Offenses Struggle, Cougs Gut Out a Rivalry Win

Silly cadets, basketball is a man's game

Final Score: College of Charleston 55, Citadel 47

Top Performers: Mike Groselle 14 points, 16 rebounds

                             Anthony Stitt 12 points, 3 steals, 3 assists

*App State loses to WCU 83-75. Bring on the mountain men 

Don't look now, but the Mark Byington-led Cougars have won 7 of 9 heading into the Socon Tournament. The game at McKalister Field House this afternoon may not have been pretty offensively but hey, neither was the last years National Championship game between Butler and UConn. Both Charleston teams shot about 15% from outside the arc and without free throws the final score would've been a riveting 39-30. Same score as my sister's JV game. Like most games between CofC and El Cid this one got a little bit chippy at times. Groselle and Wiedeman were going at each other all afternoon. Mike Groselle got the edge with his final stats but Wiedeman was responsible for more crowd-pleasing and intimidating plays.

Because of the lack of offensive production, every possession was important and both teams really forced the issue defensively. The Citadel caused the Cougars fits with that 2-3 zone. It took away our outside shooting and prevented Trent and Baru from getting too close to the basket. What the zone did allow was a number of open jumpers inside the arc. Neadless to say we did not seize the opportunity. Still too many forced outside shots from Antwaine and Andrew. When they did feed the post, the Dogs were quick to double and triple team the big guy. The Cougars limited the Citadel's offense to tough shots under the basket and free throws. They also got the cadets to cough up the ball 17 times. I don't have the fast break numbers in front of me, but once the Cougars got out in transition their offense looked more in sync. Stitt had another solid game back from injury and everyone chipped in their fair share when push came to shove. Always good to go into the tourney playing good basketball. 

A few more notes I took in chronological order:

• Citadel's scouting report begins, consists of, and ends with Groselle. Trent let him get to the basket a lot in the first half but a pair of blocks in the second proved he could contain him
• It wasn't until the first substitution that the Cougs finally got some penetration against that 2-3. Sundberg out on the perimeter to give some space and Stitt to drive to the rim and kick out. Lawrence, Johnson, Wiggins were too happy to just pass the ball around the perimeter and wait for Baru and Trent to fight for positioning
• A lot more 3-guard lineups tonight even with Trent and Antwaine avoiding foul trouble. Stitt-Lawrence-Johnson was out a lot but there was also Stitt-Lawrence-Scott and a brief cameo by Trevonte Dixon
• Sundberg's first two shots (both threes): an air ball after a sweet pass from Stitt and another that barely grazed the front of the rim
• Like I mentioned in point #2, a few too many threes early in the shot clock by Antwaine and Lawrence. Move the ball fellas.
• Foul problems for Lawrence and Stitt means ample opportunities for Jordan Scott to shoot
• You have to get points when you have a three-on-one fast break
• Freshmen backcourt from Citadel gave up way too many turnovers at halfcourt
• The most impressive thing about Trent's three blocks- doing it without fouling or moving out of position
• Wiggins to Wiedeman dunk in transition - the highest Trent has jumped since he dunked on Zeller

The ankle looks fine right there