road trip stop - Grand Canyon

Post by GoldstoneCat » Tue Nov 19, 2019 9:40 pm

This has just been a grind-it-out, tough type of game. Not necessarily pretty but i like how we're hanging in there. You can tell we're playing our 4th in 5 days but the effort has been good. Down 1, 5 to play.



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