2022-23 Around College Hoops

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Gotcha -- FWIW..,. when the Vols hold teams to 60 pts or FEWER... they're 20-0

I know you’re probably not getting at any of this but it’s so inviting. I mean… It’s a style of play that works - like anything when you have the right players, when the players are bought in - absolutely you can win that way. I think you’re also more susceptible to be beaten by a lesser team or blown off the floor all-together if you’re accustomed to playing that style of ball. I think we’ve seen that today. I think we saw that under GL.

Look regardless of what most of the ass hats here have to say - GL implemented a similar style of basketball to what we’ve discussed here today. Many of you will recall our win vs Mo State in Arch Maddness was the most mucked up, physical, possession basketball game you will see. That’s how he wanted his teams to play. For the better part of his career here it worked.

But… That was also a long time ago now. The game has changed. Most teams that are consistently playing ball at a high level are not playing that way. Until JS has a team that plays D at a high level then I will forever be critical of his defense philosophy/preparation/creativity etc. I don’t care what the statics say either - you know a good defensive team when you see it. I think when he has a team that can defend at a high level and also turn it up offensively whenever they damn well please - that is when we will see the promise land. That’s the only reason I’ve continued to harp on our inability to defend. See Belmont x 2, see Southern Indiana - I can keep going but will refrain.


Offensively at this level - I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a product like it that is more watchable. If I’m a player that likes to shoot - if I’m a player that can see the floor and wants to take big risks with passes, if I’m a player that wants to dunk no matter who is in front of me - this is the system you’d want to play in. Hands down. Especially at the mid major level.
 
What was also fun today with the style of play was coaches actually coaching and changing up their defense, Maryland was behind big early and they started full court pressure and changed the tide. Firman down 12 in the second half and went to 1-3-1 and made if even more difficult for UVA to find the bucket. Princeton also played some zone.
I know there are many that don’t like zone and it doesn’t work in the NBA, but college is special when the coach can make in-game adjustment and you can affect the outcome of the game.
 

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I know you’re probably not getting at any of this but it’s so inviting. I mean… It’s a style of play that works - like anything when you have the right players, when the players are bought in - absolutely you can win that way. I think you’re also more susceptible to be beaten by a lesser team or blown off the floor all-together if you’re accustomed to playing that style of ball. I think we’ve seen that today. I think we saw that under GL.

Look regardless of what most of the ass hats here have to say - GL implemented a similar style of basketball to what we’ve discussed here today. Many of you will recall our win vs Mo State in Arch Maddness was the most mucked up, physical, possession basketball game you will see. That’s how he wanted his teams to play. For the better part of his career here it worked.

But… That was also a long time ago now. The game has changed. Most teams that are consistently playing ball at a high level are not playing that way. Until JS has a team that plays D at a high level then I will forever be critical of his defense philosophy/preparation/creativity etc. I don’t care what the statics say either - you know a good defensive team when you see it. I think when he has a team that can defend at a high level and also turn it up offensively whenever they damn well please - that is when we will see the promise land. That’s the only reason I’ve continued to harp on our inability to defend. See Belmont x 2, see Southern Indiana - I can keep going but will refrain.


Offensively at this level - I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a product like it that is more watchable. If I’m a player that likes to shoot - if I’m a player that can see the floor and wants to take big risks with passes, if I’m a player that wants to dunk no matter who is in front of me - this is the system you’d want to play in. Hands down. Especially at the mid major level.

My favorite system? One that produces wins - period. Personally, I'd rather watch the Trees win by 8-12 on a game-by-game basis; I find too many of the "holy sh*t" shooting nights (60%+ from the field) to be unicorns. I don't care if the Trees win 58-50, it's a win. I've watched so many "up tempo" teams over the years, in general, i find the play to be overly sloppy, poor fundamentals and if the blind striped zebras called the game as the rules are PRESENTED, those teams wouldn't be able to play at that tempo, the endless walks, carries, double-dribbles - that's what I see in up-tempo teams.

IMO the most SUCCESSFUL coaches have their system - they find the right players to FIT into that system. If the kids don't buy in, I'd wonder why they decided to play for a "system coach."

The game has changed because the blind-striped zebras have allowed it to change. If they would have reigned in the Pitino/Calipari Hack/Slap/Grab/Push style of defense, guess what... those coaches would have adapted.

While I rarely wanted his "Backs teams to win... What Nolan Richardson did with his "40-minutes of hell" system... ridiculous -- if Schertz wants to run and press like those teams did, go do it. They were fun as hell to watch.

I'll close with this... for ALL of the yammering about offense... remember the 1985-86 NBA playoffs? Lil' Mikey Jordan and The Baddest MF on the planet? Yes, Jordan outscored Bird 131-85 (combined pt totals) but Jordan lost all three games.

My point? I don't care if our leading scorer next season is avg'ing 30 a night -- if the team isn't winning? Who the f**k cares - a loss is a loss.
 
Kennesaw’s coach was confident before the game without being cocky and he was right. They aren’t playing scared and could put themselves in a very winnable game on Sunday.

Yep, they look damn good right now. Doing everything with confidence and hustling on everything.
 

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I don't think I've ever seen a team hustle as much of FDU is right now. Absolutely insane amount of heart and grit on display right now.

Coach had a hell of a game plan: FDU is the smallest team in the tournament vs one of the biggest. They are pressing the entire length of the court and just flying around everywhere. Once they get into the half court game they are goners but as long as they keep it chaotic they are beating PU; great game!
 
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