SWC75
Bored Historian
- Joined
- Aug 26, 2011
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- This team seems to really be coming together. The game of spreading the floor and driving to the basket for lay-ups or passing back out for treys seems to be working. After a couple of bad games from two point range, we hit 50% tonight, (18 of 36) while shooting 40% from three and getting to the line where we hit 15 of 16. That’s a combination that’s hard to beat.
- Remember all those Notre Dame sharpshooters who went off against us over the years? Trevor Cooney is our revenge. He had 22 points, including 15 in the first half. He’s gotten off to hot starts against both Wake Forest and Notre Dame and both games were blow-outs. What I liked about this game is that he only made three three-pointers: he made four point baskets, got to the line for 5 for 5 and had 3 assists. He’s so much more effective when he drives to the basket rather than just trying to be Mr. Three Pointer.
- Tyler Lydon had his best game since the Bahamas. He was aggressive both with his shot, his defensive play and his rebounding. He scored 15 points, including 3 treys, had 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and a block. If he plays that way the rest of the way, anything is possible.
- Malachi Richardson continues to have an exceptional freshman year. He’s become one of the best players in the conference. Tonight he had 15 points. He attempted 12 shots of all types and made 8 of them. He scored one two pointer, three treys, (of 4) and four free throws. His highlight was a trey that barely rippled the net as he was being fouled, giving him a rare four point play that came when the Irish had just closed a 20 point lead to 12. It helped us keep control of the game.
- Michael Gbinije struggled in the first half at 1 for 7 from the field but came on strong in the second with 5 for 8 and wound up with his usual 15 points. He also has matured into a genuine point guard, rather than a small forward trying to play the point.
- Tyler Roberson worked hard for 9 tough rebounds inside and a couple of terrific follow shots.
- We went on an incredible 23-1 first half run to take control of the game. But the best thing is that we never let them back in it. Every time they made a move, be made a counter move. No comeback tonight, you Fighting Irish.
- This team is reminding me of the 2013 team that made the Final Four: so many determined drives to the basket. This team has more outside firepower to with it. The key is defense. When we play it like we did tonight, we are a formidable team. That team had two good defensive centers: Rakeem Christmas and Baye Moussa Keita. This team has had none all season. But DaJuan Coleman is starting to figure out how to positon his body to prevent people from getting to the basket and if Tyler Lydon is as aggressive as he was tonight, we’ll be OK there.
- Classy move to have the team wearing sweats with pearl’s name on them. And a classy move by Steve Vasturia to honor the Pearl by hitting a shot from the same spot.
14-8 (4-5) with 9+ to go…and only 3 more wins needed to guarantee our 46th consecutive winning season!
LET’S GO ORANGE!
- Remember all those Notre Dame sharpshooters who went off against us over the years? Trevor Cooney is our revenge. He had 22 points, including 15 in the first half. He’s gotten off to hot starts against both Wake Forest and Notre Dame and both games were blow-outs. What I liked about this game is that he only made three three-pointers: he made four point baskets, got to the line for 5 for 5 and had 3 assists. He’s so much more effective when he drives to the basket rather than just trying to be Mr. Three Pointer.
- Tyler Lydon had his best game since the Bahamas. He was aggressive both with his shot, his defensive play and his rebounding. He scored 15 points, including 3 treys, had 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and a block. If he plays that way the rest of the way, anything is possible.
- Malachi Richardson continues to have an exceptional freshman year. He’s become one of the best players in the conference. Tonight he had 15 points. He attempted 12 shots of all types and made 8 of them. He scored one two pointer, three treys, (of 4) and four free throws. His highlight was a trey that barely rippled the net as he was being fouled, giving him a rare four point play that came when the Irish had just closed a 20 point lead to 12. It helped us keep control of the game.
- Michael Gbinije struggled in the first half at 1 for 7 from the field but came on strong in the second with 5 for 8 and wound up with his usual 15 points. He also has matured into a genuine point guard, rather than a small forward trying to play the point.
- Tyler Roberson worked hard for 9 tough rebounds inside and a couple of terrific follow shots.
- We went on an incredible 23-1 first half run to take control of the game. But the best thing is that we never let them back in it. Every time they made a move, be made a counter move. No comeback tonight, you Fighting Irish.
- This team is reminding me of the 2013 team that made the Final Four: so many determined drives to the basket. This team has more outside firepower to with it. The key is defense. When we play it like we did tonight, we are a formidable team. That team had two good defensive centers: Rakeem Christmas and Baye Moussa Keita. This team has had none all season. But DaJuan Coleman is starting to figure out how to positon his body to prevent people from getting to the basket and if Tyler Lydon is as aggressive as he was tonight, we’ll be OK there.
- Classy move to have the team wearing sweats with pearl’s name on them. And a classy move by Steve Vasturia to honor the Pearl by hitting a shot from the same spot.
14-8 (4-5) with 9+ to go…and only 3 more wins needed to guarantee our 46th consecutive winning season!
LET’S GO ORANGE!
) had highlight moments. Every single one! And what can you say about Cooney? Potatoes are firm and crisp! The students showed up and they were in fine form. 
