Post Game Thoughts on ND Game

[huskymagic]

This was a good win and good game by us. I am very happy and glad for Roscoe and Giffey who were very good for us today by scoring, hustling, getting good rebounds, etc. They were great and Giffey for me has shown he should be in the starting lineup at the 3 over Daniels who was a zero once again for us. Alex O was great for us and showed a variety of nice moves today. The perimeter defense was not good especially by Napier who was letting Eric Atkins go by him at will. Individual Player break down:

1.) Alex- He was fantastic and like I have been saying if he starts all the time and doesnt get the quick hook he will be big for us and he was showing great moves in the post and a nice jumper. Alex O has been unleashed.

2.) Roscoe and Giffey- both were very good for us they hustled, rebounded well, defended, and score 17 points between them. That is the production we need at the 3 spot.

3.) Drummond- He had a solid game 10 points 13 rebounds and played better in the second half.

4.) Lamb- passive game by Lamb today but today wasnt his day shooting wise. He led the team in assists with 7 so he was involved and will play much better next game.

5.) Napier- Had a solid game shooting the ball and scoring but was a liability again on the defensive end letting Erick Atkins score 20 points. He needs to penetrate more to open up the game more for everyone else because he looked unable to penetrate against a very weak ND team.

6.) Olander- solid hustle and play when he was in there in limited action

7.) Daniels- He was a no show as usual. At this point I dont expect anything from him and Giffey should get the nod and start for us from now on.

 

[lark]

I don't think you can criticize Napier too too much. I'm not an Xs and Os guy. I tend to look at things pretty simply. A guard playing defense in man has two basic options. Get up on the perimeter and make sure you don't go under any screens. Or sag back. The problem with playing defense, of course, is that the offensive player knows what he's going to do and you have to react. If you play up, you're easier to go by. If you sag back, you let up perimeter shots.

Roscoe and Niels were great. AO looked much more like his old self on the glass. And a big story of the game is that when we play a team that doesn't play hard pressing defense, our turnovers are limited. When our turnovers are limited, we're harder to beat.

But I'm not sure how any analysis of that game can go without mentioning Coach. They play for 40 minutes, but sometimes the game comes down to one or two sequences. The time out in the second half, and the ally-oop coming out of it won the game. It changed everything. Empty trip there and it's ND ball, down only 4, with the fans going crazy in one of the toughest sheds in college basketball to play in.

 

[caw]

Napier played much better D in the second half. I wonder if he was dogging it in the first half because he knew was playing 40 this game and had no backup.

 

[huskymagic]

I don't think you can criticize Napier too too much. I'm not an Xs and Os guy. I tend to look at things pretty simply. A guard playing defense in man has two basic options. Get up on the perimeter and make sure you don't go under any screens. Or sag back. The problem with playing defense, of course, is that the offensive player knows what he's going to do and you have to react. If you play up, you're easier to go by. If you sag back, you let up perimeter shots.

Roscoe and Niels were great. AO looked much more like his old self on the glass. And a big story of the game is that when we play a team that doesn't play hard pressing defense, our turnovers are limited. When our turnovers are limited, we're harder to beat.

But I'm not sure how any analysis of that game can go without mentioning Coach. They play for 40 minutes, but sometimes the game comes down to one or two sequences. The time out in the second half, and the ally-oop coming out of it won the game. It changed everything. Empty trip there and it's ND ball, down only 4, with the fans going crazy in one of the toughest sheds in college basketball to play in.

You are focusing too much on Xs and Os. Basketball is a simple sport. Man to man is simple guard your guy all the time and not let him drive by you or shoot open and uncontested jumpers. I am not criticizing Napier when Atkins was getting screen from his bigs. My problem was all the open 3s he was giving the guy and the guy was driving on him all the time. Those are not the fault of screens but of his individual play and effort.

Calhoun was good like he always is at managing the game. However, the real heroes today were Alex, Roscoe, and Giffey who played really well and Calhoun realized this and let them play without giving them the quick hook which is what I have been advocating for. Great job by them and for me Giffey starts from now on at the 3, and Roscoe should back up Giffey at the 3 and Oriakhi at the 4 when they need rest.