I'm more calm now. Tough loss, but the silver lining is that Jordan continues to flash his brilliance. He looked like the best player on the floor--saying a lot with Christon in there--for a few stretches and he can really drive at will. He is also relentless going after the ball and that reminds me of the types of guys we had on the 98-2000 teams. He needs to get some assists going when he draws the help D and he also needs to get his shot going--which I think will come when he gets in a scoring rhythm and gains confidence.
Xavier is legit. They are a top 15 program over the last 15 years...no doubting that. They also have a great home court advantage and it was definitely felt in the second half. Stainbrook is the most coordinated big--and I do mean big--man that I've seen in years. I felt like I was watching my uncle play me as a kid. He straight-up outmuscled Obekpa like I've never seen before. CO is usually our most sturdy option in terms of not getting backed down in the post. Stainbrook has a future with the Globetrotters for sure...or if they ever remake Teenwolf.
The thing that gets me the most upset is all the one-and-dones on offense. Sanchez and Sampson are both capable offensive rebounders and they need to be closer to the basket. Sampson could be unstoppable on the offensive glass. We're never going to be a good shooting team, so cleaning the offensive glass is a must. We need to be dominant on that end. That is what the 98-2000 teams did so well. They got a ton of easy shots all game and a lot of those were second or third chance points. They missed 54 shots and only grabbed 15 offensive rebounds--outside of Jordan, most just bounced out to us. And the lack of offensive rebounding makes it so puzzling why they got beat back down the court the entire second half whenever Jordan drove. 1 offensive rebound out of Dom in 20 minutes and that makes him just about useless.
The other thing that gets me going is how guys are not forced to play to their strengths and avoid glaring weaknesses. Let's be honest, Dom, Sanchez, and Sampson should not be handling the ball 20 feet from the basket. Ever. They should just swing it and move. After three dribbles Dom and Sampson are out of control and turnovers waiting to happen. I'd let Sanchez drive if he has space or after a shot-fake in the right matchup, but he needs to pick his battles wisely. Sampson needs to realize that he has to be a good college PF before he can be a great overall player. If they haven't already, sit him down and show him tape of Hakim Warrick. I don't think Warrick even attempted a three until his senior year and I can't remember him ever driving wildly from 20-25 feet. Warrick got the ball in the mid to high post, faced up bigger defenders, and used his elite first step and no more than two dribbles to score at will. When Samson does that, he just looks elite and if he misses the shot, it should give us a good chance to get an offensive rebound because the help D will have to leave the weak side rim. Warrick, like Sampson, was also a freak show in transition. I'll take that all day from Sampson, and they are very similar players from size, to physical talent, to skill sets.
Branch played five minutes? WTF? He had a team-leading three assists and plays solid defense. I just don't get this. Balamou only got five and crashed the offensive glass harder in those five minutes than anyone not named Jordan although he was not credited with a rebound.
This team just needs an identity. It has to include tough as nails defensive pressure and relentless offensive rebounding.
Xavier is legit. They are a top 15 program over the last 15 years...no doubting that. They also have a great home court advantage and it was definitely felt in the second half. Stainbrook is the most coordinated big--and I do mean big--man that I've seen in years. I felt like I was watching my uncle play me as a kid. He straight-up outmuscled Obekpa like I've never seen before. CO is usually our most sturdy option in terms of not getting backed down in the post. Stainbrook has a future with the Globetrotters for sure...or if they ever remake Teenwolf.
The thing that gets me the most upset is all the one-and-dones on offense. Sanchez and Sampson are both capable offensive rebounders and they need to be closer to the basket. Sampson could be unstoppable on the offensive glass. We're never going to be a good shooting team, so cleaning the offensive glass is a must. We need to be dominant on that end. That is what the 98-2000 teams did so well. They got a ton of easy shots all game and a lot of those were second or third chance points. They missed 54 shots and only grabbed 15 offensive rebounds--outside of Jordan, most just bounced out to us. And the lack of offensive rebounding makes it so puzzling why they got beat back down the court the entire second half whenever Jordan drove. 1 offensive rebound out of Dom in 20 minutes and that makes him just about useless.
The other thing that gets me going is how guys are not forced to play to their strengths and avoid glaring weaknesses. Let's be honest, Dom, Sanchez, and Sampson should not be handling the ball 20 feet from the basket. Ever. They should just swing it and move. After three dribbles Dom and Sampson are out of control and turnovers waiting to happen. I'd let Sanchez drive if he has space or after a shot-fake in the right matchup, but he needs to pick his battles wisely. Sampson needs to realize that he has to be a good college PF before he can be a great overall player. If they haven't already, sit him down and show him tape of Hakim Warrick. I don't think Warrick even attempted a three until his senior year and I can't remember him ever driving wildly from 20-25 feet. Warrick got the ball in the mid to high post, faced up bigger defenders, and used his elite first step and no more than two dribbles to score at will. When Samson does that, he just looks elite and if he misses the shot, it should give us a good chance to get an offensive rebound because the help D will have to leave the weak side rim. Warrick, like Sampson, was also a freak show in transition. I'll take that all day from Sampson, and they are very similar players from size, to physical talent, to skill sets.
Branch played five minutes? WTF? He had a team-leading three assists and plays solid defense. I just don't get this. Balamou only got five and crashed the offensive glass harder in those five minutes than anyone not named Jordan although he was not credited with a rebound.
This team just needs an identity. It has to include tough as nails defensive pressure and relentless offensive rebounding.
