Let me start out by saying I did not watch the entire game - I had my front door half open (to my front porch) and had the radio on the entertainment system cranked to Sycamores while I made a snow wall and spelled out "Free Beer" with empty cans off set by my two Sycamore flags. It's sweet! ahaha So I listed to the entire game, but please correct me if you all have something to add. The Sycamore now on a 5 game slide, the good news is we didn't quit in this game and played 40 minutes. We only turned the ball over a few times in the first half and in the second half reached that number in the first min. of the second half. We rebounded the ball pretty well all day, have to think if we take care of the rock and get a few calls we win today? I thought the Sycamores actually played pretty good basketball today, it wasn't enough for the win and the avalanche (thought it was appropriate considering the weather) is to 5 games. Ouch!
Odum: Much talk about his decision making at the end of the game and from our angle on the internet it looked like he should have shot the ball as it was he was trying to make a big play for his team and the end result was a turnover (only his second of the game) and game over. He ended up with 18pts, 5 rbs., 5 asst. Solid effort and he had some big shots with under 4 min. to play in the game to keep the Sycamores close.
Lathan: Played pretty big minutes for the Sycamores today. By now we know he's going to play and we know what we are going to get. If you said 3 turnovers most of us would take the over and Vegas would call that safe money. Outside of the fact that he continues to struggle on offense, he did have 3 steals, 5 rbs and 3blks today. On the flip side only 4 points on 1 of 6 shooting in 30 minutes is not good.
Richard: Carl rebounded the ball pretty well today, he nearly had another double/double. As it would have it he didn't, missed a few bunnies inside off rebounds and that 3 he took under 2 minutes wasn't the best shot we could have gotten. Carl has played well for us and if I am in a realistic frame of mind I'd probably say he is our best player on most nights. Today he wasn't and especially with Kelly out we needed him to get to double figures.
Kelly: That brings me nicely to Jake Kelly, I'd love an explanation on him not playing today? He came up lame the other night after the home loss to WSU and that might have had something to do with. Part of me hopes that had something to do with it, because if he didn't play a HUGE conference game for the Sycamores because of the flu (yet was on the bench) I have a problem with that. If he's that sick then get his ass off the bench.
Carter: Got his shot going a little bit today and the Sycamores needed that. He had a huge 3 late in the game and hopefully he is able to get his confidence going with some big makes today. With all that being said when AC get's to trying to do to much he turns the ball over (sometimes as much as Lathan) and he had 3 big ones today. He usually gets a pass because he works his butt off the entire game, but man you have been playing ball to long to be that careless with the ball.
Martin: In all fairness to him I didn't see what (if he even got in) he did in the first half? What I did see from him in the second half wasn't much of anything - saw him try and make a post move and got owned late in the game. Would probably have liked to see him kick it out. A look at the box score shows 4 points on 2 of 4 shooting in 6 minutes - at least he got up some shots in his limited time on the floor.
Walker: Got into a little foul trouble today, he has actually done a pretty good job staying out of foul trouble this season. If you consider our lack of depth inside and the fact that teams go right at him - I think he does a good job not fouling. He finishes with 8 points, 4 rebounds and 2 blocks - man can't really complain about that.
JP: Continues to struggle to shoot the rock, 1 of 5 shooting for 3 points. Yuck! Had a big turnover that was on top of one that Lathan offered up with under 9 min. to play and really gave the Bears momentum. I've said it before and I will say it again, if he's not shooting the ball well he doesn't offer up much.
RJ: Only played 8 min. today and I believe most of those were in the first half. Did have 2 steals and a made 3 pointer in limited playing time today. I didn't see the game so I can't really tell you what else he did?
Steve: And as I predicted last game his minutes would be cut a significant amount and they were today. Also note that they were cut with Kelly on the bench you have to figure that he's going to see less than 15 min. per game from her on out. Unless he can get his shot going like he did early in the MVC season, we haven't seen that ability to score out of him since he was named MVC Newcomer of the week several weeks ago now.
Lucas E: Gotta give some love to the kid from Marshall, Indiana/Illinois (wait can I do that?) got in the box score early with a 3 point make and a rebound. Only played 5 mins. but he did give us a lift in those short minutes.
I am not sure what else to say, this season had showed some much promise and we have seemingly pissed it all away. You don't hold serve at home you really can't expect to go on the road to places like MSU and win. Other MVC teams have also faltered and the Sycamores have not been able to capitalize. Part of the reason I don't cheer for ANY other teams in the Valley to do anything with them self. It goes to show you, if your own team takes care of business you don't have to worry about other teams. Right now the Sycamores are not taking care of business and it's really frustrating to go from leading the MVC to losing 5 strait. That my friends is called an absolute collapse and it has been a fun one to witness. Moving on now, hope everyone has a safe weekend. I am sure tired of this snow/ice/winter combo!
Odum: Much talk about his decision making at the end of the game and from our angle on the internet it looked like he should have shot the ball as it was he was trying to make a big play for his team and the end result was a turnover (only his second of the game) and game over. He ended up with 18pts, 5 rbs., 5 asst. Solid effort and he had some big shots with under 4 min. to play in the game to keep the Sycamores close.
Lathan: Played pretty big minutes for the Sycamores today. By now we know he's going to play and we know what we are going to get. If you said 3 turnovers most of us would take the over and Vegas would call that safe money. Outside of the fact that he continues to struggle on offense, he did have 3 steals, 5 rbs and 3blks today. On the flip side only 4 points on 1 of 6 shooting in 30 minutes is not good.
Richard: Carl rebounded the ball pretty well today, he nearly had another double/double. As it would have it he didn't, missed a few bunnies inside off rebounds and that 3 he took under 2 minutes wasn't the best shot we could have gotten. Carl has played well for us and if I am in a realistic frame of mind I'd probably say he is our best player on most nights. Today he wasn't and especially with Kelly out we needed him to get to double figures.
Kelly: That brings me nicely to Jake Kelly, I'd love an explanation on him not playing today? He came up lame the other night after the home loss to WSU and that might have had something to do with. Part of me hopes that had something to do with it, because if he didn't play a HUGE conference game for the Sycamores because of the flu (yet was on the bench) I have a problem with that. If he's that sick then get his ass off the bench.
Carter: Got his shot going a little bit today and the Sycamores needed that. He had a huge 3 late in the game and hopefully he is able to get his confidence going with some big makes today. With all that being said when AC get's to trying to do to much he turns the ball over (sometimes as much as Lathan) and he had 3 big ones today. He usually gets a pass because he works his butt off the entire game, but man you have been playing ball to long to be that careless with the ball.
Martin: In all fairness to him I didn't see what (if he even got in) he did in the first half? What I did see from him in the second half wasn't much of anything - saw him try and make a post move and got owned late in the game. Would probably have liked to see him kick it out. A look at the box score shows 4 points on 2 of 4 shooting in 6 minutes - at least he got up some shots in his limited time on the floor.
Walker: Got into a little foul trouble today, he has actually done a pretty good job staying out of foul trouble this season. If you consider our lack of depth inside and the fact that teams go right at him - I think he does a good job not fouling. He finishes with 8 points, 4 rebounds and 2 blocks - man can't really complain about that.
JP: Continues to struggle to shoot the rock, 1 of 5 shooting for 3 points. Yuck! Had a big turnover that was on top of one that Lathan offered up with under 9 min. to play and really gave the Bears momentum. I've said it before and I will say it again, if he's not shooting the ball well he doesn't offer up much.
RJ: Only played 8 min. today and I believe most of those were in the first half. Did have 2 steals and a made 3 pointer in limited playing time today. I didn't see the game so I can't really tell you what else he did?
Steve: And as I predicted last game his minutes would be cut a significant amount and they were today. Also note that they were cut with Kelly on the bench you have to figure that he's going to see less than 15 min. per game from her on out. Unless he can get his shot going like he did early in the MVC season, we haven't seen that ability to score out of him since he was named MVC Newcomer of the week several weeks ago now.
Lucas E: Gotta give some love to the kid from Marshall, Indiana/Illinois (wait can I do that?) got in the box score early with a 3 point make and a rebound. Only played 5 mins. but he did give us a lift in those short minutes.
I am not sure what else to say, this season had showed some much promise and we have seemingly pissed it all away. You don't hold serve at home you really can't expect to go on the road to places like MSU and win. Other MVC teams have also faltered and the Sycamores have not been able to capitalize. Part of the reason I don't cheer for ANY other teams in the Valley to do anything with them self. It goes to show you, if your own team takes care of business you don't have to worry about other teams. Right now the Sycamores are not taking care of business and it's really frustrating to go from leading the MVC to losing 5 strait. That my friends is called an absolute collapse and it has been a fun one to witness. Moving on now, hope everyone has a safe weekend. I am sure tired of this snow/ice/winter combo!
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