Some analysis on the season so far
We’ve beaten last years OVC champ.
We beat last years Pac 12 regular season champ, a top 25 team with high rated 5 star freshmen.
I think the sample size is large enough to assume Pons is for real. He is a stat stuffer. I think his ppg will flatten at around 10, but that is still great. This is one of the single biggest steps forward I’ve seen for a UT player from one year to another.
JJJ showed his potential in the UW game. Another stat stuffer. He has instincts and a feel for the game freshman rarely have. I saw it on a variety of plays like him jumping passing lanes, finding teammates on nice dimes, and most specifically, a particular move he made to the basket that started as a post up from 15 feet out. He demonstrated patience on the play like a much older player. I’m very excited to watch him develop.
Lamonte might give us our first triple double this year since Tyler Smith. He got dangerously close against UW.
Speaking of Turner, when his shot starts falling, it’s gonna be lights out for teams. Much of our progress so far has been with Turner struggling from the field.
Fulkerson looks more disciplined this year. He still has a way to go there because he still fouls a bit too much, but all around he has improved in that area.
Bowden is Bowden. He became a phantom again in a large part of the 2nd half last night, but you’ll take it with his point barrages he has so routinely done throughout his career. I think Bowden gets drafted. Biggest area for him to work on for the next level would be his acceleration off the dribble.
There have been and will continue to be a lot of talk about minutes. In college you only play a couple games per week, I’ve never felt playing 30+ minutes wears out 20 year olds. I don’t think we have a minutes issue, it’s more of an injury depth issue. Specifically at the post.
The SEC has struggled so far. I think we are clearly a top team in the league.
