Post by Commissioner on Nov 8, 2024 14:37:35 GMT -5
Niagara
Sunday, November 10, 1:00 p.m.
Calihan Hall
It always kinda surprises me that the Titans and Niagara have met just 8 times over the years, with each winning 4 times. Two smaller, Catholic schools, not that far apart if you cut across the southern thumb of Ontario; neither a major national power, but both have long, distinguished, proud histories, with nationally-ranked teams, All-American players, and a reasonable presence on the national stage.
According to the Titan Record Book, the first meeting between the schools came in the 1916 season, the Titans winning 33-30 in Detroit. But Niagara doesn't agree--the Purple Eagles Record Book puts the first contest in the 1912 season, with Niagara coming away with a 39-23 win in Niagara Falls. The game is reported in both the Detroit and Buffalo newspapers. The schools also played in 1917, 1921 (twice), and 1922. But then we didn't meet again until the 1967 Motor City Tournament, the Titans winning the final 102-91, behind a career-high 27 points from Titan guard Larry Salci. A final meeting came in November 2010, with the Titans winning 96-77, led by Ray McCallum's 21 points.
This year's Eagles come into Calihan at 1-1 after getting beat up, 96-60, by Michigan State on Thursday. The first half wasn't too bad for Niagara. They built an early 7-point lead, which was then erased by a 24-5 MSU run. But the Eagles didn't fold and fought back to trail by 7 at the half, then cut the margin to 3 in the first minute of the second half. But the Spartans blasted them, 49-16, the rest of the way. As did Detroit against Loyola, the Eagles went stone cold, at one point going 6 and a half minutes without scoring. Before that, Niagara had, like Detroit, warmed up with a softy, crushing Houghton (NY) College 100-65.
With the Titans blowing out little Cleary and getting whupped by a good A10 team on the road, Niagara should be the best test so far of how we'll fair in the Horizon League (unless you had expected the Titans to contend for the regular season title, in which case Loyola should have been a wake-up call). The Eagles were picked to finish 8 in the 13 team MAAC (that's the conference with Iona, Siena, Canisius, St. Peter's and similar schools). The two conferences aren't far apart in quality, with the Horizon rated #20 and the MAAC #24 last year. A Titan win would suggest we'll be competitive with middle-of-the-pack Horizon teams. A loss, at home, would be suggestive of a finish more like the 10th/11th place that most prognosticators have put us.
Probable Niagara Starters:
G- Jahari Williamson, 6-1 Soph.
G- Josiah Davis, 6-3 Jr.
F- Justice Smith, 6-6 Sr.
F- Olumide Adelodun, 6-5 Sr.
C- Jaylin Martinez, 6-11 Sr.
Top Reserves:
G- Justin Page, 6-5 Soph.
G- Zion Russell, 6-2 Jr.
F- Jaeden Marshall, 6-4 Sr.
F- Will Shortt, 6-8 Fr.
While there's a fair bit of experience here, every one of these rotation players is new to Niagara, so they're still getting used to one another.
Williamson averaged 7.9 ppg last year for our old friends at Valparaiso.
Josiah Davis started every game for Tennessee Tech, averaging 12.4 points and 2.9 assists. He started his career at West Virginia, so he's on his 3rd school in 3 years.
Smith comes from East Tennessee State, where he started 14 games as a freshman, averaging 7.4 points, but saw his PT cut last year. Adelodun is a transfer from Ohio U., and led the team in scoring and rebounds against MSU.
Martinez, the big center, comes across the continent after 3 seasons as a reserve at UC-Riverside.
On the bench,
Page was at Cal-Poly last year, starting 7 games.
Zion Russell played 3 seasons at Northern Illinois, starting 13 games last year.
Jaeden Marshall was a sometime starter at Omaha, averaging 7.5 points over two seasons
Tall Will Shortt is a true freshman.
Like UD, it's hard to tell just how good (or bad) the Eagles are, after clobbering minor competition at home and losing badly to State on the road. Williamson is the primary 3 point threat, shooting 4-7 against Houghton and 4-8 against State. Adelodoun is also a good three point shooter who won't hesitate to chuck it up.
For the Titans, I'll look for better foul shooting on offense and fewer fouls on defense. (By the way, these would apply to Niagara as well, whose box score against MSU is eerily similar to ours against Loyola). The Titans need to keep their concentration and poise--none of the breakdown periods that cost us against Wayne and let the Loyola game get out of hand. Will we see more time from Geeter, Kuac, Tchikou, and Hurst, or is this going to be the season of the Four Freshmen--Johnson, Nadeau, Okoro, and Kalambay? I'm content with either. I'd just like to see a win.
Sunday, November 10, 1:00 p.m.
Calihan Hall
It always kinda surprises me that the Titans and Niagara have met just 8 times over the years, with each winning 4 times. Two smaller, Catholic schools, not that far apart if you cut across the southern thumb of Ontario; neither a major national power, but both have long, distinguished, proud histories, with nationally-ranked teams, All-American players, and a reasonable presence on the national stage.
According to the Titan Record Book, the first meeting between the schools came in the 1916 season, the Titans winning 33-30 in Detroit. But Niagara doesn't agree--the Purple Eagles Record Book puts the first contest in the 1912 season, with Niagara coming away with a 39-23 win in Niagara Falls. The game is reported in both the Detroit and Buffalo newspapers. The schools also played in 1917, 1921 (twice), and 1922. But then we didn't meet again until the 1967 Motor City Tournament, the Titans winning the final 102-91, behind a career-high 27 points from Titan guard Larry Salci. A final meeting came in November 2010, with the Titans winning 96-77, led by Ray McCallum's 21 points.
This year's Eagles come into Calihan at 1-1 after getting beat up, 96-60, by Michigan State on Thursday. The first half wasn't too bad for Niagara. They built an early 7-point lead, which was then erased by a 24-5 MSU run. But the Eagles didn't fold and fought back to trail by 7 at the half, then cut the margin to 3 in the first minute of the second half. But the Spartans blasted them, 49-16, the rest of the way. As did Detroit against Loyola, the Eagles went stone cold, at one point going 6 and a half minutes without scoring. Before that, Niagara had, like Detroit, warmed up with a softy, crushing Houghton (NY) College 100-65.
With the Titans blowing out little Cleary and getting whupped by a good A10 team on the road, Niagara should be the best test so far of how we'll fair in the Horizon League (unless you had expected the Titans to contend for the regular season title, in which case Loyola should have been a wake-up call). The Eagles were picked to finish 8 in the 13 team MAAC (that's the conference with Iona, Siena, Canisius, St. Peter's and similar schools). The two conferences aren't far apart in quality, with the Horizon rated #20 and the MAAC #24 last year. A Titan win would suggest we'll be competitive with middle-of-the-pack Horizon teams. A loss, at home, would be suggestive of a finish more like the 10th/11th place that most prognosticators have put us.
Probable Niagara Starters:
G- Jahari Williamson, 6-1 Soph.
G- Josiah Davis, 6-3 Jr.
F- Justice Smith, 6-6 Sr.
F- Olumide Adelodun, 6-5 Sr.
C- Jaylin Martinez, 6-11 Sr.
Top Reserves:
G- Justin Page, 6-5 Soph.
G- Zion Russell, 6-2 Jr.
F- Jaeden Marshall, 6-4 Sr.
F- Will Shortt, 6-8 Fr.
While there's a fair bit of experience here, every one of these rotation players is new to Niagara, so they're still getting used to one another.
Williamson averaged 7.9 ppg last year for our old friends at Valparaiso.
Josiah Davis started every game for Tennessee Tech, averaging 12.4 points and 2.9 assists. He started his career at West Virginia, so he's on his 3rd school in 3 years.
Smith comes from East Tennessee State, where he started 14 games as a freshman, averaging 7.4 points, but saw his PT cut last year. Adelodun is a transfer from Ohio U., and led the team in scoring and rebounds against MSU.
Martinez, the big center, comes across the continent after 3 seasons as a reserve at UC-Riverside.
On the bench,
Page was at Cal-Poly last year, starting 7 games.
Zion Russell played 3 seasons at Northern Illinois, starting 13 games last year.
Jaeden Marshall was a sometime starter at Omaha, averaging 7.5 points over two seasons
Tall Will Shortt is a true freshman.
Like UD, it's hard to tell just how good (or bad) the Eagles are, after clobbering minor competition at home and losing badly to State on the road. Williamson is the primary 3 point threat, shooting 4-7 against Houghton and 4-8 against State. Adelodoun is also a good three point shooter who won't hesitate to chuck it up.
For the Titans, I'll look for better foul shooting on offense and fewer fouls on defense. (By the way, these would apply to Niagara as well, whose box score against MSU is eerily similar to ours against Loyola). The Titans need to keep their concentration and poise--none of the breakdown periods that cost us against Wayne and let the Loyola game get out of hand. Will we see more time from Geeter, Kuac, Tchikou, and Hurst, or is this going to be the season of the Four Freshmen--Johnson, Nadeau, Okoro, and Kalambay? I'm content with either. I'd just like to see a win.
