The Upside

[SWC75]

The Upside

- We won a tough game against an opponent playing well and overcame some adversity to do it. Get used to it. We might as well assume each game will be a Rubick’s cube this team has to solve before we can win. Easy games will be hard to come by the rest of the way. Fortunately this team is an on-court genius.

- Our guards saved us, with Brandon Triche, Dion Waiters and Scoop Jardine all playing well. Brandon hit some huge threes as we pulled away in the second half, going 4 for 5 from deep and leading the team with 16 points. Waiters kept us in the first half with some big shots, including a four point play. He had 13 points. Scoop Jardine had a double-double-double with 10 points and 11 assists to only 1 turnover. Even Michael Carter-Williams was incredibly productive in only 4 minutes of play, scoring 5 points with 2 rebounds.

- Fab Melo was key as we tried to hold onto the lead down the stretch, drawing a charge and getting a big tip-in. They was that he played with 4 fouls but didn’t stop playing because he had four fouls. And he never got the fifth because he played smart.

- Fab also canned a 19 footer. The time is coming when we won’t cringe when he attempts that shot. It might be here already.

- CJ Fair’s streak of 9 straight makes ended but he had another strong game with

12 points and 4 rebounds.

- We had 6 guys in double figures. Of course Providence had 5 but those five guys scored all but one of their points. We got a dozen points from our “other” guys and won by 14.

- We had only 8 turnovers. We lead the country in turnover margin not just by forcing them but by not making them. Three veteran guards and a versatile forward get the job done for us, game after game.

 

[shermstheman]

- We had only 8 turnovers. We lead the country in turnover margin not just by forcing them but by not making them. Three veteran guards and a versatile forward get the job done for us, game after game.[/quote]

As much as anything this is why we've been so successful. In many years we'd turn it over 15-18 times, even 20. We're getting an extra 7-8 possessions every game due to this. It's impressive for a team that likes to get out and run.

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

didn't we have that many charges? I thought we had a ton of TO's. Surprised by that number.

 

[jordoo]

I think just 3 TO were charges. 2 on Kris and 1 on Brandon. Oh and that late one where the basket counted that they gave to Scoop even though he had taken off before the guy was set. So half were charges!

 

[pfister1]

I think just 3 TO were charges. 2 on Kris and 1 on Brandon. Oh and that late one where the basket counted that they gave to Scoop even though he had taken off before the guy was set. So half were charges!

I don't think the Scoop charge was a turnover given that we scored the bucket and they were getting the ball because of the made basket?

 

[OttoMets]

I don't think the Scoop charge was a turnover given that we scored the bucket and they were getting the ball because of the made basket?

I think that's right - since it's a change of possession on a made basket, it's not a turnover. The only player-control foul that's not a turnover, I guess.

By the way, good job by the official to count the bucket, but how are refs so horrible at recognizing a clear flop? Scoop pulls up, loses most of his momentum, and that's still enough to knock down a 6'7", 240-pounder? Please.

 

[Cusefannotindc]

Compared to the 2010 team, this team is turning the ball over 4 times less per 100 possession. That equals out to about 3.5 less turnovers per game for this team, and at the 1.21 points per possession this team scores, that is 4 extra points produced per game because of the reduction in turnovers.

 

[SWC75]

Compared to the 2010 team, this team is turning the ball over 4 times less per 100 possession. That equals out to about 3.5 less turnovers per game for this team, and at the 1.21 points per possession this team scores, that is 4 extra points produced per game because of the reduction in turnovers.

The turnover margin advantage is half in the ones we force and half in the ones we don't make. And, of course the comparison would not be to last year's team but to an average team.