Central Basketball Association

2017 Semifinals Preview:

Saturday, May 13, 2017

Schlarman Academy (Danville, Ill.)

Note: All playoff games are scheduled to be broadcasted live this weekend on the CBA YouTube Channel at http://www.youtube.com/playCBA and on the CBA Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/CentralBasketballAssociation.

Be sure to also follow league action on the CBA Twitter (@playCBA) and Instagram (@playCBA) social media pages.

The championship game is to be held on Sunday, May 14, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. Central Time at Schlarman Academy in Danville, Ill.

Game 1:

• 2-seed Fort Wayne (5-3) vs. 3-seed Bowling Green (5-3)

When:

• 5:00 p.m. Central Time

Series History:

• Bowling Green leads the series 3-1. Their last meeting was held two years ago in the 2015 CBA Championship game, where Bowling Green defeated Fort Wayne, 97-95, at the buzzer to win their first title. This was their only playoff matchup, with the three prior contests occurring during the regular season. 
• Prior matchups:
  • May 31, 2015: Bowling Green 97-95 (Fort Wayne, Ind.)
  • May 2, 2015: Bowling Green 91-90 (Russellville, Ky.)
  • May 4, 2014: Fort Wayne 114-101 (Fort Wayne, Ind.)
  • April 26, 2014: Bowling Green 108-99 (Columbia, Ky.) 

Organization History: 

• This is the fourth season for Fort Wayne in the league, where they have compiled a 24-10 regular season record and a 4-2 postseason record. Fort Wayne has won at least five regular season games in all four years in the league, going undefeated in the regular season last year. This is the team's fourth trip to the post-season. With a victory on Saturday, they will advance to a league-record third finals appearance, and become the second team in league history to advance to the championship game in consecutive years, and will look to become the first team to win back-to-back titles. 
• This is the fifth season for Bowling Green in the league, where they have compiled a 24-17 regular season record and a 3-2 postseason record. Bowling Green has won at least five regular season games four consecutive years, going 5-3 in the regular season in three straight seasons. This is the team's fourth trip to the post-season. With a victory on Saturday, they will advance to a league-record third finals appearance. 

Coaches:

• Rod Wilmont (Fort Wayne) has a 27-13 career record in his fourth season as head coach, including a 4-2 record in the postseason, but 1-3 against Bowling Green head coach, Nathan Thompson, in head-to-head battles. 
• Nathan Thompson (Bowling Green) will be substituting as the head coach for Bowling Green this weekend, replacing Jacob Shackley, who had a 10-6 career record in his second season as head coach. Thompson, who led Bowling Green to their first title game appearance in 2013 and first championship title in 2015, has a 13-10 career record. 

Key Players: 

• Antonio Cannon (Fort Wayne) finished the season as the top scorer in the league, with 176 total points scored and 22.0 points per game. He had the second most points in a game this season with 36 points, and he was seventh in the league in total assists with 24 assists.
• Antonio Wilson (Fort Wayne) was fourth in the league with 79 rebounds and third in the league with 15 blocks. Wilson led the team with 9.9 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game.  
• Mikel Brigham (Fort Wayne) was third on the team in points per game with 12.3, second on the team with 8.7 rebounds per game, and second on the team this season in total blocks. 
• Fred Sturdivant (Bowling Green) was one of only three players who played in at least five games this season who averaged a double-double with 14.4 points per game and 10.8 rebounds per game. He also was second in the league with 2.6 blocks per game.  
• Monte Burney (Bowling Green) led the team in scoring with 14.5 points per game, while shooting 80.0% from the free throw line, and 33.3% from beyond the arc. He was also second on the team in both assists per game (2.9) and steals per game (1.8). 
• Jared Stephens (Bowling Green) was third on the team in total points scored (114), trailing Sturdivant (115) by one point and Burney (116) by two points. He led the team in three point percentage (40.9%) and made free throw attempts (28).   

Darkhorse Players:

• Greg Foster (Fort Wayne), who led Fort Wayne in scoring, assists, and steals last season, returned from Saudi Arabia and played in the season finale loss at Indianapolis scoring 22 points in his season debut. 
• Damarius Smith (Bowling Green), who scored a career best 10.8 points per game in his third season with the team, and led the team in field goal percentage (52.7%), assists per game (3.5) and steals per game (1.9). 

Key Head-To-Head Team Statistics:

• Points Scored Per Game (Bowling Green 100.6, Fort Wayne 95.5)
• Points Allowed Per Game (Fort Wayne 94.4, Bowling Green 101.3)
• Field Goal Percentage (Bowling Green 41.6%, Fort Wayne 41.6%)
• Free Throw Percentage (Bowling Green 67.3%, Fort Wayne 61.6%)
• 3-Point Percentage (Bowling Green 31.0%, Fort Wayne 27.9%)
• 3-Point Percentage Allowed (Fort Wayne 27.9%, Bowling Green 32.4%)
• Offensive Rebounds Per Game (Fort Wayne 18.0, Bowling Green 14.3)
• Turnovers Per Game (Bowling Green 16.9, Fort Wayne 18.9)
• Assists Per Game (Bowling Green 18.0, Fort Wayne 13.9)
• Steals Per Game (Bowling Green 12.1, Fort Wayne 10.2)
• Blocks Per Game (Fort Wayne 4.8, Bowling Green 4.6)

Prediction:

• Fort Wayne 86, Bowling Green 82

 

Game 2:

• 1-seed Indianapolis (6-2) vs. 4-seed Mississippi (4-4)

When:

• 7:00 p.m. Central Time

Series History:

• Indianapolis leads the series 2-0. During the 2017 regular season opener two months ago at home, Indianapolis defeated Mississippi, 90-87, in the first ever meeting between the two clubs. A month later, Indianapolis traveled to Memphis and defeated Mississippi in a double-digit victory. 
• Prior matchups:
  • April 22, 2017: Indianapolis 84-70 (Memphis, Tenn.)
  • March 25, 2017: Indianapolis 90-87 (Indianapolis, Ind.)

Organization History: 

• This is the second season in the league for Indianapolis, who has compiled a 10-6 regular season record and a 1-1 postseason record. This year, Indianapolis earned their first ever regular season title, behind an undefeated 4-0 record at home. This is the second consecutive year that Indianapolis has qualified for the semifinals and will look to earn their first title game berth in team history. 
• This is the third season in the league for Mississippi, who has never posted a winning regular season record in their three years, as they have compiled a 9-15 regular season record, and 0-1 in the postseason. This is Mississippi's second postseason appearance, after missing the playoffs last year with a 1-7 record. Mississippi is seeking their first championship game appearance in team history.  

​Coaches:

• Phillip Washington (Indianapolis) posted a 6-2 regular season record, and the team's first regular season title, in his first season as the team's head coach. 
• Jeremy McKinnie (Mississippi) has a 9-14 record in his third season as the team's head coach, and led Mississippi to its second 4-4 record and playoff appearance in the last three seasons. 

Key Players: 

• Chrishawn Hopkins (Indianapolis) was fourth in the league in total points (153), led the team in points per game (19.1), led the team in made free throws (49), and second in the league in assists per game (4.2)
• Anthony White, Jr. (Indianapolis) was second on the team in points per game (18.9), fifth in the league in total points (151), and led the team in free throw percentage (91.4%), as well as made three point shots (19) and attempts (57). 
• William McClure (Indianapolis) was a big spark to the club after being acquired for the final three games of the season, averaging 14.3 points per game, 10.7 rebounds per game, and 3.7 blocks per game
• Anthony Jones (Mississippi) was the first player to score a triple-double in league history this season, and was in the top-10 in the league in points per game (18.5), 5th in the league in assists per game (3.6), and led the league in steals per game (3.1). 
• Marico Stinson (Mississippi) was third on the team in scoring with 14.4 points per game, and led the team in three-point shooting percentage (42.5%), along with being third on the team in assists per game (1.8) and steals per game (1.4). 
• Jerry Hampton (Mississippi) was in the top-10 in points, rebounds, and blocked shots, averaging 16.0 points per game, 9.0 rebounds per game, and 2.5 blocked shots per game. He was also one of the most efficient forwards/centers in the league, shooting 55.2% from the field, and 70.8% from the free throw line. 

Darkhorse Players:

• Joe Retic (Indianapolis), who averaged less than eight points per game in the first six games of the season, has averaged 20.0 points per game in his last two contests, including scoring a career-high 30 points in the playoff-clinching victory against Bowling Green. He is also second on the team in assists per game (2.5). 
• Jermell Abram (Mississippi), who averaged seven points per game in his first seven games of the season, scored 29 points in the season finale versus Bowling Green and leads the team in free throw percentage (90.9%). He is also second on the team in assists per game (2.4). 

Key Head-To-Head Team Statistics:

• Points Scored Per Game (Indianapolis 99.9, Mississippi 86.6)
• Points Allowed Per Game (Mississippi 85.6, Indianapolis 93.8)
• Field Goal Percentage (Mississippi 42.9%, Indianapolis 42.1%)
• Free Throw Percentage (Indianapolis 72.8%, Mississippi 70.4%)
• 3-Point Percentage (Mississippi 35.8%, Indianapolis 28.9%)
• 3-Point Percentage Allowed (Mississippi 30.7%, Indianapolis 32.2%)
• Rebounds Per Game (Indianapolis 44.6, Mississippi 42.7)
• Turnovers Per Game (Indianapolis 18.0, Mississippi 19.1)
• Assists Per Game (Indianapolis 13.4, Mississippi 12.6)
• Blocks Per Game (Indianapolis 6.5, Mississippi 5.5)

Prediction:

• Indianapolis 93, Mississippi 81