I believe that was the first game this season that we won with defense first. We swarmed the boards, hit the floor, contested dribble penetration, didn't bite on the first fake, etc.
Second game in a row where Ndongo hit the deck to save a possession. That is the level of commitment needed to win in the ACC. Now, the SIX turnovers ... LOL.
Sacko showed textbook defense to contain dribble drives, sliding his feet while maintaining vertical upper body position with his hands strait-up. Syracuse players were bouncing off his chest. His play was as close to Karl Brown as I've seen.
Gapare's light bulb is definitely being switched-on late in the season. It's like we are seeing him have an on-the-court epiphany, "oh, so THIS is how a player impacts the game!" Very exciting for the future.
For GT to win Sturdivant has to make shots. He is our shooting guard and when he is not scoring, we are just bad. He is not a PG. His floor game decision making is just way too slow.
Not worried about George. What makes him a good player is his court awareness and demeanor. That doesn't go away. The coaches will work with him to get him stronger and work on his skills and then he will be better able to exploit that rare ability to see the game at a different level.
Kelly is looking more comfortable. he really has rounded out his game, is looking to impact the game in other areas besides shooting, is really trying to dig in on defense, he actually had a good rebounder inside of him that came out this year and is more engaged with his team mates. I thought it was a wasted year for him, but it has not been. Stoudamire really expanded him mentally.
Stoudamire's recent comment, "Strategy doesn't figure into it until you play hard" is a statement that I will remember forever. it is so insightful. No coach can scheme around a team that doesn't play as hard as the opposition. It took too long for the players to get what he was talking about until too late in the season, but I definitely get the impression that they are starting to get it. My two biggest indices for that conclusion is the players starting to dive on the floor and the clear improvement in the effort to contain dribble penetration and fight through screens.
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