Excellent break down coach. I always enjoy your posts. NSU has not been able to develop the bench this year as I had hoped. They have 4 guys (Longstreet is out with a concussion) that Saul tries and he will typically give 10-15 minutes to whoever seems to be playing the best that night. Usually it is Nhial or Busch. I still think NSU takes too many threes but it was an interesting contrast tonight watching BSU fight for contested 2s and Northern launching from deep. NSU matches up well with BSU as they struggle defending the three this year.
I also thought the late 3 from Reede was strange. I actually looked it up to see if he had made one in the game and was maybe trying to keep some sort of streak alive, but he had already made one.
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Northern has looked good tonight for the most part. I will be very interested to hear what CoachSalscheider has to say about how the Wolves play and how they looked tonight.
Well...since you asked...
NSU is the best team I have seen so far this year. They have size, deceptively quick and fast on the perimeter (if they get to the national tourney, their guards will hold their own in that regard). BSU's Kone is an excellent defender, yet got blown by a couple times by Masten. These same guys are shooting over 40% from the 3-point line, minimum 91 shots. Their quick 3s are bothersome, but I'd give them the green light too if they shoot that well for the year. On the other hand, BSU was never in foul trouble and part of that was the basket was rarely attacked. I know NSU shot well (53%), but really, only 4 offensive rebounds in the entire game? Belka is highly skilled, excellent shooter and works at it defensively, but perhaps vulnerable to fatigue. After hitting his first two 3-pointers, his game seemed to slow down.
Over-all, NSU is a solid defensive club. They guarded the perimeter AND dug down nicely when the ball got to the block (that's the real challenge in basketball to be able to do both simultaneously). NSU had their most problems guarding the elbow flash and drive. Yes, BSU's Sutherland went 12-19 (27 pts), but forced him into 6 turnovers. It looks like NSU's bench is slim (5 starters with at least 32 minutes tonight). BSU's problem is worse. That may limit both teams tournament time. Offensively, most college teams pass and drift, rather than pass and sprint (which makes ball reversals so much faster getting the inside defenders out of position). On several occasions, NSU had great ball reversal and their second cutters were open for lay-ups.
This probably is not worth noting and for most readers, "who cares", but sitting in the stands, I got ticked off. BSU was down 85-63 with 57 seconds left. With a 22-point lead and 17 seconds left on the shot clock, Reede took a 30'+ 3-point attempt. He missed, To me, that seemed arrogant and disrespectful IMO.
Anyway, it was a good entertaining game with both teams making solid runs. NSU had both the first (10-0) and the last (22-12) and a couple more in-between. Congrats Coach Phillips and Wolves. During my day, I always liked and respected the NSC coaches at the time (Bob Wachs and Bob Olson). Looks like the Wolves continue to be in good hands.
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Augustana avenges early season loss to CSP with an easy 86-59 win. Vikings 4 freshmen have grown immensely over the course of the season.Leave a comment:
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Northern has looked good tonight for the most part. I will be very interested to hear what CoachSalscheider has to say about how the Wolves play and how they looked tonight.Leave a comment:
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Cannot remember a game where Viks had less fouls than their opponent. 11 for CSP, 5 for AU. Brady Helgren has his best half in his young career 3pts 5rb, and a big presence around the rim.Leave a comment:
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Might be the quickest game I’ve ever seen over in Bemidji. BSU gets called for their first foul at 3:49 to go in first. Refs letting them play on both ends. Wolves up 36-22.Leave a comment:
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My two games to watch this weekend...
Fri, 5:30 - Upper Iowa @ SMSU
Sat, 3:30 - Upper Iowa @ Sioux Falls
With the South division so compact and these 3 teams in the thick of it, there could be chance for separation if Upper drops both. But if they take 1 or both, that will tee up for the final weekend to have a LOT of "scenarios". In the SMSU game it'll be funto see Cliff McCray guard Jake Hilmer, and in the Sioux Falls game we could see a dual between Hilmer & Cartwright.Leave a comment:
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