An ugly win is a win, enjoy, move on.

[August_West]

It was a good coaching decision by Ollie to play zone defense, to protect Olander and force some out side shooting by a not so great shooting USF team. I think we will need to have some of this come March. Calhoun was stubborn to his man defense and never played zone, but this team will need some of this going forward.

Calhoun hated Zone but when warranted he would deploy it. Most famous example was 2003 sweet 16 against Texas. We were down double digits in second half and that little speedster on Texas (TJ Ford I think?) was killing us off the bounce. Calhoun went zone and we came all the way back. Then Calhoun called off the zone too early early and TJ ford killed us off the bounce for the win. We were still a neck ball from taking that game and if we did we could have possibly stopped Cuse's title run. They couldn't beat us that year.

I thought KO should have stuck with the zone a little longer last night. It was working. My view is use it until they prove they can beat it.

 

[ATLDYKA]

Olander has earned some more time, glad he is getting it. Maybe it is too easy to forget the role he had on a NC team, and that despite his off court blunders, he rarely makes them on the court. He's a much bigger offensive threat than Nolan or Brimah, and is a very good passer (compared to Nolan and Brimah, who may never have made a pass). Olander can play the foul line distribution role, that otherwise goes to Giffey (which wastes Giff, who should be on the wing ready to receive that pass). As a result, playing Olander tends to free up Giffey's offense. I don't think he's worse on D than Nolan, but doesn't have Brimah's presence as a shotblocker.

Glad to see Samuel getting minutes too. Boat and Bazz are both better when they aren't on the court with each other. They don't really compliment each other very well. Samuel adds a different element and more size.

I don't know. Olander's defense is awful at times where guys just drive right by him as he is too slow. Would much rather see Facey getting more time as he has more athleticism and has proven he can hit the jump shot and could be dangerous in the middle of the zone. Just needs more confidence and that comes with additional playing time.

 

[aceboon]

Olander has earned some more time, glad he is getting it. Maybe it is too easy to forget the role he had on a NC team, and that despite his off court blunders, he rarely makes them on the court. He's a much bigger offensive threat than Nolan or Brimah, and is a very good passer (compared to Nolan and Brimah, who may never have made a pass). Olander can play the foul line distribution role, that otherwise goes to Giffey (which wastes Giff, who should be on the wing ready to receive that pass). As a result, playing Olander tends to free up Giffey's offense. I don't think he's worse on D than Nolan, but doesn't have Brimah's presence as a shotblocker.

Glad to see Samuel getting minutes too. Boat and Bazz are both better when they aren't on the court with each other. They don't really compliment each other very well. Samuel adds a different element and more size.

If you don't consider poor defense and missed boxouts blunders, then yea, I guess you could say he doesn't make mistakes out there.

 

[HuskyHawk]

If you don't consider poor defense and missed boxouts blunders, then yea, I guess you could say he doesn't make mistakes out there.

But I haven't really seen better D from Nolan, and Brimah, only in shotblocking. Mostly I'm talking about mental errors, he's pretty savvy and does the right thing with the ball. I wouldn't start him, but I would insert him when we have a stretch of poor play, as his decision making is among the best on the team (as you might expect of a senior).