UChusky916
Making the board a little less insufferable
- Joined
- Sep 1, 2011
- Messages
- 3,286
- Reaction Score
- 17,164
Overall, an impressive showing by Hurley and the team, but without question, what I came away most impressed with was the overall team defense.
Intensity and energy was off the charts. The team was connected and coordinated. We had very few breakdowns. I can barely remember Cuse getting easy buckets or wide open shots. When someone on defense did get beat by their man off the dribble, the help rotations were immediate and the recovery was impressive. Everyone was where they needed to be.
Tarin Smith is a lock down defender. Gilbert was a niusance all night. We had a bunch of blocks at different positions... athletes all over the floor.
The only thing you could maybe complain about was the excessive fouling... But I prefer fouls if guys are bringing 100% effort and energy.
Despite the foul trouble late in the first half, the team's bench guys still defended great... Whaley came off the bench and immediately blocked a dude's shot.
This is a DEEP team at all positions... center the only questionmark but Cobb/Carlton look solid early. The team's depth is ideal for Hurley's defensive scheme. We can pressure the ball all game and rotate in multiple guys if they get tired or in foul trouble.
This is a total 180 from last year where the team played well defensively for a few possessions and then get exposed by easy baskets or defensive breakdowns that don't get fixed. While Tarin Smith is an awesome addition defensively, the rest of the players are just about all the same as last year, so credit to Hurley's system and coaching. The kids are bought in and they all seem genuinely excited about playing for him... You see their commitment on the defensive side of the ball.
If we play defense at that level every night, we will win A LOT of games and surprise a lot of teams. Maybe Hurley is right and this is just the beginning. Exciting times.
Intensity and energy was off the charts. The team was connected and coordinated. We had very few breakdowns. I can barely remember Cuse getting easy buckets or wide open shots. When someone on defense did get beat by their man off the dribble, the help rotations were immediate and the recovery was impressive. Everyone was where they needed to be.
Tarin Smith is a lock down defender. Gilbert was a niusance all night. We had a bunch of blocks at different positions... athletes all over the floor.
The only thing you could maybe complain about was the excessive fouling... But I prefer fouls if guys are bringing 100% effort and energy.
Despite the foul trouble late in the first half, the team's bench guys still defended great... Whaley came off the bench and immediately blocked a dude's shot.
This is a DEEP team at all positions... center the only questionmark but Cobb/Carlton look solid early. The team's depth is ideal for Hurley's defensive scheme. We can pressure the ball all game and rotate in multiple guys if they get tired or in foul trouble.
This is a total 180 from last year where the team played well defensively for a few possessions and then get exposed by easy baskets or defensive breakdowns that don't get fixed. While Tarin Smith is an awesome addition defensively, the rest of the players are just about all the same as last year, so credit to Hurley's system and coaching. The kids are bought in and they all seem genuinely excited about playing for him... You see their commitment on the defensive side of the ball.
If we play defense at that level every night, we will win A LOT of games and surprise a lot of teams. Maybe Hurley is right and this is just the beginning. Exciting times.
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