(11-14-2009 10:03 AM)HuskieFan84 Wrote: Did you not see the game cagy? I feel like you've clearly only looked at the stat sheet by your comments. There's really no other explanation for what you've said here.
These things he said couldn't come from a stat sheet and are spot-on correct:
"preparing in practice vs executing in games against that LENGTH is an entirely different thing.....we don't have the type of players to simulate that zone that Carmody has perfected over many years" They were longer than I expected and executed the 1-3-1 aggressively and effectively last night. The radio or stat sheet probably could not have communicated that. (We'll see how they do vs. #10 Butler's shooters next week! That will test them - especially now with apparently 2 foot injuries to key guys after last night)
"...having Kowall sitting for most of the first half with two ticky tack fouls two minutes into the game....with Kowal, we can and did attack the zone quite well early in the second half" We did some nice zone offense for easy layups and a few open shots when we had a full compliment of players available and executed it. But I credit NU for what they did in their 1-3-1 more than what we didn't do vs. the 1-3-1.
"Silas is a warrior and for those that even think about knocking him, and our/his free throw percentage they just were not paying attention. He is a great free throw shooter who WILLED shots and ft's in after crashing to the floor early in the 2nd half and injuring his hand... I don't suppose any of you noticed them wrapping that hand in ice when he fouled out or his shaking it before the first fts to try and get some feeling back......This kid is a gamer and a winner" X took a beating last night. Jake was bloodied and bruised pretty good as well. But X's hand definitely was bothering him after that hard foul and fall. It affected his (and the team's) F.T. and 3-pt % because he shot more of them than others. He is a warrior. No doubt. He's a leader. And he's a great kid too. He shot F.T. very well in exhibition.
"Storm struggled in a starting role as a true soph in a Big 10 road venue but the experience is invaluable." Yes, he did. He didn't look intimidated, but he never got much for looks to get shots off. I think he was 0-1 from 3-pt range and his only other shot was an offensive rebound he scored on. I was happy he played better, more physical defense and was out there when we were making some runs. But, he definitley had a hard time making things happen and being more of a factor. He was really disappointed in how he played and how things went after the game. Probably more than he should have been. But, as stated, it is an experience that should make him/them better.
"Jake was awesome, led us with 8 boards, played a very good floor game with 3 assists and got to the rack whenever he wanted to against quality opponents until they went to that zone" Jake did penetrate well and did play a good floor game, not evident just from the stats. In fact, I think Jake has shown some great maturity in his game. Like all players, there is continued room to improve but he played tough. He and Silas look to be figuring out how to play together. I saw them talking on the bench together after both fouling out. Hoping it was some good leadership talk about how to move the team forward.
Comments on Landers: He does make things happen. True that he can be a lock-down type defender. His shot really has improved, as he showed in the Marygrove exhibition. But you are right, scoring isn't his best asset. He is aggressive and not intimidated.
"I thought nixon, coming off a bad ankle sprain, played well....unfortunately, we couldn't get the ball to him for the baseline three in the first half even though he was open a number of times--but again, you try to see over 6'10" wingspans out front--he will get his shots as the year goes on an can a ton of them......the good news was, he didn not look like a frosh in his first college game--no deer in headlights look for him" Tony will be fine. He got that first adreneline-filled shot attempt out of the way and then hit his next one. I agree that he plays mature for a freshmen. He will continue to learn how to play at this level. It is a process. For those who don't need that process they don't go to MAC schools! He and the sophs will be up and down as expected. Hopefully more up than down!
I would agree with your assessment that based on what we showed at times vs. NU, we have the potential to play well and have better results than we've had the past few years. We did some good things. Things we couldn't have done as well last year.
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NIU @ Northwestern Game Thread
