Some thoughts on the game

[Bethlehemjohn]

-Everyone seems to think X and Horton sat to change up the lineup because we were on a funk. They each got technicals last game and when that has happened in the past, guys have sat to start 2nd halves. I am pretty sure the only reason why both didn't start was because of their late game T's vs ND.
-People continue to complain about the production at the center position, but Coulibaly has been doing fine for us. Alume had 30 tonight, but the D was really not that bad. Plus, he does a lot of the little things for us that don't show up in the box score. Also, those who continue to dish on Terrell expect too much. He did not do anything for us on offense tonight, but he actually did a pretty good job on defense tonight.
-Justin's defense in the first half was atrocious. He made Mutts look like an All American.
-Cone had 9 points on three 3's in the first half with Femi, Horton and Sinande guarding him. We switched Toney on to him in the 2nd half and Cone had none. So, Cone scored none in the 2nd half and Champ did a better job on Mutts and instead of 3 scorers, they really only had one in the 2nd half.
-When this team gives effort, plays defense and rebounds, they can beat some pretty good teams. However, we aren't consistently good enough on offense to win the majority of our games and really need a few shooters more than anything.
-This was a really big win, but the next 3 at Virginia, at Louisville and at GT are going to really be tough. We will have to have maximum effort and make a few shots in those games to have a shot.
-Toney didn't force his offense tonight, let the game come to him a a ended up with a pretty nice game. That is what we need out of him every game.
-X was outstanding tonight and pretty good for SMF's 13th best PG in the ACC.
-Horton started off 0-3 from 3 and missed pretty badly. If this was earlier in the year, he may have stopped shooting. Tonight we were lucky he kept chucking it because he made some big 3's that kept us in it early in the 2nd half when it felt like VT had some momentum.

 

[Chescat]

Good post. The only thing I'd differ
with is our center performance. I
realize Coulibaly did some very
good things in tonight's game.
BUT.....a total of two rebounds
from our two centers is almost
beyond belief.
Normally you lose with those kinds
of numbers from your Bigs. As I
mentioned in another thread, we
somehow out rebounded VT as a
team.

 

[Millerton24]

-Everyone seems to think X and Horton sat to change up the lineup because we were on a funk. They each got technicals last game and when that has happened in the past, guys have sat to start 2nd halves. I am pretty sure the only reason why both didn't start was because of their late game T's vs ND.
-People continue to complain about the production at the center position, but Coulibaly has been doing fine for us. Alume had 30 tonight, but he D was really not that bad. Plus, he does a lot of the little things for us that don't show up in the box score. Also, those who continue to dish on Terrell expect too much. He did not do anything for is on offense tonight, but he actually did a pretty good job on defense tonight.
-Justin's defense in the first half was atrocious. He made Mutts look like an All American.
-Cone had 9 points on three 3's in the first half with Femi, Horton and Sinande guarding him. We switched Toney on to him in the 2nd half and Cone had none. So, Cone scored none in the 2nd half and Champ did a better job on Mutts and instead of 3 scorers, they really only had one in the 2nd half.
-When this team gives effort, plays defense and rebounds, they can beat some pretty good teams. However, we aren't consistently good enough on offense to win the majority of our games and really need a few shooters more than anything.
-This was a really big win, but the next 3 at Virginia, at Louisville and at GT are going to really be tough. We will have to have maximum effort and make a few shots in those games to have a shot.
-Toney didn't force his offense tonight, let the game come to him a a ended up with a pretty nice game. That is what we need out of him every game.
-X was outstanding tonight and pretty good for SMF's 13th best PG in the ACC.
-Horton started off 0-3 from 3 and missed pretty badly. If this was earlier in the year, he may have stopped shooting. Tonight we were lucky he kept chucking it because he made some big 3's that kept us in it early in the 2nd half when it felt like VT had some momentum.

Spot on with Toney and Coulibaly.

 

[PittPoker]

-Everyone seems to think X and Horton sat to change up the lineup because we were on a funk. They each got technicals last game and when that has happened in the past, guys have sat to start 2nd halves. I am pretty sure the only reason why both didn't start was because of their late game T's vs ND.
-People continue to complain about the production at the center position, but Coulibaly has been doing fine for us. Alume had 30 tonight, but he D was really not that bad. Plus, he does a lot of the little things for us that don't show up in the box score. Also, those who continue to dish on Terrell expect too much. He did not do anything for is on offense tonight, but he actually did a pretty good job on defense tonight.
-Justin's defense in the first half was atrocious. He made Mutts look like an All American.
-Cone had 9 points on three 3's in the first half with Femi, Horton and Sinande guarding him. We switched Toney on to him in the 2nd half and Cone had none. So, Cone scored none in the 2nd half and Champ did a better job on Mutts and instead of 3 scorers, they really only had one in the 2nd half.
-When this team gives effort, plays defense and rebounds, they can beat some pretty good teams. However, we aren't consistently good enough on offense to win the majority of our games and really need a few shooters more than anything.
-This was a really big win, but the next 3 at Virginia, at Louisville and at GT are going to really be tough. We will have to have maximum effort and make a few shots in those games to have a shot.
-Toney didn't force his offense tonight, let the game come to him a a ended up with a pretty nice game. That is what we need out of him every game.
-X was outstanding tonight and pretty good for SMF's 13th best PG in the ACC.
-Horton started off 0-3 from 3 and missed pretty badly. If this was earlier in the year, he may have stopped shooting. Tonight we were lucky he kept chucking it because he made some big 3's that kept us in it early in the 2nd half when it felt like VT had some momentum.

Disagree about you saying Brown was pretty good on defense. I thought he was terrible on both sides. AKC played imo better D in the second half.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

The amazing thing is that Coulibaly and Brown both played well defensively, and the guy they were guarding went for 30 and 10 on 10-16 from the field. Just imagine, if those guys hadn't done a good job what Aluma's line would have looked like. Something like 50 and 25, I would imagine.

 

[PittPoker]

The amazing thing is that Coulibaly and Brown both played well defensively, and the guy they were guarding went for 30 and 10 on 10-16 from the field. Just imagine, if those guys hadn't done a good job what Aluma's line would have looked like. Something like 50 and 25, I would imagine.

Brown did not play well defensively. He was awful.

 

[gary2]

Disagree about you saying Brown was pretty good on defense. I thought he was terrible on both sides. AKC played imo better D in the second half.

I thought it was big thatAkc had four fouls to give in the second half.

Felt good about that going into halftime.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

Brown did not play well defensively. He was awful.

Which made him only slightly better (or was it slightly worse?) than Coulibably. Those two were awful tonight.

Awful.

 

[PittPoker]

Which made him only slightly better (or was it slightly worse?) than Coulibably. Those two were awful tonight.

Awful.

First half agree completely. Second half though I thought Coulibaly played better D. Which I guess isn't saying much.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

Second half though I thought Coulibaly played better D.

I don't know man. In the second half Aluma had 18 points. So if that was better, what would a bad second half have looked like?

 

[PittPoker]

I don't know man. In the second half Aluma had 18 points. So if that was better, what would a bad second half have looked like?

I guess I'm remembering 1 play where AKC D'd up and stopped Aluma. Or maybe it was another VT player he stopped. Regardless I remembered that 1 nice stop lol.

 

[Bethlehemjohn]

Disagree about you saying Brown was pretty good on defense. I thought he was terrible on both sides. AKC played imo better D in the second half.

Well, we were still +7 with Terrell on the court tonight, so it couldn't have been as bad as you say.

 

[gary2]

I don't know man. In the second half Aluma had 18 points. So if that was better, what would a bad second half have looked like?

Alluma got away with murder. Two obvious over the backs on Justin. At least one travel, maybe two.

How many fouls did he have?

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

Well, we were still +7 with Terrell on the court tonight, so it couldn't have been as bad as you say.

I'm not a big fan of plus/minus (in basketball or hockey) for reasons I have stated before, but for people who think it's important Brown was +7 in 12-1/2 minutes and Coulibaly was +6 in 27-1/2 minutes.

 

[DT_PITT]

Alluma got away with murder. Two obvious over the backs on Justin. At least one travel, maybe two.

How many fouls did he have?

There's always going to be a call or two that go the wrong way. We got a couple too.

 

[Millerton24]

I don't know man. In the second half Aluma had 18 points. So if that was better, what would a bad second half have looked like?

Hes a 31% 3pt shooter tonight 4

Alluma got away with murder. Two obvious over the backs on Justin. At least one travel, maybe two.

How many fouls did he have?

It could've been called but he really didn't foul him. Champ never complained

 

[gary2]

There's always going to be a call or two that go the wrong way. We got a couple too.

I thought I was watching Lebrun James treatment.

 

[gary2]

Hes a 31% 3pt shooter tonight 4

It could've been called but he really didn't foul him. Champ never complained

You do that over a 6 -3 guard, you may get away with it, not against the ACC’sleading rebounder.

 

[Bethlehemjohn]

I'm not a big fan of plus/minus (in basketball or hockey) for reasons I have stated before, but for people who think it's important Brown was +7 in 12-1/2 minutes and Coulibaly was +6 in 27-1/2 minutes.

Neither am I and sometimes it means nothing at all. There are sometimes you can look at it where it really means something though.

The WF game was a perfect example. We were something like +15 with Coulibaly and minus -14 with Terrell. Coulibaly's foul trouble in that game was a big reason for the loss.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

Hes a 31% 3pt shooter tonight 4

After tonight he's at 35.7%. But in any event, what that tells you is that if you don't give him wide open threes he probably isn't going to make them. But if you give an average three point shooter wide open looks because you are afraid that he's going to drive right past you if you get up and guard him on the perimeter then that guy is sometimes going to make the shots.

And the notion that giving an average three point shooter wide open looks from three is good defense is silly.

 

[Chescat]

I'm not a big fan of plus/minus (in basketball or hockey) for reasons I have stated before, but for people who think it's important Brown was +7 in 12-1/2 minutes and Coulibaly was +6 in 27-1/2 minutes.

I agree. Plus/minus has some merit
to it, but it's only PART of the bigger
picture.
I tend to look at certain stats while
also watching what's actually happening
on the floor despite those stats. Playing
two bigs and getting one rebound from
each is usually a recipe for disaster.
Getting five points from one and ZERO
pts from the other only adds to a
bleak picture. BUT....when the team
shoots 50% from the floor, 39% on
threes, 88% on ft's and actually
out rebounds the opposition......well
a result like tonight can happen. IMO
it's not the norm. BTW, those %'s are
far better than our mean.

Pitt shooting 88% (22-25) ft's says it
all. LOL...It was our night tonight.
Hope it lasts.

 

[TIGER-PAUL]

Coulibaly is there, but basically still don't really have an ACC 5.
Wasting all that time on Hugley was a killer.
And they put alot of effort into Sibande, but he really doesn't have a role yet.

 

[PittGuy00]

-Everyone seems to think X and Horton sat to change up the lineup because we were on a funk. They each got technicals last game and when that has happened in the past, guys have sat to start 2nd halves. I am pretty sure the only reason why both didn't start was because of their late game T's vs ND.
-People continue to complain about the production at the center position, but Coulibaly has been doing fine for us. Alume had 30 tonight, but the D was really not that bad. Plus, he does a lot of the little things for us that don't show up in the box score. Also, those who continue to dish on Terrell expect too much. He did not do anything for us on offense tonight, but he actually did a pretty good job on defense tonight.
-Justin's defense in the first half was atrocious. He made Mutts look like an All American.
-Cone had 9 points on three 3's in the first half with Femi, Horton and Sinande guarding him. We switched Toney on to him in the 2nd half and Cone had none. So, Cone scored none in the 2nd half and Champ did a better job on Mutts and instead of 3 scorers, they really only had one in the 2nd half.
-When this team gives effort, plays defense and rebounds, they can beat some pretty good teams. However, we aren't consistently good enough on offense to win the majority of our games and really need a few shooters more than anything.
-This was a really big win, but the next 3 at Virginia, at Louisville and at GT are going to really be tough. We will have to have maximum effort and make a few shots in those games to have a shot.
-Toney didn't force his offense tonight, let the game come to him a a ended up with a pretty nice game. That is what we need out of him every game.
-X was outstanding tonight and pretty good for SMF's 13th best PG in the ACC.
-Horton started off 0-3 from 3 and missed pretty badly. If this was earlier in the year, he may have stopped shooting. Tonight we were lucky he kept chucking it because he made some big 3's that kept us in it early in the 2nd half when it felt like VT had some momentum.

100% correct on the reason why X and Horton didn’t start.

 

[PittGlory]

I don't know man. In the second half Aluma had 18 points. So if that was better, what would a bad second half have looked like?

Let me ask you something Joe. How many ACC players are there that have the foot speed to play up on a 3 point shooter but still defend a 6’9” forward who can post up with the best of them. The way Alunna played last night, he might play in the NBA

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

-Everyone seems to think X and Horton sat to change up the lineup because we were on a funk. They each got technicals last game and when that has happened in the past, guys have sat to start 2nd halves. I am pretty sure the only reason why both didn't start was because of their late game T's vs ND.
-People continue to complain about the production at the center position, but Coulibaly has been doing fine for us. Alume had 30 tonight, but the D was really not that bad. Plus, he does a lot of the little things for us that don't show up in the box score. Also, those who continue to dish on Terrell expect too much. He did not do anything for us on offense tonight, but he actually did a pretty good job on defense tonight.
-Justin's defense in the first half was atrocious. He made Mutts look like an All American.
-Cone had 9 points on three 3's in the first half with Femi, Horton and Sinande guarding him. We switched Toney on to him in the 2nd half and Cone had none. So, Cone scored none in the 2nd half and Champ did a better job on Mutts and instead of 3 scorers, they really only had one in the 2nd half.
-When this team gives effort, plays defense and rebounds, they can beat some pretty good teams. However, we aren't consistently good enough on offense to win the majority of our games and really need a few shooters more than anything.
-This was a really big win, but the next 3 at Virginia, at Louisville and at GT are going to really be tough. We will have to have maximum effort and make a few shots in those games to have a shot.
-Toney didn't force his offense tonight, let the game come to him a a ended up with a pretty nice game. That is what we need out of him every game.
-X was outstanding tonight and pretty good for SMF's 13th best PG in the ACC.
-Horton started off 0-3 from 3 and missed pretty badly. If this was earlier in the year, he may have stopped shooting. Tonight we were lucky he kept chucking it because he made some big 3's that kept us in it early in the 2nd half when it felt like VT had some momentum.

Yeah, if we win one of our next 3, not totally catastrophic considering the last 5 games are definitely winnable.

 

[New York Panther]

Everyone seems to think X and Horton sat to change up the lineup because we were on a funk.

Even if this wasn't the reason, it certainly didn't hurt to at least sit X, given his propensity to often play out of control capped by his absolutely atrocious performance in the ND game.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

Let me ask you something Joe. How many ACC players are there that have the foot speed to play up on a 3 point shooter but still defend a 6’9” forward who can post up with the best of them. The way Alunna played last night, he might play in the NBA

Not many, that's for sure.

Now let me ask you this. How many ACC players are there who not only can't guard a guy out to the three point line but who also get abused on the low blocks like Coulibaly did last night? If the only problem was that he couldn't guard him on the perimeter then there isn't a whole lot you can do about that. But he couldn't guard him at 20 feet, and he couldn't guard him at 12 feet, and he couldn't guard him at 2 feet. The fact that so many people don't think that's a problem is hilarious.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

100% correct on the reason why X and Horton didn’t start.

It's only 100% correct if you think that Capel was lying to the game announcers and to the media after the game when he was asked about it.