Presbyterian-Bonnies Preview

The Bonnies conclude their three-game trip to Albuquerque, N.M. with a match-up against Presbyterian College at 5:05 p.m. EST. The Blue Hose of Presbyterian are in their first Division I season and should not present much of a challenge for the Bonnies.

That is unless their 3-point shots are falling. The Blue Hose live and die and by 3 ball, as they make an average of 11.3 trifectas a game and convert at a 46 percent clip from behind the arc. Presbyterian relies on its guard play, as they only have one player taller than 6-foot-7. The Blue Hose average 24.5 rebounds per game compared with the Bonnies’ 37.5 per contest. That may very well be where this game is won tonight. If the Bonnies can limit the Blue Hose 3-point attempts and garner rebounds at the rate they have been, this game should be a relatively easy win. However, as we have seen with this team before, there is no such thing as an easy win.

The Blue Hose are 0-4 in the young season and have scored more than 60 points just once this season – in their last game against Loyola Marymount yesterday, an 83-76 loss.

The Bonnies starting lineup is the same as it has been the past few games, except with one notable exception. Tyler Relph is expected to get the start over Malcolm Eleby at the point, something I was calling for after last night’s performance by the freshman. Relph is averaging 4.7 assists on the year and while Eleby still needs time to adapt to the Division I level, the Bonnies need to win this game and that is why Relph is starting the game.

The Bonnies should pound the ball inside to Lee and/or Carter every single opportunity because there is not one player on Presbyterian who them. The Blue Hose cannot match up with the Bonnies man-to-man so expect them to play a lot of zone as they have done in their other two games in this Basketball Travelers Invitational.

All things considered, the Bonnies should win this game. However, it’s hard to get amped for a game when there are more people on press row than in the stands but this is a game the Bonnies simply cannot lose. Most people expected this team to head back to Olean tomorrow with a 3-2 record and a win here and the Bonnies will have achieved that.

Probable Starting Lineup St. Bonaventure
G – Zarryon Fereti, 6-3
G – Tyler Relph, 6-0
G – Hillary Haley, 6-6
F – Michael Lee, 6-9
F – D’Lancy Carter, 6-10

Probable Starting Lineup Presbyterian
G- Ryan Lamb, 5-8
G – Josh Johnson, 6-3
G – Bryan Bostic, 6-3
F – Al’Lonzo Coleman, 6-7
F – Walt Allen, 6-5

Prediction:
Bonnies 72 Presbyterian 57