In 2009-2010, SIUE was designated as a road team in their first ever Bracketbuster. They were given a game at Cal State Fullerton, an opponent they would probably never schedule on their own.
SIUE lost that game in 2010, 78-74. It was the only meeting thus far between SIUE and a team from the Big West Conference. Mark Yelovich scored 32 points and was 9-17 from the field in the loss. Cody Rincker was second on the team with 11 points and LeShaun Murphy had six.
Yelovich, Kevin Stineman and David Boarden are the only three players from that team back two years later.
The Titans on the other hand, will be a completely new experience for the Cougars. Senior Orane Chin is the only returning player who saw action in that game. Chin had four points and four rebounds in 17 minutes.
This version of Cal State Fullerton is supposedly better than the team has been of late. They are 3-3, and were No. 14 in CollegeInsider.com's most recent Mid Major Top 25 poll. They were 11-20 a year ago and return three starters.
Thus far, the results do not indicate CSF is improved. Despite three wins, some of their losses are eye sores. None of their wins really stick out.
They opened with a 118-68 win over Redlands. Okay, that's a 50 point victory over a Division III school. It's 50 points, so we will go ahead and call that impressive. They beat Nicholls State by 10: meh. Then, they beat Louisiana Lafayette by six. That's okay.
Those are the wins. They have since dropped three straight.
Houston Baptist: 88-83 (neutral court)
CSU Bakersfield: 73-66 (home)
Wichita State: 75-60 (road)
Wichita State is a good basketball team, but Houston Baptist and Bakersfield are not. SIUE is the home team, so I seriously see the Cougars as a favorite in this game. We never know.
CSF has four players averaging in double-figures. DJ Seeley (15) Omandi Omoke (15) Isiah Umipig (12) and Kwame Vaughn (12).
I see the Cougars having trouble rebounding. CSF averages 40 to 32 for SIUE. The Titans are shooting 47 percent fom the field, which is better than SIUE, but the Cougars have been a better 3-point shooting team this year.
Keys to the game:
Keep it up from 3-for-the-E land. If they fall, we have a good chance at winning. This team lives and dies by the three. If they are not falling, don't take them and become smarter. Davis, Wickware, Yelovich, Stineman, all of them. Please keep Jerome Jones in the paint.
DEFENSE. Stay focused, press, force turnovers and be smart. Don't let them get ahead in transition. Fullerton is a capable team offensively.
Run the offense through Yelovich. He killed them last time, and I am pretty sure Fullerton has a better book on him by now. Hopefully the day off didn't affect him.
Live chat at the VC begins at 1:45. The game can be seen locally on KPLR 11.2 (secondary digital channel, 153 on Charter) The Cougars have a new television deal, and details will be made known soon.
Comments and tweets are welcome.
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