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Posted by m hamilton (Member # 127) on 12-12-2020, 01:20 PM:

Cal needs to find someone who can shoot the ball on this team! We just don't have any shooters at all!
I thought early on maybe Mintz was a shooter but he just hasn't shown it!
Allen may be a shooter but he just hasn't been given the opportunity to show it if he is!

Posted by EnterpriseCat (Member # 2881) on 12-12-2020, 03:31 PM:

We are some serious brickmasons for sure.

Posted by Tiptree (Member # 844) on 12-12-2020, 05:54 PM:

When we shot almost all of our threes in the first half, they were shot either off-balance, out of rhythm, and without the shooter being squared to the basket. And most of them were either contested shots, or from way too deep.
Each one was a "hero shot", trying to get something for nothing.

Contrast that with the 3-pointers that ND took the first half, of which they hit a whopping 75%. They received the ball in rhythm, with the man being wide open and squared to the basket, ready to shoot.

Poor shot selection and "hero mentality" is a serious problem for this team. In the second half, as we mounted our comeback, we played much, much better basketball, both on offense and on defense.

Despite missing our potential game-winner in the closing seconds, that second half gives me GREAT hope for this team. The lightbulb came on. We started running our offense through Sarr, moved without the ball, and played active, physical defense. And it worked, bringing us from 24 down to a chance to win the game.

Cal now has the tape he needs to demonstrate the stark difference to these guys. Perhaps the first half was the "rock bottom" that Cal referred to.

A few things about this game besides the general notes above:

* Askew had several chances to shoot the ball, or drive it for a layup, and passed instead. He seem terrified to shoot. That is not going to earn him any minutes

* Sarr was the star, raking in 22 points on 11 of 16 shooting, and 7 boards. Our offense works a lot better when he is featured.

* Jackson was a non-factor, which surprised me. He was limited to only 16 minutes, with the rest of his time spread among Toppin (18 minutes), Ware (8 minutes) and Fletcher (4 minutes). Together, those four accounted for a paltry 3 points (1 out of 6 from the floor), a respectable 10 boards, and 1 block. Not sure I am fond of "power forward by committee". Cal must see something I don't see, because Jackson's defense and rebounding earn the majority of the time in my book.

* I wouldn't get too excited by "only" 11 turnovers. While that is a LOT better than the first three games, Notre Dame ranks near the bottom of all college basketball on forcing turnovers. As it stands, our 11 turnovers is 3 more than their average thus far this year. That would make us 35% worse than the other teams they faced.

[ 12-12-2020, 05:56 PM: Message edited by: Tiptree ]

Posted by m hamilton (Member # 127) on 12-12-2020, 07:04 PM:

Jackson picked up his 2nd foul before the first media timeout and set the entire 1st half!

Posted by Trey Ball (Member # 332) on 12-12-2020, 09:56 PM:

I didn't watch it and it sounds like I can just delete it from the DVR.

I did take ND plus 6.5 though. I hope Vegas keeps making UK the favorite because I will keep taking the points and bet the other team.

Did Billy G come back and recruit these guys secretly?

[ 12-12-2020, 09:57 PM: Message edited by: Trey Ball ]

Posted by Tiptree (Member # 844) on 12-12-2020, 10:09 PM:

Trey, skip the first half, but watch the second half. We actually played good basketball. It is worth it just to get you bearings back. [Smile]