...and there's still some fixin' to do.
Look, we all know this was a TCB game, and we did that, but watching this one raised some concerns that we'd better fix pretty quick, so sorry, but that's what this is mostly gonna be about:
- our 3-pt shooting was certainly big --- 10/18 --- carried a big part of this one, especially when 3s would once again bail us out of some otherwise bad possessions.
- the more sustainable good news was scoring in the paint, which contributed mightily to a 59% shooting day. There were too many forces for my blood, but we mostly attacked like we meant it (at least once we got the ball in the paint) --- and that matters.
- what we DID NOT do like we meant it has also become a MAJOR sore spot with me from an ol' coach's perspective --- CUTTING. Fact is, this bunch is a lazy cutting team. Moment: Early 2nd half on a called action, and Lubin just lolligags to the rim. Somehow EC nonetheless threaded a key-hole dime for the score, but this unfortunately exemplifies a chronic issue.
- continuing on that note, as I mentioned I've watched several classic UNC games over the past couple of weeks, and the difference in cutting is PALPABLE. Moreover, too many of our guys don't know WHEN to cut to the rack in Freelance situations. There were at least three times today I found myself yelling "CUT!" when there was an obvious unused opportunity. I'm sure some of that is a byproduct of our weakened Secondary scheme, but some is just old-fashiioned basketball IQ. Hell, I just watched Auburn basically run uk outta their own gym --- go watch them cut outta Pearl's old school Flex actions... it ain't that hard!
- Ok... with that rant outta the way, one more concern is FTs. Can't afford to be shootoing 67% going down the home stretch.
- Defensive intensity was not nearly what we've seen in recent games, and Hubert let the guys have it following a needed timeout. I mean, Cleveland (who of course didn't play vs dook) and their other big guy lit us up, and we didn't offer much resistance on them.
Again, sorry to start so much on the negative side, but these things still need fixing. Let's turn back to some more positives:
- Once again, REBOUNDING! Outboarded them by 12, and most of their offensive ones were of the long bounce variety. Again, the Big lineup pays dividends here.
- Speaking of BIgs, WIthers continues to thrive offensively with the increased minutes. His defensive footwork still makes my damn head hurt, but I'll take that double-double from the 4 position. Lubin did do a great job of cleaning up around the rim, but the defense today was well, yikes. Wash had some solid defensive possessions, but son, CUT AND POST UP LIKE YOU MEAN IT!
- Since I mentioned the low-IQ aspect of our off-ball movement, I do want to acknowledge one on the other side of that. Moment: RJ pulls up outside the arc in transition and looked like he was gonna fire up a rushed 3, but instead he hesitated and glanced over to wait for the Trailer to get in rebounding position before letting it go. Nice senior play.
- And finally, even though he was the target of one of my "CUT!" harangues, Drake continues to show more flashes of that huge upside as his confidence grows. He's about a summer of footwork away from becoming a "plus" defender, and a summer of weight-room away from being an offensive force. Hope we get to see him for one more season...
Anyway, TCB is the deal, and we did what we needed to do to make it convincing (on the scoreboard at least) to serve notice (oh, and once again, Lunardi can GFH). That said, we'd better not go into Blacksburg with that initial intensity level...
Look, we all know this was a TCB game, and we did that, but watching this one raised some concerns that we'd better fix pretty quick, so sorry, but that's what this is mostly gonna be about:
- our 3-pt shooting was certainly big --- 10/18 --- carried a big part of this one, especially when 3s would once again bail us out of some otherwise bad possessions.
- the more sustainable good news was scoring in the paint, which contributed mightily to a 59% shooting day. There were too many forces for my blood, but we mostly attacked like we meant it (at least once we got the ball in the paint) --- and that matters.
- what we DID NOT do like we meant it has also become a MAJOR sore spot with me from an ol' coach's perspective --- CUTTING. Fact is, this bunch is a lazy cutting team. Moment: Early 2nd half on a called action, and Lubin just lolligags to the rim. Somehow EC nonetheless threaded a key-hole dime for the score, but this unfortunately exemplifies a chronic issue.
- continuing on that note, as I mentioned I've watched several classic UNC games over the past couple of weeks, and the difference in cutting is PALPABLE. Moreover, too many of our guys don't know WHEN to cut to the rack in Freelance situations. There were at least three times today I found myself yelling "CUT!" when there was an obvious unused opportunity. I'm sure some of that is a byproduct of our weakened Secondary scheme, but some is just old-fashiioned basketball IQ. Hell, I just watched Auburn basically run uk outta their own gym --- go watch them cut outta Pearl's old school Flex actions... it ain't that hard!
- Ok... with that rant outta the way, one more concern is FTs. Can't afford to be shootoing 67% going down the home stretch.
- Defensive intensity was not nearly what we've seen in recent games, and Hubert let the guys have it following a needed timeout. I mean, Cleveland (who of course didn't play vs dook) and their other big guy lit us up, and we didn't offer much resistance on them.
Again, sorry to start so much on the negative side, but these things still need fixing. Let's turn back to some more positives:
- Once again, REBOUNDING! Outboarded them by 12, and most of their offensive ones were of the long bounce variety. Again, the Big lineup pays dividends here.
- Speaking of BIgs, WIthers continues to thrive offensively with the increased minutes. His defensive footwork still makes my damn head hurt, but I'll take that double-double from the 4 position. Lubin did do a great job of cleaning up around the rim, but the defense today was well, yikes. Wash had some solid defensive possessions, but son, CUT AND POST UP LIKE YOU MEAN IT!
- Since I mentioned the low-IQ aspect of our off-ball movement, I do want to acknowledge one on the other side of that. Moment: RJ pulls up outside the arc in transition and looked like he was gonna fire up a rushed 3, but instead he hesitated and glanced over to wait for the Trailer to get in rebounding position before letting it go. Nice senior play.
- And finally, even though he was the target of one of my "CUT!" harangues, Drake continues to show more flashes of that huge upside as his confidence grows. He's about a summer of footwork away from becoming a "plus" defender, and a summer of weight-room away from being an offensive force. Hope we get to see him for one more season...
Anyway, TCB is the deal, and we did what we needed to do to make it convincing (on the scoreboard at least) to serve notice (oh, and once again, Lunardi can GFH). That said, we'd better not go into Blacksburg with that initial intensity level...
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