TAMU-CC-XYZ 62, SLU 56: Game Three

The undersized but experienced Islanders of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi upset the Billikens at home in Game Three of the season for both schools.  SLU falls to 2-1.  TAMU-CC improves to 2-1.

The Lineups

The Safecracker continued turning and twisting and listening, trying to find the right combination and hear that click.

Starters:

  • Austin McBroom
  • Ash Yacoubou
  • Davell Roby
  • Reggie Agbeko
  • John Manning

Straight swap of Agbeko in for Lancona at the 4 spot.   Both saw action but neither finished among the leaders in minutes played.

Minutes Leaders (non-starters in Bold):

  1. Yacoubou (29)
  2. McBroom (28)
  3. Roby (26)
  4. Marcus Bartley (20)
  5. Brett Jolly (18)

Bartley and Jolly both had strong games this week in the road win at Indiana St.  Perhaps their added minutes were a reward for that effort.

The Turning Point

Win probability chart: http://kenpom.com/winprob.php?g=655
Win probability chart: http://kenpom.com/winprob.php?g=655

With 5 minutes left there was an 88% probability of a SLU win, but we defied the odds and lost.   Three straight missed free throws mixed with two turnovers and a game-long lead evaporated in two minutes.  You can see the yellow cliff dive.

SLU Player Stats

Numbers from www.kenpom.com
Numbers from www.kenpom.com

 

  • Strong game from Roby, hitting two threes, hitting the boards and dishing out a few assists.  His best game of the three so far.
  • Lancona came off the bench for the first time this year, and responded with his most productive game
  • Agbeko returned to the starting lineup (even though Starting Is For High School(TM)) but did not leave a major mark.  Got on the glass and struggled from the line.
  • Limited minutes for Gillmann (5) & Crawford (8), the first time two guys were under ten minutes in a game.
  • McBroom missed all three of his 3s and was not a major factor in his 28 minutes.  Could be lingering effects from the hard fall in Game One.
  • Manning, Bartley and Jolly played big minutes (by SLU standards) and mustered 3 Rebounds, 3 Turnovers and 6 Fouls among them.

Summary

There was bound to be a bump in the road to maturity.  A team of upperclassmen came and took our lunch money.  One major ingredient missing in freshmen and players growing into their minutes is Poise.  It does not grow in a linear fashion but limps and soars and sputters along until you just have it.  The TAMU-CC guys had it; we are still working to get it.