Last night’s game was never in doubt from the opening tip off until the final buzzer. Our guys played with energy and speed throughout the game. The team chemistry we have talked about before is starting to show. It’s starting to look more like we basketball than me basketball. The ball is getting distributed more to the open players.
OFFENSE B
We were able to put up 86 points in this game with liberal substitution. We started off scoring the first 12 points and never looked back. Our overall shooting is showing improvement. We were 16 of 34 for 47.1% in the first half and 17 of 26 for 65.4% in the second half for 55.0% for the game. Our starters were 58.5% for this game and our bench was 47.4%. And our 3 pointers were dropping better at 45.5%. All 15 players got to see action last night with 10 of the 15 scoring. We still experienced some mental lapses but not nearly to the extent in the previous two games. Most of our bench players still need to step up their offensive skills and play more consistently.
DEFENSE B-
Our defense is starting to come around, especially with the starters. The bench players still have quite a way to go, but improvement is becoming apparent. We had 25 defensive rebounds, 9 blocks and 6 steals. One of the players we had to defend was Lester Hudson one of the UTM guards that just set a new NCAA record with a quadruple double. Incidentally, he got a double double against us. The only other double double in the game was also by the other UTM starting guard.
ASSIST TO TURNOVER RATIO D
I had to grade this somewhat low because overall we had 21 assist and 25 turnovers. Our starters did somewhat better though in that they had 16 assists and 15 turnovers. However, Jamont Gordon did a decent job with a 2 to 1 ratio in this area. This has to improve, and improve immediately if we want to make a good showing in the Anaheim Classic.
REBOUNDING B-
Our rebounding is still not where it should be. We out rebounded UTM 50 to 38. However, Varnado stepped it up last night with a team high and a career high of 16 rebounds (3 offensive/13 defensive). Actually, our starters out rebounded UTM 34 to 13.
The bench players must do a better job rebounding than they are doing at present if they want to help the team effort instead of hurting it.
3 POINT SHOOTING A
The 3 point effort was better last night than in the previous 2 games. The shooters are settling more into their role and it is paying off as we hit 10 of 22 from behind the arc. We shot 38.5% in the first half, 55.6% in the second half and 45.5% for the game. I think most coaches would take this percentage everyday and be happy with it. Kudos to Riley Benock 3 for 3 effort in this area of his game. Ben Hansbrough (Psycho “B”) also did a great job on 3 pointers hitting 4 out of 6.
FREE THROW SHOOTING C
Free throw shooting showed very little improvement in this game. Overall we were 10 of 16 for 62.5%. However, our starters were better shooting 72.7% for the game. We desperately need the whole team to get the average up to the 73-75% range if we hope to win the close ones down in the schedule.
OFFICIATING B+
I thought this was one of the best officiated games we have had all season. In my view, if they missed a call, I didn’t see it. I may be looking at this with maroon color glasses as they called 21 fouls on UTM and only 14 on us. This does include the two “T’s” called on the coaches. One each for stepping out of the coach’s box. We all know how Stansbury likes to push the envelope on this. He got a warning for it from one of the ref’s and then about a minute later got the “T” from the same ref…
OVERALL B-
This is a rather high overall grade because of the youth of this team. But they played with much more energy and consistency as compared to our previous 2 games. You can actually see the improvement in team chemistry in the starters and the bench players are starting to step it up, although they still have a way to go. The final score (86-70) shows the game was closer than it actually was. Stansbury started putting the bench players in around the 4 minute mark and UTM outscored us 17 to 6 in the final minutes. Prior to this, we held a 27 point lead.
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11 comments:
Good win. Mississippi State's perimeter players going out, and playing the shooters very tight/face guard more will really help. Also, Working on defensive foot work, defensive form, hand- eye coordination, defensive reflexes, ect.,(Repetiton these things)with guys like Ravern Johnson, and the others. Players have often gone from not being good defenders to being outstanding defenders. Defense can be learned. Ravern can/will become an outstanding defender.
Defensive footwork.
Defensive quickness.
Defensive coordination/form
In key/certain situations Varnado can come out on the go to shooter, and be very effective with his length and shot blocking skills. Also, Rhodes, Ect. Footwork training, ect., helps these bigger guys to be more versatile.
Think out of the box/Be very creative.
Swarming team defensve movement. Bees
Swarming team defensive movement. Bees.
Swarming team defensive movement. Bees.
Bees
Mississippi State has lots of potential.
our turnover rate is horrible. that goes for both the starters and the bench. it seems like they just dont care about the ball enough. they are more than willing to throw it into traffice. its like Henig all over again!
and our free throws are horrible. we are barely above 60% for the year right now. 62%, i think. that is simply not going to get it done. close games are won and lost at the line.
and if we go out to SoCal and think that our current play will beat Southern Illinois, itll be a real shocker to the team's system when their suffocating defense and press forces us into an all time record of turnovers.
we need to care about the ball.
-mstateglfr
My granfather's had a great old coach out in in West Texas ( who, by the way won 88 straight games, same as Coach Wooden)and he told his players that the first rule of basketball was "value the rock".(Well, he didn't exactly phrase it that way-this was 1939), but that's what he meant!
-Souldog
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