SecretAgentBuzz
Ramblin' Wreck
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GT basketball is sitting at 4-4, with losses to UCLA (in China), Grambling, Tennessee, and Wofford (@ Wofford), and victories over three lower-level teams and Northwestern. Our team spent the first three games without Tadric Jackson, all 8 games without Josh Okogie, and the last 4 games with a gimpy Ben Lammers. Also, Justin Moore has been suspended/missed 3 games, and Ogbonda has only played in two games due to injury.
So, based on what you have seen so far, what do we have? We have we learned about our team so far? Surprises? Disappointments?
I'll mention a few, and then throw it over to our more informed and educated crew to discuss:
1. The team defense has been good, but it is clear that we are not at the level we were last year. We are giving up 39% from the field and 36% from 3-point range. The first number is above-average and has a lot to do with Lammers presence inside, and the second number is...not so good. We are really on lots of freshmen right now, and they just don't always know where to go. Mastering the amoeba defense takes time. This will improve as the season goes on, especially as Josh-O returns--his defense was very underrated.
2. The offense has been...inconsistent. At times, they make excellent cuts to the basket and get easy buckets, and at other times, there is too much standing around. I hope this will improve too.
3. JOSE! Jose Alvarado has been really, really good for a freshman PG. I am so used to seeing average PG play from GT, I almost forgot what a good PG looks like. He is aggressive, but not foolish. He gets steals, he rebounds well, he steps up when its crunch time, and his shot is surprisingly good. If he could add a little more mid-range to his game, he will be even better. 13.9/5.0/3.6 with a 38.5% from 3-point range? I'll take that all day from a freshman PG.
4. CGB! Haywood II has been the biggest surprise to me, especially since he looked a bit lost in the first few games. His shot is definitely as good as advertised (50% from 3???Wha?), his passing and court awareness is excellent, and his on-the-ball defense is good. He makes at least one or two passes a game that make me say, "Whoa! Nice!" We need to look for him more on the offensive side and he needs to be more aggressive. He's going to be a good one.
5. AD Gueye/Moses Wright. The four spot has been a clear weakness but both of these guys show flashes of brilliance, and combined that have been good for 7.5/7.0/2.3. Both of them should probably stay a little closer to the basket, although I like Moses' mid-range shot. AD has proved to be a proficient passer (1.8 assists/game), but needs to be stronger with the ball (2 TO/game).
6. Justin Moore has been a disappointment, but I think the time he missed caused him to want to force things too much when he did get his chance. He is never going to be a great shooter, but the 7 assist game against Grambling shows what he is capable of.
7. Sylvester Ogbonda, where are you? I know he was injured, but we could really use his size out there, especially to give BL a breather. I hope he comes back soon, or this might end up being a lost year. Didn't we hear about how much he improved over the off-season?
8. Evan Cole. Not ready to contribute yet in the ACC, but the potential is there and his time will come. I like his shot, but we haven't seen enough of him to know a lot more. Surprisingly, he hasn't played in three out of the last four games.
Looking forward to reading your thoughts on what we have seen so far!
So, based on what you have seen so far, what do we have? We have we learned about our team so far? Surprises? Disappointments?
I'll mention a few, and then throw it over to our more informed and educated crew to discuss:
1. The team defense has been good, but it is clear that we are not at the level we were last year. We are giving up 39% from the field and 36% from 3-point range. The first number is above-average and has a lot to do with Lammers presence inside, and the second number is...not so good. We are really on lots of freshmen right now, and they just don't always know where to go. Mastering the amoeba defense takes time. This will improve as the season goes on, especially as Josh-O returns--his defense was very underrated.
2. The offense has been...inconsistent. At times, they make excellent cuts to the basket and get easy buckets, and at other times, there is too much standing around. I hope this will improve too.
3. JOSE! Jose Alvarado has been really, really good for a freshman PG. I am so used to seeing average PG play from GT, I almost forgot what a good PG looks like. He is aggressive, but not foolish. He gets steals, he rebounds well, he steps up when its crunch time, and his shot is surprisingly good. If he could add a little more mid-range to his game, he will be even better. 13.9/5.0/3.6 with a 38.5% from 3-point range? I'll take that all day from a freshman PG.
4. CGB! Haywood II has been the biggest surprise to me, especially since he looked a bit lost in the first few games. His shot is definitely as good as advertised (50% from 3???Wha?), his passing and court awareness is excellent, and his on-the-ball defense is good. He makes at least one or two passes a game that make me say, "Whoa! Nice!" We need to look for him more on the offensive side and he needs to be more aggressive. He's going to be a good one.
5. AD Gueye/Moses Wright. The four spot has been a clear weakness but both of these guys show flashes of brilliance, and combined that have been good for 7.5/7.0/2.3. Both of them should probably stay a little closer to the basket, although I like Moses' mid-range shot. AD has proved to be a proficient passer (1.8 assists/game), but needs to be stronger with the ball (2 TO/game).
6. Justin Moore has been a disappointment, but I think the time he missed caused him to want to force things too much when he did get his chance. He is never going to be a great shooter, but the 7 assist game against Grambling shows what he is capable of.
7. Sylvester Ogbonda, where are you? I know he was injured, but we could really use his size out there, especially to give BL a breather. I hope he comes back soon, or this might end up being a lost year. Didn't we hear about how much he improved over the off-season?
8. Evan Cole. Not ready to contribute yet in the ACC, but the potential is there and his time will come. I like his shot, but we haven't seen enough of him to know a lot more. Surprisingly, he hasn't played in three out of the last four games.
Looking forward to reading your thoughts on what we have seen so far!
) But it was the hallmark of last year's team and right now I don't see it carrying us in the ACC like it did last year.
