The old saying “there’s no place like home,” will be much appreciated for the next two weeks.
The Georgia College and State University Bobcats return home after a hellacious four game, three-state road trip to play four games on the home pitch in a two week span. The Bobcats stand at 13-4 and 6-1 in the Peach Belt Conference west division, good for first place.
John Carrick and his Bobcats have won six games in a row, most recently defeating Flagler College this past Monday 65-47. GCSU also defeated Montevallo, Columbus State, and Armstrong Atlantic to keep the streak going up to this point.
Well, tonight, the task is arduous, to say the least.
No. 17 Francis Marion will ride into town at 15-2 and 7-1 In the PBC-east.
A talented, athletic, and high octane team on both ends of the floor, GCSU will definitely have their hands full all evening.
The Patriots average 90 points per game, force 35 turnovers, and cause 18.4 steals per outing. FMU also have 11 players who average in double figures in minutes played, along with pulling down 45 rebounds per contest.
So, what’s my point, you ask?
Francis Marion has immense depth, they like to run in transition, press hard on defense, and force teams into as many turnovers as possible. The defense-first mindset is what has propelled the Patriots to an impressive national ranking.
The Patriots are led by junior guard Shannon Singleton-Bates at 15.8 points per game. Next is senior forward Nicole Mealing at 10.9 points. Those are the only two players averaging in double figures in scoring, but FMU has eight players on the roster that put up four or more points each time out on the floor.
Therefore, FMU is a very balanced squad. One thing that tends to get the Patriots in trouble is fouling too much. Francis Marion averaged 26 team fouls per game, showing their aggression and physicality. However, with an 11-man depth chart, there is little worry when having to substitute a player in the game for another.
So, here are my keys to the game for Georgia College:
1) The Bobcats must limit points in the paint and points in transition. Playing solid post-defense will be crucial all evening long by senior center Antoinette Reames and junior forward Tammeisha Law. Whereas FMU can afford to get into foul trouble, the Bobcats certainly can not.
2) Breaking the FMU press will be imperative all evening. Throwing away the ball will not be an option against a team that scores so often as Francis Marion. The Bobcats must get the ball to the middle of the floor when breaking the press and also realize that keeping the dribble alive against the 1-2-2 trap press has to be emphasized.
3) Defensive rebounding will be key in going up against the second-best rebounding team in the conference. Georgia College must limit FMU to one shot and out nearly on every possession.
4) This Patriot team is a dribble-and-drive type gang. The Bobcats must have good help defense on the interior.
5) So what about some offense? Georgia College certainly can not afford to get into a running battle with the Patriots. GCSU must play at their own place, run the offensive sets, and play smart on the offensive ends, not forcing the issue.
Matchups to watch:
-Senior point guard Shandrea Moore of GCSU (8.1 points, 5.52 assists-leads conference) vs. FMU junior guard Robin Colbert (8.9 points, 5 assists-second in conference) ---Both players find their team mates on the offensive end. It will be intriguing to watch how both players defensively match up against one another.
-Reames of GC (12.1 points, 8.2 rebounds) vs. senior forward Precious Tucker (9.8 points, 6.8 rebounds) ---Both players rank in the top 25 in scoring, rebounding, and field goal percentage in the conference. Which person will prevail, both offensively and defensively?
-Junior forward Tammeisha Law (5.8 points, 6.8 rebounds) has the distinct honor of squaring up against Singleton-Bates (15.8 points, 4.1 rebounds). Law’s post defense will be heavily relied upon down low. It’s ok if Law doesn’t score, but she must know where Singleton-Bates is at all times on the floor.
As always, I will be watching the smooth play of junior guard Chimere Jordan for the Bobcats. This young lady has put the team on her soldiers throughout this recent streak. In conference play this month, Jordan is averaging 16 points per game. Her ability to create offense has shown throughout the recent road stretch, as Carrick drew up many isolation plays for Jordan. (Isolation means a 1-on-1 style where no one else is involved). Jordan’s ability to get to the free throw line has been outstanding. On the previous road stretch, Jordan was 17 for 21 from the line at 81 percent.
Tonight is possibly the biggest game for GCSU. FMU is ranked #5 in the southeast region, and Georgia College is close behind them.
Talk to you from the Centennial Center at 5:20 on www.pennatlantic.com. Tonight’s telecast is free, so I encourage you to sign up! This one has the potential to be a classic barn-burner!
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