Well, here goes nothing.
I'm going to attempt to live blog the biggest DIII December match up between the Pointers and the Warhawks in Whitewater tonight.
I'm going to attempt to live blog the biggest DIII December match up between the Pointers and the Warhawks in Whitewater tonight.
I will share when I can my thoughts at specific points of the game and I encourage you to follow along here and post comments as well. You can follow along with me at @turkdigg40 on Twitter.
Before game: This game should be a fun one to watch.
Both teams come in with multiple players averaging double figures. The Warhawks have five in double figures, led by Quardell Young with 12.3
The Pointers have four in double figures, led by Tyler Tillema, who has been playing out of his mind for awhile now, averaging just a shade under 20 points a contest.
A few things I'm looking at. One, can the Warhawks remain as balanced as they have throughout the season, or will they need to rely on guys like Young and Luke Knoble to take over if the game is close.
Two, who does Whitewater put on Tillema and how much can he shut him down.
Either way, we should be in for an exceptional contest of these two National Championship-caliber teams.
20:00 First Half: Starters for Point: Tillema, Heuer, Hass, Ryf, Ritchay. Starters for Whitewater: Young, Odegaard, Bryson, Knoble, Harris...I'm guessing it's going to be Young or Bryson on Tillema to start out.
18:30 First Half: Yep, it's Young on Tillema, and Tillema already has 4 points, that has to improve if Whitewater wants to win.
15:20 First Half: Sounds like Young is getting into the Point defense and doing quite well feeding it to Knoble. Got to cut down on that penetration if you are Stevens Point.
14:22 First Half: First TV timeout. Very efficient offense going on right now for both sides. Young already with three assists on the game, two to Knoble, one to Bryson for 3.
12:30 First Half: Austin Ryf with 7 points for Pointers. Unsung hero right now. Doing a lot of different things on offense for a guy who is averaging less than 10 points a game for Stevens Point.
10:00 First Half: Ryf and Tillema with 17 of Pointers 19. Somebody else has to get it done. In a game this big, you'll need a third scorer.
8:30 First Half: Pointers with the first 4 point lead of the game this late into the game. Tells you something about the teams that are playing doesn't it?
8:00 First Half: Not only do Ryf and Tillema have 19 of Pointers 21, they also have all but two of the Pointers shots. Just a very interesting stat.
6:25 First Half: Video finally up for this game. Was doing my best with the audio and live stats until then.
5:10 First Half: Pointers looking like they like to iso Tillema a lot, especially from the just off the top of the key and wing.
3:31 First Half: Young getting to the rim at will against the Pointers guards. Have to cut down those penetration lanes if you are Stevens Point. Young is too good at creating for himself and others.
2:26 First Half: You can see just how much Tillema does for the Pointers. Not only does he score, but he creates. He is a very excellent passer and puts people in places they need to be to score.
:41 First Half: Warhawks extend their man pressure out and push the Pointers off of the 3-point line and get a turnover, but couldn't convert to make it a three-point game.
:27 First Half: Tillema down for the Pointers, and can't put any pressure on his right ankle on his way off. Could be a big factor in this game.
:00 First Half: Huge three from Darnell Harris to cut Pointer lead to 30-28 at halftime. That's what Harris gives you. That inside-outside presence. Young creating very well, five assists for the Warhawks, including on that last one off the pick and pop.
Halftime thoughts: Very smooth game. Both teams are very efficient offensively and very deliberate. They are looking for the best shot on every possession. You don't see many teams with patience like that.
For Whitewater, they need to keep getting Young to the basket. When he has done that he has really exploited the Pointer defense. When they get to the paint, the Hawks are dangerous.
For Point, if they don't get Tillema back for the second half because of his ankle injury, its going to be a rough sledding to score. Tillema creates for everyone and if he can't go, they become a little more one-dimensional. They will have to rely on their motion to get it done. Heuer and Ryf need to step up to proved the scoring punch.
20:00 Second Half: Tillema not out to start the half for the Pointers.
16:57 Second Half: Heuer with a big tip in to give Pointers a 7 point lead. Stevens Point needs the big guy to do some more of that and score on the block with Tillema out.
15:43 Second Half: Lutz with a huge three to put Stevens Point up 12. Timeout Whitewater. Pointers really working their motion to perfection. Everyone touching the ball right now. Needs to keep happening.
14:10 Second Half: Ryf showing he is a capable scorer tonight, just knocked down a three-pointer. He is very capable, just hasn't shown it as much as maybe the Pointers would like or maybe he just doesn't need to.
12:13 Second Half: Whitewater just looks out of sync. Young has lost is focus a bit in this half and the offense has been stagnant as opposed to the Pointers right now.
9:40 Second Half: Whitewater not hitting from deep either. Can't do that when you are down. They are just jacking shots and it affects your defense too, which is what is happening right now for Warhawks.
9:01 Second Half: I'm also very impressed with how well the Point offense is running without Tillema on the floor. It might actually be running better than it was in the first half. Ryf has really took his game to another level tonight.
7:42 Second Half: Whitewater trying to cause havoc in a pressure defense. It's helping their offense but the Pointers are still scoring and keeping the lead in double digits.
6:13 Second Half: Huge and-1 for Hass for the Pointers to push lead up to 15. Going to be tough for Warhawks to come back from that lead. But if anyone can...
5:07 Second Half: Things getting chippy right now between the teams. Both are going very hard right now.
5:00 Second Half: I think the game is going to come down to the free throw line for the Pointers. Which is good because they are a very good shooting team from the line.
4:35 Second Half: Pointers have really impressed me by doing this against the Warhawks and without Tillema. Hass as also stepped up and had a huge half in his place. Looked very strong.
3:33 Second Half: Warhawks can't get anything to go. They were very cold this half. Part of that had to do with sometimes poor shot selections, especially when Point went on their run.
2:11 Second Half: Pointers have been doing yeoman's work on the offensive boards, Ritchay with one right there to move the lead back to 13 points. A lot of those second-chance points came in the second half.
End of Game: UW-Stevens Point 72, UW-Whitewater 61 on the win.
Check out my midweek blog later tonight or early tomorrow for my input on the game in my "One Big Thing."
Thanks for tuning in for the first live blog, and hopefully I'll do it again soon.
Both teams come in with multiple players averaging double figures. The Warhawks have five in double figures, led by Quardell Young with 12.3
The Pointers have four in double figures, led by Tyler Tillema, who has been playing out of his mind for awhile now, averaging just a shade under 20 points a contest.
A few things I'm looking at. One, can the Warhawks remain as balanced as they have throughout the season, or will they need to rely on guys like Young and Luke Knoble to take over if the game is close.
Two, who does Whitewater put on Tillema and how much can he shut him down.
Either way, we should be in for an exceptional contest of these two National Championship-caliber teams.
20:00 First Half: Starters for Point: Tillema, Heuer, Hass, Ryf, Ritchay. Starters for Whitewater: Young, Odegaard, Bryson, Knoble, Harris...I'm guessing it's going to be Young or Bryson on Tillema to start out.
18:30 First Half: Yep, it's Young on Tillema, and Tillema already has 4 points, that has to improve if Whitewater wants to win.
15:20 First Half: Sounds like Young is getting into the Point defense and doing quite well feeding it to Knoble. Got to cut down on that penetration if you are Stevens Point.
14:22 First Half: First TV timeout. Very efficient offense going on right now for both sides. Young already with three assists on the game, two to Knoble, one to Bryson for 3.
12:30 First Half: Austin Ryf with 7 points for Pointers. Unsung hero right now. Doing a lot of different things on offense for a guy who is averaging less than 10 points a game for Stevens Point.
10:00 First Half: Ryf and Tillema with 17 of Pointers 19. Somebody else has to get it done. In a game this big, you'll need a third scorer.
8:30 First Half: Pointers with the first 4 point lead of the game this late into the game. Tells you something about the teams that are playing doesn't it?
8:00 First Half: Not only do Ryf and Tillema have 19 of Pointers 21, they also have all but two of the Pointers shots. Just a very interesting stat.
6:25 First Half: Video finally up for this game. Was doing my best with the audio and live stats until then.
5:10 First Half: Pointers looking like they like to iso Tillema a lot, especially from the just off the top of the key and wing.
3:31 First Half: Young getting to the rim at will against the Pointers guards. Have to cut down those penetration lanes if you are Stevens Point. Young is too good at creating for himself and others.
2:26 First Half: You can see just how much Tillema does for the Pointers. Not only does he score, but he creates. He is a very excellent passer and puts people in places they need to be to score.
:41 First Half: Warhawks extend their man pressure out and push the Pointers off of the 3-point line and get a turnover, but couldn't convert to make it a three-point game.
:27 First Half: Tillema down for the Pointers, and can't put any pressure on his right ankle on his way off. Could be a big factor in this game.
:00 First Half: Huge three from Darnell Harris to cut Pointer lead to 30-28 at halftime. That's what Harris gives you. That inside-outside presence. Young creating very well, five assists for the Warhawks, including on that last one off the pick and pop.
Halftime thoughts: Very smooth game. Both teams are very efficient offensively and very deliberate. They are looking for the best shot on every possession. You don't see many teams with patience like that.
For Whitewater, they need to keep getting Young to the basket. When he has done that he has really exploited the Pointer defense. When they get to the paint, the Hawks are dangerous.
For Point, if they don't get Tillema back for the second half because of his ankle injury, its going to be a rough sledding to score. Tillema creates for everyone and if he can't go, they become a little more one-dimensional. They will have to rely on their motion to get it done. Heuer and Ryf need to step up to proved the scoring punch.
20:00 Second Half: Tillema not out to start the half for the Pointers.
16:57 Second Half: Heuer with a big tip in to give Pointers a 7 point lead. Stevens Point needs the big guy to do some more of that and score on the block with Tillema out.
15:43 Second Half: Lutz with a huge three to put Stevens Point up 12. Timeout Whitewater. Pointers really working their motion to perfection. Everyone touching the ball right now. Needs to keep happening.
14:10 Second Half: Ryf showing he is a capable scorer tonight, just knocked down a three-pointer. He is very capable, just hasn't shown it as much as maybe the Pointers would like or maybe he just doesn't need to.
12:13 Second Half: Whitewater just looks out of sync. Young has lost is focus a bit in this half and the offense has been stagnant as opposed to the Pointers right now.
9:40 Second Half: Whitewater not hitting from deep either. Can't do that when you are down. They are just jacking shots and it affects your defense too, which is what is happening right now for Warhawks.
9:01 Second Half: I'm also very impressed with how well the Point offense is running without Tillema on the floor. It might actually be running better than it was in the first half. Ryf has really took his game to another level tonight.
7:42 Second Half: Whitewater trying to cause havoc in a pressure defense. It's helping their offense but the Pointers are still scoring and keeping the lead in double digits.
6:13 Second Half: Huge and-1 for Hass for the Pointers to push lead up to 15. Going to be tough for Warhawks to come back from that lead. But if anyone can...
5:07 Second Half: Things getting chippy right now between the teams. Both are going very hard right now.
5:00 Second Half: I think the game is going to come down to the free throw line for the Pointers. Which is good because they are a very good shooting team from the line.
4:35 Second Half: Pointers have really impressed me by doing this against the Warhawks and without Tillema. Hass as also stepped up and had a huge half in his place. Looked very strong.
3:33 Second Half: Warhawks can't get anything to go. They were very cold this half. Part of that had to do with sometimes poor shot selections, especially when Point went on their run.
2:11 Second Half: Pointers have been doing yeoman's work on the offensive boards, Ritchay with one right there to move the lead back to 13 points. A lot of those second-chance points came in the second half.
End of Game: UW-Stevens Point 72, UW-Whitewater 61 on the win.
Check out my midweek blog later tonight or early tomorrow for my input on the game in my "One Big Thing."
Thanks for tuning in for the first live blog, and hopefully I'll do it again soon.
You getting any video yet?
ReplyDeleteNo, says subscription failed...I'm listening right now
ReplyDeleteYeah, me too.
ReplyDeleteReally killing the whole watching the best game in DIII right now
ReplyDelete3/6 FT's just isn't good enough... those missed freebies might end up having a big impact, especially since Harris hit that shot to end the half.
ReplyDeleteI agree, especially for a good FT shooting team like Point. I'd still be more worried if Tillema can't go. But I got a feeling he might, but still might have a diminished effect.
ReplyDelete