I thought GSU would be good, but had no idea they would be as good as the have been. After all, in my defense, they had losses in the non-conference season to Canisius, Elon and FIU, none of which exactly strikes fear into the hearts of NCAA-bound teams. But they got thing focused at exactly the right time. They are enough better than the rest of the Belt that they can have a bad night and still win.
Pappy are you going to attend the GSU game at the Jack? You have to see them play in person. Their offensive execution is precise and you can tell there are offensive adjustments after each timeout to exploit any weak spots. I think they started slow because they added Harrow to the lineup. I'm sure everyone is on the same page now. From what I saw, it look like the team had good chemistry and players knew where to be on the court.
(02-02-2014 12:28 PM)LR Alum Wrote: [ -> ]Pappy are you going to attend the GSU game at the Jack? You have to see them play in person. Their offensive execution is precise and you can tell there are offensive adjustments after each timeout to exploit any weak spots. I think they started slow because they added Harrow to the lineup. I'm sure everyone is on the same page now. From what I saw, it look like the team had good chemistry and players knew where to be on the court.
In your estimation, how did the two Texas schools keep things so close?
I didn't see the game, but looking at the score it looks like it came down to what I think UALR will have to do to win, score often. GSU takes alot of shots and like to speed the other team up. Scoring 60 and possibly 70 points is not going get you a win against them. They shoot alot a 3s, but also can penetrate to the goal. From their penetration they get alot of fouls and they are an excellent free throw shooting team. I hadn't look at their box, but I bet UTA hit several 3s and took alot a shots to almost pull off the win.
(02-02-2014 12:46 PM)Ynocpirt Wrote: [ -> ] (02-02-2014 12:28 PM)LR Alum Wrote: [ -> ]Pappy are you going to attend the GSU game at the Jack? You have to see them play in person. Their offensive execution is precise and you can tell there are offensive adjustments after each timeout to exploit any weak spots. I think they started slow because they added Harrow to the lineup. I'm sure everyone is on the same page now. From what I saw, it look like the team had good chemistry and players knew where to be on the court.
In your estimation, how did the two Texas schools keep things so close?
The conference is the deepest and most balanced I can recall of any conference UALR has been in during my 33 years in Little Rock.
(02-02-2014 12:08 PM)MICHAELSPAPPY Wrote: [ -> ]I thought GSU would be good, but had no idea they would be as good as the have been. After all, in my defense, they had losses in the non-conference season to Canisius, Elon and FIU, none of which exactly strikes fear into the hearts of NCAA-bound teams. But they got thing focused at exactly the right time. They are enough better than the rest of the Belt that they can have a bad night and still win.
Georgia State took USM, clearly the best team in ConUSA, to overtime in Hattiesburg. Actually, USM needed a desperation 3 pointer to send it to overtime. No doubt that it is not the ConUSA of old, but USM appears to be a very good team. So while not yet firing on all cylinders, Ga State played even with USM, for 40 minutes, on the road.
I just looked a the box. UTA made 13 of 25 3s versus GSU 8 of 21. Free throws were similar for both teams. GSU hit 5 more than UTA. GSU had much lower 3 pt and FG%. The difference is GSU took 17 more shots than UTA, which may have resulted from GSU turning UTA over 22 times.
(02-02-2014 12:28 PM)LR Alum Wrote: [ -> ]Pappy are you going to attend the GSU game at the Jack? You have to see them play in person. Their offensive execution is precise and you can tell there are offensive adjustments after each timeout to exploit any weak spots. I think they started slow because they added Harrow to the lineup. I'm sure everyone is on the same page now. From what I saw, it look like the team had good chemistry and players knew where to be on the court.
I don't see anyone in the Belt beating them this year, and no one next year unless someone upgrades their lineup considerably. Several teams have had shots against them, but they have that overdrive gear that the rest of us do not have.
(02-02-2014 01:06 PM)MICHAELSPAPPY Wrote: [ -> ] (02-02-2014 12:28 PM)LR Alum Wrote: [ -> ]Pappy are you going to attend the GSU game at the Jack? You have to see them play in person. Their offensive execution is precise and you can tell there are offensive adjustments after each timeout to exploit any weak spots. I think they started slow because they added Harrow to the lineup. I'm sure everyone is on the same page now. From what I saw, it look like the team had good chemistry and players knew where to be on the court.
I don't see anyone in the Belt beating them this year, and no one next year unless someone upgrades their lineup considerably. Several teams have had shots against them, but they have that overdrive gear that the rest of us do not have.
They are the best team in the league, like I predicted before the season. But clearly they are not unbeatable. ASU missed a bunny that would have given them a win and GaSt needed a 30 foot 3 pointer to send yesterday's game to overtime. Both those games were in Atlanta. I'd be just fine with them going 18-0 in the regular season and getting a little overconfident going to into the tournament.
(02-02-2014 12:28 PM)LR Alum Wrote: [ -> ]Pappy are you going to attend the GSU game at the Jack?
I would love to, but it looks like the Army trip this year will be on Saturday for WkU, and two trips in three days probably won't work.
Georgia State only has two possible Achilles heels that I can see. They don't rebound well at all, and that could jump up and bite them if they had a cold shooting night. The other would be if one of their big two should get into foul trouble. But, neither of them has been very foul prone this year, so that is not likely. They have only one foul-out between them.
(02-02-2014 02:48 PM)MICHAELSPAPPY Wrote: [ -> ]Georgia State only has two possible Achilles heels that I can see. They don't rebound well at all, and that could jump up and bit them if they had a cold shooting night. The other would be if one of their big two should get into foul trouble. But, neither of them has been very foul prone this year, so that is not likely. They have only one foul-out between them.
Makes you wonder about their defense.
(02-02-2014 02:51 PM)LRTrojan Wrote: [ -> ]Makes you wonder about their defense.
I suspect they are good enough offensively that they can afford to protect them somewhat on defense. They are very athletic - lots of blocks and steals.
They play alot of match up and other type zone. They play man to man occasionally. From listening to coaches when I was younger, rebounding can be misleading. For instance, a team that doesn't not have a dominant big guy but has an effecicent and well shooting team tends to usually lose the rebounding edge. A team like this usually makes up with by forcing turnovers. Pappy what does their forced turnovers plus rebound average look like compared to their opponents. That'll usually either will be higher or equal to opponents. To alot of coaches turnovers are the same as a defensive rebound, but actually gives you better chance to score since usually the defense doesn't have the time to set up quickly on the other end. The old Razorback teams were a good example of a team that usually lost the rebounding margin but forced a high number of turnovers.
I rarely can watch any ballgame from start to finish. I did that last night on CSS. I thought UTA out played GSU throughout the game. Left me wondering how did the Trojans ever defeat UTA. They had the game won but mistakes by the players and coach cost them the game in the final minutes. Not only did they choose not to foul when leading by 3. On the in-bound play they left the shooter wide open, no defender within 8 or 10 feet. IMO basketball fans should come out to watch GSU. Harrow is the quickest and best ball handler I have seen. The coach's son whose name escapes is a deadly shooter. I didn't notice a lot of defense by either team. That may be GSU's weakness as the season plays out. I don't necessarily concede the tournament championship to them. I believe ASU is 1 team capable of beating them. Be there Thursday night Trojan fans. You will be glad you did.