...and this was a WAYYY better win than many probably think.
I was worried about this one, and for good reason. Some fans act like FSU is some scrub team and that is utter BS, so please take that noise elsewhere. Sure, they have underachieved for parts of the season, but they are VERY talented, and as usual, long and athletic as hell.
OK, so I have a bunch o' notes, but lemme start with the two that won this thing:
- 1. REBOUNDING: Yeah, once again our bigger front line paid off, and keeping their athletes off the offensive glass was an amazing feat. I mean, ZERO second chances in the 1st half? AYKM? (and only 4 offensive boards for the game). Yeah, that's doin' work.
- 2. GOING ZONE: For a self-inflicted reason I'll mention below, as well as FSU shooting outta their minds, we had let an early lead dwindle and they had all the momentum. The switch to that hybrid Zone was key. And kudos to Hubert for not getting spooked when they hit a 3 on the first ensuing possession. Every look they got for the rest of the half was difficult and it paid off over time as they cooled off. And speaking of all this, as a coach I always disputed the myth about Zones and rebounding. My teams always rebounded better in Zone, because it's easier to form that magic "triangle" and block out your area than finding a man. We did that quite well tonight.
arright, other stuff:
- We came out again with effort and urgency --- and I'll tell ya what, so did FSU --- and literally everyone wearing blue did praise-worthy things that contributed to this win. The overall thing was --- and this is important --- our guys are finally getting beyond HALF-ASSING things. Our guys went to the rack like we friggin meant it! And when ya do that, what happens? Not only do you finish better, you draw more whistles. I'll use Withers as an example, as some of his attempts weren't pretty, but going hard paid off for him.
- Speaking of going hard, a lot fewer pussified attempts and more flushing was good to see, and how about Seth's grown-ass man drives down the stretch?... I hate it when he crouches in the paint --- tonight he used that explosiveness to power thru. In general, we were converting up close and on put-backs --- many of which we woulda missed earlier in the season.
- We also overcame some zebra nonsense. After the refs (not named Groover, who was lazy and useless) called it pretty fair, they got one-sided whistle-crazy in the 2nd half. I mean, FSU was in the damn double-bonus with 11:27 to go, and we were having to get by with Wash and Lubin hamstrung with some rather questionable fouls. Again, as I have always said, you hafta play thru that junk, and we certainly did.
- Speaking of Wash, we actually made a couple of HIGH entries off fronts (!), and boy, was it nice to see him knock down that 3 on what's left of our Secondary. Now, if he would just post STRONGER with guys on his hip...
- Speakig of entries, Drake made a few sweet passes at key times, and we're starting to see guys get a feel for catching lobs and finishing
- I'm gonna give a special shout to Tyson. He played REALLY well, and not just the points and boards. Most won't notice, but when FSU was getting after it, he made 4 or 5 high-IQ plays that won't show up on a stat sheet, that either saved possessions or allowed teammates to secure the rock. It drives me friggin crazy when fans are quick to relegate guys or call them "busts". Cade can play --- he just needed some real run. Honestly, the only complaint I had tonight was not catching that open dime from EC --- ALWAYS be looking when it's in Eliot's hands.
- Not a great night from 3, but it felt like every one we DID make was at a vital time. Two of RJ's bailed us out of possessions when we reverted to hero-ball, but yeah, they always seemed to come when we had to keep FSU at bay. And how about RJ's acrobatic left-hand finish? --- we were getting him in up/down mismatches but FSU is TOUGH even then.
- On the negative side, the aformentioned self-inflicted bugs are once again coming from subbing out EC too damn soon. Hubert did that junk in the first half, and of course we immediately get a shot-clock violation, then after coming outta halftime and stretching our lead, it happened agan, and the lead almost disappeared. There's a reason FSU was doing everything they could to deny him the rock. Simple fact is, when EC is out, unless we can hit on the first option of a set play, it too often becomes hero time. There was a little bit less of that tonight, and I know Hubert is trying to make room for depth --- and I APPLAUD that --- but it HAS to be smoother, and that under-16 stuff continuity-killing is just unsustainable.
- One more complaint was trying to actually watch the damn GAME in between BSPN's FSU Reunion Special. I mean, I respect Leonard, and I know he's retiring, but DAMN, save the bench shots for timeouts. All I can say is thank heaven I didn't have sound and have to suffer thru Cory --- I can only imagine...
- Oh, and finally, one more thing --- Joe Lunardi can GFH... 🦨
- Anyway, again, do NOT come back with FSU being a weak opponent. For those who like to cite "metrics", when you go down there and hang 96 on a team with those sort of defensive numbers? That is something to be impressed with... and hopefully, to keep moving forward with... and without any let-downs. That was a good win in more ways than one...
I was worried about this one, and for good reason. Some fans act like FSU is some scrub team and that is utter BS, so please take that noise elsewhere. Sure, they have underachieved for parts of the season, but they are VERY talented, and as usual, long and athletic as hell.
OK, so I have a bunch o' notes, but lemme start with the two that won this thing:
- 1. REBOUNDING: Yeah, once again our bigger front line paid off, and keeping their athletes off the offensive glass was an amazing feat. I mean, ZERO second chances in the 1st half? AYKM? (and only 4 offensive boards for the game). Yeah, that's doin' work.
- 2. GOING ZONE: For a self-inflicted reason I'll mention below, as well as FSU shooting outta their minds, we had let an early lead dwindle and they had all the momentum. The switch to that hybrid Zone was key. And kudos to Hubert for not getting spooked when they hit a 3 on the first ensuing possession. Every look they got for the rest of the half was difficult and it paid off over time as they cooled off. And speaking of all this, as a coach I always disputed the myth about Zones and rebounding. My teams always rebounded better in Zone, because it's easier to form that magic "triangle" and block out your area than finding a man. We did that quite well tonight.
arright, other stuff:
- We came out again with effort and urgency --- and I'll tell ya what, so did FSU --- and literally everyone wearing blue did praise-worthy things that contributed to this win. The overall thing was --- and this is important --- our guys are finally getting beyond HALF-ASSING things. Our guys went to the rack like we friggin meant it! And when ya do that, what happens? Not only do you finish better, you draw more whistles. I'll use Withers as an example, as some of his attempts weren't pretty, but going hard paid off for him.
- Speaking of going hard, a lot fewer pussified attempts and more flushing was good to see, and how about Seth's grown-ass man drives down the stretch?... I hate it when he crouches in the paint --- tonight he used that explosiveness to power thru. In general, we were converting up close and on put-backs --- many of which we woulda missed earlier in the season.
- We also overcame some zebra nonsense. After the refs (not named Groover, who was lazy and useless) called it pretty fair, they got one-sided whistle-crazy in the 2nd half. I mean, FSU was in the damn double-bonus with 11:27 to go, and we were having to get by with Wash and Lubin hamstrung with some rather questionable fouls. Again, as I have always said, you hafta play thru that junk, and we certainly did.
- Speaking of Wash, we actually made a couple of HIGH entries off fronts (!), and boy, was it nice to see him knock down that 3 on what's left of our Secondary. Now, if he would just post STRONGER with guys on his hip...
- Speakig of entries, Drake made a few sweet passes at key times, and we're starting to see guys get a feel for catching lobs and finishing
- I'm gonna give a special shout to Tyson. He played REALLY well, and not just the points and boards. Most won't notice, but when FSU was getting after it, he made 4 or 5 high-IQ plays that won't show up on a stat sheet, that either saved possessions or allowed teammates to secure the rock. It drives me friggin crazy when fans are quick to relegate guys or call them "busts". Cade can play --- he just needed some real run. Honestly, the only complaint I had tonight was not catching that open dime from EC --- ALWAYS be looking when it's in Eliot's hands.
- Not a great night from 3, but it felt like every one we DID make was at a vital time. Two of RJ's bailed us out of possessions when we reverted to hero-ball, but yeah, they always seemed to come when we had to keep FSU at bay. And how about RJ's acrobatic left-hand finish? --- we were getting him in up/down mismatches but FSU is TOUGH even then.
- On the negative side, the aformentioned self-inflicted bugs are once again coming from subbing out EC too damn soon. Hubert did that junk in the first half, and of course we immediately get a shot-clock violation, then after coming outta halftime and stretching our lead, it happened agan, and the lead almost disappeared. There's a reason FSU was doing everything they could to deny him the rock. Simple fact is, when EC is out, unless we can hit on the first option of a set play, it too often becomes hero time. There was a little bit less of that tonight, and I know Hubert is trying to make room for depth --- and I APPLAUD that --- but it HAS to be smoother, and that under-16 stuff continuity-killing is just unsustainable.
- One more complaint was trying to actually watch the damn GAME in between BSPN's FSU Reunion Special. I mean, I respect Leonard, and I know he's retiring, but DAMN, save the bench shots for timeouts. All I can say is thank heaven I didn't have sound and have to suffer thru Cory --- I can only imagine...
- Oh, and finally, one more thing --- Joe Lunardi can GFH... 🦨
- Anyway, again, do NOT come back with FSU being a weak opponent. For those who like to cite "metrics", when you go down there and hang 96 on a team with those sort of defensive numbers? That is something to be impressed with... and hopefully, to keep moving forward with... and without any let-downs. That was a good win in more ways than one...
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