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Friday, December 09, 2005
(Originally posted Thursday night, updated 8:36 a.m.)
VMI 72, Army 63 -- Just when you are ready to say "Hey, maybe Army really is getting better," the Black Knights lay an egg the size of Christl Arena. Three weeks ago, Army went down to VMI and brought back a 53-49 win. This time around, they scored 51 points in one half alone, at home, and got beat by a team that had not beaten another DI team yet this season.
It was deja vu all over again for the Black Knights, who scored only 12 points in the first half, digging a 21-point hole that even the 51-point second half could not help them out of. As an aside, you might be interested in knowing last season Army didn't even score more than 51 points the entire game in nine of its outings.
Army was lucky to have the 12 points it did manage in the first half. They made only three shots in the half (3-26, 11.5 percent -- 1-10 from three-point range).
Even though they shot 50 percent from the field in the second half, Army was never really back in the game. The Black Knights managed to get the deficit down to single digits a few times, but most of the second half VMI's lead was in the teens.
Jimmy Sewell, who started at center early in the season, including the win at VMI, saw his minutes down to 4 against the Keydets this time around. Colin Harris, a 6-6 forward, was the only Army player taller than 6-5 to play more than 10 minutes.
Since these are not Villanova guards we are talking about, the struggles Army is having are probably predictable. The Knights were outrebounded 38-31, a margin that is deceptively close because of Army's 13 offensive rebounds. When you miss 19 three-point tries, there are bound to be a bunch of long caroms that are chased down by the perimeter people. VMI blocked 5 Army shots.
Obviously, this is not a result that shows Army making progress, despite having already doubled its win total against Division I teams from last season.
Matt Bell with 28 to lead all scorers. Bell was 9-20 with 5 treys.
Navy 73, Morgan State 47 -- According to Paul McMullen :
Adding to that challenge, word from Annapolis is that Corey Johnson had knee surgery Tuesday and could be done for the year. Freshman Clif Colbert has been averaging in double figures since Johnson's injury, but the jury is out on how he will fare playing against some of the veteran guards in the Patriot League. Guys like Torey Thomas, Abe Badmus, Alvin Reed and Juco JOe Knight can make life pretty rough for a freshman.
One thing for sure, the Mids will need to figure out how to take better care of the ball. When you have just 6 assists and 20 turnovers in a game you win by 26 points, that raises some red flags.
The Mids got this win with defense. Navy shot only 38.5 percent for the game, a strong second half (50 percent) masking a 28 percent first half that would leave Navy buried against better competition.
On the other hand, if Navy can hold other opponents to 28 percent all night like they did against Morgan State, then the Mids will be very competitive, even when they shoot poorly themselves. It also helps when you get 20 offensive rebounds and hold a 52-25 edge overall on the boards.
VMI 72, Army 63 -- Just when you are ready to say "Hey, maybe Army really is getting better," the Black Knights lay an egg the size of Christl Arena. Three weeks ago, Army went down to VMI and brought back a 53-49 win. This time around, they scored 51 points in one half alone, at home, and got beat by a team that had not beaten another DI team yet this season.
It was deja vu all over again for the Black Knights, who scored only 12 points in the first half, digging a 21-point hole that even the 51-point second half could not help them out of. As an aside, you might be interested in knowing last season Army didn't even score more than 51 points the entire game in nine of its outings.
Army was lucky to have the 12 points it did manage in the first half. They made only three shots in the half (3-26, 11.5 percent -- 1-10 from three-point range).
Even though they shot 50 percent from the field in the second half, Army was never really back in the game. The Black Knights managed to get the deficit down to single digits a few times, but most of the second half VMI's lead was in the teens.
Jimmy Sewell, who started at center early in the season, including the win at VMI, saw his minutes down to 4 against the Keydets this time around. Colin Harris, a 6-6 forward, was the only Army player taller than 6-5 to play more than 10 minutes.
Since these are not Villanova guards we are talking about, the struggles Army is having are probably predictable. The Knights were outrebounded 38-31, a margin that is deceptively close because of Army's 13 offensive rebounds. When you miss 19 three-point tries, there are bound to be a bunch of long caroms that are chased down by the perimeter people. VMI blocked 5 Army shots.
Obviously, this is not a result that shows Army making progress, despite having already doubled its win total against Division I teams from last season.
Matt Bell with 28 to lead all scorers. Bell was 9-20 with 5 treys.
Navy 73, Morgan State 47 -- According to Paul McMullen :
Navy appears hungry and ready to fatten its record.Of course the question is not what will the Mids record be when league play opens, but rather how ready will they be to face league competition, which is definitely tougher than those MEAC, D-3 and Ivy teams the young Navy squad is teething on.
The Midshipmen had runs of 20-2 in the first half and 14-0 in the second to rout Morgan State, 73-47, at Hill Field House last night. It was the second win in four nights over a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference team for Navy, which plays in the Patriot League, and its most lopsided on the road since February 2000.
The remainder of Navy's December schedule includes two Division III opponents, two from the Ivy League and The Citadel. Billy Lange figures to be disappointed if his team (2-4) doesn't have a winning record come 2006.
Adding to that challenge, word from Annapolis is that Corey Johnson had knee surgery Tuesday and could be done for the year. Freshman Clif Colbert has been averaging in double figures since Johnson's injury, but the jury is out on how he will fare playing against some of the veteran guards in the Patriot League. Guys like Torey Thomas, Abe Badmus, Alvin Reed and Juco JOe Knight can make life pretty rough for a freshman.
One thing for sure, the Mids will need to figure out how to take better care of the ball. When you have just 6 assists and 20 turnovers in a game you win by 26 points, that raises some red flags.
The Mids got this win with defense. Navy shot only 38.5 percent for the game, a strong second half (50 percent) masking a 28 percent first half that would leave Navy buried against better competition.
On the other hand, if Navy can hold other opponents to 28 percent all night like they did against Morgan State, then the Mids will be very competitive, even when they shoot poorly themselves. It also helps when you get 20 offensive rebounds and hold a 52-25 edge overall on the boards.
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