Don't_Hate_the_Playa

Cooper beats Campbell County - the margin of victory will be less than CCH/CC primarily because - owing to their game against CCH - CC will be more prepared to play against the pressure and pace of Cooper. Cooper and CCH play the fastest of any schools in NKy. With/without the McNeils Cooper is not a good matchup for CC, a team that prefers to play at a slightly slower pace. With the McNeils Cooper can score/defend better. I like Cooper by 10 in that game.

This.

I think CCH speeds the game up and makes things tough for CC offensively. CCH wins - if Mayer and Ruthsatz continue to shoot well it will be 15+. If not, CCH still wins by 10. CC is a good team - I think they will struggle with CCH's pace of play.

Dixie has great athletes and plays very physically on defense. They aren't blessed with great shooters - they rely on Bradfield inside, scoring off dribble penetration, and transition baskets (Meyer beat the entire Conner team down the court for a layup after a rebound). IMO they will give Cooper and Cov Cath tough games - but unless they turn those teams over will be challenged to outscore them. It's cliche, but DHS will need to win those games with GREAT defense.

Hendrix lives for these games - probably carrying on a running conversation with the Crazies.

Walters for 3...

Make him go right, and when he does be ready to challenge the pull up jump shot.

Is Cooper dictating pace?

They will play again in a few weeks at NKU with even more at stake. Those tickets will go fast too.

The concern's people voice about the program are valid IMO. Conner is VERY talented and capable of winning games through a variety of strategies. They are certainly talented enough to win the 9th region in the next 2-3 years and play in the state tournament. However, they seem to rely a single offensive strategy, or at the very least not employ different strategies when opponents/game situations call for it. The better programs will combine talent, scouting, and coaching to disrupt Conner's offense and force them to make adjustments and/or be more efficient on offense (not waste possessions). If Conner doesn't commit to making adjustments they may never reach their potential - which would be a shame.

I can't imagine a game where Allen only gets 10 shots. Too good a player and scorer to not have more opportunities. Ryle is a physical team - but Allen is very talented and I'm sure has faced this type of team before.

Face guarding and 6A competition aside, Allen should be able to go for more than 14-15 against Ryle. I'm curious to hear more about PC's approach to this game. Allen is a GREAT player.

He doesn't need to make 4-5 Wednesday - just enough to be more efficient than Walter and force CCH to make an adjustment. He is a good shooter - his biggest challenge Wednesday won't be mechanics, it will be shutting out the crowd, staying in the moment, and playing. This is a game that forces youngsters to grow up fast!

It's "the way they play." I doubt it's fixed and think it will hurt them come tournament time. A team like Highlands will force misses, be more patient and efficient on offense, and end up beating Conner going away.

I agree with this and will go so far as to say this game could come down to Walter vs. Walters. If Jake establishes a presence inside the game becomes much simpler for CCH. If Walters can make 3's and draw Walter away from the basket then it will be easier for Cooper to finish. This said, based on their success against Dunbar I could see CCH showing plenty of match-up zone and Jake switching to a lesser scoring threat when CCH plays man. Another key will be how the refs call this one - two very physical and aggressive teams. Have to think the refs let them play - it would be a shame for foul trouble to be the difference. I'd love to see each team's scouting report of their opponent. There won't be any mysteries on Wednesday night.

NOT banner math...the editor probably got a talking to, as well. Great player, though. May be his focus on baseball has scared some schools off. He could light it up at TMC or Mount St. Joes.

Nice win for CCH - this was essentially a home game for Dunbar. Dunbar is a perennial D-II power in Ohio - currently sit at #5 in the state. This type of win shows why CCH will be so tough to beat in a one-game regional/state tournament elimination format.

As a program CCH plays fast and physical - they are very fundamentally sound and look to take shared space at both ends on every possession. When the refs call the game close, CCH encounters foul trouble, isn't as effective defensively, and due to opponent free throws struggles to maintain pace. When the refs let them play, CCH runs right over teams. Sounds like the latter occurred yesterday. That have some talent, too.

Conner had chances in this one - missed some very makeable shots late 3rd/early 4th quarters and then couldn't find enough scoring down the stretch. CC wasn't locked in and sharp tonight - Conner really had a shot to pull the upset but simply didn't finish enough plays.

Cooper basketball - played with a spirit that will not die...

Confidence comes and goes - and maybe he hasn't lost confidence but I don't believe he is shooting from distance all that well. In the games I've watched recently (week leading up to/after holidays - didn't travel to NJ) CVH has been inconsistent from the perimeter - sometimes not releasing the ball quickly enough and leaving his shots short/flat. The last game I watched against Conner he was productive, making 8 FTs, but Ruthsatz was the more effective perimeter scorer. I've always thought CVH was a better mid-range than long range shooter. One man's opinion.

CCH clearly misses Frederick. Ruthsatz has stepped up, but CVH seems to be struggling with his confidence and shot. CCH has a lot of weapons but misses Frederick's ability to create points in situations where sets break down. Right now the strength of CCH is their defense. Once Frederick is back Coach Ruthsatz will need to settle on a scheme/rotation that is more efficient offensively. In the near term, and possibly for the duration, I would expect to see more high/low with Mayer and Walter to get more and better opportunities around the rim.

I really like how Cooper plays (and I've made no secret of that). I am starting to think their win-every-possession style of play contributes to their injury #'s. Remember last year they played in the regional without McNeil, Kunkel, and Hendrix. Not sure how to tell a kid to dial it back - but sometime I wish they'd lose a few more battles so they would be healthy enough to win the war.

Congrats to CC - have to say I was underwhelmed by Woodford County's offense. Part of that was attributable to CC's defense - but WC was missing open looks badly. Not surprising they scored 33 points.

I don't think CC plays fast enough to beat either team. I also feel that Cooper and CCH will defend CC very well on the perimeter and make 5 guys beat them off the dribble. I don't think CC has the players to win that kind of game.