Game Notes

[Andy LaCombe]

Here are some random thoughts after attending the first UC Basketball game
of 05-06.
 
There was about 3,500 there and no more.  No one in the bench seats up top
(actually a few in the center section).
 
Problems:

1.	Still can't get there from the west.  It is a bit better, but still
not there.
2.	The court lights (the row of really bright ones) appear to be
misaligned.  They are tilted more towards the crowd than they have been in
the past.  I never remember being blinded while looking up at the scoreboard
in the past.  I also have a bad glare on the screens that make up the skirt
in front of the scorer's table.
3.	Do not like that there is no score on the big screens over the court
(that miniscule one in the lower left of the video panels does not count) -
Put the score and time on the ring below the panels.
4.	The band is now just to the right of my seats and they are loud ;-)

Good Stuff:

1.	There are video boards everywhere.  The ones over the court are too
bright when they show an ad with a white background though.
2.	Video boards over the court are top notch.

Team Notes:

1.	They are young outside of the 5 seniors.  There are two juniors and
5 freshmen and I believe no sophomores - this spells major problems for next
year.
2.	Coleman looks like a mini Whaley - head is bigger than it should be
;-)  He looks to have some good skills but needs more discipline.
3.	Downey is fast, but needs to shut his mouth.  I just love watching
him burn his man, talk trash to his man while playing D, and then having his
man blow past him.  Do your job and shut up.  He is highly skilled, but he
may have a hard time finishing on his own due to a lack of size.  Once the
team gets used to him, he should be able to dish to one of the big guns for
the finish.
4.	Tilford looks better than I expected.  As with all of the first
timers he was nervous.
5.	McGowan - looks pretty good, but also nervous.  Good hops and looks
like he has a lot of raw talent.
6.	Allen - very raw.
7.	Muhammad - needs to stop double teaming on the top side - never
understood this, it just opens the door for a drive to the hole.  His shot
is good, but taking a three on the break is not what I want to see too
often.
8.	Moore - looks a lot more comfortable with his back.  No signs of
pain.
9.	Kirk - is still Kirk, but should benefit from less yelling.
10.	White is still White.
11.	Hicks does not appear to be able to shoulder the load of the team on
his own.  He is a much better support player.  Hopefully the seniors can
step up and help Hicks out with the heavy lifting.
12.	AK - looked good.  The team looks like they are having fun and he
will be better for the Freshmen this year, to get their feet wet and
produce.  There is no pressure on him for the long term so he should take
advantage of the opportunity.

This team should be fun.  I really wonder how bad the attendance is going to
be this year.  With their schedule they should win a bunch before they hit
the real games.  They may be able to shock some people.  Hillsdale was
tearing it up from 3, and AK put in a zone at the half that sucked the air
from their lungs and the rout was on.

Andy