Great job of Usher stepping up. Not only in performance, but in playing when not fully 100%. I would say he was about 75% tonight, but that was good enough for him to score his career high. On top of that, he grabbed 10 rebounds and had 3 assists. Usher is really blossoming into a complete basketball player.
Both Usher and Smith looked like they were battling. Smith was really struggling towards the end.
Our 5's played a good game. Combined for 18/9/6. I'll take that every night from Saba and Howard. Saba showed growth in this game, which bodes well for games down the road. Howard is becoming a steady producer for us. Not spectacular yet like Lammers/Banks/Wright, but he playing better and better every game. Games like the ones the aforementioned GT 5's will come...and Saba is beginning to show flashes of becoming a very nice piece that Pastner and Reveno can depend on to contribute.
Kelly played a solid game. Made some questionable decisions, but as a true freshmen, you live with them.
Sturdivant playing like we knew he could. It's important that he continues to improve because we can be such a good team if our PGs make the other teams fear them with Devoe and Usher.
4 guys in double figures, and a couple of guys not too far from getting us to 6 players with double figures. Maybe we look at this game down the road as the game where role players developed some confidence to step up when our best player was out. This only helps us as the season progresses.
Looks like the bug is going through our team. Luckily we have some time before Wisconsin, and our bench is deeper than last season.