Too many days off. Momentum killer, but no excuse falling to a team this bad.

I won't ask a dumb question - "Why is the plan to shoot as many threes as quickly as possible in the last 1:30 of the game down only 4?" - I'll just accept it's a product of the system. This is one of those nights where we die by the three.

I figured we were probably done when Banks fouled out. I'm sorry but Bates gives us NOTHING. Might as well go small.

Sadler is a baller though. Amazing talent.

On a positive note....I noticed new lights hanging in Freedom Hall. They weren't on, but they were up.

Live by it. Die by it. 37% shooting doomed us.

Why go the juco route with Williams if he's not going to get any playing time? I would like to at least see him in there so we can see his worth.

We were a much better team, but only AJ and Jalen showed up to play. It happens, but we should not have lost that game.

I also noticed the new lights, exciting to see.

We won on the glass and converted at a clip of 88% from FT, but missed too missed shots (open looks) and allowed too many easy buckets. Saddler was a tough matchup; he's a fine player. Individually, AJ played relentlessly and dominated the boards. Jalen also continues to score at will and had some timely assists too. Lastly, like squeak, I wish Bartow would give Williams an opportunity for PT. I think he'd give us toughness underneath, especially now that Giplaye's out.

I am disappointed that we could make just one more offensive or defensive play. At the same time, we'll bounce back from this. We're doing several things well, just couldn't shoot tonight.

(12-13-2014 07:52 PM)Bucfaithful Wrote:  We won on the glass and converted at a clip of 88% from FT, but missed too missed shots (open looks) and allowed too many easy buckets. Saddler was a tough matchup; he's a fine player. Individually, AJ played relentlessly and dominated the boards. Jalen also continues to score at will and had some timely assists too. Lastly, like squeak, I wish Bartow would give Williams an opportunity for PT. I think he'd give us toughness underneath, especially now that Giplaye's out.

I am disappointed that we could make just one more offensive or defensive play. At the same time, we'll bounce back from this. We're doing several things well, just couldn't shoot tonight.

Makes me wonder if Tommy just doesn't practice that well or something. Personally, had he played, we might have pulled out the W. Easy for me to say now though. Our biggest problem was we couldn't hit lay-ups.

Sorry, but Banks had 6 rebounds, 2nd only to AJ. If he can get the fouls under control, he could be a huge help off the bench. I think he's starting to come around.

(12-13-2014 06:49 PM)ETSUfan1 Wrote:  I figured we were probably done when Banks fouled out. I'm sorry but Bates gives us NOTHING. Might as well go small.

Have to disagree on this one. In 14 minutes, Banks had six rebounds, four points, one assist and two blocks -- and that's with no turnovers. He did foul too much, but that was a result of his aggressiveness on defense and a couple of extra-effort fouls on offensive rebounds.

He also seemed to definitely annoy UNCG's bigs, even coaxing one into a technical foul that at the time looked like it could swing the momentum of the game. All in all, for coming in with real expectations for the first time, I thought he performed well.

I guess you misread what I said. I like Banks. I said Bates gives us nothing.

We should not have lost this game. No way, no how. The Bucs have enough talent to make up for the problems, but just did not bring it tonight (A.J. and Riley in the first half excepted).

But whoever scheduled the first part of this season has something to answer for: UNCG has 10 games in. We have 7. There's way too much space between games in this schedule. It is hard to be sharp after a 10 day layoff. We looked bad after a 7 day layoff against Morehead State, but fortunately they did, too. We looked worse after a 10 day layoff against UNCG, who had played 2 days earlier.

UNCG creates some matchup problems for us, in particular size at guard, and size in the paint. But we knew this going in. Tevon Saddler is a big, physical guard who can penetrate into the paint and score from midrange. He did that nicely at 7:03 of the second half after Rashawn Rembert had hit a 3 to give us a 70-67 lead. Saddler took it inside, powered through an ineffectual foul by Banks and tied it at 70-70 with a 3 point play.

This was the key stretch of the game, when we could not hit 3's and could not score inside. Meanwhile UNCG did both, with Saddler hitting a jumper in the paint; Paulos knocking down a deep 3, and R.J. White getting a jumper in the paint and then 2 free throws. Which gave them a 79-73 lead. That's scores from the post (White) from midrange (Sadler) and from the perimeter (Paulos). During this stretch they scored inside with Banks there, with the small lineup (Lester Wilson there) and with Bates there. We missed interior defense and toughness.

Gee, if only there was a tough physical guy to help us toughen up the interior defense with Giplaye gone.

On the offensive end, the jump shots did not drop, and we had trouble scoring in the paint down the stretch. We finally hit a couple of three's at the end to tighten it up - but we came up 1 jumper short. We just could not score in the paint.

Gee, if only there was someone who has a history of scoring well around the basket.

Like several others on this board, I don't know for sure that Tommy can answer these 2 needs (tougher interior defense, better scoring from the paint). But that was what he was brought here to provide. He did nothing to disprove his abilities in the little game time he's had so far. And he can't show us anything sitting on the bench.

So what's the problem, Murry? Bad practice habits? Bad attitude? Bad breath? Because in case you haven't noticed, nobody else is providing what we need there just now.

The Bucs should have been able to win this one anyway. Banks' stat line doesn't look that different from Giplayes: 14 minutes, 6 rebounds, 4 points, 2 blocks and an assist versus an average of 18.3 minutes, 7.0 rebounds, 4.5 points and 1 block. But the effect on the floor was not the same.

Let's hope they shake this off and come out a lot sharper against Eastern Kentucky on Tuesday.

While Banks is a different player from Giplaye, I think that Banks will be able to fill part of the void left by Giplaye and contribute in a different way: Banks seems to have a nice face-up game, can hit free throws, and has a nose for the ball. He had a nice debut (in this expanded role).

I respectfully disagree with respect to Bates' contributions. My expectation for Bates is that he gives about 10-15 minutes of solid defense and 3-4 rebounds. Thus far, in my estimation, he's done that.

(12-14-2014 11:30 AM)Bucfaithful Wrote:  While Banks is a different player from Giplaye, I think that Banks will be able to fill part of the void left by Giplaye and contribute in a different way: Banks seems to have a nice face-up game, can hit free throws, and has a nose for the ball. He had a nice debut (in this expanded role).

I respectfully disagree with respect to Bates' contributions. My expectation for Bates is that he gives about 10-15 minutes of solid defense and 3-4 rebounds. Thus far, in my estimation, he's done that.

I haven't seen much of anything from Bates other then a game against a high school team. Banks is awful on the defensive end, out of position, late getting it over and can't play defense without fouling.

I thought Desonta played a solid, all-around game. Desonta doesn't turn the ball over and is especially effective in the press.

(12-13-2014 07:04 PM)bucfan81 Wrote:  Live by it. Die by it. 37% shooting doomed us.

Yep. I've been saying it all year, I didn't get to see the game but once I saw the shooting percentages I figured that's what got us and I knew it eventually would.

(12-14-2014 09:14 AM)ETSUfan1 Wrote:  I guess you misread what I said. I like Banks. I said Bates gives us nothing.

My bad Fan1, I did misread that.

(12-14-2014 09:14 AM)ETSUfan1 Wrote:  I guess you misread what I said. I like Banks. I said Bates gives us nothing.

Sure did, my fault.

UNCG's Ben Dickinson, a seldom used 6'9" forward, is reportedly transferring.