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| Devontavius Payne goes baseline against UNCG in the 2017 Southern Conference Tournament Championship Game. |
UNCG (11-4, 2-0) at ETSU (12-4, 3-0)
Preview:
Last March in Asheville, East Tennessee State and UNC Greensboro went toe-to-toe before a packed crowd of better than 6,000 at the US Cellular Arena in the SoCon Tournament Championship game.
Tonight marks the first meeting since ETSU held off UNCG for the 79-74 win, garnering the SoCon's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
For head coach Steve Forbes' Bucs, it was the first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 2010 and first as a SoCon member since 2004.
In this year's Southern Conference race, it once again appears the usual suspects will duke it out at the top of the league for the regular-season and tournament championships. Last year, ETSU and UNCG were part of a three-team tie atop the league's standings at the end of the regular-season for the Southern Conference regular-season title, as both were also joined by Furman in the regular-season Tri-championship.
The Bucs and Spartans have developed a pretty good rivalry on the college basketball hardwood, with ETSU's move back into the league and the success of the Spartans in recent seasons under the direction of Wes Miller.
Tensions between the two were evident last season in both meetings, and the Spartans were able to take both regular-season clashes between the two, but the Bucs won the only one that really mattered.The two first met last season on Jan. 12 of last season at Freedom Hall in Johnson City, with the Spartans taking an 83-79 road win. Tempers flared afterwards between the two teams, and UNCG and ETSU did not shake hands at the end of the contest.
The second meeting between the two took place at the Greensboro Coliseum on the final day of the regular-season, with UNCG needing a win to claim a share of the regular-season title. The Spartans did just that, taking a 72-66 win over the Bucs to set up the drama that would play out in the Southern Conference Tournament a week later in Asheville.
This season, both teams are off to fast starts once again. With UNCG having key pieces back in place this season, the Spartans seem keen on making another run come March, while the Bucs have done what they usually do--reload.
Thursday night's meeting at Freedom Hall will mark the 27th all-time clash between the two conference rivals, with the Bucs holding a 15-11 all-time series edge.
Who To Watch:
For head coach Steve Forbes, he has a team that still improving and learning each others tendencies on the floor, yet it's one with plenty of experience. Like the Bucs' senior-laden starting lineup in 2016-17, which featured four senior starters, the 2017-18 Bucs feature five senior starters in its lineup this season. However, the lone returning from ETSU's march last March is Desonta Bradford (14.1 PPG, 5.6 RPG).
Bradford brings championship experience to the Bucs starting five, and he also is the unquestioned leader of the 2017-18 edition of ETSU basketball. The native of Humboldt, Tenn leads the Bucs in points, rebounds, minutes played, and steals. He is ETSU's "do everything guard." Bradford is having a senior season very similar to that of Karl Cochran back in 2015, when he led Wofford in virtually every statistical category en route to helping the Terriers make a second-consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. Bradford hopes to duplicate that success this season.
In the 85-66 win at Chattanooga last time out, Bradford posted 13 points, four rebounds and dished out three assists in helping the Bucs to the lopsided road win over their arch-rival on the road. With 26 more points, Bradford will reach 1,000 points for his standout ETSU career.
Bradford will team with Jalan McCloud (11.4 PPG, 3.9 APG) and Jermaine Long (3.4 PPG, 1.6 RPG) in the starting guard rotation in the backcourt Thursday night. Like Bradford, McCloud also brings a wealth of winning experience to the fold, having been a part of Texas Southern's run to the NCAA Tournament last March after claiming the SWAC tournament title.
McCloud has really been playing well as of late, highlighted by a 22-point scoring effort in ETSU's resounding 19-point road win at Mercer a week-and-a-half ago. He posted a career-high four triples in the road win over the Bears.
Long is athletic and though he doesn't look to score that often, he is a key part of what ETSU does offensively as a facilitator. But it's probably what he does on the defensive end of the floor as a lock-down defender that makes Forbes grin with delight. He will likely draw the assignment of trying to slow UNCG sharp-shooter Francis Alonso this evening.
The front court has also been impressive this season for the Bucs, and it was no more apparent than the most recent SoCon Player of the Week citation being issued to ETSU center Peter Jurkin. Jurkin, a seven-foot transfer center from Indiana, spent most of last season on the bench with an injury. He has made the most of that rehab time, as well as his won appeal to the NCAA for an extra year of eligibility. Jurkin is coming off a monster game in the win over Chattanooga, posting 15 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks.
Jurkin is arguably the SoCon's best rim-protector, entering tonight's matchup against the Spartans ranking second in the SoCon in blocks (1.5 BPG) and ranks fifth in the SoCon in field goal percentage (57.3%). However, the most impressive stat about the seven-foot center is his free throw percentage. His 88.6% clip at the line this season ranks him second behind only Wofford's Fletcher Magee in free throw percentage this season. Jurkin has connected on 39-of-44 attempts from the charity stripe this season.
Rounding out the starting five for the Bucs will be 6-6 athletic senior forward David Burrell (6.9 PPG, 5.3 RPG). Burrell is a high-wire act waiting to happen with his athleticism and leaping ability. Despite his struggles this season, Burrell can be a threat from beyond the arc.
Off the bench, keep an eye on guard Devontavius Payne (9.4 PPG, 2.7 RPG) and newcomers Bo Hodges (8.7 PPG, 3.1 RPG) and Mladen Armus (5.4 PPG, 5.1 RPG) in the post. Forbes recently called Armus, a native of Belgrade, Serbia, the best defensive post player he has ever coached. Armus is extremely efficient and is a player that reminds me a lot of Furman junior post Matt Rafferty.
UNCG counters with a talented backcourt, led by one of the top shooters in the Southern Conference--Francis Alonso (18.4 PPG, 2.2 RPG). Alonso had a chance to potentially send the SoCon title game to overtime in last season's championship game, however, his shot hit the back iron and caromed out. It was a shot that Alonso is normally a lot less forgiving on during a defensive lapse.
The junior guard and native of Malaga, Spain has been among the league's leading scorers all season, currently ranking third in the SoCon in scoring. His 57 three-pointers made this season ranks second to only Fletcher Magee of Wofford, who is among the nation's leaders with 72 trifectas. He helped the SoCon to one of its most prestigious wins earlier with this season, with a team-leading 17 points in the Spartans' 81-76 win at NC State. It was just the third win in 62 tries against ACC competition for UNCG.
Alonso teams in the UNCG starting backcourt backcourt with Demetrius Troy (6.5 PPG, 1.6 RPG) and Marvin Smith (10.9 PPG, 4.7 RPG). Troy is a quick, smart point guard that is a great facilitator for the Spartans, and is also exceptional on the defensive end of the floor, ranking second on the team with 20 steals so far this season.
Smith is the glue guy for the Spartans. He is the Daniel Fowler or Demetrius Denzel-Dyson of UNCG if you will. He is athletic, long and good on the defensive end of the floor. The success that UNCG has or doesn't have tonight in its trip to Johnson City might depend on what kind of game the senior from Richmond, Va has on both ends of the floor this evening. He could draw the tough assignment of guarding ETSU's Bradford.
Underneath the basket, the Spartans will employ the services of senior and experienced Dutchman Jordy Kuiper (5.9 PPG, 5.5 RPG), as well as sophomore sensation James Dickey (8.7 PPG, 8.6 RPG). Kuiper is a player that favors a more European style of game, meaning he is a threat from beyond the arc as well as in the paint. Kuiper is shooting 33.3% (17-of-51) from long range this season, and is enough of a threat to stretch ETSU defensively he makes a shot or two from long range.
Dickey took the conference by storm last season, with his athleticism, leaping and ability to crash the boards. He might be the most active player on the floor at any given time, and is one of the quickest leapers in the SoCon. He continues to lead the SoCon in rebounding this season, averaging grabbing 8.6 caroms per game, while also leading the SoCon in blocks, averaging 2.2 swats-per-game this season.
Off the bench for the Spartans, keep an eye on electric freshman guard Isaiah Miller (7.1 PPG, 2.1 RPG) and 6-8 sophomore forward Kyrin Galloway (5.5 PPG, 4.5 RPG). Both have been brought energy off the bench this season for the Spartans, particularly Miller, who hails from Newton High School just outside of Atlanta, GA--the same prep program that produced 2016 Southern Conference Player of the Year Stephen Croone from Furman---and the young 6-0 guard might just be the best finisher above the rim in the SoCon.
Overall, both teams played very well on the defensive end of the floor. The Spartans and Bucs rank No.1 and No.2 in the league in scoring defense and field goal percentage defensive, respectively. But this game will come down to the atmosphere inside Freedom Hall. It should be electric tonight and will be enough to help ETSU move to 4-0 in Southern Conference play.
Final Score Prediction: ETSU 68, UNCG 62
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