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Some random thoughts from Friday's game
Posted on: November 13, 2017 at 08:36:54 CT
FIJItiger MU
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First thought, and I hope this is every Tiger fan’s first thought from Friday’s game, is MU basketball is back and relevant and exciting again. The #1 difference was the energy level and the effort and the passion of the players, which was fed by the same from the fans.
Tilmon was a monster in that game. Granted ISU’s frontcourt was completely outsized and overmatched but for a guy playing his first college game he was a difference maker right out of the gate. Great footwork and touch around the rim.
Obviously disappointing that Porter Jr played so briefly but I was glad that he didn’t exert himself and we still handled them easily. He is going to need to score 38 points in his next game to get his ppg up to 20. I have a feeling at seasons end his per game stats will be oddly skewed by the ISU game.
I thought Robertson was capable as a pg, although somewhat concerned that it led to him missing 9 shots from the field. I’m not sure he is fully effective as a scorer as the primary ball handler and distributor. I think we are ok with him playing point, but I don’t feel at least from early returns that it maximizes our assets.
Puryear seems to have found a good role, and was letting the game come to him. Really glad to see him and Barnett get to experience some success. Both of them really looked like they were having fun out there and just soaking it in.
I was kind of underwhelmed by Jontay’s performance, similar to Tilmon he should have been able to abuse ISU’s undersized front line and instead he only took 1 shot inside the 3 point line. We didn’t really need him that game, but he looked a lot like a young Travon Bryant and there will certainly be games where we do need him.
Main challenge I see for Cuonzo going forward is figuring out a way to shorten our rotations. There was just too many players and it disrupted the flow (and that is without Porter Jr). And playing Harris 8 minutes while playing Geist/Phillips 33 minutes at the same position is crazy.
Would have liked to see us get to the line a little more, and get some more second chance points. Our ability to defend the perimeter was not nearly as concerning as I had expected and we looked good there. Lots of room for growth, which is the most encouraging thing because we simply controlled that game start to finish without our most talented player and with a ton of new pieces.
Tilmon was a monster in that game. Granted ISU’s frontcourt was completely outsized and overmatched but for a guy playing his first college game he was a difference maker right out of the gate. Great footwork and touch around the rim.
Obviously disappointing that Porter Jr played so briefly but I was glad that he didn’t exert himself and we still handled them easily. He is going to need to score 38 points in his next game to get his ppg up to 20. I have a feeling at seasons end his per game stats will be oddly skewed by the ISU game.
I thought Robertson was capable as a pg, although somewhat concerned that it led to him missing 9 shots from the field. I’m not sure he is fully effective as a scorer as the primary ball handler and distributor. I think we are ok with him playing point, but I don’t feel at least from early returns that it maximizes our assets.
Puryear seems to have found a good role, and was letting the game come to him. Really glad to see him and Barnett get to experience some success. Both of them really looked like they were having fun out there and just soaking it in.
I was kind of underwhelmed by Jontay’s performance, similar to Tilmon he should have been able to abuse ISU’s undersized front line and instead he only took 1 shot inside the 3 point line. We didn’t really need him that game, but he looked a lot like a young Travon Bryant and there will certainly be games where we do need him.
Main challenge I see for Cuonzo going forward is figuring out a way to shorten our rotations. There was just too many players and it disrupted the flow (and that is without Porter Jr). And playing Harris 8 minutes while playing Geist/Phillips 33 minutes at the same position is crazy.
Would have liked to see us get to the line a little more, and get some more second chance points. Our ability to defend the perimeter was not nearly as concerning as I had expected and we looked good there. Lots of room for growth, which is the most encouraging thing because we simply controlled that game start to finish without our most talented player and with a ton of new pieces.
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Some random thoughts from Friday's game - FIJItiger MU - 11/13 08:36:54