Ahhh can you smell it? Probably not because most can only smell the salt that the city of Pittsburgh has been spreading throughout to try and melt the ice. But lucky for you, I can tell you what the smell is, and that would be playoff basketball on the horizon. Its like when you first get to an amusement park and you can smell the popcorn, or when driving to the ocean, you get that nice whiff of ocean breeze. If you are hopeful to see some playoff basketball, then either come, or stay in and listen to the Pioneers and Highlanders tonight because this will be a playoff-like atmosphere, especially on the women’s side. Seems like a good place to start, so start I will.
Women: In their previous meeting this season, the Pioneers were able to go up to New York and get a big win against Skip Lord and his Lady Highlanders. Houghton is a storied program. Coach Lord always has his ladies ready to play no matter who it is against, and tonight will be no different. Houghton is kind of a one trick pony in that the team goes as Ashley Dupler goes. Dupler is just like Amanda Himes of MVNU. She is an outstanding player averaging 16.9 PPG and has been the teams leading scorer in 18 of the teams 23 games. If Dupler gets in rhythm then your going to have problems UNLESS you play the Dupler will get hers, lets eliminate everyone else, like Leah French who averages just over 12 PPG. I don’t mind going that route, however, if Dupler gets started early like she did against the Pioneers in the teams first meeting, then PPU will be playing from behind again. If the Lady Pioneers want to get a win and thrust themselves back into the playoff picture then they NEED to get their big two going in April Austin and Ashley Henderson. When these two play well not only do they feed off each other, but the team feeds off them as well. And can we get a Pioneer big to get me 15 and 10 tonight?? Jones, Peterkin, Reinhard, Roddy anyone?
Keys to the Game:
PPU: 1. Get started from the outside: This is the Pioneer strength, no doubt about it. Austin, Henderson, Swedish, Veseleny, Bergman all need to get started from beyond the arc.
2. Transition Defense: This is, by far, the weakest asset of the women’s team. I don’t know what it is, but they have to fix it in a hurry. Team after team have exploited this, and hopefully the Pioneers are able to fix this problem before it hinders their playoff chances.
3. Bench stepping up: I would love tonight to see some production off the bench. Especially Ashley Bergman. She is ready to go off soon, you can just feel it, maybe tonight might be the night.
Houghton: 1. Inside Out: Get the ball to your horse on the inside, and that will force the Pioneers to either double, or move into a zone which will free up your shooters, like French, from the outside.
2: Defend the perimeter: Make the Pioneers go to the inside, their strength, as previously stated, is the outside game, if the get started from their, the game will be over.
Stat of the Night: Houghton is 9-2 at home, but only 5-6 on the road.
Men: The men wasted an ample opportunity against Shawnee State to put themselves back into the picture in the AMC North. Now, it is all about pride and future for the Pioneers. They are not yet out of it, but winning out will only get them to 8-8, and the last playoff spot sits at 7-6, do the math. Point Park has no one to blame except themselves, they could be hovering around that last playoff spot and potentially slip into in. But now they need to worry about what’s to come.
Keys to the Game:
PPU: 1. Get some production from the inside: If Point Park can get a couple of their forwards working on the inside, then the Pioneers should have a good time tonight against the Highlanders.
2. Defend, Defend, Defend: The Pioneers need to play defense. If they do not, and let Houghton do what they want on the offensive end, then the game will be a struggle.
Houghton: 1. Devin Paige: Since Yannick Anzuluni has become ineligible, Paige has picked up the slack left in the void. If he can have a stellar game tonight, look for Houghton to stay in the game.
2. Rebound: I said the same thing with Shawnee State, if they out-rebound Point Park, then they have a good chance to win. Much like SSU, Houghton also is a minus in the rebound category.
Stat of the Night: Houghton is 2-8 on the road.
Hopefully you give a listen tonight LIVE on 670 AM WPPJ, and www.msasports.net. Game times are 5:30 and 7:30, pre-game starts 15 minutes before game time. Look here after the game for a recap and my analysis of the games.