Pacific Game Preview: Tigers vs. Cal Poly Mustangs
By Josh Horton
Nov 29, 2013; Eugene, OR, USA; Pacific Tigers head coach Ron Verlin looks to his players against the Oregon Ducks at Matthew Knight Arena. Mandatory Credit: Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports
Pacific vs. Cal Poly
Game Time: 12:30 p.m. PST
TV: http://pac-12.com/videos/university-oregon
Radio: http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/uop.portal#
Live Stats: http://www.goducks.com/SportSelect.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=500&SPID=235&SPSID=4294&KEY=
Team’s Records: Pac – 4-1 – CP – 2-3
Leading Scorers: Pac – Taku 14.0 – CP – Eversley 12.8
Leading Rebounders: Pac – Taku 6.0 – CP – Eversley 8.0
Leading Distributors: Pac – Taku 3.8 – CP – Johnson 3.4
Projected Starters
Pacific
Andrew Bock
Sama Taku
Trevin Harris
Tony Gill
Khalil Kelley
Cal Poly
Jamal Johnson
Kyle Odister
Dave Nwaba
Chris Eversley
Brian Bennett
The Pacific Tigers will look to recapture some of their previous momentum that they lost in their second half shellacking at the hands of Oregon against Cal Poly in the second day of the Global Sports Challenge.
Cal Poly blew out North Dakota in its first game in the Global Sports Challenge. Brian Bennett led the all scorers with 16. David Nwaba and Jamal Johnson chipped in 13 points themselves, and Chris Everseley snagged 11 rebounds in the victory.
The Opponent
AP Poll: NR
Coaches Poll: NR
RPI: 268
KenPom: 204
Cal Poly had a brutal start to the non-conference schedule by taking on then No. 6 Arizona, Nevada, and Fresno State. The Mustangs dropped all three games to start the season 0-3. Since then, they have recorded blow out victories versus Bethesda and North Dakota to get back on track.
Dave Nwaba and Chris Eversley are two players that put up most of the numbers for the Mustangs. Eversley is first on the team in points with 12.8 per game, as well as rebounds with 8.0 per game. Nwaba is not far behind; the sophomore from Los Angeles, Calif. is averaging 10.8 points and 4.4 rebounds this season.
Head Coach Joe Callero primary uses his starters. Expect to see Maliik Love as a sixth man.
Cal Poly plays a slow brand of basketball. The Mustangs average 63.3 points and 62.0 possessions, which is 324th and 343rd in the NCAA respectively.
Keys to the Game
Speed Racer
The Tigers need to speed up the tempo in order to dictate the pace, and place themselves in the driver’s seat to win this game.
If Cal Poly uses up the majority of the shot clock and the game settles into a methodical pace, the Mustangs will be comfortable and will have a much better chance of winning.
Behind the coattails of senior point guard Andrew Bock and shooting guard Sama Taku, the Tigers must get out in transition and speed up the tempo to take Cal Poly out of its comfort zone.
I know I told the Tigers to slow it down versus Oregon… but Pacific is more suited to run up and down the floor anyway.
Eversley-Bennett-Nwaba v. Gill-Kelley-Rivera-Harris
This game will ultimately come down to post play.
Each team possesses a great deal of size, and each team likes to pound the ball inside. The front-court that plays the best could be indicative to which team gets the victory.