Vegas

[bballbeadle]

Duke is playing Kansas tomorrow night at 9. That will be an interesting game. Unfortunately I can’t watch it because - you know - of our game at the Dome at freaking 9 PM. But I count on the board to give us your impressions.

 

[MikeSU02]

Let me stop you right there…

We aren’t going to be like our greatest team in SU history. I stand by that, btw. The numbers back it up. 1-7 that was the best team we’ve ever fielded.

If we keep it competitive with a shot down the stretch, I’ll take it. These are serious tests especially Houston.

I’m glad that I am not chalking it up as an automatic L, that’s for sure!

That tourney set up for us if AO never gets hurt. Would have played KSU after their 2OT game, MSU without their injured guard and then we would have smoked that Duke team.

 

[MikeSU02]

Three things I noticed yesterday. First George could’ve gotten to the hoop against that little guard so many more times and he was not as aggressive as often as he could’ve been. Also, when he did get to the hoop, there was nobody trailing for a drop off or an offensive rebound. Especially in the first half, we got zero help at the basket. George can only do so much without cutters.

Freeman’s shot selection sometimes leaves a lot to be desired. He goes to his fadeaway when a jump stop and baby hook would be preferable. I still am worried about our interior defense getting big boyed against better teams (and picking up fouls). It has been rare, but Freeman was a no show battling on the glass.

Finally on efficiency, I’m watching team after team put up 100 points and we have not cracked 90 yet. I’m not sure our points per possession, but it does seem that we waste too many opportunities. We are certainly not playing at the old Virginia pace where it would be understandable.

The key to the season will be how well George and Kingz increase their contributions as they get more comfortable. The last game they both gave incredible effort with OK results. Both are capable of putting in games like Donnie and Anthony. When (if) we start getting 25 to 30 points from them rather than 15-20 we will be cooking.

Two items on the 100 point thing:

1) We're making our bones on D and I'm ok with that. Because this team also needs to be able to run because we'll be a work in progress in the half court against good teams.

2) This team needs Kingz to ascend back to a 40% 3PT shooter and then we can be looking at scoring more. I just wrote this in another thread, but we've filled the JJ gap and are doing it more efficiently. But we need Kingz to be our poor man's Klay Thompson and then you're going to start seeing the geometry of the floor bust wide open in the half court to have more options on O.