Conner will travel to Covington on Tues night for senior night for the Dogs.

 

Cougars come in 11-15 after a 54-50 loss to Holy Cross.

 

Holmes comes in 17-9 with two straight losses to Newcath and Boone Co.

 

Thoughts?

After seeing Conner struggle and commit 24 turnovers against Holy Cross on Saturday night, I can't help but to think unless they take care of the ball a lot better then that, Conner will be in for a long night at the Fieldhouse. Add in senior night.

 

Holmes - 74

Conner - 58

As bad as Conner has looked this year they are still extremely dangerous. My money would be on Holmes to win this game, but I honestly can see the Cougars pulling off the win. Holmes will press, but if Conner can break the press they should be able to get easy baskets with their size and speed. Conner actually is really athletic. Conner struggled with the Holy Cross press, but I am hearing that Flesch may have the flu and since he seems to be the only ball handler that can really take its toll. Conner will need to get more people involved and get solid games from Hodges, Robinson, and Flesch. So far this season, Robinson has been the only consistent scorer. THe holmes guards may cause matchup issues. Conner may need to play zone and hope it is an off shooting night for the Bulldogs.

I think it's a myth to think Holmes gets a lot of points and turnovers in the full-court press. Their half-court D is suffocating and they trap well out of it.

I'd be VERY surprised if Conner can go into Holmes and win.

Conner by 3

I take Holmes over Conner by 25 points.

A lot depends on whether there is any discipline handed down over this weekend's happenings. Conner is certainly capable of playing close with any team in the 9th region on a given night.

Holmes may or may not be without 2 senior starters for this game. Both are still with the team but Coach Booher has decided they will have to sit a few games before earning their starting spots back.

 

Not sure whether that suspension will start tomorrow on senior night, or if he will simply sit them the last two games against Ballard and Simon Kenton.

 

I'd be extremely surprised if Holmes won without those two players....without them, you'll likely see the following starting lineup:

 

5'11 soph Quan Palmer

6'0 soph Bj Coston

6'2 jr Charles Knox

6'2 soph Dasean Peterson

6'5 jr Dontel Rice

 

Very young group, but who knows...maybe the quickness and athleticism of those guys force Conner in to an uptempo game that they're uncomfortable with?

Holmes will be without Chris Hayes and Jaleel Gray for this game.

 

Sophomore BJ Coston will start in Hayes' place. Senior Eli Reese will start in Gray's place.

Holmes will be without Chris Hayes and Jaleel Gray for this game.

 

Sophomore BJ Coston will start in Hayes' place. Senior Eli Reese will start in Gray's place.

 

This should be a good chance for the younger kids to shine but I will be surprised if Holmes can overcome the loss of their 2 real penetrators. Rice will have to really step up his game but I don't know where the outside scoring will come from unless Palmer can get hot. This could be good for the team if Palmer and Peterson give them a boost. It will definitely hurt their bench though especially against Ballard Thursday night.

This should be a good chance for the younger kids to shine but I will be surprised if Holmes can overcome the loss of their 2 real penetrators. Rice will have to really step up his game but I don't know where the outside scoring will come from unless Palmer can get hot. This could be good for the team if Palmer and Peterson give them a boost. It will definitely hurt their bench though especially against Ballard Thursday night.

 

Tomorrow night's game will pretty much be a preview of Holmes 2011-2012, with Rice, Knox, Peterson, Coston, and Palmer all seeing a lot of time together. Depth will definitely be an issue. Look for soph Carlos Mullins-Evans, and juniors Jared Martin and Demarco Amison to see a lot of time along with senior Eli Reese.

 

Will be a good learning experience and could develop a little more depth before tourney time.