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Message: [QUOTE="BBallF, post: 4820611, member: 10435"] No, they don't tell the whole story but they are often a good guide. By the eye test, I thought the first quarter defense against UCLA was very poor and the statistics support that. They shot 60% from the field and we were in a 16 point deficit which effectively was the game. Texas shot 19 times against us in the first quarter at a clip of 52.6 %, also a poor defensive start by us by the eye test, and we were down 8. Both teams shot above their season average that quarter with the Bruins being 8% higher and Texas being 7% higher. It may be that the differential is not just our defense but their talent as well which is probably accurate but poor defense to start a game against a Top 5 team is a recipe for disaster. My hopeful take is this- we have such a large upside on defense because of our freshmen learning, improving and experiencing, larger I think than these other teams that play upperclassmen or graduate players, that our development in that aspect of the game will be significant. Finally, I will say something which may not be well received, Geno has become an even better defensive coach than offensive coach out of necessity these last injury laden years and every February the team becomes transformed at least through the BE tourney and its the defense that does it. [/QUOTE]