What was built as a must win game for Indiana State probably was a must win for Vandy even if they didn't realize it and it exceeded expectations for Sycamores fans. It has been said that the Sycamores play to the level of the competition, it couldn't be more true watching the Sycamore struggle last weekend to put away D2 Maryville and fighting for 40 minutes vs. Vandy tonight. This was without a doubt the most complete game the Sycamores have played this season. Folks might discount this win vs. a ranked team that has struggled but Vandy is no joke - I'd guess when everything is said and done this team could make some big noise in March and I think we found out tonight that Sycamores are a team that could also make some noise in March! This was the biggest win for the Sycamores in several years, to go on the road and beat a ranked team is no small task! Here we go!
Odum: What do you say about the kid at this point? For starters he aint a kid anymore, he's a grown ass man playing through a difficult injury that has clearly limited his abilities. Take away the 6 turnovers and Jake Odum was the best player on the floor tonight and if you would argue with that then maybe you should re-watch the last 2 minutes of the game. He had 5 points and assist with under 2 min. to play. First a great pass to Carl for a bucket and then a tough shot Goooood to put the Sycamores up 4 and put eerrr on ice. Odum hasn't shot the ball well all season, that was a big time shot to take and he drilled it!
Steve: I've been tough on him at times but I'm going to give him some big ups tonight. He defended Jenkins who is one of the best scorers in the SEC if not the nation - a player who's scored 18 points or more every game this season was held to 11 points on 3 of 10 shooting and 1 of 6 from deep, probably the difference in the game is shutting him down. He also adds 6 points, 2 assists and a steal. At half I stressed that the Sycamores needed to get off to a quick start and Steve had a nice dribble drive bucket to get us going. We were not able to get to the rim much tonight but Steve did in the second half with that bucket and getting to the rim late for 2 HUGE free throws. One of the best games he's played as a Sycamore!
Carl: 11 points 5 rebonds on terrific shooting from long range - look I've no complaints on Carl tonight! This was probably the most complete game that Carl has played all season and I think he's still got better games in the tank. He's shooting the ball very well this season, just nice to see him crash the boards a little bit tonight and really make some hustle plays. Big bucket toward the end of the game on the big assist from Odum!
Walker: He and Odum combine for 0-10 in the first half and Walker himself goes 1-10 himself - the one bucket he made came with under 5 to play to put the Sycamores within 1 - in this possession Walker catches the ball deep vs. 7'0 defender and Lansing is yelling on the sidelines to KICK IT OUT and Walker goes to the hook shot anyway and hits - it was a a big, big bucket! The theme of the last 5 minutes of the game was big buckets from the Sycamores. It's probably worth mentioning that he held a guy that scored 13 ppg last year to 4 points. Walker stayed out of foul trouble and had 5 rebounds (all in the first half) and was important to the Sycamores success tonight.
JP: 11 points, 3 steals, 5 rebounds - what more do you want from JP? He also played well tonight. The 3 steals are what I am excited about - a season high in assist and rebounds helped the Sycamores get a big win n the road tonight. He didn't really force anything tonight and really just let things come to him. Just a great all around game from a player who isn't always a great all around player.
Lathan: Much has been made of how well Lathan has played this season, when your leading scorer goes for 6 points and 4 turnovers you might be in trouble. Lathan has always been known for getting off to fast starts to the season - how much of that has to do with the level of competition? Maybe more than most want to admit - Lathan needs to play better against the top ranked teams. How can that happen? Well he needs to shoot the 3 better than he has this season, the shot will open up the dribble drive and that just wasn't available to him tonight. Other than a get the hell out of the way shoulder, Lathan doesn't have a lot of individual moves dribbling the ball that will allow him to get to the hoop. Needs to play better than he did tonight.
RJ: Well he probably should have been mentioned first rather than last but other than JO13 I have no order to this, usually just go by the box score. Anyway, RJ was red hot in this game with 14 points on 4 of 7 shooting from long range. I think 3 of those were in the first half and he really kept the Sycamores in it. His D was excellent and he didn't turn the rock over something the Sycamores did 14 times and 9 times in the second half. 20 minutes and 14 points - he's probably the most efficient player we have on the team, take back the probably - he is the most efficient player we have on this team. This season he's averaging 13 minutes per game and scoring 8 points for game - very impressive!
Gant: Didn't play much in this one - at all in the second half as Lansing went to a 7 man rotation and the Sycamores all of the sudden don't look as deep as most of us (me included) thought we would be this season. I am going to take a stance and say that Lansing needs to let Gant play a little more than he has thus far. He's a solid player although he didn't shoot the ball well tonight and he gives us good energy - all Lansing needs to do is show some confidence in him and I think he will give us some big minutes. Why is it important? We are getting ready to go into Valley play and you need to be better than 7 deep - see MSU last year in St. Louis if you disagree.
I have been waiting for a win like this - look the Sycamores have had chances the last 2 season to show people that they have the ability to win games that earn respect and they haven't really been able to do it. Let a triple OT game get away last year at WSU, let the Minn. game this year get away, lost on the road at Bosie State and all of the sudden people showing a lot of doubt (myself included). This was the type of win that will earn us some respect, the Sycamores need to continue to take care of business and not have a let down. Getting Odum healthy is going to be important - I don't know how he cant continue to play at the level he is with this injury...
Great win!
Odum: What do you say about the kid at this point? For starters he aint a kid anymore, he's a grown ass man playing through a difficult injury that has clearly limited his abilities. Take away the 6 turnovers and Jake Odum was the best player on the floor tonight and if you would argue with that then maybe you should re-watch the last 2 minutes of the game. He had 5 points and assist with under 2 min. to play. First a great pass to Carl for a bucket and then a tough shot Goooood to put the Sycamores up 4 and put eerrr on ice. Odum hasn't shot the ball well all season, that was a big time shot to take and he drilled it!
Steve: I've been tough on him at times but I'm going to give him some big ups tonight. He defended Jenkins who is one of the best scorers in the SEC if not the nation - a player who's scored 18 points or more every game this season was held to 11 points on 3 of 10 shooting and 1 of 6 from deep, probably the difference in the game is shutting him down. He also adds 6 points, 2 assists and a steal. At half I stressed that the Sycamores needed to get off to a quick start and Steve had a nice dribble drive bucket to get us going. We were not able to get to the rim much tonight but Steve did in the second half with that bucket and getting to the rim late for 2 HUGE free throws. One of the best games he's played as a Sycamore!
Carl: 11 points 5 rebonds on terrific shooting from long range - look I've no complaints on Carl tonight! This was probably the most complete game that Carl has played all season and I think he's still got better games in the tank. He's shooting the ball very well this season, just nice to see him crash the boards a little bit tonight and really make some hustle plays. Big bucket toward the end of the game on the big assist from Odum!
Walker: He and Odum combine for 0-10 in the first half and Walker himself goes 1-10 himself - the one bucket he made came with under 5 to play to put the Sycamores within 1 - in this possession Walker catches the ball deep vs. 7'0 defender and Lansing is yelling on the sidelines to KICK IT OUT and Walker goes to the hook shot anyway and hits - it was a a big, big bucket! The theme of the last 5 minutes of the game was big buckets from the Sycamores. It's probably worth mentioning that he held a guy that scored 13 ppg last year to 4 points. Walker stayed out of foul trouble and had 5 rebounds (all in the first half) and was important to the Sycamores success tonight.
JP: 11 points, 3 steals, 5 rebounds - what more do you want from JP? He also played well tonight. The 3 steals are what I am excited about - a season high in assist and rebounds helped the Sycamores get a big win n the road tonight. He didn't really force anything tonight and really just let things come to him. Just a great all around game from a player who isn't always a great all around player.
Lathan: Much has been made of how well Lathan has played this season, when your leading scorer goes for 6 points and 4 turnovers you might be in trouble. Lathan has always been known for getting off to fast starts to the season - how much of that has to do with the level of competition? Maybe more than most want to admit - Lathan needs to play better against the top ranked teams. How can that happen? Well he needs to shoot the 3 better than he has this season, the shot will open up the dribble drive and that just wasn't available to him tonight. Other than a get the hell out of the way shoulder, Lathan doesn't have a lot of individual moves dribbling the ball that will allow him to get to the hoop. Needs to play better than he did tonight.
RJ: Well he probably should have been mentioned first rather than last but other than JO13 I have no order to this, usually just go by the box score. Anyway, RJ was red hot in this game with 14 points on 4 of 7 shooting from long range. I think 3 of those were in the first half and he really kept the Sycamores in it. His D was excellent and he didn't turn the rock over something the Sycamores did 14 times and 9 times in the second half. 20 minutes and 14 points - he's probably the most efficient player we have on the team, take back the probably - he is the most efficient player we have on this team. This season he's averaging 13 minutes per game and scoring 8 points for game - very impressive!
Gant: Didn't play much in this one - at all in the second half as Lansing went to a 7 man rotation and the Sycamores all of the sudden don't look as deep as most of us (me included) thought we would be this season. I am going to take a stance and say that Lansing needs to let Gant play a little more than he has thus far. He's a solid player although he didn't shoot the ball well tonight and he gives us good energy - all Lansing needs to do is show some confidence in him and I think he will give us some big minutes. Why is it important? We are getting ready to go into Valley play and you need to be better than 7 deep - see MSU last year in St. Louis if you disagree.
I have been waiting for a win like this - look the Sycamores have had chances the last 2 season to show people that they have the ability to win games that earn respect and they haven't really been able to do it. Let a triple OT game get away last year at WSU, let the Minn. game this year get away, lost on the road at Bosie State and all of the sudden people showing a lot of doubt (myself included). This was the type of win that will earn us some respect, the Sycamores need to continue to take care of business and not have a let down. Getting Odum healthy is going to be important - I don't know how he cant continue to play at the level he is with this injury...
Great win!
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