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Post by Realm on Feb 14, 2011 14:20:08 GMT -5
After being down 32 - 36, Floyd made great adjustments to get this win.
Containing SMU's big men(Papa Dia & Nyakundi) was key.
How we win without an inside presence is beyond me.
I see a reversal when we play SMU at their house. Hopefully, we will have won the conference by then.
Interesting how we win... and on every message board there is a LACK of conversation about the game.
10,213 in attendance leads me to believe fans are starting to slowly come around to following this team.
The coming games with Southern Miss, Memphis, UCF will be an load to carry.
Realm...
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Post by BleedingOrange on Feb 14, 2011 20:02:27 GMT -5
We started the game by hitting our first two shots (threes by Culpepper and Polk) and took a 10-2 lead, but then we got to thinking that we weren't going to miss anymore, so we kept settling for outside shots (most of which we missed). We also couldn't stop their offense, and they were shooting lights out (finished the first half at 51%).
Two annoying things: Papa Dia was allowed to set obvious moving screens at the top of the key ALL NIGHT and only got called for it once. We also did a poor job of helping on defense, so when the defender got bumped off his man by Dia's sliding hip, the result was a wide-open layup. The coaches and crowd were livid at the refs for that crap, and luckily we made adjustments at the half and defended the paint much better in the last 20.
Second annoying thing was their point guard who, to give credit where it's due, was very quick, but was greatly aided by the illegal picks. Every time he scored, he would taunt the crowd (which started booing him every time he touched the ball), and getting in Randy's face and talking much shit. He was a total prick while scoring at will, but coach Johnson said in the post-game that Randy went into the locker room at halftime pissed and embarrassed by his lack of defense, and he came out and shut the guy down in the second half (1 point and three turnovers). Oh, and this little shit is only a freshman, so we get to put up with his act for three more years...
Huge props to Gabe McCulley, who did an outstanding job on both ends of the floor and defended Dia about as well as he possibly could, and Julyan Stone, who completely and totally negated Nyakundi all night. Stone guarded him the entire game, and he finished with only 4 points on 1-5 shooting and two freebies (though he is averaging 16 ppg). Much better defensive job in the second half, which just demonstrates how much better Floyd is than Barbee at seeing what is wrong and fixing it. I know I keep saying that, but it's startling how different these close games are turning out this year as compared to last year.
Good attendance, and I hope it continues because we have a hellacious final stretch in the next two weeks. I know we are a more talented team than anyone else in this league, but we have to play like it or it won't matter. We need that home court advantage to really mean something now that it matters the most. And just fyi, apparently it was Stull who agreed to an 11 am start for the makeup against UCF. I understand the explanation he gave, but if he thinks any more than a couple thousand people will be able to attend, he's smoking something.
Final thought and then I'll shut up... the numbnuts at Fox Sports still has UAB and Memphis in his bracket and is still totally ignoring us. I wonder if we'll get any love AT ALL if we somehow manage to win out...
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Post by Realm on Feb 16, 2011 11:57:50 GMT -5
Bleeding,
Loved your detailed reply.
I still don't have Internet so I could only follow the score. Your post colored in the fine details.
This was a very challenging game because of what the refs were allowing SMU to get away with.
Thanks... Realm
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