Norfolk State Preview

And back to basketball we go....

BG is in New Jersey to play a tournament in Atlantic City...one that BG should win by the numbers.  We start off with Norfolk State.  Last year, the Spartans were really good, going 22-14 and 14-2, winning their regular season title, and winning @ Alabama in the NIT.  Alas, they lost seven of their top eight scorers from that team and face a rebuilding effort this year.  They were picked 4th in the MEAC by Blue Ribbon this year.

The rebuild has been a little worse than that.  They are 3-9 with all three wins against non-D1 opposition.  In fact, one of their losses is outside D1.  They have a mixture of decent losses and bad losses and are ranked #307 out of 353 on kenpom.

BG played them home and home a couple years ago, winning both games.  The first one, at the Stroh, was perilously close and caused a spasm of angst in the Falcon Nation, as I recall.

Much like Cleveland State, Norfolk State struggles to score.  They average .9 points per possession (D1 games only), which is #329.  On defense, they are below average at 1.03 points per possession, which #216 in country.

When you look at the Spartan offense, you can see why they struggle right away.  They are #320 in shooting and #345 in turnovers.  When you screw those two up, you don't have much of a chance.  They try 40% of their FG attempts from 3FG, which is above the average of 37.7%.  Yet, they make only 26%...#340 in the country.  That's tough.  They only make 47% of 2FGs.  They are good on the offensive boards but are just average getting to the line and they are just average making them.

Flipping it around, they are better on defense.  They are below average defending the shot but average in forcing turnovers and on their defensive boards.  They give up a lot of FTs, though not as many as Bowling Green does.  They allow 33% on 3FG attempts, which is average, but allow 51% on 2FG, which is below average.  BG is #295 in the country on 2FGs.

Their leading scorer is Jermaine Bishop.  He scores 13 PPG on 38% shooting...38% from 3FG as well.  He's a 6'1" St. Louis transfer.

Next is Joe Bryant, Jr.  He scores 11.5 on 43% shooting overall and 40% from beyond the arc, which is decent.  Devante Carter scores 10 PPG on 58% shooting.  He's 6'3",  a JUCO, and came off the bench before starting and logging 36 minutes in their last two games. Also leads the team with 5.2 RPG.

Stephen Whitley is a story.  Uses the most possessions on the team, shoots 40% overall and 19% from 3FG.  He's a 6'3" G and leads the team in assists and turnovers.  Robert Morris transfer.

They are #227 in height...and didn't play Kashaun Hicks in their last game, and he is at least mid-range.

So that's what you have...you can expect BG to go with their smaller lineup again.  This is a game BG should win.  On the other hand, that's probably what UT thought heading into the UMKC game.

BG would face Drexel or Quinnipiac next.