AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2007 > November > 10 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USHoops thoughts in down time
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I’ve got another 50 minutes before this football game, and I’m bored so I think I’ll pontificate on the basketball teams.
First, in order to be fair, UNC-Greensboro is going to be a good team this year. They have four starters back from a 16-14 team, start three seniors, and have a very, very good player in forward Kyle Hines. He was second in the Southern Conference in scoring (20.9) last season, and first in rebonding (9.0). He’s ACC-caliber through and through.
The Spartans ran their sets well, made some nice adjustments (spreading the floor a little more in the second half), and rebounded with an edge after intermission.
But …
Why did the Jackets run so little offense through the post? Alade Aminu had four shots, and given that he had four offensive rebounds, I’d venture to say at least two and perhaps three of his shots came off rebounds. Lawal dunked at least twice. I remember him driving to score once very late.
Sure, the Jackets were without their starting centers from last season (Peacock’s foot, which has a stress reaction, or near stress fracture, is healing, and he may, I say may, play in the Virgin Islands; Dickey’s academically ineligible), but so what?
I think Brad Sheehan would’ve been hard pressed to slow Hines last night, too, but at 6-11, and after scoring 18 points in the exhibition game, he doesn’t play a second? Hmmm. I know Brad needs to get stronger. He was in the weight room, in uniform, lifting weights by himself after the game.
Might he have played a little when Hines was out? Or even when Hines was in? Nobody else was slowing him down in the first half (18 points).
Tech did a poor job feeding the post. Storrs seems comfortable and efficient doing that, and Hewitt complimented him for that after the game. But he played just 10 minutes, and he’s not a point guard anyhow.
The point guards, Miller, Causey and Bell combined for five assists and five turnovers. Some of Bell’s numbers (one assist, three turnovers) may have come when he was playing off the ball, I don’t know for sure.
The offense was stale. In the second half, it was just awful. In the first half, the Jackets took a four-point lead not so much because the offense was prettier, but because the Jackets had 17 offensive rebounds (four in the second half, one in the first 14 minutes or so of the second half).
None of the point guards looked horrible, although the offense seemed to slow most dramatically when D’Andre was running it. But none of them made much of a difference for the better, either. The late flurry, small as it was, came with Causey at the helm. He hit a 3, made a nifty interior pass for an easy bucket, but … they’re going to need more at the point.
The defense rotations were not as bad as you might think from the stats (UNCG hit 26 of 53 shots, 9 of 25 3-pointers, including 6 of 16 in the second half). But the Spartans were necessarily patient much of the time, and often used much of the shot clock, waiting until they caught the Jackets ot of position. The killer came when they worked the ball and worked it, and then fed Hines as time wound down. He kicked it back out for an inside-out 3 by Koivisto, his second in as many possessions, and that was the last straw.
Tech’s press was only moderately successful relative to what you might have expected. There was a stretch in the first half when the Jackets were forcing tempo nicely, but it didn’t last. In the second, Tech didn’t press much. When you can’t score (Tech had 13 points in the first 14 or so minutes after halftime), you can’t press anyway.
I don’t think Faye played a second in the second half, and while he made some marks on defense in the first half, he put up three wild shots on offense, missing all of them. I’m not sure where he fits.
Later, the women were impressive in wiping out Davidson. Crisp in much of what they did. They have a lot of experience back, and seemed to have a very good idea of where to be and when.
Two very different showings. Better hope this was an eye-opener for the men, an aberration. It won’t take long to get an idea, although Sunday’s game at Tennessee State is not exactly like a match with the Celtics.
Matt
Comments
By gt_blume
November 10, 2007 5:47 PM | Link to this
Hewitt is very lucky that the good will from his final four appearance has not worn out. How much longer do you think he has to move the program in the right direction before we start calling for a new basketball coach?
By Bill
November 11, 2007 12:22 AM | Link to this
I have an uneasy feeling that this season is going to be a lot like 2005-2006. Remember Zam Frederick at the point?? Not good memories. I hope this team grows/matures but Hewitt teams have never run what would be considered a very crisp offense.
By yellowblood
November 11, 2007 11:28 AM | Link to this
Finally a Tickle Pile! Congratulations to the football team that finally allowed us to celebrate. The enthusiasm was great last night. I also heard that the people that traveled to Durham also had a great Tickle Pile also. If we continue winning more Tickle piles to cum.
By GTinNC
November 12, 2007 11:23 AM | Link to this
Maybe Hewitt should spend more time preparing his team for the games instead of preparing his speeches about the inequalities in the football coaching ranks. Then again another season like 2005, and he will have all the time in the world to prepare his speeches.