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Post by ironlion on Dec 31, 2018 20:52:04 GMT -5
Now that WCC play is just around the corner here is a look at the Non- conference numbers.
Through games 12/31/2018
LMU Net Ranking: 112 of 353 D1 Teams Record: 10-2 (D1 only)
Opponent Net Ranking (Overall record):
UNLV - 155 (6-6) CSUN - 275 (6-8) Georgetown - 123 (10-3) Ohio - 148 (8-4) Central Conn. State - 208 (6-7) Florida A&M - 322 (3-12) UCLA - 94 (7-6) CS Fullerton - 230 (4-9) Portland State - 256 (5-6) Boise State - 177 (5-8) UC Riverside - 298 (5-11) UC Davis - 304 (3-10)
Overall High: 94 Low: 322 Avg.: 216
3 of 12 D1 opponents with winning records: Georgetown, Ohio, UCLA
Every LMU opponent has dropped in NET ranking since game was played except Ohio and CSU Fullerton
Rest of WCC Through games 12/30/2018
Gonzaga - 7 USF - 40 SMC - 65 USD - 85 LMU - 112 BYU - 115 Pacific - 166 Pepperdine - 224 Santa Clara - 227 Portland - 284
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Post by thx4leavinjimlynam on Dec 31, 2018 22:02:37 GMT -5
Very insightful. Thank you ironlion.
Our ranking is ahead of every team we played except UCLA, and we all know we blew the game at UCR. Other than that, the guys beat the teams they should beat.
With that in mind, we are rated fifth among the WCC teams. A .500 record would be solid, and would propel us into at least one of the postseason tournaments.
Go Lions!
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Post by LIONS90045 on Jan 1, 2019 5:33:17 GMT -5
Thanks for the analysis Encouraging stats for the program
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Post by nbdlion22 on Jan 2, 2019 12:11:13 GMT -5
Let's not forget UCLA has really regressed as a program and Alford has been fired. Our loss to UCLA is now looking worse and worse.
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Post by pumpfake on Jan 2, 2019 17:37:48 GMT -5
Keys to the Lions breaking into the top 5 of the WCC. For me, the performance of three players will go along way towards determining our fate:
First Eli Scott: Last year Eli averaged 12.6. This year, he's averaged 4.1. There's no reason to think that a stronger healthier Eli can't return to averaging 10+ in WCC play.
Next: Zafir Williams: Zafir gets a lot of his points on 2nd chance points around the basket and that will no doubt continue in league play. The key is his 3 point shooting. Last year (i66% in 12 attempts) he showed himself to be an effective 3PT shooter. I know it's a small sample size but there's something there. This year he's shot it a lot more from 3 but his 3PT FG % is WAY down at 17%. I'd love to see him keep shooting and raise that 3PT average to 30-35%. Seems like a plan, no?
Finally, Daemane Douglas averaging 7 PPG. He's had some big games (17) and games where he's quiet. (4). He's a freshman and gaining confidence every game. I like him to average 10+ in league play.
I expect Batemon, Markusson, Quintana, and Johannson to continue with about their same averages in WCC play. Finally, any production we get from Alipiev, Gibson, and Bell this year will be great but shouldn't be counted on. Go Lions!
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Post by act2019 on Jan 2, 2019 21:00:30 GMT -5
Zafir is such a brick this year from 3 this year I'd rather see him take more mid range shots around the baseline that seems to be where he has success
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Post by thx4leavinjimlynam on Jan 2, 2019 23:47:07 GMT -5
I think we were playing our best when McClendon and Douglas our on the court together. I don’t have any plus/minus numbers to substantiate that claim, but early in the season when Batemon and Markusson barely left the court, it seemed like having McClendon and Douglas on the court at the same time (with those two) really made a difference.
Add Eli to those four, with quality bench production, and yes, we can be in the WCC’s upper division.
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Post by ironlion on Mar 4, 2019 13:54:25 GMT -5
Now that the regular season has finished, here is how LMU ended up the 2018-19 regular season. This will be updated after the NCAA Championship in April 2019. Source: NCAA.com Games through March 3, 2019 LMU Overall Record: 18-10 (excludes non-D1 teams) Non-Conference Record: 10-2 (excludes non-D1 teams) WCC Record: 8-8 LMU Net Ranking: 141 of 353 D1 Teams Non-Conference Avg.: 216 Non-Conference Team High: 72 (Georgetown) Non-Conference Team Low: 320 (Florida A&M) Non-Conference High Win: Georgetown (NCAA Net 72) Non-Conference Low Win: Florida A&M (NCAA Net 320) Non-Conference High Loss: UCLA (NCAA Net 109) Non-Conference Low Loss: UC Riverside (NCAA Net 312) Non-Conference Teams with Winning Record: 3 – UNLV (16-13), Georgetown (18-11), UCLA (16-13) Non-Conference Opponent - NCAA Net Rank (Record) UNLV: 158 (16-13) CSU Northridge: 281 (13-17) Georgetown: 72 (18-11) Ohio: 181 (13-15) Central Conn. State: 306 (11-20) Florida A&M: 320 (11-19) UCLA: 109 (16-13) CSU Fullerton: 183 (14-15) Portland State: 277 (14-15) Boise State: 154 (11-18) UC Riverside: 312 (9-21) UC Davis: 244 (11-17) WCC Record: 8-8 Wins against WCC Teams with winning record: 2 - Santa Clara (16-14), USF (21-9)
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Post by LIONS90045 on Mar 4, 2019 14:21:15 GMT -5
Good analysis Nice improvement over prior seasons under Dunlap Could have been a lot better if we could close out “winnable” games
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Post by lmuseniorfan on Mar 4, 2019 15:05:45 GMT -5
I am neither ambitious nor curious enough to do so, but I bet if you analyze our strengths of schedule in most years, you will find that they are comparable to this one. Yet in most of those years, we had losing records. The basketball program has improved. To me, it seems fairly obvious by just watching games. I am especially pleased with how hard the team plays (with a few exceptions like the 2nd half against BYU) right up to the final buzzer. There is obviously more that needs to be done before we have a perennial WCC power, but I am moderately optimistic that we are progressing toward that end. Next year is critical. We have a lot of returning players. We should be better if Mike Dunlap can find a replacement for James Batemon.
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Post by slblions08 on Mar 4, 2019 15:06:13 GMT -5
Thanks for putting that together Iron
Seems like we’ve beaten teams that we were supposed to beat and lost to teams we should have lost to with two exceptions. Georgetown and UCR. I think given the .500 record and the non-conference total, the team exceeded my expectation. However I still believe strongly that the way to call this a successful season is to get into 4-5 with USF and fight into a semi-final. At that point I’ll say hats off to Dunlap for righting the ship late.
At 22-11 and effectively 4th in conference there is no doubt you have to bring back Dunlap. That being said, this season has all rested on Batemon and there is no one to replace him next year. Batemon bails out Dunlap’s lack of offensive creativity with his penetration and ball handling. This seems like the programs ceiling. If fighting for .500 and 4-5 every 3 years or so is what makes us happy then you stay the course.
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Post by LIONS90045 on Mar 4, 2019 19:18:24 GMT -5
I think Dunlap knows he needs a Capable PG and will land one from a JC. Our improved record should help with recruiting.
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Post by pumpfake on Mar 4, 2019 19:25:03 GMT -5
A grad transfer also a possibility. Whoever we get is going to start and play a lot and have a very solid supporting cast so our chances of landing someone good are fairly high. It's plug and play. Coaching staff can point to Brandon Brown and Batemon as JC-transfers who flourished at the point for the Lions.
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Post by longtimelionfan on Mar 4, 2019 19:25:49 GMT -5
Finding a new PG is so important that the addition of two new JC candidates wouldn't surprise me. Effectively, the two would replace James and Cam. Joe Quintana is servicable for spot duty which is what is happening now when James gets a blow but Joe is not a point guard.
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Post by longtimelionfan on Mar 4, 2019 19:27:29 GMT -5
Good point pumpfake; grad transfer is another market.
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