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I've been going to UAB games since the mid-80s. I'm finding it hard to remember a team this suffocating on defense. Anderson's 40 Fastest generated steals, but this team just squeezes the hell out of the other team like a boa constrictor. If I had played against a defense like this in my day, I would have punched George Drake in the mouth just to get ejected so I could go to the locker room and breath.

great defensive performance...but there have also been many points this season where we have been completely unable to find 3 point shooters.

defense wins championships...i agree, this defense is SOLID

(12-16-2009 09:55 PM)blazr Wrote:  If I had played against a defense like this in my day, I would have punched George Drake in the mouth just to get ejected so I could go to the locker room and breath.

I think that's pretty much what Stephenson did when he took that T. He'd had enough.

You could tell that Stephenson wanted out earlier in the game. The camera was on him later in the game after he had committed that first offensive foul. You could seem him hobble over to the coach shaking his head. You could tell he didn't want to be out there. But he did have that sweet spin move and kiss off the glass. I think he knew we were not going to be denied. He wanted no part of that game.

(12-16-2009 10:47 PM)Uab91Eng Wrote:  You could tell that Stephenson wanted out earlier in the game. The camera was on him later in the game after he had committed that first offensive foul. You could seem him hobble over to the coach shaking his head. You could tell he didn't want to be out there. But he did have that sweet spin move and kiss off the glass. I think he knew we were not going to be denied. He wanted no part of that game.

Watching in person it seemed that Stephenson's injury came and went very conveniently. When he was denied, or beaten on defense, he would head up the floor limping and looking at the bench. Then he would execute a move like the one you pointed out and trot back up the floor with no problems.

(12-16-2009 10:50 PM)blazr Wrote:  

(12-16-2009 10:47 PM)Uab91Eng Wrote:  You could tell that Stephenson wanted out earlier in the game. The camera was on him later in the game after he had committed that first offensive foul. You could seem him hobble over to the coach shaking his head. You could tell he didn't want to be out there. But he did have that sweet spin move and kiss off the glass. I think he knew we were not going to be denied. He wanted no part of that game.

Watching in person it seemed that Stephenson's injury came and went very conveniently. When he was denied, or beaten on defense, he would head up the floor limping and looking at the bench. Then he would execute a move like the one you pointed out and trot back up the floor with no problems.

I noticed that even watching the game on TV. Typical freshman ego from a "McDonald's All-American. And watching about 40 replays of the "injury", it didn't look near as bad. The ankle never rolled. He just tweaked it.

Maybe, juuuuuust maybe, Cincinnati hasn't played a defense as smothering as UAB's. Just sayin'.

I thought so too.

steve mitchell made a couple comments about how much his limp improved and worsened going from offense to defense and vice versa

I don't even know what to say about our defense other than it is a thing of beauty. We just held the #25 team that was averaging 74 ppg to 47 points. 27 below their season average!

Our defense is flat out ridiculous. Coach Marsh's defensive coaching is a thing of beauty. Drake locked down Stephenson tonight.