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Message: [QUOTE="BBallF, post: 4818775, member: 10435"] When you look at our season team stats, one thing jumps out at you- the glaring differential in field goal percentage of our opponents in our wins as compared to our losses. In our wins, our opponents shot 33.7% from the field while in our losses, they shot 48%, a very significant difference with NC State topping out with a gaudy 52.5%. Our overall defensive average, which includes both of the above statistics, is 38.5%. Since our own FG percentage is overall 48%, you can see the stark contrast in games we won just by using our overall average. Our actual FG % in the games we won is 49.5%. In the games we lost it was 46%. So, is it that the 3 teams we lost to in the Top 5 are just better shooters or players, or was it our defense or both? I think it was more about our defense, especially from the freshmen. There were so many open shots and open 3s and missed assignments in the beginning of both the UCLA and Texas game that we dug ourselves a hole that we could not climb out of. Both Ash and KK are good defenders now, although they still lose their man at times and I think it is clear that KK rather than Nika should be guarding, at least for a large portion of the game, the quicker of the two guards. The tale of the tape for me therefore is that the defense, with all other things being equal, will determine exactly how far we go this year. We don't have the firepower as in past teams to simply outscore the other team. We need stops, rebounds, transition baskets, deflections and turnovers- all of those non-glamorous fundamentals that make or break a basketball team. As for our turnovers they were not, on paper alone, a substantial factor, except arguably against Texas where we had 21. We had 12 against NC State and 9 against UCLA in losses, while we had 17 against both Ball State and UNC in victories. To adjust and compensate for our injuries this year, the defense is the key. The good news is that with 4 freshmen, they will only get better, more experienced and more comfortable out there. We do have an extraordinary All- American leading the way so I refuse to accept the prognostications of those who have written off this team. You are going to be very surprised by what a difference defense can make. If you have been watching closely and know what you are looking at, it already has. [/QUOTE]

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