last night. I think everyone was pretty optimistic after watching the new players. And our returning guards really played well. D'Andre, Chucky and Tramar showed a lot of maturity. As this team learns to play together and gains experience, they could really be hard to handle. The only thing I saw missing was a great pure shooter. But I think there are several who can contribute with their 3 point shooting. But I don't see anyone who shoots the 3 like Solo and Matt were capable of doing last year. No one great shooter, but several pretty good shooters, which might be allright.

It's possible one of the new kids like Dillard and Lockhart could develop into good outside shooters. I haven't seen enough of them to make a determination. I would like to see WN get off more 3 pointers. I noticed last night when he had the ball on the perimeter, nobody came out and set a screen for him to get off a shot. That has to change. He was setting screens for others, but nobody seemingly
was setting screens for him. Hopefully that will be corrected.

(11-17-2011 12:21 AM)outsideualr Wrote:  I noticed last night when he had the ball on the perimeter, nobody came out and set a screen for him to get off a shot. That has to change. He was setting screens for others, but nobody seemingly
was setting screens for him. Hopefully that will be corrected.

Oh God, here we go again...

I enjoyed it. I really like what I see in the team. Future looks bright.

(11-17-2011 12:21 AM)outsideualr Wrote:  The only thing I saw missing was a great pure shooter.

I didn't see that either, but it is early, and we are not having to rely on the 3 like we did last year. And Shields will make better shooters out of them. For instance, Lawton was a bad perimeter shooter in juco, but he took a lot of them. In 46 minutes here, he has taken only 3 shots from the arc, but he has made 2 of them. Coaching does make a difference.

(11-17-2011 01:22 AM)Robert C Wrote:  

(11-17-2011 12:21 AM)outsideualr Wrote:  I noticed last night when he had the ball on the perimeter, nobody came out and set a screen for him to get off a shot. That has to change. He was setting screens for others, but nobody seemingly
was setting screens for him. Hopefully that will be corrected.

Oh God, here we go again...

This is just an observation. I was particularly watching WN since I know he's probably our best 3 point shooter, but everytime he had the ball, someone was right on him, and all it would have taken was a simple screen for him to go around his man and shoot a three, but I can't recall it happening. If someone else who was at the game has a different recollection, please correct me. LRTrojan, MJS, Inside UALR and others who are pretty good observers tell me if you saw the same thing, or am I off base. We did a lot of good things and we should be optimistic about this team. But this was one area I thought we could improve on.

We are only shooting 31% as a team from the arc so far, but that is on a small sample with a horrible Tulsa game factored in. Will is 2 of 5. Lawton is 2 of 5. Taggart is 2 of 4. By the time they get home from the road trip we will have a little better idea of who our shooters are.

In the early pregame warmup I watched Taggart repeatly pop in the three. He was a great catch for the Trojans.

(11-17-2011 09:54 AM)RBL Wrote:  In the early pregame warmup I watched Taggart repeatly pop in the three. He was a great catch for the Trojans.

No kidding. And the kid is an impressive looking specimen. Broad shoulders. He is our 3 of the future. Now if he can just get as good on defense as Mr. Sutherland. . . .

(11-17-2011 12:21 AM)outsideualr Wrote:  last night. I think everyone was pretty optimistic after watching the new players. The only thing I saw missing was a great pure shooter.

That player sat on the bench the first 10 minutes of each half, and when he played, he was playing with his back to the basket most of the time.

(11-17-2011 09:10 AM)outsideualr Wrote:  

(11-17-2011 01:22 AM)Robert C Wrote:  

(11-17-2011 12:21 AM)outsideualr Wrote:  I noticed last night when he had the ball on the perimeter, nobody came out and set a screen for him to get off a shot. That has to change. He was setting screens for others, but nobody seemingly
was setting screens for him. Hopefully that will be corrected.

Oh God, here we go again...

This is just an observation. I was particularly watching WN since I know he's probably our best 3 point shooter, but everytime he had the ball, someone was right on him, and all it would have taken was a simple screen for him to go around his man and shoot a three, but I can't recall it happening. If someone else who was at the game has a different recollection, please correct me. LRTrojan, MJS, Inside UALR and others who are pretty good observers tell me if you saw the same thing, or am I off base. We did a lot of good things and we should be optimistic about this team. But this was one area I thought we could improve on.

I doubt setting screens for a 6'10' player to shoot 3's will be a big part of our game plan. If he gets 3's in the flow of the offense that's fine, and he will. I just think you want your 6'10" player closer to the basket in most cases. Certainly, I don't think we are counting on De'Andre to lead us in rebounding every game.

(11-17-2011 01:44 PM)mjs Wrote:  I doubt setting screens for a 6'10' player to shoot 3's will be a big part of our game plan. If he gets 3's in the flow of the offense that's fine, and he will. I just think you want your 6'10" player closer to the basket in most cases. Certainly, I don't think we are counting on De'Andre to lead us in rebounding every game.

In most cases that would be the case, but most 6'10" guys can't shoot the three like he can. He needs to shoot the ball 10 or 15 times a game. Not necessarily all need to come from the arc. He's pretty good on the little turn around jumper in the paint. He can play in the paint and slip off a screen to the wing or corner for the three. He's pretty damn good, but he won't hit **** sitting on the bench half the game.

(11-17-2011 02:12 PM)LRTrojan Wrote:  

(11-17-2011 01:44 PM)mjs Wrote:  I doubt setting screens for a 6'10' player to shoot 3's will be a big part of our game plan. If he gets 3's in the flow of the offense that's fine, and he will. I just think you want your 6'10" player closer to the basket in most cases. Certainly, I don't think we are counting on De'Andre to lead us in rebounding every game.

In most cases that would be the case, but most 6'10" guys can't shoot the three like he can. He needs to shoot the ball 10 or 15 times a game. Not necessarily all need to come from the arc. He's pretty good on the little turn around jumper in the paint. He can play in the paint and slip off a screen to the wing or corner for the three. He's pretty damn good, but he won't hit **** sitting on the bench half the game.

Bob, it sounds like now you are the one convinced he is the "savior". I think WN is a heck of a player and believe he will be a very good to great player for us. But right now Courtney is playing lights out, and since he is a senior I think he deserves to start at this point. I tend to believe that WN will take over that spot, eventually, but I'll be happy with Will coming off the bench if Courtney continues to play this well.

(11-17-2011 03:29 PM)mjs Wrote:  Bob, it sounds like now you are the one convinced he is the "savior".

I wouldn't go that far, but without a doubt, he is the most heralded and anticipated recruit in Trojan history. I'm not ready to say he's the "greatest" yet, but I'm perfectly okay with it if he is. Some of you guys think Courtney is better than he is. We'll see, but I still believe there will be some nights when he doesn't pee a drop. We'll see how he performs against the better teams. I hope he makes All Sun Belt.

(11-17-2011 04:16 PM)LRTrojan Wrote:  

(11-17-2011 03:29 PM)mjs Wrote:  Bob, it sounds like now you are the one convinced he is the "savior".

I wouldn't go that far, but without a doubt, he is the most heralded and anticipated recruit in Trojan history. I'm not ready to say he's the "greatest" yet, but I'm perfectly okay with it if he is. Some of you guys think Courtney is better than he is. We'll see, but I still believe there will be some nights when he doesn't pee a drop. We'll see how he performs against the better teams. I hope he makes All Sun Belt.

I certainly don't think Courtney is more talented then WN. However, he is a senior, who knows the system well, and is playing great right now. He will have to keep playing a great, to keep Will from taking his spot. As a fan it's a great problem to have.

(11-17-2011 04:16 PM)LRTrojan Wrote:  Some of you guys think Courtney is better than he is.

I think Courtney's upside is limited, but he was really working hard against IUPUI and showing some quick post moves I did not know he had.