Losing this game...ugh. That span in the first half, with so many quick fouls called on us and Cheeze going to the bench...that hurt. But it didn't hurt nearly as bad as starting the second half with ten fouls in seven minutes and Cheeze back on the bench again. It killed any sense of flow we might try to establish, our ability to speed up the game - a tactic that seems to have worked in our favor as of late. It just sucked.
But I wasn't too surprised. I've said all season that if we don't have Cheeze, we don't have offense. Despite how much time is wasted playing catch outside the arc and killing shot clock - something any of our ball handlers seem willing and able to do - the thing that got us in gear and had offense flowing was Cheeze bringing it up quickly and finding the right shooters. That, and IMO, having Hudson come alive at times and be willing and able to take over on offense for us. The rest of the time we're just hoping Egor can make a three, or Stone makes something for himself.
Focusing on this game, TT looked better and played better. I'm not going to complain about that. I'll be miffed at the refs for taking such an influence on how the game is played, and who can play. But ultimately, this is who are team is. Especially when Cheeze is on the bench.
Season is over. Kids did the best they could with a lineup lacking capable bigs or a second point guard competent to run an offense. Nobody quit. Many simply didn't have what it took to get it done.
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On the season as a whole, I am not too disappointed - again, I look at all the bigs we had on the bench and have to accept this is who we were. Hayes is not a 5, but bless his heart for doing all he could when asked to play the 5. Stone matured and it was good to see his progression. Cheeze was who we wanted, who we needed, but he wasn't enough. Egor coulda, shoulda, and woulda, but didn't...consistently. Hudson took awhile to figure it out - I'd LOVE to have him back for another year, but I don't expect that from him. Allen, never came close to what he showed us in earlier years - he got a LOT of minutes for two reasons, IMO. First, his experience made him the second choice at PG when Cheeze was out. Second, his potential was very high based on what he led us to believe in past years. However, those two factors are flawed, because he is not 'court aware' enough to be running the point (as evidenced by frequent turn overs), and he NEVER came close to what he was last season, much less what we thought he could become. While I believe he has one more year left, I honestly do NOT want him back next year. I don't want Egbunu back either - I'd rather get a younger guy like Basset to take their lumps and build for the future than to count on Eggie and have him injured or unable to perform for whatever reason.
Love the guys who gave all they had this season. But I'm ready to cut and move on without Allen, Egor, Egbunu, and reluctantly Cheeze. We'll have to see about Hudson. And in looking ahead, I'm fine with one more season for White to show he can bring in 'his guys' and make something happen. White has done well at identifying grad transfers to fill holes these past two years, I trust that will continue. I just want to see if he can get a full roster (of HEALTHY players) at all positions for a season and actually build something. That's what I'm looking for next season, and I expect a sweet sixteen out of it.
And I got really drunk Saturday night - that helped too.
you just called SOS a loser..............unless there is some kind of new logic or grammar we have not heard about.............
