YPSILANTI, Mich. —- Eastern Michigan University exhibition basketball games are now history and for Eagles first year coach Rob Murphy the results have fueled the expectation of the Eagle basketball fans.
The Eagles defeat Earlham College back on Sunday October 30, 2011 by the score of 81-55 for the first exhibition victory.
Last night at the friendliest and coziest basketball venue in the Mid-American Conference, the Convocation Center the Eagles defeated Marygrove College 85-51.
The Eagles displayed a balance offense attack, four Eagles scored in double figures led by a player that Murphy describes as a space eater, the 6-11 post player for the Eagles Matt Balkema, he scored 15 points and pulled down four rebounds.
Helping the Eagles offense against Marygrove the effort of shooting guard J.R. Sims, he scored 15 points and four assist keeping the offense rolling. Second year transfer from Southeast Missouri State University Derek Thompson scored 11 and a player that Murphy is gaining respect for each and every day and he joined the team as a walk on player, Anthony Strickland scored 10 points.
“We are a good half court offense,” Murphy said about his offense. “We lost Brandon Bowdry and we really do not have a go to guy.”
Murphy said that the go-to-guy is going to be a game-to game commitment made by any player ready to step up and take the lead for the Eagles.
The offense found success beyond the three point arch hitting 33 percent of their shots but the Eagles also found success inside the paint hitting 42 points
The Eagles defense played a style that pleased Murphy forcing Marygrove into 17 turnovers and the Eagles turned them into 17 points. The defense pushed the Marygrove offense out on the perimeter.
Marygrove College offense shot just 29.1 percent from the field.
“We play an up tempo defense,” Murphy said before the game against Marygrove. “We want to create turnover.”
The opening of the 2011-12 basketball season begins Friday night November 11, 2011 at the Convocation Center when the Eagles host the University of Illinois-Chicago. The tip off is schedule for 7 p.m.
The 2011-12 season is going to be a season of discovery for Murphy and for the basketball fans that follow Eastern Michigan University.
The expectation for a successful season is going to depend on many things going right for the Eagles. The offense will have to play a control style of offense and taking advantage of fast break situation.
The one area that is still will be work in progress for the entire season will be making points from the free throw line. The Eagles only hit 63.2 percent from the charity line against Marygrove.
The schedule is decent and there are games with programs that give the Eagles some credibility.
The Eagles will play Michigan State University Sunday afternoon November 27 at the Convocation Center starting at noon. Eastern Michigan University will be on the road November 29, 2011 at the Carrier Dome against Syracuse University.
Murphy and the fans that follow Eastern Michigan University basketball will be ready November 11, 2011 stepping onto the floor at the Convocation Center keeping the expectations and the emotion in perspective will be hard to control for everybody.
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Written by Mel Suiter
Graduated from Eastern Michigan University in 2002 and have been working as a beat writer for The Ypsilanti Courier covering Eastern Michigan University football and men's basketball during my school career and after graduation.
I like the Mid-American Conference and the rest of the mid-major conferences.
