Princeton -2.5!
Can we win at home when favored???
Trailing 29-32 at the half. Merrimack’s zone caused a lot of TOs early on, but the silver lining was 10 offensive rebounds (!!). They seem to have settled in, but Merrimack has won 3 in a row and no one but Hicke can make their open shots.
We really, really, really, really need Davis back. Five close losses in a row and possibly a 6th on the way. With just a few more buckets per game, we’d be on a 5-6 game win streak.
Happy and Huggins both open in the lane, but don’t really have the moves to score consistently.
Brief lead, then complete offensive stagnation.
Without Davis, they don’t have anyone to get them a bucket when the opposing defense bears down.
At this point, it’s scarcely worth watching the games. It always comes down to the same problems and we lose a close one.
I love Abdullahi’s defense.
11-0 run to retake the lead but now Merrimack looks like they’re ready to close the game on a run.
Tough miss by Abdullahi.
That makes SIX nailbiter losses in a row! You just gotta laugh at this point.
They just don’t have enough offense without Davis. Two more buckets per game (or 2 fewer TOs) and they might be on a 6-game win streak. Instead, they’re on a 7-game losing streak.
Season from hell continues. Get well soon Dalen.
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I thought he got bumped but you seldom get a whistle in the final 10s. He was great though, especially on the offensive boards and making all 6 of his FTs.
Man, I really feel for the players. Every damn game it’s the same story. Scratch and claw. Come back from deficits. Never give up. Then fall 1-2 buckets short without your lead scorer and ballhandler.
Lather, rinse, repeat.
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In this game the inability to finish from in close if contested at all was the biggest issue. Getting your shots blocked so often and just flat missing against a short team like that is not encouraging. I would have been happy if they had “settled” for a few more treys against the zone and am almost at the point where I would say that the analytics don’t apply to this team–they might be better off with open mid-range looks than trying to get all the way to the rim. Or they could miraculously improve on their close-in finishes.
This was one of the few games where the perimeter defenders looked like they were getting outquicked a lot by dribblers. Merrimack played a lot of guards against the Tigers’ forwards, which might have something to do with it.
Agree on all points.
Huggins 2 for 11, all around the hoop, and similarly Abdullahi 1 for 5.
Abdullahi has the strength and hops to learn how to finish stronger.
I don’t think Huggins can get any better around the rim. I don’t think he played enough playground ball against guys his size or bigger, to learn the tricks of ball protection and sneaking the ball up to the rim.
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Three point shooting is also problematic:
Hicke 42%
Stanton 38%
Happy 37%
Davis 33%,
Then a dropoff:
Clark 29%,
Seals/Abdullahi/Hammond 3 for 34.
Without Davis in the lineup, generally only two shooters to guard at any time, and if one of them is Happy, no one down low. I wonder if Abdullahi should be paired with Happy.
Hicke likes to work the low post, and does so very well, but doesn’t have the vision to kick it out when doubled.
I hope Davis comes back with an enhanced shooting touch.