** Early comparisons to the previous year are always inevitable. It’s even more true with a change of coaches, and this was certainly the case when the Panther’s transitioned from Dixon to Stallings, as we were looking to learn if Stallings could keep the program at the lower NCAA tournament level where it was the previous year.
** Now the comparisons exist for us to try to decide if new Coach Capel can pull us out horribly low pit into which we have fallen.
** So if I’m comparing this game to last year, this feels like a game we could have lost a year ago. Perhaps it was a game we would have lost.
** Instead, it was a game we were able to win. We didn’t dominate, but we kept the Trojans at enough of an arm’s length that the outcome was never really in question.
** Keep in mind that this doesn’t mean that defeating a middle of the pack Sun Belt team means that we have anything close to a good team. Troy would finish last in the ACC. But it probably means we have a better team. And for tonight, that’s enough of a comparison.
** I’m ready to say that I’m convinced that we have a better point guard. Xavier has proven just about everything he needs to for me to be sure this guy was under-recruited. So the heck with those other teams!
** The X man ruled the game today, and hit tough shots, long shots, penetrated and created offense and caused just as many problems for the offense on the other side.
** Xavier played confidently, made good decisions, and always played with great pace. He’ll be humbled at times this year, without a doubt. But when this year is over, I think we’ll really like what he did, and what he can do in the years to come.
** One man Xavier found on the perimeter plenty of times was Jared Wilson Frame who was firing and landing with ease. I’ve got no complaints with JWF’s shot selection, as his offense was more than efficient.
** My only concern with JWF was really more of a problem I had with the entire Panther offense during a stretch of the second half -- when the offense looked almost a little too much like least years. That is ... just passing on the perimeter, followed by JWF firing up a three. Fortuneatly, Jared was already on a roll by then, and his shots kept falling.
** It’s also noteworthy that the reason the perimeter was our path to shots by that point was that X, Trey, and Toney’s penetration had them sagging back.
** And we can certainly see what the our perimeter penetration did for the production of Terrell and Kene. It was certainly a pleasant sight.
** The Panthers ran the pick and roll for both to a fine affect, particularly Kene. This really hasn't been a part of the Panther offense, since ... well, maybe ever. It's good to see a point like X who can make it work from the top.
** It’s really hard not to root for Kene. On this night, he gave everything he had and more, and was a difference maker.
** There’s much to be learned and decided before we know how much better of a defensive basketball team this will be than last year.
** There is obviously a fair amount of work to be done on that side, but at the very least, we seem to be simply better at keeping players driving the ball in front of us. But of course, there are going to be issues with rotations and clearing the defensive glass.
** And there’s a whole bunch of work that still need to happen to improve our full court press. It rarely caused any difficulty for Troy, and even let them get a few easy ones.
** I can only point to one disappointing player today, and that was Malik Ellison. He struggled for a much of the first half on both ends, before making some plays in the second half, especially on the break.
** The biggest difference between this year and last was that after three games, I was pretty concerned that we would not win an ACC game. We know how that turned out.
** So far this year, I’m pretty confident that won’t be anywhere near the case. I’m still sticking to my thought that we are only good for two or three. But compared to last year, that’s a nice step forward.
** Now the comparisons exist for us to try to decide if new Coach Capel can pull us out horribly low pit into which we have fallen.
** So if I’m comparing this game to last year, this feels like a game we could have lost a year ago. Perhaps it was a game we would have lost.
** Instead, it was a game we were able to win. We didn’t dominate, but we kept the Trojans at enough of an arm’s length that the outcome was never really in question.
** Keep in mind that this doesn’t mean that defeating a middle of the pack Sun Belt team means that we have anything close to a good team. Troy would finish last in the ACC. But it probably means we have a better team. And for tonight, that’s enough of a comparison.
** I’m ready to say that I’m convinced that we have a better point guard. Xavier has proven just about everything he needs to for me to be sure this guy was under-recruited. So the heck with those other teams!
** The X man ruled the game today, and hit tough shots, long shots, penetrated and created offense and caused just as many problems for the offense on the other side.
** Xavier played confidently, made good decisions, and always played with great pace. He’ll be humbled at times this year, without a doubt. But when this year is over, I think we’ll really like what he did, and what he can do in the years to come.
** One man Xavier found on the perimeter plenty of times was Jared Wilson Frame who was firing and landing with ease. I’ve got no complaints with JWF’s shot selection, as his offense was more than efficient.
** My only concern with JWF was really more of a problem I had with the entire Panther offense during a stretch of the second half -- when the offense looked almost a little too much like least years. That is ... just passing on the perimeter, followed by JWF firing up a three. Fortuneatly, Jared was already on a roll by then, and his shots kept falling.
** It’s also noteworthy that the reason the perimeter was our path to shots by that point was that X, Trey, and Toney’s penetration had them sagging back.
** And we can certainly see what the our perimeter penetration did for the production of Terrell and Kene. It was certainly a pleasant sight.
** The Panthers ran the pick and roll for both to a fine affect, particularly Kene. This really hasn't been a part of the Panther offense, since ... well, maybe ever. It's good to see a point like X who can make it work from the top.
** It’s really hard not to root for Kene. On this night, he gave everything he had and more, and was a difference maker.
** There’s much to be learned and decided before we know how much better of a defensive basketball team this will be than last year.
** There is obviously a fair amount of work to be done on that side, but at the very least, we seem to be simply better at keeping players driving the ball in front of us. But of course, there are going to be issues with rotations and clearing the defensive glass.
** And there’s a whole bunch of work that still need to happen to improve our full court press. It rarely caused any difficulty for Troy, and even let them get a few easy ones.
** I can only point to one disappointing player today, and that was Malik Ellison. He struggled for a much of the first half on both ends, before making some plays in the second half, especially on the break.
** The biggest difference between this year and last was that after three games, I was pretty concerned that we would not win an ACC game. We know how that turned out.
** So far this year, I’m pretty confident that won’t be anywhere near the case. I’m still sticking to my thought that we are only good for two or three. But compared to last year, that’s a nice step forward.
