A couple quick thoughts from tonight...
*To be down by 20 and not make a field goal until literally like 5 minutes into the game with three starters - and three of your five best players - out and to scratch and claw to the finish for a 10 point loss on senior night in Morgantown is something I’ll take. No question about it.
*This team made a ton of mistakes tonight, but to fight the way they did and never once flinch - especially with no true veteran leader on the floor - speaks volumes to me about this group. They fight their asses off for 40 minutes every night, and did again tonight.
*That fight starts with Jarrett Culver and Zhaire Smith. Those two freshmen are fearless, and I said these same things on Saturday after the KU game, but I’ll reiterate: Do not take a single second of watching them play for granted. They’re special players. Smith is the physical freak, and Culver can fill it up once he starts cooking.
*On Culver specifically, I think he’s your alpha male in 8 months. You see it on nights like tonight. An off-season in the weight room with time to season his craft and improve as a FT shooter, and I think he can be one of the most prolific scorers in the conference. He’s so damn versatile. He can stroke it and drive it both. On top of that, he’s such a long defender. This is your poster boy for the foreseeable future.
*Niem Stevenson got scorching hot in this game, and I loved the confidence and aggression from him. My hope here is that this kicks Nemo into overdrive for the next few weeks. He played his best offensive game as a Red Raider tonight, IMO.
*Now, to the bad: Tommy Hamilton and Brandone Francis gave you zilch tonight. Hamilton had his worst night as a Red Raider I think. He was lost defensively and couldn’t hit a shot on offense. He’s so frustrating to watch, because he’s either great or bad. Little in between.
*We’ll see where things go with Davide Moretti, but if anything, he got a ton of minutes against the most physical team in the conference onntheir court. He’s clearly still way behind in his transition from Euro hoops to American hoops. It doesn’t help that he’s not knocking shots down right now either. Hope he takes a big jump in the offseason.
*You can call me crazy, but I feel good about the game on Saturday. Giving Evans and Smith what will be six days between games could be big, and the rest of this team gets 4 days between games. I look for a refocused and hot start against TCU on senior day. As you get ready for the postseason.
*To be down by 20 and not make a field goal until literally like 5 minutes into the game with three starters - and three of your five best players - out and to scratch and claw to the finish for a 10 point loss on senior night in Morgantown is something I’ll take. No question about it.
*This team made a ton of mistakes tonight, but to fight the way they did and never once flinch - especially with no true veteran leader on the floor - speaks volumes to me about this group. They fight their asses off for 40 minutes every night, and did again tonight.
*That fight starts with Jarrett Culver and Zhaire Smith. Those two freshmen are fearless, and I said these same things on Saturday after the KU game, but I’ll reiterate: Do not take a single second of watching them play for granted. They’re special players. Smith is the physical freak, and Culver can fill it up once he starts cooking.
*On Culver specifically, I think he’s your alpha male in 8 months. You see it on nights like tonight. An off-season in the weight room with time to season his craft and improve as a FT shooter, and I think he can be one of the most prolific scorers in the conference. He’s so damn versatile. He can stroke it and drive it both. On top of that, he’s such a long defender. This is your poster boy for the foreseeable future.
*Niem Stevenson got scorching hot in this game, and I loved the confidence and aggression from him. My hope here is that this kicks Nemo into overdrive for the next few weeks. He played his best offensive game as a Red Raider tonight, IMO.
*Now, to the bad: Tommy Hamilton and Brandone Francis gave you zilch tonight. Hamilton had his worst night as a Red Raider I think. He was lost defensively and couldn’t hit a shot on offense. He’s so frustrating to watch, because he’s either great or bad. Little in between.
*We’ll see where things go with Davide Moretti, but if anything, he got a ton of minutes against the most physical team in the conference onntheir court. He’s clearly still way behind in his transition from Euro hoops to American hoops. It doesn’t help that he’s not knocking shots down right now either. Hope he takes a big jump in the offseason.
*You can call me crazy, but I feel good about the game on Saturday. Giving Evans and Smith what will be six days between games could be big, and the rest of this team gets 4 days between games. I look for a refocused and hot start against TCU on senior day. As you get ready for the postseason.
