RE: Put it all together tonight

[ALACOMBE]

I think that Barker is the key to the team right now.  When he 
went out of the game they went a little stale and Valpo was 
able to put the screws to the ball handler, not to turn the 
ball over but to frustrate that guy.

Barker moves the offense and he is a very good defender, he 
slapped down on #5 on a sure dunk and he plays his man tight.
Moore is really required to back up Taron and I too hope he 
is out of the Doghouse (sponsored by Purina).

After tonight, I have a lot better feeling for the shootout.
In getting my tape ready for that game, I watched the UCLA
game, ouch, and the shootout from 2 years ago, double ouch -
that was the one where Lloyd (Stick 'em up) Price picked
Logan out top.

Let's hope for two in a row on Saturday.  The energy in the
Shoe was really good tonight despite the smaller crowd and 
the Red Sweaters in Section 112.

Andy

> -----Original Message-----
> From: address@hidden [mailto:address@hidden
> Sent: Monday, December 02, 2002 11:10 PM
> To: address@hidden
> Subject: [UC Basketball] Put it all together tonight
>
>
> 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.