Zone was absolute garbage and almost cost us the game.
Two things that made a comeback possible, swapping the press in for the zone and Braswell waking up. I was adamant that he shouldnāt see the floor again after the technical, because it was a killer one. I am glad I was wrong.
We need THAT Braswell, because weāre a completely different team when Braswell plays like that. First half, he had two baskets that came off of easy put backs. And he followed one of those up with a tech. He also surpassed his regulation rebound total in OT.
Are we off the TWill sucks bandwagon as a fanbase yet? 15 points, 12 boards and 5 assists. He and Henry stepped up the rebounding with Clayton out. Thatās awesome from our guards. Also, really glad to see that TWill can hit the three at a solid clip. If this becomes an average shooting night for him (outside of at the FT line, ugh) heās a great player.
Seems people have gone on to tearing into EVic now. Same thing, heās still developing and will have off nights.
More than anything I am glad to see the team didnāt quit on this game and the season. I think a lot of frustration would be eased with a win vs SJU. If we win that game, who knows what happens in the conference tournament. One thing is for sure, we need Braswell for any success.
PH and TWill are almost more small forwards than they are guards. I love their ability to rebound. We do swing back and forth from one extreme to the other with players, E Vic being the latest example. I understand he is developing, and I want him to develop his ability to rebound. Heās 6ā7, but our 6ā4 and 6ā5 guys are better rebounders. Nothing bench worthy for sure, but I hope to see him develop his rebounding for next year.
Yes we barely got by a really bad team, but we did it after going down 17.
We havenāt really blown anyone out this year. Just isnāt our style. We play ugly and we win when we force the other team to play ugly . That style doesnāt lend itself to huge margins of victory.
My hope is that this relieves some the pressure the guys were under. It had to feel like theyāve been in quicksand the last 4 games with no good way to get out. They hit the wall and hopefully this got them over it, feeling good, and ready to take care of SJU on Saturday and then make noise in Brooklyn.
[quote=ā73niner, post:33, topic:27581ā] Saw the 2nd half and a few observations with opinions:
1) Weak OOC games allowed us to mesh and win games with the best athletes and not necessarily our best shooters.
2) Fla St , Miami and the A10 have exposed our winning OOC schedule. Benny and Mayfield weren't developed and utilized for any outside attack because we were so successful inside. Other coaches caught on to our MO and trying to change our identity in mid season was fruitless. Benny had no experience and Mayfield, well we know what happened there. Ingram was occassionally good, but other teams could overplay him causing us to be offensively one dimensional.
3) With Mayfield gone, Evic and Twill stepped their game up giving me some sort of optimism. ButI think at last their lack of shooting skills (especially at crunch time) have been exposed. We could count on their defensive intensity but for the last few games that has disappeared. I intently watched Twill tonight in the second half and I'm now understanding a little of the problem. He and Evic are terrible, looking like they're lost on a matchup zonescheme although playing man. One 2nd half sequence I was screaming at Twill who was standing straight up in no mans land between 2 players acting as if he were taking a siesta. You guessed it, one of them drained a 3.
First of the year we were up in the offense's face as soon as they crossed half court, creating havoc (McKillop was quoted that they never was able to run their sets) Well ladies and gentleman not only does every team run their sets, but we let them get a running start at penetration where generally 4 things can happen and 3 of them are bad. Coaches aren't teaching different, so what has happened?
I guess a lot can be blamed but ........WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE!!!!!!
1) Although late in the year,we have to have some semblance of an outside game. Play Benny and Ingram even more and let Henry penetrate to set them up. Personally I don't like a full length baseline run through with screens to free up a shooter. They get open but are usually exhausted and not squared up. Weak side screen popouts IMO are much better.
Forget Twill and Evic as outside shooters and if they don't want to hustle on defense, put them on the bench.
2) A 65 to 70 FT% from Willie would help us 10+ points better per game. Quit bringing the ball up to your face,stopping, aiming, then flipping it toward the goal. It's mental blocking everything out, one smooth motion. Stopping creates nothing but apprehensive tension.
3) At this point, we have to sink or swim with Braz. He can be a difference maker with the right attitude.
4) Defensive intensity is the key. We've got to get it back. We should never play a zone.
This is difficult to say, but I still like this team. They are capable and could surprise us all. After everything that has happened the last 7 or so games , being 17 down, away from home, in the 2nd half,w/o Henry and still win. That was amazing against anyone.
[/quote]Twill had a solid game. You make it sound like every Duquene bucket was scored over him or Nickerson. Benny and Ingram are playing plenty of minutes. Neither of those two can man-up on better quality opponent like St Joes.
49er , you look at our team and judge very selectively . Benny and Ingram are not the physical athletes as Twill and Evic but they are better shooters . I contend we can't win without shooters. Benny hustles and Ingram is more consistent offensively. Twill and especially Evic have blown opportunities in crucial stretches. I would have agreed with you 4 or 5 games ago but not now.
WE HAVE TO FIND SHOOTERS !!!!!!
Of all the sophs iām most disappointed in EVIC. Non-rebounder,hard time finishing as he is physically weak and not a very good ballhandler.
TWILL is erratic no doubt,but hits the boards hard and is fearless,sometimes I admit,to a fault.
Benny coming around lately,but he is strictly one-dimensional and unfortunately for a guy who needs help getting his shots,he plays on a team that is terrible at setting screens.
Call me crazy,but I have the most confidence in Ingramās game.Even he,tho,is a questionable div. 1 starter.
This game honestly just makes me angry. If Chris plays like that the whole year we are easily a tournament team, even without Demario. It reminded me of how scary good Chris can be, I just hate that I ever forgot it.
I agree with most of you and yes Benny is more of a one trick pony but we have to gamble on someone and he has showed me just a little more guts when the chips are down. Evic needs to never try to create his own shot but let the shot come in the flow of the game. Twill occasionally makes the tough shot but can air ball a midrange jumper.
Several games ago Braz was our only soft defender but I contend Evic and Twill have now joined this club. Add to this Willie and Clark being freshman and Henry's gambling, you have the makings of the poor defense we are all of a sudden exhibiting. I don't have an answer but finding a little more outside punch would at least keep the defense honest on the inside.
We have potential but hell half the teams in the NCAA can say that. We just lack consistency.
P.S. Listened to a little of the tarhole lovefest on FNZ this morning and got nauseated. Their McDonald all Americans are hitting more outside shots but with their shorter lineup, they're not going anywhere but home after the 1st NCAA weekend.
Stats are great for arguing but let me make a point. Jordon has plenty of pretenders with equal or greater stats. ( somewhere I remember he was only around 15% from the 3 his first few years in the NBA) Yet he's considered the best player of all time. Why? Because he was clutch. He delivered when it mattered most. Twill is far from clutch so far.
Jeeez !!!!! Just trying to make a point. No Jordon comparisons but saying we have no clutch shooters with the rare exception of Henry. I don't mean one won't develope but as of yet I don't see one.
Braswell has always been able to dominate against really garbage post players (like Duquesne). The knock on him is he canāt play against real competition.
Although this year heās mostly been poor regardless of competition.
Twill hit what would have been a clutch game winning 3, a couple tenths too late. Just saying. Ivan is a D liability but I have seen improvement lately.