** When this game started with John Hugley taking two three point shots in the first two minutes, and FDU taking an early two point lead, I worried to myself that this was going to be one of “those games.”
** The Panthers have had too many of “those games” of late. And as our much larger Panthers continued to launch three point shots throughout the first half, I even worried that this was going to be worse than one of those games.
** After all, the Panthers shot a way-too-many 16 threes in the first half and went ice cold after an early barrage. It had the feeling of the game that was going to have a one or two possession difference even into the final minutes.
** But alas, in the second half, the Panthers figured out the basic tenet of basketball which is if you are much bigger and stronger than the other team, your comparative advantage is shoot the ball closer to the basket. Cool idea, right?
** This basic plan allowed the Panthers to demonstrate what might have been their best overall half of basketball this season in the second 20 minutes.
** While I wouldn’t necessarily deem the Panther second half performance as impressive, I should also remark that I also believe this was not a terrible FDU Basketball team either. Or at least a better team than their #349 Pomeroy ranking would indicate. They had some quickness and some shooters and ran some nice stuff at times.
** But as the game went on, FDU seemed to stop running their stuff. Either the Panthers started making it tougher or they just started to wear down. Maybe some of both.
** And the Knights certainly had absolutely no way to stop the Panthers when we got the ball in the paint.
** What we just can’t really yet know just yet however is whether this performance indicates any real progress and or promise for our Panthers. One good half against an NEC team isn’t really enough to hang your hat on.
** We probably won’t know anymore from our contest against William and Mary either, unless that one becomes a serious struggle.
** One thing we may be learning however is the impact Twin Jorge seems to have on this team. He played his best overall game of the year on both ends of the court. More importantly, the team seems to perform better with him on the court.
** I don’t know if all of the advanced analytics back up this gut feel. Nor can we know just yet how Jorge or his brother will fair against stronger and taller foes. But at least it appears the Coach Capel is finding something he thinks he can build upon.
** To that end, it would also appear that he’s stripping things down a bit, sticking to what looks like his seven best for tonight, and figuring how Fede, Nate and GDiaz might fit later.
** I should also say that it was at least good hear Coach Capel sound a little more encouraged in his post game interview than he has recently. In fact, it felt as if he almost sounded relieved, perhaps with the knowledge that maybe something is indeed coming together for his group.
** Nonetheless, what the second half performance did for this fan is get me truly interested again wondering how good this team can be. Not much of what we saw in our previous four contests spurred this kind of curiosity.
** ESPN’s matchup predictor for Monday against Northwestern gives us about a 25% chance to come away victorious. If it’s a really good game, that’s a good sign. But if it’s one of “those games” … well …
** Happy Thanksgiving to all of my fellow Pitt Hoops fans!
** The Panthers have had too many of “those games” of late. And as our much larger Panthers continued to launch three point shots throughout the first half, I even worried that this was going to be worse than one of those games.
** After all, the Panthers shot a way-too-many 16 threes in the first half and went ice cold after an early barrage. It had the feeling of the game that was going to have a one or two possession difference even into the final minutes.
** But alas, in the second half, the Panthers figured out the basic tenet of basketball which is if you are much bigger and stronger than the other team, your comparative advantage is shoot the ball closer to the basket. Cool idea, right?
** This basic plan allowed the Panthers to demonstrate what might have been their best overall half of basketball this season in the second 20 minutes.
** While I wouldn’t necessarily deem the Panther second half performance as impressive, I should also remark that I also believe this was not a terrible FDU Basketball team either. Or at least a better team than their #349 Pomeroy ranking would indicate. They had some quickness and some shooters and ran some nice stuff at times.
** But as the game went on, FDU seemed to stop running their stuff. Either the Panthers started making it tougher or they just started to wear down. Maybe some of both.
** And the Knights certainly had absolutely no way to stop the Panthers when we got the ball in the paint.
** What we just can’t really yet know just yet however is whether this performance indicates any real progress and or promise for our Panthers. One good half against an NEC team isn’t really enough to hang your hat on.
** We probably won’t know anymore from our contest against William and Mary either, unless that one becomes a serious struggle.
** One thing we may be learning however is the impact Twin Jorge seems to have on this team. He played his best overall game of the year on both ends of the court. More importantly, the team seems to perform better with him on the court.
** I don’t know if all of the advanced analytics back up this gut feel. Nor can we know just yet how Jorge or his brother will fair against stronger and taller foes. But at least it appears the Coach Capel is finding something he thinks he can build upon.
** To that end, it would also appear that he’s stripping things down a bit, sticking to what looks like his seven best for tonight, and figuring how Fede, Nate and GDiaz might fit later.
** I should also say that it was at least good hear Coach Capel sound a little more encouraged in his post game interview than he has recently. In fact, it felt as if he almost sounded relieved, perhaps with the knowledge that maybe something is indeed coming together for his group.
** Nonetheless, what the second half performance did for this fan is get me truly interested again wondering how good this team can be. Not much of what we saw in our previous four contests spurred this kind of curiosity.
** ESPN’s matchup predictor for Monday against Northwestern gives us about a 25% chance to come away victorious. If it’s a really good game, that’s a good sign. But if it’s one of “those games” … well …
** Happy Thanksgiving to all of my fellow Pitt Hoops fans!