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M: at Northern Arizona

SDHornet

SDHornet

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M: at Northern Arizona

The Hornets (6-4, 1-1 BSC) hit the road to play a rebuilding yet much improved Northern Arizona (4-8, 1-1 BSC). NAU has struggled in the past few games but they were tough OOC matchups on the road. NAU plays a very up-tempo style and it will be tough to keep pace with this team at elevation.

Team Stats Comparison: http://hornethome.com/sacramento-state-basketball/compare_stats/northern-arizona
  • • Points/Game: Sac: 72.8, NAU: 65.9
    • Points Allowed/Game: Sac: 69.3, NAU: 78.2
    • Rebounds/Game: Sac: 37.6, NAU: 33.5
    • Assists/Game: Sac: 14.0, NAU: 14.2
    • Turnovers/Game: Sac: 11.3, NAU: 15.8
    • FG%: Sac: 42.2, NAU: 42.1
    • 3-PT%: Sac: 37.0, NAU: 31.2
    • FT%: Sac: 72.2, NAU: 69.4
Individual Stats: http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/team/stats/_/id/2464/northern-arizona-lumberjacks

NAU’s top scorers are stud freshman guard (#12) Dewayne Russell (15.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 3.6 apg, 1.8 spg) and senior guard (#11) Gabe Rogers (14.5 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 2.2 apg, 1.2 spg). NAU has a couple of forwards to compliment the two leading guards but the scoring production isn’t great from anyone besides Russell and Rogers.

The Hornets are going to need to shake off their shooting woes and have a solid defensive effort if they want to win this one. NAU averages about 4 more turnovers a game than the Hornets so some ball pressure should lead to NAU mistakes. Road wins in the BSC are hard to come by but they are more than possible to attain if this team plays a complete game. Katz will need solid production from the bench as I imagine a lot of players will see action to keep the starters from getting fatigued. This game should be a good one and hopefully the Hornets will come out on top.

Go Hornets!!!
 
SDHornet -

I'm driving up for the game. I'll try to post a quick review on Friday.

The Hornets are a better team than NAU right now but the Lumberjacks should at least make it competitive. Turnovers have been an absolute killer for NAU. I expect Sacramento State to put the pressure on Russell and Rogers.
 
30-25 NAU lead at the half. The Hornets won't win this one. The starters are the only effective players and they are sucking wind; the bench has been absolutely pathetic. Katz had no defensive strategy coming into this one and had D'ville trying to d-up on stud freshman Russell at the end of the half and it was just embarrassing. Garrity is having another quiet game having only put up 2 shots. Hornets need to get in in gear if they want a shot but I don't see it happening.
 
As long as they can contain the three, NAU doesn't have much of an inside presence. Just need to be patient defensively and we'll be ok. And not rush our shots.
 
Hornets fall 57 to 50 to NAU. It looked like the Hornets hadn't played a game in 2 months with 20 turnovers and 34% shooting. We were just never in sync. Hopefully, we get our act together soon. We're too good of a team to play this poorly. I figured we could take NAU down there this year.
 
Final: 57-50 NAU win. Katz never had this team ready and was completely out coached. This was an utter embarrassment and one of the many reasons why I don't get excited about this Katz program. The Hornets had a laughable 19 turnovers and the offense was completely unimaginative as it had another poor shooting night.

The only positive is that the Hornet defense settled down and was ok and they started nabbing boards as the game progressed. FT shooting was solid but the overall performance on offense was absolutely deplorable.
 
The Green Hornet said:
Hornets fall 57 to 50 to NAU. It looked like the Hornets hadn't played a game in 2 months with 20 turnovers and 34% shooting. We were just never in sync. Hopefully, we get our act together soon. We're too good of a team to play this poorly. I figured we could take NAU down there this year.
Click to expand...
The sad thing is they completely out coached and out played the Hornets in year 1 of their rebuild. Our lack of depth was very evident as well.
 
I've watched quite a bit of Big Sky basketball over the years and that is a better Hornets team than many.

NAU won because they hit free throws (a rare occasion over the past few seasons), limited turnovers and played better defense as the game went on. Sac State lost because they couldn't take advantage of an excess of talent in the post where NAU is sorely lacking. Hornets offense seemed to bog down once they aren't in transition and the game slows down. Half court offense is not your friend.

Sadly, it was another small crowd on a cold night in Flagstaff. I'm absolutely not a fan of Big Sky teams getting multiple home conference games when students are off campus for break. What little atmosphere is present @ the Skydome is a direct result of the band and the student section. Disgusted with starting conference play in early December then having a few weeks of non-conference games before going back to conference play. Is there a reason for the league doing this?

Keep a bit of faith, Hornet fans. Your team is scrappy and they don't quit. I still say you finish in the top half of the league and above NAU.

-MTJack
 
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