Ben Ball Gameday Roundup: Red Hot Rams (Colorado State) Visit Pauley
by Nestor on Dec 22, 2009 10:34 AM PST
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PrintOur basketball team gets back into action tonight by taking on the red hot Colorado State Rams. Under Coach Tim the Rams are off to an 8-3 start to open the 2009-10 season, which is their best start through 11 games since the 2006-07 season (9-2). They are already just one win shy of their entire win total from the 2008-09 season. They are also streaking into Pauley with a 4 game winning streak, coming off a 64-56 victory Sunday night against Northern Arizona (previous stomping ground for Coach Howland). In other words, it doesn't sound like Bruins are going to have an opportunity to breathe easy before heading for a short two day Christmas break.
Bruins and Rams also have a bit of history between them (not during Howland era though). This is the 7th meeting between the two programs as the series (surprisingly is) tied at 3-3.The last meeting was a classic debacle from the nightmarish CHP era when the 18th ranked Bruins choked in the semifinals of the Pearl Harbor Invitational in Laie, Hawaii by a score of 55-54 in a disgustingly ugly basketball game. The Bruins are 3-1 all-time against the Rams in Los Angeles and 2-0 in Pauley Pavilion. Rams only win in LA was a 69-68 decision, coming in during the 1961-62 season against Coach Wooden. That years our Bruins reached the Final 4 that season, losing to eventual champion Cincinnati in the national semifinals. Of course that is not going to happen this year (reaching the Final-4 I meant).
Coach Howland I am sure has the Rams well scouted but he wasn't giving away much during his weekly press conference (even if he did the local writers are too obsessed with covering the latest updates on Dragovic's ongoing legal problems). Anyway, here is what Howland had to say about the Rams that was published in the LAT:
The Rams (8-3) have a deep bench and will probably show a mix of zone and man-to-man defenses, Howland said.
Freshman guard Dorian Green, averaging 15.2 points, leads the team.
"He's a really good shooter," Howland said.
We have a little more on the Rams after the jump.
Dorian Green is not the only Ram standing out during their win streak:
During Colorado State’s four-game winning streak no players have stood out more for the Rams than freshman G Dorian Green, junior F Travis Franklin, and junior G Adam Nigon. Green had led the team in scoring at 16.5 points per game, while averaging 3.8 rebounds per contest. Franklin ranks right behind Green, pouring in 15.5 points per game. He leads the team in rebounding at 5.8 per contest. The duo has combined to hit 48 of 66 attempts from the free-throw line during that stretch. Nigon, who entered this season with a career scoring average of 2.9 ppg., is also in double-figures scoring at a clip of 10.3 points per game during the Rams’ winning streak. He is leading the Rams in three-point shooting, hitting 8-of-17 attempts for a .471 percentage. Green is the only other player to hit a trey for the Rams during that stretch, hitting 40 percent (8-for-20) from beyond the arc. Nigon also leads the Rams in assists during CSU’s streak, dishing out 12 helpers, more than double any other player on the team.
I haven't seen the Rams at all this season. However, going through their notes and stats it sounds like Franklin and Nigon have made big strides as juniors this season:
Nigon heating up
Junior Adam Nigon entered the season averaging 2.87 points per contest through two seasons. This year, the guard is averaging 8.2 points, and has already eclipsed his point total from all of last season. Nigon is shooting at a 41 percent clip from both the floor and three-point range. During a five-game stretch from Nov. 29 to Dec. 12, Nigon averaged 11.6 points, including a career-high 17 against Montana, helping the Rams to a 4-1 record during that stretch.Seeing double
Junior F Travis Franklin recorded his second career double-double performance in the Rams’ victory over rival Colorado (Dec. 10). Franklin tallied 22 points, his second 20-point effort of the season, and capped off the double-double performance with 10 rebounds to help CSU to the 77-62 victory. Franklin shot 7-for-9 from the field and 8-for-10 from the free-throw line, while adding a block and two steals against the Buffs. Franklin also recorded a double-double (10 points, 10 rebounds) nine days earlier in the Rams’ 70-63 loss at Northern Colorado (Dec.1).
Despite their impressive record, the Rams might have some chinks in their armor. They are not a very good shooting team (at least early this season) and have a tendency to turn the ball over. They are trying to use the Holiday break from school to work on getting into some kind of offensive rhythm:
he Rams (7-3) are playing better defense in Miles' third season with the team than they did the first two, limiting opponents to 38.9 percent shooting and pulling down an average of 6.6 rebounds a game more than their foes.But the spread offense he introduced last season needs work. Colorado State University is shooting just 42.4 percent from the floor and scoring only 69.9 points while committing an average of 15.9 turnovers a game. Opponents are averaging 4.4 assists a game more than the Rams.
That was before their game against Northern Arizona. Their offensive performance remained spotty as they were shot only 39.5% from the field (2 for 11 from the three point line) while turning the ball over 18 times (Lumberjacks turned it over 20 times themselves).
So perhaps this is a game in which we will hopefully can see the Bruin defense spring into action from the opening tipoff and our guys sustain it for the entire 40 minutes. Obviously we are going to be looking for the same things we have been looking in previous games which are at least an above average serviceable outing from Anderson, Dragovic, while seeing extended minutes from Honeycutt, Nelson and Lane. It will be interesting to see how much PT Roll gets since he is apparently recovering from a flu.
The game is scheduled to tip off at 7:30 pm PST. It will not be on television. It will be available online. We will throw up a game thread, which hopefully will help folks to follow the action as best as they can.
GO BRUINS.
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I for one will not look for extended minutes from Lane
until something in his limited minutes demonstrates that he has the talent, athletic ability, fitness and concentration that would warrant extended minutes.
I would just as soon see Bobo get extended minutes, given that it would allow RN to play more at the PF position. But neither Lane nor Bobo seem to be making a case for extra minutes with their play up to this point (with Bobo having had more time than Lane to make a case, admittedly).
Rumor has it that Mike Roll may play little or not at all due to flu tonight, in which case I guess we may see some extended minutes for Lane by necessity with our thin-looking squad.
Lane is a true freshman
He hasn’t had the time and mins to show what he can do unlike Dragovic who has wasted more than two years of everyone’s time showing what he can’t do (which is pretty much all facets of classic Ben Ball).
Dragovic IMO
is a taller and less talented version of Sasha Vujacic for the LA Lakers. Sometimes can come in and hit a couple 3s, but will then proceed to fire up 12 more 3s after that and make none of them. No defense whatsoever and a heightened sense of self-accomplishment.
The difference is Vujacic is making millions to do nothing in the NBA. Dragovic won’t sniff that ‘success’.
by longbordr52 on Dec 22, 2009 11:00 AM PST up reply actions
I think BL will currently get abused playing PF
He doesn’t look strong enough to hold his ground in there. I can understand your frustration with ND’s performance (particularly as a senior, who presumably is unlikely to improve much, while BL has room to improve), but I’m not sure it’s obvious that BL would be the one to pick up minutes if ND had minutes decreased.
If ND were in prison right now, I think we would either be playing a small lineup with TH nominally as the 4, or starting JMM at center with RN at the 4.
I’m not sure BL at this stage is such a better option than ND; but even if we agree that we want ND to get fewer minutes, do you think it’s so obvious BL is the person who deserves more time or gives us a better chance of victory?
by britishbruin on Dec 22, 2009 11:32 AM PST up reply actions
I think your points on Lane are valid
I get the argument that BL doens’t look strong enough to hold his ground. I am seeing that as well. However, my point is why not keep him in there a little longer without a quick hook so that he can get up to game speed a little more. The best way for him to learn is to play within the gamespeed. No? What’s the opportunity cost for giving Lane some extended mins? Reducing Dragovic’s mins which aren’t productive (on either end of the court) to begin with. Now if Dragovic catches lightning in a bottle like he did during some Pac-10 games last year, then I can understand keeping him in there a little longer. All I am saying is instead of giving the guy 30+ mins a game we reduce it to 15-25 range and give Lane a little more time.
However, they key problem is we are not getting consistent play from Anderson, which we discussed a little more couple of days ago.
Also, I will take Lane over Bobo. I find Bobo a total defensive liability with some very limited offensive game. I believe Lane has more upside but would like to see him in game action more.
I'm conflicted over BL
As a recruit, he projected for a long time as a tall SF. At 6’10 now, he pushes the limit, prompting many people to think he’d make a great 4 if he gained weight. When accepting the UCLA offer, he even said that he’d want to play the 3 in college. From what I’ve seen, I’m concerned that he’ll gain weight to contribute this year as a PF, but next year he’ll go back to the bench and try to lose weight to step in as a backup 3 (to TH). Switching body types and radically different positions (moreso than somebody going from a SG → SF or C→ PF) can take its toll and severly hamper an athlete’s progress.
If BL can develop his shot and get it back to his junior-year level, and IF we can go without having to push him into the 4 spot this year, I think he’ll make more progress next year and we’ll get more use out of him. Just my two cents.
by longbordr52 on Dec 22, 2009 11:47 AM PST up reply actions
All of that said, it seems like we need BL to step up right now at the 4 spot. So I suppose we have to do what’s best for the team and will help us win games right now.
by longbordr52 on Dec 22, 2009 11:49 AM PST up reply actions
a big small forward...
per longbordr’s comments, BL seems to have a SF, not PF, game.
I think BL getting some extended stretches of playing time might let him get his game shot going, but I don’t know whether playing him at the 4 helps him or us. And given our rotation, getting him more minutes at the 3 doesn’t necessarily mean fewer minutes for ND (though perhaps fewer minutes for JA?)
That said, if MR is sick tonight, BL may get some time in his natural position tonight.
by britishbruin on Dec 22, 2009 12:45 PM PST up reply actions
Wear a suit!
For God’s sake, Drago—dress up to go to court! I’m told Artz is a smart lawyer but he needs to tell the client to to dress like he thinks this is a serious matter.
The undershirt
Well at least the undershirt looks kinda Bruinish.
that's not the place we want him representing the bruins
i hope he steps up tonight and the rest of the season on the other type of court
by realfabfive on Dec 22, 2009 12:16 PM PST up reply actions
I thought it was unwise that he wore what he wore
you know, a shirt with thick, dark stripes
by bruinbunz on Dec 22, 2009 12:19 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
Its an arraignment
As long as he’s not in shorts and a t-shirt, he’s fine. Now if the case ever gets in front of a jury, then he better have a suit on
A team that hasn't (yet) beat us in Pauley...
I didn’t like the sound of that, even before reading britishbruin’s comment about MR. Yikes. We’ll see what team shows up tonight. IIRC, the last ‘no TV’ game had a justin.tv feed, at least. If that is available, I’ll be among many (?) to appreciate it being shared.
slightly OT but I'm going to get a look at old friend
Chace Stanback tonight, as the #20 UNLV rebels take on SMU in Hawaii tonight. He apparently leads the team in rebounds this year. should be fun night of hoops, UCLA and SMU both start at 7:30 : )
William Doolittle at your service, a.k.a. will do.
just another OT basketball comment
I follow recruiting fairly casually, and is there any reason we didn’t recruit Jordan Hamilton, grades maybe? He really strokes it though, its disappointing to see texas cherry picking kids from Dominguez and Taft
William Doolittle at your service, a.k.a. will do.
The dude would be starting in Westwood now...
….if he had only been patient, manned up, and learned to wait his turn and play Ben Ball defense. He’d be “the guy” on the squad this year, but oh well, sucks for him.
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