Arkansas State takes on James Madison in the Sun Belt Championship Finals
The Red Wolves last meeting with James Madison was a bizarre showing for Arkansas State. Played in Jonesboro, A-State finished the first half shooting just 19% from the floor (which included missing 15 of 16 shots to open the game), resulting in a 35-22 halftime deficit. After some locker room adjustments, the Red Wolves fired a blistering 57% from the hardwood, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the first-half doldrum; the final score was 77-73 Dukes.
Notably, Sun Belt Championship super star Freddy Hicks Jr. played only 17 minutes, still recuperating from a back injury sustained against Belmont. As of this writing, Hicks is not only healthy, he’s become a pure force of will, first dropping 23 points on Louisiana (who had trumped A-State twice during the regular season), then slamming 19 on Appalachian State (who also defeated the Red Wolves in the opening season). Among those buckets from Hicks was quite possibly the most dramatic buzzer beater in the university’s history.
“Freddy told me, ‘Gimme the ball, and I’ll win the game,'” said Coach Bryan Hodgson in the post-game presser. Hicks was gracious in his post-game remarks.
“Anybody on this team could have made that shot,” he said, crediting his teammates.
The truth of this statement is a matter of conjecture that you can debate amongst yourselves. One can also argue that Caleb Fields’ (who led A-State scorers with 23 points) 8 of nine free throw shooting was nearly just as clutch as Hicks. You could also credit the Red Wolves’ radically improved defensive effort (earlier in the season painfully cringy to watch), which was led by frenzied efforts from Derrian Ford, Avery Felts and the block-happy Izaiyah Nelson.
The fact is, this is a team that understands its roles with anyone capable of stepping up and taking over. When the Red Wolves meet The Dukes in the Sun Belt Men’s Basketball Tournament tonight, it will give Arkansas State a third opportunity to defeat a conference foe that defeated them in the regular season. To prevent Arkansas State from achieving this personally gratifying trifecta, James Madison will have to prepare to stop…everyone.
How Can the Red Wolves Impeach James Madison?
The Bench Needs To Lend More Offense
The A-State bench (primarily Dyondre Dominguez and Avery Felts) delivered solid defense against Appalachian State, but managed only three points total (courtesy of a Dominguez 3-pointer). Coach Hodgson is leaning heavy on his starting five, but when Hicks got into some foul trouble in the second half, the Red Wolves could have used more offensive production from the bench to mitigate the damage of his absence.
Fast Transitions with a Crunchy Center
Much like Appalachian State, the Dukes prefer a more deliberate pace of play, with 6’9″ 220-lb T.J. Bickerstaff controlling traffic beneath the rim. If the Red Wolves can dictate pace by cranking of the speed, and if the Red Wolves can use the big bodies of Freddy Hicks Jr. and Derrian Ford to help Nelson safeguard the paint, Arkansas State will have an advantage.
Put the Brakes on Noah Freidel
Freidel is not just a threat from the three (he nailed four against A-State in the regular season), he’s also a tenacious rebounder, collecting 10 on the Red Wolves their last meeting. The 6’4″ senior won’t allow the Sun Belt Championship Final to be his last game β at least not without a fight and a rain of threes. Coach Hodgson needs to find the right body to put on Freidel.
PHOTO CREDITS: Sun Belt Media
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