Stats and stuff (FGC game NCAAT)...

[gary-7]

...and there's really only one big story here (below).

Bottom line is we did a lot to keep these schmucks in the game. Yeah, granted, the committee set us up with a team much tougher than any other 16 seed, and Lord knows we knew they were gonna foul. Hell, I think they fouled the cheerleaders and the score-keepers. So, here we go again --- ya gotta play through it. That means we needed to:
1. finish through contact
2. knock down open looks
3. make everything else moot points by playing good team D
We did none of these well in the first half, thus the score.

Then, in the second half (following what I'm sure was a blistering by Roy), we decided to play defense. The Help-D (which was non-existent in the paint other than some Brice blocks in the first half) suddenly reappeared, and lo and behold the game was over. In fact, before a fat guy hit two 3s in garbage time, we held them to 21 pts in the second half. Ballgame. And folks, that's really what it boiled down to.

Stuff:
- Except for a couple of guys we came out sluggish. I'm not sure what was wrong with Kennedy --- it was like he was playing in sand.

- As much of a monster Hicks can be on offense, he played D like a damned tennis referee --- head moving but not his feet.

- On the good side, once Brice got pissed, he was everywhere. I don't know who was keeping official stats but that 8 Blocks number seems a bit light. I didn't keep that individual number, but... and JB's 2 Steals stat was also light.

- Good energy minutes from Nate and Theo, and once again Kenny Williams gave us solid defensive minutes.

- FT shooting started off shaky but we finished a just ok 14/19.

- JB hit his first 3 then couldn't buy one (1/7). The good news was Justin's 3-ball returning (2/3). Hopefully that's a good sign, and Marcus looked confident shooting.

- Speaking of not finishing, we blew 20 Assists that didn't result in a foul. Granted some of those were zebra-aided, but that just can't happen again, nor can we allow an inferior team to out-scrap us for loose rebounds. No way they should have gotten 15 offensive boards. The good news is we only had 7 TOs despite all the hands and shoves and undercuts.

- In the second half Roy dialed up a timely possession of 30 D which resulted in a Fast Break. Would like to have seen a bit more of that. Speaking of transition, we scored 14 Fast Break and 18 Secondary Break points. Both those numbers woulda been higher with stronger finishing through contact.

Anyway, it's an NCAA win --- the haters and the mediots didn't get what they so wanted --- let's come out stronger next time.

 

[DSouthr]

Yeah, I didn't like our intensity level at all in that first half, looked like we were just going thru the motions. More and more, for me, our most effective line up is Either Brice or Issiah in the post with with Joel & Marcus and Justin & Theo together. We really tend to get after it with that line up in there, it was the difference making line up in the ACCT. This group play with more grit and it allows us to switch off more screens, especially the exchanges between Theo and Justin. I like Brice and Issiah on the court together as well with just 1 wing but the concern there is Brice or Issiah defending a step out big man like bentyl will be against us. And Theo is the guy that seems to really facillitate a lot of the action from that look, especially when he can draw a big out to guard his drives, he looks to pass out of his drives and his passing has been spot on.

Does it look to any one else that in a strange twist that Justin is jump shooting now better than he is hitting that floater? Not sure if that is a good or bad thing?

I did feel meeks and Nate had underwhelming games, meeks especially and it was some of the same ole stuff we have seen far to much of. Sets up deep in the paint and is just not able to explode up and finish thru any contact, his shot is blocked time & time again. IMO, he simply has to get out & away from the blocks and look more to a up top role and crash the boards for rebounds. I honestly can not understand what Roy can see in practice that keeps meeks in the starting lineup.

 

[TarHeelMark]

I honestly can not understand what Roy can see in practice that keeps meeks in the starting lineup.

The only thing is maybe Roy wants Isaiah coming off the bench and bringing the energy? It usually gives us a boost, as the defender has been lulled to sleep guarding Kennedy, and isn't ready for what Mr. Hicks brings.

 

[Archer2]

Seemed like we were just going through the motions in the first half. We played much better in the second half. Can't afford to do that again. Providence will be a tough out.

 

[trestyles]

The only thing is maybe Roy wants Isaiah coming off the bench and bringing the energy? It usually gives us a boost, as the defender has been lulled to sleep guarding Kennedy, and isn't ready for what Mr. Hicks brings.

Must be the same thing he seen in Q Thomas lol. Hopefully Meeks come back and have a solid senior hear like Q.

 

[gary-7]

The only thing is maybe Roy wants Isaiah coming off the bench and bringing the energy? It usually gives us a boost, as the defender has been lulled to sleep guarding Kennedy, and isn't ready for what Mr. Hicks brings.

Kennedy was effective in the ACCT. If he can just do that, Hicks coming in as a change of pace makes a 3-headed monster. As all the guys have said, Hicks and Brice are foul prone, so Kennedy playing solid minutes in his starting role is vital to maintain the rotation.