Well it was ugly, but we all knew it would be

[Predestined]

but its a win.

Lewis looked lost (just like last year) in the first half, especially on defense. But he played better in the second.

Bryant and Steele played well at times, although Bryant has to be careful bringing up the ball. There were a couple of times that he would look to the bench for the play and keep his gaze on Stans too long. If the guard had been closer, it would have been an easy pick.

Kodi was, ahem, well, Kodi. THere were a few times it looked like he was running down a steep incline.

The press scares me. I don't think TSU's was good, but it looked like Nolan Richardson's against us in the second half.

Game plan against us looks simple. Drive right at Bailey, clamp down on Ravern, and press full court from time to time.

There were some bright spots, and I gotta think all this PT is gonna serve us very well come Feburary/March. It will be very interesting to see who rises out of this. Right now after a short one game sample I'd say Bryant and Steele. Smith was non existent which was a disappointment (think Stans descibed him post game as a deer in the headlights) but he will have plenty of time to show us what he has.

Putting Bolen in and then watching the lead evaporate in the second half was very frustrating - there always seems to be one of those moments in each game - though Bolen wasn't the reason for the lead disappearing so fast.

 

[LTblows]

[No message]

 

[Hanmudog]

1. The crowd was horrendous. There is no excuse for that if we really want to be known as destination for top recruits.
2. Ravern looked like a new man. He took it to the hoop and drew fouls. Also I could be mistaken but I think I saw him play defense for a minute or two.
3. Twany nearly missed the entire Hump on a three point attempt. He should come in only with Charlie Parker.
4. Really liked Brian Bryant. As he gets experience, he will allow Bost to play the 2 and we will be damn hard to stop.
5. Jalen Steele looked very confident for a freshman and will get alot of PT this year. Really does remind of Barry Stewart.
6. Kodi rebounded hard and played a little defense. However, Rick should tell him to grab a seat on the bench if he dribbles more than once.
7. Benock played really good defense and made some nice passes but is still too scared to shoot.
8. Wendell Lewis looks like he is playing with oven mitts on offense. He must have small hands because he seems to lose the ball alot.
9. Shaun Smith hit a nice shot to tie it right before halftime but was clueless on defense and made a bad turnover.
10. Elgin busts his *** but he is struggling to keep up when he gets drawn out of the lane on defense.
11. Riek..........well......he seems like a nice kid.
12. If Stansbury ever....ever...puts Bolen in again with only a 7 point lead then I am going to go over and punch Meo in the boobs.

 

[Predestined]

Lewis was the substitute for Bailey when he picked up two fouls in first four minutes. Reik came in for Lewis for a bit. He doesn't look as soft as he did last year, but still nothing impressive (well other than the fact he is so dang tall). I don't remember him coming in in the second half, which means if he did, noting really developed around him.

All three middlemen were slow - Lewis is quicker, but there were at least two times in the first half (my seats are on the Bulldog end, upper corner just above the band) on defense that he whirled around in the paint with a look of panic on his face as if he had no idea where his man was or where he should go.

 

[Predestined]

1. Absolutely. It reminded me of the crowd I expect to see when we play Troy on Thanksgiving Friday, not a home opener while school is in session. No energy...I felt like I was in a cave when cheering.

4. I thought Bryant played well too. Stans gave him some props post game. He just had better learn to read the bench faster - a good guard is going to pick him when he is looking for instructions.

6. I'm still furious at that third foul. We need his scoring, but after drawing two with a minute left first half, Stans should have pulled him. Instead he trusted him, looked him in the face and told him to play smart, then Kodi goes GI JOE and barrels into the lane, drawing another charge.

7.There were times everyone passed them up. At one point in the second half, I think Smith started the ball around the horn...all four guys had an open three...all passed.

9. Was is Smith or Bryant that made that abysmal turnover late in the game underneath their bucket? We did not handle the press well, other than Benock.

11. LOL. what else can you say?

12. Amen. Although I don't recall the action on his side costing us. They just hit two threes back to back at that point. But still, he did nothing in there other than give someone a 20 second breather.

 

[Hanmudog]

I could easily see us losing 2 or 3 before Bost and Sidney get on the court together. App. State and Troy are not pushovers for a team that starts Benock and Beckham. I think offensively with the right players in the game we will be OK but defensively alot of them looked a bit lost which is to be expected with so many guys playing their first meaningful minutes.

I did find it interesting that Stansbury felt so comfortable with Steele (freshman)and Bryant (JUCO) on court at the end of a tight game. Not a good sign for Smith and Twany when Bost comes back.