Another Game Against Northern Iowa

[spiderman]

I don't see what some of you seem to see with the "we look flat" or "effort is terrible" stuff.

I thought we played with intensity all night. we just go through periods where we miss too many shots. it was a bad stretch in the 1st half. but our defense was terrific. that team struggled. I know they have injuries, but they put up 93 against a good WKU team.

Burton was ridiculous and and Jacob was Jacob. Grant rebounded and passed well and played some power basketball. and it was nice to see Francis heat up in the 2nd. we needed that.

but Sal really gave us great minutes in the 2nd half playing the 5 for Grant. he hasn't looked as good at the 4. very good feet defensively. I'm pretty sure he had a steal that he didn't get credited for. and I like that Mooney rewarded his strong play with an extra long run.

4-0

 

[spider23]

Highlights:
Burton: Really looking good, staying aggressive, yet still letting the game come to him
Sal: Best overall game as a Spider. Hope he can continue vs WVA.
Gilly was Gilly.

I did think we came out flat. Offense is part of that. Though everyone talks down homecourt advantage - the one big advantage should be shooting/site lines/depth perception - and would think we would be able to come out firing at home. Northern Iowa was a well coached team, and fielded a good looking team imo, despite all the guys out. I thought we played a really good second half.

Really like Burton's confidence shooting the ball.

Cayo - We need him to be Kentucky KO Cayo against WVA. I get they have been watching tape - but we have too many weapons for Cayo to be effectively doubled.

 

[97spiderfan]

We were definitely flat in the first half and it was more than shots not falling. Northern Iowa was working us over on offense. They were repeatedly getting to the rim for easy shots, we could not deny dribble penetration. And I think that carried over to the offensive end. UNI was the aggressor in much of the first half. Second half, we played MUCH better defense and just took it to UNI.

 

[SFspidur]

Completely agree we were flat to start. The defense was so frustrating...felt like every time they got the ball, they were able to penetrate, we rotated to help, and they were able to get it to the open guy. If they’d be able to hit any threes we would have been in real trouble.

 

[spiderman]

I do think we over-help sometimes.
I'm not going to re-watch, but UNI had 33 at the half. they scored 35 in the 2nd.

the one issue I saw in the 1st half was right before the timeout. looked like Gilly wanted to switch with Blake. so Blake took Jacob's man, but Jacob didn't get over quickly and UNI passed to his guy for an open a 3. Jacob looked frustrated, I assumed at himself. think that's when we went down 11 and Mooney called timeout.

but if we hit shots in the 1st half like we did in the 2nd, nobody would complain about the 1st half defense.

 

[VT4700]

I agree Sman. The defense was a little better in the 2nd half, but it wasn't terrible in the 1st half. They had one run where they made some shots and we missed some. The other 32 minutes we were pretty solid on both ends.

Sal had his best game. Jacob was outstanding again, and now has 28 assists, 17 steals, and only 5 turnovers in 4 games. Burton is the best athlete we have ever had here, and he is also really good at just about everything. We are likely talking A-10 player of the year type stuff the next 2 years for him. Blake looked good on his 3s. We will take 3-7 from him out there every game, and his defense is always there. Love Grant being aggressive, and also not afraid to take the 3, but being patient when taking them. Andre always plays well, and Nate will be fine.

We have 5 guys who can all score 20 on any given night, and that makes it tough for a defense. They can maybe stop one guy, or even two, but it's hard to stop all of our scorers. I loved how we did not panic when down 11. As for Mooney calling timeouts more often, I usually don't have a problem with it. We did have 2 TV timeouts during their run, so I don't think there was a lot more that an extra timeout could have done there. I would like to maybe see a timeout on offense sometimes when we have a key sub ready to come in. In a close game when every possession matters, and Grant is ready to come back in, we don't need him sitting waiting to come in for a couple possessions because there was no dead ball. With 4 or 5 minutes left, call timeout and get him in there.

 

[plydogg]

I watched this game very late last night, and even when we went down 32-22 in the first half I wasn’t the least bit worried.

Now doesn’t that sound crazy?

For a solid 6 year stretch under Mooney I didn’t even feel safe if we had a 10 point lead, and now I feel safe even when we’re down.

The one thing I didn’t like was Grant wearing his emotions on his sleeve so many times. He really got on my nerves, and he needs to learn that it’s not a foul just because he missed the shot. He can’t ask for a soft foul every time on offense and then be mad when a real foul is called on him on defense. And him high stepping to midcourt after a call? I was yelling at the ref to T him up. I’d rather he learn that lesson and get the tech in a 10 point win than in a one possession game. We simply just can’t have that happen

 

[97spiderfan]

I watched this game very late last night, and even when we went down 32-22 in the first half I wasn’t the least bit worried.

Now doesn’t that sound crazy?

For a solid 6 year stretch under Mooney I didn’t even feel safe if we had a 10 point lead, and now I feel safe even when we’re down.

The one thing I didn’t like was Grant wearing his emotions on his sleeve so many times. He really got on my nerves, and he needs to learn that it’s not a foul just because he missed the shot. He can’t ask for a soft foul every time on offense and then be mad when a real foul is called on him on defense. And him high stepping to midcourt after a call? I was yelling at the ref to T him up. I’d rather he learn that lesson and get the tech in a 10 point win than in a one possession game. We simply just can’t have that happen

Ply completely agree. Even when Northern Iowa was making that long run, I felt like, well we are just about to punch back.

And then in second half when we went up 10, it felt like game time. A couple years ago if we up 10 and 8 minutes left in the game, I felt the complete opposite.

I will say another thing Mooney has changed is that taking the air out of the ball with a lead. We play our game all 40 minutes now, which given that our game is pretty damn good, is exactly how you want to approach things. Good for Mooney for evolving.

 

[ChoppinBroccoli]

I watched this game very late last night, and even when we went down 32-22 in the first half I wasn’t the least bit worried.

Now doesn’t that sound crazy?

Hey, me too.

But that's because I already knew the outcome.

 

[8legs1dream]

The one thing I didn’t like was Grant wearing his emotions on his sleeve so many times. He really got on my nerves, and he needs to learn that it’s not a foul just because he missed the shot. He can’t ask for a soft foul every time on offense and then be mad when a real foul is called on him on defense. And him high stepping to midcourt after a call? I was yelling at the ref to T him up. I’d rather he learn that lesson and get the tech in a 10 point win than in a one possession game. We simply just can’t have that happen

He hasn't learned to stop doing this childish shit in five seasons and 107 collegiate games and counting that he has played in so far, it isn't going to change now. I just hope along with you that it doesn't cost this once in a decade team an important game.

 

[Section 204and5]

Personally I think concerns about Grant's on-court demeanor are way overblown. These are humans playing a game and you get all they bring to the table - including their emotions. For those who are concerned, did you notice Grant talking to one of the refs after a time out and before free throws were shot? I saw this during yesterday's game and have seen it on tons of other occasions. I think that earns him some leeway with the refs at times. Maybe this is something I'll worry about once it actually costs us a game. Otherwise, unless we're concerned he's not going to win a fictional sportsmanship award, let Grant be Grant.

 

[97spiderfan]

Personally I think concerns about Grant's on-court demeanor are way overblown. These are humans playing a game and you get all they bring to the table - including their emotions. For those who are concerned, did you notice Grant talking to one of the refs after a time out and before free throws were shot? I saw this during yesterday's game and have seen it on tons of other occasions. I think that earns him some leeway with the refs at times. Maybe this is something I'll worry about once it actually costs us a game. Otherwise, unless we're concerned he's not going to win a fictional sportsmanship award, let Grant be Grant.

Yes, I did notice it. Grant still has some demonstrative theatrics on the court, but I think has developed a good balance and rapport with the officials that he lacked in his younger days.

 

[Eight Legger]

Not wild about the complaining. I think he'd get more calls if he went strong to the basket every time instead of taking it weakly or passively at times. At one point yesterday he did some weird half-turn and threw it up over his outside shoulder. I think it went in, but he probably could have just dunked on the dude instead.

 

[SFspidur]

Mild theatrics are one thing, but when you're flailing on the ground instead of getting up as everyone else runs the other way and your team has to intentionally foul, that's not a good look.

 

[SpiderRick]

He's passionate about the game. We've had some sleepwalking in the past, so I'm ok with the passion. Channel it and turn it in a positive.

 

[spiderman]

Mild theatrics are one thing, but when you're flailing on the ground instead of getting up as everyone else runs the other way and your team has to intentionally foul, that's not a good look.

I don't think he flopped there. he fell. he's a big guy. it happens.

Grant's got a big personality. everyone says he's the best teammate and leader. I'll take him just as he is.

 

[SFspidur]

I don't think he flopped there. he fell. he's a big guy. it happens.

My bad...I'd misrememberd that intentional foul being on one of his flails. That was a legit one...he got undercut going for the rebound and fell awkwardly.

 

[spider23]

Love the passion he brings to the court.