Game release
https://longbeachstate.com/news/2022/11/26/mens-basketball-long-beach-state-continues-in-bahamas-against-north-texas-today.aspx

We are 32nd in DI in tempo, which is great, but NTexas is 362 out of 363...they will have the upper hand forcing a deliberate tempo, seems like they are masters of it. Feels like even if it isn't working well at the start, we should play uptempo and hope to break them at some point, force them to change their style, could get them uneasy. I think this game will tell us a lot, like how well we might play later vs a structured offense like UCI.

N Texas State 4-1 Record
Against SJSU Tylor Perry went 7-7 from 3 pt land and 10-11 from the line and scored 35. Madea he's not! The team was 13-20 from 3, 14-17 FTs, but was outrebounded 24-19 by SJSU. Scoring 69 points they only had 11 assists, but 8 TOs. This could be an area we can try and exploit. They had 13 steals, since they play such 'down tempo' their half court defensive intensity might be pretty high but SJSU is sloppy with the ball (they had 20 TOs v 9 assists).

Roster

Starters
Tylor Perry 5-11 Sr 22 ppg, 63% from 3, 86% FT. Murray will have his hands full guarding this guy, but vice versa.

Kai Huntsberry, 6-3 Sr 215 lbs is a load, 10.4 ppg, takes a lot of 3s (More than Perry) only hitting 23%...hmmm. 80% from the line. Tsohonis would have matched up size wise well, AJ is more lengthy though, so is Jadon.

Abou Ousmane, 6-10 230 lb Jr. 9.8 ppg, 5.2 rbs, 7 blocks, 65% FT. Lassina has the size to matchup decently with him.

Aaron Scott, 6-7 200 lbs SO, 5.6 ppg, 50% from 3, 83% FT, Aboubacar's matchup should be a good one

Tyree Eady, 6-5 215 lb 6th Yr Sr!, 2.6 ppg, 29% 3's, 22% FGs, 20% FTs, 4.0 rpg. One guy we can ease off a bit on defense

(occasional starter) Matt Stone, 6-4 205 lb SO, 2.8 ppg, 29% FGs, 14% 3's, 2.8 rpg... he and Eady must be defensive stoppers

Key Reserves
Jayden Martinez, 6-7 215 lb 5th yr Sr, 6.8 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 42% 3pt, 60% FT. Big matchup for Aboubacar and Rotegaard or Jones

Rubin Jones (played 3 games only) 6-5 190 lb JR, 5.0 ppg, 35% FG, 25% 3pt,

Christian Moore, 5-11 Fr 2.8 ppg, 43% 3s (3 of 7)

Rasheed Brown, 6-2 5th yr Sr, plays 10 mpg, has 2 total points gets 1.3 rpg...another defensive specialist I guess

Moulaye Sissoko 6-9 240 lb So, only 5 mpg but 1.6 ppg and 1.2 rpg

N Texas Roster Observations

1. Only two legit 'bigs' and one plays 22 and the other 5 minutes a game. They do have a few big wings who look like a handful.
2. 3 big guards so if we don't have Tsohonis we might have some problems dealing with them
3. Lots of experienced guys, 3 SR starters and one key SR reserve.
4. The two big wings, Scott and Martinez, are going to cause us problems.
5. Have to hope Murray and Hunter can slow down Perry one on one, because if we even think of over defending him, guys like Scott and Martinez are gonna kill us from deep.
6. Our 3 bigs may get lots of opportunities in a half court offense if N Texas forced slow tempo. Maybe we put in two at a time to mix things up?
7. If we force tempo most of the game, we might win. If not, we lose.
8. N Texas is 4-1, Beat S Nazarene 53-47 at home, got pummeled by St Mary's on the road 63-33, beat Fresno ST 61-52 at home, beat Paul Quinn at home 76-46, beat SJSU yesterday 69-54. The home win over Fresno (Perry scored 21) and the road blowout loss v St Mary's definitely standout (though Perry missed that game). Yesterday's game is our best predictor, they handled a weak SJSU team easily.

Prediction now that I have some handle on N Texas
N Texas 68, LB 60. We will have trouble with their deliberate style and experienced guys.

Strategies to get a win: Get Perry in foul trouble early...force the tempo...out rebound them by 10+...hit some deep 3's early to relax the defense inside a bit

Winnable game I think, but likely a loss. Keep it close is a good sign.