by Wayne23 » Thu Mar 23, 2023 4:42 pm
11/14: We start tonight with Northern Iowa here.
Slow start. Up 1 after 10. We haven’t found our rhythm yet. 51-45 at halftime. Balanced scoring. Good inside play.
Our first run comes early in the 2nd. Up 17 with 10 to go. Feels like we’ve got this.
108-84. 21, 2, 6 for Yaki, 21, 6 for More, 16, 7 for Hart, 15, 3, 4 for Nabo. Both Lead and More had a lot of trouble with fouls. 18 threes.
At Colorado ST next. It’s there first game so we don’t know much.
11/17: We start slow again. Up 4 after 10. 47-44 at the half. Lousy D and poor shooting. Too many fouls, Lead has 3 and I let him know I’m not happy. 16 for Yaki, 10, 9 for Hart.
Down 1 with 10 to go and I don’t like what I see!
76-70. We just haven’t jelled yet. 31.5% shooting. More fouled out. Outplayed in the paint. 17, 15 for Hart, 19 for Yaki 12 for More. I need more from the bench and better shooting and inside play.
Better shooting is always about freeing guys up for open looks, which we aren’t doing.
Off to the Cabo Challenge where we’re the #8 seed. We face #1 seed Texas A & M, 2-0. Decent field in this tourney.
11/21: We fall behind quickly. We come back. Up 7 after 10. 49-48. The D is just awful again. I may need to shake up the lineup if this continues. They shot 50%. 3 fouls for Hart.
We start fast. They catch up. We can’t seem to sustain anything. Down 4 with 10 left. Still back and forth.
94-92. Whew! 2 threes and 2 from the line very late saved us but I am far from happy. 23, 5, 3 for More, 14, 7 for Lead, 13, 6 for Hart, 14 for Gray, 10 assists for Nabo.
The staff and I decide to hold off on making changes. Maybe they just need a little more time to play well together. Not sure how patient I’ll be though.
All the other top seeds won so we face #4 Washington ST, 3-0. Their PG is hurt but he’ll start. They look tough inside but I’m staying with the three guard set.
11/22: Close early again. Up 2 after 10. A late run gives us a 51-35 lead at the break. 13, 1, 3 for Yaki. Hart has 3 fouls. The D is much better tonight, they’re shooting 31.3%.
We’re expanding the lead early on. Up 15 with 10 to go.
97-78. 18, 9 for Lead, 18, 2, 4, 4 for Yaki, who has looked really good so far. 17, 6, 3 for More, 12, 9 for Gray, 9, 10 for Hart. Alan Days is playing well, 9, 6, 5 tonight. 20 threes.
It’s #3 seed Houston, 4-0, for the title. They have looked really good, solid at every position.
11/23: Fast start for the first time this season. Up 5 after 10 as we let them back in. It’s staying close. 43-43 at halftime. Their forwards are killing us. 13 for Lead. They’re shooting 63.6%, which is outrageous! I make a lot of noise at halftime! We’re being embarrassed in the paint.
Good start to the 2nd. We’re turning them over. Up 14 with 10 to play.
100-69. Very good 2nd half, 57-26. That’s what I’ve been waiting for! 20, 9, 2, 3 for Lead, 21, 3 for Yaki, 13, 11 for Gray, 15, 6 for Hart.
On the plane the staff discusses where we are and where we’re going. We’re going to Penn ST but that’s not what I mean.
We’re 5-0. Bony Gray is getting some of Alan Days’ minutes. Alan will not be happy!
I’m going to sim the rest of the pre-conf schedule, 8 games. I’ll do 4 and then report in, then the other 4.