Excellent write up as always. So great to have these articles waiting for me even after late games. Thank you for that. And your point about the refs, I feel exactly the same way. Thank you for stating it so plainly.
Watching the game, I got a deja vu with previous games--particularly the last USC game. UCLA gets a respectable lead in the first half, plays lackadaisical defense in the second half while the offense struggles, a player on the opposing team gets hot and can not be guarded (B Ellis or last night, Saunders) and suddenly the lead and momentum is gone. Can pull it out against a short handed Utah team but not against second week NCAA tournament teams. Tyger is needed for bringing up the ball, assists, and on an off offense but he is vulnerable to fast guards on defense. Do not know if there is a cure for that other than Tyger sits on the bench when he is being torched and put Andrews on defense. Taking the foot off the peddle, particularly on defense, is something Cronin needs to address.
Thinking about the game this morning, I came to the conclusion that our defense in the first half was not much better than our defense in the second half. Utah missed a lot of open shots in the first half - starting making those same shots in the 2nd half. We absolutely need to learn to exert maximum defensive pressure at all times, otherwise tournament time will be difficult.
Hooray for "The Guy" Taking the team on his shoulders and getting us to the 'W'! Question: JJ has gone 2 for2 from three for the last few games. Is he limiting himself? Admittedly his game is under the basket.
We take our opponents for granted. This is my conclusion. They know they have the firepower, the defensive prowess and the back up. They are also well acquainted with the conference teams. Besides, when push comes to shove, they can score in a hurry to deflate any onslaught. To me, all these factors contribute to our team being over confident, play in spurts only to win but not for the margin to triumph and impress.
This is a dangerous, risky mindset. #1 seeds sometimes got ambushed, tripped up that way in the tournaments when lower seeds would play with an utter fury as if tomorrow never exists because after all, they have nothing to lose but everything to gain from the exposure. So imagine we take them lightly.
I dread it if indeed my concerns are valid. Precedents are abundant with #1 seeds toppled on day 1. Jim Harrick's team lost that way in the tournament too until they finally put it together and won #11. Many of our current bruins fans were not even born yet.
Remember. " Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it." Who said this ? Winston Churchill
Wow, Mildcats just lost to ASU at home! That really opens up the path for us in our tourney. We just have to handle our business and play our game. Absolutely no excuses now! Let's go, Bruins!!
Excellent write up as always. So great to have these articles waiting for me even after late games. Thank you for that. And your point about the refs, I feel exactly the same way. Thank you for stating it so plainly.
Watching the game, I got a deja vu with previous games--particularly the last USC game. UCLA gets a respectable lead in the first half, plays lackadaisical defense in the second half while the offense struggles, a player on the opposing team gets hot and can not be guarded (B Ellis or last night, Saunders) and suddenly the lead and momentum is gone. Can pull it out against a short handed Utah team but not against second week NCAA tournament teams. Tyger is needed for bringing up the ball, assists, and on an off offense but he is vulnerable to fast guards on defense. Do not know if there is a cure for that other than Tyger sits on the bench when he is being torched and put Andrews on defense. Taking the foot off the peddle, particularly on defense, is something Cronin needs to address.
Thinking about the game this morning, I came to the conclusion that our defense in the first half was not much better than our defense in the second half. Utah missed a lot of open shots in the first half - starting making those same shots in the 2nd half. We absolutely need to learn to exert maximum defensive pressure at all times, otherwise tournament time will be difficult.
Hooray for "The Guy" Taking the team on his shoulders and getting us to the 'W'! Question: JJ has gone 2 for2 from three for the last few games. Is he limiting himself? Admittedly his game is under the basket.
We take our opponents for granted. This is my conclusion. They know they have the firepower, the defensive prowess and the back up. They are also well acquainted with the conference teams. Besides, when push comes to shove, they can score in a hurry to deflate any onslaught. To me, all these factors contribute to our team being over confident, play in spurts only to win but not for the margin to triumph and impress.
This is a dangerous, risky mindset. #1 seeds sometimes got ambushed, tripped up that way in the tournaments when lower seeds would play with an utter fury as if tomorrow never exists because after all, they have nothing to lose but everything to gain from the exposure. So imagine we take them lightly.
I dread it if indeed my concerns are valid. Precedents are abundant with #1 seeds toppled on day 1. Jim Harrick's team lost that way in the tournament too until they finally put it together and won #11. Many of our current bruins fans were not even born yet.
Remember. " Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it." Who said this ? Winston Churchill
Wow, Mildcats just lost to ASU at home! That really opens up the path for us in our tourney. We just have to handle our business and play our game. Absolutely no excuses now! Let's go, Bruins!!