SWC75
Bored Historian
- Joined
- Aug 26, 2011
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- Sometimes , during the ups and downs of the season, you wonder if it’s all worthwhile. Moments like this answer that question.
- We may not deserve to be in the tournament but we deserve to be in the Elite 8. Why does the committee no longer look at the last 10 games? Look at Syracuse 2013 and 2016.
- The men’s and women’s games were similar. The women were down 43-54 and out-scored South Carolina 37-18 down the stretch to win. The men were down 46-53 and went on a 17-7 run to win. In both games it felt like we were out of it but you looked at the score and we were still in it. We made the plays to win the game. Sometimes that’s what it comes down to.
- Sabonis and Wiltjer were the real deal. They had 42 points and 22 rebounds. But they didn’t hurt us at the same time. Wiltjer had 15 points in the first half and 8 in the second, none in the last 13:18. Sabonis scored 4 in t first half and 15 in the second half. He also had 11 first half rebounds, 8 on the defensive boards. In the second half it was 6 and 2. We were always covering at least one of them. There are some good big men still in the tournament but I’m not sure any team ahs two of them like that.
- And they didn’t get much help form their teammates, who scored only 18 points while shooting 7 for 26.
- Michael Gbinije struggled to get the ball in the basket (8 for 23) but kept on keeping on and found a way to get to 20 points, including his spectacular recovery after a Wiltjer block to score the basket that put us ahead. He had the bit in his teeth tonight.
- Trevor Cooney has had “hotter” games but not better ones. He only took two threes and made four baskets off the drive and 4 for 4 from the foul line for 15 points. I’ve always said he was more a scorer than a shooter. He’s finally showing us his whole game. And he’s got three more games to show it.
- Tyler Roberson had 9 points and 12 rebounds- 9 on the offensive boards- while banging with bigger guys the whole game. He was a boss squirrel.
- Tyler Lydon had a lousy game- until he made a great tip in to make it 58-59, a great block with it 61-60 and two big free throws to make it 63-60. Like Roberson, he banged with bigger guys all night and he blocked 6 shots, one less than Sabonis and Wiltjer combined. No, it’s not the edn for Rico.
- Mal Richardson had a second straight lousy game but the two threes he hit came just when we needed them: they made it 20-23 and 54-57.
- Frank Howard had a horrible turnover at just the wrong time and wasn’t the guy JB wanted shooting the ball at the end of the first half but he’s the one that go our offense going in the first half. He wound up with 5 points, 3 assists and 2 steals. He even had a blocked shot. Don’t pencil Tyus Battle as next year’s point guard just yet.
- We were 14 for 16 from the foul line.10 for 16 wouldn’t have been enough.
- We won it with gritty defense and gritty offense.
- That Trunk Monkey press looks awfully good. I just wish we used it more often and didn’t stop using it when it was working. But that’s a subject for another time.
22-13 with 3 to go…
LET’S GO ORANGE!
- We may not deserve to be in the tournament but we deserve to be in the Elite 8. Why does the committee no longer look at the last 10 games? Look at Syracuse 2013 and 2016.
- The men’s and women’s games were similar. The women were down 43-54 and out-scored South Carolina 37-18 down the stretch to win. The men were down 46-53 and went on a 17-7 run to win. In both games it felt like we were out of it but you looked at the score and we were still in it. We made the plays to win the game. Sometimes that’s what it comes down to.
- Sabonis and Wiltjer were the real deal. They had 42 points and 22 rebounds. But they didn’t hurt us at the same time. Wiltjer had 15 points in the first half and 8 in the second, none in the last 13:18. Sabonis scored 4 in t first half and 15 in the second half. He also had 11 first half rebounds, 8 on the defensive boards. In the second half it was 6 and 2. We were always covering at least one of them. There are some good big men still in the tournament but I’m not sure any team ahs two of them like that.
- And they didn’t get much help form their teammates, who scored only 18 points while shooting 7 for 26.
- Michael Gbinije struggled to get the ball in the basket (8 for 23) but kept on keeping on and found a way to get to 20 points, including his spectacular recovery after a Wiltjer block to score the basket that put us ahead. He had the bit in his teeth tonight.
- Trevor Cooney has had “hotter” games but not better ones. He only took two threes and made four baskets off the drive and 4 for 4 from the foul line for 15 points. I’ve always said he was more a scorer than a shooter. He’s finally showing us his whole game. And he’s got three more games to show it.
- Tyler Roberson had 9 points and 12 rebounds- 9 on the offensive boards- while banging with bigger guys the whole game. He was a boss squirrel.
- Tyler Lydon had a lousy game- until he made a great tip in to make it 58-59, a great block with it 61-60 and two big free throws to make it 63-60. Like Roberson, he banged with bigger guys all night and he blocked 6 shots, one less than Sabonis and Wiltjer combined. No, it’s not the edn for Rico.
- Mal Richardson had a second straight lousy game but the two threes he hit came just when we needed them: they made it 20-23 and 54-57.
- Frank Howard had a horrible turnover at just the wrong time and wasn’t the guy JB wanted shooting the ball at the end of the first half but he’s the one that go our offense going in the first half. He wound up with 5 points, 3 assists and 2 steals. He even had a blocked shot. Don’t pencil Tyus Battle as next year’s point guard just yet.
- We were 14 for 16 from the foul line.10 for 16 wouldn’t have been enough.
- We won it with gritty defense and gritty offense.
- That Trunk Monkey press looks awfully good. I just wish we used it more often and didn’t stop using it when it was working. But that’s a subject for another time.
22-13 with 3 to go…
LET’S GO ORANGE!
