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Post by motorcitysam on Dec 6, 2016 13:12:16 GMT -5
The Titans head south of the border on December 7 for a battle with local rival Toledo. I'm always happy when we're playing the Rockets. Makes geographic sense, ties in to the Michigan/Ohio rivalry, and usually offers a compelling opponent and a good game. The Titans and Rockets have mixed it up a quite a bit in recent years in a series of entertaining contests. 2015 saw the Titans get a 75-72 win at Calihan. In 2014, JH2 scored 28 to lead Detroit to a three point win in the Glass City as part of the Progressive Legends Classic. A scheduling quirk in 2013 meant the Titans and Rockets played twice, with Detroit losing a two point heart at home and dropping a more decisive 16 point decision in Toledo. 2012 saw the Titans pick up a home win in the match up. U of D has actually done better in the rivalry in recent years than I would have guessed, considering the past three years were the down period of the Coach MacCallum era. The Rockets were picked to compete for the West Division championship of the MAC, but the season has gotten off to a slow start at 3-5. The Rockets are led in scoring by senior guard Jonathon Williams. He scored 22 points against Detroit last year. The official Toledo athletics site gives this preview of the game. www.utrockets.com/news/2016/12/6/mens-basketball-toledo-hosting-detroit-mercy-on-wednesday-at-7-00-pm.aspx
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Post by Commissioner on Dec 6, 2016 14:44:59 GMT -5
If anyone else is heading to Toledo, Sam and I will be there. There is no general admission seating at Savage Arena, it's all assigned, but would love to get together before or after game.
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Post by motorcitysam on Dec 7, 2016 14:52:14 GMT -5
Toledo favored by 13.5 according to the line at ESPN.com.
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Post by mooseguy1 on Dec 7, 2016 19:07:31 GMT -5
The Detroit Titans (1-7 overall, 0-0 in the HL) will try again for their first D-1 win when they travel to Toledo to face the Toledo Rockets (3-5 overall, 0-0 in the MAC).This is a game I wish I could attend. I’ve managed to attend a number of games in the Savage Arena and it’s a nice facility with a decent vibe. We also had a memorable victory there recently. I guess it’d be defined as more memorable if I could remember just how recently. Oh, well, the mind is a terrible thing to waste. It was in the last few years or so…I think. Regardless, that particular edition of the Toledo Rockets had won 19 in a row at home and we broke the streak.
This year’s Toledo Rockets have been uneven…leaning towards disappointing. They’ve lost to Saint Joseph’s, UNC-Wilmington, twice to Middle Tennessee in 1 week, the first in Murfreesboro, TN and the second just up the road in Nashville. In their last outing they logged Loss #5 Saturday at home to the Horizon League’s Green Bay Phoenix, 78-77, in overtime. The wins have come over the HL’s Youngstown State and Wright State along with a Challenge in Music City Tournament victory over Evansville.
What more can be said about the Titans that hasn’t already been said. I mean this literally. Between the Commissioner and ptctitan, they’ve officially used all the words in the English language in every possible combination. The government has this big computer out in the salt beds of Utah (I think it’s next to the official atomic clock, but that might just be a Jack in the Box I passed) where they measure and surveil this kind of stuff (because measuring and surveilling is something they excel at) and word came down this afternoon that due to our forum members’ tireless efforts, nothing original will ever be written again. My heartiest congratulations to the Commish and pct. Takes the pressure off the rest of us.
Last time out, the Titans were better, losing a closeish (see, I have to make up words now in a vain attempt to be original) 86-76 decision to Murray State in Murray, Kentucky. I thought we played better. Instead of a colossal allegorical train wreck, it was a minor derailment with a few survivors. Well, Rome wasn’t built in a day…but as upbasketballfan reminds us, it was destroyed in 6.
Out in Las Vegas (if you go west from the atomic clock [or the Jack in the Box], keep going until you see a casino and hang a left), the Titans are getting a whopping 13 across the spectrum of sports books. They disagree a little more on the Over/Under, ranging from 158.5 to 161.5. If you can get anything under 160, take the Over. Also, take the Titans. Toledo may win (NO! They wont! Schizophrenia rears its head yet again), but they will never cover 13. Take Detroit to win in an upset. I’m not talking a point spread victory; I mean the real thing. The Official Moose Prediction (from the home office in Big Moose, New York—they say it’s actually called Bellevue but I know better): Detroit Titans 82 Toledo Rockets 78. GO TITANS!!
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Post by motorcitysam on Dec 7, 2016 19:39:08 GMT -5
Wish you were here, Moose.
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Post by mooseguy1 on Dec 7, 2016 19:46:33 GMT -5
Yeah, Sam, I wish I was, too. I've enjoyed the games at the Savage Arena. We are doing ok, so far.
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Post by motorcitysam on Dec 7, 2016 21:36:57 GMT -5
Titans fought hard but fell 73-65.
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Post by motorcitysam on Dec 8, 2016 10:54:05 GMT -5
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Post by motorcitysam on Dec 8, 2016 12:42:12 GMT -5
Despite the loss, I had a pretty good time at the game last night. It was more competitive than many expected it to be, and while I am no fan of "moral victories", it was an exciting game. I enjoyed the rare opportunity to hang out with the Commish, along with some other Titan fans who made the trip south of the border. Good to see Chris Jenkins have a break out performance, especially in the first half, and his 14 rebounds were fantastic.
Big Screen Highlight of the Night: Titan Ben and his buddy Curt shown on the giant video board during a timeout, decked out in their old school University of Detroit gear. I was surprised they gave that much camera time to a couple of Titan fans.
Favorite play by a Titan: Josh's breakaway two hand dunk, where he showed more athleticism than I had previously noticed. He threw it down pretty easily.
Best "Take That" Moment: From Cole Long who made three or four good plays, including scoring two buckets, shortly after I mentioned to The Commish that I had not been impressed with Long so far. Consider me chastised.
Potential Preview of the Future: Several times during last night's game Rocket guard Jon Jon Williams made plays that stopped a Titan run, resulted in a key basket for Toledo, and put the game further out of reach. Gotta love a talented senior guard. We recently missed having that with Calliste and Young Ray, but hopefully we will see it with Josh and Corey down the line.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 8, 2016 13:05:34 GMT -5
I watched the 1st half and some of the 2nd half on espn3 and during a break they showed 2 Titans fans decked out in their red Titan gear and it stuck out to me because it was the "old school" stuff. I bet that was them!
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Post by motorcitysam on Dec 8, 2016 14:21:02 GMT -5
I watched the 1st half and some of the 2nd half on espn3 and during a break they showed 2 Titans fans decked out in their red Titan gear and it stuck out to me because it was the "old school" stuff. I bet that was them! Yes, that was probably them. :-)
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