USC game

hookem.gif
 
Texas did not cover the spread. They would of if they hit 65%of their FTs. Someone once said FTs are mental, maybe we need Yoda.
 
Soviet Union is a USC/Pac 10 supporter. His team did cover the spread.

And they played very well through 30 minutes before Texas managed that quick 10 points to take a 54-44 lead. Then Vucevic fouled out with Mason (all 6'2" of him) getting position and Vucevic trying to back him down. Vucevic is an excellent player. USC wasn't the same after he went out.

Free throws were atrocious, but improved somewhat over the last ten minutes. Outside shooting was non-existent, until the last ten minutes.

James and Balbay were great. Pittman was very good, getting 7 blocks. The rest had moments, but that was about it.
 
Balbay is certainly a pleasant surprise this season. The team has all the pieces, but they haven't been fit together just yet. Defense is carrying them at this point.
That free throw shooting, though, ugly. Will cost games later if not improved.
 
Balbay had a really good game, but I thought James was just okay and was getting his shots blocked by USC's bigs.

As long as Brown is shooting free throws at the end, then we'll be okay. Effortless stroke and love his demeanor, so far.
 
Another win that looks good in the box score (19 point win) with a big spurt at the end of the game.

However, this team is going to get exposed, and I mean big time. UNC and Mich St may beat this team by 10-15 points.

While it would be nice to work on free throws in practice, they still need to develop an offense and will need to practice that. But truthfully, I am not sure they do anything during practice as the offense and FT shooting has not improved at all.

I just keep telling myself that I am not jumping off the ledge yet as Barnes has proven me wrong before, but man this is really frustrating.
 
I didn't think James was particularly good in the second half, but his first half was the only thing that kept the team from being embarrassed. Other than James, Texas had only 2 fg in the first 12:50 of the game.

Add him hitting 5 of his first 6 ft and keeping himself at 70% for the year, and I'll praise him. Particularly after watching what the rest of the team was doing.
 
Barnes was right on when he said this isn't the #2 team in the country. From past experience I have a feeling that the problems on offense and FT shooting will be an ongoing part of the makeup of this team and their success, or failure will depend on defense.

I think it was BiH that said the team doesn't run offensive sets and I believe that. It's make a couple of random passes, and then it's my turn to jack up an outside shot, mixed in with an occasional wild pass that has no chance of reaching it's intended destination.

As far as the FT shooting, it's more than bad form. On the contrary, several of the spotty FTers have decent form. At times the players just look disinterested at the line. I seriously wonder how much time they practice the concentration aspect of shooting free throws.

Ok, I'm done ranting. <sigh> A win is a win I suppose.
 
Before the season started, I mentioned I had some concerns about Brown and Hamilton needing some time to readjust to game conditions, since they both sat out all last year.

I think that's part of Brown's problems right now. He makes the occasional bad pass, the occasional lazy pass, and the occasional silly play a little more often than one would normally attribute to just freshman mistakes.

Bradley, I don't know what the deal was with him last night on offense, but that completely lacksidasical attempt at a layup after that great Balbay steal wasn't something I expect Barnes will let Bradley forget for some time. I love watching Bradley and Balbay play defense with such tenacity, so I'm somewhat forgiving of the offensive lapse there.

Maybe Lucas will cure the shooting woes. Texas is now under 33% on 3 point attempts.

FT shooting remains abysmal at 62%, and that includes Brown going 22-23.

I just don't see how Bradley, Balbay, and Mason are a viable combo on the floor. That makes for no outside shooting and a composite 46% ft percentage. I want Balbay with the ball on offense, but there have to be outside options so he'll have some room to maneuver.

Gotta love the D so far. Teams are shooting only .324 from the field and .206 from 3 point range. Even the FT defense is awesome, just 57% allowed.
 
Hard to ***** about 20 point victories, but here's my only real complaint: We've got to keep 3 viable scoring threats on the court at the same time.

Balbay, Mason, Wangmene out there at the same time is just painful. So, when Wangmene comes in for Pittman, Barnes needs to also sub either Hamilton for Mason or Brown for Balbay.

Same thing if Gary is in for Damian. (I know he likes to shoot, but I still don't like him as 1-3 option)
 
I generally don't mind the "random screening" offense, and I understand why that can be viewed as a good system to run in college ball, provided the players do the things asked of them--move around to get open, set screens for other players to help them get open, make clean passes, come get the ball, etc. Finally, any offense, no matter how complex or rudimentary isn't going to work well if no one can hit an outside shot. When there aren't any screens being set, when people aren't moving, and when no one can hit an outside shot, there will be problems.
 
I don't think Wangmene or Johnson are much of a problem on the offensive end. Wangmene isn't going to convert like Pittman and shouldn't be the go to guy, but he does show an ability to receive a pass down low and take it up for at least drawing fouls, and he's not that bad a ft shooter (66% career). Johnson is a pretty good mid range shooter.

I tend to think those guys, particularly Wangmene, get beaten on defense a lot.

No, the combo that gets me is Bradley, Balbay, and Mason. With no outside shooting at all facing them, the defense can just pack it down like people were fearing.
 
I never worry about what the offense looks like until mid-January. We all know Barnes loves defense and there is no doubt that early in the season he spends the vast majority of practice time working on defense. I think he wants to send a clear message to the players that they have to play good defense in order to get any playing time and that if they become a great defensive team early in the year, it will carry them through. Then, when he gets the players undivided attention over the holiday break, he starts to implement and practice the offense. You can especially tell the lack of offensive practice when we face a primarily zone team. Early in the season, especially when there are a bunch of new players, we are particularly clueless against the zone - and Barnes will often admit in the post-game interview that the team had not worked at all on zone offense.

Barnes works the hell out of the team over the holiday break (which also leads to some sloppy games because they are all so tired), and by mid-January they start to hit their stride and push their way the season and the tournament.

So we may not like the way they look early in the year, but Barnes seems to have a formula for team development and it is pretty hard to argue with the results he's had.

So if in mid-January the offense is bad and the free throw shooting continues to be abysmal, I may start to worry and complain. Until then, I say just enjoy the team.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Weekly Prediction Contest

* Predict HORNS-AGGIES *
Sat, Nov 30 • 6:30 PM on ABC

Recent Threads

Prediction Results Threads

2024 Schedules

Back
Top