...and this was about --- as it should be --- Carolina basketball more than UVA basketball.
- The last zebra we typically want to see in a UVA game is Roger Ayers, who probably has intestinal blockages from all the whistles he's swallowed. So I was heartened to see us come in ready to mix it up inside for rebounds AND not being cowed by UVA's constant bumps and undercuts in the paint. Bacot in particular was making a statement "not today, bro". In general it was important that we attacked them both off the pass and off the drive.
- THEY NEVER HAD THE BALL WITH A LEAD. Grasp that. I cannot overstate how important that is. If ya make them play from behind, they'll grind themselves down trying to catch up with that style --- and if you noticed, it was UVA who had the tired legs. Especially in the second half, we commited to OUR tempo and style. Our first 5 points of the half came from transition, and we never looked back.
- An important tactic in attacking the Pack Line is not being one-sided, and despite UVA not wanting to let you reverse, we nonetheless committed to ball movement. We were also more alert in finding open guys, which is also vital against them. They're gonna give ya those ops as they try to keep opponents one sided --- but he who hesitates is lost. Today we made the passes. I also liked how we attacked following their high doubles, as opposed to playing passive surround-ball.
- On the defensive end I was particularly impressed how we handled their constant curl-and-roll action in the paint. The key to that is the Big defender opening up and moving his feet immediately off the screen, allowing the ball defender to force a tough pull-up, as opposed to a dish for a dunk. They hurt us a bit on out-curls for 3s, but their typical flare-cuts were kept under control.
- Finally, it was good to see Ant knock down a couple from the corner and Manek refind his stroke, and I continue to be encouraged by Love channeling JB in picking his spots for key bail-out 3s or tough drives.
Anyway, I don't wanna see anyone here down-playing this win. Make no mistake, UVA has gone into 2022 playing Bennet-ball at a very efficient level. Fact is, we did exactly what a Carolina team needs to do to finally win one of these. We asserted OUR pace and forced them to wear themselves down with their own grinding style. That, my friends, is how it's done...
- The last zebra we typically want to see in a UVA game is Roger Ayers, who probably has intestinal blockages from all the whistles he's swallowed. So I was heartened to see us come in ready to mix it up inside for rebounds AND not being cowed by UVA's constant bumps and undercuts in the paint. Bacot in particular was making a statement "not today, bro". In general it was important that we attacked them both off the pass and off the drive.
- THEY NEVER HAD THE BALL WITH A LEAD. Grasp that. I cannot overstate how important that is. If ya make them play from behind, they'll grind themselves down trying to catch up with that style --- and if you noticed, it was UVA who had the tired legs. Especially in the second half, we commited to OUR tempo and style. Our first 5 points of the half came from transition, and we never looked back.
- An important tactic in attacking the Pack Line is not being one-sided, and despite UVA not wanting to let you reverse, we nonetheless committed to ball movement. We were also more alert in finding open guys, which is also vital against them. They're gonna give ya those ops as they try to keep opponents one sided --- but he who hesitates is lost. Today we made the passes. I also liked how we attacked following their high doubles, as opposed to playing passive surround-ball.
- On the defensive end I was particularly impressed how we handled their constant curl-and-roll action in the paint. The key to that is the Big defender opening up and moving his feet immediately off the screen, allowing the ball defender to force a tough pull-up, as opposed to a dish for a dunk. They hurt us a bit on out-curls for 3s, but their typical flare-cuts were kept under control.
- Finally, it was good to see Ant knock down a couple from the corner and Manek refind his stroke, and I continue to be encouraged by Love channeling JB in picking his spots for key bail-out 3s or tough drives.
Anyway, I don't wanna see anyone here down-playing this win. Make no mistake, UVA has gone into 2022 playing Bennet-ball at a very efficient level. Fact is, we did exactly what a Carolina team needs to do to finally win one of these. We asserted OUR pace and forced them to wear themselves down with their own grinding style. That, my friends, is how it's done...
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