(12-12-2023 09:01 PM)UCGrad1992 Wrote: Better late than never to the party. Missed most of the game. Looks like a tale of two halfs? First half we were still suffering some EggsZavier hangover and started hitting shots and playing complimentary basketball in the second half?
Those first 25 minutes were pretty ugly, but then we settled down and Bryant ran out of steam. Bryant certainly wasn't intimidated; they came in here looking for blood.
Other notes:
1. We need to pump fake more around the rim.
2. Simas needs to be a little more involved offensively.
3. A little too much standing around on offense at times.
4. Jizzle continues to impress
(12-12-2023 09:01 PM)UCGrad1992 Wrote: Better late than never to the party. Missed most of the game. Looks like a tale of two halfs? First half we were still suffering some EggsZavier hangover and started hitting shots and playing complimentary basketball in the second half?
Those first 25 minutes were pretty ugly, but then we settled down and Bryant ran out of steam. Bryant certainly wasn't intimidated; they came in here looking for blood.
Other notes:
1. We need to pump fake more around the rim.
2. Simas needs to be a little more involved offensively.
3. A little too much standing around on offense at times.
4. Jizzle continues to impress
Bryant beat #10 ( now #17) Florida Atlantic on the road so at times they are capable.
(12-12-2023 09:01 PM)UCGrad1992 Wrote: Better late than never to the party. Missed most of the game. Looks like a tale of two halfs? First half we were still suffering some EggsZavier hangover and started hitting shots and playing complimentary basketball in the second half?
Those first 25 minutes were pretty ugly, but then we settled down and Bryant ran out of steam. Bryant certainly wasn't intimidated; they came in here looking for blood.
Other notes:
1. We need to pump fake more around the rim.
2. Simas needs to be a little more involved offensively.
3. A little too much standing around on offense at times.
4. Jizzle continues to impress
Thanks for the game summary brother. Happy we righted the ship in the second half and finished strong. I saw the ejection of the Bryant player who ended up jawing with the head coach. Not good for him...
12-12-2023 09:26 PM
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(12-12-2023 09:01 PM)UCGrad1992 Wrote: Better late than never to the party. Missed most of the game. Looks like a tale of two halfs? First half we were still suffering some EggsZavier hangover and started hitting shots and playing complimentary basketball in the second half?
Those first 25 minutes were pretty ugly, but then we settled down and Bryant ran out of steam. Bryant certainly wasn't intimidated; they came in here looking for blood.
Other notes:
1. We need to pump fake more around the rim.
2. Simas needs to be a little more involved offensively.
3. A little too much standing around on offense at times.
4. Jizzle continues to impress
Thanks for the game summary brother. Happy we righted the ship in the second half and finished strong. I saw the ejection of the Bryant player who ended up jawing with the head coach. Not good for him...
The Bryant coach, Phil Martelli Jr., looked p**sed. I'm guessing he doesn't play for few games.
Did anybody else feel like they were watching a completely different sport last night with the way the game was played and officiated versus what we watched at Cintas on Saturday?
I didn't have the energy to participate in the game thread last night.
I've been saying all year that this team plays better when they share the ball and play team ball instead of "me" ball. The #1 guilty party is Skillings. He's the black hole of the offense. Once the ball goes in, it never comes out.
I didn't have the energy to participate in the game thread last night.
I've been saying all year that this team plays better when they share the ball and play team ball instead of "me" ball. The #1 guilty party is Skillings. He's the black hole of the offense. Once the ball goes in, it never comes out.
This... Spot on. I hope it's not so much "me ball" as him just feeling like he can take the guy guarding him on most plays. At times he "seems" almost out of control on some of his drives when a quick dribble or two and then a skip pass would create an open look for a teammate and an opportunity for a possible offensive rebound/putback that he excels at. Either way, once UC gets to conf ball and the talent level goes up a bunch he has to be more team oriented or he'll have a similar impact as JD did last season
I didn't have the energy to participate in the game thread last night.
I've been saying all year that this team plays better when they share the ball and play team ball instead of "me" ball. The #1 guilty party is Skillings. He's the black hole of the offense. Once the ball goes in, it never comes out.
This... Spot on. I hope it's not so much "me ball" as him just feeling like he can take the guy guarding him on most plays. At times he "seems" almost out of control on some of his drives when a quick dribble or two and then a skip pass would create an open look for a teammate and an opportunity for a possible offensive rebound/putback that he excels at. Either way, once UC gets to conf ball and the talent level goes up a bunch he has to be more team oriented or he'll have a similar impact as JD did last season
I think Wes wants Skillings to force things to a degree, he has an incredible ability to get to the hoop. But he needs to get better at understanding of picking his spots, driving when he has a step on his man rather than taking it 1v3 into a set defense. He is on teams scouting report now and they are ready for him driving, so he needs something else in his arsenal to open lanes. His passing has gradually been improving, it still has a long way to go though. He needs to hit more threes too, he was shooting it well early on, but lately hasn't been hitting, forcing teams to respect his shot would help him off the drive.
That said, I think he's going to get plenty of opportunity, Simas is the one much more likely to be overwhelmed be Big 12 athleticism. His ball handling has not looked anywhere close to good enough to be a point forward and he barely rebounds. There are likely to also be times (like against Xavier) where CJ and Simas are exposed on defense and someone else needs to play. Of course Skillings needs to improve on defense too, but he has all physical tools, just doesn't have the experience playing organized basketball that the others do.
Nice to see them get it together and run away with the game.
One thing they really need to work on is that two-man game with Aziz and a guard. Thomas played it well once late in the second half, but they need to perfect that, because it should be impossible to defend.
Also, any chance they play zone at all with Aziz back there? He changes the other team's offense.
Lakhin had a bit of an off night offensively, but he is incredible around the rim. It's nice that he can shoot, but he's so good down low that I was glad to see him focus there.
I was a John Newman skeptic coming into the year. He's been so good all around.
James got more minutes than Thomas. He's not shy, is he. Both are light years better than I imagined they'd be.
Skillings is flailing a bit. His shot is so ugly. Looks like me trying to shake in a 4 foot putt.
Simas was steady. Solid game for CJ. Ody had a huge block and was good on the glass.
This team has so many good players. Nice to get a win with a great second half. Excited to see how they do against UD.
So, the Meercats are pissed because they lost to Xavier, and they take out their anger on cupcake Bryant. What's it going to take to piss them off before they play Xavier? Same old story, year after year.
I didn't have the energy to participate in the game thread last night.
I've been saying all year that this team plays better when they share the ball and play team ball instead of "me" ball. The #1 guilty party is Skillings. He's the black hole of the offense. Once the ball goes in, it never comes out.
This... Spot on. I hope it's not so much "me ball" as him just feeling like he can take the guy guarding him on most plays. At times he "seems" almost out of control on some of his drives when a quick dribble or two and then a skip pass would create an open look for a teammate and an opportunity for a possible offensive rebound/putback that he excels at. Either way, once UC gets to conf ball and the talent level goes up a bunch he has to be more team oriented or he'll have a similar impact as JD did last season
I think Wes wants Skillings to force things to a degree, he has an incredible ability to get to the hoop. But he needs to get better at understanding of picking his spots, driving when he has a step on his man rather than taking it 1v3 into a set defense. He is on teams scouting report now and they are ready for him driving, so he needs something else in his arsenal to open lanes. His passing has gradually been improving, it still has a long way to go though. He needs to hit more threes too, he was shooting it well early on, but lately hasn't been hitting, forcing teams to respect his shot would help him off the drive.
That said, I think he's going to get plenty of opportunity, Simas is the one much more likely to be overwhelmed be Big 12 athleticism. His ball handling has not looked anywhere close to good enough to be a point forward and he barely rebounds. There are likely to also be times (like against Xavier) where CJ and Simas are exposed on defense and someone else needs to play. Of course Skillings needs to improve on defense too, but he has all physical tools, just doesn't have the experience playing organized basketball that the others do.
I have lost confidence in this team. They won bc Bryant was tired and got in foul trouble. Agreed Simas gets exposed on D. Wes needs to put him in situations that can best take advantage of his skills. I have hope Wes can coach up Aziz and Dan on D, bc they have room to grow.
So many wide open bunnies last nt that were made, but we won’t be wide open in conf.
I didn't have the energy to participate in the game thread last night.
I've been saying all year that this team plays better when they share the ball and play team ball instead of "me" ball. The #1 guilty party is Skillings. He's the black hole of the offense. Once the ball goes in, it never comes out.
This... Spot on. I hope it's not so much "me ball" as him just feeling like he can take the guy guarding him on most plays. At times he "seems" almost out of control on some of his drives when a quick dribble or two and then a skip pass would create an open look for a teammate and an opportunity for a possible offensive rebound/putback that he excels at. Either way, once UC gets to conf ball and the talent level goes up a bunch he has to be more team oriented or he'll have a similar impact as JD did last season
I dont blame Skillings at all. He is a good teammate, smiling. I think Coach wants him attacking. So it may look like he’s trying to play hero ball, but I don’t think he is at all.
He has a lot of a lot of a lot of upside. He gets a jumpshot he’s going to be in the NBA.
(This post was last modified: 12-13-2023 11:39 PM by ZCat.)
(12-13-2023 11:25 PM)ZCat Wrote: I dont blame Skillings at all. He is a good teammate, smiling. I think Coach wants him attacking. So it may look like he’s trying to play hero ball, but I don’t think he is at all.
He has a lot of a lot of a lot of upside. He gets a jumpshot he’s going to be in the NBA.
Exactly right. He never played organized ball until HS so he's much more raw than most. But with is size athleticism combo he's got skills that give him unlimited potential but at this point he's very loose with the handle and not shooting well. At times he's been the best player on the court and at X he was the worst. But if this team is going to reach it's potential Dan's development will be a big part of getting there.
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