With football recruiting in full swing last week and my real job a zoo, I've spent less time on hoops despite the positive news. That won't change this week either. But here's my quick thoughts:
The positives:
1. The offense -- Versus Vandy, we moved the ball better than I have seen us do all season and we moved without the ball better than I have seen all season. This is a welcome change from the "Stand and Stare" offense that we implored during most of our losses.
2. The interior defense. We played awesome inside vs. Vanderbilt.
3. The starting lineup. I really like this starting lineup of Gaines, Stukes, Mercer, Idrissi and Bliss. It's our most athletic lineup plus Toney and Mercer have both really warmed to their new roles. Toney is averaging 13.0 points and 0.5 turnovers since he was taken out of the starting lineup.
4. Newman's first half shooting. GATA. Steve shot 3-3 to open the first half including two threes from well beyond the arc. When we get 12 points from Kane, we're tough to beat.
5. We all but locked up an NIT bid on Saturday.
The biggest areas for improvement continue to be:
1. We don't get to the free throw line at all. Even in our wins, we're absent from the line. We only went 3-5 from the line vs. Vandy.
2. Perimeter defense. We gave them way too many open looks from outside.
3. We waited one game too many to move to this lineup, and I believe that it cost us the Auburn game.
Overall:
Any road win in the SEC is a good thing, but a win in the Nashville House of Horrors is especially large.
Tennessee looks really strong right now, and it's a brutal matchup for us this coming Saturday. However, if we get an off game on Wednesday so we can spend more time prepping for the Vols. If the Bulldogs can find a way to eek out ao win on Saturday, we can start having some measure of NCAA dreams.
The Bulldogs are 4-5 in the SEC, and we still have games left at home against Vandy and South Carolina. Given that we beat them on the road, those should be winnable games. We also have a game on the road against a very bad Mississippi State team. Win those three and we're 7-8 with a season ending home game against an Arkansas team that we matchup badly with.
But still. It's definitely progress.
1 comments:
Absolutely some progress. Felton has done a fantastic job with these guys. His staff's work with Idrissi is unbelievable from last year to this. Bliss as well - he may be a bit stiff (I thank you) but he's using his size to the best of his abilities.
Also, his move of Toney off the bench has worked very well and Channing looks strong when he comes in.
Post a Comment