Sycamore fans - what is the biggest difference between the Sycamores now (TODAY) vs. the Sycamores that got beat by New Mexico at home?
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Biggest Difference
- Thread starter SycamoreStateofMind
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I will get it started - biggest difference for me is identity. I think because the newness of this roster that we really hadn't established much of an identity vs. New Mexico. I don't think Indiana State knew and I don't think we knew what kind of team Indiana State was going to be. Since that time I think roles have started to become established and players have emerged and it's helped form an identity.
I think that obviously the emergence of Justin Gant has been huge. Although I think that everyone knew that Justin Gant was a skilled player - I don't think that anyone really knew that he could give us the energy that he's given us. I don't think that anyone including himself even knew he had that game in him. Even at North, he has always been this player that has kind of let things come to him - never really the, I'm the best player on the floor and I'm taking over this game kind of player. He has become that for us - can't understate that enough.
I think that the toughness that some of our new guys has provided has been huge - this aren't guys like Lathan and Richard (no disrespect to them intended) that have established any kind of an identity or respect. In other words, these guys don't know any better and a lot of times that's a good problem to have. Guys like K. Smith - although he's been a lost cause on offense at times - he players really hard and he rebounds really well, the kid just brings a lot to the table. They have got lifts at times from guys like Eitel, Cummings and D. Brown. Again, all of these are guys that are just hard nosed kids that player hard.
I think that obviously the emergence of Justin Gant has been huge. Although I think that everyone knew that Justin Gant was a skilled player - I don't think that anyone really knew that he could give us the energy that he's given us. I don't think that anyone including himself even knew he had that game in him. Even at North, he has always been this player that has kind of let things come to him - never really the, I'm the best player on the floor and I'm taking over this game kind of player. He has become that for us - can't understate that enough.
I think that the toughness that some of our new guys has provided has been huge - this aren't guys like Lathan and Richard (no disrespect to them intended) that have established any kind of an identity or respect. In other words, these guys don't know any better and a lot of times that's a good problem to have. Guys like K. Smith - although he's been a lost cause on offense at times - he players really hard and he rebounds really well, the kid just brings a lot to the table. They have got lifts at times from guys like Eitel, Cummings and D. Brown. Again, all of these are guys that are just hard nosed kids that player hard.
Southgrad07
The Renn Level
Biggest difference has to be post play. The main one im talking about here is Gant. The way he has come on takes us to another level. I didnt know when it would click for him or if it would ever click that he needed to be more aggressive bc like you I saw him at north and you saw the same thing I did. A kid with a great skill set but lacked that agressiveness and attitude of im going to be the best player on the floor. When you match his great talent with the right mindset you get what you see now.. A beast out there on the floor. Lets pray he keeps that same attitude. Idk if any of you caught it but late in the Ill. St. game Carmichael was trying to get to the opposite block of Gant before a Ill. St. FT attempt and Gant trailed him wherever he went. Basically telling the big man your mine and your not getting this rebound, ill make sure of it. I love it that he is accepting the challenge of playing these great post players and believing that he can compete and come out on top. Even beyond him though I see improvement down. RJ is giving us some post scores finally and it playing stronger defense (not as much flop city) and Kitchell is playing his best ball of the year. This group is starting to play like many of us invisioned a couple years ago when they signed Gant. We have keep getting strong effort from these 3 going forward.
A close second has to be the consistent defensive effort we've had. We are not a great offensive team. Better than in years past but we still struggle at times to put the ball in the hoop. The one thing we can always bring to the floor is defense, toughness, and hustle. I really think the guys have brought that every night and people like K.Smith and Brown have been huge in pushing the rest of the guys. They all know that if they arent playing hard and d'ing up then those two will be playing their minutes. I love the fact that those two enjoy defense. You can tell they want to do anything they can to help us win games.
A close second has to be the consistent defensive effort we've had. We are not a great offensive team. Better than in years past but we still struggle at times to put the ball in the hoop. The one thing we can always bring to the floor is defense, toughness, and hustle. I really think the guys have brought that every night and people like K.Smith and Brown have been huge in pushing the rest of the guys. They all know that if they arent playing hard and d'ing up then those two will be playing their minutes. I love the fact that those two enjoy defense. You can tell they want to do anything they can to help us win games.
Doesnt matter if we arent shooting well or the opponent is making shots play Defense. I think our post play is by far our biggest difference. Gant is realizing he can play to his full potential and bang with the best and we will see what he has to say come Saturday. I think one of the things that has improved is to make plays or run the offense withOUT JO. Last year I would be terrified but Im not no where near terrified as I was last year. Our bench is starting to contribute somehow in anyway. Arop is putting confidence more in his teammates. Kitchell is staying out of foul trouble. List goes on.
Eleven
The Wade Level
I think the team is getting comfortable with the rotations that they are in... and I think that enough DIFFERENT people have had good games that everyone is comfortable with anyone of them taking shots or being involved. Defensive switches are MUCH faster than they were earlier in the year... and I don't see as many "dumb shots" going up as we did early in the season (still some, but not as many). I also agree that the team runs smoother with Jake off the floor than it has in the past...(that is NOT to say that it runs better than when he is on the floor, I mean that it's not as big of a drop-off as it used to be). Gant and RJ are not taking "as many" baby hooks as they were earlier and have started to use other post moves.. more power moves.
Sycamore Proud
The Nicks Level
All of the above posts are right. But what happened to cause the actions of Gant, Odum and others to be so effective? Simple, as I see it. It's the 3 C's of winning basketball--chemistry, confidence and composure. These guys seem to be the epitome of "there is no I in team". The chemistry naturally leads to confidence in one's self and one's teammates to do what is needed to win. That confidence allows them to play with composure--they don't panic no matter the circumstance. This is probably way too simplified for most. But you take those 3 C's away from this team and you don't have much of a team left. We don't have individuals talented enough to do it all themselves.
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Right on. I would add one more C, Coach. Coach Lansing has done a good job bringing in some talent and he's got these guys buying into what he wants to do. I also think he has improved a lot as a bench coach.
+1, but we still need a new pressbreaker.
BankShot
The Kleuh Level
...and a press/trapping "D"...diversity is the spice of life! Our PREDICTABILITY often works against us...
bent20
The Odum Level
I think we saw some of this same team in the New Mexico game. It was just a tough one at home. What I don't want to see again is that team that traveled to play Morehead State. Of our four losses this season, that's the only one that didn't come against a Top 25 team. We have a chance to finally win one of those tomorrow. We've competed respectably against all of the top 25 teams though (even UCLA to a point).
Biggest difference, I think, is attitude and focus, but also just continued playing time together. I really worried after the Morehead State game that that was the Sycamore team we were going to see for the rest of the year - sloppy, inconsistent, lacking control - but instead it has been the opposite. They've stayed hungry and have been assurting themselves in these games. It's the team we saw flashes of earlier in the season, but they have matured together.
Biggest difference, I think, is attitude and focus, but also just continued playing time together. I really worried after the Morehead State game that that was the Sycamore team we were going to see for the rest of the year - sloppy, inconsistent, lacking control - but instead it has been the opposite. They've stayed hungry and have been assurting themselves in these games. It's the team we saw flashes of earlier in the season, but they have matured together.
I think the biggest difference has come during the Hawaii trip and the team adopting the Grind it Out motto. If they had had that motto/mentality against New Mexico State I think we would have won in overtime instead of allowing ourselves to get run over in OT. Also, with that motto, we would have beaten Morehead State by double digits.
Grind it Out!
Grind it Out!
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Eleven
The Wade Level
I think the team grew up a LOT during the Ole Miss game.
We came out in that game and were punched squarely in the mouth by their physicality... Coach got into them in the first timeout and they came out "swinging". It really seemed to me (watching from the stands) that many were taken by surprise by how physical the play was - and it was time to quit crying and get physical ourselves and play within the rules that were being called, or roll over, give up and keep complaining.... We didn't roll over.
Daveinth
The Wade Level
I think the biggest difference is the confidences the team has in each other. When we need a big time play It's not just one or two players looking to make the play It's all five on the floor nutting up and ready to make the play in the New Mexico game we made the run in the 2 nd half off of Jake. Now the big play comes from anyone . We no longer depend on one player to make that play. This game is built on having confidences in you teammates to make the necessary play and that's what is happening now
region rat
The All-MVC Level
You nailed it. Just wish the team to improve on free throw shooting. And for each player to continue to improve their own game.
SycamoreFan317
The Renn Level
This team has shown that if you bring the three constants of basketball to the floor, (defense, rebounding, and free throw shooting), every night it can pull you through when your offense is not scoring. This is a Woody Hayes type of basketball team.