1. As I stated before the season, I am not going to get worked up over the wins and losses. It was clear to all that this team was going to be in over its head at times and there were going to be a lot of losses. To me, it makes almost no difference whether they go 2-18 in conference or 4-16, or whatever is in this range. I want to see the things that show me that the work is being done, there is a structure, building blocks, a plan, an indentity, buy in, hustle, energy, enthusiasm, player development, coaching, in game and preparation ..and so on. Touching on a few of those issues, with the caveat that some of these are tough to identify whether it is talent, or system issues..
1. I thought the guys played hard all night. Not always smart, or focused, but generally engaged and committed. When you are mostly undertalented relative to your league, and go down 12 in the second half in a game with only friends and family in the stands, it wouldnt have been surprising to pack it in or see a little hero ball..didnt happen. Kids hung tough and battled back. That counts for something.
2. Post certainly had a great game, and it was a favorable matchup which he took advantage of. He showed good finishing skills around the hoop. Decent hands. Good rebounding ability. He is a good add for the program. Little bit of Nast Nate Doornekamp in him wouldnt kill anybody.
3. Brevin was firing in the first half. Did a good job from deep, and hit some key shots when it seemed like GT was looking to stretch it out. Exactly what he is here for. I thought he had a nice game. I would like to know that shots from 1cm past the three point line count for the same amount of points as his repeated 27 footers do.
4. The good part of the night for Earl, was when it looked like the team was completely dumbfounded in the later parts of the first half in dealing with GT's zone defense as they couldnt figure out where the ball should be going and how to get it down low, when they came out of the tunnel, they fell behind big, but they had a scheme and executed it pretty well, up until the last 3:00 minutes.
5. For those keeping score, GT was down two high end starters, and a third fouled out with 5 to play. GT stinks, winless in conference. You are at home and up 4 with 3:00 to go. Who knows with Covid, but you may not get a favorable set of circumstances for a conference game the rest of the way. Have to find a way to get to the finish line with this situation.
6. Molinari was brought in here as a defensive Guru. Directly, by observation and numbers, this team stinks defensively. They are awful. They dont rotate well or close out on shooters. Again I dont think Molinari forgot how to coach defense all of a sudden, but my guess is that it is a speed/talent issue, but bottom line is that the results are not there. GT's shooter had a career night. Certainly tip your cap, but he had a lot of wide open looks. He made the last one after being patient on a fly by by the BC defender, but most of these were clean corner looks. As an aside, I like GT's motion/Princeton offense.
7. Langford Jr.. I dont want to do a deep dive. Not in the mood. He is a fantastic rugged athlete. the offense, and understanding isnt there yet. Hopefully it comes. Hopefully.
8. Like everybody else, I hated the last three minutes. Both offenses were running right in front of their respective benches. Pastner was essentially running the high post, he was on the floor, directing his players, and they got good looks and finished every trip down the stretch. Really well done. In Comparison, We ran horrible offensive sets. No direction. One big panic sandwich. One of the problems, is that BC doesnt have a GUY. Brevin wants to be it, but 27 footers are not what you are looking for there, and he cant get to the rim to create contact. Should it have been Post, given the night he was having, he probably wasnt even sure. There was no clear answer, which led to uncertainty. Pass into the BC bench. Langford force job, bail out and one by Post after an ugly Brevin shot, Zach pass 20 feet over Langfords head, ball game. What a mess.
9. More Karnik, less Bick in the 2nd half would have been my suggestion.
10. the possession where GT missed two straight shots and the shooter got his own rebound leading to a three was the knockout. BC flatfooted. BC is never going to be talented enough to show up and outgun the ACC teams. They need to win these games on the margins. A few key rebounds here, a defensive stop there. a nice offensive set late. Great out of bounds play. That part hasnt occurred yet this season. Concerning part is that Earl isnt some assistant learning the ropes on his first head gig. He has many years into this. He needs to either figure out how to get his guys to run effective offense in the last few minutes or find an offensive coach and give him the keys.
1. I thought the guys played hard all night. Not always smart, or focused, but generally engaged and committed. When you are mostly undertalented relative to your league, and go down 12 in the second half in a game with only friends and family in the stands, it wouldnt have been surprising to pack it in or see a little hero ball..didnt happen. Kids hung tough and battled back. That counts for something.
2. Post certainly had a great game, and it was a favorable matchup which he took advantage of. He showed good finishing skills around the hoop. Decent hands. Good rebounding ability. He is a good add for the program. Little bit of Nast Nate Doornekamp in him wouldnt kill anybody.
3. Brevin was firing in the first half. Did a good job from deep, and hit some key shots when it seemed like GT was looking to stretch it out. Exactly what he is here for. I thought he had a nice game. I would like to know that shots from 1cm past the three point line count for the same amount of points as his repeated 27 footers do.
4. The good part of the night for Earl, was when it looked like the team was completely dumbfounded in the later parts of the first half in dealing with GT's zone defense as they couldnt figure out where the ball should be going and how to get it down low, when they came out of the tunnel, they fell behind big, but they had a scheme and executed it pretty well, up until the last 3:00 minutes.
5. For those keeping score, GT was down two high end starters, and a third fouled out with 5 to play. GT stinks, winless in conference. You are at home and up 4 with 3:00 to go. Who knows with Covid, but you may not get a favorable set of circumstances for a conference game the rest of the way. Have to find a way to get to the finish line with this situation.
6. Molinari was brought in here as a defensive Guru. Directly, by observation and numbers, this team stinks defensively. They are awful. They dont rotate well or close out on shooters. Again I dont think Molinari forgot how to coach defense all of a sudden, but my guess is that it is a speed/talent issue, but bottom line is that the results are not there. GT's shooter had a career night. Certainly tip your cap, but he had a lot of wide open looks. He made the last one after being patient on a fly by by the BC defender, but most of these were clean corner looks. As an aside, I like GT's motion/Princeton offense.
7. Langford Jr.. I dont want to do a deep dive. Not in the mood. He is a fantastic rugged athlete. the offense, and understanding isnt there yet. Hopefully it comes. Hopefully.
8. Like everybody else, I hated the last three minutes. Both offenses were running right in front of their respective benches. Pastner was essentially running the high post, he was on the floor, directing his players, and they got good looks and finished every trip down the stretch. Really well done. In Comparison, We ran horrible offensive sets. No direction. One big panic sandwich. One of the problems, is that BC doesnt have a GUY. Brevin wants to be it, but 27 footers are not what you are looking for there, and he cant get to the rim to create contact. Should it have been Post, given the night he was having, he probably wasnt even sure. There was no clear answer, which led to uncertainty. Pass into the BC bench. Langford force job, bail out and one by Post after an ugly Brevin shot, Zach pass 20 feet over Langfords head, ball game. What a mess.
9. More Karnik, less Bick in the 2nd half would have been my suggestion.
10. the possession where GT missed two straight shots and the shooter got his own rebound leading to a three was the knockout. BC flatfooted. BC is never going to be talented enough to show up and outgun the ACC teams. They need to win these games on the margins. A few key rebounds here, a defensive stop there. a nice offensive set late. Great out of bounds play. That part hasnt occurred yet this season. Concerning part is that Earl isnt some assistant learning the ropes on his first head gig. He has many years into this. He needs to either figure out how to get his guys to run effective offense in the last few minutes or find an offensive coach and give him the keys.
