The people saying last night's team looked pretty the same as last year's didn't watch very much Tech basketball last season.
You don't have to watch closely. It's very apparent we're running the offense differently.You can watch a little more closely you will see more (and better) offensive sets being run. The play that got Lammers a bucket in the first half was a beautiful play.
Maybe that's on me since I said 7 in chat and here. I watched some of the first half, watched a show with my wife and then came back when we were 7 down. When I saw that, it was like, football deja vu.
Some of y'all know basketball better than I, but I got optimistic last year after beating georgie and northwestern, shooting 44+%. We beat Vandy shooting 38%.
So beating TN while shooting 39% doesn't jump out at me as a big difference in results, regardless of difference in style. Adam Smith shooting 1 of 8 from 3pt line strikes me as too much like what I've come to expect from CBG coached team.
I'm the most non-optimistic fan here. Eventually Adam Smith will return to the median. He lead the conference in 3pt shooting last year
Some of y'all know basketball better than I, but I got optimistic last year after beating georgie and northwestern, shooting 44+%. We beat Vandy shooting 38%.
So beating TN while shooting 39% doesn't jump out at me as a big difference in results, regardless of difference in style. Adam Smith shooting 1 of 8 from 3pt line strikes me as too much like what I've come to expect from CBG coached team.
I'll add that shots came easier, regardless of outcome. MGH wasn't a one-man show. In fact he was able to get to the basket easier during parts of the game as a result of attention elsewhere. The offense was noticeably better. To draw a football analogy, calling out the shooting percentage yesterday feels a lot like blaming CPJ for every fumble vs. VT. We missed a few tip backs and chippies around the rim that will go in just by "getting back to the mean" as Peacone said.I'm the most non-optimistic fan here. Eventually Adam Smith will return to the median. He lead the conference in 3pt shooting last year
Really nice to not blow this game tonight, but I'm kinda ticked about the end of game execution. I honestly feel we were the better team tonight and we were because we won, but we need to take the next step and not have the mental breakdown that caused us to win by 2 with UTK having the last shot to in or tie, instead of a 5, 7, or 10 pt win.
Need to keep working.
What's wrong with your keyboard?k,
it was too poor Offensive teams that basically threw up a shot and then went to rebound it--the shooting was horrendous
probably the only reason we won was that dude missed 2 FTs at end,they shot 50% and we 60%
it was a win (in a close game for a change)but little coaching seen in this, remember we beat Vandy last yr also but we didn't follow through on season
I'm the most non-optimistic fan here. Eventually Adam Smith will return to the median. He lead the conference in 3pt shooting last year
Except now we have post players that know post moves and can/want to put the ball in the basket. Demarco Cox/BBC are much different players than Nick Jacobs.Clearly you're not the most non-optimistic fan here. CBG has always wanted to push the ball on O, and we can do that now better than before.
However, our offensive sets in the half court look largely the same to me.
So far, all my optimistic thoughts have been validated except one. Our perimeter defense is still an issue.
Offensively we are getting better shots and the shorter shot clock does not appear to be causing us problems. Jacobs and White are better on offense than Cox and Sampson, and about the same defensively. Also, Lammers is making real contributions this year. I agree that MGH is not carrying as much of a burden , and that several of his moves to the hoop were a lot easier than last year. Smith is a proven shooter and 1-8 is an outlier for him.
Travis and Josh took only four shots between them, hitting none. That needs to change. If they cannot make outside shots, they need to do something else. Travis especially, as he's a liability on defense. We don't have many options for the point, so these guys need to step up. We are otherwise a pretty solid team and not many teams get NCAA bids with poor pg play.
We missed a lot of shots last night, but VERY few were ill-advised. For the most part, I am OK with how we played last night. Tennessee is not a great team, but Barnes has them playing better than last year and I predict this will look like a good win later in the season. We have some issues to deal with, but I am OK with where we are right now. Two games coming up that we should win by double digits, but both teams have some players. East Tennessee can shoot the lights out.
I have a couple of questions for you guys who were at the game. Was anything wrong with Q or Tadric? Neither played as many minutes as I expected against a rather small lineup. Also, the Vol forum said there was a real "Orange" flavor to the crowd at McCamish. Are students still staying away?
Except now we have post players that know post moves and can/want to put the ball in the basket. Demarco Cox/BBC are much different players than Nick Jacobs.
Yes our perimeter defense needs work. They don't move their feet very well nor do they help out on the weak side.I think this is why Heath is starting. That said, Smith has a matador personality also. Perimeter defense will be an issue for us all season unless we can find some improvement outside.
Enjoy the OOC as much as possible guys, the ACC is going to be a meat grinder.
Really nice to not blow this game tonight, but I'm kinda ticked about the end of game execution. I honestly feel we were the better team tonight and we were because we won, but we need to take the next step and not have the mental breakdown that caused us to win by 2 with UTK having the last shot to in or tie, instead of a 5, 7, or 10 pt win.
Need to keep working.