Like I'm sure most of you who have a difficult time making AU games in the Neville be it your life demands or Bruce's remarkable creation of the reality (not illusion) of SCARCITY of tickets to Auburn home games (and insane prices), my sense of innumerable strengths of this team was visually impaired by TV cameras.
That is to say, from my Sec. 106 view last night, there are a number of player / team strengths that really 'popped' seeing action live in Neville, and for some reason, watching the broadcast on TV didn't quite capture.
- Sweet mother of God there is some QUICKNESS on this team. Miles Kelly and Haad Pettiford have lightning quick moves, both in blowing by defenders as well as beating the opponent out on a fast break. There was also one particular rebound Haad made in which he SKYED some ridiculous vertical above forwards to pull it down. Kid has it all, physically, and it appears, mentally.
- But here's the remarkable part. Kelly, Haad, Denver, and CBM have absolutely superior ball handling skill and care. They can turn the wick up on speed down the court, or beating a man defender off the dribble, and just RARELY bobble or turn the ball over. Frankly, last year K.D.'s speed was clear, but too often we paid the price of reckless ball handling, such that his speed may have been detrimental since it cause turnovers or poor shots. Kelly is lightning quick with the ball, and I would like to see Haad's driver's license, because there's NO way he is only 18 years old as composed as the kid plays.
- As huge as the mismatch will normally be for our front court of Johni, Dylan, and Chaney, what's so lethal is that there is only minimally a dropoff with Broome sitting. Chaney and Dylan can protect the rim, block shots, and be a real headache inside, which keeps defenses honest and gives our shooters open looks.
- Defending 3's. This is contrarian, so flame away. In games that are under 8 minutes left, tight score, we simply cannot foul a 3-point shooter. And they are being coached to kick a foot out, make contact, and hope the zebra calls the foul for 3 foul shots. BUT, in certain games, early on, I think that it can be a potentially useful tactic to defend a 3 VERY TIGHT, try to block the shot - ONCE early in the game, no more than that. You may well get the whistle, but I think that against teams that live and die with the 3, it may impact shooters for their brains to see that Auburn defenders are going to body you up, get in your face, block and/or bump you. Failing that, shooters' brains can be coached to believe that under NO circumstances will you get fouled / hit, so ignore the defender, relax, and release a good 3 point shot. But last night getting 3 as I recall fouls on 3-point shooters was a problem. What I'm talking about here "could" be an interesting subplot in the airport hangar on Feb 15.
- Yes, I "get it" with those here who want CBM to be "perfect" with in-game self control, and in March Madness Chad will absolutely HAVE to be a hard playing "boy scout" for the officials. It's a double standard, but we've seen how refs. appoint themselves adult chaperones to protect big, 230# C's and F's from this monster of a skinny serial killer Dominican (LOL). But being able to see the full court of what's happening with players not on the TV camera, Okey decided 2nd period to try to play dirty, muck it up. WTH did they have to lose? And I 100% blame the aburdity of referee reviews that let flagrants by Okey not be called, and stand. Or a flurry of other non-calls on Okey fouls. The unprovoked elbow to CBM called for a flagrant 1. What is Bruce to do in reversing the mostly false narrative that CBM is a constantly dirty player? Hold a press conference specifically on that, with game film clips of what CBM faces with opposing coaches' clearly telling their players to "trigger" # 10 by hitting him or knocking him to the floor? Crew was relatively fair most of the game until the final 10-12 minute stretch when AU had boatraced the Sooners.
- Only Auburn could MUFF countless numbers of POINT BLANK RANGE dunks or layups (espec. Johni last night), and annihilate a likely tourney team by 28! I'm sure Bruce will focus major work on FINISHING at the rim. Sheesh that could bite us in closer games. A couple of times the issue was also a zebra swallowing his whistle when Johni got bumped badly going up with the shot.
- Defense over the last handful of games had been a slight area of liability, perhaps mainly because this Auburn offense has basically NO equals nationally. But SEC opponents are put on notice last night that the same Okey team that boat raced Vandy with high octane scoring got utterly shut down last night. . The Sooners shot 33.3% from the field, which was by far their worst mark of the season. AU stole the ball from them nine times and blocked 11 of their shots. The scout focused on shutting down FR G Jeremiah Fears, and mission accomplished. “We stressed him in the scout, because the point guard is the one that makes them go,” senior Denver Jones said. “He's one of their leaders. So, cutting the head off the snake — that's one of the things that could really damage a team.”
- I trust Bruce to make hard judgments on reducing minutes or giving Broome a full game or two of rest, but it feels like we're vulnerable deep in the tourney if we can't get Johni back to full mobility, and agility playing at least at 90%. I wonder if the answer is little or no Johni Broome in the meaningless SEC tournament.
- The architects for Neville Arena get a permanent "assist" for wins in this arena of living hell for visiting teams. The acoustics are built for max. noise impact, and proximity to the hardwood for max. intimidation factor for opponents. Auburn is not losing at home this season, and RARE will be that occasion any given year.
Carry on.
E5
That is to say, from my Sec. 106 view last night, there are a number of player / team strengths that really 'popped' seeing action live in Neville, and for some reason, watching the broadcast on TV didn't quite capture.
- Sweet mother of God there is some QUICKNESS on this team. Miles Kelly and Haad Pettiford have lightning quick moves, both in blowing by defenders as well as beating the opponent out on a fast break. There was also one particular rebound Haad made in which he SKYED some ridiculous vertical above forwards to pull it down. Kid has it all, physically, and it appears, mentally.
- But here's the remarkable part. Kelly, Haad, Denver, and CBM have absolutely superior ball handling skill and care. They can turn the wick up on speed down the court, or beating a man defender off the dribble, and just RARELY bobble or turn the ball over. Frankly, last year K.D.'s speed was clear, but too often we paid the price of reckless ball handling, such that his speed may have been detrimental since it cause turnovers or poor shots. Kelly is lightning quick with the ball, and I would like to see Haad's driver's license, because there's NO way he is only 18 years old as composed as the kid plays.
- As huge as the mismatch will normally be for our front court of Johni, Dylan, and Chaney, what's so lethal is that there is only minimally a dropoff with Broome sitting. Chaney and Dylan can protect the rim, block shots, and be a real headache inside, which keeps defenses honest and gives our shooters open looks.
- Defending 3's. This is contrarian, so flame away. In games that are under 8 minutes left, tight score, we simply cannot foul a 3-point shooter. And they are being coached to kick a foot out, make contact, and hope the zebra calls the foul for 3 foul shots. BUT, in certain games, early on, I think that it can be a potentially useful tactic to defend a 3 VERY TIGHT, try to block the shot - ONCE early in the game, no more than that. You may well get the whistle, but I think that against teams that live and die with the 3, it may impact shooters for their brains to see that Auburn defenders are going to body you up, get in your face, block and/or bump you. Failing that, shooters' brains can be coached to believe that under NO circumstances will you get fouled / hit, so ignore the defender, relax, and release a good 3 point shot. But last night getting 3 as I recall fouls on 3-point shooters was a problem. What I'm talking about here "could" be an interesting subplot in the airport hangar on Feb 15.
- Yes, I "get it" with those here who want CBM to be "perfect" with in-game self control, and in March Madness Chad will absolutely HAVE to be a hard playing "boy scout" for the officials. It's a double standard, but we've seen how refs. appoint themselves adult chaperones to protect big, 230# C's and F's from this monster of a skinny serial killer Dominican (LOL). But being able to see the full court of what's happening with players not on the TV camera, Okey decided 2nd period to try to play dirty, muck it up. WTH did they have to lose? And I 100% blame the aburdity of referee reviews that let flagrants by Okey not be called, and stand. Or a flurry of other non-calls on Okey fouls. The unprovoked elbow to CBM called for a flagrant 1. What is Bruce to do in reversing the mostly false narrative that CBM is a constantly dirty player? Hold a press conference specifically on that, with game film clips of what CBM faces with opposing coaches' clearly telling their players to "trigger" # 10 by hitting him or knocking him to the floor? Crew was relatively fair most of the game until the final 10-12 minute stretch when AU had boatraced the Sooners.
- Only Auburn could MUFF countless numbers of POINT BLANK RANGE dunks or layups (espec. Johni last night), and annihilate a likely tourney team by 28! I'm sure Bruce will focus major work on FINISHING at the rim. Sheesh that could bite us in closer games. A couple of times the issue was also a zebra swallowing his whistle when Johni got bumped badly going up with the shot.
- Defense over the last handful of games had been a slight area of liability, perhaps mainly because this Auburn offense has basically NO equals nationally. But SEC opponents are put on notice last night that the same Okey team that boat raced Vandy with high octane scoring got utterly shut down last night. . The Sooners shot 33.3% from the field, which was by far their worst mark of the season. AU stole the ball from them nine times and blocked 11 of their shots. The scout focused on shutting down FR G Jeremiah Fears, and mission accomplished. “We stressed him in the scout, because the point guard is the one that makes them go,” senior Denver Jones said. “He's one of their leaders. So, cutting the head off the snake — that's one of the things that could really damage a team.”
- I trust Bruce to make hard judgments on reducing minutes or giving Broome a full game or two of rest, but it feels like we're vulnerable deep in the tourney if we can't get Johni back to full mobility, and agility playing at least at 90%. I wonder if the answer is little or no Johni Broome in the meaningless SEC tournament.
- The architects for Neville Arena get a permanent "assist" for wins in this arena of living hell for visiting teams. The acoustics are built for max. noise impact, and proximity to the hardwood for max. intimidation factor for opponents. Auburn is not losing at home this season, and RARE will be that occasion any given year.
Carry on.
E5
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