First Half Reactions from IPFW game

[JasonS]

Here are my initial reactions as we head into halftime:

1. Cash looks infinitely better than he did on Monday
2. Dixon looks smooth, just like he did during the exhibitions
3. Gates is really starting to put it together. You can see the improvement from last year.
4. Too many missed free throws and too many of those by guards
5. Thomas hustled and rebounded well. He has to go up stronger and convert some of those fouls underneath.
6. SK is solid. The kid can play.
7. The offense is really improved. The first half today looked like the first half on Monday. Great ball movement and some really good passing, especially from Yancy. Hopefully we see more of the same in the second half.
8. Still too many unforced turnovers. A couple really bad passes and some that just were uncalled for (one from Cash and one from Bishop come to mind).
9. Haven't seen as much of Jackson in this game but that is ok. Gates and Thomas have played well.
10. Mick has to shorten his bench as the season goes on and the first one to go has to be Larry Davis. His defense isn't so much better than other guys that we can afford to have him out there to a detriment on the offensive end.

 

[waterhead]

I can't get it on TV but just by looking at the stat lines...

5 people got the majority of the minutes. Cash has 4 less turnovers so far than last game but only one assist. Gates remains solid. Thomas solid with points and 7 rebounds. Bishop solid. Dixon solid.

Where is Jackson...only 2 minutes? Killa only 7 minutes? Killa seems to be on pace in games thus far (except for one exhibition) about a point per minute played. That's production. Is someone in the doghouse? Is it strictly game plan? Will they see a more prominent role in second half coming in with fresh legs so we don't lose intensity?

 

[cincinnati insanity]

Come on Cronin why is Dion even handling the ball. Sk has to get in the game more. Give SK- Larrys and the majority of Dixons and Rashads minutes.. Cronin must think Rashad has POTENTIAL...

 

[JasonS]

Come on Cronin why is Dion even handling the ball. Sk has to get in the game more. Give SK- Larrys and the majority of Dixons and Rashads minutes.. Cronin must think Rashad has POTENTIAL...

Your hatred of Dixon baffles me. He has handled the ball just fine and played an excellent first half.

 

[cincinnati insanity]

I dont necessarily hate Dixon , i just dont like him as a basketball player. i Love his attitude but his confidence with the ball in his hands is really low. Hes not a good shooter and regardless i hate him having the ball in his hands. hes like Darnell a turnover waiting to happen. I hope the kid plays good but i really dont have a great feeling if hes our starting SG or he has the ball in his hands at crunch time.. Kid is trying but is not the answer we are looking for.. I do hope he makes me eat my words though. Come Big East play i think hes better suited coming off the bench... I dont care for how Rashad is playing either(lack of enthusiasm) but i feel better when hes handling the ball than Dixon.. Also Dixon cant pass worth a crap...

 

[JasonS]

I dont necessarily hate Dixon , i just dont like him as a basketball player. i Love his attitude but his confidence with the ball in his hands is really low. Hes not a good shooter and regardless i hate him having the ball in his hands. hes like Darnell a turnover waiting to happen. I hope the kid plays good but i really dont have a great feeling if hes our starting SG or he has the ball in his hands at crunch time.. Kid is trying but is not the answer we are looking for.. I do hope he makes me eat my words though. Come Big East play i think hes better suited coming off the bench... I dont care for how Rashad is playing either(lack of enthusiasm) but i feel better when hes handling the ball than Dixon..

Dixon has 1 TO today. He is a better player than you give him credit for.

 

[TheLivingLegend]

I see SK taking over dixons minutes game by game. 0-5 from three from ur 2 guard is not good.

 

[JasonS]

I see SK taking over dixons minutes game by game. 0-5 from three from ur 2 guard is not good.

I see SK taking minutes at the 3 before the 2.

 

[cincinnati insanity]

I see SK taking over dixons minutes game by game. 0-5 from three from ur 2 guard is not good.

Exactly what im talking about.... You cant have a SG who cant shoot, or cant dribble, or pass. the kid can rebound and i believe he has to much pressure on him in which he cant give results.. let him come off bench and give a hustle spark.. SK can shoot and pass and dribble. His defense is pretty good too.. Cash is coming along a little bit at a time. He takes the PG spot. The SF position is up for grabs and the PF and C position is taken.
PG-Cash- coming along, has to hit FT's and use his speed under control, All will eventually come together.
SG-Sean kilpatrick- kid can score, pass and has some great blocks.
SF-? Whether you agree or not JJ might not have the offensive skills for the small forward spot, but does have the speed and defense to play the spot.
PF-Yancey Gates- Is playing better
C-Ibrahima Thomas- always going to be solid

Who else is really worthy of the SF spot?

 

[ready2go]

Thank Gosh the game is not on....15 points in the second half. Where are the adjustments??? 3 games in a row now 2nd half struggles

 

[JasonS]

You continue to push JJ at the three. Let me just tell again for the last time, he will not play the 3 during his career at UC. Period. Not this year. Not next year. And not any time after that.

The player that shouldn't be on the floor is Larry Davis. He adds nothing.

 

[TheLivingLegend]

Thank Gosh the game is not on....15 points in the second half. Where are the adjustments??? 3 games in a row now 2nd half struggles

the 2nd halfs of these games have been a complete meltdown... Makes zero sense, o wait yes it does. We cant adjust to anything.

 

[JasonS]

Thank Gosh the game is not on....15 points in the second half. Where are the adjustments??? 3 games in a row now 2nd half struggles

IPFW went to a zone. A bit of a gimmicky one at that. A 1-2-2 into a 3-2/2-3 depending on where the ball goes. UC was getting some pretty good looks from the outside but only hit one (Kilpatrick). As a result the zone just completely packed in on Gates and essentially eliminated him in the second half. The few times the cats got good looks they got fouled and didn't convert many from the FT line. When UC made a little run in the second half, they made a couple shots and was able to set up the press. They haven't been able to press with the zone being played in the second half.

UC is 13-25 from the line (1-6 from Thomas including an airball) and IPFW is 7-8 from the line with one on the way.

 

[cincinnati insanity]

You continue to push JJ at the three. Let me just tell again for the last time, he will not play the 3 during his career at UC. Period. Not this year. Not next year. And not any time after that.

The player that shouldn't be on the floor is Larry Davis. He adds nothing.

You are correct, Cronin will not play him at the three. I do believe that he would not be a terrible option to be put there. He has the speed and quickness to play it is all im saying. Who do you believe deserves the start at the 3? SO IS JJ GOING TO PLAY THE 3? NO.. WOULD HE PRODUCE ANY LESS THAN WHO STARTS AT THE 3 NOW? NO. I understand he does not have the offensive package to play the 3, but who is UC going to play there thats worth anything? If rashaad can contribute solid offensively then he gets the start, just because he deflects a couple passes here and there does not make him the right choice. If he gives UC 8 to 10 pts a game then he would be the definate choice..

 

[waterhead]

17.6% forom 3?

 

[JasonS]

You are correct, Cronin will not play him at the three. I do believe that he would not be a terrible option to be put there. He has the speed and quickness to play it is all im saying. Who do you believe deserves the start at the 3? SO IS JJ GOING TO PLAY THE 3? NO.. WOULD HE PRODUCE ANY LESS THAN WHO STARTS AT THE 3 NOW? NO. I understand he does not have the offensive package to play the 3, but who is UC going to play there thats worth anything?

The minutes are going to be split between Bishop and SK. Both of them are more productive offensively than JJ. Add in the fact that Bishop has not missed a free throw this year (12-12) and he will be on the floor late in close games.

 

[TheLivingLegend]

UC is 13-25 from the line (1-6 from Thomas including an airball) and IPFW is 7-8 from the line with one on the way.

It completely baffles me how people getting paid to play cannot make a free throw. I will go shoot 9-10 with my right hand and 8-10 with my left hand. These clowns are just that, clowns.

 

[ready2go]

IPFW went to a zone. A bit of a gimmicky one at that. A 1-2-2 into a 3-2/2-3 depending on where the ball goes. UC was getting some pretty good looks from the outside but only hit one (Kilpatrick). As a result the zone just completely packed in on Gates and essentially eliminated him in the second half. The few times the cats got good looks they got fouled and didn't convert many from the FT line. When UC made a little run in the second half, they made a couple shots and was able to set up the press. They haven't been able to press with the zone being played in the second half.

UC is 13-25 from the line (1-6 from Thomas including an airball) and IPFW is 7-8 from the line with one on the way.

I thought this years team was supposed to be better in transition. If you struggle shooting the ball, why allow IPFW to get back on D and set up the zone?

 

[JasonS]

17.6% forom 3?

Yeah and they had some really good looks too. They did well to move the ball against the zone and get good looks but basically none of them went down.

 

[JasonS]

I thought this years team was supposed to be better in transition. If you struggle shooting the ball, why allow IPFW to get back on D and set up the zone?

You can't get into transition if the other team doesn't miss or you don't make shots. Until the end of the game, IPFW really didn't send more than 1 guy to the offensive glass. As soon as a shot went up, 4 guys ran back to the other end. IPFW did a good job of limiting fast break points in the second half.

The other thing is that IPFW controlled the tempo in the second half and limited UC to 18 or 19 shots attempted in the second half.