5 Key Questions After Monmouth Regional vs. Ocean Township
Saturday afternoon action saw Monmouth Regional travel to take on Ocean Township. This big time rivalry matchup was lopsided from the opening tip. Monmouth came out hot but Ocean closed the first quarter on a 19-5 run to take control…
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Continue ReadingSaturday afternoon action saw Monmouth Regional travel to take on Ocean Township. This big time rivalry matchup was lopsided from the opening tip. Monmouth came out hot but Ocean closed the first quarter on a 19-5 run to take control of the game.
After Ocean got the lead up to 20 in the second quarter, Monmouth went on a 10-0 run to cut into the lead heading into halftime. The Spartans put the game away early in the third when they went on a 9-0 run. There was a lot to be learned in this game. Here are five key questions after watching this matchup.
How do you stop Jack Miller?
Miller scored his 1,000th point early in the season. He is once again the Spartans top option offensively and he does it from all over the floor. Miller knocked down 70 three’s as a junior and has 16 already this season. Against Monmouth, Miller hit four shots from beyond the arc and finished with 19 points.
The quick release and ball handling ability makes Miller a tough matchup. Monmouth began playing man defense. They had a player face guarding Miller for much of the first half and this was able to slow him down early. That changed in the second half when Miller began to run in transition and find his shot. Miller is a hard player to contain but teams can try by throwing size and aggressive defenders at him.
What level of prospect is AJ Po?
There was one player for Monmouth who stood out in this one despite the lopsided score. AJ Po was able to get it going from the beginning. Po was a force scoring the ball and on the boards. He knocked down three shots from three-point range and finished with 20 points.
Po emerged as a sophomore and showed that he is a threat. This season is where he will take that next step. Po has good size and is very skilled with the ball in his hands. He can post up anywhere on the floor. The one negative in this game was he missed all four free throws he attempted. Po will be a player to keep an eye on over the next two seasons.
What is Ocean’s ceiling?
Ocean won just 13 games a season ago. Early on, it is looking like they will surpass that number. This is a team full of experience. Miller leads a group of seniors including Cole Kelly and Jack Hansen. At 6’5, Kelly is a force on both sides of the ball and on the boards. Every team needs a leader to be successful and Miller is that player. Ocean will surpass 13 wins this season but they play in a very tough Shore Conference so it may be tough to make some real noise.
What is Monmouth missing?
Monmouth does not have a ton of size on the floor. They rely on players like Po and Aiden Denton shooting from the outside and getting to the basket. Denton was effective early on getting to the rim in the open floor. He will be a good player for a few years since he is just a sophomore. There is no true post presence for Monmouth and that could hurt them against bigger teams.
Who is an underclassman to keep an eye on?
Corey Miller is the second leading scorer on Ocean as a sophomore. He has knocked down six three’s this season but where he excels is as a passer. He leads Ocean in assists. Miller is a talented guard who can get to the basket and finish in traffic. This is an excellent sign at such a young age. Miller will continue to grow and progress as a shooter and defender. This is a player that will show significant improvement from game to game.