Game Day 27: Bucs vs. Dolphins

ETSU Buccaneers

Head Coach - Murry Bartow (9th Year, Alabama-Birmingham '85)
Record: 12-7 (7-1, 2nd A-Sun)
Home Record: 9-1
Record vs. Jacksonville:
RPI: .5299 (121st)
Team Points/Game: 68.5 (3rd)
Team Points Allowed/Game: 63.3 (1st)
Team Rebounds/Game: 36.1 (4th)
Team Rebounds Allowed/Game: 33.6 (3rd)
Team Assists/Game: 11.2 (9th)
Team Steals/Game: 6.4 (8th)
Team Blocks/Game: 3.7 (5th)
Team Total Turnovers/Game: 13.7 (T-1st)
Team Unforced Turnovers/Game: 7.8
Team Field Goal Pct.: .459 (3rd)
Team 3-Point FG Pct.: .342(4th)
Minutes/Game: Mike Smith, 34.8
Points/Game: Mike Smith, 17.0
Rebounds/Game: Isiah Brown, 7.1
Assists/Game: Adam Sollazzo, 4.2
Steals/Game: Adam Sollazzo, 1.3
Blocks/Game: Isiah Brown, 1.7
Turnovers/Game: Adam Sollazzo, 2.6
Field Goal Pct. (Min. 100): Adam Sollazzo, .550
3-Point FG Pct. (Min. 50): Mike Smith, .373


Tonight's Opponent

Jacksonville Dolphins

Head Coach: Cliff Warren (6th Year, Mount St. Mary's '90)
Record: 16-7 (10-4 A-Sun)
Away Record: 7-5
RPI: 0.5325 (112th)
Team Points/Game: 68.3 (4th)
Team Points Allowed/Game: 65.0 (3rd)
Team Rebounds/Game: 37.8 (1st)
Team Rebounds Allowed/Game: 34.0 (4th)
Team Assists/Game: 12.4 (5th)
Team Steals/Game: 8.1 (3rd)
Team Blocks/Game: 3.9 (4th)
Team Total Turnovers/Game: 15.9 (7th)
Team Unforced Turnovers/Game: 8.6
Team Field Goal Pct.: .427 (7th)
Team 3-Point FG Pct.: .301 (9th)
Minutes/Game: Ayron Hardy, 33.8
Points/Game: Ayron Hardy, 12.5
Rebounds/Game: Delwan Graham, 6.5
Assists/Game: Russell Powell, 3.0
Steals/Game: Ayron Hardy, 1.9
Blocks/Game: Glenn Powell, 1.1
Turnovers/Game: Delwan Graham, 2.0
Field Goal Pct. (Min. 100): Ayron Hardy, .566
3-Point FG Pct. (Min. 50): Travis Cohn, .379

This contest has all the makings of a classic. You have two teams that really pride themselves on defense. One has a long reputation for lousy shooting, and the other is coming off a really ugly loss. In the event that Belmont wins the tournament, this game could (and likely will) decide which of these two teams plays postseason basketball.

Two players are going to have to step up and deliver tonight: Justin Tubbs and Adam Sollazzo. JT may have been just as well off not playing at all in DeLand, although the ankle doesn't seem to be bothering him too much. Sollazzo absolutely must hit his free throws. Actually, that goes for everyone. In fact, Bartow should implement some sort of disciplinary measure for guys who miss free throws, if he hasn't already.

Defensively, this shouldn't be a tough game for the Bucs - the whole Jacksonville offense runs through Hardy, so shut him down and they'll struggle mightily. But something has to change on the offensive end. JU doesn't give up much from outside, which works to ETSU's advantage, as Sollazzo and Smith both like to drive to the post.

And now... off to the Dome! Away!

Uh... fly!


Uh... oh, forget it. Woosh!