...and it's hard to complain about TCBing on the road with a flair.
Just watched the game and it's late, so I'll be brief. We defintely got the D-team for announcers --- almost makes Cory seem tolerable by comparison --- ok, NAHHHH...
So, let's start with a general thought: I was aware, as I'm sure most here were as well, that during our winning streak the 3-ball has been our friend. What I didn't know was that we were leading the nation during that 5-game stretch. Now, y'all know me --- I'm always skeptical of living on that edge if the 3s start clanking in a given game. Well... we didn't need to sweat that tonight at least... I mean, sheesh, 15/28? Ok, let's enjoy that, but that isn't what I'm looking at vis-a-vis sustainability, so let's get into that:
- Our intensity for the first dozen minutes was not what I wanted to see in a potential road trap game, and given that VT is literally the loosest team in the ACC with the rock, I was curious as to why we weren't pressing them? Welp, as it turned out, we did so for the first time at the 8:21 mark, and that (along with an under-8 bench lecture) got our blood up, and even though we didn't really press further, our intensity ramped up.
- THIS, folks was what I was looking for, as we suddenly started HELPING on D with active hands (which we don't always do) and cleaning the glass like we f***ing meant it (after allowing second-chance points early). AND, on th eother end we quit half-assing finishes. THAT is what gave us our working lead to close the half, and THAT is what is sustainable, no matter how we shoot.
Beyond that, just some brief random thoughts:
- Boy, it's fun to watch us attack in transition and especially, Seth flying, EC dishing, RJ hitting pull-ups. and even with our not running Secondary properly very often, we still got some points there --- ALTHOUGH, the coolest play of the night was Lubin RIM-RUNNING the way UNC Bigs are supposed to and flushing the lob (on his way to finally getting a double-double).
- - Love the extra-pass plays with guys actually cutting from the baseline. Cuts can still be sharper, but maybe somebody read my last rant on that subject...
- Also fun to watch the Frosh continue to expand their confidence, Cade make the most of his minutes, and Wash hit another 3. Also interesting to see Withers dust up and get benched by Hubert over saying somthing after poor execution --- and good to see him then return to the game and play hard.
- And finally, fun to watch Eliot lay out 12 dimes (along with 8 more unconverted potentials) and not get jacked out of any by the home stat keeper (as happened once again vs Miami Saturday). WIth that said, they did wrongly stick him with a TO that wasn't his. And it was good to be able to let Seth get a little run at PG to prep for emergencies, and get Blue Steel some road minutes while the rotation guys were able to enjoy one and turn the focus to the dookies.
- Oh, and Lunardi can still GFH.
Anyway, the other sustainable thing from this one is using actual depth --- 46 outta our 91 came from the bench --- and the guys developing some signs of chemistry, and that I will take. Now, just keep bringiing it...
Just watched the game and it's late, so I'll be brief. We defintely got the D-team for announcers --- almost makes Cory seem tolerable by comparison --- ok, NAHHHH...
So, let's start with a general thought: I was aware, as I'm sure most here were as well, that during our winning streak the 3-ball has been our friend. What I didn't know was that we were leading the nation during that 5-game stretch. Now, y'all know me --- I'm always skeptical of living on that edge if the 3s start clanking in a given game. Well... we didn't need to sweat that tonight at least... I mean, sheesh, 15/28? Ok, let's enjoy that, but that isn't what I'm looking at vis-a-vis sustainability, so let's get into that:
- Our intensity for the first dozen minutes was not what I wanted to see in a potential road trap game, and given that VT is literally the loosest team in the ACC with the rock, I was curious as to why we weren't pressing them? Welp, as it turned out, we did so for the first time at the 8:21 mark, and that (along with an under-8 bench lecture) got our blood up, and even though we didn't really press further, our intensity ramped up.
- THIS, folks was what I was looking for, as we suddenly started HELPING on D with active hands (which we don't always do) and cleaning the glass like we f***ing meant it (after allowing second-chance points early). AND, on th eother end we quit half-assing finishes. THAT is what gave us our working lead to close the half, and THAT is what is sustainable, no matter how we shoot.
Beyond that, just some brief random thoughts:
- Boy, it's fun to watch us attack in transition and especially, Seth flying, EC dishing, RJ hitting pull-ups. and even with our not running Secondary properly very often, we still got some points there --- ALTHOUGH, the coolest play of the night was Lubin RIM-RUNNING the way UNC Bigs are supposed to and flushing the lob (on his way to finally getting a double-double).
- - Love the extra-pass plays with guys actually cutting from the baseline. Cuts can still be sharper, but maybe somebody read my last rant on that subject...
- Also fun to watch the Frosh continue to expand their confidence, Cade make the most of his minutes, and Wash hit another 3. Also interesting to see Withers dust up and get benched by Hubert over saying somthing after poor execution --- and good to see him then return to the game and play hard.
- And finally, fun to watch Eliot lay out 12 dimes (along with 8 more unconverted potentials) and not get jacked out of any by the home stat keeper (as happened once again vs Miami Saturday). WIth that said, they did wrongly stick him with a TO that wasn't his. And it was good to be able to let Seth get a little run at PG to prep for emergencies, and get Blue Steel some road minutes while the rotation guys were able to enjoy one and turn the focus to the dookies.
- Oh, and Lunardi can still GFH.
Anyway, the other sustainable thing from this one is using actual depth --- 46 outta our 91 came from the bench --- and the guys developing some signs of chemistry, and that I will take. Now, just keep bringiing it...
Last edited:
