Game Day 20: Bucs vs. Lipscomb

ETSU Buccaneers
Head Coach - Murry Bartow (Alabama-Birmingham '85)
Record: 12-7 (7-1, 2nd A-Sun)
Home Record: 5-0
Record vs. Lipscomb: 25-8
RPI: .5369 (108th)
Team Points/Game: 67.9
Team Points Allowed/Game: 63.4
Team Rebounds/Game: 36.6
Team Rebounds Allowed/Game: 33.9
Team Assists/Game: 11.3
Team Steals/Game: 6.6
Team Blocks/Game: 3.6
Team Total Turnovers/Game: 14
Team Unforced Turnovers/Game: 8
Team Field Goal Pct.: .452
Team 3-Point FG Pct.: .337
Minutes/Game: Mike Smith, 34.2
Points/Game: Mike Smith, 15.9
Rebounds/Game: Isiah Brown, 7.5
Assists/Game: Adam Sollazzo, 4.2
Steals/Game: Adam Sollazzo, 1.47
Blocks/Game: Isiah Brown, 1.8
Turnovers/Game: Mike Smith, 2.7
Field Goal Pct. (Min. 60): Adam Sollazzo, 56.2%
3-Point FG Pct. (Min. 30): Justin Tubbs, 37.7%


Tonight's Opponent


Lipscomb
Head Coach: Scott Sanderson (South Carolina '84)
Record: 10-7 (5-3, 4th A-Sun)
Away Record: 4-6
RPI: .5309 (118th)
Team Points/Game: 77.2
Team Points Allowed/Game: 76.8
Team Rebounds/Game: 38.3
Team Rebounds Allowed/Game: 36.5
Team Assists/Game: 15.5
Team Steals/Game: 7.5
Team Blocks/Game: 2.5
Team Total Turnovers/Game: 16.6
Team Unforced Turnovers/Game: 7.7
Team Field Goal Pct.: .446
Team 3-Point FG Pct.: .317
Minutes/Game: Adnan Hodzic, 31.6
Points/Game: Adnan Hodzic, 19.6
Rebounds/Game: (Come on, GUESS) Adnan Hodzic, 7.9
Assists/Game: Josh Slater, 4.7
Steals/Game: Josh Slater, 2.6
Blocks/Game: Brandon Brown, 0.8
Turnovers/Game: Josh Slater, 3.3
Field Goal Pct. (Min. 60): Adnan Hodzic, 57.8%
3-Point FG Pct. (Min. 30): Jordan Burgasoon, 36%

Being from the greater Nashville area, this is the weekend I look forward to the most on the Atlantic Sun schedule. For as long as I can remember, I have genuinely disliked Lipscomb and Belmont. I'm not really sure why, I just don't like them. I'm entitled to that, right?

The key match-up for tonight will unquestionably be, as it was in both games last year, Zeke against Hodzic. Big Z can't get into foul trouble early in this game, or Lipscomb will eat the Bucs alive in the post. Slater is a very good point guard, but he's prone to taking ill-advised shots more frequently than coach Sanderson would like, so if ETSU can keep the ball to the outside, they should be able to win this one.

The bottom line is that the Bucs can, should, and have to win this game, or a certain group of bears will come in here Sunday looking for a snack... and no, I'm not talking about picnic baskets.