Tweet
I'm only making one play today, and I see tremendous value in this game. St. Bonaventure and Fordham were at the very bottom of every pre-season prognostication for handicapping the Atlantic 10.
Neither squad has experience, neither squad has upper-classmen they can count on, and neither has much of a chance to make much noise in a tough conference. But all signs say that one of these squads starts conference play as a significantly better team. Make that a significantly better team that only has to lay 3 points.
Fordham is 2-10, and there hasn't been a lot of hard luck losses along the way. There has simply been bad, inexperienced basketball. And there has been NO rebounding. Fordham's leading scorer and team leader is Jio Fontan, a true freshman, who is going to be a great player, and would be much better if he were surrounded by any talent or size. HE ISN'T!
Fordham's leading rebounder is Chris Bethel. This is troublesome for two reasons. 1. Chris Bethel is 6'5. 2. He is also questionable for the conference opener tonight. Nobody else on this team averages more than 4+ RPG. Jacob Green averages 2 offensive rebounds a game, which leads the team.
St. Bonny's is also a young, inexperienced team, but they have found ways to win in the young season. At 9-4, and with wins against Princeton and Rutgers, and a narrow loss to Miss. St., this is a team that at least has an identity.
Princeton is the only common opponent that Fordham and St. Bon's share, but I think it is telling. Princeton took a road victory at Fordham by a score of 73-61, and outrebounded the Rams 36-24. Ten days later, Princeton lost to St Bonaventure 60-53 and the Bonnies outrebounded Princeton 39-31.
Fordham has dominated this series, and since the sanctions against the program 6 years ago, St Bonaventure has been one of the doormats of college hoops. However, this pre-season, they have performed at a much higher level than tonight's opponent, and they enjoy a very large size advantage against a Fordham team whose leading rebounder may well not be suiting up.
If St. Bonaventure wasn't "St Bonaventure" this spread would be 10 points, and by my estimates it really should be.
ST BONNY -3 BIG
Good luck.
Neither squad has experience, neither squad has upper-classmen they can count on, and neither has much of a chance to make much noise in a tough conference. But all signs say that one of these squads starts conference play as a significantly better team. Make that a significantly better team that only has to lay 3 points.
Fordham is 2-10, and there hasn't been a lot of hard luck losses along the way. There has simply been bad, inexperienced basketball. And there has been NO rebounding. Fordham's leading scorer and team leader is Jio Fontan, a true freshman, who is going to be a great player, and would be much better if he were surrounded by any talent or size. HE ISN'T!
Fordham's leading rebounder is Chris Bethel. This is troublesome for two reasons. 1. Chris Bethel is 6'5. 2. He is also questionable for the conference opener tonight. Nobody else on this team averages more than 4+ RPG. Jacob Green averages 2 offensive rebounds a game, which leads the team.
St. Bonny's is also a young, inexperienced team, but they have found ways to win in the young season. At 9-4, and with wins against Princeton and Rutgers, and a narrow loss to Miss. St., this is a team that at least has an identity.
Princeton is the only common opponent that Fordham and St. Bon's share, but I think it is telling. Princeton took a road victory at Fordham by a score of 73-61, and outrebounded the Rams 36-24. Ten days later, Princeton lost to St Bonaventure 60-53 and the Bonnies outrebounded Princeton 39-31.
Fordham has dominated this series, and since the sanctions against the program 6 years ago, St Bonaventure has been one of the doormats of college hoops. However, this pre-season, they have performed at a much higher level than tonight's opponent, and they enjoy a very large size advantage against a Fordham team whose leading rebounder may well not be suiting up.
If St. Bonaventure wasn't "St Bonaventure" this spread would be 10 points, and by my estimates it really should be.
ST BONNY -3 BIG
Good luck.
Comment