Providence -10 over Niagara *
I think a lot of people are leaning towards the Purple tonite.I think they could be in trouble.This is not lyr's team.Darden and Reaves are big time losses.Thats 3,000 pts and 1500 rebounds missing.Lyr was the year they had to do it to win the MAAC.Manhattan lucked out and won.Purple did go to the NIT's.
Cruz and Miles are both pt gds.Miles will play the 2 since he can hit the 3.But Brooks plays both g/f and is there best shooter.But he's 6'3.Think Mihalich has to put him out on the wing tonite vs Friars 2-3 zone.Cruz and Miles are 6'1 and 6'0.Duffey the 6'7 fd also plays outside but lyr he avg a few pts a game.Mathis is a 6'6 reserve who is raw.That leaves Mendez the best power fd in the MAAC.He is a wide body Wesely Unseld type.[boy I'm dating myself there] Inside Juan is almost unstopable.But he has no range.He needs to get the ball in the paint and powers it up.He avg 20 pts and 8 bds.Was 21 in the nation in scoring and 42nd in bds.
But tonite Juan is by himself. Prov front line has 6'8 Gomes,Kotti 6'8,Hanke 6'10 and Hill 6'9.Gomes gave up NBA tryout and worked all summer on shooting and strength.Kotti has been avg but his wing span will cause problems.Hanke is the 6'10 lefty frosh who has a wing span even longer then Kotti's.Hill is the red shirt who shows promise.Thats 4 guys in the paint tonite and Gomes can go outside anytime and stick a 3.
Frontline of Prov will give the Purple problems.
McGrath the upstate NY kid is the 6'4 pt gd with that crazy headband.He can shoot and pass.Brewington is the 6'5 soph who everyone thinks will breakout this yr.
Timmy is replacing 3 starters and has a young team.Douthit and Kabba.
Tonite Tim will play his 2-3 zone.Overplay Brooks so he doesn't get his jumpshot off.Stop Mendez in the middle.Niagara had trouble vs zones lyr.Fairfield threw a 2-3 at them and they couldn't score.St Peters did the same.
Not a big play.Tim knows the MAAC since he coached at Iona .
Niagara lyr was 4-2 ats away dog.Prov was 5-9 ats at home.They played Siena another MAAC team and only beat them by 7.Also they beat Central Conn by 5.
One of the top players to play for Niagara HS lyr was Parmer.He opted to go to Prov.Not sure if he will get any light tonite.
Game is on ESPN. Hate going against Purple.That's why only playing one *box
Be back later with Iona-Blue Jays