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Where to begin? I could start with the positives like normal, but I can't. Call me a basher if you want, but the statline doesn't lie.
The story of the game is the mind bogglingly pathetic front court play the Georgia Bulldogs put together in this game.
The Ugly:
- Our Post Players. The numbers are staggering. Woodbury, Bliss, Idrissi, Newman and Singleton combined for 70 minutes, 0-7 field goal shooting, 0-1 free throw shooting, 4 turnovers, 2 assists and only 3 rebounds. That is so far beyond ridiculous as to make you think it's a misprint. But alas it isn't.
When a team only commits 8 turnovers to its opponent's 18, it should win. When a team shoots 71% from the free throw line to it's opponent's 57%, it should win.
However, when a team is out rebounded 41-23, it will hardly ever win.
I'm on record as saying that Felton is the right man for the job right now. I still obviously feel that way. However, there is much work to be done by this coaching staff when it comes to teaching fundamentals and scheme. Areas in dramatic need of coaching (in no particular order):
Example 1: Dave Bliss has no idea what to do with the basketball underneath the bucket. Some of that is talent. He's not overly blessed in that area. However, Felton and Hermann must teach him to STOP taking the ball back to his toenails after every rebound. Watch as he constantly brings the ball down and dribbles once only to have it slapped at. A guy of his size needs to IMMEDIATELY go back up strong. If you are 6'10" and bring the ball down like that, every 5'5" guy and up can paw at it. No wonder he's a walking turnover / spazz with the ball.
Example 2: Scheme. Felton has little in the way of an offensive system. At least not one that is apparent to the untrained eye after 2.5 years. Standing around the arc, shooting threes or waiting for Mercer to drive to the hole isn't an offensive system. We don't get near the basket with any regularity, and our big guys don't get to the line. Morris is a dominating inside presence to be sure, but we don't even give our limited talented front court guys chances to score. 7 shots from our big men isn't going to cut it. We need better ball movement and penetration.
Example 3: Player rotation. Why are Toney and Bliss still starting? Idrissi's boney rear end brings more to the table defensively than Newman. Neither bring much offensively. Why not start Idrissi? Woodbury hasn't made a shot in the past 2 games. Toney disappears for long stretches at a time. Why not play Humphrey more? He's a much better shooter.
Example 4: Selfishness. Our freshmen don't pass and don't share the ball. I've alluded to this before. Until Felton finds a way to get these young guys to share the ball more, our offensive potential is really limited.
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[Photo: Our front court play is a Sin Against Naismith.]
Felton has a tremendous coaching challenge in front of him. He has to find a way to get this group to produce points when they aren't hot from the 3 point line. They are young, unpoised and their confidence is fragile. It's a tough job, but that's why he gets paid the big bucks.
The good news is that confidence comes with time. The better news is that when they are on and playing with confidence, they can beat a variety of teams in this year's watered down version of the SEC. Speaking of good news.
The Good:
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- Free Throws and turnovers. I said before the game that if we shot FTs above 70% and turned the ball over less than 15 times, I liked our chances. We only turned it over 8 times to UK's 18 times, and we shot 71% from the field. Yet we got blown out. What do I know.
- Randolph Morris. He doesn't even look like the same kid from last year. Although, I have to wonder. If he can sign a contract with an agent, but still be allowed to play this year. Can we have Herschel's last year back? I know he's 45 or so, but he can still tote the rock.
The Bad:
- Substitution Patterns - Kevin Brophy is listed as playing 5 minutes. There's no way it was that little. What in the blue hell was he doing in there? Gaines only had 3 personal fouls yet he only played 28 minutes? He's the closest thing to a captain that our offense has. We've got to get him and keep him on the floor.
- Officiating - What Morris got away with underneath the basket is...well...typically blue stripped SEC officiating. Frustrating.
Summary:
All isn't lost. However, until this team learns to rebound inside while leveraging it's backcourt assets in a more organized manner, the Big Dance is out of the question. This is a 6-10 SEC team that will hopefully host a first round NIT game. Six SEC wins is an improvement over last year, and that's the important thing to remember.
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pwd
6 comments:
Nice recap. I think it should be noted that the second half of that game was the ugliest display I've seen in quite a while. UK sucked, UGA was just worse.
It seems to me that Mercer may be the only kid on the team who understands the intensity level that one must have to play big time b-ball....
I scream at the TV every time Toney, Bliss or Singleton get the ball in their hands...Bliss is quite possibly the least talented kid to ever play D1 b-ball...
Toney is rapidly developing the "Black Hole syndrome" and he isnt making enough...
With all that said, until the T on Mercer UGA was right there in the game...UK is pretty bad.
Strong recap.
Dave Bliss is not an SEC caliber player - period. He tries hard but I just don't think he should ever be out there.
I get so frustrated when he's out there getting "quality minutes" - I want to smack the Harrick boys for forcing us to take a guy like him. Let alone play him....
As always, keep up the good work.
Ouch. He had a pretty significant back injury. So that's holding him back to a degree.
At one point, I said that it might be an effort problem with him. Others assured me that's not the case. He's just really banged up and limited b/c of that.
That said. His technique in rebounding and his hands are really weak.
Ahhh the increased expectation of the Dawgnation. The fact that this teams has as many wins as it does is a testament to the coaches.
Am I mistaken or do we have one JR on the team? Players like Mercer shine when they have veteran players around them. We don't got none.
No doubt the frontcourt is ugly, but they are all kids. In a normal situation they would be out there busting their butts for 3 or 4 minutes a game, not playing the entire game.
It's gonna be ugly some nights.
I forgot about his back issue. I can't give him a complete wash - but once your back goes it's hard to be the same...
Also, don't take my critique as any reflection on Coach Felton - he has done an unbelievable job keeping this team together and not letting them get down. It is all up from here.
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