Had a date with the wife last night so I just got around to watching the game.

Granted, it was Bradley, but here are some encouraging signs:

1. We have players that have a great feel for the game. They anticipate where the ball is going & get to the right spots for rebounds.
2. We are faster than anyone gives us credit for.
3. Great hands. Over the past few years it has seemed like grease was on the ball, but these guys not only anticipate where the ball is going, they intercept passes & make great rebounds. You don't have to be Marc Gasol or zbo to rebound. It's all body placement, anticipation & basketball IQ. We seem to have that this year.
4. I saw a group of players that have confidence in themselves & each other.
5. This is the best ball handling team I've seen in a while for the Tigers. I'm not sure what all of the excuses are by saying we don't have good guards, because we handle the ball extremely well all around.
6. Showing better shot selection.

Now this was against Bradley, but they are a decent team & a decent tuneup to OK ST.

Things that still worry me:

1. We can't shoot. All points in the first half were scored in the paint or ft line.
2. We got by with some passes in this game that elite teams will not let you get by with.
3. We got by with gambles on defense that elite teams will not let you get by with.
4. We are only running basic offensive sets that are learned in junior high. Easily prepared for by opposing teams.
5. I'm still seeing the same type of flash & celebrations that will cost us against quality opponents. So you made a great play, get back on defense. Bradley missed some wide open passes/shots that could've been made while we celebrated ourselves. We still seem antsy to make the flashy play that ends up back firing. Like shaq's full court pass over everyone's head.
6. We still slap at the ball. Thus fouling too much. Our bigs still bring their arms towards the player when guarding them. That will always be called a foul. Keep your hands up boys!
7. Still seeing confusion out of timeouts. Why?
8. Yes, we blew them out, but in the 1st 7 minutes of the 2nd half we scored 3 points. Better teams will have blown us out by then, as we've already found out this season.
9.And last but not least, CJP is still our coach. (That's for the Paul's, I know yall were looking for something to (b)itch at me about so I saved it for the end.)

(12-08-2014 12:51 AM)BIGDTiger Wrote:  5. This is the best ball handling team I've seen in a while for the Tigers. I'm not sure what all of the excuses are by saying we don't have good guards, because we handle the ball extremely well all around.

Markel just don't need to play the point. He's gonna be a good 2 imo

(12-08-2014 10:10 AM)Brother Bluto Wrote:  Markel just don't need to play the point. He's gonna be a good 2 imo

Steady picking up his dribble all the time. You can tell he's never really gotten much instruction as a PG.

(12-08-2014 10:26 AM)MemphisCanes Wrote:  

(12-08-2014 10:10 AM)Brother Bluto Wrote:  Markel just don't need to play the point. He's gonna be a good 2 imo

Steady picking up his dribble all the time. You can tell he's never really gotten much instruction as a PG.

They handle the ball well until there's pressure. It was evident in the SFA game, when SFA added pressure at the end of the game, the guards folded.

That said, Johnson is looking better and better, and pookie has handles. As they get more settled, and more accustom to attacking rather than just passing around (thank you Mr. Iverson!) we may well be a decent team.

decent...that's probably all.

(12-08-2014 10:10 AM)Brother Bluto Wrote:  Markel just don't need to play the point. He's gonna be a good 2 imo

I like Markel at the 2, reminds me a little of Antonio Anderson.

oh look MC found another gif to try and be a smartass
how fun!

(12-08-2014 03:27 PM)Willie Becton Wrote:  oh look MC found another gif to try and be a smartass
how fun!

(12-08-2014 12:51 AM)BIGDTiger Wrote:  Had a date with the wife last night so I just got around to watching the game.

Granted, it was Bradley, but here are some encouraging signs:

1. We have players that have a great feel for the game. They anticipate where the ball is going & get to the right spots for rebounds.
2. We are faster than anyone gives us credit for.
3. Great hands. Over the past few years it has seemed like grease was on the ball, but these guys not only anticipate where the ball is going, they intercept passes & make great rebounds. You don't have to be Marc Gasol or zbo to rebound. It's all body placement, anticipation & basketball IQ. We seem to have that this year.
4. I saw a group of players that have confidence in themselves & each other.
5. This is the best ball handling team I've seen in a while for the Tigers. I'm not sure what all of the excuses are by saying we don't have good guards, because we handle the ball extremely well all around.
6. Showing better shot selection.

Now this was against Bradley, but they are a decent team & a decent tuneup to OK ST.

Things that still worry me:

1. We can't shoot. All points in the first half were scored in the paint or ft line.
2. We got by with some passes in this game that elite teams will not let you get by with.
3. We got by with gambles on defense that elite teams will not let you get by with.
4. We are only running basic offensive sets that are learned in junior high. Easily prepared for by opposing teams.
5. I'm still seeing the same type of flash & celebrations that will cost us against quality opponents. So you made a great play, get back on defense. Bradley missed some wide open passes/shots that could've been made while we celebrated ourselves. We still seem antsy to make the flashy play that ends up back firing. Like shaq's full court pass over everyone's head.
6. We still slap at the ball. Thus fouling too much. Our bigs still bring their arms towards the player when guarding them. That will always be called a foul. Keep your hands up boys!
7. Still seeing confusion out of timeouts. Why?
8. Yes, we blew them out, but in the 1st 7 minutes of the 2nd half we scored 3 points. Better teams will have blown us out by then, as we've already found out this season.
9.And last but not least, CJP is still our coach. (That's for the Paul's, I know yall were looking for something to (b)itch at me about so I saved it for the end.)

The synopsis: The Tigers looked somewhat improved and Bradley is absolutely awful.

(12-08-2014 04:41 PM)JTS Wrote:  

(12-08-2014 12:51 AM)BIGDTiger Wrote:  Had a date with the wife last night so I just got around to watching the game.

Granted, it was Bradley, but here are some encouraging signs:

1. We have players that have a great feel for the game. They anticipate where the ball is going & get to the right spots for rebounds.
2. We are faster than anyone gives us credit for.
3. Great hands. Over the past few years it has seemed like grease was on the ball, but these guys not only anticipate where the ball is going, they intercept passes & make great rebounds. You don't have to be Marc Gasol or zbo to rebound. It's all body placement, anticipation & basketball IQ. We seem to have that this year.
4. I saw a group of players that have confidence in themselves & each other.
5. This is the best ball handling team I've seen in a while for the Tigers. I'm not sure what all of the excuses are by saying we don't have good guards, because we handle the ball extremely well all around.
6. Showing better shot selection.

Now this was against Bradley, but they are a decent team & a decent tuneup to OK ST.

Things that still worry me:

1. We can't shoot. All points in the first half were scored in the paint or ft line.
2. We got by with some passes in this game that elite teams will not let you get by with.
3. We got by with gambles on defense that elite teams will not let you get by with.
4. We are only running basic offensive sets that are learned in junior high. Easily prepared for by opposing teams.
5. I'm still seeing the same type of flash & celebrations that will cost us against quality opponents. So you made a great play, get back on defense. Bradley missed some wide open passes/shots that could've been made while we celebrated ourselves. We still seem antsy to make the flashy play that ends up back firing. Like shaq's full court pass over everyone's head.
6. We still slap at the ball. Thus fouling too much. Our bigs still bring their arms towards the player when guarding them. That will always be called a foul. Keep your hands up boys!
7. Still seeing confusion out of timeouts. Why?
8. Yes, we blew them out, but in the 1st 7 minutes of the 2nd half we scored 3 points. Better teams will have blown us out by then, as we've already found out this season.
9.And last but not least, CJP is still our coach. (That's for the Paul's, I know yall were looking for something to (b)itch at me about so I saved it for the end.)

The synopsis: The Tigers looked somewhat improved and Bradley is absolutely awful.

Good post OP. Keep em coming! The CA seems to have turned to mostly commentary as opposed to analyzing.