That was as relaxing as a title-clinching game could be. Remember last Thursday when a second-half 19-2 run put the game away in Norfolk? Well this time the Apps started the game on a 19-2 run and it never got closer than 15. That was fun.
The postgame was surprisingly business-like. No big celebration for winning at-least-a-share-of the Sun Belt regular season title. Kerns said he wants the outright title before celebrating. That entails one more step: Winning the home finale on Friday night. And that entails playing a first-time foe this season, those damn Red Wolves who are so hot right now.
First-year head coach Bryan Hodgson and his gigantic evil eyebrows can claim success as a strong finish, including two wins over Troy in a week, have the Red Wolves stamped in as 4th place and a double-bye recipient. They've won six in a row and eight of their last nine . And that one loss was by 4 to JMU in Jonesboro.
How are Arkansas State doing this? Red and black team simply shoot ball into basket
In Sun Belt play, the Red Wolves are averaging 82.5 points per game, tops in the league (App is 5th at 76.2 PPG). Defensively, App is tops at 65.9 PPG allowed, while the Red Wolves are 11th at 76.7 PPG allowed.
Hogdson comes from the Nate Oaks School for Coaches Who Want Players To Shoot The Ball From Three Alot And Do Other Basketball Things Good Too. Arkansas State has made 295 threes this season (9.8 a game), more than anyone else in the Sun Belt. They've also attempted 833 threes, more than even Marshall. That 35.4% is second-best in the Sun Belt behind JMU, while App is 7th at 203 for 608 (33.4%).
Rebounding is middle of the road, although they get a good deal of offensive rebounds (teams who shoot a lot of 3's tend to do). Arkansas State is 3rd in blocked shots (4.57 a game) and 2nd in assists (14.93 a game).
Arkansas State have five players averaging double figures a game (all with 2.4 PPG of each otheR), four of those being guards. Caleb Fields is the best player, as he gets six assists a game. Taryn Todd is the leading scorer, but not by much over Fields. Dyondre Dominguez is the main forward, who along with Izaiyah Nelson is gonna have a chore down low. The only big negative for A-State is that they only really uses seven guys in their main rotation right now.
Simple put, this won't be easy. Arkansas State is peaking at the right time. Definitely a March team that could do some damage. This could be a semifinal preview, if everything goes right on Quarterfinal Saturday for both teams.
It would suck to lose the final home game after such a stellar campaign. This team is worth celebrating, and hopefully there's a celebration on Friday. You should be a part of it. Be there.