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| Ezeli's return has been huge for 'Dores |
Everyone who keeps up with SEC basketball knows about the big three in Vandy Basketball. Festus Ezeli John Jenkins, and Jeffery Taylor are the centerpieces of Commodore hoops. Many thought the three would opt for the money and the NBA. There was no big press conference. Their was an announcement by the Vanderbilt Athletic Department saying the three were coming back for one more season. That's the Vandy way of doing things. They aren't flashy. They just do things the old fashioned way, which includes playing fundamentally sound basketball.If there is one team that seems to always be a pain in Bama's side it has to be Vanderbilt. A win over Vandy would put the Crimson Tide in a good way at this point in the season. Alabama is 13-4. Vanderbilt is also 13-4.
Big Man's Return has led to six wins...
Since the return of the big man the Commodores are undefeated. They have lost two overtime games. One was to highly ranked Louisville. The other overtime loss was to Xavier. Festus Ezeli had a coming out party last season. He averaged 13 ppg and 6.3 boards. He is Benin City, Nigeria, and is 6-11 and weighs 265 lbs. An early season he was suspended for six games for accepting a free room at a hotel and meal from a Vanderbilt alumnus. Jeffery Taylor is from Sweden. He is 6-7 and swings between the small forward and shooting guard. He averaging 17 ppg and is hitting 54% from the floor. His running mate at guard, John Jenkins is averaging almost 20 ppg on 48% shooting, and is making 45% of his three point efforts. Bama will have to find a way to slow down the pair. Look for Levi Randolph and Tony Mitchell to draw those man to man assignments. Or could the Tide use the 2-3 zone that effectively shut down State until late? I'd say man to man and run them into the ground?
A must win game for Bama...
After the painful loss to State the Tide comes homes to meet a conference favorite. I think that's good. Bama can get over the loss by concentrating on the Commodores. In order to win Jenkins and Taylor must be slowed down. Ezeli must not be allowed to dominate the glass on defense. The Tide must keep their offensive spacing in order to spread the lane for Releford. On the flip side when that defense collapses Trevor must find someone beyond the arc to shoot the ball. Look for the Tide to shoot better at home than in Starkville. Regardless, the Tide must wear down the Vandy shooters by keeping their number square in the chest of their counterpart on offense. This might be one game where Coach Grant doesn't offer a lot of offside help from the guard.
Vandy has two other player who score in double figures. They can't be ignored. Brad Tinsley and Lance Goulborne. Tinsley is a 6-2 guard from Oregon City, Oregon and is known for his steady ball handling and knowing exactly what his role is on the floor. Gouldborne is one of the NYC ball players who can mix it up. He is 6-8 and weighs 230 lbs. Once again the Tide has some match-up problems inside, but not to the extent that Alabama had with Moultrie and Sidney.
Get one from Vandy and no return trip would be nice...
At any rate this is one of those early must win games for confidence and to start to let the SEC know that they can beat a conference favorite. Remember, the Tide doesn't have have to play the 'dores again, so this is a game that means a lot more than in a round robin league.
Keys to Tide win:
Shoot the ball from the outside at least 40%
Keep Green out of foul trouble - limit turnovers to 10 of les
Contest every outside shot that Vandy shoots
Try to get Festus Ezeli into foul trouble
Create 15 turnovers
Slow down both Jenkins and Taylor by cutting down on touches with time on clock
Big Man's Return has led to six wins...
Since the return of the big man the Commodores are undefeated. They have lost two overtime games. One was to highly ranked Louisville. The other overtime loss was to Xavier. Festus Ezeli had a coming out party last season. He averaged 13 ppg and 6.3 boards. He is Benin City, Nigeria, and is 6-11 and weighs 265 lbs. An early season he was suspended for six games for accepting a free room at a hotel and meal from a Vanderbilt alumnus. Jeffery Taylor is from Sweden. He is 6-7 and swings between the small forward and shooting guard. He averaging 17 ppg and is hitting 54% from the floor. His running mate at guard, John Jenkins is averaging almost 20 ppg on 48% shooting, and is making 45% of his three point efforts. Bama will have to find a way to slow down the pair. Look for Levi Randolph and Tony Mitchell to draw those man to man assignments. Or could the Tide use the 2-3 zone that effectively shut down State until late? I'd say man to man and run them into the ground?
A must win game for Bama...
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| Goulborne and Jenkins are key players |
Vandy has two other player who score in double figures. They can't be ignored. Brad Tinsley and Lance Goulborne. Tinsley is a 6-2 guard from Oregon City, Oregon and is known for his steady ball handling and knowing exactly what his role is on the floor. Gouldborne is one of the NYC ball players who can mix it up. He is 6-8 and weighs 230 lbs. Once again the Tide has some match-up problems inside, but not to the extent that Alabama had with Moultrie and Sidney.
Get one from Vandy and no return trip would be nice...
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| Jenkins can fill it up |
Keys to Tide win:
Shoot the ball from the outside at least 40%
Keep Green out of foul trouble - limit turnovers to 10 of les
Contest every outside shot that Vandy shoots
Try to get Festus Ezeli into foul trouble
Create 15 turnovers
Slow down both Jenkins and Taylor by cutting down on touches with time on clock
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