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[CaptDale]

Agree with all your points! Except you are being too nice about SK's handles...he has NONE! He has to work on being able to drive to the hoop this off season. All I want is for Cronin to play Shaq and Cheik was a baller. So glad he could come up big in front of his parents.

So you still think our 3 Bigs match up w/Dieng. Your stats belie the truth. That being said, Cheikh played his most intense defensive game, yet. He was the only Big who managed to get back to the paint after running out to the perimeter to help guard somebody. Do that vs Louisville, and Siva blows by you or passes inside before you can react. He needs to stay put vs certain teams. I have NO idea why Shaq got so little floor time, especially early on when we needed some offense.

 

[CaptDale]

It's not luck when a player fouls out, it's part of the game. Just like it wasn't luck Collins uncharacteristically had 6 turnovers yesterday, it was part of the game.

You can't rip them when they lose and not give credit when they win. They came back late from 8 down. Make several big shots, hit foul shots and made some timely defensive plays.

Both Mick and Chuck seconded my opinion this team has a low basketball iq. Both talked about the bigs and their lack of it. Strickland and Lawence may both start next year with what's here. Three moving pick violations, by 3 different bigs, in such a short period of time is something I've never seen.

Also found it interesting that Dan and Chuck said some form of this 2-3 times yesterday (paraphrase) "That's not the game plan Mick went over with the players." If guys on the court aren't running the game plan that is a player leadership issue and particularly a Cash issue. Chuck lamented Rubles lack of iq and the bigs lack of iq a few times after a stupid mistake. It's the reason I'd go 4 guards. I'd either play GG, Cash, SK, Parker, Cheikh or Cash, SK, Parker, Thomas/Sanders, Rubles/Jackson. I like either Jackson or Cheikh starting for their shot blocking ability. Frankly, I'd love 40 minutes of 4 guard pressing and they could drop to a 2-3 from time to time to rest. But hey that's just me.

The ESPN3 announcers had it pegged early on in the game re our Bigs. They said you don't even need to guard them, and that all the other teams knew this . We know it, too. I did notice Cheikh actually put it on the floor ONCE during the game, as if he were going to make a move, but he passed it out. He actually looked like he could have made a move the way he handled the ball that ONE time. A for mechanics/style points. But then, maybe it was just an illusion on my part

 

[david aka the TYZ]

I'm never a fan of booing college players, especially your home team, but I think that was the only wake-up call this team was going to respond to. After this team got booed heavily they came out with a different intensity. Ugly win but a win nonetheless. Mbodj was the player of the game in my opinion. 2 huge blocks down the stretch and 6-6 free throws down the stretch. I felt bad for Cash missing the second free throw to take the lead, but at least he made that first one to tie it and since we won the missed free throw didn't matter in the grand scheme of things. The one positive I'll take from this is this team came out fighting when their backs were against the wall and the loss seemed inevitable. Looks like they still have a little fight in them. Hopefully that will be the spark they need.

 

[bearcat jeff]

The one positive I'll take from this is this team came out fighting when their backs were against the wall and the loss seemed inevitable. Looks like they still have a little fight in them. Hopefully that will be the spark they need.

I really think that was big because it almost seemed destined they were going to lose. New begining and coming off a hard faught emotional win. They are going to have some tough match ups but I love that they dug down and pulled the game out. It sure beats the alternative.

 

[westsidecat]

It's not luck when a player fouls out, it's part of the game. Just like it wasn't luck Collins uncharacteristically had 6 turnovers yesterday, it was part of the game.

You can't rip them when they lose and not give credit when they win. They came back late from 8 down. Make several big shots, hit foul shots and made some timely defensive plays.

Both Mick and Chuck seconded my opinion this team has a low basketball iq. Both talked about the bigs and their lack of it. Strickland and Lawence may both start next year with what's here. Three moving pick violations, by 3 different bigs, in such a short period of time is something I've never seen.

Also found it interesting that Dan and Chuck said some form of this 2-3 times yesterday (paraphrase) "That's not the game plan Mick went over with the players." If guys on the court aren't running the game plan that is a player leadership issue and particularly a Cash issue. Chuck lamented Rubles lack of iq and the bigs lack of iq a few times after a stupid mistake. It's the reason I'd go 4 guards. I'd either play GG, Cash, SK, Parker, Cheikh or Cash, SK, Parker, Thomas/Sanders, Rubles/Jackson. I like either Jackson or Cheikh starting for their shot blocking ability. Frankly, I'd love 40 minutes of 4 guard pressing and they could drop to a 2-3 from time to time to rest. But hey that's just me.

you're correct that it is part of the game, but it wasn't like uc was taking the ball to them to trying and pick up fouls. most of the fouls were picked up off ball or away from the basket....so yes uc got lucky so many fouls were called that most refs don't call.

luck is also part of the game!

 

[david aka the TYZ]

you're correct that it is part of the game, but it wasn't like uc was taking the ball to them to trying and pick up fouls. most of the fouls were picked up off ball or away from the basket....so yes uc got lucky so many fouls were called that most refs don't call.

luck is also part of the game!

Most of our fouls are picked up off the ball and away from the basket. That's actually about the only consistency to the Big East refs is that they'll call ticky-tack crap and not someone getting hammered on a shot. South Florida isn't a good team and not very deep, so it's not surprising their starters rack up some fouls. I'd venture to guess they get in foul trouble most games.