Louisiana State (12/22/11)

[CMJ]

I don't mind the occasional zone look as long as we do it right. Might confuse some opponents. Likewise, I think slapping on a random press gives the other team something to think about.

[pastorgrant]

1-3-1 can be good against the three if you trap on the wings, but in my experience (high school only) 2-3 isn't great against the three. Though if you're long and fast you can do ok against the three in just about any defensive scheme. I.e. Syracuse.

[BleedGreen]

Finally got to introduce TheTastyGreek to one of our all time great 3 point bomber specialists, George "The Archer" King tonight. Always wanted to get you two rapping some basketball some time down the road.

Really had a great time tonight, especially when we were winning. The LSU fans were pretty nervous till the end.

And speaking of their fans. Met a father and his two sons tonight who live in Corinth. He grew up in Baton Rouge, went to LSU now works abroad for an oil and gas company. Both his sons, looked to be about 13 and 9, had LSU hats on. But he said because they live close by, whenever he is in town they try and come to the basketball games and have enjoyed the football games too. After the game I asked the 13 year old if he was thinking about wanting to go to college some day and he said without hesitation, "Yes, I want to go to North Texas because it seems like a really good school".

There are countless folks like these people all over Denton County who are transplants looking to support a second team. Its my hope we can continue to tap into this type of fan and grow our base of support from there.

Rick

I am glad somebody remembers the nickname I coined for George King in my nttv kntu days. Remember Tom the waiter Echison?

Let me try for the new mean green ballets nicknames.

chris jones Kris kross

Tony Mitchell the monster

Jordan Williams. J dub

Brandan Walton the sniper

[pastorgrant]

Sorry Roadruner, didn't see you already said pretty much what I just said.

[Andrew]

I don't mind the occasional zone look as long as we do it right. Might confuse some opponents. Likewise, I think slapping on a random press gives the other team something to think about.

I thought it was interesting that when we ran the full court press Hogans was always in the front court running back and forth with CJ. Im not sure if I like that or dislike that... It would take a toll on his legs though.

[untwillrise]

Only for very short spurts. He didn't blockout for a single rebound all night.

Is this a joke?

[Censored by Laurie]

Finally got to introduce TheTastyGreek to one of our all time great 3 point bomber specialists, George "The Archer" King tonight.

Was Paige with him?

the 2-3 zone is what you utilize to shut down the three.

You openly wondered why people didn't respect your basketball opinion...this is why. One of the dumbest things I've read on this board...and seriously, that takes work. You go 2-3 because your opponent is considerably bigger than you and/or you've little regard for their outside shot. The 2-3 prevents entry passes to scoring positions in the post...it's down-sides are that it will eventually lead to an open perimeter shot (which LSU wasn't hitting) and the lack of a man block-out assignment which creates easier offensive rebounds (which LSU killed us on).

To think the 2-3 shuts down a team's perimeter game may well be the dumbest sports point ever.

[CMJ]

According to the meangreenball breakdown, we set season lows for assists, steals, field goals made, and rebounds in this game.

And yet, with around 4 minutes to go we still had a shot to steal this one. Against a RPI Top 50 team mind you. Compare this team to the one that got blitzed by UTA and you have to think we're gonna be really tough in a few weeks (once Tony gets his legs).

Edited December 23, 2011 by CMJ

[Censored by Laurie]

Also...the zone was good and did it's job...the team just couldn't finish it out with defensive rebounds. Hamilton and O'Bryant could get whatever they wanted against man defense...the zone forced Turner and Hickey and Bass to jack up shots which I'd live with all day long...LSU just imposed it's size and beat the zone on second chance points. They're simple bigger and thats why they won.

[GrandGreen]

I though this was easily the best game NT has played this year. Yes, they looked real bad a lot of the game; but they were playing a very good deep team. Mitchell got knocked around but for his first real game against competition was not bad, considering the front line LSU put out there. I think the Mitchell saga has overshadowed the great start that Chris Jones is having. He had another very good game. Hogans had his best game of the year and Franklin playing against players that towered over him, played with a lot of heart. Alzee Williams had another solid game. Jordan Williams was bad, no getting around that. He is too athletic not to play, but he has to learn to play at this level. His talent will serve him much better if he develops better control over his game. Shooting off balance shots seldom works and he takes way too many.

No one in the Belt is going to come close to the talent level of LSU, and NT is going to get much better. Yes, I know USA beat them which is mystifying.

Edited December 23, 2011 by GrandGreen

[Andrew]

I though this was easily the best game NT has played this year. Yes, they looked real bad a lot of the game; but they were playing a very good deep team. Mitchell got knocked around but for his first real game against competition was not bad, considering the front line LSU put out there. I think the Mitchell saga has overshadowed the great start that Chris Jones is having. He had another very good game. Hogans had his best game of the year and Franklin playing against players that towered over him, played with a lot of heart. Alzee Williams had another solid game. Jason Williams was bad, no getting around that. He is too athletic not to play, but he has to learn to play at this level. His talent will serve him much better if he develops better control over his game. Shooting off balance shots seldom works and he takes way too many.

No one in the Belt is going to come close to the talent level of LSU, and NT is going to get much better.

Jordan Williams...?

[GrandGreen]

Jordan Williams...?

That is not the first time, I have done that and probably not the last.

[MeanMag]

For the most part, I thought our defense was pretty good. Justin Hamilton for them was hitting Dirk fadeaways over Tony. WTF? Nothing you can do about that.

[UNTcrazy727]

For the most part, I thought our defense was pretty good. Justin Hamilton for them was hitting Dirk fadeaways over Tony. WTF? Nothing you can do about that.

Maybe try a double team. I don't think we tried that one

[foutsrouts]

That is how you run a 2-3 defense

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=eCpMi0bVii8

Don't think we should try and emulate Syracuse, because last I heard they only run the erogenous zone.

[Green P1]

Is this a joke?

No. No it is not.

[Quoner]

Maybe try a double team. I don't think we tried that one

He can shoot over it.

Also, noted spy Caribbeangreen just informed me he saw Hamilton at the airport food court. Said he didn't know whether to punch him in the face or tip his cap.

[UNTcrazy727]

He can shoot over it.

Also, noted spy Caribbeangreen just informed me he saw Hamilton at the airport food court. Said he didn't know whether to punch him in the face or tip his cap.

That's why you get to him before he's ready to shoot. Even Dirk has trouble with a double once in awhile. I'm pretty sure it could trouble LSU's 41 more than just letting him pick us a part.

[Quoner]

That's why you get to him before he's ready to shoot. Even Dirk has trouble with a double once in awhile. I'm pretty sure it could trouble LSU's 41 more than just letting him pick us a part.

If we had someone bigger to throw at him, maybe, but he had other big guys to pass to. When there is that much size on the floor and they can pass over it, you're going to give up more than you gain in most cases (IMO.) If he was the only guy with size, I totally agree with the strategy.

Also, I'll miss rattled Ginger Kid most of all. I was hoping Hamilton would be more like him rather than being all "look at me, I am imposing my will all over this game" guy.

[Green P1]

That's why you get to him before he's ready to shoot. Even Dirk has trouble with a double once in awhile. I'm pretty sure it could trouble LSU's 41 more than just letting him pick us a part.

Double him and the even more impressive(to me) Johnny O'Bryant or crafty Storm Warren start killing you. They were just too damned big.

[Green Mean]

I'd like to start seeing a lot of pick and roll plays with CJ...seems that could be a great asset to have.

[Andrew]

I'd like to start seeing a lot of pick and roll plays with CJ...seems that could be a great asset to have.

Like I said previously... CJ and Mitchel/Niko= Terry/Dirk

[Censored by Laurie]

Double him and the even more impressive(to me) Johnny O'Bryant or crafty Storm Warren start killing you.

Just double them too. Idiot.

[Green Lantern]

Thought we played a decent game last night, especially given the competition level. As has been mentioned ad nauseum in this thread, LSU was just too big and tall for our guys last night. Trenches decided the game. When Tony got in foul trouble again, it really made things tough on Hogans, Holmen and Franklin defensively.

In terms of needed improvement, we have got to find a way to become more cohesive offensively as the season move along. We had another long stretch (seems like it happens in every game) where we don't score for several mintues of game time. Usually when Jones is on the bench. Rushed shots and turnovers have dominated these stretches for us. I understand that basketball can be a game of hot/cold, but we really haven't effectively executed Johnny's offensive scheme with any consistency.

Continue to be impressed with Jones. Alzee and Franklin have been terrific under the radar players for us so far. Still worried about our lack of outside shooting.

The put back dunk that Tony threw down last night was disgusting. Crazy athleticism (no lunch pail needed).

[Green P1]

Just double them too. Idiot.

Does going to a zone allow us to double 3 guys?