A few thoughts from BTO

#26
#26
bleedingTNorange said:
I just have a hard time b’tching too much about roster construction, 2 guard fit etc when you’re a good FT shooting team away from being a favorite for a 1 seed. That’s bigger picture, even just today good FT shooting and taking care of the ball and you’re pushing up against 90.
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Yeah, but 14 games into the season and we’re still discussing the same issues (free throws and turnovers). I’m just slightly concerned those aren’t fixable and it’s who we are with a sample of this size.
 
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#27
#27
sami said:
As much as I hate saying it, this was my exact thought when Cade was shut down. I love the kid, he embodies everything good about what Barnes has built here, but the other four bigs all offer different flavors of offensive upside, while with Cade it is pretty much just alley oops off of P&R.

I think the biggest change this year might be the size of the rotation, as Rick appears to be expanding beyond his normal 7-8 to possibly 9-10 players getting time. Finding an offensive identity playing this many guys will be difficult and a work in progress, but defensively having waves of solid defenders and bigs to play the kind of 94-foot pressing defense we have shown for 40 minutes would be lethal.

I can't wait to see this group grow through the league schedule.
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This is the type of game you miss Cade in. He's just better suited for these long athletic players like Arkansas has. He can go out on the floor and stay with them and stay in front on drives. Not to mention the experience factor over a player like Brown.
 
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#28
#28
TheMookieMonster said:
Yeah, but 14 games into the season and we’re still discussing the same issues (free throws and turnovers). I’m just slightly concerned those aren’t fixable and it’s who we are with a sample of this size.
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It’s quite possible, would be by far the worst FT shooting team Barnes has ever had here if so
 
#29
#29
bleedingTNorange said:
It’s quite possible, would be by far the worst FT shooting team Barnes has ever had here if so
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The undisciplined nature of the team, and the lack of a true primary scoring option, are my main concerns. Still believe this team can make noise in March. As you’ve pointed out, the way the season has unfolded to this point has made it seem like we’re going to have quite a few highs and lows to just bear with and hope the team we see in late February and March has gelled
 
#31
#31
TheMookieMonster said:
The undisciplined nature of the team, and the lack of a true primary scoring option, are my main concerns. Still believe this team can make noise in March. As you’ve pointed out, the way the season has unfolded to this point has made it seem like we’re going to have quite a few highs and lows to just bear with and hope the team we see in late February and March has gelled
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At this point, just make the NCAA tournament and hope for great matchups. I don't think consistency is going to be this teams strong suit for SEC championship but they have talent to maybe go on a run in March.
 
#32
#32
The two clear concerns for me are the free throws, obviously, and the fact three of our losses had us in a nip and tuck game until completely unraveling the last 8-10 minutes. I tend to think these are fixable issues with some maturity and development, but the free throw thing seems a clear potential to derail a postseason run. It's how teams get upset in the 2nd round of the tourney.

Losing today isn't a critical concern. That's a really damn hard place to win. The way we lost is worrisome, though. Plus, whatever Barnes saw in Ament needs to get cranking soon because he's not anywhere near what was expected right now.
 
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#33
#33
TheMookieMonster said:
Right now, Gillespie is shooting a career low in FG% and the worst 3P% since his freshman year. Just another data point that I am hoping can correct itself as the season goes on.
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He is the only legit perimeter threat on this team and opposing defenses are throwing the house at him. He doesn't have anyone to take the pressure of him.
 
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#35
#35
Evans is the only one improving every game. And after the 7-0 start, we played their game. Until we see somebody foul out, due to aggressiveness, they’re gonna struggle and flat out aren’t puttin out like they should. Jmo
 
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#37
#37
TheMookieMonster said:
What a waste of a 7-7 FG performance by Amari Evans. Won’t get a game like that from him the rest of the year and we squandered it.

Disappointing loss, but not a surprising one. I’m less concerned with the result than I am with HOW the result happened. Racked up 4 losses already and done so on the backs of being very undisciplined and lacking the fundamentals we’re used to in a Barnes’ team.

Free throws and turnovers. Basic stuff we can’t get right.

Mostly I’m disappointed that this team has had to be as reliant on Brown and Evans as we have been because of some poor evaluations by the staff. Burg and Abrams are mostly a waste of space, and because of that we’re asking a lot of Evans (who has really been a huge surprise). I can’t be too hard on Brown, because he’s young and he’s only playing as much as he has because his experienced peers aren’t performing, but that just felt like a game that was too big for him. Still don’t love him starting, but when you get that type of performance from Carey it’s not surprising why.

Gillespie and Okpara have also just been huge disappointments. With Okpara, I thought we’d see another step from him this year, and it just hasn’t materialized. Missed layups (where he should have dunked) and a step back on defense it feels like. 3 points from him is not going to cut it. And Gillespie….he’s been a sieve on defense and hasn’t offset it with lighting up the scoreboard. He can’t be 5-15 from the field if he’s not assisting on more buckets. Ament obviously is struggling a lot, but I would think he’d get some easier buckets if Gillespie was more of a threat to score at a high level, which he hasn’t been.

Still very early in the year, and that’s a road game against one of the best teams in the conference, but we have a lot of issues to correct and really need to see someone step up and become an alpha on offense or we aren’t making any noise in March. Moving forward, would like to see more minutes from Evans, fewer from Abrams, very few from Burg, and swap Brown and Estrella in the lineup.
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And fewer from Ament. Make him earn minutes. Evans has.
 
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#41
#41
I believe the 12-6 or 11-7 mark in SEC is about right for this team. Has glaring flaws - some of which can be improved but missing a true #2 shooting guard to make shots will hurt this team throughout the season and in NCAA tourney.
 
#42
#42
strkr said:
I believe the 12-6 or 11-7 mark in SEC is about right for this team. Has glaring flaws - some of which can be improved but missing a true #2 shooting guard to make shots will hurt this team throughout the season and in NCAA tourney.
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IMO, we’re only missing a higher volume scoring 2 guard because our expected high scoring #3 is struggling. Players have roles on successful teams and with high volume shooters at point and #3, then the 2 guard needs to be a defender / rebounder / facilitator which is why Boswell is the starter much like Mashack was before him. Building a roster in basketball is a gamble. If we’d ponied up the dough for Rice we’d be in a pickle with him lost to injury. Need Ament to start playing closer to what CRB and every other major program saw in him before March. Hopefully the light comes on by then.

I do wonder why we ended up with guys like Burg when there’s guys like the South Carolina St guard out there?
 
#44
#44
walkenvol said:
IMO, we’re only missing a higher volume scoring 2 guard because our expected high scoring #3 is struggling. Players have roles on successful teams and with high volume shooters at point and #3, then the 2 guard needs to be a defender / rebounder / facilitator which is why Boswell is the starter much like Mashack was before him. Building a roster in basketball is a gamble. If we’d ponied up the dough for Rice we’d be in a pickle with him lost to injury. Need Ament to start playing closer to what CRB and every other major program saw in him before March. Hopefully the light comes on by then.

I do wonder why we ended up with guys like Burg when there’s guys like the South Carolina St guard out there?
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I don't understand why Boswell doesn't shoot more. He took just 3 shots yesterday and made 2.

I don't think anyone expects huge numbers every game from him, but he definitely needs more than a few shots a game
 
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#45
#45
Boswell has been fine in his role. But Here’s what I’d like to see.
Henderson/Gillespie/Evans/Carey/JP…assuming JP takes an energy drink prior. Give you 2 ball handlers and 3 shooters. Gillespie can come off picks. Henderson can spot up for kickout. Boswell first off bench.
Berg is a spaz. Buying time with him at pg can’t happen anymore. He should be roaming outside for a kickout and nothing else.
 
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#46
#46
bleedingTNorange said:
I think neither probably should play much going forward, I think trimming the rotation needs to happen at some point
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I agree but I’m wondering if we promised some players a certain amount of playing time.
Transfers don’t transfer to sit out .
 
#47
#47
TheMookieMonster said:
Seems a little dramatic to say this team is a 0.500 SEC team. We have two Top 15 wins already. Not many 0.500 teams are doing that and this is not the historic SEC of last year. I think 11-7 is the floor for this team and feel pretty good that we finish right at 12-6.
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This team goes 12 - 6 in league play . Barnes will be sec coach of the year
 
#50
#50
bleedingTNorange said:
Neither Burg or Henderson were transfers, also Barnes doesn’t promise anyone minutes
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Oh okay. So only Gillispie , Carey, and Abrams are the true transfers? I thought Burg played pro overseas? I just figured that experience would give him an advantage.
 
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