Pilchard
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On Saturday afternoon at the Joel, WF hosts the G-W Runnin' Bulldogs coached by Tim Craft.
Fun fact: Craft followed Chris Holtmann, who left G-W in 2013 to coach Butler, as head coach for the Runnin' Bulldogs; Holtmann stayed at Butler for 3 years before replacing Thad Matta at Ohio State; Holtmann now pulls in $7.1 million per year at tOSU. Nice career progression for Holtmann. Craft did not play college hoop (he went to Florida). He started coaching JV hoop in Florida in 2000, got a HS gig the next year, then an assistant's job in JUCO, then a graduate assistant post at Auburn, an assistant at G-W and then ECU (under Jeff Lebo). This is Craft's 6th season as head coach; over that time, G-W has road wins at Clemson (WF has none in the last 9 years), GT (WF has none in 14 years), Purdue and Nebraska. Last year was Craft's only losing season at G-W, but they are poised for a bounce back season this year as KP projects G-W to go 19-12 (10-6 in the Big South).
Record: KP #180 -- The Bulldogs are 9-5 and are riding a 7 game win streak (3 of those wins are over non-D-1 teams). G-W's best win was a 10 point road victory at GT (#101). G-W lost their first 3 games, all on the road, to #74 VCU by 12, #9 VT by 28 and #102 Furman in OT. They are 3-3 on the road; their current strength of schedule is #309, and this is their last OOC game of the season.
Offense: Team strength. G-W is #121 on offense, and they shoot the ball well: 54.5% from 2 (#69) and 37% from 3 (#61); their effective FG% is a strong 54.9% (#45). G-W does not turn the ball over much (#82), and they play at a slow tempo (#274). G-W is small (#348 in average height); they do not offensive rebound well (#255). They seem like a smaller slightly less talented version of Davidson.
Defense: Weak. GW is #274 on D. As stated above, they are small, and are a poor rebounding team (#324 in preventing offensive rebounds; opponents grab 34% of missed shots when G-W is on D). They do pressure the ball reasonably well forcing TOs on 21.3% of their opponents offensive possession (#70), and they don't foul a lot (#66 in FTA per FGA). They play both man and zone.
Lineup: G-W typically plays no one taller than 6-6. Starting: 5-10 Jr. Christian Turner, 6-2 Sr. David Efianayi, 6-4 So. Nate Johnson, 6-5 Fr. Jose Perez and 6-6 Sr. DJ Laster. All 5 starters shoot 36% or better from 3; Johnson (43%) and Efianayi (43%) are the Bulldogs biggest threats from deep, but G'W is not overly reliant on the 3 (30% of their offense comes from 3s - #201). The first two off the bench are 6-0 Jaheam Cornwall and 6-5 Eric Jamison. G-W has no JUCO or college transfers. Every player on the G-W roster enrolled at the school as a frosh, unusual in this day and age of college hoop. G-W scoring is balanced. In the win over G-T, Laster was the leading scorer with 25 (his high game). Despite being located in Boiling Springs, NC, none of G-W's contributing players are from NC.
Bottom Line: At #180, G-W is ranked just ahead of Richmond (#192 -- who beat WF by 10) and just behind Cal State Fullerton (#172 -- who WF beat by 7). KP expects this game to be close: 75-69. For WF to win, the Deacs will need to use their size advantage to control the paint, and to pound G-W on the offensive glass (WF is #74 in offensive rebound %). G-W is well-coached and experienced, and has already won an ACC road game (as many as WF has in the last 21 months). Feel like WF is marginally improved, and will pull out a close low-scoring win.
Fun fact: Craft followed Chris Holtmann, who left G-W in 2013 to coach Butler, as head coach for the Runnin' Bulldogs; Holtmann stayed at Butler for 3 years before replacing Thad Matta at Ohio State; Holtmann now pulls in $7.1 million per year at tOSU. Nice career progression for Holtmann. Craft did not play college hoop (he went to Florida). He started coaching JV hoop in Florida in 2000, got a HS gig the next year, then an assistant's job in JUCO, then a graduate assistant post at Auburn, an assistant at G-W and then ECU (under Jeff Lebo). This is Craft's 6th season as head coach; over that time, G-W has road wins at Clemson (WF has none in the last 9 years), GT (WF has none in 14 years), Purdue and Nebraska. Last year was Craft's only losing season at G-W, but they are poised for a bounce back season this year as KP projects G-W to go 19-12 (10-6 in the Big South).
Record: KP #180 -- The Bulldogs are 9-5 and are riding a 7 game win streak (3 of those wins are over non-D-1 teams). G-W's best win was a 10 point road victory at GT (#101). G-W lost their first 3 games, all on the road, to #74 VCU by 12, #9 VT by 28 and #102 Furman in OT. They are 3-3 on the road; their current strength of schedule is #309, and this is their last OOC game of the season.
Offense: Team strength. G-W is #121 on offense, and they shoot the ball well: 54.5% from 2 (#69) and 37% from 3 (#61); their effective FG% is a strong 54.9% (#45). G-W does not turn the ball over much (#82), and they play at a slow tempo (#274). G-W is small (#348 in average height); they do not offensive rebound well (#255). They seem like a smaller slightly less talented version of Davidson.
Defense: Weak. GW is #274 on D. As stated above, they are small, and are a poor rebounding team (#324 in preventing offensive rebounds; opponents grab 34% of missed shots when G-W is on D). They do pressure the ball reasonably well forcing TOs on 21.3% of their opponents offensive possession (#70), and they don't foul a lot (#66 in FTA per FGA). They play both man and zone.
Lineup: G-W typically plays no one taller than 6-6. Starting: 5-10 Jr. Christian Turner, 6-2 Sr. David Efianayi, 6-4 So. Nate Johnson, 6-5 Fr. Jose Perez and 6-6 Sr. DJ Laster. All 5 starters shoot 36% or better from 3; Johnson (43%) and Efianayi (43%) are the Bulldogs biggest threats from deep, but G'W is not overly reliant on the 3 (30% of their offense comes from 3s - #201). The first two off the bench are 6-0 Jaheam Cornwall and 6-5 Eric Jamison. G-W has no JUCO or college transfers. Every player on the G-W roster enrolled at the school as a frosh, unusual in this day and age of college hoop. G-W scoring is balanced. In the win over G-T, Laster was the leading scorer with 25 (his high game). Despite being located in Boiling Springs, NC, none of G-W's contributing players are from NC.
Bottom Line: At #180, G-W is ranked just ahead of Richmond (#192 -- who beat WF by 10) and just behind Cal State Fullerton (#172 -- who WF beat by 7). KP expects this game to be close: 75-69. For WF to win, the Deacs will need to use their size advantage to control the paint, and to pound G-W on the offensive glass (WF is #74 in offensive rebound %). G-W is well-coached and experienced, and has already won an ACC road game (as many as WF has in the last 21 months). Feel like WF is marginally improved, and will pull out a close low-scoring win.
