There's more going on with this B-ball team...

Columbus Dawg

Redshirt
Feb 23, 2008
1,642
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the past 2 games than just hot shooting.

1. As has been stated, we are playing more uptempo which is the style we should have been playing all along. A big part of that is our opponent but there is another reason: Dee Bost.

2. I saw Bost play against Charlotte and he basically just jacked up deep 3's and reversed the ball around the perimeter. Now he is pushing the ball up the court, attacking the basket, and finding open shooters. He is improving every game and getting more and more comfortable as a point guard. Like Shane Power said, if he can keep hitting the 3, he will be very tough to defend.

3. Barry has finally broken out of his 1 1/2 year slump. The last 2 games he has taken good shots and they seem to be more spot up jumpers instead of trying to shoot off the dribble. Hopefully, he will continue to let the shots come to him instead of forcing them. Along the same lines, Barry seems to have stepped back into playing a role instead of trying to be THE guy on offense.

4. We have finally realized THE guy is Ravern Johnson. This is the last time I will say it, but man he could have helped us last year.

5. Stansbury has improved his rotation. We have cut 2 players out of the rotation and it now has some rhyme and reason to it. We actually brought Osby off the bench first and let him play with the other 4 starters instead of mass substituting. He is still bringing in Beckham and Benock at the same time, but he is picking his spots a little more instead of subbing on autopilot as I like to call it.

So it's only 2 games, but after we lost to San Diego, I really thought there was a good chance we would lose all 3. I don't expect us to go into Bud Walton and walk out with a win, but I have seen enough positives the last 2 games to give me a little hope for a decent season.
 

BlindDawg

Redshirt
Jan 23, 2007
649
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You left out the biggest difference in this team - DEFENSE. The last three games, our defense has been light years better than it was at the beginning of the season. Say what you want about our offense, but the fact that we couldn't get stops hurt us a lot more than anything on the offensive end did early in the season. Defensive stops lead to better offense and allow us to run more. Its hard to play up tempo and run when you have to throw the ball in every trip down and allow the opponents to set their defense. I'm not saying offense is flawless and has no problems, but it has been adequate. Now that we are getting stops we should be able to run more, get better looks on offense, and continue to improve.