Game Thread: UC vs. Alabama

[Nomadic1]

I had to work and didnt get to see any of the game. Id assume we played solid D and rebounded ok. Id also assume we struggled again in the half court offense among other things....

We are a really good team, the frustrating thing is we could be a great team

We hit an unfamiliar problem as well.
On defense, they used screens at the top of the key, to get Mbodj to come out and switch, which left their big to run to the basket. They did it multiple times with great success. The guard, would take it behind the big, who would go directly to the basket. I.E. Mbodj would have to rotate to the guard, and our guard would have to guard their big.
Mbodj did well but whoever rotated,(if anyone) got exploited.

Not sure what to make of that...

 

[ready2go]

We hit an unfamiliar problem as well.
On defense, they used screens at the top of the key, to get Mbodj to come out and switch, which left their big to run to the basket. They did it multiple times with great success. The guard, would take it behind the big, who would go directly to the basket. I.E. Mbodj would have to rotate to the guard, and our guard would have to guard their big.
Mbodj did well but whoever rotated,(if anyone) got exploited.

Not sure what to make of that...

Think teams tried that last year, but Gates would do a good job stepping out and doubling with the other guards, not allowing their player to see over or get around them. Mbodj doesnt have the athleticism for that

 

[TheLivingLegend]

Great to win.

We played poor...

Our offense at times looked bad. Was shocked to see us get bullied on the boards. Not sure ab the toughness of our bigs.

 

[ready2go]

Great to win.

We played poor...

Our offense at times looked bad. Was shocked to see us get bullied on the boards. Not sure ab the toughness of our bigs.

Encountered an MSJ Lion today at the Nike Factory Store in Louisville. He spoke highly of the Legend and the man formally known as the Franchise.

 

[ralph1950]

Cash is King!

 

[bearcat18]

1. Bama is a damn good team. Their three guards will probably be the 3rd or 4th best backcourt we face all year. Lacey, Releford, and Cooper compliment each other well. I think the SEC will come down to them and Florida.

2. Our offense definitely hit a wall for a while, but you have to give their defense some credit. All 5 guys they had on the court were athletic and covered a lot of ground.

3. It was awesome seeing Fifth Third rockin'. I haven't heard that place be that loud in some time. No reason why it shouldn't be like that for the rest of our home slate.

 

[mplebanon]

The b-ball IQ of this team needs to go up quickly.

Rubles shoots too much, especially in clutch time. The Three Amigos should be taking all clutch shots in crunch time every game. Another smart move by 'Bama's coach. They obviously scouted Rubles and they played off him defensively, enticing him to shoot the 3 instead of driving. And when he did drive, they were ready for him.

If certain guys would play to their strengths, such as JJ, this team will be fine. JJ can't be chucking up 3's and wasting a possession. But when he sticks to defense, rebounding and blocking shots, and the occasional stickback, he is a fine role player.

S K was doubled most of the game, but realized late in the game they had stopped doubling him, and he took it to the hole in crunch time, initiating contact smartly to get to the line. Smart plays.

Not sure why, but Cash had a hard time handling the ball today. He was a turnover machine, but came up big on the last shot thankfully. And it was a rainbow beauty over a 7 footer.

Alabama was definitely more athletic, better coached, and will be a force this year. Very impressed with them.

 

[ralph1950]

Cash has the wright stuff!

 

[mplebanon]

 

[UCalum08]

The b-ball IQ of this team needs to go up quickly.

Rubles shoots too much, especially in clutch time. The Three Amigos should be taking all clutch shots in crunch time every game. Another smart move by 'Bama's coach. They obviously scouted Rubles and they played off him defensively, enticing him to shoot the 3 instead of driving. And when he did drive, they were ready for him.

If certain guys would play to their strengths, such as JJ, this team will be fine. JJ can't be chucking up 3's and wasting a possession. But when he sticks to defense, rebounding and blocking shots, and the occasional stickback, he is a fine role player.

S K was doubled most of the game, but realized late in the game they had stopped doubling him, and he took it to the hole in crunch time, initiating contact smartly to get to the line. Smart plays.

Not sure why, but Cash had a hard time handling the ball today. He was a turnover machine, but came up big on the last shot thankfully. And it was a rainbow beauty over a 7 footer.

Alabama was definitely more athletic, better coached, and will be a force this year. Very impressed with them.

Wow, I was agreeing with your points til your last comment. More athletic?! Get real son! They may be just as athletic but nothing more. Better coached? Get real son! Their coach may be as smart at Cronin but nothing more. I was impressed with bama too, they finished a ton of tough shots and I can't believe that Lacey is only a sophomore. He will be a stud for a couple more years. This game was a game against two teams with very similar styles and players and it showed.

 

[mplebanon]

Wow, I was agreeing with your points til your last comment. More athletic?! Get real son! They may be just as athletic but nothing more. Better coached? Get real son! Their coach may be as smart at Cronin but nothing more. I was impressed with bama too, they finished a ton of tough shots and I can't believe that Lacey is only a sophomore. He will be a stud for a couple more years. This game was a game against two teams with very similar styles and players and it showed.

LOL. You calling me "son"? I'm probably twice your age and seen twice as much b-ball.

I've seen Mick outcoach some really good coaches. But I think he got outcoached yesterday. My comment wasn't to attack Mick, who I like. I just think every once in awhile you need to give opposing coaches props for a great gameplan, and great adjustments.

We had no answer for them running Mbodj out to the top of the key. We had no answer for alot of things. And maybe it wasn't so much our gameplan, as poor execution.

Mbodj played his best game yesterday. But he needs to get even better. He got backed down for easy jump hooks several times yesterday. And we need our bigs to rebound better.

I've already given my report so I'll stop from repeating myself.

But I do think 'Bama was more athletic than us.

 

[UCalum08]

LOL. You calling me "son"? I'm probably twice your age and seen twice as much b-ball.

I've seen Mick outcoach some really good coaches. But I think he got outcoached yesterday. My comment wasn't to attack Mick, who I like. I just think every once in awhile you need to give opposing coaches props for a great gameplan, and great adjustments.

We had no answer for them running Mbodj out to the top of the key. We had no answer for alot of things. And maybe it wasn't so much our gameplan, as poor execution.

Mbodj played his best game yesterday. But he needs to get even better. He got backed down for easy jump hooks several times yesterday. And we need our bigs to rebound better.

I've already given my report so I'll stop from repeating myself.

But I do think 'Bama was more athletic than us.

Calling you son was just a form of expression and didn't mean anything personal to you lol. I do agree with your points about the game plan, Alabama executed extremely well on d and we struggled. Although everyone talks about our bigs need to do a better job rebounding. I agree but it is our guards who need to. I saw so many times our guards especially sk just standing there no boxing out and out of position. When we have 4 guards out there its our guards who need to rebound better.

 

[waterhead]

This was one of those games where there were a lot of teaching moments for Cronin. He's gonna have plenty of material to work with...the good thing is we won the game. Our guards need to learn when they get doubled to get the ball out of their hands rather than try to dribble out of it. The same stuff happened against Oregon. I like our aggressive play but it needs to be controlled aggression. If we can play under a little more control and make better decisions...we can beat just about anyone.

Why did we not shoot more 3's? Cash was shooting 48% and SK was at like 43% before this game. I saw several times each when they were at the top of the key and chose to try to create rather than taking a 3. Parker shoots about as many 3's as he should...he's picky...and he's great at driving to the hole and finishing anyway. JJ should only do it with less than 5 seconds on the clock. I am OK with Rubles taking wide open 3's because his best move is his pump fake...without that his effectiveness goes way down.

We were out-rebounded today...some of that is luck and some of that is being out of position. Either way it's more teaching moments for Mick. It's good we can get these teaching moments out of the way early...and still win the games.

 

[BearcatMick]

Get off the crack cocaine. The better team lost today. We were lucky. Other than the first 10 minutes, Alabama handed it to us today. We were up 17-4, and their coach and players stuck it to us the last 30 minutes.

I'm glad we won, but I'm not delusional.

We were not lucky. We did what we had to to win. Mick led and the team followed. This, my friend, is a top 2 team easy

There's no one left on our ooc schedule that can hang with us so my undefeated in ooc play prediction will be gold

 

[bearcat jeff]

Because they were 2-11 and only hitting 18% maybe?

 

[mplebanon]

We were not lucky. We did what we had to to win. Mick led and the team followed. This, my friend, is a top 2 team easy

There's no one left on our ooc schedule that can hang with us so my undefeated in ooc play prediction will be gold

Enjoy your crack cocaine.

 

[BearcatMick]

Enjoy your crack cocaine.

Typical ad homonem attack. Wouldn't expect anything less from you

 

[TheLivingLegend]

Encountered an MSJ Lion today at the Nike Factory Store in Louisville. He spoke highly of the Legend and the man formally known as the Franchise.

My name is known everywhere..

I once got stopped in Destin Florida and was asked if I was part of the great tradition of Moeller High School ( state champs ). The look of aw was priceless.

 

[UCalum08]

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8cZMjOTqdo[/ame]

The better team won that game. Put this video in your pipe and smoke it.

 

[mplebanon]

Typical ad homonem attack. Wouldn't expect anything less from you

I wouldn't expect anything but a national championship prediction from you too. Typical. You probably predicted that in Mick's first year as head coach. You're a homer blinded by your homerism.

Yes. It's probably Mick's best team to date.
Yes. They have the potential to be very good. Are they there yet? No.
I agree with whomever said Mick has alot of teaching points from this game. Very well said.
It's a journey. A long season full of ups and downs.
Yes. I'm glad we won. Do I think we were the better team? It was a toss-up. Home court advantage probably helped.
But I'm not crazy about meeting that team later down the road. They're trouble. And they showed our weaknesses and warts.

I'm guessing your about 15 years old. I'm 47 and I've seen more UC b-ball than most of you on here. I go back to the 70's but remember more of the 80's. I remember Huggins coaching his team in the NIT, and Billy Tubbs getting every freakin' call from the refs as Oklahoma beat us. I don't forget stuff like that.

Being a homer is like being blind.