Path to the Hall of Fame

[randy]

3/24/97: (4) #8 Sam Houston St (29-2, 13-1) vs (1) #5 Arkansas (27-6, 11-5)

Scouting Report
1. Primary defense: M2M
2. Offense focus: Balanced
3. Key players: Fr SG Chris Slay (22.3 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 1.9 spg, Norton finalist this year), Fr SG Lamont Black (13.1 ppg, 4.8 apg, 45% 3PT)
4. Their 2 Fr guards may grab the headlines, but it is Arkansas' defense that makes them very good. They rank #2 in the nation in Opp ppg, #2 in Opp apg, and #8 in Opp FG%. In the first 2 rounds of the tournament, their opponents averaged only 43 ppg.

Initial instructions

[INDENT]1. Offense Sets / Focus: Motion / Favor Inside
2. Offense Pace / Freedom: 7 / 35%
3. Off / Def Rebounding Crash: 9 / 8
4. Defense Sets / Intensity: 2-3 zone / 8
5. Pressure Set / Frequency: Auto / 3

Unlike in the last game where we focused on MINN's star SG, we're worried that won't work against ARK as they a battery of talented players surrounding Clay. Aside from Black, SF Craig Weems can score when needed

Obviously, its a roll of the dice. We can let Slay take all the shots he want, as long as we prevent easy pts in the paint
[/INDENT]


Tip off (1st Half)

15:29, Up 10-9
Linehan Johnson scored our entire 10 pts, all from the low post. ARK content on shooting outside shots. So far so good, at least according to plan

11:35, Down 12-13
Burditt clearly bothered by ARK's defense, as he is 0-3 FG. After a short rest, I'm now putting back Johnson.

7:03, Up 22-19
Burditt beginning to heat up with 6 pts. Our big men battling hard on both ends of the glass (rebs comparison: 17-9). Smith on the bench for the rest half with 3 fouls

We went down 22-27 when ARK's PG Lamont Black hit back-to-back 3s. Burditt and Thomas spearheaded a 9-0 run, to make ourselves on top 31-27 as we end a low scoring, but exciting 1st half


Halftime, Up 31-27
Johnson who started out hot, has 12 pts to lead our scoring. Burditt picked up his scoring late in the half, with 11 pts. ARK's Lamont Black with 11 pts, while Chris Slay has 10. Slay shot a horrendous 3-19 FG (2-12 3PT)

We're winning the rebounding battle so far, 24-18. We need to cut down though, on our turnovers (9 in the 1st half)

We find ourselves exactly where we want to be at this point in the game. We want to keep it close and not let ARK take some momentum, and hopefully we can find a way to win at the end


Start of 2nd Half

15:44, Up 40-34
ARK's Chris Slay has scored all of their 5 pts in the 2nd half, but continues to miss more shots than he makes

12:45, Up 45-34
A split by Burditt, Smith scored his first 2 pts, and a transition basket; all of a sudden we're up double figures. Meanwhile, Slay and his team mates continue to throw bricks after bricks. Slay is 5-26 FG

ARK: Black hits a 3. Up 8
SAM: Turnover
ARK: Slay knocks down another 3. And just like that, ARK is back in the game

11:48, Up 45-40

Trading misses.
Smith scores. But ARK's Slay hits another 3

10:52, Up 47-43

Trading turnovers. We have 14 tos, ARK has 8

SAM: Johnson scores again from the low post.
ARK: Another 3, this time coming from SF Craig Weems

9:59, Up 49-46

A miss by Burditt. Slay hits another 3. We're tied. I called a time out (I regretted not calling a time out much earlier). ARK able to erase an 11-pt deficit by connecting 5 3s (3 by slay) in the last 3 mins

9:21, Tied at 49

Now I have a big decision to make. Should I stay with the 2-3 zone, or do we adjust to a m2m defense? Each approach pose certain risks, but with momentum clearly on ARK's favor, we need to make some changes

We'll shift to m2m, put a SF (Wallace or Thorton) to defend over Slay, and double him

Score was tied again at 51. On ARK's offensive possession, despite the double team by Wallace and Smith, Slay let go of a long 3 and connects again! Clay has erupted for 29 pts, 19 here in the 2nd half

8:26, Down 51-54

5:40, Down 51-57
We got several opportunities in the paint, but Jackson and McCoy not able to capitalize.

After an ARK turnover, we scored on transition for an easy 2 pts

5:16, Down 53-57

ARK: With their shot clock nearly expiring, C Bart Williams had to shoot a 17 footer. Missed but Glendon Jackson called for a foul. Damn! Williams hits both FTs

4:49, Down 53-59

SAM: Johnson scores on the low post again

4:25, Down 55-59

ARK: Miss
SAM: Burditt puts up a shot. Missed. Jackson with the off rebound. Jackson shoots. Missed also
ARK: Slay on the outside. Double team by Wallace and Burditt. He puts up the shot anyway. Scores a dagger! I called a timeout

3:39, Down 55-62

Told the team we can still salvage this game. I will go with a 3 guard line up, to generate more offense. Burditt will guard Slay

SAM: Jackson scores on the post.

3:21, Down 57-62

ARK: Black missed
SAM: Burditt shoots a 3. Missed. That would have been a big shot
ARK: Turn over.
SAM: Smith with the ball. Cross over dribble against Slay. He pulls up for a jumper. Scores

2:02, Down 59-62

ARK: Black on top of the 3 pt line. Without hesitation puts up a shot over Thomas. Basket is good

1:42, Down 59-65

SAM: Smith missed a 3. Off rebound by Jackson. Miss also by Jackson
ARK: Slay missed a 3. I elected not to call a timeout
SAM: Burditt asking for the ball. Burditt gets the pass from Thomas. Burditt takes a shot from 3. It's good!

0:49, Down 62-65

No need to foul. Just play good defense.

ARK: Slay with the ball. Burditt with single coverage. Slay elects to drive to the hole. Burditt staying with him. Slay missed the shot. Good defense by Burditt on that play. We get the rebound and called a timeout

0:26, Down 62-65

We would look for a 3, but if we can get easy 2 pts inside, then that would be a good option also.

SAM: Good denial defense by ARK's SF Craig Weems on Burditt. Thomas passed to Smith instead. Smith shoots a 3. Nothing but net. We are tied! ARK did not call a timeout

0:21, Tied at 65

ARK: Slay with the ball. Burditt on him again. Slay passed to Weems with 2 secs remaining. Weems no choice but to put up a long 3. Miss. We go to OT


End of Regulation, Tied at 65
What a roller-coaster of a game. With 12:45 remaining, we were up by 11. With 1:42 remaining, ARK is leading by 6. We need 5 more minutes (at least?) to determine the winner


Start of 1st OT

I will give Smith and Johnson short rest

ARK wins the jumpball

ARK: Weems missed
SAM: Wallace drives, but missed the shot. I was asking for a foul, but refs is having none of it
ARK: Weems hits a 3

4:08, Down 65-68

SAM: Burditt tryingto answer back. Missed a 3
ARK; Foul by Thomas. We're in the penalty. 'm bring back Smith and Johnson. They split their FTs

3:50, Down 65-69

SAM: We get it to Johnson down low. He had a good look, but missed the shot
ARK: Slay missed
SAM: Burditt takes it strong to hole. He scores

2:49, Down 67-69

ARK: They go to the post. Missed
SAM: Thomas drives. Block. Recovered by Jackson. Jackson shoots, and scores.

2:33, Tied at 69

ARK: They give it to their PF Dannis Hansen. He puts up a mid-range jumper. Its good

2:10, Down 69-71

SAM: Turnover by Thomas
ARK: Slay missed. But the ball bounced to his direction. Burditt called for a very soft foul. I can't risk complaining to the refs, and getting T'd up, at his juncture of the game. 2 FTs. Slay hits both. I called a timeout

1:35, Down 69-73

SAM: We go the Jackson in the post. Jackson takes a shot. Missed.. Tough day for Jackson, who led the nation in FG%. He's 3-10 today

ARK: Another big 3 by SF Craig Weems. It is Weems' 2nd 3 in OT. I called my last time out

1:04, Down 69-76

We look for 3s, and shift to Favor Outside. Max out pace, and press frequency

SAM: Burditt missed a 3
ARK: We forced a turn over
SAM: Smith missed a 3
ARK: We intentionally foul. They missed the front end of a 1-and-1. We have no time outs remaining
SAM: Another missed 3 by Smith
ARK: We foul again, and they hit both. 0:05 remaining
SAM: Smith scores a meaningless 3

Tough game, but we gave ARK all it could handle

Final score: Sam Houston St - 72, Arkansas - 78


Box Score

[INDENT]Burditt 22, 10, 0
Johnson 22, 8, 2
Smith 12, 2, 2
G Jackson 6, 13, 0
McCoy 6, 7, 0
Thomas 4, 8, 8, 7 tos
Wallace 0, 3, 6
Thorton 0, 0, 0
Wilson 0, 0, 0

Arkansas
Slay 34, 3, 0, 7-23 3PT (*)
Black, 20, 7, 1, 3 blks, 7 tos
Weems 10, 7, 4, 2 stls
Hansen, 8, 9, 2, 4 blks
Williams 6, 6, 3
Daniels 0, 3, 1
Jones 0, 2, 2
Johnson 0, 2, 1
McRae 0, 0, 0
[/INDENT]

Team Stats Comparisons

[INDENT]FG: 40-36%
REB: +12
TO: +5
Paint: +28
2nd Chance : -3
Fast Break: +5
[/INDENT]

Post Game Notes

[INDENT]1. The gamble on the 2-3 zone paid off early, but I was late in adjusting when ARK started hitting those 3s. ARK ended up converting 15-40 3 PT, and most it came at the latter part of the 2nd half and OT. I should have called for an early timeout, but I did not
2. The effort exerted in keeping it close towards the end of regulation, and eventually tying the score, took its toll on my players; they just didn't have enough gas left in the tank in OT
[/INDENT]

[CoachC]

Randy, I always spend a portion of practice each week practicing against all the zones and a lot more on zones that I know we are going to be facing the following week. Otherwise, I tend to do what you did when struggling against a zone. Up the offensive freedom substantially, and when all else fails start running the basic man-to-man sets against it, which I've generally found to be pretty effective. Good offensive rebounding, and one or two guys who can really light up from the perimeter are always helpful against the zone, but when you don't have it, you don't have it. Practicing those zone sets every week though is important though, because eventually it pays off. Once you are able to pick apart a zone you usually have a huge advantage because the AI is so reluctant to leave it.

[randy]

3/26, NCAA South Regionals Finals

(1) #5 Arkansas whacks (10) Iowa, 76-56
- Slay and Black combined for 46 pts, including 12 3PTs


4/1, Final 4

(1) #2 North Carolina demolishes (6) #22 Southern Illinois, 73-52

(1) #5 Arkansas downs (9) Kansas St, 77-66
- Black 30 pts, Slay 25 pts


Championship

(1) #5 Arkansas puzzles (1) #2 North Carolina, 75-68
- Slay 33 pts, Black 29 pts

Arkansas wins their 1st ever NCAA championship

It turns out that no team in the nation can stop the explosive Freshman guard duo of Chris Slay (NCAA MOP, All-American 1st Team) and Lamont Black. The eventual champions needed OT to beat us in the Sweet 16, so in retrospect, it was a good season for us.

[randy]

All-American 2nd Team
- Charles Burditt

Southland Player of the Year
- Charles Burditt

Southland All-Conference 1st Team
- Charles Burditt
- Glendon Jackson
- Linehan Johnson

Southland All-Conference 2nd Team
- Ray Smith

I won Southland Coach of the Year, with a 29-3 (0.906) record

[randy]

1. SG Charles Burditt
- 2 seasons with Butler + 2 seasons with Sam Houston St. After winning the Norton award in his Fr year at Butler, he got ineligible due to academics the next season. He eventually transferred, we picked him up, and the rest as they say is history
- 103 regular season games (103 starts), 30.0 mpg, 22.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 1.4 apg, 1.0 spg, 0.7 bpg, 44% FG, 42% 3PT, 68% FT
- 10 NCAA tournament games (20.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg)
- Norton Award (1993), NCAA Freshman of the Year (1993), NCAA All-American 1st team (1993), All-American 2nd Team (1996, 1997), Southland Player of the Year (1996, 1997), Southland All-Conference 1st Team (1996, 1997), The Valley Player of the Year (1993), The Valley Freshman of the Year (1993), The Valley All-Conference 1st Team (1993)
- 2.8 GPA

2. PG Joem Thomas
- 2 seasons (JuCo recruit)
- 58 regular games (58 starts), 24.4 mpg, 8.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 5.2 apg, 0.7 spg, 0.4 bpg, 42% FG, 38% 3PT, 83% FT
- 7 NCAA tournament games (11.3 ppg, 6.4 apg)
- Southland Defensive Player of the Year (1996)
- 4.0 GPA

3. PG Keith Jackson
- 4 seasons
- 37 regular season games, 4.1 mpg, 0.9 ppg, 0.5 rpg, 1.1 apg, 0.1 spg, 45% FG, 47% 3PT, 70% FT
- 1 NCAA tournament game (1.0 ppg, 1.0 apg)
- 3.8 GPA

4. C Chris Doss
- 2 seasons (walk-on Jr)
- 54 regular season games, 14.6 mpg, 2.9 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 0.8 apg, 0.2 spg, 0.3 bpg, 52% FG, 81% FT
- Played in 5 NCAA tournament games (3.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 50% FG)
- 3.8 GPA

5. SG Marlon Decker
- 1 season (walk-on Sr)
- 19 reguar season games, 7.4 mpg, 1.9 ppg, 1.1 rpg, 0.7 apg, 0.3 spg, 0.2 bpg, 43% FG, 46% 3PT, 100% FT
- 3.0 GPA

[randy]

1. Cal Poly
- Team Prestige: 26
- Season Record: 16-15 (6-10)

2. South Carolina Gamecocks
- Team Prestige: 34
- Season Record: 12-16 (7-9)

3. Stephen F. Austin
- Team Prestige: 28
- Season Record: 13-17 (8-8)

4. West Virginia
- Team Prestige: 34
- Season Record: 11-17 (7-9)


Both So Carolina and West Virginia are very enticing. But then again, the prospect of building something special here at Sam Houston prompted me to stay

[randy]

1. PG Davor Holmes (JuCo, 6-4, rank #59)
- OVR: A, PASS: A, STL: A, ATH: A

2. SG Keith Field (JuCo, 6-5, rank #46)
- OVR: A, SCR: A, REB: A

3. SF Jafar Newby (JuCo, 6-6, rank#62)
- OVR: A, SCR: A, ATH: A

2 more scholarship slots to fill; will look at transfer pool.

[randy]

5/1
- Cut Dan Wilson. Decided to retain walkon C Mark Lampley. Now, I have 3 scholarship slots open.

Transfers

The amount of talent in the transfer pool is mouth-watering, and I was glad to have 3 open slots. In the end, we were able to sign the following players

1. Jr PG Billy Johnson (6-3, rank #29 in the 1994 class, 3.5/5.0 stars, 1.5 GPA)
- has played only 2 games at Houston because of poor grades

2. Jr PF Tyrone Walls (6-7, rank #49 in the 1994 class, 4.0/4.5 stars, 1.5 GPA)
- 2-yr starter at BYU, 9.0 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 50% FG

3. Jr C Josh Fredrick (6-9, rank #308 in the 1994 class, 3.5/4.0 stars, 2.7 GPA)
- 2-yr backup C at Toledo, 6.7 ppg, 4.0 rpg

[randy]

Starting 5

1: Jr PG Devor Holmes, 6-4, 3.0/4.5 stars
2. Jr SG Keith Field, 6-5, 4.0/5.0
3: Jr SF Angelo Wallace, 6-6, 3.5/3.5
4: Sr PF Linehan Johnson, 6-7, 3.5/3.5
5: Sr C Glendon Jackson, 6-9, 4.0/4.0

Key Reserves

1/2: Sr PG Ray Smith, 6-4, 4.0/4.5
2/3: Jr SF Jafar Newby, 6-6, 3.5/4.5
4/5: Jr PF Rashif McCoy, 6-8, 3.0/3.5
4/5: Fr(R) Joel Wilson, 6-8, 1.5/4.5
3: So(R) Tyrone Willis, 6-7, 1.5/4.0

Endgame 5
1: PG Ray Smith
2: SG Keith Field
3: SF Jafar Newby (offense) / SF Angelo Wallace (defense)
4: PF Linehan Johnson
5: C Glendon Jackson

Walkons

5: So C Mark Lampley, 7-1, 1.5/1.5
1/2: Fr SG Chris Patterson, 6-1, 0.5/0.5

Transfers (Ineligible to play this season)
3/4: Jr SF Tyrone Walls, 6-7, 4.0/4.5
4/5: Jr C Josh Fredrick, 6-9, 4.0/4.0
1/2: Jr PG Billy Johnson, 6-3, 3.5/5.0


Notes:

1. Similar to last season, Ray Smith will come off the bench to provide instant offense. Depth on the guard positions is a little bit thin, but SF Jafar Newby can play the "2" position in a tall-lineup unit.

2. I am somehow disappointed on Wilson and Willis' development. I redshirted both of them last season, but despite of their great potential, they hardly improved.

3. We may not have a high-volume scorer like what we had with Charles Burditt the past 2 seasons, but this season's lineup is tall, athletic, and can score the entire 40 minutes. Expect the team to score a lot inside (drives, post plays), and run the break at every opportunity.

[randy]

Randy, I always spend a portion of practice each week practicing against all the zones and a lot more on zones that I know we are going to be facing the following week. Otherwise, I tend to do what you did when struggling against a zone. Up the offensive freedom substantially, and when all else fails start running the basic man-to-man sets against it, which I've generally found to be pretty effective. Good offensive rebounding, and one or two guys who can really light up from the perimeter are always helpful against the zone, but when you don't have it, you don't have it. Practicing those zone sets every week though is important though, because eventually it pays off. Once you are able to pick apart a zone you usually have a huge advantage because the AI is so reluctant to leave it.

Thanks for advice Coach. Yes, I will allocate (at least) 5% of training time to each of the zone attack offense