Impressions of team after Portland Victory

I don't feel very comfortable about our style of basketball at present. Very inconsistent. The game vs the Pilots was much closer than the score indicates as our FT towards the end of the game extended the lead.



3 pt. shooting: 3-16

Defensive lapses by Carlino, Harstock and Abouo kept them from gaining any rythmn. Carlino 3-11 from field; 0-4 from 3 pt. land, Harstock 0-6 from field; Abouo had seven points but was 1-6 shooting.

Winder played good defense but disappeared offensively (0-2 from field).



Again perimeter shooting was terrible and probably the worst run offense during the first half and first four minutes of the second half.



Kudos to Davies (19 points - 7/13, 8 steals and 13 rebounds), Cusick (12 points - 4/9 shooting) - good defense.



Zylstra picked it up towards end of game when he became agressive and drove to the basket when he realized his outside shooting was suspect (12 points; 3-5 shooting, could have had more if he made his FTs).



This type of play will not cut it against good teams (St. Marys is a given loss, and it will be difficult to beat the Zags in their house if we bring this kind of effort. Don't know if this game was a let down after Zag game but hopefully we can right the ship vs Pepperdine at home.

As you said - inconsistent play has become the identity of this young team.



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I guess I am bothered by our getting away from our identity this year which is to go to our bigs several times before deciding to shoot the outside shot. Carlin, Winder and Abouo were jacking up 3s with 20 seconds left on the shot clock. It is a little late in the season to keep doing this. Harstock shot the ball 6 times the entire game - what is up with that?



I like our team when we play up tempo but drive to the basket and shoot high percentage short jumpers, layups, or within 15 feet.



We need to find players that will do this consistently.



On a positive side, playing Cusick and Carlino together paid some dividends and led to Cusick shooting very well.

A big part of the poor play was having Noah sit 16 mins in first half and Carlino as well for a good portion. And abouo? Come on dude, quit fouling everybody, you need to stay on the floor more. Weird game, over 50 FT attempts by BYU and some really sloppy play both ways.



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byucougar1 wrote:
I guess I am bothered by our getting away from our identity this year which is to go to our bigs several times before deciding to shoot the outside shot. Carlin, Winder and Abouo were jacking up 3s with 20 seconds left on the shot clock. It is a little late in the season to keep doing this. Harstock shot the ball 6 times the entire game - what is up with that?



I like our team when we play up tempo but drive to the basket and shoot high percentage short jumpers, layups, or within 15 feet.



We need to find players that will do this consistently.



On a positive side, playing Cusick and Carlino together paid some dividends and led to Cusick shooting very well.

Hartsock got his second foul with about 15 minutes left in the 1st half and sat for the rest of the half. He would have gotten more shots if that hadn't have happened. Portland was determined not to let him beat them, they collapsed and hammered him every time he made a move, which is why he shot so many free throws. The team is going to have to figure out how to break this shooting slump. It has gotten beyond ridiculous, I am sick of wide open outside shots bricking off of every part of the rim. Hartsock is the only person who has a consistant outside shot. This team would be competing with St. Mary's for the WCC championship if its shooting didn't disapear.

They need to slow down on their 3 attempts. Rushing it. Abouo should have played LB on the football team.

If we had just average big men in Hartsock and Davies this team would probably be 5th place in the WCC. With them it's enough to make it to 2nd.



Luckily we have Davies and more importantly this year, Hartsock. The game was definitely in question until Hartsock abused them in the 2nd half. Sure he had a terrible shooting game, but he was also getting hammered and fouled every time he got the ball.



The thing that disturbs me the most about this Cougar team is that we haven't improved over the year at all. Abuou is still making mental mistakes, fouling too often. Carlino is still throwing up the worst possible rushed 3 point attempts, Zylstra still is a complete non-factor until the game is completely decided and he decides to play aggressively, Winder shows his potential in the future but youth and inexperience, Davies is still rushing and forcing shots.

hawkwing wrote:
If we had just average big men in Hartsock and Davies this team would probably be 5th place in the WCC. With them it's enough to make it to 2nd.



Luckily we have Davies and more importantly this year, Hartsock. The game was definitely in question until Hartsock abused them in the 2nd half. Sure he had a terrible shooting game, but he was also getting hammered and fouled every time he got the ball.



The thing that disturbs me the most about this Cougar team is that we haven't improved over the year at all. Abuou is still making mental mistakes, fouling too often. Carlino is still throwing up the worst possible rushed 3 point attempts, Zylstra still is a complete non-factor until the game is completely decided and he decides to play aggressively, Winder shows his potential in the future but youth and inexperience, Davies is still rushing and forcing shots.

This. Davies is good, bordering great. But, I think Noah has been the consistent thread and look what happens when he is out or limited. We will not be granted such favorable foul disparity vs GU or SMC.

WE HAVE GOT TO GET IT INTO THE POST! ARGH. We can still keep up tempo and getting it into the post before the defense sets, and its more likely to prevent double teams or set up open outside shots--since we can't make any that are even mildly contested.

And how about that suck player from Orem? Ya, he really sucks.....at press breaking. He's not a world beater, but why does Rose keep going to back to him?

Zylchstra, to quote my friend, needs to take it to the rack. its when he is the most productive on points and especially rebounds.

We can get there, i think Rose stepped up the tempo a little and MC needs to know not when to jack 3's. Cusick is the model for shooting limited 3's. let it come to you. Then again, most of utah county young kids are jackin 3's like they're Jimmer. Im surprised I haven't seen T-shirts that read: "Jack it like your Jimmer."

Some observations:



Noah is a very unassuming player and doesn't demand the ball. If he can be more assertive, or have the coach pound it into the guards, he will get his touches - good things will happen - whether from the FT line or from outside shooting.



Abouo needs to learn patience and let the game come to him instead of forcing it. When his outside shot isn't falling, take it to the rack (slash and drive). When he misses a shot, don't commit stupid tick-tack fouls borne out of frustration.



Ditto for Zylstra. He actually played better when he drove to the hole and not standing around waiting for an outlet pass to shoot. He is best when he is active and not passive.