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At this point of the year analysis is for losers. You survive and advance or you don't. We did. Having said that, and having spent a life with many viewing me as a loser anyway, here goes.
1. From where I sat, the UConn crowd was disappointing. Yes, you can tell when someone wears orange in a way that you can't tell where they wear blue, and maybe where I sat (behind the ISU and MSU block tickets) effected my perception, but I thought there were almost as many UVA fans there as UConn fans, and they were a little louder and more into the game than we were. Again, maybe on TV, or from other parts of the building, it appeared different but I was disappointed in our effort as a fanbase. And given the opportunity to show Big Ten and ACC reps how if they want to play hoops in NYC they need our help, it struck me as a somewhat lost opportunity.
2. Very nice game by the heroes in blue. We can beat anyone where (i) we make shots, and (ii) DD plays like an All American. Unfortunately, we have not been able to count on either of those happening game to game all year long, and this team isn't like other champions we've had where they have proven they can scratch out some big wins when things aren't going that well. But, that having been said, if we play our best three more games, and with Louisville out, there is no one left whom we won't have a good shot at.
3. I don't think I've ever seen a freshman go from someone who only gets in as an act of charity to the level of performance we are now seeing seemingly overnight the way Terrence Samuel has. I remember the shocking performance that Toraino Walker gave out of nowhere in the Big East tourney against Georgetown, but that wasn't followed with the steady, consistent play that we've gotten from Samuel. On both ends of the court. Including amazing foul shooting and the look in his eyes that the guy guarding him last night could not keep him from getting to the rack.
4. I've been saying for months that we could make the Final Four if Daniels plays like the All American he showed he could be last year. Last night I thought he took over (and I think the points Hogue scored were based more on a gameplan to let him beat you and help out on their stars). Daniels will have to be great if we're going to be able to score enough against MSU for us to win. But he is capable of doing it.
5. Don't understand why KO turned off the D and wanted to hold on simply by shooting foul shots. I've never seen a team give up as many straight layups as early in the shotclock as consistently as we did the last few minutes. Don't know why Brimah wasn't in on D, with the clock stopping all the time. Don't know why we were so afraid of fouling we didn't guard anyone. But didn't like the passivity. That having been said, until that moment we played a very solid game in all aspects. Might ISU have been a much tougher challenge without the injury? Absolutely. Having said that, breaks are a huge part of the tournament and no shame in capitalizing on the ones we got. We've just beaten a #2 seed and a #3 seed consecutively with relatively little sweat.
6. Michigan State will be the toughest test we've had in the Tourney. Having said that, Appling is clearly hurt, and not looking anything like the player he was, and without him their point guard play is iffy. Payne is a monster, but he went huge stretches of the game without touching the ball. For reasons that wasn't clear. If both teams play their best they are probably better, but if we can keep from being destroyed inside I think this is a very winnable game.
Enough for now. Have a good day all. I'm going on seat geek and figuring out if I'm heading back in tomorrow (having gotten in at 3:10 last night and having the alarm go off at 7:30 because my wife had a meeting. UGH. But still worth it.
1. From where I sat, the UConn crowd was disappointing. Yes, you can tell when someone wears orange in a way that you can't tell where they wear blue, and maybe where I sat (behind the ISU and MSU block tickets) effected my perception, but I thought there were almost as many UVA fans there as UConn fans, and they were a little louder and more into the game than we were. Again, maybe on TV, or from other parts of the building, it appeared different but I was disappointed in our effort as a fanbase. And given the opportunity to show Big Ten and ACC reps how if they want to play hoops in NYC they need our help, it struck me as a somewhat lost opportunity.
2. Very nice game by the heroes in blue. We can beat anyone where (i) we make shots, and (ii) DD plays like an All American. Unfortunately, we have not been able to count on either of those happening game to game all year long, and this team isn't like other champions we've had where they have proven they can scratch out some big wins when things aren't going that well. But, that having been said, if we play our best three more games, and with Louisville out, there is no one left whom we won't have a good shot at.
3. I don't think I've ever seen a freshman go from someone who only gets in as an act of charity to the level of performance we are now seeing seemingly overnight the way Terrence Samuel has. I remember the shocking performance that Toraino Walker gave out of nowhere in the Big East tourney against Georgetown, but that wasn't followed with the steady, consistent play that we've gotten from Samuel. On both ends of the court. Including amazing foul shooting and the look in his eyes that the guy guarding him last night could not keep him from getting to the rack.
4. I've been saying for months that we could make the Final Four if Daniels plays like the All American he showed he could be last year. Last night I thought he took over (and I think the points Hogue scored were based more on a gameplan to let him beat you and help out on their stars). Daniels will have to be great if we're going to be able to score enough against MSU for us to win. But he is capable of doing it.
5. Don't understand why KO turned off the D and wanted to hold on simply by shooting foul shots. I've never seen a team give up as many straight layups as early in the shotclock as consistently as we did the last few minutes. Don't know why Brimah wasn't in on D, with the clock stopping all the time. Don't know why we were so afraid of fouling we didn't guard anyone. But didn't like the passivity. That having been said, until that moment we played a very solid game in all aspects. Might ISU have been a much tougher challenge without the injury? Absolutely. Having said that, breaks are a huge part of the tournament and no shame in capitalizing on the ones we got. We've just beaten a #2 seed and a #3 seed consecutively with relatively little sweat.
6. Michigan State will be the toughest test we've had in the Tourney. Having said that, Appling is clearly hurt, and not looking anything like the player he was, and without him their point guard play is iffy. Payne is a monster, but he went huge stretches of the game without touching the ball. For reasons that wasn't clear. If both teams play their best they are probably better, but if we can keep from being destroyed inside I think this is a very winnable game.
Enough for now. Have a good day all. I'm going on seat geek and figuring out if I'm heading back in tomorrow (having gotten in at 3:10 last night and having the alarm go off at 7:30 because my wife had a meeting. UGH. But still worth it.
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