Thursday March 20th at 12:30pm Central Time tips off the 2014 KHSAA Boys Sweet Sixteen Basketball tournament for the Bowling Green Purples out of the 4th Region and Knott County Central Patriots out of the 14th Region.
In comparing these two teams, let’s take a look at the facts and also make some assumptions about the upcoming game.
PLAYING AT RUPP: WHO HAS THE ADAVANTAGE? Or DISADVANTAGE?
Knott County Central is making their third consecutive trip to Rupp Arena and their fourth out of the last five years. Bowling Green’s returns to Rupp after their appearance in 2012. You can’t help but to have some butterflies as the game gets underway but those feeling will be soon forgotten for both of these teams. The Patriots are young, but they are tournament experienced. As for the Purples they are senior dominated team with two of their impact players with big stage experience winning three consecutive KHSAA 5A Football State Championships.
Tale of the TAPE:
Total Field Goal Pct.: Knott County Central 53.3% vs 46.2% Bowling Green
Total 3-Point Field Goal Pct.: Knott County Central 39.7% vs 30.3% Bowling Green
Total Free Throw Pct.: Knott County Central 68.9% vs 71.8% Bowling Green
Avg. Free Throws per Game: Knott County Central 17.9 vs 24.1 Bowling Green
Avg. Points Allowed: Knott County Central 50.2 vs 55.1 Bowling Green
Avg. Points Scored: Knott County Central 67.6 vs 68.9 Bowling Green
Avg. Rebounds Per Game: Knott County Central 30.6 vs 31.8 Bowling Green
Impact Players:
The Knott County Central Patriots have a big one-two punch from 6’5 junior forward Evan Hall who averages 15.3 points per game and 6’1 junior guard Cameron Justice who leads all scoring averaging 25.5 per game. On average Justice and Hall make up 60.1% of the scoring for the Patriots per game this season. Junior forwards 6’3 Chance Cornett averages 8.1 points per game and 6’2 forward Simon Christon averages 6.8 points per game. Hall and Cornett do most of the heavy lifting rebounding for the Patriots with Hall pulling down 9, Cornett 6.7 and Christon 4.9 per game.
The Bowling Green Purples have a much different offensive attack utilizing several different Purples for their offensive production. Three Purples average double digit scoring each game led by 6’2 junior guard Tucker Sine averaging 12.1points per game, followed by 5’10 senior guard Nacarius Fant 11.9, 6’5 forward/guard Clay Stivers who averages 11.1points per game and 6’7 senior forward/center Joseph Ayers averages 8.5 ppg. Several of the Purples are active on the boards with Ayers and Stivers leading the way each averaging 5.5 per game.
Final Analysis:
This is going to be a great opening game between two very good but very different teams. The Patriots who are young but tournament tested will not be intimidated by Rupp, the crowds or their opponents the Bowling Green Purples. The Patriots are going to stay with what got them to the big dance and that is their two junior standouts Justice and Hall. Coach King will go six deep as he has all season long with Christon, Cornett, Hall, Justice, Miller and Sammons which against a team like the Purples can present some challenges late in the game.
The Purples are a senior laden team who has been battle tested with a demanding regular and post season schedule. Coach DG Sherrill will go nine to ten deep during the game with talented players off of the bench. This is an advantage that the Purples will exploit by pressuring both Hall and Justice with multiple defenders during the game. Another key advantage for the Purples is that their scoring is balanced between their starters and bench production does not fall off during the game. The Purples are athletic, long and quick with players on the court ranging from 6’7, 6’5,’6’4, 6’2 at any given time.
Lastly, the Purples on average go to the charity stripe 24.1 times per game verses the Patriots who average 17.9 trips per game. The Purples quickness and athleticism to the basket create scoring opportunities regularly with and ones.
The key for the Purples is to press Knott County Central early, and utilize their deep bench to bring in fresh legs to cover and pressure Hall and Justice. Don’t be surprised if 2014 Mr. Kentucky Football Nacarius Fant has a breakout first game on a stage in which he thrives on. Purples Stivers and Sine will do what they have done all season long which is playing wide open at both ends of the court. Senior forward/center Joseph Ayers needs to play big, but be in control and not get into early foul trouble. Depth will make a difference in this game with bench players who are difficult to differentiate from the starting five in most games.
Final score: Bowling Green 69 – Knott County Central 61
What is your Final Score?
Listen to every play on http://PurplesNation.com Pre-game show 12:15.
