The Paladins (11-5, 2-1 SoCon) finally looked like the cohesive, physical unit we expected to see. Today, they host a VMI (6-10, 1-2 SoCon) team that is looking to get back on track after a road loss to ETSU.
Here is everything you need to know for this afternoon’s matchup.
The Keydets Scouting Report: The TJ Johnson Show
VMI plays a high-variance, fast-paced style that can be a nightmare to defend if they get hot early. They lead the league in three-point volume, and their offense funnels through one specific player.
• The Missing Piece: Rickey Bradley Jr. The senior guard was the Preseason SoCon Player of the Year, but he has yet to play a single minute this season. He remains sidelined with an undisclosed injury, and while there were hopes he would return for the start of league play, there is still no clear timeline for if or when he will suit up. His 16.3 PPG and veteran leadership are massive holes in the Keydet lineup.
• TJ Johnson. He’s coming off a 30-point, 9-rebound performance against ETSU where he hit six threes. He averages 19.3 PPG and is essentially the scoring production VMI relies on, especially from three.
• Tan Yildizoglu. The point guard from Turkey is the primary distributor. He averages nearly 4 assists per game and is tasked with keeping the Keydets’ offense organized when teams start to pressure Johnson.
• Linus Holmström and Mario Tatum Jr. VMI averages nearly 11 made threes per game. If the Paladins over-commit to stopping Johnson’s drive, Holmström and Tatum Jr. are the ones who will punish them from the perimeter.
The “Bowser Effect”
The win in Chattanooga felt like a turning point for the rotation. Despite the continued absence of Cooper Bowser and Collin O’Neal, Furman found a new gear.
0. Cole Bowser’s Debut: In a major move, the coaching staff burned the redshirt of freshman Cole Bowser on Wednesday. He didn’t just play; he changed the game. Bowser grabbed 10 rebounds in his debut and provided a vertical threat that completely changed the efficiency of the defense.
0. Senior Dominance: Charles Johnston is in the midst of a career-best stretch. He dominated the Mocs with 21 points on 10-of-14 shooting. Without Cooper Bowser, Johnston has transformed into a legitimate All-SoCon-level anchor in the paint.
0. Shooter’s Rhythm: Tom House (17 pts vs. UTC) and Asa Thomas (16 pts, 8 reb vs. UTC) are starting to find their range together. When both are clicking, it opens up the lane for Alex Wilkins (16.9 PPG) to operate in space.
Three Keys to the Game
1. Respect the Volume VMI is going to shoot at least 25 to 30 threes today. It’s who they are. Furman’s perimeter defense must be disciplined. You can’t gamble for steals and leave a shooter open. Making Johnson a “two-point scorer” rather than a “three-point scorer” is the goal.
2. Dominating the Glass VMI struggled on the boards against ETSU, and Furman just out-rebounded a physical Chattanooga team by eight. With the combination of Charles Johnston’s strength and Cole Bowser’s “twitch” and length(heard the other writer mention signs of Noah Gurley), the Paladins should be able to control the glass and prevent second-chance opportunities.
3. Restrict Turnovers VMI forces a lot of possessions, but they can be turnover-prone. Furman needs to play at their pace, not VMI’s. If the Paladins move the ball safely and force VMI to defend for 20+ seconds, the Keydets’ defense often cracks.
The Outlook
The Paladins are back home, they have the legends in the building, and they have a new weapon in Cole Bowser. While TJ Johnson is a legitimate threat to drop 30 on any given Saturday, Furman’s depth of scoring and interior presence make them a heavy favorite. If they stay connected on the perimeter and continue to feed Charles Johnston inside, they should cruise to 3-1 in the league.
Hope that wasn't a costly win. What happened to Thomas? I saw he was in street clothes in the 2nd half. I assume Tom House was in concussion protocol?
Tremendous effort by the bench, especially Bronson on both ends of the court.