Re: halftime report

[jon breiner]

The 2nd half was significantly better.  UC was more intense and Hillsdale 
got tired since they do not have the players.  Very 92esque how the close 
first half opened up with a run, and then UC smothered them in the 2nd.

White and Hicks really stepped up their intensity.  You Jihad non-supporters 
better start drinking now.  He looked decent tonight, really decent 
actually, but like always when his shot is off, it will be awful.  White 
really did go to the basket a lot and hard.

Moore looked pretty good.  We scored 10 points in less than a minute to go 
58-45 to 68-45 (two Jihad 3's, a White monster dunk and AKirk lay-in).  I 
like the running.  It might make it interesting at times when it shouldn't 
be, but will also make us down 10 just as quick at times when we shouldn't 
be.

AKirk looked ok.  He needs to "just do it."  he looks too comfortable 
shooting the 3's and not going inside, but when he had his 4-5 game spurt 
last year (DEC.?) he was going to the basket.  he and James should play 
1-on-1 against each other to get each in that mode, and maybe make a 
friendly wager: Whoever shoots the most 3's in a game has to do the others 
laundry to the next game (or something).  I am rambling now.

Allen looked better than I thought.  I believe he might get 10-15 minutes 
per game.  A bit rough offensively, but did try to rebound which will be a 
struggle this year.  Also blocked a few and altered a few shots.

McGowan looked ok, but we need more from him.  He has to be better quicker 
than most of the JUCO juniors we get.

AKen was pretty quiet in terms of dealing with the refs and players.  I 
think he yelled a lot more as the "coaching assistant coach".  Of course it 
might have been it was a Hillsdale game.  The refs called a lot of 
ticky-tack fouls, but were "big-time" refs: Ted Hillary, Curtis Shaw, and 
someone else.  I don't like Curtis haircut, but it is not as drastic as the 
one Ed Hightower got a few years back that actually gave him hair.

All in all, I see us finishing around 6-10th in the Big East and making it 
one or two games deep into the NCAA tourney.  This team could be similar to 
the 92 team.  Not alot of height or depth, but alot of quick guys.  The 
press at the end of the 1st half was very good.  I think UC will need it 
this year, especially against teams that have dominant inside players.  In 
that respect AKen is good for this team because he might let them do it a 
few times even after giving an easy bucket or two.  My guess is any 6-7 or 
taller guy with skills is drooling to put up his easiest 30 ever.  We need 
to press to get easy buckets like the 92 team.  I have buried the call for 
the press for years, and even agreed when Huggins has thrown it away after 
barely dusting it off, but now we need it.

Tilford did not look happy to be getting playing time with the 3 walk-ons 
and McGowan at the end.  He did a couple of one-on-one moves and then in the 
final two possessions looked very dis-interested.  at the end of the game he 
threw the ball in the air and slowly walked off with a bit of a "frown" on 
his face.  I am not sure what he expects, but he did not look good enough to 
really play much more than that.  I hope I am reading too much into nothing 
there.

I'll let others chime in from here, as I just stopped in my office for a 
second to pick something up.  Somebody proofread and make corrections and 
repost for me!  :)

Jon


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Madhusudhan Gurumurthy" <address@hidden>
To: <address@hidden>
Sent: Thursday, November 03, 2005 8:34 PM
Subject: [UC Basketball] halftime report


> Just came back from the game at halftime. thought id discuss what I felt 
> our team is capable of.
>
> Being an exhibition game and the first one, you should take any criticism 
> about the plays/players with a 'handful' of salt.
>
> Hicks - he looked totally lost! he wasnt pounding the boards and neither 
> did he play with the power he normally does. In a way, Max's absence 
> showed.
>
> Gowan played alongside Hicks for the most part and from what I saw today, 
> there really isnt much to say about him. He looked pretty ordinary. 
> Considering Gowan is competing with Coleman and Allen for the position, 
> one expected his best from him. It didnt look good enough.
>
> Allen managed to pull some rebounds but that was usually when there wasnt 
> much traffic at the board. No special post play skills at display.
>
> Coleman got some playing time too. He made some pretty good three 
> pointers. Not good enough to support Hicks in inside play though.
>
> Downey - he was the guy I was looking forward to the most. He lived upto 
> his billing atleast as far as speed goes. He darts across the court in no 
> time and is not afraid to take it all the way to teh basket through heavy 
> traffic near the post.
> Guess he will be really good in a year or 2.
>
> Flight white - was very upset with just 1 things
> 1. gravity - this damn thing just wouldnt let him make one of those 
> glamorous dunks at times when he was a mile away from the basket. He was 
> so upset that one of the time, he took 3 full steps to the basket so he 
> could complete his layup.
> he showed no sign/desire of "driving" to the basket in spite of all we 
> heard in the off season.
>
> Armein - what do I say! with the gifts he has as a basketball player, he 
> puzzles you with his lack of energy and drive to excel.
>
> All said, this was teh first game against a lower div opponent. So all 
> that I read into the game was wrong (let hope it is!)
>
> Madhusudhan