App State (6-13) @ UNCG (10-12)

When: Thursday, January 30 7:00 pm
Where: Greensboro Coliseum (7,617)^
TV: 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.

App State Athletics

Last Game: 1/9/14 UNCG 66 @ App State 60 Recap

UNCG Stats
Last Game: @ Chattanooga (L 67-77) Recap
PPG: 71.7
RPG: 37.0
APG: 12.9
Leader Points: Kyle Cain (16.0)
Leader Rebounds: Kyle Cain (8.9)
Leader Assists: Tevon Saddler (3.3)
FG %: 44.6
3 Pt %: 35.1
FT %: 68.3

App State Stats
Last Game: @ Citadel (W 80-67) Recap
PPG: 71.5
RPG: 36.7
APG: 11.7
Leader Points: Tab Hamilton* (13.6)
Leader Rebounds: Michael Obacha (8.9)
Leader Assists: Mike Neal (3.2)
FG %: 42.3
3 Pt %: 30.9
FT %: 66.3

* Jay Canty averages 17.6 points in 5 games. Canty is currently recovering from a wrist injury and is expected to be out 4-6 weeks.

Thoughts
Last week at this time, UNCG was sitting pretty for a Southern Conference Tournament bye. The Spartans were 3-2 and had won the games it was supposed to and only needed to continue that streak in order to get that top 5 spot. Well, this week is a different story. G went 0-2 on the western swing. At the same time, Wofford, App State and Samford are making big pushes up the standings ladder. Tonight's game is very critical. It's a home game against a local team that is right in the hunt with UNCG for that 5th spot. The Mountaineers are only .5 games behind UNCG (in the win column). It's very much a "must win".

Tonight's game features 2 of the best rebounders in the SoCon in Kyle Cain and Michael Obacha. Obacha is gathering 4 offensive rebounds per game. That's huge. UNCG will need to do a good job of limiting the Apps to just one shot attempt per trip. Since the last contest in Boone, Jay Canty has went down with an injured wrist. He will be out an extended period of time. However, after the injury, ASU won 2 games last week. So while it's a big loss for App, they seem to be rallying and playing better.

As for UNCG, the recent 3 game swoon can be attributed to many things. The glaring problem has been foul difficulty. Spartan big men just haven't been able to stay on the court very long. Cain, Locke and White have all had to battle through fouls. Also, the attitudes haven't been very good. It seems like a single marginal call has been enough to cause UNCG to go "in the tank" for long stretches. Th Spartans need to do a better job of playing the next play and not dwelling on the previous one.

The game in January was one that UNCG pretty much controlled throughout. The Spartans turned the ball over 21 times and really helped keep the Mountaineers in the ballgame (which they actually led at halftime). UNCG needs to be solid with the ball and do a good job of playing defense without fouling. Also, it would be nice to see the interior player and guards play in sync. If that happens I think UNCG can get itself back on track. Go Spartans !!!