This game marks the 32nd meeting of a very lopsided series in which the Niners lead 28-3 over Georgia State (4-5), including 12-2 in the ATL. Panthers are 3-1 in the GSU Convocation Center. Already have one AAC scalp after beating Tulsa last month in the Jacksonville Classic.
Georgia State has been pretty solid as of late. I expect pain.
Perhaps. GSU did lose at home their “I-75 Challenge” game vs Kennesaw State last week. Not sure if it can be called a local rivalry yet being only the second ever meeting between the ATL area schools only 25 miles apart.
Georgia State had some great years under Ron Hunter and Rob Lanier, but has struggled to rebuild under Hayse, now in his 3rd year…Panther fans love Hayse, but aren’t happy how quickly the program has fallen and are starting to express displeasure…not dissimilar to Niners’ fans at the moment.
Panther fans dislike KSU, but hate with a passion Louisiana and Georgia Southern…
I’ve not been able to see much of the Panthers this season, so I can’t give too much of a scouting report. I expect the game could go either way, but if the Niners get GR back, I expect a Niner win.
I will always associate Georgia State HC Jonas Hayes and his twin brother Jarvis - an assistant for the Panthers and former NBA player - for initially committing together to WCU. After their freshman season in Cullowhee, transferred to UGA. If they had stayed with the Cats, would have been teamed up with another NBA first rounder (as Jarvis was) in Kevin Martin.
28-4 incoming
Will admit that I have only followed Georgia State in the scoreboards this season so don’t have some of the insight on the Panthers that others on this board have.
That said, teams do look equally matched on paper.
Niners 4-4 (3-4 D-I); GSU 4-5 (3-5 D-I)
Charlotte NET #268; GSU #263
Charlotte and GSU both 2-3 last 5 games
Teams combined 0-3 vs P5
The I-85 pillow fight.
Couple of Panthers were on Niners recruiting radar in the past:
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6-10 C Cesare Edwards of Hartsville, SC (Miss Bonnie’s home town) 12.9 ppg and 7.4 rpg
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6-8 PF Nick McMullen of Greensboro leads team with 10.3 rpg while adding 9.7 ppg
Need to get it together here. Worried we simply don’t have the horses though with injuries.
The rebound numbers from the 2 guys above worry me for sure.
We winning
They worry me because they don’t pose a big enough challenge. We winning
I can’t see the opposing team from the high horse I’m riding rn. We winning
We really tried to get McMullen to be a Niner. In addition to recruiting him out of high school in Greensboro, contacted him when he entered the portal after last season. With all the injuries, would have been nice though not sure who wouldn’t be on the team if he had come to UCity.