^^ I believe Cooper rotated several guys on Bolden in their last matchup and they held him in check (for Bolden standards). It's been a frustrating year for big Lou with an ankle injury and then the rib injury many didn't know about. But, it's time for the big man to step up as he did last year in the regional. It's time for the guards to give it to him and Shelton down low so it will open up the three plus likely get Holmes' bigs in foul trouble.

 

The last meeting Morgan picked up his dribble way too early on the press so he has to keep it alive even if he goes backwards until more help arrives. This game will be low scoring and I think it will be close one way or the other. Cooper hasn't had back-to-back bad shooting games all year that I remember.

 

I look for AJ to hit his three's and I HOPE McNeil doesn't forget he can take over a game if needed and drive the lane and get to the line if nothing else.

 

I hate that I will miss this game but 83 degree's in Phoenix was too much to pass up. Good luck Jag's!!!

Ttt... Two of the top 3 teams in the region and this falls to page 2???

 

:laugh:

 

Ha....you slay me Walter.

Ttt... Two of the top 3 teams in the region and this falls to page 2???

 

Sorry Walter, the attendance Thread for the 9th has 3 times as many posts and 5 times as many views. LOL--go figure.

Well there is Zero pressure on Cooper. Depends on which team shows up whether it will be a game or not. I will say this, if the team that played Holmes earlier in the year shows up this will be more than the game that most people are predicting (ie. a blowout). The game against St. Henry marked the first time all season that Cooper did not make a 3 point basket and was the lowest FT % on the year as well. I would like to think that McNeil, Collins, and Holland are not going to have another O'fer nite behind the arc again but anything is possible at the BOKC and with HHS's defense. I will agree with HJA1224 in that if Cooper for the 1st time all year plays inside out with it's BIGs it might pose a problem for them in terms of fouls and potential made 3s if 22, 31, and 12 are hitting. One small difference I saw in the NCC/HHS game in the 4th qtr is that NCC relied exclusively going down low to McDonald in the 4th qtr and I think Cooper can call on all 3 of it's BIGs for scoring. After the poorest performance of the year by the Jags I certainly don't expect another lackluster performance again but you just never know with this group. It for sure isn't coaching!

 

Bolden will get "his" and will bring more "oooooo's" and "ah's" to everyone's delight because there is NO ONE in the 9th, and probably very few in the State, that can contain him. The one person that concerns me the most is Englemon. He is playing unreal and cleaning glass like a Windex Man. If Cooper doesn't box out it will be a very very long day for the Maroon and Gold.

 

As I said, the pressure is on Holmes. Cooper is just a 5th year school that is not supposed be in this position and they aren't supposed to win. Kinda like what most said about the football team....but that's another thread lol. Good luck to both teams as it will be fun to see the former AAU teammates to go at it one last time. Whoever wins this one is the one I'll be pulling for to make it to Rupp.

It's always fun to play "armchair quarterback".

I don't think that I'd guard Bolden full court. Gives him more of a chance to get by you. I'd pick up a step out from the 3pt line, (try to) keep him from getting into the lane. He made 2 threes in his game tuesday.

Cooper needs to win the boards (not an easy thing to do vs. Englemon). They have to get their work done inside initially.

I expect McNeil to have a big game.

If I am Cooper, I guard Bolden man to man full court all night. Cooper has the depth to do that. Try to wear him down and take away his legs by the 4th quarter. Sub for the guy who is guarding Bolden every 4 minutes or so and keep intense pressure on him. I also would do what NCC did in the 4th quarter and double team Bolden in half court and force him to give up the ball or work hard for everything. I pound it inside to get Holmes interior players in foul trouble. Cooper has to make it a low scoring game to win IMO. They just don't have the shooters to get into a shoot out with Holmes or an up tempo game.

 

I agree with everything but this. You can't guard him full court... gives him too much space to work with. Just face guard in the half court and be physical as the stripes are allowing you to be on every cut and drive...throw the double at him sporadically... Slow it down... Pound it inside to you size advantage... Hope your bigs finish strong...

 

If I was Cooper, that would be my plan.

This figures to be a low-scoring game. Something like 42-36, maybe even in the 30s for both teams. Fewer baskets made at NKU than in home gyms, so why would the teams score more than the first game (50-44, I believe). For whatever reason, Holmes playing better on the road than at home this year. Cooper's D is good enough that they won't do much different from what they did the first game, which I saw. Whether they'll be able to generate much offense is the larger question. In order to beat Holmes, keep 'em off the free-throw line in the second half. Easier said than done. Also, one additional point that I haven't seen yet on this thread or the NewCath vs. Holmes thread: Mike Listerman's presence on the Holmes bench is very significant.

Cooper did a pretty good job of D on Bolden in the first game. My guess is they will try to defend the same way until it doesn't work before selling out and face-guarding.

This should be relatively a close game. Cooper shot horrendous in their first regional game, so it can only get better with shooters such as McNeil and Collins. Sully does a great job of getting his players ready to go especially against the Bulldogs. I think Holmes will pull away towards the end and win by 6 to 10 points, however if McNeil and Collins are hitting and Cooper gets a good performance out of Big Lou it's going to be a dog fight!

Well there is Zero pressure on Cooper. Depends on which team shows up whether it will be a game or not. I will say this, if the team that played Holmes earlier in the year shows up this will be more than the game that most people are predicting (ie. a blowout). The game against St. Henry marked the first time all season that Cooper did not make a 3 point basket and was the lowest FT % on the year as well. I would like to think that McNeil, Collins, and Holland are not going to have another O'fer nite behind the arc again but anything is possible at the BOKC and with HHS's defense. I will agree with HJA1224 in that if Cooper for the 1st time all year plays inside out with it's BIGs it might pose a problem for them in terms of fouls and potential made 3s if 22, 31, and 12 are hitting. One small difference I saw in the NCC/HHS game in the 4th qtr is that NCC relied exclusively going down low to McDonald in the 4th qtr and I think Cooper can call on all 3 of it's BIGs for scoring. After the poorest performance of the year by the Jags I certainly don't expect another lackluster performance again but you just never know with this group. It for sure isn't coaching!

 

Bolden will get "his" and will bring more "oooooo's" and "ah's" to everyone's delight because there is NO ONE in the 9th, and probably very few in the State, that can contain him. The one person that concerns me the most is Englemon. He is playing unreal and cleaning glass like a Windex Man. If Cooper doesn't box out it will be a very very long day for the Maroon and Gold.

 

As I said, the pressure is on Holmes. Cooper is just a 5th year school that is not supposed be in this position and they aren't supposed to win. Kinda like what most said about the football team....but that's another thread lol. Good luck to both teams as it will be fun to see the former AAU teammates to go at it one last time. Whoever wins this one is the one I'll be pulling for to make it to Rupp.

 

The only way there is no pressure on Cooper is if they don't care about winning. When you know your season is one and done, there is pressure.

I agree with everything but this. You can't guard him full court... gives him too much space to work with. Just face guard in the half court and be physical as the stripes are allowing you to be on every cut and drive...throw the double at him sporadically... Slow it down... Pound it inside to you size advantage... Hope your bigs finish strong...

 

If I was Cooper, that would be my plan.

 

The goal is to make him work non stop and wear him down. No walking the ball up court. No resting at any time on the court. It isn't about this strategy stopping him, it is about wearing him down.

The only way there is no pressure on Cooper is if they don't care about winning. When you know your season is one and done, there is pressure.

 

You're missing my point. By pressure I am stating that 90% of the people outside of Cooper believe they have no chance in this game. That has nothing to do with the players and staffs' mindset. Sully will have them ready to play with the expectation they win this game and if it is kept under 50pts like the majority of their games this season this team has a shot because one thing this team has proven that they WILL play is defense.

 

If either Collins or McNeil goes for 20 and the other along with one more player, preferably a BIG, is in double figures, the Jags take this game. Just my opinion.

The goal is to make him work non stop and wear him down. No walking the ball up court. No resting at any time on the court. It isn't about this strategy stopping him, it is about wearing him down.

 

I understand what you're saying. I just think that even if you guard him full court the whole game and don't let him rest, then by the time the 4th quarter rolls around, you might be staring up at a 15 to 20 point defecit... Full court pressure on someone that quick and good with the ball is asking to get beat to the basket every possession.... It's hard enough for them to keep him in front of them in the half court, nevertheless giving him the whole thing! Just my opinion anyways...

Cooper won't double Bolden...Holmes got easy baskets when Newcath tried to do this and I'm sure Sully took notice. Cooper will do what they've done all year. Play tough man to man defense and grind it out on offense. Worked all season. Sully isn't going to stray away from it now.

 

Bottom line, whoever makes shots wins.

 

I do like Holmes' chances a little better though with them being able to spread Cooper out and implementing a similar game plan as we seen in the Newcath game.

I know the smart money would be on Holmes (just a figure of speech), But how many of you would have predicted that Bullets East would have only scored 33 points against PRP. Anything can happen. Cooper has the horses to win this race and with Sully as the jockey I think they will. 53 - 47

 

Go Jags.

Edited March 2, 201313 yr by True blue (and gold)