Eastern Kentucky
- Thread starter locustwv
- Start date
We are struggling this year. I just don't see this team getting to the NCAA field in March. Hope I'm wrong.
For us to get to that level, we need for a post player to step up and be a threat offensively. Cottrill has the ability, and probably is the only one of the others that has an offensive game.
Until we fix our defensive mishaps, I'm not sure if anyone can have confidence in this team. We have allowed them to execute out-of-bounds plays to perfection. And we continue to get beat on drives, help off their shooters, and let them hit wide open shots. Not a good trend.
They are a three point shooting team. The bigger question is why do our guys continue to help off their shooters? Huggs said at halftime that we aren't supposed to be doing that, yet we still are.
Wow. Curry was at one point the reason for the defeat (turnovers), then the reason for the victory (drive and buckets)....in a span of about 5 minutes.
If he can learn to control his dribble and stop risky dribbling. Plus he's not as good as Johnson defensively. Although tonight, not sure there was a bright spot defensively.
I'm going to have to stock up on Maalox if I'm going to watch these guys all season. They have great potential, but Jeez!
Hope I am. Defensive lapses and lack of rebounding, and no post scoring. That's not a good recipe. There's going to be games/weeks where Taz isn't able to carry the load.
Taz, Gabe and Curry.
Curry and Gabe defense against William's down the stretch was clutch. That guy was killing us.
If we make our foul shots yet agai. We win by 15 or more.
Taz was outstanding with his career high 28 points and 8 for 11 in free throws, but Gabe also was vital to this victory, and Curry (who had his best game as a Mountaineer with 16 points). Not taking spotlight away from Taz. He was awesome. But he did have some help.
Damn, Eastern was deadly on the 3's (out-scored WVU by TWENTY SEVEN points in that category)!
Sherman McNeil was in a trance most of the night with 3 of NINETEEN floor shots for 5 points. So unlike him. But I have my bad days, too, so I know how bad he feels about it.
Damn, Eastern was deadly on the 3's (out-scored WVU by TWENTY SEVEN points in that category)!
Sherman McNeil was in a trance most of the night with 3 of NINETEEN floor shots for 5 points. So unlike him. But I have my bad days, too, so I know how bad he feels about it.
EKU was averaging 41 reb. a game and WVU 31. WVU won rebound battle 34-33.
Gabe and Curry came in to stop a hot shooting William's and get him in foul trouble.
WVU bench had 35 points. Curry had 16 of those 0n 6-8 and Gabe 8 points 4-6.
Gabe, Paulicap and Carrigan 19 points 16 rebounds.
We are a better defensive team when Kobe, Gabe, Sherman, Curry with either Carrigan or Paulicap.
You realize that even good teams only shoot about 72-75% from the FT line? No team is going to be 90-100%. Tonight we were 61%, which is bad, I agree. But, to get to that mark we would have had 23-24 made FT's. So that is only 4-5 more points, not a 15 point win.
Our problem was that we continued to help off their shooters when they were told not to help.
See Cottrell, McNeil and Bridges for the highest issues of over playing.
Best defense is when Gabe, Curry, Sherman and Kobe are in.
No won't be 90% but no reason a team shouldn't shoot 80%. FT has become more difficult than it should be.
Which is considered "average". I'm not sure how many teams average 80% or higher. I'd say.....not many, if any.
Start recruiting better or start getting transfers that other P5 teams also want.
Or else we're in store for another "3rd year abortion season" that has become the norm under Huggins. Abortion, not terrible, sorta ok (beat KU). Abortion, not terrible, sorta (beat Baylor. Abortion, not terrible, sorta ok (marquee Dec NC win). Rather, rinse, repeat.
Or else we're in store for another "3rd year abortion season" that has become the norm under Huggins. Abortion, not terrible, sorta ok (beat KU). Abortion, not terrible, sorta (beat Baylor. Abortion, not terrible, sorta ok (marquee Dec NC win). Rather, rinse, repeat.
Offensive rebounds did a lo to keep us in he game in he first half when shooting, 3's, FT's were poor.
At least we have Taz. He can really shoot. Losing Culver is showing though. No big body under the basket this year.
The three bigs put up really good numbers. How can you say we are getting hurt there. 19 points and 16 rebounds. Those are Culver numbers, plus these guys get blocks which Culver never did. All of these moving parts are learning to play together so let’s just relax and let them play!
As long as Taz, Gabe and, although not today, McNeil do what they do best then WVU will be in every game and win a ton of them. The new guys are beginning to contribute, too, which will make for a better team than the one that Oscar left.