November 19 Notebook

UPCOMING GAMES INVOLVING EMERALD COAST CLASSIC TEAMS

Note: All times listed are Central

Wednesday, Nov. 19

Oklahoma at Creighton, 7 pm FOX Sports 1

Morehead State at Cincinnati, 6 p.m.

Thursday Nov. 20

Cal-Davis at Eastern Illinois, 7 p.m.

Southern at Mississippi, 8 p.m. SEC Network

Fresno State at Northern Arizona, 9 p.m.

Saturday. Nov. 22

Southern at Middle Tennessee State, 3:30 p.m

Sunday, Nov. 23

Northern Arizona at Mississippi, 7 p.m. SEC Network

North Carolina Central at Creighton, 3 p.m. FOX Sports 1

Eastern Illinois at Cincinnati, 4 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 25

Northern Arizona at Middle Tennessee State, 7 p.m.

North Carolina Central at Cincinnati, 6 p.m.

Eastern Illinois at Creighton, 7 p.m. FOX Sports 1

Southern at Tulane, 8 p.m.

PAST WEEK’S RESULTS

Friday, Nov. 14

North Carolina 76, North Carolina Central 60

Cincinnati 52, St. Francis (Pa.) 37

Creighton 104, Central Arkansas 77

Middle Tennessee State 77, Ohio Valley 60

Louisiana Tech 85, Southern 76

Charleston Southern 66, Mississippi 65 (OT)

Missouri State 64, Eastern Illinois 53

Xavier 93, Northern Arizona 60

Sunday, Nov. 16

Creighton 84, Chicago State 66

Toledo 71, Northern Arizona 58

Monday, Nov. 17

Southern 76, LSU-Alexandra 65

Eastern Illinois 81, Eureka 5

Mississippi 74, Troy 64

Tuesday, Nov. 18

North Carolina Central 123, College of Faith 65

Murray State 68, Middle Tennessee State 49

STERN TEST FOR CREIGHTON TONIGHT: The learning curve accelerates Wednesday night for Creighton when No. 18 Oklahoma visits the CenturyLink Center.

After cruising to wins over a pair of overmatched opponents, the Bluejays face a Sooner team that Creighton coach Greg McDermott calls maybe the best opponent his squad will face this season.

HOMECOMING FOR COBB: When Cincinnati plays in the Emerald Coast Classic Thanksgiving weekend, it will mark a homecoming of sorts for guard Farad Cobb, who is a transfer from Northwest Florida State College.

When the University of Cincinnati signed Farad Cobb out of Northwest Florida State College, the statistic that jumped out was his 46.3 percent accuracy from 3-point range as a sophomore.

On a team that displayed shortcomings last year shooting from the perimeter, it was logical to assume that Cobb would be the designated gunner from long range this season. But UC coach Mick Cronin says the 6-1 junior guard from West Palm Beach, Fla., is capable of much more than that.

“He’s a playmaker,” Cronin said. “He made two great passes in the second half the other might. I’ve got to get him in more situations where he’s got the ball in his hands to where he can be a playmaker for us. He’s got great speed and he’s an excellent passer. He can score. He’s got great floaters and shoots a high percentage going at the rim.”

FRONTCOURT BY COMMITTEE: With its entire backcourt returning from last year’s team, Northern Arizona only lost one player who played more than five minutes per game last season: forward Max Jacobsen.

Despite how little turnover he had, head coach Jack Murphy is tasked with replacing Jacobsen’s 27.4 minutes, 12.3 points and 4.2 rebounds per game, numbers that made the former Lumberjack an All-Big Sky honorable mention last season. The Lumberjacks don’t lack potential replacements, but how the workload is split up remains to be seen.

Junior Jordyn Martin, senior Len Springs and sophomore Ako Kaluna comprise the core returners for the Lumberjacks up front. Martin stood out in the team’s scrimmage against Cal Baptist, finishing with 14 points and 12 rebounds as Kaluna and Springs were in foul trouble.

LOOKING TO REGAIN CHAMPIONSHIP FORM: With the celebration of 2014 long gone, North Carolina Central University embarks on new territory as an NCAA Division I member – defending a championship. The maroon and gray won both the MEAC regular season and tournament titles to punch its ticket to the NCAA Tournament.

The accomplishments of that team were plenty: With the 28 wins, NCCU tied the school record with both the 1989 NCAA Division II National Championship team and the 1950-51 squad that won the CIAA’s Visitation Championship. NCCU also recorded the most wins by a MEAC men’s basketball team and the No. 14 seed in the East Region was the lowest seed in the conferences history.

REVAMPED CINCINNATI OFFENSE: After watching his team so frequently grapple to score last season, University of Cincinnati coach Mick Cronin was determined to make sure he improved the offense for 2014-15.

He recruited an abundance of strong, physical players who could score inside and a guard who could light it up from the perimeter in Farad Cobb. Combined with increased output from returning guards Ge’Lawn Guyn, Kevin Johnson and Troy Caupain, scoring would not be a problem.

Cronin remains confident that his plan will succeed, but there was scant evidence of that in the Bearcats’ season-opening 52-37 victory over Saint Francis (Pa.) on Friday night.

MORE HEADLINES

Cincinnati

Nov. 17: Bearcats Receive Votes In Poll

Nov. 15: Ellis Keys Victory

Nov. 13: Morman Returns

Nov. 12: True Measure Of Season

Creighton

Nov. 17: Pecking Order

Nov. 16: Artino Powers Jays Past Chicago State

Nov. 15: Depth In Backcourt

Nov. 14: Kreklow Keys Season Opening Win

Nov. 13: Solid Foundation