Stats and stuff (Tulane game)

[gary-7]

Apologies in advance, I could not keep my personal stat sheet tonight as I was (technically) at a business dinner. Translation: I surreptitiously watched the game the whole time.

So... check the boxscore for stats --- we had some good ones. I'm gonna concentrate on "stuff".

Multiplicity: I'll take credit for this one, since I'm sure Roy read my posts and acted accordingly (yeah right...), but seriously... it was refreshing to see Roy go multiple tonight, especially utilizing (my much-called-for) hard traps off ball screens. We ran two variations of 30 (jump doubles and switches as just mentioned), some 42 (half-court 2-2-1 trap out of Man) and the extended 1-3-1. We also went "small" twice. Steve Alford just got a lot more to think about...

Swagger: We came out with a chip and played aggressively on both ends. This was a team that was pissed off about Texas and responded. Alley-oops off the Secondary Break were Cota-esque spectacular, we went for turnovers and got them, and Brice and Hicks attacked the rim like grown-ass MEN.

Health: Yeah, Kennedy was out, but if any of you Negative Nancy posters can't see the difference when we're not battling a stomach flu, then I can't help ya. For just one example, Theo was a totally different human being tonight compared to Saturday.

Numbers: 30 Assists on 36 made FGs --- are you kidding me? That's some Carolina basketball right there (it also helps not having to rely on UT's stat guy ) --- three players with 7+. BTW: Justin is an underrated passer for a 3-man... and we know Theo has some passing instincts. Hicks made some sweet interiors, and of course having two PGs out there is pretty danged special at times.

Defense: We are SO much better when we attack on D. PLEASE Roy, go after better opponents this aggressively. So what if they got some stray open looks --- just let 'em try and run with us. Please throw me in that briar patch.

And oh BTW: If any of you doubters watched this game closely and still don't understand how good Joel Berry is defensively (are you reading this, Bruce and AJ?)?... all I can say is you're watching another damned sport. And here's that whole stat anomaly thing again: Berry didn't record a Steal but caused TOs and totally disrupted their flow. There was a reason Roy pulled 4 out of 5 starters early in the second half when Tulane was making a run --- defense --- and that was also the same reason he didn't pull JB. Young fella is the glue and I'm damned glad Roy realizes that.

 

[Archer2]

Good stuff as always Gary. That was Carolina basketball!

 

[gobblercalls]

I only got to watch some of the second half. Lots of James haters out there. Box score shows he played roughly the same minutes as Hicks. Had 7 rebounds to Hicks 1. 2 blocks to Hicks 0 and I saw a couple of other times when shots were altered drastically because of his presence. 0 personal fouls to Hicks 2. 0 turnovers. James seems to have stepped it up a notch. Again this is from the box score so I don't know if his game passed the eye test or not.

 

[shun1]

Thank you gary-7, I really enjoy your insite of the game.

!!!!!!!!!!!! GO MY TAR HEELS !!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[gary-7]

I only got to watch some of the second half. Lots of James haters out there. Box score shows he played roughly the same minutes as Hicks. Had 7 rebounds to Hicks 1. 2 blocks to Hicks 0 and I saw a couple of other times when shots were altered drastically because of his presence. 0 personal fouls to Hicks 2. 0 turnovers. James seems to have stepped it up a notch. Again this is from the box score so I don't know if his game passed the eye test or not.

Big Joel did his job on defense for the most part, and Hicks was a beast on offense and at least active on D.

 

[coryfly]

Yeah, I thought Joel did exactly what we needed. He played well IMO. He rebounded about as well as he ever has and his defense was good enough.