Titans @ Illinois College

Here are the probable starting matchups for this evening's game in Jacksonville...

http://www.iwuhoops.com/notes08.htm

The Blueboys are 4-1, including a home win this past Saturday over Ripon, a traditionally strong team in the Midwest Conference. They were picked to finish 8th (out of 10 teams) in the 2007-08 MWC preseason coaches poll, after going 3-13 in the conference last year (8-15 overall). IC gave the Titans a game at the Shirk Center last year, losing by just 5 points.

Illinois College looks to have nice offensive balance, with 5 players averaging in double figures:

Brad Johnson (6-2/180, Jr) - 16.4
Jacob Tucker (5-11/175, Fr) - 11.2
Mitchell Neally (6-5/210, Jr) - 10.6
Joe Womble (6-4/215, Sr) - 10.6
Mark Gillingham (6-0/180, Jr) - 10.2

They shoot a lot of 3-pointers, with 6 players having shot 10 or more total 5 through games. On the season, 39% of IC's field goal attempts are from beyond the arc, where they shoot 35% as a team.

This will be one game in which the Titans aren't smaller in the post than the opponent. The Blueboys' starting post players are 6-4 Womble and 6-5 Neally. Look for the Titans to pound it down low to Gant, Chamernik,Sexauer, and O'Callaghan, which will hopefully set up some great perimeter looks as the game progresses.

The Titans will have to play better perimeter defense to win this game. On the season, IWU opponents are 44-100 from 3-point range, and that, quite frankly, is just awful perimeter D.

I'll say the same thing I did before the Webster game -- this is a game the Titans should win if they play well, but will lose if they don't. Join us on WJBC if you can't make it to J-Ville!

PS It will be good to see the Titans play a JV game. Sounds like the JV roster (5:15pm) will be:

Brian Nussbaum (6-6/220, Sr)
Robert Beauchamp (6-1/195, Jr)
Josh Sutton (6-5/205, Fr)
Justin Anthony (5-11/170, So)
Elias Washington (6-2/190, So)
Duncan Lawson (6-8/225, Fr)
Edmond O'Callaghan (6-7/210, Fr)

Senior Brian Nussbaum will get some much-needed game minutes as he tries to earn his way into the varsity rotation.