^All of these things, plus the fact that we showed tremendous composure when we went down early. The past few years, our response has been to jack a bunch of 3s to try to get back into the game ASAP, but against USF we took a slow, steady approach by taking smart shots and playing solid D to go on a little run. That kind of composure will be big for us later in the season and in the tournament when a team inevitably hits a bunch of 3s and puts us in an early hole. If christmas and coleman can show some steady improvement and MCW quits auditioning for the NBA, (and of course there aren't any major injuries or eligibility issues a la 2010 and 2012) we should be final four contenders.The USF game doesn't change my perception at all.
-Road conference win = Positive
-They covered the spread (it was SU -9) = Positive.
-MCW had a lousy game but they won anyway =Positive.
-Christmas in foul trouble, Grant steps in and does a nice job = Positive.
-Triche steps it up again = Positive.
-They only score 55 points and win by 11 - Positive
They're a good team that's only going to get better. Don't expect them to go undefeated, they will be beat - at home and on the road by a team or teams they should beat, but come tournament time I think they'll give us a nice little run.
Such a USF homer"This team has final 4 written all over them"-Bob Wenzel
So there.
well?
Were are improving and just won our first road game in conference. At teh ebach in the middle of winter with a rather young team and even all the experienced players (other than Keita) playing new roles. SFU will be a tough out at home all season and has a lot of guys back from last years NCAA torney team.
I agree with those saying MCW will learn to finish. I had no problems with most of his shots, he often got right to the rim and missed. Other than not passing to Triche on the break once and shooting one not needed early shot clock 3 he took good shots . . . . . just didn't make enough of them.
I think the issue MCW is having finishing is that the shot is after thought. He is driving looking to pass too much and when the pass doesn't open up he shoots. He needs to focus on the shot and if a pass opens up than pass. He is too long not to be able to finish better. Also he should try and attack the rim more instead of laying up of the glass. At least he will draw more fouls that way.
I think the issue MCW is having finishing is that the shot is after thought. He is driving looking to pass too much and when the pass doesn't open up he shoots. He needs to focus on the shot and if a pass opens up than pass. He is too long not to be able to finish better. Also he should try and attack the rim more instead of laying up of the glass. At least he will draw more fouls that way.
we shot under 40% on the road and won by double digits. thats the best sign.. we can win without shooting lights out or making a ton of 3's
I'm with you, looks like we pretty much played to expectations. We had MCW play below expectations but BT played above to average it out. Looks like we will be a guard oriented team again this year. And I think overall the guards can still improve. I could see BT declining a little but MCW improving a lot. I think we have one of the best back courts in the country.KenPom ranking says we are #6 in the country, and says that we should have beat USF by about ten points yesterday. We did what he had to -- the results met what a #6 team should do. So in no way should you feel any worse about this team after yesterday. I feel about the same.
It's never going to look pretty against USF.