Auburn, Wed., Nov. 26, 8:00p, TruTV / 880 AM

Last year's team was a defensive juggernaut and locked teams down for 40 minutes. The DNA of this year's squad is polar opposite. Defense, rebounding, and big-time PG play. That's the winning formula.

As Ayo astutely pointed out, this is not last year’s team. This year’s team will have to figure out how it will win, but it won’t be with last year’s defense.
We will outscore teams and usually outshoot teams. This team’s calling card will be offense, and they have the talent to be an elite offensive team.
A team that is an offensive juggernaut can win a lot of games.
 
As Ayo astutely pointed out, this is not last year’s team. This year’s team will have to figure out how it will win, but it won’t be with last year’s defense.
We will outscore teams and usually outshoot teams. This team’s calling card will be offense, and they have the talent to be an elite offensive team.
A team that is an offensive juggernaut can win a lot of games.
Not in March they won't and that's what this team was built for. Gotta have balance on both sides of the ball and this team needs to prove that.
 
I was courtside for first three games in Bahamas last year. Anyone who says we were playing lock down defense in those games does not know ball. Smith was suspended. Team was completely out of sync. No one had defined role. Pitino molded the team and it gradually got better. Let’s hope he can do the same this year. Hey, we lost to Michigan by one. Should have beaten them. And they just proved they are by far the best team in country. Darling did not play v Alabama. If we had won both those games the picture would look vastly different. Pitino has earned time to work his magic.
That was a scrimmage and they don't count so throw that out the window. Furthermore, if you actually follow college hoops like I do, Michigan looks way better now than they did just 3 weeks ago. So they're a vastly improved team than the one we scrimmaged if you're trying to use that as a barometer. Even their HC has said so several times. Also I don't give a shit if you were in the locker room with last year's team in the Bahamas. This year's team is built different and has a different DNA. Watch the games. The eye test never fails. And "ifs" don't win games so that's pointless to bring up hypotheticals. If your Aunt had balls, well you know the rest.
 
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The people on this message board have forgotten more basketball info than I know. That being said I find it hard to cheer for a bought team. I used to really look forward to sophomores being juniors and then seniors.
Zuby and Ayo say hello
 
3 losses to 3 ranked teams. All of which we had leads later part of second half in. That is both a huge red flag and a big reason for optimism.

Worries of guard play are valid. As well as concerns of roster fit and pieces being greater than its sum.

I think a lot of our issues defensively and on the boards relate to missing wing length in the form of an RJ or similar. Our guard/wings do not fit the mold. I think Coach Pitino looks at Sanon and sees the potential to play that 3. Size, length and athleticism fit the mold. So he’s trying to cram him into that role in hopes he develops outside of just a gunner. I think he looks at Jackson and is unsure of what he sees, but he’s certain he’s not a 3 or a 1 at the moment. Thats leaves him at the 2 which is unfortunately the spot Pitino feels most sure about with Sellers. That means either Jackson’s getting squeezed or Sellers gets asked to do something that takes away from his strength. Darling is
happy Thanksgiving guys!
but he’s certainly not a sure fire answer. Still believe in 18-25 minutes there.

For the front court crunch I’d like to see Pitino commit to 10 minutes of Mitchell as the actual designated pg. Find a zone that works for that and some other lineups and build around that added size, with rebounding and transition points. This roster can be so much better rebounding than it’s showed. This will free up more space for Hopkins and Zuby and more time for Prey. Our bigs have got to commit to running, that’s Zuby and Hopkins included, because our guard/wings most certainly are. But no rebound = no run.

Ayo needs 10+ consistent minutes all year.

Have we looked like a top 5 team so far? No sir 100% not. Have we looked like a team that can compete neck and neck with top teams? 100% yes.

Consistently put yourself in good chances and figure out what works best for your team and the potential is still there. Challenges acknowledged.
Last year uconn problem was lack of point guard play. Hurley solved that problem unfortunately that is our problem this year
 
I was courtside for first three games in Bahamas last year. Anyone who says we were playing lock down defense in those games does not know ball. Smith was suspended. Team was completely out of sync. No one had defined role. Pitino molded the team and it gradually got better. Let’s hope he can do the same this year. Hey, we lost to Michigan by one. Should have beaten them. And they just proved they are by far the best team in country. Darling did not play v Alabama. If we had won both those games the picture would look vastly different. Pitino has earned time to work his magic.
With all due respect don’t think Darling moves the needle in beating Bama as we scored 96 points offensive not being the problem and he obviously would not have helped against the quickness of Bama’s guards on defense. As for Michigan the team that just beat 3 good teams in Las Vegas by 110 points i’m fairly certain that if we played them now they would do a tap dance on our heads.
 
He will be good, but I think we mostly all understood it won’t be this year.

Our lack of strength and aggression may force him into action later in the season.
He's averaging 2 fouls per game in 7 minutes. And those are against the cupcakes. He fits a clear need, but still needs his legs under him + head adjusted to the play. I hope he breaks out at the Harvard game, and gets 10-12 minutes per game after that.
 
He's averaging 2 fouls per game in 7 minutes. And those are against the cupcakes. He fits a clear need, but still needs his legs under him + head adjusted to the play. I hope he breaks out at the Harvard game, and gets 10-12 minutes per game after that.
Makes me recall the desire to see Glover be a factor last year, but limited minutes w deep roster and not taking advantage of brief stints made it impossible to get serious time.
 
He's averaging 2 fouls per game in 7 minutes. And those are against the cupcakes. He fits a clear need, but still needs his legs under him + head adjusted to the play. I hope he breaks out at the Harvard game, and gets 10-12 minutes per game after that.
I like Odih. He's an oversized version of Posh, just an absolute dog on defense. Has to learn to do it without fouling, yes. And on offense he is in the "just happy to be here" stage when he gets the ball, gets excited and makes mistakes.

On another team he might get minutes to work through those things and be a productive rotation-type player by the second half of the season. Here he will likely have the Wilcher/Glover freshman experience. But I would like to retain him for next year, definitely. A corollary to my Coach Pitino thread is that when you don't give freshmen the opportunity to work through their mistakes in games, then they start the sophomore year behind where they might otherwise have been. But defense travels and I think Odih will be productive from the beginning next year, given the opportunity
 
Yea I’m firmly in the camp that we should probably start giving Odih minutes starting with the Harvard and Iona games and try to see if we can bring him along. Cause he has the body type and athleticism to be someone can at least get in there and mix it up for rebounds/try to body up some guards.

If we’re playing a good team and he goes in there and picks up 3 fouls in a few minutes, I still don’t mind it. Let him go battle, it’s better than watching guys glide past Sanon over and over
 
I like Odih. He's an oversized version of Posh, just an absolute dog on defense. Has to learn to do it without fouling, yes. And on offense he is in the "just happy to be here" stage when he gets the ball, gets excited and makes mistakes.

On another team he might get minutes to work through those things and be a productive rotation-type player by the second half of the season. Here he will likely have the Wilcher/Glover freshman experience. But I would like to retain him for next year, definitely. A corollary to my Coach Pitino thread is that when you don't give freshmen the opportunity to work through their mistakes in games, then they start the sophomore year behind where they might otherwise have been. But defense travels and I think Odih will be productive from the beginning next year, given the opportunity
Can Odih play point guard and handle the ball or is he strictly a wing?I don't know, just asking.
 
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