MBB OGT: #1 UcheaT at #8 FLORIDA -- January 7, 2025 -- 7 PM [ESPN2]

I didn't see us missing a ton of open looks and we made our typical free throw average. They missed 10 free throws and a ton of wide open looks. But maybe they are just not a great shooting team and we are that much better than them. But they hadn't lost all year and it's not because they shoot bricks.

 

I hear we play them at TN on Feb 1st? That sucks.

 

Watching the replay now, focusing on Aberdeen. Wondering about the jump he'll make during the year, and the potential he has to be The Guy at the guard spot next year.

I'm still a little skeptical, but he bring some big plusses to go with the shortcomings. Relative to other PGs we've had in the last 10 years, I could see him as middle of the pack.

 

One thing we didn't discuss much: CTG leaving in Clayton after 2 fouls.

 

I agree, UT plays some awesome defense, and we were pretty shaky with the ball early. Then we settled down and were able to make things happen, starting with rebounding and defending. Loved watching our bigs clear the lane with screens to allow our guards to get to the hoop. UT was supposed to be this powerful presence down low but our guys made them look weak.

 

The standard practice nationwide these days is to sit a guy with two first half fouls the rest of the half. Back in the day when I started following college hoops, that wasn't the norm. You'd sit 'em with 3 fouls. I like that CTG is old-school in that regard. You sit 'em for a minute or two for a breather and send 'em back in.

 

Our defense really came together last night for a whole game. Especially in the paint.

 

This has been a big analytics thing for him in the past. Shows up in a number of articles and interviews. Basically, sitting a guy for extensive minutes because of fouls is no different than having a guy foul out early. Bigger question is when you need them on the floor. It’s a little different with some of the bigs because there is so much more contact in the paint and a greater propensity for additional fouls.

 

Just a note of criticism. Note to be a Debbie Downer, but Denzel wastes too much time during a possession dribbling the ball between his legs. Too many times he wastes precious seconds which lead to taking bad desperation shots late in the shot clock.

 

Yes..but remember, he is still developing. If he has a chance to be the main PG next year, I suspect Golden will continue to develop his game.

 

Yeah, sometimes you need to dribble between the legs but he's way overusing it. It inhibits one's opportunity to pass or drive quickly. Also, he has good height for a point guard but he's not taking advantage of it when he's crouching and dribbling between his legs.
Still, he's improved each season and is still improving.

 

The ball definitely gets stuck with 'Zel a little bit this year. Seems like it's a new thing - I don't recall it as much before.

It could be that he's being given more freedom to create in his role this year and we're just watching him learn / figure that out. I'm loving what he brings off the bench and think it's great that there's room for improvement.

 

It only happens when Aberdeen is at the point, and ordinarily when he is resetting the offense later in the clock. Martin has the same habit of over dribbling, in fact, but he is typically not the one resetting the offense later in the clock. Big deal. You could pick on a ton of little things with these kids (Condon’s finishing, Clayton being too loose with the ball bringing it across mid court, Chinyelu not getting his hands firmly on the ball on post entries, Richard’s strange shooting hitch, whatever).

But Aberdeen has been a massive surprise in many respects. He brings it defensively and can guard three positions well. His off ball movement and finishes off cuts have have been terrific. He is shooting better from the arc than any of our other guards. For all the criticisms of his ball handling, he has the best turnover rate amongst our guards. And he brings all of that without requiring touches or shots (his usage rate and shots per possession are all middle tier).

 

used to be, when a coach has a guy get two fouls in the first half, boom he sits. Now you're seeing guys play the odds a little differently and it paid off in this game