Put it all together tonight

[dannyspoon]

I withheld my observations for a while because I wanted to see how this team would respond to the UD loss.  I will say they looked good at both ends of the floor tonight, something that hadn't happened yet this year (I don't count FAMU).  I will also say that they really have a lot of talent on this team, and they are just starting to learn how to play together.  Barker solidified his spot, and I think Kareem may be our starting center for now.  Field has also beat out Bobbit for the starting 2G.  Max is all better now (thank God!) and Eric Hicks looked his best yet.  He will be a factor at the end of the year, and may even start a few games alongside Max, with a 2G 3F lineup.  I will say both Chadd and Kirkland can play and handle the ball, they will be valuable off the bench this year and the core of this team in the coming years.  Kirkland, when he learns the system, is going to be a heck of a college player with his height and handle.  He looks like the prototypical NBA 2G and could be a special player when he's a senior.  Hicks is athletic enough to be our small forward of the future, and tough enough to be the power forward, and, if we are desperate enough, could fill in adequately at the center.  I wish Chadd would get out of the doghouse, because I think he's got what it takes to make an impact on this team, he just needs to get some time on the pine.  He could be a valuable backup for Taron.  Stokes and to a lesser extent Bobbitt are adequate, but Chadd has the floor sense and passing ability to play the point, he just needs to learn the system.  Flowers problem is his defense and aggressiveness, he has decent offensive skills.  He needs to rebound on the defensive side better and put on a few extra pounds so he can hold his own on defense.  Holman has been a disappointment, he may not be a "gamer".

As far as the team goes, the next game is critical, as a win against X would be a huge boost of confidence.  I think they will be almost as good defensively as they were last year, with the exception of the post, although it looked good tonight.  Offensively, this could be one of Huggs better teams, and they are going to live and die on the perimeter.  Field is absolutely the most crucial player on this team right now, because if he is on, it really opens things up for them.  If he's hitting and then Bobbitt gets into form, and Taron continues to shoot well,  then Stokes is going to get some open lanes to the basket and will be hard to stop, and that turnaround jump shot will be there all day for Max.  All Kareem (or Hicks) has to do is clean up the slop on the boards and we have one of the better offensive teams that we've had in a while.  I will say that while this team may not defend the post as well as we would like this year, they WILL rebound, as you can be sure that Huggins will kill them in workouts if they fail.  I am much more encouraged by what I have seen tonight, although the next few games are absolutely critical to the level of success they hope to achieve this year.