Georgia State Panthers (@GeorgiaStateMBB) handily dispatch the Emmanuel College Lions (@ATHLETICSatEC), 77-58.
MBB – Georgia State vs Emmanuel College
The first 10-15 minutes of this game was a back and forth battle between (what appeard to be) two evenly matched teams.
After losing RJ Hunter to the NBA and Curt Washington to graduation, I had some concerns this off season with regards to point production, rebounding and an effective defense. After all, the GSU Panthers went deep into post-season play last year, upsetting Baylor before losing a heartbreaker to Xavier. I had a brief conversation back in August with Sports Information Director for GSU MBB, Mike Holmes (@MrBeachBum23)… what he told me was a rather pleasant surprise: Georgia State, through Redshirt Junior Transfer (Indiana) Jeremy Hollowell (@Yermskiii), second year (Senior) starter/Transfer (Louisville) Kevin Ware (@wareisbev) and Senior Markus Crider (@MarkusCrider33) are going to be absolute headaches for any team to contend with this year. Mike also specifically stated that “this team could be even better than last year’s team”.
While I know you can’t really use an Exhibition game (Oglethorpe University), an NAIA team (Middle Georgia State University) and a Division II team (Emmanuel College) as a barometer to gauge how well a team plays, in these three games, I’ve seen quite a different mentality when it comes to defense, by way of an aggressive attacking style while still keeping the ridiculous NCAA rule changes in mind as it pertains to fouls and the reduced shot clock.
I’m also seeing a very different TJ Shipes (@Tj_Shipes; much more aggressive, yet comfortably confident), an on-point Isaiah Dennis (@i_dennis23), and RS Sophmore transfer (Samford) Isaiah Williams (@Zay_Will1).
Newcomers Malik Benlevi, Austin Donaldson (@austin_ballout5), Alario Harris (@TheOnlyAlario) and Jeff Thomas, join up with Jordan Session (@SwaggyJ23_), Jalen Brown (@jbdonlee15), Carter Cagle (@CarterCagle), Willie Clayton (@willieclayton21) and Devin Mitchell (@D_Mitch23) to round out the rest of the 2015-16 edition of the Georgia State Panthers.
The one thing I am extremely pleased to see is a very nice team chemistry. When you have a team that goes deep and isn’t typically “serviced” by “one and dones” (a sore subject, to be sure), it certainly helps towards a deep run into the NCAA Tournament.
Even with my own eyes, I do see a few mistakes being made (some defensive mistakes, a couple minor ball handling issues and a slight need for better protection/defense), however, that’s what these “lighter” games are for.
The Georgia State Panthers Home Win streak is sitting at 9 games right now… and only has one loss dating back to the 2013-14 season (last year, vs Texas State in a double OT, snapping an 18 game home win streak (9th best in the nation)).
The 2-0 Panthers travel next week to take on the (currently) 2-1 Ole Miss Rebels in a Thanksgiving Eve battle, airing on the SEC Network, starting at 5 PM Eastern, before returning home to face the team that Coach Ron Hunter (@CoachRHunter) coached for 18 years, Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI; @IUPUIJaguars).
I eagerly await to see what else Coach Hunter, his incredible staff and amazing kids will do this season… just as long as he doesn’t injure himself again. 😉
Please continue to join me as the 2015-16 Georgia State Panthers Men’s Basketball campaign progresses. Watch for more updates, more “insider” information and more profiles… I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
