James Madison (3-8) @ UNCG (5-6)

When: Tuesday, December 18 7:00 pm
Where: Greensboro Coliseum (7,617)^
TV: None/Spartan All-Access

^ - Greensboro Coliseum is undergoing renovations and will not be using the upper deck for any seating at UNCG games this season. I do not have the official seat totals with these changes.

James Madison Athletics

Preseason Preview

UNCG Stats
Last Game: @ Rutgers (L 72-89) Recap
PPG: 75.1
RPG: 37.6
APG: 14.2
Leader Points: Kyle Cain (15.6)
Leader Rebounds: Kyle Cain (8.1)
Leader Assist: Tevon Saddler (3.5)
FG %: 47.0
3 Pt %: 67.4
FT %: 37.4

James Madison Stats
Last Game:@ High Point (W 84-69) Recap
PPG: 62.6
RPG: 34.6
APG: 8.8
Leader Points: Charles Cooke (16.0)
Leader Rebounds: Taylor Bessick (5.3)
Leader Assists: Ron Curry (2.9)
Team FG %: 40.6
Team 3 Pt %: 25.6
Tean FT %: 72.0

Thoughts
This is going to be a bit of a root canal. UNCG has been completely ground to a halt by any team that will occasionally run a zone defense against them. Well, the Dukes play a zone all the time. They play it on purpose, not just occasionally. So, they have practiced it and are very good at playing it. I'm not expecting this to be a 85-86 game with +74 possessions.

With fewer possessions, UNCG will have to value the ball each time they possess it. Uh oh. This is not the strong suit of the Spartans. UNCG will have to change that on Wednesday in order to pick up a win. They will have to get good looks at the basket and make them.

On the opposite side, James Madison hasn't shown themselves to be very good on the offensive end. They've only broke 70 points twice on the season. If UNCG can buck another of their season long trends by not giving the Dukes easy transition points, they can make life a little easier for themselves.

I'm really just looking for a game where UNCG can show focus and intensity for a full forty minutes. If that happens, I will live with whatever happen on the scoreboard. Go Spartans !!!