Mascot: Bears
Conference: MEAC
13-14 Record: 15-16 (11-5)
13-14 RPI: 226
13-14 KenPom: 229
14-15 Record: 2-10
Best Win: 63-62 over UC Irvine
Worst Loss: 69-73 @Manhattan
14-15 RPI: 277
14-15 KenPom: 295
Coach: Todd Bozeman (9th Season)
Probable Starters:
PG: Donte Pretlow: 6-0 185 JR, 6.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg 3.6 apg, 1.8 spg, 2.8 tpg, .143 3P
SG: Blake Bozeman: 6-2 170 SR, 13.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.9 apg, 0.4 spg, 2.1 tpg, .325 3P
SF: Torin Childs-Harris: 6-4 185 RSSO, 4.8 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 0.3 apg, 1.4 spg, 0.8 tpg, .208 3P
PF: Cedric Blossom: 6-8 230 FR, 13.4 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 1.0 apg, 0.8 spg, 1.0 tpg, .400 3P
C: Zech Smith: 7-0 265 RSSR, 6.3 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 0.0 apg, 1.4 bpg, 0.8 tpg, .000 3P
Probable Bench:
Cliff Cornish: 6-8 240 RSSO PF, 2.5 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 0.4 apg, 0.5 spg, 0.9 tpg, .000 3P
Rasean Simpson: 6-5 190 JR SF, 2.4 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 0.5 apg, 0.6 spg, 0.7 tpg, .133 3P
Kyle Thomas: 6-6 200 SO SF, 3.9 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 0.2 apg, 0.2 bpg, 0.6 tpg, .333 3P
Jamar Redmond: 6-3 190 FR SG, 3.8 ppg, 0.9 rpg, 0.3 apg, 0.3 spg, 0.6 tpg, .321 3P
Emmanuel Matey: 5-11 190 SO PG, 0.8 ppg, 0.6 rpg, 1.3 apg, 0.5 spg, 1.1 tpg, .000 3P
Clive Vaughn Jr.: 6-2 175 FR SG, 1.5 ppg, 0.4 rpg, 0.0 apg, 0.4 spg, 0.3 tpg, .174 3P
Probable Benchwarmers:
Jeremiah Curtis: 6-8 230 FR PF
Conrad Chambers: 6-1 180 FR PG
Jordan Omogbehin: 7-3 315 RSSR C
Anthony Vernon: 6-8 255 FR PF
Andrew Hampton: 6-4 195 SR SF
Willis Turnipseed: 6-9 190 RSJR PF
The Game Plan: The Bears have good size and depth for a mid-major. Unfortunately for them, neither their size nor depth are very good. Fischer will be matching up with Zech Smith, a 7 foot 265 center who struggles on the offensive end. He is limited to a range of about 5 feet. He and his partner in the post, Cedric Blossom have two of the best offensive rebounding rates in the country. Boxing them out will be a priority for Luke, Juan, and Steve. Expect a lot of man to man defense to counteract this. Morgan State’s best player is coach Todd Bozeman’s son, Blake. The younger Bozeman is the only player for the Bears who has made double digit three pointers this season. Expect Derrick Wilson to take primary responsibility for guarding Bozeman. The Bears will try to get shots close to the basket, they only shoot 26.6 % from three and 34.8% from the field (348th in the nation). Morgan State is also a selfish team, averaging only 9.6 assists per game (326th in the nation). One of their starters, center Zech Smith, has yet to record an assist this season. If the ball gets into the post, Marquette doesn’t need to worry about it getting kicked out. The Bears’ starting point gurad has a 3P shooting percentage that would make Derrick Wilson blush. Donte Pretlow has gone 3/21 from beyond the arc this season. Morgan State is better on defense than they are on offense…but that’s not saying much. They have one true shot blocker in Zech Smith, but they don’t force a lot of turnovers. Marquette should be able to bring the ball up without fear and get a lot of easy shots. One thing Morgan State does well is stay out of foul trouble, so don’t expect a lot of Golden Eagle free throws. Fouls are going to be a huge determining factor in this game. Morgan State stays out of foul trouble and draws a lot of fouls. Marquette has a short enough bench where it could become a problem.
Best Case: Every Bozeman three is challenged by Derrick Wilson. Fischer and Anderson’s rears keep Smith and Blossom from grabbing any offensive boards. Morgan State’s guards run right at the Marquette D and instead of drawing fouls, they draw a lot of blocks. Duane Wilson fixes the shooting funk he has been in and scores 16 including multiple three pointers. Carlino also chips in with some hot outside shooting. Marquette routs Morgan State by 30+
Worst Nightmare: The Bear guards drive early and often and it leads to early foul trouble for Fischer, Juan, and Steve. Forced to go to a small lineup, Smith and Blossom are able to grab offensive board after offensive board and get easy putbucks. Carlino, Duane, and Johnson shoot a ton of shots but make a lot less. Donnie Pretlow actually makes a three pointer for the Bears. Fortunately, Morgan State’s inability to score at a consistent rate keeps them from winning. Marquette wins by 8 but it feels like a 10 point loss.
Final Predication: Marquette 77 Morgan State 53
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