Day-after observations

[RoyalShock]

- Our offense looked marginally better, mainly due to getting the ball into Durley and him finishing.

- Defense was somewhat disappointing. Garrett, rule #1 on defense - one eye on your man, one eye on the ball. But he wasn't the only one slow to react on help defense.

- Our lack of real quickness was exposed last night. Mullins, Dillard and Hare were all too quick for our guards. 14 rebounds by their guards, 8 by Hare. Mostly due to them being too quick to get good boxouts.

- Rebounding was pitiful, partly due to SIU's quick guards and partly due to poor boxouts. How does Durley play 28 minutes without a single defensive rebound? That was the only chink in JT's armour last night.

- Durley. Great game. I know Boyle and Evans aren't exactly defensive juggernauts, but I'd take 10-12 points a night from JT playing just like last night. Credit the guards, too, for getting him the ball.

- SIU's offense. First half they got too many layups and dunks. That's about the only thing we really could have done better. Their 3-pt shooting was un-human. Most teams won't shoot 50% when given wide-open 3s, but SIU hit 80%. Not much you can do about that.

[pinstripers]

AJ has great quickness, but is nowhere near being a lockdown defender.

AJ has terrific hops, but is not much of a rebounder.

AJ's shooting is Stevie-Wonder-esque.

BUT........if you want somebody who will slash to the bucket and fling it off the window........then he's your guy.

[RoyalShock]

AJ . . .
BUT........if you want somebody who will slash to the bucket and fling it off the window........then he's your guy.

At least twice last night, he failed to get the ball high enough to reach the window.

I noticed something else last night. Durley appears to be our only player who can absorb contact and still finish. One little bump will throw Stutz, Hawkins and Hannah completely off their shots - even the point-blank ones.

[Dan]

I'm still trying to figure out what AJ brings to the team. He's has decent height and is fairly athletic. Other than that, I don't see see great basketball skills. Way too soft on both sides of the ball. Plays very tentatively when he's not driving to the basket and can only finish when there's not a defender on him. PJ who?

[newshock1234]

it looked like AJ was starting to come along the last couple games, but last night was a big step back, hopefully he just had a bad game

[RampageWSU]

I take my hat of to Mantas for being the warrior of the game last night. Way to provide solid minutes off the bench!

[Dan]

I'm still trying to figure out what AJ brings to the team. He's has decent height and is fairly athletic. Other than that, I don't see see great basketball skills. Way too soft on both sides of the ball. Plays very tentatively when he's not driving to the basket and can only finish when there's not a defender on him. PJ who?

[ShockerGorilla]

I'm still trying to figure out what AJ brings to the team. He's has decent height and is fairly athletic. Other than that, I don't see see great basketball skills. Way too soft on both sides of the ball. Plays very tentatively when he's not driving to the basket and can only finish when there's not a defender on him. PJ who?

Deja vu'?!! :lol:

[ShockerInKC]

I'm still trying to figure out what AJ brings to the team. He's has decent height and is fairly athletic. Other than that, I don't see see great basketball skills. Way too soft on both sides of the ball. Plays very tentatively when he's not driving to the basket and can only finish when there's not a defender on him. PJ who?

Deja vu'?!! :lol:

I've heard that before. :yahoo: :yahoo:

[MikeShox]

Re: Day-after observations

- Our offense looked marginally better, mainly due to getting the ball into Durley and him finishing.

- Defense was somewhat disappointing. Garrett, rule #1 on defense - one eye on your man, one eye on the ball. But he wasn't the only one slow to react on help defense.

- Our lack of real quickness was exposed last night. Mullins, Dillard and Hare were all too quick for our guards. 14 rebounds by their guards, 8 by Hare. Mostly due to them being too quick to get good boxouts.

- Rebounding was pitiful, partly due to SIU's quick guards and partly due to poor boxouts. How does Durley play 28 minutes without a single defensive rebound? That was the only chink in JT's armour last night.

- Durley. Great game. I know Boyle and Evans aren't exactly defensive juggernauts, but I'd take 10-12 points a night from JT playing just like last night. Credit the guards, too, for getting him the ball.

- SIU's offense. First half they got too many layups and dunks. That's about the only thing we really could have done better. Their 3-pt shooting was un-human. Most teams won't shoot 50% when given wide-open 3s, but SIU hit 80%. Not much you can do about that.

While a appreciated JT's offense a great deal, I really would like to see him have a solid game when it wasn't all single coverage. Think back to UNI when they double-teamed every time the ball went down low. JT did not handle that well. Did last night signal that he was "getting it" or was it just that he had what it took against that defense? When a team really focuses defense on him, will he come through? I don't mean he has to have 19 points, I just want him to be able to play a decent game both offensively and defensively.

Some posts before last night's game were awfully hard on Griskenas and Hatch. While Hatch couldn't make shots last night, if everyone had played the game they way those two did, the outcome would have been different. Sadly, Gris didn't get any rebounds and he needs to help in that area, but he hustled and fought every second he was in the game. Hatch fought like the devil and made good things happen.

[RoyalShock]

One of the things that made Paul Miller a fairly complete post player is that he was always a pretty good passer, which came in handy when double-teamed.

Durley and Stutz both have to learn to recognize the double-team quickly and either make a move before it happens or immediately begin searching for that open teammate. If one or both can learn that it will make us harder to prepare for. Opponents will have to pick their poison (assuming our guards can take advantage).

[AG1219]

Durley and Stutz both have to learn to recognize the double-team quickly and either make a move before it happens or immediately begin searching for that open teammate. If one or both can learn that it will make us harder to prepare for. Opponents will have to pick their poison (assuming our guards can take advantage).

Stutz did have a nice pass out to Gris for a 3 in the second half. Durley struggles passing from the post IMO.

[ShockerGorilla]

Today, Saluki Talk is a totally different atmosphere. There is sunshine, birds are singing. The few pages I read didn't mention firing Lowery anywhere.

What a change after one win. After the next game, it will be doom & gloom all over again. :yes:

[saluki762]

Today, Saluki Talk is a totally different atmosphere. There is sunshine, birds are singing. The few pages I read didn't mention firing Lowery anywhere.

What a change after one win. After the next game, it will be doom & gloom all over again. :yes:

I am usually happier the morning after getting a BJ as opposed to a kick in the junk but that is how I roll. Funny that Salukitalk is the same way.

Both teams looked much better last night than I would have anticipated. If all of the players stay, we should both look real good in 2 years.

[1972Shocker]

Hard to believe this is the same team we saw in the Orlando Tournament.

How many players have met their hype for the newcomers and expectations for the returniing players. This is how I see it.

Exceeded Hype/Expectations: Graham Hatch, Toure' Murry

Met Hype/Expectations: Clevin Hannah, J.T. Durley, Reggie Chamberlain, Mantas Griskenas (my expectations for Mantas were fairly low due to two bum knees), and Ramon Clemente (although I thought he would show more improvement on offense). I will say Clevin and Reggie are not as quick as I expected and because of that not great defenders.

Falling Short of Hype/Expectations: A. J. Hawkins, Aaron Ellis, David Kyles and Garret Stutz. David and Garret would have been ideal red shirt candidates if our situation had allowed.

I wonder how much PT Wendell Preadom would be getting because of his strength and defense if he had stayed around.

Mantas showed a little spark last night that maybe he is ready to get it going again.

Aaron has apparently dropped off HCGM's radar screen. A man without a position right now.

We are playing much to tight right now and seem to be pressing. Time for a Larry The Cable Guy marathon.