MBB blows late lead, beats Tulane in OT 86-82

[mat1992 2,231]

http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=289475

https://towsontigers.com/news/2019/12/21/mens-basketball-towson-applies-the-finishng-touch-to-edge-tulane.aspx

Not going to post the comments after the game. Just wasn't worth it. When you blow a late lead for the third time this season in regulation, you expect to lose in overtime. Fortunately, they went small after Juwan Gray struggled to make shots (0-5), Pat Skerry went with Nick Timberlake and a small line up of Dennis Tunstall, Allen Betrand, Jason Gibson and Brian Fobbs. That worked and they made enough shots, including free throws to win.

Last night, Towson struggled from the line, but on Saturday, they made 23 of 26 led by 9-of-10 from Fobbs, who had 24 points. Betrand bounced back from a six-turnover game against Liberty with 18 points and made all six of his free throw attempts. Fobbs also had a team-high 12 rebounds as Towson crushed Tulane on the boards, 44-28.

But the other major story of the day was the play of Nick Timberlake. He had a career-high 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting (3-5 3pt) and had five boars with one key block on 6-7 K.J. Lawson. The Tigers did a great job on Lawson, who had just 4 pts on 1-of-12 shooting. They could stop Teshaun Hightower, who had 33 points on 9-of-15 shooting.

Could have been worse. Could have blown this game completely, against a pretty good team that beat Utah and has a ton of high major transfers led by Lawson (Kansas/Memphis) and Hightower (Georgia).

 

[mat1992 2,231]

One thing to add is that we know it could take one game to get a guy going or he might not feed off of this. But one of the reasons I keep harping on pressing, trapping or trying to push tempo is because we can't rely on our shooters. We are too streaky. We need to get out on transition. Timberlake (Boston Bounce) looks healthy now. He's jumping over guys that are taller than him.  He hit three treys today but he can do much more than that. He can slash, even though he got a very weak charge today. The extra strength allowed him to finish with contact. Betrand as well. 

Even though Gibson wasn't great today (5pts, 1-7 3pt, 1 ass, 1 TO),  he played 27 minutes. He's getting the experience. He managed the game well, but has to be more creative late in the shotclock. I like what Dottin has done and that's become more of drive and dish PG. He also had two steals. But we forced just 8 turnovers in 45 minutes. Sometimes you need to get easier scores esp. late in games. Shooting 9 of 31 from beyond the arc (29%) is not good enough. But 45.8% from the field meant that we went 19 of 28 from inside the arc.

[TSU88 1,070]

We beat Transfer U, er I mean Tulane U, after yakking away a 9-point lead in regulation. As the previous post points out, Transfer U beat Utah earlier this season, so they’re no cupcake 🧁. 

Major kudos to Fobbs with a double/double & clutch foul shooting. I’ve been hard on Timberlake, but I was glad to eat crow today. I hope this was his coming out party. Props also to Betrand, who bounced back from some poor games with a really nice game today.  Gray is a huge disappointment by my way of thinking. Today, he missed multiple wide open 3’s. Don’t know how many points he scored today, & I think he had 3 points yesterday. Sanders with an incredible low basketball IQ play, when he committed a foul, to allow an and-1 3 point play to tie the game at the end of regulation. Also interesting that Dottin barely played in the 2nd half. 

Game should have never gone to OT, but at least we didn’t sulk & quit in OT. 

The real season starts a week from today, with the conference opener, at home vs NE
 

 

[mat1992 2,231]

I think we're trying to force-feed Gibson some key minutes to get used to late-game situations and hopefully it helps in conference play. At least he didn't commit a ton of turnovers (Had just one), but I think he's still trying to figure things out. When to take a three (too many long ones), when to dribble drive and when to play stall ball. We play way too much stall ball and keep away late in games. There's a fine line between trying to manage the clock and playing not to lose. It's fine to work the clock, but you also have to try and score. When you have Fobbs and Sanders on the floor, feed them. They are the seniors. They need to lead. Again, taking Timberlake out was wrong, though Betrand is certainly a better foul shooter. I think that's why Nick didn't play late in the game. Maybe that's why he reluctant to drive sometimes though I know he's a better FT shooter than he's shown.

 

[TuTigers2012 1,061]

“Towson blows lead” we’ve heard that before

”But Towson wins in overtime”. We’ve not heard that one much. 

Good win against a decent team with power 5 transfers. 

[mat1992 2,231]

Also, one thing I forgot to mention is that Spiro mentioned on the broadcast that we are trying to make up that Cornell game with a potential home game in February. Not sure of the opponent yet. And Liberty just beat a good Akron team (top 100 KenPom, 63 Net Rankings) by 13, 80-67. They are legit and might go undefeated in their conference.

[Chris Datres 423]

The mid-major writer at The Athletic had written a week or so ago about how Liberty was undefeated with most of the team back that beat Miss State in the tourney last year but they hadn't really had any proven opposition yet.  I think this weekend gave them a really good case.  It'll be interesting to see what happens in conference this year if their first slip-up isn't until the conference tournament and what the committee would do to them.  But that's 2+ months away.

As for us and today, better 45-minute effort after dropkicking yesterday's halftime lead away.  I'm never going to complain about a win but a few things in the last 5 minutes of regulation really irked me and it's both on staff and players.  We get an 8, 9-point lead and we decide, ok, that's enough, time to pull it out and run clock.  After all of these years of this type of player, why in the world would we want to purposefully run the clock down to 5 and below knowing that the shot that will be attempted is going to be low-quality?  Too many times in those last 5 minutes, I'd hear Gibson for 3 or Fobbs for 3 or whoever for 3.  That's the best we can do?  I said this at the Florida game and it still rings true -- stop letting the shot clock dictate what offense you run.  And in today's case, stop letting the scoreboard dictate what offense you run.  5 minutes left is far too much time on the clock to be pulling it out, especially with how hot Tulane was from 3.  The other thing that bothered me and later found ironic was Spiro saying that Sanders was telling his teammates with about 2 minutes left to play smart.  I was like, 'ok, good, someone is taking some much-needed leadership in this situation'.  And then who commits the STUPID and-1 foul in the final seconds?  Sanders.  It would be nice if we could grow players who have a bit more of a basketball mind and could do the smart thing in crucial situations.

Foul shooting much better (why we won), rebounding great, limiting Lawson to 1 for 14 is pretty damn amazing.  A Florida fan asked me today how we're doing and I couldn't really give him an answer because we do some good things in one game and then we revert back to silly stuff the next.  I know Pat likes to trumpet that we're 7-2 in our last 9 against the A-10 and AAC but we also haven't been playing Cincy, UCF, VCU, and Dayton in those 9 games.  So who knows what the conference season is going to bring.  It kinda feels like we're starting at 0 since we haven't exactly built on wins.  Part of that might be the gap between games this month but I think it also exhibits the inconsistency with this group.  Gotta hold serve at home against NE next Saturday and get this conference season off on the right foot.

[mat1992 2,231]

 

 

 

 

 

 

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1 hour ago, Chris Datres said:

The mid-major writer at The Athletic had written a week or so ago about how Liberty was undefeated with most of the team back that beat Miss State in the tourney last year but they hadn't really had any proven opposition yet.  I think this weekend gave them a really good case.  It'll be interesting to see what happens in conference this year if their first slip-up isn't until the conference tournament and what the committee would do to them.  But that's 2+ months away.

As for us and today, better 45-minute effort after dropkicking yesterday's halftime lead away.  I'm never going to complain about a win but a few things in the last 5 minutes of regulation really irked me and it's both on staff and players.  We get an 8, 9-point lead and we decide, ok, that's enough, time to pull it out and run clock.  After all of these years of this type of player, why in the world would we want to purposefully run the clock down to 5 and below knowing that the shot that will be attempted is going to be low-quality?  Too many times in those last 5 minutes, I'd hear Gibson for 3 or Fobbs for 3 or whoever for 3.  That's the best we can do?  I said this at the Florida game and it still rings true -- stop letting the shot clock dictate what offense you run.  And in today's case, stop letting the scoreboard dictate what offense you run.  5 minutes left is far too much time on the clock to be pulling it out, especially with how hot Tulane was from 3.  The other thing that bothered me and later found ironic was Spiro saying that Sanders was telling his teammates with about 2 minutes left to play smart.  I was like, 'ok, good, someone is taking some much-needed leadership in this situation'.  And then who commits the STUPID and-1 foul in the final seconds?  Sanders.  It would be nice if we could grow players who have a bit more of a basketball mind and could do the smart thing in crucial situations.

Foul shooting much better (why we won), rebounding great, limiting Lawson to 1 for 14 is pretty damn amazing.  A Florida fan asked me today how we're doing and I couldn't really give him an answer because we do some good things in one game and then we revert back to silly stuff the next.  I know Pat likes to trumpet that we're 7-2 in our last 9 against the A-10 and AAC but we also haven't been playing Cincy, UCF, VCU, and Dayton in those 9 games.  So who knows what the conference season is going to bring.  It kinda feels like we're starting at 0 since we haven't exactly built on wins.  Part of that might be the gap between games this month but I think it also exhibits the inconsistency with this group.  Gotta hold serve at home against NE next Saturday and get this conference season off on the right foot.

I can't disagree unless you have a 15 point-lead (five possessions at the most). With the three-point shot and the way they were shooting, icing the game with around 4:00 left was very conservative. If you remember against Buffalo, we got ruffled by the press and made crazy decisions, or just turned it over. This wasn't about turnovers. We broke the press but by the time we got it over, they trapped us. We just passed it back and forth instead of attacked. But I don't mind the patience up 9. I just think you should run something with under 12 secs left, not five so you end up throwing up a 3. Part of that is Gibson's inexperience. I think he's afraid of making a mistake. They were a smart defensive team. They must have drawn at least five charges every time we drove the lane.

[TTiger2024 63]

6-6 before league play starts.  i assume this is the best pre-conf schedule they have had in years....fair to say?  ( i know they were like 8-2'ish a few years ago, but cant imagine they were playin teams like this year).  i had'm at 5-7 when i looked at the schedule to start the year (GW). 

Love Sanders being a beast and attacking the rim, Betrand's game, Tunstall on the glass, and the fact we have multiple VERY good free throw shooters (that will win you an xtra game or 3 !) . But most exciting developments as i watched the "preseason" wrap-up:  (1) Timberlake breaking out a bit v Tulane.  mins + experience = confidence.  he's got the skillz to average double figures, and if he's making the 3ball - he's gonna be more than solid.  (loved the fast break pull-up 15ft'er).  (2) Gibson getting major mins, in crunchtime, early in the season v good teams- has to help down the road (this season and beyond).  I didn't see Four MacGlynn play, but Gibson's range seems as legit.  Love these two guys playing together offensively, and Dottin's defense.  (3) Fobbs > Jame Harden !!!!!   As far as i'm concerned, any shot he takes is a good one.  He plays smooth, and is rarely sped-up by the other team; so when he gets his shoulders squared; he should fire 10times outta 10!    Loved the zone mixed-in; and an overtime win (mental toughness!).  When handed lemons, i have a tendency to make vodka lemonade; but i'm excited for CAA play.  Doesn't seem to be an unbeatable / top team , and then "the rest".  2020 = WhyNot the Tigers?     

Happy Holidays All 

[griggey20 178]

Towson Rated 155 by Ken Pomery with 5 CAA teams within 35 spots.  I am hoping this team built some toughness, got some experience for the newcomers (I include Timberlake as a newcomer) and will continue to get better by March to hopefully put themselves in a place to win a few games in DC.  It will be a great litmus test to play NE to open up CAA play.  

While i would like to be better than 6-6 through the NC season I like the mid major and high major tests they gave themselves and I feel like it will pay dividends.

The league is going to be wide open with a chance to make a statement early. They get NE, Hofstra and  @ CoC to start the season.  it's a shame students are on break, it would be awesome to get a good crowd for for the NE and Hofstra games. 

https://kenpom.com/

Hofstra 134

Northeastern 143

Towson 155

Charleston 157

Delaware 169