Pilchard
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This Wednesday evening, the Towson Tigers visit WF and will face an electric Deacon fanbase and a rabid LJVM to open WF's NIT run. Here is the skinny on Towson.
2021-22 Towson season: 25-8 #77. Perhaps no team in the country was more undervalued than Towson to start this season. Towson finished last year's COVID ravaged season 4-14 and #298 in the country. Despite losing 2 starters off last year's weak team, KP upgraded Towson to #245 to start this season. At the end of February, Towson had climbed 182 spots to #63 in the nation as the Tigers out performed all expectations; as an epically undervalued team, Towson had a tidy 21-10-2 ATS record this year. The Tigers entered their conference tournament on a 7 game win streak (every win but one by double digits), and many college hoop prognosticators targeted Towson as a team that could do some damage in the NCAAT. With a KP rank of #77, the Tigers have essentially the same KP rank as NCAAT #11 seed Rutgers #73, and Towson is rated ahead of NCAA #12 seed Richmond (#83). The Tigers are a solid team.
Analytics: The Tigers are the #57 offensive team in the nation (WF is #34). Offensively, Towson dominates the offensive boards. They are the #8 offensive rebounding team in the nation, Towson is also a solid three point shooting team (36% - #57). Otherwise, the Tigers do everything pretty well on offense (limit turnovers, get to the the line, shoots FTs), but they are not spectacular in any other offensive category. Towson is the #110 defensive team in the nation (99.5 defensive efficiency), but their defense improved in conference play; the Tigers led the CAA in 2 PT defense, effective FG% defense and were #2 in 3 PT defense and steal %. Towson plays at a slow tempo #324 in average offensive possession length.
Roster: Fun fact, Towson starting big man, Charles Thompson is the son of Tony "the Tiger" Thompson the former #8 ranked heavyweight boxer and who faced current freedom fighter Wladmir Klitschko in two world heavyweight championship fights:
So, urge WF fans to refrain scrapping with the Towson Tiger fans in attendance. Might end badly.
When they are healthy, and they are, Towson starts:
G 6-1 Jr. Jason Gibson: great shooter: 42% from 3; 89% from the line; when he is hitting from deep, Towson is tough to beat
G 6-3 Sr. Antonio Rizzuto: Albany transfer; 37% from 3; 80% from the line
G 6-4 Jr. Nicolas Timberlake: leading scorer 15 ppg; 41% from 3; double figures in 7 straight games
F 6-5 Sr. Cam Holden: Tenn-Martin transfer; does everything for Towson; leads team in rebounding, steals and assists; 2nd in scoring
C 6-7 Jr. Charles Thompson: tough player; 61% from the field; second in boards; first in blocks; can't shoot the 3
Bench:
G/F 6-4 Sr. Terry Nolan: Bradley transfer; 10 ppg; 2nd in assists and steals;
F/C 6-8 Sr. Juwan Gray: San Diego transfer; 8 ppg and 4 rpg; 80% from the line 33% from 3
C 6-10 Jr. Chase Paar: GW transfer: 2nd in blocks; 53% from the field
Projection: KP projects a 77-71 WF win in 67 possessions. At #77, Towson is rated ahead of 8 ACC teams (just behind of Cuse; just ahead of Clemson). They dominated the CAA (rated 53 spots ahead of the next highest conference team) before tripping up against Delaware in the CAA Tournament. Until that tourney loss, Towson had not lost a game by more than 11 points all year (including road games at NCAAT teams USF and Ohio State). The Tigers are a tough veteran team; they grind out possessions and crash the offensive boards. The key will be for WF to keep Towson from getting 2nd chance points. The other key will be controlling tempo. Opponents have been unable to stop WF from running at home. If this game turns into a track meet, the Tigers will be in trouble. If the game is played at Towson's pace, it will be a slog. Feel like Coach Forbes and the team will be ready to play from the opening tip. Even so, Towson is feisty and remains under-valued. Think WF wins, but it may be near the current number of 6.
2021-22 Towson season: 25-8 #77. Perhaps no team in the country was more undervalued than Towson to start this season. Towson finished last year's COVID ravaged season 4-14 and #298 in the country. Despite losing 2 starters off last year's weak team, KP upgraded Towson to #245 to start this season. At the end of February, Towson had climbed 182 spots to #63 in the nation as the Tigers out performed all expectations; as an epically undervalued team, Towson had a tidy 21-10-2 ATS record this year. The Tigers entered their conference tournament on a 7 game win streak (every win but one by double digits), and many college hoop prognosticators targeted Towson as a team that could do some damage in the NCAAT. With a KP rank of #77, the Tigers have essentially the same KP rank as NCAAT #11 seed Rutgers #73, and Towson is rated ahead of NCAA #12 seed Richmond (#83). The Tigers are a solid team.
Analytics: The Tigers are the #57 offensive team in the nation (WF is #34). Offensively, Towson dominates the offensive boards. They are the #8 offensive rebounding team in the nation, Towson is also a solid three point shooting team (36% - #57). Otherwise, the Tigers do everything pretty well on offense (limit turnovers, get to the the line, shoots FTs), but they are not spectacular in any other offensive category. Towson is the #110 defensive team in the nation (99.5 defensive efficiency), but their defense improved in conference play; the Tigers led the CAA in 2 PT defense, effective FG% defense and were #2 in 3 PT defense and steal %. Towson plays at a slow tempo #324 in average offensive possession length.
Roster: Fun fact, Towson starting big man, Charles Thompson is the son of Tony "the Tiger" Thompson the former #8 ranked heavyweight boxer and who faced current freedom fighter Wladmir Klitschko in two world heavyweight championship fights:
So, urge WF fans to refrain scrapping with the Towson Tiger fans in attendance. Might end badly.
When they are healthy, and they are, Towson starts:
G 6-1 Jr. Jason Gibson: great shooter: 42% from 3; 89% from the line; when he is hitting from deep, Towson is tough to beat
G 6-3 Sr. Antonio Rizzuto: Albany transfer; 37% from 3; 80% from the line
G 6-4 Jr. Nicolas Timberlake: leading scorer 15 ppg; 41% from 3; double figures in 7 straight games
F 6-5 Sr. Cam Holden: Tenn-Martin transfer; does everything for Towson; leads team in rebounding, steals and assists; 2nd in scoring
C 6-7 Jr. Charles Thompson: tough player; 61% from the field; second in boards; first in blocks; can't shoot the 3
Bench:
G/F 6-4 Sr. Terry Nolan: Bradley transfer; 10 ppg; 2nd in assists and steals;
F/C 6-8 Sr. Juwan Gray: San Diego transfer; 8 ppg and 4 rpg; 80% from the line 33% from 3
C 6-10 Jr. Chase Paar: GW transfer: 2nd in blocks; 53% from the field
Projection: KP projects a 77-71 WF win in 67 possessions. At #77, Towson is rated ahead of 8 ACC teams (just behind of Cuse; just ahead of Clemson). They dominated the CAA (rated 53 spots ahead of the next highest conference team) before tripping up against Delaware in the CAA Tournament. Until that tourney loss, Towson had not lost a game by more than 11 points all year (including road games at NCAAT teams USF and Ohio State). The Tigers are a tough veteran team; they grind out possessions and crash the offensive boards. The key will be for WF to keep Towson from getting 2nd chance points. The other key will be controlling tempo. Opponents have been unable to stop WF from running at home. If this game turns into a track meet, the Tigers will be in trouble. If the game is played at Towson's pace, it will be a slog. Feel like Coach Forbes and the team will be ready to play from the opening tip. Even so, Towson is feisty and remains under-valued. Think WF wins, but it may be near the current number of 6.
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