Beats Virginia 62-58

Some coaches are capable of getting their teams to play their best when it’s the most important. OU has one of them.

(03-20-2021 08:12 PM)WHRocket Wrote:  Beats Virginia 62-58

Great game. Have all the pieces, can score in different ways, and they play D. Preston is fun to watch, isn’t he? If they keep all their pieces back next season, the only team in the MAC that will challenge Ohio is Buffalo (assuming they keep all THEIR key pieces). The rest of the MAC is playing for 3rd place.

Agree.

Great win for the Bobcats and the MAC

Great game too

MACtion


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Virginia was coming off of all kinds of Covid problems. Next up Creighton, then Gonzaga.

Great win by The Bobcats last night adapting their play to the deliberate style of Virginia. Obviously Vander Plas’s late game threes and Preston’s great playmaking were major factors in the win. Interesting, for those of you who like to complain about TK not using his bench enough, look at the following Ohio U starter minutes from last night (Preston-40, Vander Plas-40, McDay-36, Roederick-31, Wilson-30). Now you can say it was because of the slow style of play or Ohio U not being in foul trouble which are valid reasons. My contention is that in tight games against very good competition like you'll be facing in the NCAA Tournament, most coaches are going to ride their starters as much as they can. Now what you can also say is that TK has to find a way to get his starters to play at their very best come tournament time like Ohio U has done so far during the MAC Tournament and last night’s NCAA First Round. I give Ohio U an excellent chance of upsetting Creighton tomorrow night if they continue to play like they have this post season.

(03-21-2021 11:41 AM)Basketball Jones Wrote:  Great win by The Bobcats last night adapting their play to the deliberate style of Virginia. Obviously Vander Plas’s late game threes and Preston’s great playmaking were major factors in the win. Interesting, for those of you who like to complain about TK not using his bench enough, look at the following Ohio U starter minutes from last night (Preston-40, Vander Plas-40, McDay-36, Roederick-31, Wilson-30). Now you can say it was because of the slow style of play or Ohio U not being in foul trouble which are valid reasons. My contention is that in tight games against very good competition like you'll be facing in the NCAA Tournament, most coaches are going to ride their starters as much as they can. Now what you can also say is that TK has to find a way to get his starters to play at their very best come tournament time like Ohio U has done so far during the MAC Tournament and last night’s NCAA First Round. I give Ohio U an excellent chance of upsetting Creighton tomorrow night if they continue to play like they have this post season.

An overlooked factor in your analysis is the season long west and year. Ohio played fewer games with more players. They can afford to play starters for big minutes in tournaments.

They went 8 deep against us, with the 6-8 getting 16, 8 & 6 minutes

(03-21-2021 12:22 PM)Screwball Wrote:  They went 8 deep against us, with the 6-8 getting 16, 8 & 6 minutes

First game we played seven more than 3 minutes, they played 10. And no Preston. I don’t mind going short in post-season, but I do think there’s something to be said for subs getting minutes and starters getting more rest through regular season.

(03-21-2021 04:35 PM)H2Oville Rocket Wrote:  

(03-21-2021 12:22 PM)Screwball Wrote:  They went 8 deep against us, with the 6-8 getting 16, 8 & 6 minutes

First game we played seven more than 3 minutes, they played 10. And no Preston. I don’t mind going short in post-season, but I do think there’s something to be said for subs getting minutes and starters getting more rest through regular season.

I wasn't making a case either way to be honest, just looking at the stats.

But I do agree with you, and I think there were times to take advantage of that.

Off Topic; I was really impressed with Loyola beating Illinois. 6'9' 255 vs 7' 285 and the little guy took it to them.

What a great tournament this has been.

(03-21-2021 05:36 PM)Screwball Wrote:  

(03-21-2021 04:35 PM)H2Oville Rocket Wrote:  

(03-21-2021 12:22 PM)Screwball Wrote:  They went 8 deep against us, with the 6-8 getting 16, 8 & 6 minutes

First game we played seven more than 3 minutes, they played 10. And no Preston. I don’t mind going short in post-season, but I do think there’s something to be said for subs getting minutes and starters getting more rest through regular season.

I wasn't making a case either way to be honest, just looking at the stats.

But I do agree with you, and I think there were times to take advantage of that.

Off Topic; I was really impressed with Loyola beating Illinois. 6'9' 255 vs 7' 285 and the little guy took it to them.

What a great tournament this has been.

The Loyola guy is a kind of unlikely looking star but , Man, can he play.7’s not bad either.

(03-21-2021 07:35 PM)H2Oville Rocket Wrote:  

(03-21-2021 05:36 PM)Screwball Wrote:  

(03-21-2021 04:35 PM)H2Oville Rocket Wrote:  

(03-21-2021 12:22 PM)Screwball Wrote:  They went 8 deep against us, with the 6-8 getting 16, 8 & 6 minutes

First game we played seven more than 3 minutes, they played 10. And no Preston. I don’t mind going short in post-season, but I do think there’s something to be said for subs getting minutes and starters getting more rest through regular season.

I wasn't making a case either way to be honest, just looking at the stats.

But I do agree with you, and I think there were times to take advantage of that.

Off Topic; I was really impressed with Loyola beating Illinois. 6'9' 255 vs 7' 285 and the little guy took it to them.

What a great tournament this has been.

The Loyola guy is a kind of unlikely looking star but , Man, can he play.7’s not bad either.

UT offered him

Yes and wow.

(03-21-2021 07:50 PM)DetroitRocket Wrote:  

(03-21-2021 07:35 PM)H2Oville Rocket Wrote:  

(03-21-2021 05:36 PM)Screwball Wrote:  

(03-21-2021 04:35 PM)H2Oville Rocket Wrote:  

(03-21-2021 12:22 PM)Screwball Wrote:  They went 8 deep against us, with the 6-8 getting 16, 8 & 6 minutes

First game we played seven more than 3 minutes, they played 10. And no Preston. I don’t mind going short in post-season, but I do think there’s something to be said for subs getting minutes and starters getting more rest through regular season.

I wasn't making a case either way to be honest, just looking at the stats.

But I do agree with you, and I think there were times to take advantage of that.

Off Topic; I was really impressed with Loyola beating Illinois. 6'9' 255 vs 7' 285 and the little guy took it to them.

What a great tournament this has been.

The Loyola guy is a kind of unlikely looking star but , Man, can he play.7’s not bad either.

UT offered him

Maybe he’ll enter the portal and transfer to UT???? Nah!

That little guy, as I mentioned in the Acunzo thread was #1 ranked center in Illinois the year he came out. No surprises there, fullfiling expectations. The point is, they HAVE a center, with a back-up. His stats show he hasn't shot a three all season. They have others to pull the defense out. This "guard play" conference just means death in any tournament. This chess board has been set a long time. To make the next step a team needs a specialist guarding that paint area real estate, that can also direct offense, back-down a defender and pass out. It needs power forwards and shooting forwards that can handle the ball.

I went to Cleveland and saw OU play two games. They were and are the best team in the MAC. They have great guard play and completely owned us on the boards last weekend. They have a decent shot at winning another game in the NCAA tournament tonight.

(03-22-2021 05:54 AM)eastisbest Wrote:  That little guy, as I mentioned in the Acunzo thread was #1 ranked center in Illinois the year he came out. No surprises there, fullfiling expectations. The point is, they HAVE a center, with a back-up. His stats show he hasn't shot a three all season. They have others to pull the defense out. This "guard play" conference just means death in any tournament. This chess board has been set a long time. To make the next step a team needs a specialist guarding that paint area real estate, that can also direct offense, back-down a defender and pass out. It needs power forwards and shooting forwards that can handle the ball.

Good points, but I also think there are many ways you can win come NCAA Tournament Time! ESPN Commentator Chris Spatola said this morning that the reason Oral Roberts is going to the Sweet 16 is because their 3 point shooting offset them getting killed on the boards in both games against Ohio St and Florida 81 to 61. Now Loyal Chicago is different in that they have a 4-year starting post player in Krutweg that has the ball skills that allow the Ramblers to play inside out which make them hard to defend. Don't forget a few years ago, Toledo had a similar sized post player in Stevie Taylor who unfortunately did not have similar ball skills and the ball rarely ever came back out when he got it in the post. I think most successful coaches set up their style of play based on what their personnel does best and I think that is what TK did this season. Next season might be different based on the skill set of our interior players we have on the roster. On another note, Oral Roberts starters played an average of 40 miniutes against Ohio St and 37 minutes against Florida.

(03-22-2021 01:48 PM)Basketball Jones Wrote:  

(03-22-2021 05:54 AM)eastisbest Wrote:  That little guy, as I mentioned in the Acunzo thread was #1 ranked center in Illinois the year he came out. No surprises there, fullfiling expectations. The point is, they HAVE a center, with a back-up. His stats show he hasn't shot a three all season. They have others to pull the defense out. This "guard play" conference just means death in any tournament. This chess board has been set a long time. To make the next step a team needs a specialist guarding that paint area real estate, that can also direct offense, back-down a defender and pass out. It needs power forwards and shooting forwards that can handle the ball.

Good points, but I also think there are many ways you can win come NCAA Tournament Time! ESPN Commentator Chris Spatola said this morning that the reason Oral Roberts is going to the Sweet 16 is because their 3 point shooting offset them getting killed on the boards in both games against Ohio St and Florida 81 to 61. Now Loyal Chicago is different in that they have a 4-year starting post player in Krutweg that has the ball skills that allow the Ramblers to play inside out which make them hard to defend. Don't forget a few years ago, Toledo had a similar sized post player in Stevie Taylor who unfortunately did not have similar ball skills and the ball rarely ever came back out when he got it in the post. I think most successful coaches set up their style of play based on what their personnel does best and I think that is what TK did this season. Next season might be different based on the skill set of our interior players we have on the roster. On another note, Oral Roberts starters played an average of 40 miniutes against Ohio St and 37 minutes against Florida.

Better players is certainly a way to win a tournament. Or a Sister Jean.

We don't have an Abmas. Scary thing, he's only 19. He would have been within our recruit range. 2 star. Obaner was certainly within our recruit range, they've developed him very well. I think we find a couple diamonds in the rough but Oral Roberts is Superman with a lump of coal. Their 3pt, field and their FT shooting are better and deeper than even ours. Being Tulsa, they also recruit Texas and the south very heavy. I think this tournament is telling us, midwest recruits might be lagging, recruiting stars aside. I hope not. Even if so, if we're going to play OR's game, we need coaches that are OR's level.

Coach K was pretty out front, if not for a fluke he'd have been trying to play the same old game without the players, instead of motion. Perhaps if he sticks with it, he will develop players and call a game for that system as well as OR but he's not there yet.

So yes, you can win a tournament game without a center and only a few players. And somewhere there's a pig that can fly. I've seen it. It's not something to hang your hat on IMO. OR's coaches are doing something fantastic.