GAME 12
December 28, 2010 7:00 PM
RUPP ARENA – Lexington, KY
COPPIN STATE EAGLES (4-5)
TV – FS SOUTH
SERIES HISTORY
Kentucky leads 1-0
Recent Meetings
11/20/2004: Kentucky 77 Coppin State 46
This is the type of game that drives coaches crazy. Yes, Kentucky will be heavily favored to win this game, and yes, there is kind of a big game scheduled on Friday versus the Louisville Cardinals. In addition, the players are fat and happy returning from Christmas Holiday. In other words, this is a trap game and despite the Eagle’s record, this is not a team to be taken lightly.
Keep in mind that the UConn Huskies only defeated the Eagles by 12 points, 76-64, at home on December 20. In comparision, the Wildcats lost to the Huskies by 17 points in Hawaii. In that game, the Huskies were coming off a long layoff and they took the Eagles from granted. Even though the Huskies were never seriously threatened, Coppin State showed a “never give up” mentality in cutting a 25 point UConn lead to 10 points with just over 6:00 remaining in the game. Coppin State and UK also share another common opponent and the Eagles lost to Oklahoma 77-57.
THE STARTERS
#12 G – TONY GALLO – JR 5’11 190
13 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 1.7 apg
#5 G MICHAEL HARPER – JR 6’4 195
15.3 ppg, 4 rpg, 1.4 apg
#23 F AKEEM ELLIS – JR 6’6 210
10.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 2.3 apg
#32 F ANTONIO WILLIAMS – JR 6’6 230
6.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 0.8 apg
#34 F BRANDEN DOUGHTY – SO 6’8 220
4.6 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 0.7 apg
BACK COURT
Tony Gallo has not played in the previous two seasons, but in just a handful of games, he has asserted himself as the Eagles floor leader. He has been a very solid scorer over the past six games and can be a pretty scrappy rebounder for a 5’10 guard. He is a definite threat from beyond the 3-point line, and is connecting on 40.8% and has 14 treys in his last four games. Even against UConn, he connected for four 3-pointers and scored 17 points. He is not that great of a ballhandler however as his A/TO ratio on the season is even. Michael Harper is the most consistent scoring threat for the Eagles and can fill it up from outside as well. He is hitting 38% on his 3-pointers. Harper is a talented scorer from all over the court as well, averaging 45.4 on FG’s and he is a pretty crafty defender that can steal the ball and create turnovers. Vince Goldsberry will also see some time at the point and is averaging 7.0 points and 3.3 assists per game. He is not as accurate from long range but does offer a bit more size at 6’0.
FRONT COURT
Akeem Ellis is capable of some big scoring games, but he is inconsistent. He has four games with more than 15 points and five games less than 7 points. He had a pretty solid game against UConn with 19 points and 6 boards but in that game he shot 8-20 and was 3-9 on his 3-pointers. Ellis is not that accurate from beyond the 3-point line, just hitting 28.9% but that does not deter him from firing away with five attempts a game. He has one double double on the season and is a pretty capable passer. Like Ellis, Antonio Williams is an hit or miss scorer with a 14 and a 156 point performance, but all his other games were under 7 points. Williams is a stay at home scorer near the rim and is equally adept at battling for offensive rebounds as well as defensive. Branden Doughty is not much of a threat in the post position, either in scoring or rebounding. For a big man, he is not that much of a rebounder and frequently gets in foul trouble. In addition, he does not draw a lot of fouls and has attempted just seven free throws on the season. 6’5 Freshman Michael Murray will also see some action but averages 3.0 points and 1.9 rebounds in just 14 minutes a game. Senior Ceslovas Kucinskas is the only true center for the Eagles, but he averages 3.1 points and 3.6 boards a game. He does provide five additional fouls for the Eagles however.
OUTLOOK
The strength of the Eagles appear to be in the backcourt, but the back court battle is a battle that Kentucky should win easily with Knight, Lamb, and Liggins. Keep in mind that the UConn game where Coppin State made a late rally was due to their back court as their front court was horribly abused and doubled up on rebounding. Coppin State made 11 3-pointers to keep the game close, but so far this season, Kentucky has defended the three well so you would think they can handle any three point barrage.
Even Kentucky’s front court should not have much rouble in this game as the Wildcats need Terrence Jones to break out of his mini “slump” and hopefully Vargas can have another strong game before meeting up against the Cards. I don’t think that Kentucky will overlook the Eagles considering that they gave UConn a game under similar circumstances. KENTUCKY 79 Coppin State 53
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