GT vs Bama A&M

[Ramble1885]

Nice win today. I was there and while the student section was dead (bc of break) I was happy to see the rest of the lower deck filled nicely.

Good way to build confidence headed into the big ACC stretch.

 

[jbix80]

We finally got a nice blowout. I think we have really missed McCollum this year. He had 18 points in 16 minutes. Unfortunately, he rolled his ankle so he didn’t play much in the second half. I love watching Souare hustling on the court. He’s not the most talented big we have, but he works his tail off.

 

[57jacket]

Mccollum finally shows what he can do. And then reinjures his ankle. Wow. But with him and Terry we have 2 players who can make their own shot. Hope he's not out long. This was the 1st game where everybody got a chance to play, including the walkons. Fun for the team.

 

[MtnWasp]

27 assists on 33 made field goals is crazy good.

 

[awbuzz]

Hope McCollum's foot/ankle heals quickly.

Sloppy first few minutes, then dominated as we should against A&M.

Better still seeing Nichols and San Miguel get some baskets.

 

[Rzunz]

McCollum changed the game in the first half.

 

[SecretAgentBuzz]

Nice convincing win! Obviously, the competition was weak, but the team looked dialed in and strong on both offense and defense. Here's my amateur take:

What I liked:
-20 fast break points and a quicker pace. We seemed to be looking for runouts and early advantages on offense, and it helped keep our offense from one of those 5 minute droughts. CDS was actively trying to get them to push the ball and I think it paid off. We have some good guards and we can run, so yeah, let's do more of that.
-Defense also turned into offense, which was nice. 13 steals has to be a season high for us--its more than twice our season average. We even had 8 blocks! The refs were mostly swallowing their whistles, so that helped, but I saw more hand-swiping, lane-jumping, and ball-hawking than I remember from this team. Yay for defense! Have we finally turned a corner here?
-McCollum. This was finally the McCollum we thought we were getting, and it was beautiful. The confident swagger, the speed into the lane, the step-back three, it was all there...until he turned his ankle. Man, I really hope it is not serious. That would be really sad.
-27 assists, a season high. Good passing=better shots=higher shooting percentage. Yes, please!
-Walk-ons getting some run...and scoring! Everybody loves that, right?

What I didn't like:
-The first 9 minutes were UUUUUUGLY. Lots of unforced errors and foolish play. I have no idea why they started like this, or what changed it, but I hope we don't see this version of GT again.
-Turnovers. Perhaps this was a product of the faster pace, but we made wayyyy too many dumb decisions with the ball. We can't do that against better teams.

Overall, this was probably the best 31 minutes of basketball this team has played, even given the weak competition. There were hints of better basketball here that, if continued, could lead to a much better season that what we have seen so far. We shall see! Either way, go Jackets!

 

[MWBATL]

Nice convincing win! Obviously, the competition was weak, but the team looked dialed in and strong on both offense and defense. Here's my amateur take:

What I liked:
-20 fast break points and a quicker pace. We seemed to be looking for runouts and early advantages on offense, and it helped keep our offense from one of those 5 minute droughts. CDS was actively trying to get them to push the ball and I think it paid off. We have some good guards and we can run, so yeah, let's do more of that.
-Defense also turned into offense, which was nice. 13 steals has to be a season high for us--its more than twice our season average. We even had 8 blocks! The refs were mostly swallowing their whistles, so that helped, but I saw more hand-swiping, lane-jumping, and ball-hawking than I remember from this team. Yay for defense! Have we finally turned a corner here?
-McCollum. This was finally the McCollum we thought we were getting, and it was beautiful. The confident swagger, the speed into the lane, the step-back three, it was all there...until he turned his ankle. Man, I really hope it is not serious. That would be really sad.
-27 assists, a season high. Good passing=better shots=higher shooting percentage. Yes, please!
-Walk-ons getting some run...and scoring! Everybody loves that, right?

What I didn't like:
-The first 9 minutes were UUUUUUGLY. Lots of unforced errors and foolish play. I have no idea why they started like this, or what changed it, but I hope we don't see this version of GT again.
-Turnovers. Perhaps this was a product of the faster pace, but we made wayyyy too many dumb decisions with the ball. We can't do that against better teams.

Overall, this was probably the best 31 minutes of basketball this team has played, even given the weak competition. There were hints of better basketball here that, if continued, could lead to a much better season that what we have seen so far. We shall see! Either way, go Jackets!

Encouraging report. Thanks…I needed that!

 

[GTNavyNuke]

Nice convincing win! Obviously, the competition was weak, but the team looked dialed in and strong on both offense and defense. Here's my amateur take:

What I liked:
-20 fast break points and a quicker pace. We seemed to be looking for runouts and early advantages on offense, and it helped keep our offense from one of those 5 minute droughts. CDS was actively trying to get them to push the ball and I think it paid off. We have some good guards and we can run, so yeah, let's do more of that.
-Defense also turned into offense, which was nice. 13 steals has to be a season high for us--its more than twice our season average. We even had 8 blocks! The refs were mostly swallowing their whistles, so that helped, but I saw more hand-swiping, lane-jumping, and ball-hawking than I remember from this team. Yay for defense! Have we finally turned a corner here?
-McCollum. This was finally the McCollum we thought we were getting, and it was beautiful. The confident swagger, the speed into the lane, the step-back three, it was all there...until he turned his ankle. Man, I really hope it is not serious. That would be really sad.
-27 assists, a season high. Good passing=better shots=higher shooting percentage. Yes, please!
-Walk-ons getting some run...and scoring! Everybody loves that, right?

What I didn't like:
-The first 9 minutes were UUUUUUGLY. Lots of unforced errors and foolish play. I have no idea why they started like this, or what changed it, but I hope we don't see this version of GT again.
-Turnovers. Perhaps this was a product of the faster pace, but we made wayyyy too many dumb decisions with the ball. We can't do that against better teams.

Overall, this was probably the best 31 minutes of basketball this team has played, even given the weak competition. There were hints of better basketball here that, if continued, could lead to a much better season that what we have seen so far. We shall see! Either way, go Jackets!

Thanks! Go Jackets. I expect we'll get better; can see the team hasn't given up.

 

[alagold]

Nice,easy win.
It is obvious that McCollum is the natural player/shooter (without Kelly) that we need desperately. I'm amazed that we didn't use this this game to practice getting more passes inside to big men. (and then either shoot or passback out.?The flouts around the outside don't work vs real teams .

 

[Tommy_Taylor_1972]

Nice,easy win.
It is obvious that McCollum is the natural player/shooter (without Kelly) that we need desperately. I'm amazed that we didn't use this this game to practice getting more passes inside to big men. (and then either shoot or passback out.?The flouts around the outside don't work vs real teams .

Javian's basketball background and attitude is good for this Tech team. Curious about how he got here, I found a hometown Ft. Myers paper that described his journey. It is interesting that he was a very highly respected public high school player in Florida, but never top-100 ranked and had only one scholarship offer out of high school. Through his hard work,he improved at Sienna each year. He went on the portal and was picked up by Oklahoma and improved there. Then he went back on the portal and is at Tech, with his best game this weekend. He wants to win and improve and play team ball, so I think he will do just that. Since this is his last year of eligibility, I think he will also get a degree from Tech. A little ankle injury will not keep him from doing that. Tape and tight-laced high tops will help.

News-Press​

Fort Myers, Florida • Sat, Jan 13, 2024

 

[Tommy_Taylor_1972]

Javian's basketball background and attitude is good for this Tech team. Curious about how he got here, I found a hometown Ft. Myers paper that described his journey. It is interesting that he was a very highly respected public high school player in Florida, but never top-100 ranked and had only one scholarship offer out of high school. Through his hard work,he improved at Sienna each year. He went on the portal and was picked up by Oklahoma and improved there. Then he went back on the portal and is at Tech, with his best game this weekend. He wants to win and improve and play team ball, so I think he will do just that. Since this is his last year of eligibility, I think he will also get a degree from Tech. A little ankle injury will not keep him from doing that. Tape and tight-laced high tops will help.

News-Press​

Fort Myers, Florida • Sat, Jan 13, 2024
View attachment 17545

I can see why he might have ankle problems. It looks like he could sprain an ankle just standing there. He also had ankle sprains at Oklahoma, where his grandfather went to college. More tape an d tighter-laced high tops. He has been shooting threes since he was a starter as a freshman on a Florida 6A high school team. Give him the ball!!

 

[gte447f]

Javian's basketball background and attitude is good for this Tech team. Curious about how he got here, I found a hometown Ft. Myers paper that described his journey. It is interesting that he was a very highly respected public high school player in Florida, but never top-100 ranked and had only one scholarship offer out of high school. Through his hard work,he improved at Sienna each year. He went on the portal and was picked up by Oklahoma and improved there. Then he went back on the portal and is at Tech, with his best game this weekend. He wants to win and improve and play team ball, so I think he will do just that. Since this is his last year of eligibility, I think he will also get a degree from Tech. A little ankle injury will not keep him from doing that. Tape and tight-laced high tops will help.

News-Press​

Fort Myers, Florida • Sat, Jan 13, 2024
View attachment 17545

Tommy, have you seen the shoes they wear these days. They look like running shoes. Apparently high tops are not a thing anymore. I have often wondered why not? I’m sure super light weight low tops probably allow more mobility, but surely it comes with a significantly higher risk of ankle injuries. I wonder if any of the teams and/or shoe manufacturers have actually studied and tried to quantify the risk/reward of high tops vs low tops.

 

[JacketOff]

Tommy, have you seen the shoes they wear these days. They look like running shoes. Apparently high tops are not a thing anymore. I have often wondered why not? I’m sure super light weight low tops probably allow more mobility, but surely it comes with a significantly higher risk of ankle injuries. I wonder if any of the teams and/or shoe manufacturers have actually studied and tried to quantify the risk/reward of high tops vs low tops.

It’s been found that high top shoes can actually contribute more to ankle and foot injuries than lower cut shoes do, and there is little evidence to support taller shoes preventing injuries of any kind.

 

[Tommy_Taylor_1972]

Tommy, have you seen the shoes they wear these days. They look like running shoes. Apparently high tops are not a thing anymore. I have often wondered why not? I’m sure super light weight low tops probably allow more mobility, but surely it comes with a significantly higher risk of ankle injuries. I wonder if any of the teams and/or shoe manufacturers have actually studied and tried to quantify the risk/reward of high tops vs low tops.

High top Converse All-Stars was all I ever wore for 8 years from high school through college. However, we did play several teams that work low-cut Adidas 3-stripe Superstar introduced in 1970, including Duquesne in the 1970 NIT. We thought that was weird There were few ankle sprains, the few we had were from landing on someone's foot. No shoe would prevent that sprain. Coach Hyder would give us a new pair of Chucks only if the sole was worn down smooth.. which was about twice a season. But we did get both ankles taped before every practice and game. At least we did not have knee-socks, which became extinct and the shoe competition began in the early 1970's. The weak cushioned All-Stars and the coliseum floor laid directly on concrete did give us shin splints for four years.

 

[Tommy_Taylor_1972]

High top Converse All-Stars was all I ever wore for 8 years from high school through college. However, we did play several teams that work low-cut Adidas 3-stripe Superstar introduced in 1970, including Duquesne in the 1970 NIT. We thought that was weird There were few ankle sprains, the few we had were from landing on someone's foot. No shoe would prevent that sprain. Coach Hyder would give us a new pair of Chucks only if the sole was worn down smooth.. which was about twice a season. But we did get both ankles taped before every practice and game. At least we did not have knee-socks, which became extinct and the shoe competition began in the early 1970's. The weak cushioned All-Stars and the coliseum floor laid directly on concrete did give us shin splints for four years.
View attachment 17549View attachment 17548

p.s. Speaking of basketball shoes looking like running shoes, I won the Georgia state mile and two mile runs in my high top Chuck Taylors.

 

[GTHomer]

High top Converse All-Stars was all I ever wore for 8 years from high school through college. However, we did play several teams that work low-cut Adidas 3-stripe Superstar introduced in 1970, including Duquesne in the 1970 NIT. We thought that was weird There were few ankle sprains, the few we had were from landing on someone's foot. No shoe would prevent that sprain. Coach Hyder would give us a new pair of Chucks only if the sole was worn down smooth.. which was about twice a season. But we did get both ankles taped before every practice and game. At least we did not have knee-socks, which became extinct and the shoe competition began in the early 1970's. The weak cushioned All-Stars and the coliseum floor laid directly on concrete did give us shin splints for four years.
View attachment 17549View attachment 17548

Seeing the Converse ad brought back memories from my youth as we all wore them. We also had them in different colors, i.e orange, green, purple, etc and/or changed the shoestring color to be stylish. Several years ago, I bought my kids these shoes when they came back in 'style'.