Player of the game: AJ Ferguson
Luke also interviewed Scottie Ebube.
XJ - 18 pts, 4 rbs, 8 assists, 3 steals in 36 minutes
AJ - 15, 5 rbs, 2 blocks in 27 minutes
SE 12 pts, 8 rbs in 16 mins.
CR 11pts, 6 rbs in 13 mins.
TB 7 pts, 5 rbs, 3 assists, 3 steals in 40 mins.
Guy played great D, had three steals, and numerous other deflections that caused turnovers or breaks up plays. Had 7 pts 3 rbs 3 assists. Pretty solid night really.BM with good things to say about Ebube:
Scottie's been sick this week...he's been coming in, putting in extra work, happy for him
Watson talking about how big Trent Brown was tonight?? Really have to wonder what goes thru RW's head sometimes.
BM's reply: he played 40, we're a better team defensively when he's in
(TB played good D for the most part. Offensively, didn't contribute much.)
But 40 minutes? He was 1 for 7 shooting and made 3 FTs. Also, he got beat a couple of times when he had to guard that quicker guard. He should definitely be playing, but on a night when he can't hit, 40 minutes is too much IMO. Thankfully our bigs and AJ scored tonight.
Great team win. Despite shooting an abysmal percentage from deep (despite a lot of open looks) we still won by 10. That doesn’t happen last year. Great defense for most of the night and Ebube really gave us a spark. Let’s go win the next two and setup a big home game against Drake who is currently beating the brakes off the Deadbirds.
So, Ebube is "unplayable" and Trent deserves 40 minutes because "we're a better defensive team when he's in there." 😶
And some of you guys wonder why we question Mullins' judgment??
After taking a breath to think about the 2nd half I thought the team played extremely hard the last 16 minutes of the game first 4 were in my opinion a little lackadaisical also I believe the officiating was one sided as I thought they were feeling bad about ejecting the Belmont head coach whether it was warranted or not I do believe this game was a big step in maturity as they fought thru some adversity not shooting well bad calls etc stayed focused and pulled away for a big victory GO DAWGS
Matchups make a big difference, Ebube can't guard smaller faster bigs. This guy tonight he could, he wasn't overmatched by him. But someone like Avila, he won't play much in that game, he would get blown by on every possession. He did the last time, had 4 fouls in 7 minutes, he can't guard quicker guys. So some games when its a good matchup he will do great like tonight, other games he won't play much at all. Thats how matchups work.So, Ebube is "unplayable" and Trent deserves 40 minutes because "we're a better defensive team when he's in there." 😶
And some of you guys wonder why we question Mullins' judgment??
This team is so easy to root for. It's the most fun Saluki team to watch since the late 2000s. Last year's squad won a lot of games, but it was often painful to watch. This year's team is so much more cohesive offensively.
Amazing what Ebube can do when he's given some minutes.
I still don't understand Trent Brown playing 40 every game. I'd like to see Kennard Davis and AJ Ferguson share the floor a bit, but I can live with it as long as we continue gutting out wins.
This team is tough as nails. Shot horribly tonight and still grinded out a 10 point victory.
Matchups make a big difference, Ebube can't guard smaller faster bigs. This guy tonight he could, he wasn't overmatched by him. But someone like Avila, he won't play much in that game, he would get blown by on every possession. He did the last time, had 4 fouls in 7 minutes, he can't guard quicker guys. So some games when its a good matchup he will do great like tonight, other games he won't play much at all. Thats how matchups work.So, Ebube is "unplayable" and Trent deserves 40 minutes because "we're a better defensive team when he's in there." 😶
And some of you guys wonder why we question Mullins' judgment??
Seriously? Neither Ebube or Rupert could "guard" Dia. He had 25 pts and 7 rbs in 25 minutes. Dia is a way better scorer than Avila. Big and quick.
Matchups make a big difference, Ebube can't guard smaller faster bigs. This guy tonight he could, he wasn't overmatched by him. But someone like Avila, he won't play much in that game, he would get blown by on every possession. He did the last time, had 4 fouls in 7 minutes, he can't guard quicker guys. So some games when its a good matchup he will do great like tonight, other games he won't play much at all. Thats how matchups work.So, Ebube is "unplayable" and Trent deserves 40 minutes because "we're a better defensive team when he's in there." 😶
And some of you guys wonder why we question Mullins' judgment??
I respectfully disagree with everything you just said. 😉
*Avila is NOT quick by any measure. Skilled yes, quick no.
At the risk of offending the Pollyanna Bluebird club, I was not happy that BM only played Ebube 2 minutes in the first half. At one point, Hensley was the 5. Another time D'Amico was the 5.
Meanwhile Ebube sits on the bench with Rupert out due to fouls, and Dia had something like 14 pts. first half.
some people don't understand that logicMatchups make a big difference, Ebube can't guard smaller faster bigs. This guy tonight he could, he wasn't overmatched by him. But someone like Avila, he won't play much in that game, he would get blown by on every possession. He did the last time, had 4 fouls in 7 minutes, he can't guard quicker guys. So some games when its a good matchup he will do great like tonight, other games he won't play much at all. Thats how matchups work.So, Ebube is "unplayable" and Trent deserves 40 minutes because "we're a better defensive team when he's in there." 😶
And some of you guys wonder why we question Mullins' judgment??
I'd guarantee Dia had the vast majority of those points in the 24 minutes Ebube wasnt in the game, he didn't do as much with Scotty in there. But you are correct in that Rupert couldn't guard him, which is why he fouled out only playing 13 minutes.Matchups make a big difference, Ebube can't guard smaller faster bigs. This guy tonight he could, he wasn't overmatched by him. But someone like Avila, he won't play much in that game, he would get blown by on every possession. He did the last time, had 4 fouls in 7 minutes, he can't guard quicker guys. So some games when its a good matchup he will do great like tonight, other games he won't play much at all. Thats how matchups work.So, Ebube is "unplayable" and Trent deserves 40 minutes because "we're a better defensive team when he's in there." 😶
And some of you guys wonder why we question Mullins' judgment??
Seriously? Neither Ebube or Rupert could "guard" Dia. He had 25 pts and 7 rbs in 25 minutes. Dia is a way better scorer than Avila. Big and quick.
Bryan Mullins postgame with Saluki Radio:
https://siusalukis.com/watch/?Archive=7267&type=Archive
AJ Ferguson postgame with Saluki Radio:
https://siusalukis.com/watch/?Archive=7268&type=Archive
Scottie Ebube postgame with Saluki Radio:
I'd guarantee Dia had the vast majority of those points in the 24 minutes Ebube wasnt in the game, he didn't do as much with Scotty in there. But you are correct in that Rupert couldn't guard him, which is why he fouled out only playing 13 minutes.Matchups make a big difference, Ebube can't guard smaller faster bigs. This guy tonight he could, he wasn't overmatched by him. But someone like Avila, he won't play much in that game, he would get blown by on every possession. He did the last time, had 4 fouls in 7 minutes, he can't guard quicker guys. So some games when its a good matchup he will do great like tonight, other games he won't play much at all. Thats how matchups work.So, Ebube is "unplayable" and Trent deserves 40 minutes because "we're a better defensive team when he's in there." 😶
And some of you guys wonder why we question Mullins' judgment??
Seriously? Neither Ebube or Rupert could "guard" Dia. He had 25 pts and 7 rbs in 25 minutes. Dia is a way better scorer than Avila. Big and quick.
Dia is a better player than Avila IMO. Think he had 11 second half when Ebube got most of his minutes.
If Ebube sits on the bench when InSU comes here, we're going to get blown out again. He and Rupert both need to be guarding Avila most of the game. Mullins lost the game here last year by playing D'Amico at the 5 while Rupert sat on the bench for no reason.
