The Crosstown Shootout

[Anti-Homer]

Unfortunately,

I think the sheer domination of X winning the last 5, 9, out of 11, and even winning the majority during the felonious decade during Otis’ Campbell’s Folsom County Prison Teams, when the Bloods and Crips comprise 27% of the season ticket holder’s base, means the law of averages has to be on UC’s side. The dominance lies somewhere between the Harlem Globetrotters vs the Washington Generals, and Ryan Day vs Michigan. I have seen UC play parts of2-3 games but know their personnel through the years. They definitely have the better team this year, but X has the better coach, culture, and legacy since the Stone Age, the last time UC lead in the series.

PG: Tie. McKnight is an excellent 3-point shooter, a good defender, and elite at taking care of the ball. James is also a very good defender, avg. low-volume three-point shooter, but very creative with the ball in his hands. He will drive in the lane and shoot a bunch of 10-foot jumpers. I expect him and Mitchell to dominate for UC tomorrow.

SG: Tie: Conwell is a much better three-point shooter, but Skilling has 3 inches on him and is explosive going to the lane.

SF: Foster, Lukosias: Lukosias has the edge because he is a very good three-point shooter. His vulnerability is on D, bc he is not a very good athlete. Foster is deliberate but has a quickness advantage. He will have to hit from 3 and mid-range because I think they’ll make him hit a couple before guarding him closely. If he can do so, he can then, hopefully, drive by Lukosias.

PF: Swain vs Mitchell. Mitchell has the edge. They are equally athletic, but Mitchell has a nice game 10 feet and it, with a lot of different post moves. He is also a very good defender and rebounder. Swain is simply a downhill bucket getter. He makes CJ Anderson look like Steph Curry with respect to range. Mitchell will back off, daring Swain to shoot from the outside, clogging the lanes even more. If Swain doesn’t come out aggressively, hopefully, Hunter logs some of his minutes.

Center: Free vs Bandago. Free is a much better offensive player, and though Bandago is better on the defensive end, I give the edge to Free.

Bench: UC: Bigger, and with quality depth all positions. For X, with Green out, they only have two productive bench players. Sean Miller is a far better coach, but Wes Miller is a better recruiter. He has crushed it in the portal, one of the few things Miller can learn from him.

Intangibles. X obviously can’t get into foul trouble. UC will try high pick-and-roll alley ooops about 10 times tomorrow. They will also clear the lane and let Jizzle James go to work. Free should hang back when Bandago sets a pick at the elbows and dare him to shoot a 12-footer. My biggest fear is Free getting into foul trouble. I hope and suspect Miller sprinkles in some ozone tomorrow.

X has to take care of the ball. UC has long, athletic players, and will pressure X full, ¾, and in the half court, as several teams have shown X struggles in that area, which is a mystery to me.

X has to hold its own on the boards. I think UC scores a lot on offensive rebounds.

UC doesn’t shoot free throws well, so if close at the end, X can put them on the line.

I have picked X in the last five Shootouts, However, though UC wins about as often as we see cicadas in OH, and this is UC’s annual Superbowl, so I predict a final of UC, 77-69.

[skyhops]

This team is small and unathletic. Can’t beat anyone off dribble.

[Kevin Reilly]

Need some offense. Everyone seems tight. Terrible fouls by McKnight and Conwell. Freemantle is aiming his wide open three point shots. He needs to shoot with confidence. Need to be aggressive with the ball.

[Kevin Reilly]

LOl Freemantle didn't hesitate and drilled his three. Freemantle came to play. Hugley looks like he can't reach the rim. Conwell and McKnight need to step up. Both look a step slow especially Conwell. Winnable game if we stay out of foul trouble.

[skyhops]

This refs are awful. Thank goodness for big frosty.

[Kevin Reilly]

Love to see Swain driving to the basket. Conwell is really struggling.

[Kevin Reilly]

We are playing very good defense. Bearcats are shooting 29%.

[Kevin Reilly]

Need to get Fremantle more touches and much better entry passes. Hunter with some much needed hustle plays. Need for McKnight to see the ball go thru the basket.

[Kevin Reilly]

Foster with some slow defense. We need couple more good plays. Starting to look tired.

[Kevin Reilly]

Hard fought game but we kind of ran out of steam down the stretch. Swain didn't get a rebound the entire game including not blocking out on a foul shot that resulted in a Cincinnati put back in the last minute. Foster was terrible on defense in the second half. A game we should have won but too many turnovers and missed chances .