Game Preview, Game 17: Oakland University

Last year, Oakland went 17-1 in Summit League play. Their only loss was a 24-point drubbing at the hands of, you guessed it, IUPUI. When the two teams met at the O'Rena though, Oakland was able to escape with a 3-point victory. This time around the teams are a little different, with both squads losing key contributers. Can IUPUI find a way to edge the mighty giant slayers of Oakland University? Let's look at it.


'Team Info

Oakland University 9-8 (4-0)

Mascot: Golden Grizzlies
Conference: Summit League
BBState Rank: 90
RPI: 72
SOS: 55
Streak: W-2
Last 10: 5-5
Home: 3-1
Road: 4-6
Points For: 81.6
Points Against: 76.4
Head Coach: Greg Kampe (Since 1984)
Home Court: Athletics & Recreation Center; 3,000
Football: N
Type: Public
Affiliation: None
Founded: 1957
School Colors: Black, Gold
Student Population: 10,601 (Undergrad, full-time)

A special shout out to Corey at Grizzlies Game Plan. He's done a lot of great work for Oakland in the blogosphere, as well as some really cool pieces on different Summit League things like "Power Rankings by Biggest Win", et cetera.

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Betting Line via SoS

Line: IUPUI @ Oakland University (-6.5)
Over/Under: 141

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Individual Statistical Leaders
<-- indicates advantage in a category

Points Per Game
IUPUI: Young, 18.0 <--
OAK: Benson, 17.6

Minutes Per Game
IUPUI: Young, 36.8 <--
OAK: Benson, 32.4

Field Goal %
IUPUI: Thomas, 50.8
OAK: Hudson, 63.9 <--

Free Throw %
IUPUI: Ashworth, 90.0 <--
OAK: Hudson, 79.8

3-Point %
IUPUI: Thomas, 42.1 <--
OAK: Benson, 40.0

Rebounds Per Game
IUPUI: Young 6.2
OAK: Benson, 10.4 <--

Assists Per Game
IUPUI: Young, 2.8
OAK: Hamilton, 4.4 <--

Assists:Turnovers
IUPUI: Ashworth, 1.8:1 <--
OAK: Hamilton, 1.2:1

Steals Per Game
IUPUI: Young, 1.6 <--
OAK: Hamilton, 1.2

Blocks Per Game
IUPUI: Young, 0.9
OAK: Benson, 3.4 <--

Efficiency
IUPUI: Young, 14.6
OAK: Benson, 21.1 <--

Effective Field Goal %
IUPUI: Thomas, 57.1
OAK: Hudson, 63.9 <--

Points Per Shot
IUPUI: Thomas, 1.20
OAK: Hudson, 1.38 <--

True Shooting %
IUPUI: Thomas, 60.2
OAK: Hudson, 70.1 <--

Points Per 40 Minutes
IUPUI: Young, 19.6
OAK: Benson, 21.7 <--

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Team Statisics and Rankings
Overall # (League/National); Conf Only # (Rank)

Field Goal %
IUPUI: 45.2 (5/107); 45.5 (6)
OAK: 46.8 (1/56); 55.4 (1) <--

2-Point Field Goal %
IUPUI: 48.1 (4/154); 51.7 (5)
OAK: 53.5 (1/23); 63.5 (1) <--

3-Point Field Goal %
IUPUI: 34.3 (8/171); 29.8 (9)
OAK: 34.7 (7/160); 37.5 (4) <--

Points Per Shot
IUPUI: 1.06 (5/149); 1.075 (6)
OAK: 1.13 (1/41); 1.275 (1) <--

Free Throw %
IUPUI: 75.7 (1/19); 73.3 (2) <--
OAK: 73.4 (3/46); 70.8 (5)

Possessions Per 40 Minutes
IUPUI: 63.2 (9/331); 64.8 (9)
OAK: 74.0 (1/31); 74.9 (1) <--

Offensive Points Per Possession
IUPUI: 0.982 (7/187); 1.069 (4)
OAK: 1.076 (2/45); 1.211 (1) <--

Defensive Points Per Possession
IUPUI: 1.008 (5/199); 0.99 (3) PUSH
OAK: 1.032 (6/246); 0.912 (1)

Turnovers Per Game
IUPUI: 12.1 (2/50); 10.0 (2) <--
OAK: 15.5 (8/268); 14.8 (10)

Assists Per Game
IUPUI: 10.9 (8/304); 11.3 (6)
OAK: 15.5 (1/51); 19.0 (1) <--

Assists:Turnovers
IUPUI: 0.788 (7/258); 1.133 (4)
OAK: 0.956 (3/147); 1.288 (3) <--

Field Goal % Allowed
IUPUI: 46.2 (7/273) 48.0 (7)
OAK: 43.2 (3/165); 40.3 (1) <--

2-Point Field Goal % Allowed
IUPUI: 52.9 (9/306); 50.5 (4)
OAK: 45.6 (1/104); 42.8 (1) <--

3-Point Field Goal % Allowed
IUPUI: 32.1 (4/95); 41.9 (10)
OAK: 38.2 (9/297); 33.3 (4)

Rebounds Per Game
IUPUI: 27.2 (10/328); 28.3 (7)
OAK: 37.1 (1/28); 38.8 (2)

Blocks Per Game
IUPUI: 2.6 (8/265); 2.3 (8)
OAK: 5.4 (1/29); 6.8 (1)

Fouls Per Game
IUPUI: 15.1 (1/13); 14.7 (1)
OAK: 19.9 (5/225); 20.5 (4)

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Key Matchup

Guards
Reggie Hamilton & Larry Wright
vs
John Ashworth & Stephen Thomas
Everyone knows Keith Benson is going to do his thing, and Alex Young is going to blow up for a bunch of points, too. But the guard play is what this game is going to come down to. Who can handle the ball better? Who can get the ball to their respective star more efficiently? Who can erupt when their respective stars are off the court?
My hope, as an obviously biased IUPUI fan, is that John Ashworth's hot shooting continues and Stephen Thomas is able to work his magic.

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Keys To The Game

1) Get Keith Benson Uncomfortable.
When a lot of teams play Oakland, they'll try to get a guy in the paint who they think can match up with him the best. Rather than watch Benson dominate any number of players we can throw at him, I think, and I believe strongly that Ron Hunter knows this, you have to constantly throw mismatches his way. I think we'll see a lot of Donovan Gibbs because he is IUPUI's best midrange shooter. That will force Benson to vacate the immediate post-area, allowing Alex and Leroy to sneak in for offensive rebounds.

2) Limit Turnovers and keep fouls smart.
IUPUI has done a fantastic job so far this year of avoiding lots and lots of turnovers and fouls...unfortunately the former seems to come at the worst time every game. Thomas' turnover in the St. Louis game in the waning seconds comes to mind immediately. They'll happen, especially against a great team like Oakland, but you've got to take care of the ball. As for fouls, it has a direct correlation to a poor interior defense. Christian plays a tough, physical style that Mitch Patton and Gibbs can't match, simply due to collegiate experience and nothing more. When Chrisitian is out of the game, the defense allows easier buckets. I'd love to see both Mitch and Donovan (whom I expect to see more than Mitch on Thursday...) need to be more agressive against the guys they're guarding. Fouling is okay every so often. You have to prevent easy buckets and make Benson and others earn everything they get.

3) Momentum, Momentum, Momentum.
The Jaguars are on a three-game winstreak, the longest of the year. When they can create momentum in the midst of a game, boy are they dangerous. SO KEEP DOING THAT. Dang. 8-0 run at the end of the San Diego State game. Pushing to go up 9 against Ohio State. Dismantling FGCU and WIU after creating momentum win the two-point win over San Fransisco. A win over Oakland will take in-game momentum, hitting big shots, scoring on steals and fast breaks, and maybe even getting Benson to foul out. A win would be huge going into a game against IPFW, something IUPUI always needs. COME ON YOU JAGUARS!

4) 48% FG; 80% FT; 43% 3P.
They've got to make the most of open looks. Forced shots, especially inside, are going to get blocked by Benson, that's a fact. The guys have been working on three-point shooting, and they'll need it. And of course, when they get to the freethrow line, hit the FREE attempts. I think a victory isn't exactly out of the question, they'll just have to execute the game plan.