Week 3: No. 20 Cumberland (TN) vs No. 14 Marian (IN)
Where: Waller Gymnasium – Shawnee State
When: Friday, November 11th @ 4pm CT
Watch: Shawnee State – Home (stretchinternet.com)
Probable Starters
Cumberland
Probable Starters:
2 TJ Stargel, 6’0 Jr. – 15ppg/3.5rpg/3apg
15 Jordan Stephens 6’3 Sr. – 13.5ppg/2.5rpg
1 Tyreke Johnson, 6’6 Jr. – 15ppg/3.5rpg
0 Nassir Coleman, 6’6 Sr – 9ppg/6rpg/3apg
35 Assane Ndiaye 7’1 Sr – 0ppg/0rpg
Key Reserves:
40 Isaac Stephens 6’7 Sr. – 9ppg/10rpg
23 Tyler Byrd 6’4 Sr. – 5ppg
Marian
Probable Starters:
02 Christian Harvey 6’1 Sr. – 14.3ppg/5.3rpg/4.5apg
25 Hayden Langkabel 6’1 Sr. – 17ppg/3rpg
05 Josh Bryan 6’5 Jr – 14.7ppg/3.3rpg/2apg
23 Luke Gohmann 6’6 Sr – 9ppg/6.3rpg
3 Taeshon Cherry 6’8 Sr – 13.7ppg/8.7rpg/2apg
Key Reserves:
14 Jackson Ames, 10.7ppg/10.7rpg
01 Maximus Gizzi, 7.7ppg/4.6apg
Game Breakdown
Keys To Victory
Cumberland
- Control the Pace, can’t get into a track meet
- Run Langkabel and Bryan off the 3pt line
- Win rebounding battle
Marian
- Make Cumberland play at an uncomfortable pace
- Play inside-out
- Make FT’s
Notes
As fun as it is to watch two teams get up and down the floor, this game features two teams who play contrasting styles. Marian wants to push the tempo and it has been successful for them this season. They have looked every bit of a National Title contender early on. Cumberland, plays a more methodical pace, and it works for them. Not that they won’t get out and run, but they don’t want this game to be in the 80’s or 90’s. Both teams have a ton of talent on the floor. There will be plenty of matchup battles to keep your eye on. One of our favorites is TJ Stargel and Christian Harvey. Two guys who have been around and know what it takes to win ball games. This feels like it could be a big Taeshon Cherry game though. With his size and skillset, he can give this Cumberland team some issues. Assane Ndiaye, is a bit of the wildcard here for Cumberland though. He, alongside of Isaac Stephens, will be the ones most likely in charge of slowing down Cherry. Ndiaye didn’t play in any of Cumberland’s early games. He did start in their last exhibition game against D2 Union. He could be the X-Factor in this one if he can control the paint defensively. Once you get past that it’s essentially Ty’Reek Johnson and Jordan Stephens vs Hayden Langkabel and Josh Bryan. Langkabel and Bryan have lit it up from the outside this season. They are a combined 23-39 from 3pt line this season. By doing so, they have really opened up this Marian offense. But Ty’Reek Johnson and Jordan Stephens are each capable of having 30pt outbursts themselves. Again, it will be interesting to see the tempo and pace of this game even though it should be physical, especially in and around the paint. A neutral court game, between two Top 25 teams, from power conferences, and both looking for an early season statement win? Sign us up!!! With so many great games this week for us there is just so much fun and intrigue in this matchup that it was hard for us to not make it our NAIA Hoops Report Game of the Week!
