Some areas that this team can improve to make us better......

[GO BIG ORANGE]

First things first, I thought our defensive effort was great! Coach C has instilled a work ethic on that side of the ball that is needed to win championships. Great to see the kids communicating and giving effort needed to play that way.

Glad this team is focused on early season games. I know we didn’t play well against OK St—That said these are/were the games that cost us last season. We need these W's to push us over the top and into the NCAA tournament.

A few areas of concern for me as this team progress through-out the season and into SEC play…..

1. Rebounding—As good as we play on the defensive side of the ball we do a poor job of blocking out—In particular our guards. This team is going to have to make a concerted effort to team rebound. Even as athletic as this team is, we can’t try to out jump the upper echelon teams that we want to beat (ie—Florida/Kentucky).

2. Attacking Zones—We settled for way to many 3-pointers early against Oakland’s zone. Once we got touch in the high post and short corner we started to score. I’m not saying we have to shoot in the paint every time, but touches in there really help collapse the zone and open up the “inside/out” 3-pointers (these equate to higher shooting percentages).

3. Guarding Athletic 4-Men/4-Guard Look out on the floor--This one could be solved by downsizing (taking out K. Hall), possibly Stokes guarding this position (Could lead to foul trouble and takes him away from the rim/rebounding position) or playing some of the 3-2 zone we showed last night.

I’m just putting out some thoughts for discussion. I really like the way Coach C has this team playing and the direction that we are headed……..

GO BIG ORANGE!

 

[Shaun1985]

I agree with all of this. I did notice that our guards probably did their best boxing out jobs I've seen. Everyone seemed to be going all in for those boards. I think we settled a lot of times when we got caught in that zone. Since the team built such a big lead up and was playing stellar defense, it seemed like Martin was giving the red light a lot. Maybe using the big lead and being stuck in the zone to learn? Either way, Kenny Hall is not the answer in those types of situations. I know he's been working on his mid range game but he should never shoot in those situations.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

I think our guards rebound pretty well, it's our bigs that's disappoint me.

As many missed shots as we force there is NO reason Stokes should not be in double digits rebounding every night.

Honestly this has been my biggest complaint about him, and may be what really hurts his stock this year. The NBA scouts aren't gonna be impressed a guy his size who can't average double digit rebounds in college. (compare his numbers to sully and Blair, big difference)

 

[calban]

Need far fewer 3s and more assists from McBee and McRae.

 

[Neylandsmaxims]

A few seconds more of patience. One or two more passes, hopefully into the paint. Inside out threes, against a collapsed zone, increase the shooting percentage. Tyler has gotta hit those shots, to relieve the pressure in the paint. Defense looks great!! More patience on offense only enhances the defense.

 

[keckjm]

I think our guards have rebounded well. Josh Richardson has especially done well in this area. My biggest concern is our guards ability to score consistently. BTO pointed out the other day just how well Golden has played, but the rest of our guys are hit or miss. Josh brings great effort at rebounding and defense but he's no scorer. McBee, McRae, and Edwards will all have to step up if we want to reach our fullest potential.

 

[zansdad]

UT played zone last night? I missed that somehow. Can anyone tell me what part of the game that was?

 

[zjcvols]

UT played zone last night? I missed that somehow. Can anyone tell me what part of the game that was?

We didn't.

 

[GO BIG ORANGE]

Played 3-2 late in the game..... not sure if it was the players we were playing (I can't remember who was in at all?) or Coach C wanting to get a look on film at rotations, etc.

 

[zjcvols]

Played 3-2 late in the game..... not sure if it was the players we were playing (I can't remember who was in at all?) or Coach C wanting to get a look on film at rotations, etc.

We didn't play a 3-2 zone last night.

Coach Martin has worked on a 1-3-1 zone in practice, but hasn't shown this year other than the first game, and even then it really wasn't a zone.

 

[zansdad]

I agree with all of this. I did notice that our guards probably did their best boxing out jobs I've seen. Everyone seemed to be going all in for those boards. I think we settled a lot of times when we got caught in that zone. Since the team built such a big lead up and was playing stellar defense, it seemed like Martin was giving the red light a lot. Maybe using the big lead and being stuck in the zone to learn? Either way, Kenny Hall is not the answer in those types of situations. I know he's been working on his mid range game but he should never shoot in those situations.

Are you talking about Hall's 2 3 point attempts? Better he take them while they have a 20 point lead and get them out of his system than him take them in a tight game. If CCM gives him the green light, who are we to argue?

 

[zansdad]

We didn't.

OK. I was at the game but got up and walked on the concourse with about 3 minutes to go in the 1st half so thought maybe I missed it then.

 

[zjcvols]

OK. I was at the game but got up and walked on the concourse with about 3 minutes to go in the 1st half so thought maybe I missed it then.

Unless we ran it in the last three minutes of the game, we didn't play zone. And even then I was still watching and didn't notice it.

 

[zansdad]

We didn't play a 3-2 zone last night.

Coach Martin has worked on a 1-3-1 zone in practice, but hasn't shown this year other than the first game, and even then it really wasn't a zone.

When you say 1st game, are you talking about the exhibition game or the actual 1st game? I think I remember some zone in the exhibition but not any since the season started.

 

[zjcvols]

When you say 1st game, are you talking about the exhibition game or the actual 1st game? I think I remember some zone in the exhibition but not any since the season started.

Exhibition.

 

[zansdad]

3. Guarding Athletic 4-Men/4-Guard Look out on the floor--This one could be solved by downsizing (taking out K. Hall), possibly Stokes guarding this position (Could lead to foul trouble and takes him away from the rim/rebounding position) or playing some of the 3-2 zone we showed last night.

I think this is where Chievous comes in. He has played mostly the 4 all season so against 4 guard lineups I expect his minutes to go up. Plus Richardson is also capable of playing the 4 against a smaller lineup(he did it last year). A line-up of Golden, McBee, McRae, Richardson, and Stokes should be pretty successful against a 4 guard lineup.

 

[zansdad]

Exhibition.

Aye, Aye.

 

[GO BIG ORANGE]

Not going to argue the point. I do in fact think it was late and could have been due to the players we had in the game? I also could have been mistaken....

That said, I would like to see us have a change of pace defense to go to at times. Hard to argue this point as we looked so dominate playing man to man last night! I would love to see Coach C practice. His teams communicate so well on the defensive side of the ball!

 

[GO BIG ORANGE]

I think this is where Chievous comes in. He has played mostly the 4 all season so against 4 guard lineups I expect his minutes to go up. Plus Richardson is also capable of playing the 4 against a smaller lineup(he did it last year). A line-up of Golden, McBee, McRae, Richardson, and Stokes should be pretty successful against a 4 guard lineup.

Agreed! Hope we have more that a few line-ups when needed.......

 

[zjcvols]

Not going to argue the point. I do in fact think it was late and could have been due to the players we had in the game? I also could have been mistaken....

That said, I would like to see us have a change of pace defense to go to at times. Hard to argue this point as we looked so dominate playing man to man last night! I would love to see Coach C practice. His teams communicate so well on the defensive side of the ball!

I didn't see any.

I think the defense is fine. On ball defense was better. Coach K doesn't play zone and it does great. If your team is committed to man defense, you are good to go.

 

[GO BIG ORANGE]

I didn't see any.

I think the defense is fine. On ball defense was better. Coach K doesn't play zone and it does great. If your team is committed to man defense, you are good to go.

I agree for the most part, but 5 possesions a half just to make the other team have to prep from something different--Also, if it works you can stick w/ it for longer periods of play.

Again, I'm beating a dead horse as defense won't be this teams problem I don't think.

It will be intresting to see G-towns multiply back-cut offense against our man.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

We didn't.

UT played zone last night? I missed that somehow. Can anyone tell me what part of the game that was?

Yes we did, it was a 3-2. I found this odd because all that I remember being documented in Italy was a 1-3-1.

It was the final 3-4 minutes when Brandon Lopez and Rob Murphy came into the game.

 

[zansdad]

Yes we did, it was a 3-2. I found this odd because all that I remember being documented in Italy was a 1-3-1.

It was the final 3-4 minutes when Brandon Lopez and Rob Murphy came into the game.

Well they didn't play it long because those guys didn't check in until under 2:00 to play.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

Well they didn't play it long because those guys didn't check in until under 2:00 to play.

Thought it was right at the 3 and change mark...regardless, I wasn't arguing how long they played it just supporting the OP that they did indeed play it.

 

[zansdad]

Thought it was right at the 3 and change mark...regardless, I wasn't arguing how long they played it just supporting the OP that they did indeed play it.

I just re-watched the last 4 minutes. They played a 3-2 zone the last 2 possessions of the game when Murphy and Lopez were in. They may have been playing a 2-3 the 2 possessions before that but it was hard to tell as Oakland was basically just standing around on offense by that time. So that 4 or so possessions of zone this season for CCM. Baby steps apparently.