NDSU vs Omaha 1/8 and 1/9

[bruinbison]

7:30 Friday & Saturday - Midco/ESPN +

Omaha game notes:

https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sit...kota_State.pdf

Odds & Ends:

- Matt Pile (6’ 8” 240) back for his 7th season - well, just seems like it.
Now a senior - Reigning Summit League Defensive Player of the Year - Preseason 1st Team All-Summit League
Is scoring a little less than last season (10 ppg), shots are going to Marlon Ruffin. Will be interesting to see if Rocky can lure Pile out to the perimeter, similar to the Kansas game and 6’ 10” David McCormack. That took McCormack out of his game, and out of the game. Or does Omaha match up someone else? Pile can overpower Rocky inside so, again, will be interesting to watch.

- Marlon Ruffin the leading scorer at 13.1 ppg, but had 24 & 21 in the two losses against Oral Roberts last week. The 6’ 5” JR was last years Summit League Sixth Man of the Year after transferring from Highland CC. Also a Preseason All-Summit choice.

- Ayo Akinwole, 6’ SR guard (9 ppg, 2.5 apg) is the best 3 point threat at 42% made, Ruffin at 34%. Big man Matt Pile doesn’t do those, you know where to guard him...

- Good news & bad news for Omaha......
Bad news is they are 2-10 (0-2 Summit) for the season.
Good news is the last 4 losses were closer games since the 42 point blowout at Colorado.
@Wyoming 82-78
@ Kansas State 60-58
ORU 95-83
ORU 86-75