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Post by youthbballcoach on Mar 12, 2011 14:59:36 GMT -6
You know what you are saying even though only one word has some legitimacy and I mentioned it early in the pre game. Charlie is a dynamite player but he isn't an asset in every aspect of the game. Krogman is a serious stud the way he has been playing. Thomas was good tonight. The guards played well and that was important tonight. My two biggest keys to the game were defense and passing. They did both so, so well tonight. Yotes please bottle this performance save it on tape and bring it out when you need a pick me up because that was a basketball clinic tonight other than free throw shooting. They have been victorious the past two games without Westbrook and that is to be highly commended. This team has several players who with adequate shots and playing time could average 15 pts/per game. There is no one player on this team that is an asset in every aspect of the game. That is why it is so important for each player to be allowed to bring to the game the things that they excell at. With the exception of a handful of games this year Westbrook, Krogman and Thomas don't all shoot the ball well at the same time. At times it seems as though they would almost get in each others way. They had 3 guys on the floor with a "shoot-first" mentality. It appears that with Westbrook out of the line-up, there aren't as many rushed shots because guys know when the shots are gonna come. I think at times because Charlie is such an exciting one-on-one player, guys would just stand around watching because they knew that he wasn't going to pass. In his absence, especially yesterday, the team has relied on the good ball movement that they utilized the last 3 home games. Several players are getting touches on each possession and it just makes the game easier to play that way. Defensively, they have just totally turned it up. They are playing like they don't want to go back to campus without the GWC title. The insertion of Bouie into the line-up was major. He just brings a toughness that the team lacks. He rebounded, took a big charge down the stretch and made the go ahead basket. It was a total team effort, from Boots 4-4 off the bench, to Thomas' hot shooting, to Bouie, Gruis and Andreotti's interior presence, Cutler's playmaking and Krogman's timely hoops. They are just playing team ball right now. As far as Krogman being "a stud", I acknowledge that he has had a good season, not great, but good. He definitely has not been studly in the tourney thus far (shooting 10-32), but that is OK. I mean, if Krogman is a stud what is Westbrook? They do primarily the same thing which is score. It's always a plus to not have to rely on 1 or 2 players having a great game in order to win. The team that plays the best collectively usually wins. Like you stated previously; their passing, defense and in yesterday's game rebounding were definitely keys to victory. It was great seeing how composed they have been in these games. A repeat performance would be great to see, especially in a nationally televised game.
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Post by wileycoyote on Mar 12, 2011 20:36:28 GMT -6
Can we watch this game on line. Can't seem to find it.
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Post by Yote 53 on Mar 12, 2011 23:29:14 GMT -6
That was one of the worst games I have ever seen USD play. The only reason we were even able to get to OT is because UND was equally as pathetic. Sure, it was a "classic" 2OT thriller, but the quality of play sucked. If the Coyotes would have played anywhere close to their capabilities they would have won that walking away. I guess you could say that for UND too. Either way, the Great West is over and we can now move forward.
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Post by youthbballcoach on Mar 13, 2011 7:10:18 GMT -6
Man, what a way to leave The GWC! I agree with Yote 53 in that it wasn't a very well played game for a majority of the game. I don't know if the lack of energy was due to playing in front of so many empty seats or just the pressure of the moment. Both teams seemed to really struggle until their backs were pushed against the wall. USD continually overcame deficits by making defensive plays or big shots but so did UND. As you said Coyote Fan, there was not the same passing and ball movement as in the UVU game. ND did a wonderful job of making sure the outside shooters, especially Thomas didn't get many clean looks. They've held Thomas in check all season. When The Yotes tried to set off-ball screens, it seemed like they kept getting called for offensive fouls. There were driving lanes that were exploited but very few post ups.
Bouie did do an admirable job in his time on the floor and there were situations where I thought maybe bring in Tecker to match up with Troy Huff, but ultimately I believe that the game came down to making just 1 of several plays in the overtime session. First Thomas saves the ball under the ND basket that resulted in an easy bucket for them. You got to just let that go out of bounds. Then there was a mix up in an exchange between Thomas and Cutler. I don't know what happened on that play. The next play would be the inbounds pass to Andreotti at half-court while up 4pts with 15 seconds remaining. I don't know if USD had a timeout at that point, if so they needed to call it then but you shouldn't have to throw that long of a pass. Someone has to be breaking to the ball. Then the missed freethrows by Cutler. Last but not least, not guarding the 3pt line when only a 3 can beat you. Had just 1 of these plays turned out differently, I believe USD would've been crowned GWC champs last night.
This loss will remain in the players hearts and minds for years. For seniors Bouie and Cutler, there is no next year. I believe that the returning players can use this for future motivation and in spite of all the close losses and lackluster efforts given this season, they really grew up as a team this weekend. They didn't always play well, but in these last 3 games they played very hard. They made earnest attempts to defend and rebound and hopefully they take these lessons into the Summit League next year. It stinks to lose a game like this but if you give your maximum effort and come up short, you've done all you could do. I want to say thanks to Mitchell Bouie and Kendall Cutler for all of their hard work and sacrifice over the past 2 seasons. You will be missed next year.
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