Fundamentals need work
I'm sorry for calling out guys but it's freaking time. It's everybody's fault at this point BUT it's curable to a degree. PLEASE read carefully guys that are on the team and staff. What I watched tonight needs to improve! Needless turnovers are NEVER acceptable! If you catch the ball, it's not necessary to do a shake and bake, you already can get an advantage by ripping through and driving with you head up AND you need a fall back plan/player to release the ball to on a drive and kick. When you're on the break, attack but AGAIN know where the simple pass is. Make the simple pass and move/don't stand still. If you're feeding the post, rip that bounce pass in and don't put it in soft and make sure that it's a good angle. I saw that happen a bit tonight and that isn't D1 ball at all.
This team has some talent, but can't continue to make unforced TO's by forcing it. I'm totally okay with a guy taking it to the hole hard via a ball screen, shot fake or rip through provided that he can either finish, get fouled, draw guys or have a kick out option already in mind before the drive. Know your situation before you roll or make the simple pass, there will be time on the clock in most cases.
Another issue was perimeter defense tonight. It was better in the 2nd half, but that needs to be there the whole night. UNCW was lucky in that the other team didn't have a killer or 2 because it would have been a problem. I don't know what was said but the team looked better defensively on the perimeter in the 2nd half...not great, but much better. You can always tell that by seeing how many deflections and near/good steals there are out there. Perimeter pressure ALWAYS makes a good difference.
UNCW won this game handily. And, there were a few bright spots tonight. I felt that Estime made a real step forward on both ends and deserves credit. He had a really good overall game. He was decisive/assertive and made smart passes plus he defended and rebounded well in the 2nd half-good performance. Brown had some good moments too, especially on the defensive end. He has good PG instincts and made some really good smart/simple assists with his drive and kick game (like that), but needs to value the ball better too. Taylor looked good defensively in the 2nd half and will get his so you don't have to worry about his offense. I look at both ends of the court and the intangibles a lot. Fornes has good talent but has to play more WAY more aggressively, especially on defense, he has what it takes from what I can tell to be really good. Jaylen, you need to come out mad and hungry come Saturday because you are better than this homeboy...love you're ability, but you need to showcase on both ends...Finish plays on offensive with focus and defend hard and smart..you can do this! Gary needs to play focused and all out to be what he can be. I like Gary when he's diving for loose balls, making the prudent play and of course, nailing the 3.
The bottom line is that you have to be able to put pressure on the defense at this level and you have to be able to execute your offense without TO's and being too predictable in the half court. It's not enough for the staff to say....well, we teach them this or that and it's up to them. Not enough for this group guys....you have to hold people accountable for defensive lapses AND you have to teach them 5x until it becomes habit..hoops is a habit so just talking means nothing in reality. You also have to stress ball protection, good solid passing without TO's and good perimeter D with help. That's the only way that this team will win. Flemmings and Bryce are not there and they were good individual defenders that could score on their own so defenses had to account for them. Everybody has to step up come Saturday.
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