Looking at what we need to do better in these toughest of matchups.
Ummm did Sam Lewis have money on this game?
I mean the decision to come up off his man to cover Malik’s man when score was 22-12. Genuinely there is no reasonable thought process to arrive at that decision. It’s so outlandish. He’s under the basket!
2 Likes
It WAS outlandish!
Especially given we have defended eleventy hundred ball screens this year.
3 Likes
I got pissed at Sam later in game noticing his stuff on offense but hadn’t watched off ball breakdowns earlier in game.
I’m going to ding coaches here for not removing him sooner. That stuff is inexcusable.
4 Likes
Completely agree that we let their physicality dictate the game and be intimidated by it — what makes me even more frustrated is that we have legit grown men on our team and Caleb Foster would have to buy their starting lineup beers.
Chance and Johann were playing their peers, the rest of our team were playing dudes that would call them “unc”.
Like in this new era is there not more of a mindset of “no way I’m letting these kids do me like this”
4 Likes
They did a nice job of keeping us out of the lane. Also true, the amount of times we balked at challenging them when we got in the lane was crazy. The one where Ugo has a head of steam going at Boozer and stops and passes it out probably got me the most. I bet the odds of him either drawing a foul or Boozer letting him go if he just goes up and tries to dunk that are very high.
3 Likes
The good news from a game like this is that there are a lot of examples (many of which you cover) that reinforce the dangers of playing too intimidated. I’m certain that every one of our guys would play differently if they could run that game back. Coach Odom has a lot of teaching material to reinforce the lesson. And if and when we play another top team, we have to play aggressive and free.
Unfortunately the vibes from that game seem to still be in the air.
1 Like
Well, we don’t have time for vibes problems, so it’s time to show some mental toughness. Otherwise there are exactly 3 games left, and that would be a disappointment all around.
1 Like
I think they’re just talented enough to probably win a first round NCAA game as a 4 seed even if they’re in a funk… but it’s still a point well taken.
2 Likes