Pilchard
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On Wednesday, our Deacs host Dino Gaudio and the #26 L'ville Cardinals. Here is the rundown on the opponent:
The season: The Cards head to Winston tied for first in the ACC with a 8-1(3-0) mark. L'ville owns top 100 wins over #46 Seton Hall by 1, #93 W. Kentucky by 21, #76 Pitt (without two starters) by 10, #43 KY by 3 and #33 VT by 2. #5 Wisconsin dominated the Cardinals by 37 when the Cardinals returned from a COVID by pause. L'ville has played a solid schedule (#52), they haven't played in a week, and Wednesday's game is part of a two-game road trip as they travel to Miami after our game.
The lineup: The Cards started the following 5 in their last game (73-71 win over VT):
6-1 Sr. Carlik Jones (coveted Radford transfer, leading scorer and in assists, 41% from 3)
6-5 So. David Johnson (projected 2021 NBA 1st round pick; double figures in last 7; 46% from 3)
6-5 Fr. Dre Davis (erratic, averaging 5 ppg over the last 5 games, only shooting 26% from 3)
6-6 Fr. Jae'Lyn Withers (redshirted in 2020, brother plays FB for the Packers, rebounding leader, 16 points 12 boards against VT)
6-7 Sr. Samuell Williamson (scored in double figures 3 times; scored 1 point against VT last time out)
Off the bench:
6-8 So. Quinn Slazinski (leads in minutes among bench players, 10 points 4 boards against VT; 23% from 3)
6-4 So. Josh Nickelberry (missed first 5 games, from NC, played a season high 16 minutes against VT, 33% from 3)
6-8 Fr. JJ Traynor (non-factor lately; 2 total points in last 3 games, dad played hoop for L'ville)
Three other players of note:
6-4 Gr. Charles Mineland (sought after grad transfer from U of San Francisco; averaged 15 ppg and 5 rpg last year; injured his knee in pre-season may return as early as Wednesday)
6-11 Fr. Gabe Wintzler (like Carter Whitt, graduated early from HS and enrolled during the season; WF offered; has played in 6 of the Cards' games, non-factor)
6-11 C Malik Williams (only returning starter, had foot surgery in November, not clear when/if he will return)
Analytics: L'ville's strength has been their defense. #22 in the country in defensive efficiency and they have been effective at keeping their opponent from scoring inside -- 44% on opponents 2 point FGs, #1 in the ACC in preventing offensive boards. They employ pack-line principles and do not force a lot of turnovers (#252), but the defense forces the opponent to use the shot-clock (#327 in time of defensive possessions). On offense (#40), they don't shoot many 3s (last in the ACC in % of points from behind the arc), but they attack the basket -- more than 20% of their points come from the line (#3 in the ACC) and they make 53% if their 2 point shots. The Cards play at a slow tempo, as among ACC teams only UVA plays at a slower pace (Cards average 66 possessions a game -- #302).
Bottom line: Chris Mack can coach. L'ville lost 4 starters from last year's team, then lost their lone returning starter before the season started and another key grad transfer to injury. Even so, the Cards are 8-1 (3-0) and have already beaten state-rival KY. L'ville should improve as the season goes on when Mineland and Williams return from injury and as their young players continue to improve. This is a decent match up for WF as L'ville is not huge upfront or deep (#311 in bench minutes). That said, L'ville plays solid D and wins close games as they are 3-0 in games decided by 3 or less. KP projects an 72-64 Cardinal win. Not ready to pick a WF upset, but think that WF is returning to form after the lengthy COVID pause, and as long as WF can keep Jones and Johnson from going off, think the Deacs can hang in until the end. Deacs lose close.
The season: The Cards head to Winston tied for first in the ACC with a 8-1(3-0) mark. L'ville owns top 100 wins over #46 Seton Hall by 1, #93 W. Kentucky by 21, #76 Pitt (without two starters) by 10, #43 KY by 3 and #33 VT by 2. #5 Wisconsin dominated the Cardinals by 37 when the Cardinals returned from a COVID by pause. L'ville has played a solid schedule (#52), they haven't played in a week, and Wednesday's game is part of a two-game road trip as they travel to Miami after our game.
The lineup: The Cards started the following 5 in their last game (73-71 win over VT):
6-1 Sr. Carlik Jones (coveted Radford transfer, leading scorer and in assists, 41% from 3)
6-5 So. David Johnson (projected 2021 NBA 1st round pick; double figures in last 7; 46% from 3)
6-5 Fr. Dre Davis (erratic, averaging 5 ppg over the last 5 games, only shooting 26% from 3)
6-6 Fr. Jae'Lyn Withers (redshirted in 2020, brother plays FB for the Packers, rebounding leader, 16 points 12 boards against VT)
6-7 Sr. Samuell Williamson (scored in double figures 3 times; scored 1 point against VT last time out)
Off the bench:
6-8 So. Quinn Slazinski (leads in minutes among bench players, 10 points 4 boards against VT; 23% from 3)
6-4 So. Josh Nickelberry (missed first 5 games, from NC, played a season high 16 minutes against VT, 33% from 3)
6-8 Fr. JJ Traynor (non-factor lately; 2 total points in last 3 games, dad played hoop for L'ville)
Three other players of note:
6-4 Gr. Charles Mineland (sought after grad transfer from U of San Francisco; averaged 15 ppg and 5 rpg last year; injured his knee in pre-season may return as early as Wednesday)
6-11 Fr. Gabe Wintzler (like Carter Whitt, graduated early from HS and enrolled during the season; WF offered; has played in 6 of the Cards' games, non-factor)
6-11 C Malik Williams (only returning starter, had foot surgery in November, not clear when/if he will return)
Analytics: L'ville's strength has been their defense. #22 in the country in defensive efficiency and they have been effective at keeping their opponent from scoring inside -- 44% on opponents 2 point FGs, #1 in the ACC in preventing offensive boards. They employ pack-line principles and do not force a lot of turnovers (#252), but the defense forces the opponent to use the shot-clock (#327 in time of defensive possessions). On offense (#40), they don't shoot many 3s (last in the ACC in % of points from behind the arc), but they attack the basket -- more than 20% of their points come from the line (#3 in the ACC) and they make 53% if their 2 point shots. The Cards play at a slow tempo, as among ACC teams only UVA plays at a slower pace (Cards average 66 possessions a game -- #302).
Bottom line: Chris Mack can coach. L'ville lost 4 starters from last year's team, then lost their lone returning starter before the season started and another key grad transfer to injury. Even so, the Cards are 8-1 (3-0) and have already beaten state-rival KY. L'ville should improve as the season goes on when Mineland and Williams return from injury and as their young players continue to improve. This is a decent match up for WF as L'ville is not huge upfront or deep (#311 in bench minutes). That said, L'ville plays solid D and wins close games as they are 3-0 in games decided by 3 or less. KP projects an 72-64 Cardinal win. Not ready to pick a WF upset, but think that WF is returning to form after the lengthy COVID pause, and as long as WF can keep Jones and Johnson from going off, think the Deacs can hang in until the end. Deacs lose close.
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