One of if not our best full 40min games this season, notable growth for each of the last 3 games. We are not there yet but finally we are moving in the right direction, it is about time. The huge thing is our 2 starting freshmen are growing up, they are much better on the defensive end and I think in large part because we have simplified things on the defensive end, premium is now more on staying with your man and switching when it is needed, finally they are talking to each other, finally we are getting help when it is needed and rotating. Had we been able to snag the boards that we actually got hands on but couldn't secure this would have been an even larger win. There were times we had 4 guys around the ball and their 1 guy ended up with the rebound?
Was good to see Seth getting his game back, most seem to be saying he is all the way back, I suspect from what I watched he is 85-90% back, I do see just a little bit of intensity, just a touch of explosion still not there from before the injury. I suspect we see the full 100% back game from him next time out. But a 85% Seth is still one of the best defenders in the country.
JWash, solid game, did get bodied some by their bigs, have to accept that is just going to happen to him and Lubin at times. IT was good to see them get some help, saw more guard stripping their bigs when they put the ball on the floor. Cal is a team that plays more 1 on one on offense, lack a dynamic PG to set the table. I did feel JWit was playing well last night, would not have been mad to see him get a few more minutes. I like us with any pairing of JWash, Lubin, or JWit when we move Drake to the 3.
Cadeau for me had a very good game outside of some glaring bone headed decisions, that foul (his 2nd) late int he first half, come on son, as much as we need you picking up your 2nd with a tick over a minute left in the half, got to be smarter than that. Then he compounded it by picking up his 3rd with over 17mins left in the second half? Some of those passes, in a crowd, to a big man's feet, just have to realize that is way to high risk to make sense. But got to tell ya, when he was in this team ran at a different speed, we cooked and our athleticism, especially of our freshmen finished it off.
Cappy FREAKIN JACK! Goodness, I get the feeling that other UNC freshmen hit that freshman wall, Jack got to that wall with a ladder! Kid said something that defies his being a freshman after our last game, when asked about how much pressure he feels and his confidence he replied that he just was ballin! What that means is he was just letting himself get lost in the game, rather than lost in his own head, that is a mindset you ant from your seniors, to see a freshman say that is beyond impressive. Another 20point game and he is giving us those being very efficient, letting the game come to him and being ready when it does, it is really special to watch. And Drake, even playing as much out of position as he is has quietly become our second best defender outside of Seth.
RJ, I really like that he has taken a step back in the volume shooting, last night I felt he played even more in a way to fit in with his mates rather than over and above them. I want RJ taking opportunistic good looks rather than the heat check step backs we have seen. It is concerning that he missed 3 wide open mid range jumpers. Being honest with ya I do think we are better with RJ coming off the bench for multiple reasons but maybe the largest reason is that it makes us longer in our back court as well as more athletic.
JWash, had a rough 2nd half, struggled with the bulk of their front court guys, missed a couple bunnies, I think he rushed them a touch. But got to tell ya, I am very happy to finally see him putting up those mid range jumpers. I do notice him trying to guide the ball more than relax and taking a solid jump shot, he is not yet as comfortable jump shooting as he needs to be, as he was last season at times, just keep putting shots up in practice and relax, slow down about half a count, and have confidence you will make it. He missed a couple and starting passing up open jumpers, get out of your own head son!
Tyson, sorry but I just am not going to agree that he needs more minutes because his more minutes takes away from guys I feel really have earned them, especially JWit. To me the kid is Justin Pierce 2.0, I think the ACC is above his level, sorry but just my opinion.
IN all, we not only needed this win but we needed to win it like we did, more as a team than hero ball centered and we needed to win it big to send that message to the post season selection folk. We need to stack wins, not win 3 in a row and then play a clunker, need to keep moving upward, no step backs now.
