A few thoughts from the game yesterday, with a couple caveats/disclaimers at the outset:
1) Small sample size -- it's one game, it's early and whether you look great or terrible, it guarantees nothing in Jan/Feb/March. I also didn't see the exhibition season or the last game, so my sample size is even smaller than most here.
2) It's OK to criticize. Being critical of a team doesn't mean they're terrible or everyone's panties are in a bunch or the whole season is a train wreck. It means there are things that didn't look very good in a game. They can be improved but it's truly OK to try and evaluate strengths and weaknesses. People need to stop being so sensitive to this.
So, without further ado:
In a game where we overwhelmed an opponent physically, we somehow managed to not get many easy looks. How in the world does a team force as many turnovers as we did yesterday and grab as many offensive rebounds as we did yesterday and end up with very few fast break points and very few opportunities for easy baskets in the paint? Unquestionably a team in search of an identity offensively right now.
We struggled initially vs. Colgate's zone before improving a bit as the game went along. Ennis knocking down some threes helped, and then we had the guys in the middle attacking the basket after waiting a beat (as Esherick correctly pointed out). That was good and hopefully a good sign that we've at least improved out zone offense a small amount from last year. Regardless, I think we'll see this kind of treatment from a lot of opponents this year given our struggles last year and the new hand-checking rules this year. Still don't have much confidence in our ability to handle it and score points.
Ennis looks very much in control on the floor. I know I'm not breaking any news here but I'm impressed with his composure. I'm not sure how great a player he'll be this season but I'm confident he won't be a liability, which is saying something for a frosh point guard. I can remember J Hart's frosh season and I'd say Ennis is literally light years beyond where he was at this point. Pretty impressive.
I know there are turnovers but I still love CJ's game. My feeling is CJ's turnovers are coming from the fact that he's the only consistent source of offense in the half-court on this team. He's creating a lot and probably a lot more than he would have to ideally, but that's where we are. I still feel like he's a smart player who's markedly improved his game each of four years.
Where were the fast-break points? So many turnovers but very little in transition -- traditional break or secondary break.
Some dominant rebounding. We've had lots of great teams take on lots of patsies over the years but I can't remember many times where we've just completely dominated the boards like that. Fun to watch even if it may have been mostly a factor of just being completely overwhelming physically.
Big guys ... still a work in a progress. This has been covered elsewhere but I have a feeling these guys have a longer way to go than most would like. Likely to be an achilles heel all season.
Cooney is a different player. He didn't hit many shots but that pump fake, one-dribble three in transition is not a shot he takes or makes last year. Playing with a lot more confidence, which is huge. Thought Gbinije did some nice things as well. He knocks down a few more FTs and he would have really had himself a game.
Overall: A little rough around the edges, but still a fun team to watch. Should be interesting b/c it's hard to imagine this team not improving over the course of the year.
1) Small sample size -- it's one game, it's early and whether you look great or terrible, it guarantees nothing in Jan/Feb/March. I also didn't see the exhibition season or the last game, so my sample size is even smaller than most here.
2) It's OK to criticize. Being critical of a team doesn't mean they're terrible or everyone's panties are in a bunch or the whole season is a train wreck. It means there are things that didn't look very good in a game. They can be improved but it's truly OK to try and evaluate strengths and weaknesses. People need to stop being so sensitive to this.
So, without further ado:
In a game where we overwhelmed an opponent physically, we somehow managed to not get many easy looks. How in the world does a team force as many turnovers as we did yesterday and grab as many offensive rebounds as we did yesterday and end up with very few fast break points and very few opportunities for easy baskets in the paint? Unquestionably a team in search of an identity offensively right now.
We struggled initially vs. Colgate's zone before improving a bit as the game went along. Ennis knocking down some threes helped, and then we had the guys in the middle attacking the basket after waiting a beat (as Esherick correctly pointed out). That was good and hopefully a good sign that we've at least improved out zone offense a small amount from last year. Regardless, I think we'll see this kind of treatment from a lot of opponents this year given our struggles last year and the new hand-checking rules this year. Still don't have much confidence in our ability to handle it and score points.
Ennis looks very much in control on the floor. I know I'm not breaking any news here but I'm impressed with his composure. I'm not sure how great a player he'll be this season but I'm confident he won't be a liability, which is saying something for a frosh point guard. I can remember J Hart's frosh season and I'd say Ennis is literally light years beyond where he was at this point. Pretty impressive.
I know there are turnovers but I still love CJ's game. My feeling is CJ's turnovers are coming from the fact that he's the only consistent source of offense in the half-court on this team. He's creating a lot and probably a lot more than he would have to ideally, but that's where we are. I still feel like he's a smart player who's markedly improved his game each of four years.
Where were the fast-break points? So many turnovers but very little in transition -- traditional break or secondary break.
Some dominant rebounding. We've had lots of great teams take on lots of patsies over the years but I can't remember many times where we've just completely dominated the boards like that. Fun to watch even if it may have been mostly a factor of just being completely overwhelming physically.
Big guys ... still a work in a progress. This has been covered elsewhere but I have a feeling these guys have a longer way to go than most would like. Likely to be an achilles heel all season.
Cooney is a different player. He didn't hit many shots but that pump fake, one-dribble three in transition is not a shot he takes or makes last year. Playing with a lot more confidence, which is huge. Thought Gbinije did some nice things as well. He knocks down a few more FTs and he would have really had himself a game.
Overall: A little rough around the edges, but still a fun team to watch. Should be interesting b/c it's hard to imagine this team not improving over the course of the year.
