Game Thread SMU Vs UNCG 7 PM

[PonyPride]

Encouraging sign from Yi─ƒito─ƒlu: you know how coaches get upset at big guys who pull the ball down in the low post, sometimes dribbling, and then losing the ball? Yi─ƒito─ƒlu just got a pass in the low post, held his arms fully outstretched as a defender tried to climb him like a tree, and when he missed the shot, nailed both free throws.

CP is right: Yi─ƒito─ƒlu is altering a lot of shots just by being in there ... and when Jalen Breath (6-8) tried to battle for space in the low post, Yi─ƒito─ƒlu effortlessly shrugged him off ... the court.

Here's what we know so far. Yi─ƒito─ƒlu:

ΓÇó is tall (expert analysis!)
ΓÇó seems to be pretty strong
ΓÇó moves well for his size
ΓÇó looks like he's thinking through things ΓÇö presumably that will improve as he gets more comfortable with his new team
ΓÇó seems happy to use his body and strength to claim space in the low post
ΓÇó seems to have good hands
ΓÇó can make free throws

[Charleston Pony]

Good balance again with 5 guys having scored barely over 8 minutes into this game

[PonyPride]

6-0 UNCG run ties it, 19-19

[PonyPride]

The Spartans clearly seem to want this game ΓÇö when a 50-50 out-of-bounds ball was awarded to them, their bench exploded

[PonyPride]

Great hustle play by B.J. Edwards, who chased down UNCG guard Kenyon Giles from behind and blocked Giles' shot off the backboard ΓÇö all the way to midcourt

[PonyPride]

Spinning fadeaway by Edwards ties it back up, 21-21

[PonyPride]

Miller alley-oop pass to Yi─ƒito─ƒlu, who got up high enough that he looked like he could have dropped it in with his elbows

[Charleston Pony]

Not seeing the same defensive intensity we showed in the 1st 2 games but some of that has to do with the opponent. UNCG has a lot more talent than Tarleton & FAMU. Different pace as our guys are making a concerted effort to get Yigitoglu involved in the offense. Our perimeter shooting is off tonight as well

[PonyPride]

Edwards (game-high 8 points) cans a 3 to put the Ponies back ahead, 26-24

[PonyPride]

Kind of animated response from Yi─ƒito─ƒlu after picking up his first foul ΓÇö hard to tell whether he was disappointed with the foul, or with the call.

Then picks up his second, but it was a foul I doubt the coaches will complain too much about: when an outlet pass got behind the SMU defense, Yi─ƒito─ƒlu hustled back to defend the rim. He altered the first shot, only to have his momentum carry him into the foul. That's something that can improve with coaching and experience.

[Charleston Pony]

Boopie has a couple of turnovers on careless no look behind the back passes tonight anticipating his teammate would be coming more aggressively to the ball. As Coach Enfield says...this team is a work in progress and we are trying to get 2 "new" players involved tonight with Cross and Yigitoglu

[WildHorse]

UNCG is not the pushover I expected. These guys can play.

[PonyPride]

Cross drains his first 3 as a Mustang, putting SMU up, 39-33.

[PonyPride]

Harris closes out the first half with a nice drive, collecting the outlet pass and splitting two defenders for a buzzer-beating layup.

HALFTIME: SMU 41, UNCG 35

[Charleston Pony]

UNCG is matching our intensity and has played 10 guys vs our 8. Normally I would say our deep roster will wear an opponent down in the 2nd half but doesn't appear that will be the case tonight. Looks like our guys are in for a 40 minute battle