*I disagreed with Anth when he said/typed it. AD>WCS anywhere on the court, even on D. I love Willie, even knowing that he will have his walkabout games, just part of him now and they are fewer in number. But AD was just another beast. With Noel, it's a discussion because Willie does things NN just didn't do...WCS will have counting butterfly moments and NN would get out of position a lot chasing blocks, he couldn't switch like Willie can. AD on the other hand, did it all and did it game to game as a frosh. By the time conference play was in, he just overwhelmed opponents. You could see teams just trying anything to get him in foul trouble so as to have some working room. I remember watching that Ark game from like row 5 at Rupp (RIP to that hookup, huh?) but even the guards were looking for AD when they got the ball at the NBA 3 point line, terrified. It was comical, really.
*Even with Booker's bad shooting night, I still love the way the kid finishes on the break...he's almost MKG auto when he gets it with a full head of steam and only a guy to beat, no wasted movement. The twins could learn from that.
*Agree with Dennis on the plan you have to have to beat this team. You can't just get in a rat race, we'll blow you out. Push it initially to find holes in our transition D but if it's not there you just have to milk the clock and see if we lose concentration on a switch or something. You're not going to win by playing "7 seconds or less" against this team.
*Put me in the boat of rooting to see UVA lose, just to spite guys like Feinstein.
*Gyero was pretty hard on Towns last night, I guess I'm just an apologist for the kid, much like I was with AP in his first year when he was getting taken to task. I think Cal wants him to shoot more in the post to try and establish a second scorer with that first unit because, really, your only other consistent offensive threat is Aaron. He's got that potential, good mitts and good touch...but I agree with the scouts take, he's strong with the upper body but still needs to develop strength with his base. I think he gets pushed off balance just enough to cause him to miss a lot of his good post moves. Another year in the weight room building his lower body up and I think we would see a much more consistent finisher. Guess we'll have to enjoy watching it in the league. Oh well, I like the kid, he works hard, gets a consistent rape whistle down low and handles it like a player beyond his years.
*Lyles may be able to improve his stats by being a college 4 but the skills he is showing off now being forced to the 3 I think are actually improving his draft stock. Hell, I've been surprised by how smooth the guy is shooting and finding the open man off the bounce. I'm not sure playing the post all year would have gotten him top 10 consideration but now you see guys like that scout just salivating at such a versatile big. Seeing what guys like Draymond Green are doing now, he's going to sky rocket up the boards as the draft gets closer, IMO. Honestly, I wish he would force his offense a little more.
*Cal isn't going to do it, he hasn't since he's been here and I hope this doesn't smack of Billy Jo Wildcat simpleton...but I do wish we would occasional go to an all out press designed to cause TO's and force the tempo a little. Our press is token, just to make teams burn some shot clock getting into the half court. I wish we would just go through spurts where we went to all out trapping and gambling. I understand why we don't, because we are such a good halfcourt D that Cal doesn't want to give up easy baskets but I think it would pull us out of our droughts at times and force some energy into the team. Not going to happen, but it would be fun to watch guys like Lee running full speed around the court trying to trap and deflect passes, causing all sorts of havoc. Wishful thinking.
20-0, doh...how can you argue with that?
