this game really was characteristic of the season.
* you can point to several reasons we lost this game. and here's one: from the center position: 2 points and 9 rebounds. if this team has a mediocre big man, this could be a sweet 16 team. but we don't. we all had optimism after what Fede and GDG gave us late last season. just didn't pan out for whatever reason. I'm not saying kante changes the whole season. but man, we needed him this year. could've made a difference in a lot of these games.
* I've said it often this season: our best 3 players rarely ALL played a good game in the same game. like once or twice against p5 competition. well, tonight, at best, you could say Bub pulled his weight. Blake and Lowe did not. if Dior is on this team, HCJC could legit pull out Bub and Lowe when they needed to sit for a few minutes and regroup. I'm not trying to relitigate why he's not here. but he makes a difference in a game like tonight.
* we had good opportunities on almost every possession. but this is basketball: players have to make shots. it's a simple game - if you don't make your shots, you lose. we shot 32.8% FG's and 28% from 3. Clemson shot 48% and 45% from 3. you lose games with those numbers almost every time. the only reason it was close is we had 3 TO's to their 11.
* I've been in the group who has been most critical of HCJC. I certainly was not happy with him up to the Syracuse game. but he's done a very good coaching job since then. the games we lost since then have really been on the players just not executing. namely, missing shots.
* will needs to go. I'm sorry but we can not waste a scholarship on a guy who literally is useless on the offensive side of the ball. he needs to move on and we need to bring a big man with some beef. fede has some upside so I wouldn't show him the door. the problem is if he's your best option at 5, you're going to have a season like this.
* you can point to several reasons we lost this game. and here's one: from the center position: 2 points and 9 rebounds. if this team has a mediocre big man, this could be a sweet 16 team. but we don't. we all had optimism after what Fede and GDG gave us late last season. just didn't pan out for whatever reason. I'm not saying kante changes the whole season. but man, we needed him this year. could've made a difference in a lot of these games.
* I've said it often this season: our best 3 players rarely ALL played a good game in the same game. like once or twice against p5 competition. well, tonight, at best, you could say Bub pulled his weight. Blake and Lowe did not. if Dior is on this team, HCJC could legit pull out Bub and Lowe when they needed to sit for a few minutes and regroup. I'm not trying to relitigate why he's not here. but he makes a difference in a game like tonight.
* we had good opportunities on almost every possession. but this is basketball: players have to make shots. it's a simple game - if you don't make your shots, you lose. we shot 32.8% FG's and 28% from 3. Clemson shot 48% and 45% from 3. you lose games with those numbers almost every time. the only reason it was close is we had 3 TO's to their 11.
* I've been in the group who has been most critical of HCJC. I certainly was not happy with him up to the Syracuse game. but he's done a very good coaching job since then. the games we lost since then have really been on the players just not executing. namely, missing shots.
* will needs to go. I'm sorry but we can not waste a scholarship on a guy who literally is useless on the offensive side of the ball. he needs to move on and we need to bring a big man with some beef. fede has some upside so I wouldn't show him the door. the problem is if he's your best option at 5, you're going to have a season like this.
