** An hour or so after the HUGE win against Louisville last week, I suggested the following: “On other days, we can talk about what this game means for our Panther’s prospects for the remainder of the season. On this night, I’m simply and extraordinary thrilled that the Panthers are 1-0 in League play over the last 24 hours.”
** An hour or so after this EVER BIGGER win against Florida State tonight, allow me to suggest that it is INDEED now the time to talk about what this game means for our Panther’s prospects for the remainder of the season.
** I’ve always been a cautious optimist. After tonight, I see it as time to throw caution to the wind. Thoughts of the NIT are now well in play! More than that? Yes -- these things seem possible.
** These thoughts are in play because this team can indeed … well … play. That can play pretty well in fact. Much better … THIS year … than I would have ever thought possible.
** While this was another game full of extraordinary individual performances, this game felt more like a great team win than the L-ville triumph. This feels like a team making steps forward. This feels like a team coming together.
** Just yesterday, my Lair pal @gary2 and I were exchanging thoughts about this team’s chemistry. We both agreed there was a true closeness and togetherness among the players. However, I suggested that I hoped this would someday translate to better on-the-court chemistry.
** Today we watched a team that played like they have great on-the-court chemistry.
** Perhaps this observation is magnified by the fact that the Panthers played a more talented team who plays like they have not-so-great on-the-court chemistry. But isn’t that almost always the case with a Leonard Hamilton coached team?
** Meanwhile, the Jeff Capel coached team simply busted their tail on defense. The Panther’s turned this game on the defensive end of the court. After surrendering 50% on FG’s to the Seminoles in the first half, they held them to a paltry 23.5% in the second.
** Our team worked together wonderfully on the defensive end, and where always covering the right man in the zone, and switching effortlessly while playing man.
** And if you blinked, over the last few hours, perhaps you might have missed the Pomeroy stats that now have the Panthers ranked as the #27 best defensive team in the country, not to mention as the #68 ranked team overall.
** Those are the kind of numbers that should provide more than enough evidence from the most cautious of optimists to even some of the more darker pessimists. Heck, even @pittizit is now thinking of post season possibilities.
** How is this possible?
** It’s possible because Trey McGowens is proving to be an absolute elite ACC defender. He leads the conference in steals and is equally effective in man and zone defenses.
** It’s possible because Terrell Brown has turned a HUGE corner, and leads the ACC in blocks in conference games with 4.3 per contest.
** It’s possible because Au’Diese Toney is defending fours like he was 6-9 instead of 6-5. He’s just as good against guys who are 6-3.
** Others are doing their share too. Today Malik defended the wing effectively this night, while also filling in 9 big minutes as the five. Kene battled Christ Koumajie to a draw. Sidy and Kham were a big part of the perimeter problems for the Noles.
** When Xavier stays out of foul trouble, he can be effective on the defensive end like he was tonight.
** Only Jared Wilson-Frame struggled to defend his man, but even he twice cleared the defensive glass down the stretch when it mattered most.
** As far as the other end of the court, the Panthers were almost never pretty while somehow still playing "perfectly" – that is – perfect for who they are.
** Or instead, let’s say instead that they played with perfect fearlessness.
** Would the Noles ever have expected a team to be able to challenge them so hard and so well to get to the line 46 times against them? Would anyone have expected that?
** But when I suggest that the Panthers played perfectly for who they are, it’s fairly remarkable, even amazing, that the Panthers were able to score 75 points while only making 16 shots, and shooting only 35%.
** Going forward, my only critical request is that the Panthers need to be a little more mindful of not leaving a few easy ones of the scoreboard, including a few from Terrell and a missed dunk by Trey.
**And Xavier is going to have to be more careful with getting stuck in penetration, as far too many times he simply stopped in the wrong place. But there were those few times when he finished with a flair, and all a fan can do is shake your head in disbelief.
** Speaking of disbelief, when Trey gets the ball past half court on the break with a defender in front of him, it’s almost to the point now where we should expect something magical happen, like tonight’s backward over-the-shoulder flip. These kind of things are happening too frequently to think they are flukes.
** Wins against Louisville and Florida State are too important to think this team is a fluke. They are looking more and more like they just might be for real. The rest of the ACC is now looking at the Panthers and Coach Capel and wondering just what the heck in going on here.
** But teams that are for real can win on the road. Let’s go get one in the Dome!
** Congrats to our Panthers!! It’s been wonderful saying that as many times as I have done so at this point in the season.
** An hour or so after this EVER BIGGER win against Florida State tonight, allow me to suggest that it is INDEED now the time to talk about what this game means for our Panther’s prospects for the remainder of the season.
** I’ve always been a cautious optimist. After tonight, I see it as time to throw caution to the wind. Thoughts of the NIT are now well in play! More than that? Yes -- these things seem possible.
** These thoughts are in play because this team can indeed … well … play. That can play pretty well in fact. Much better … THIS year … than I would have ever thought possible.
** While this was another game full of extraordinary individual performances, this game felt more like a great team win than the L-ville triumph. This feels like a team making steps forward. This feels like a team coming together.
** Just yesterday, my Lair pal @gary2 and I were exchanging thoughts about this team’s chemistry. We both agreed there was a true closeness and togetherness among the players. However, I suggested that I hoped this would someday translate to better on-the-court chemistry.
** Today we watched a team that played like they have great on-the-court chemistry.
** Perhaps this observation is magnified by the fact that the Panthers played a more talented team who plays like they have not-so-great on-the-court chemistry. But isn’t that almost always the case with a Leonard Hamilton coached team?
** Meanwhile, the Jeff Capel coached team simply busted their tail on defense. The Panther’s turned this game on the defensive end of the court. After surrendering 50% on FG’s to the Seminoles in the first half, they held them to a paltry 23.5% in the second.
** Our team worked together wonderfully on the defensive end, and where always covering the right man in the zone, and switching effortlessly while playing man.
** And if you blinked, over the last few hours, perhaps you might have missed the Pomeroy stats that now have the Panthers ranked as the #27 best defensive team in the country, not to mention as the #68 ranked team overall.
** Those are the kind of numbers that should provide more than enough evidence from the most cautious of optimists to even some of the more darker pessimists. Heck, even @pittizit is now thinking of post season possibilities.
** How is this possible?
** It’s possible because Trey McGowens is proving to be an absolute elite ACC defender. He leads the conference in steals and is equally effective in man and zone defenses.
** It’s possible because Terrell Brown has turned a HUGE corner, and leads the ACC in blocks in conference games with 4.3 per contest.
** It’s possible because Au’Diese Toney is defending fours like he was 6-9 instead of 6-5. He’s just as good against guys who are 6-3.
** Others are doing their share too. Today Malik defended the wing effectively this night, while also filling in 9 big minutes as the five. Kene battled Christ Koumajie to a draw. Sidy and Kham were a big part of the perimeter problems for the Noles.
** When Xavier stays out of foul trouble, he can be effective on the defensive end like he was tonight.
** Only Jared Wilson-Frame struggled to defend his man, but even he twice cleared the defensive glass down the stretch when it mattered most.
** As far as the other end of the court, the Panthers were almost never pretty while somehow still playing "perfectly" – that is – perfect for who they are.
** Or instead, let’s say instead that they played with perfect fearlessness.
** Would the Noles ever have expected a team to be able to challenge them so hard and so well to get to the line 46 times against them? Would anyone have expected that?
** But when I suggest that the Panthers played perfectly for who they are, it’s fairly remarkable, even amazing, that the Panthers were able to score 75 points while only making 16 shots, and shooting only 35%.
** Going forward, my only critical request is that the Panthers need to be a little more mindful of not leaving a few easy ones of the scoreboard, including a few from Terrell and a missed dunk by Trey.
**And Xavier is going to have to be more careful with getting stuck in penetration, as far too many times he simply stopped in the wrong place. But there were those few times when he finished with a flair, and all a fan can do is shake your head in disbelief.
** Speaking of disbelief, when Trey gets the ball past half court on the break with a defender in front of him, it’s almost to the point now where we should expect something magical happen, like tonight’s backward over-the-shoulder flip. These kind of things are happening too frequently to think they are flukes.
** Wins against Louisville and Florida State are too important to think this team is a fluke. They are looking more and more like they just might be for real. The rest of the ACC is now looking at the Panthers and Coach Capel and wondering just what the heck in going on here.
** But teams that are for real can win on the road. Let’s go get one in the Dome!
** Congrats to our Panthers!! It’s been wonderful saying that as many times as I have done so at this point in the season.
