Take these for what they are worth - about 1/4 the cost of one of Vernon's happy hour umbrella drinks.
The one takeaway to which I would actually assign meaning: a :24 shot clock produces a faster game. Last night's game was 96 possessions, 12 possessions more than our fastest game last season (VMI).
On one hand, the offense struggled - 1.16 points per possession against an outclassed team is fairly pedestrian.
On the other hand, the offense dominated - 1.61 points per shooting possession is like Gonzaga, Wisconsin or the Spurs when they are firing on all cylinders.
The 28.1% turnover rate is absurdly high for a game in November onwards. For a 1st game replacing two primary ballhandlers and incorporating several new faces, it is mildly-to-not-at-all concerning.
I will guarantee we win every game henceforth in which we force a 57.3% turnover rate. That makes allowing 0.41 points per possession almost expected. The 0.95 points per shooting possession we allowed was better than every game we played last year save for Northern Kentucky...and 0.18 points per shooting possession higher than we scored in our final game.
Further, in every game in which we force a 57.3% turnover rate or higher AND have an offensive rebounding rate of 80% or higher, I guarantee we cover the spread.
I don't like allowing a 38.4% offensive rebounding rate, no matter what the score is. That's a continuation of a 4-year problem.
Ahmad, West and Bolden are essentially playing their first games with new bodies. I expected them all to shoot poorly on this trip and struggle to stay in every play. West and Bolden struggled at times...Esa exceeded my 1st game expectations and I've compared him to Paul Pierce, Bryant Stith and a more athletic DaSean on here before. He has quicker hands and stays in a stance much better than I expected. He won't be like Holton or Goard on top of the press but he won't struggle as much as I expected if he has to play there.
I cannot wait for this season to start.
The one takeaway to which I would actually assign meaning: a :24 shot clock produces a faster game. Last night's game was 96 possessions, 12 possessions more than our fastest game last season (VMI).
On one hand, the offense struggled - 1.16 points per possession against an outclassed team is fairly pedestrian.
On the other hand, the offense dominated - 1.61 points per shooting possession is like Gonzaga, Wisconsin or the Spurs when they are firing on all cylinders.
The 28.1% turnover rate is absurdly high for a game in November onwards. For a 1st game replacing two primary ballhandlers and incorporating several new faces, it is mildly-to-not-at-all concerning.
I will guarantee we win every game henceforth in which we force a 57.3% turnover rate. That makes allowing 0.41 points per possession almost expected. The 0.95 points per shooting possession we allowed was better than every game we played last year save for Northern Kentucky...and 0.18 points per shooting possession higher than we scored in our final game.
Further, in every game in which we force a 57.3% turnover rate or higher AND have an offensive rebounding rate of 80% or higher, I guarantee we cover the spread.
I don't like allowing a 38.4% offensive rebounding rate, no matter what the score is. That's a continuation of a 4-year problem.
Ahmad, West and Bolden are essentially playing their first games with new bodies. I expected them all to shoot poorly on this trip and struggle to stay in every play. West and Bolden struggled at times...Esa exceeded my 1st game expectations and I've compared him to Paul Pierce, Bryant Stith and a more athletic DaSean on here before. He has quicker hands and stays in a stance much better than I expected. He won't be like Holton or Goard on top of the press but he won't struggle as much as I expected if he has to play there.
I cannot wait for this season to start.
