Other than Castleton's play, I would say this was the 1 positive to take away from last night's game!
CTG is in a tough spot, IMO. I think he TOTALLY recognizes the problem, but he cannot sit the entire team due to bad performance in the first half. As you alluded to, everyone seemingly gets in on the action of missing FTs, missing easy layups, dunks, stupid passes, errant shots. Our best player, CC, is not immune as well with questionable open court dribbling and some ill-timed jump shots. It's completely contagious. The thing that still irks me is the lackadaisical way the pass the ball and hand it off at the top of the offense. Usually good for a couple easy turnovers and fast break points each game (usually in first half) If it was a confidence thing, my question would be then "does being down 20 at the half instill MORE confidence?" It's perplexing to say the least....
Completely agree, and wish to expand on 2 good points... 1) It's the WHOLE TEAM. And yes- there are so many "sleepy" (LAZY) moments, with no sense of urgency. I just don't understand. 2) Could it be we are so tight in the first half, and loosen up in the 2nd? I have no idea. I do know that we are a good team in the 2nd half. And while yes Bama no doubt let their foot off the gas last night, the other 2nd halves were legit. It makes me think if we could only play like that the whole game, we would be a top 20-25 team, instead of on the bubble... PS I know Golden knows better, but nothing ever seems to change.
Exactly! I've been waiting and waiting, like the rest of you, for the team to come together and turn this corner. They still can but it's getting later and later. It is perplexing and infuriating.
its a talent acquisition business....recruiting, recruiting, recruiting...right now we are about as low as we can get from rankings standpoint for hoops for the 2023 class and no big time players leaning our way for 2024...can't just rely on the portal...doesn't work long-term
Guess I'm having a hard time understanding how some on here think that Bama is outpaying Duke, UNC, Kentucky, Kansas, Oregon (nike U) for hoop players? Bama certainly has alums that care (mostly about football) but I think attributing their success all to bagmen ignores what their coach has done (and the reality that other schools have NIL deals with far wealthier alumni (duke) than bama). Think the guy is a great coach. As for worrying about basketball getting to be like college football? Hah. Say hello to Zion, one and dones, will wade "Strong Ass Offers" and no NCAA punishment. Hoops is way past quibbling over pay for play (largely under the table unless it showed in FBI wiretaps, which the NCAA then ignored) as it has just been accepted for decades with sneaker companies/contracts. Watch UK turn their roster over every year and tell me what that has to do with the University of Kentucky as an academic institution (or, hell, tell me if any of those players really get to know the school in 9 months or the fans the players?). Been broke a long time imho (I'm one who thinks the players should have been paid long ago in a systemic, negotiated way that preserved academics, competitive fairness, etc, but the NCAA wanted no risk of players being labelled employees so they fought it every step, and allowed payment under the table. Now the NCAA has their dream - players get paid but not by their system, but by alums. The quality of the product? Who cares as long as tv rights still are selling). Sorry, rant over.
Nate Oats has done a fantastic job, you have to give him credit. I think we got a good one in Golden, it may take a couple of years but I can see improvement from the beginning of the season.
Am I the only one who thinks the first halves are mostly what we are? The blowouts I've seen we're playing hard and just getting bad looks and taking bad shots and turning the ball over a lot. Then the other team relaxes a bit and we make a little a little run but then they turn it back on. I don't see us playing better in the second half, I see the other team being too comfortable and playing too relaxed. Last night it seemed like that happened until the last 3-4 minutes when Bama went into firing-up-the-crowd mode to rub it in a bit.
Analytics be hanged. CTG gets about two more Seasons to ‘see’ what the issue is and start showing clear signs of getting it fixed. If he goes into his 4th Season and there is no visible, material improvement , his seat should be ablaze!!!
5-2 and one win in tourney and in. CC is, as we speak, 1st team all conference and is top 3-4 for POY.
A point guard and SEC ready big are going to be huge portal priorities. Hopefully we have better luck. Golden added some nice pieces this year. But PG has been a weakness despite taking two transfers and Castleton leaves a huge hole that needs immediate help.
Actually, you may be right. I stopped trying to figure out what NBA front offices are after years ago. I'm just judging from what I saw in their game against us. That team is stacked two-deep with talent at every position.
We should be favored in every remaining game except for Arky on the road, including at home against Kentucky. Not sure who the second loss would be, but one at home would be a disaster.
