Composure and resilience

[Palatine]

This game was important for many reasons. Blowing a 15 point point lead. Grinding to keep it close and then being able to reassert dominance. Versus a top 20 team. That is championship quality.

This game should help us all season. This team really grew up tonight. We don't have any freshmen. There will still be adversity and bad nights. But they are now equipped to handle them. It's a joy to watch.

 

[HooperScooper]

I agree. I like how they responded in the 2nd half when they were stumbling and the game was on the line. Next test is to win a really close game down the stretch against a good team. I'm a big believer in seeing how teams do in times of adversity.

 

[Bonamassa]

They just won a close game down the stretch against a good team.

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

They just won a close game down the stretch against a good team.

And did it by utterly dominating the 8-minute to 4-minute segment, 14-2.

And then scored an additional 14 points in the final 4-minute closeout.

THIS is what the team couldn't do when Hurley was talking about "excruciating" losses.

28 points in the final 8 minutes!

 

[RayIsTheGOAT]

The freshmen are so impressive- Karaban and Clingan. Through 7 games they are playing well beyond their years (and beyond their recruiting rankings, for freshmen).

 

[Scrutineer]

Tied at 52 with under 9 to go and won by 15.........after struggling for the last 5 minutes of the first half and the first 11 minutes of the second half...........but no quit, no hang dog body language, no getting down on anyone for a bad play, only determination and grit in quantities necessary to put away a very good team and move on.

Reflect on where this team was only 4 years ago and how loaded and capable it is today.

The players have bought in and deserve the credit for a big win, BUT let's not forget it's the coaches who developed the culture, got the right players and got them to buy into playing the game the way that will give them the best chance to be successful........team first.