Awesome win and a well played game by both teams. We got off to a great, electrifying start. However, 3 point offense and defense hurt us. In the first half they shot twice our 3pt % (50% to 25%). Part of the problem is we don’t identify the guy who made 3 of their 4 threes (Battle) and deny him the ball. Instead his defensive guy is helping on a poor shooter and gets caught in between. We largely corrected that in the second half.
I thought McNeeley played like our best player tonight. Scoring 26 points. Our offense needs to go through him. He knows how to score from the field, pass and get to the line and convert his foul shots.
I was surprise that Hurley went to the Mahaney as PG early substitution. That path has been problematic on both offense and defense. He can be a real help as a shooter off the bench but once he begins as a PG he never gets in his rhythm even if moved to the shooting guard role later. I would move Ball to PG when Diarra goes out. The second half stretch that started with a Mahaney PG 10 second violation, led to a 6 point swing in a close game proves my point. Hurley needs to stop that type of substitution immediately.
Samson Johnson pre injury cut to the basket with explosion and played like he needs to play minus the usual silly fouls and communication miscues on defense.
I really think Stewart against many teams should be our third string center. He gives us a different look and more of a fast break type game player. As a power forward he is definitively a starting caliber player and probably a star in the making.
Stewart was 2-2 from 3 while Karaban was 0-7. More importantly he only took 2 non 3 point shots. When you have a 0-7 3 point night, Alex should be a smart enough player to try to score other ways.
Guys shooting in the 50% and higher range: Reed, Stewart, McNeeley, and Ross.
I thought McNeeley played like our best player tonight. Scoring 26 points. Our offense needs to go through him. He knows how to score from the field, pass and get to the line and convert his foul shots.
I was surprise that Hurley went to the Mahaney as PG early substitution. That path has been problematic on both offense and defense. He can be a real help as a shooter off the bench but once he begins as a PG he never gets in his rhythm even if moved to the shooting guard role later. I would move Ball to PG when Diarra goes out. The second half stretch that started with a Mahaney PG 10 second violation, led to a 6 point swing in a close game proves my point. Hurley needs to stop that type of substitution immediately.
Samson Johnson pre injury cut to the basket with explosion and played like he needs to play minus the usual silly fouls and communication miscues on defense.
I really think Stewart against many teams should be our third string center. He gives us a different look and more of a fast break type game player. As a power forward he is definitively a starting caliber player and probably a star in the making.
Stewart was 2-2 from 3 while Karaban was 0-7. More importantly he only took 2 non 3 point shots. When you have a 0-7 3 point night, Alex should be a smart enough player to try to score other ways.
Guys shooting in the 50% and higher range: Reed, Stewart, McNeeley, and Ross.
