Whew, that was a brutal game. Refs called that thing in a way that it was nearly impossible for us to pull away. We also missed more shots than I can count point blank that we finish 95% of the time. Dylan out with cramps late. 50/50 bounces going against us. Nearly everything that could go wrong, did. Yet, the guys still found a way to pull off a win over a good UGA team that was desperate for a win at home in front of a raucous crowd in their gym which is a crime against sporting humanity for tv viewers.
Tahaad came through today when all of our other top scorers were struggling. His solo 12-0 run in the first half allowed us to take control of the game and build a lead that UGA was never able to dig all the way out of even when we were struggling to score for long stretches. 24 points on 5/7 from deep for his best game yet in an Auburn uniform on a day where there is zero doubt he was the MVP and we lose the game without his contribution.
Chad had his worst half of the year in the first half with shots rimming out that he normally drains. He displayed great mental fortitude and never got rattled. His steal and score in the second half and 3 pointers to get to 13 points on the day were the difference between keeping the lead and UGA going ahead. Last year, Chad probably isn't able to stay in it mentally to do that late in the game after struggling. He's come a long way and has earned his status as one of the best players in the country.
Turtle was far from perfect, but with Dylan struggling with cramps, he played crucial minutes for us today. Without him, Asa Newell might have gone off in the second half. Instead, Turtle was able to keep him in check. He had 3 offensive rebounds and 2 steals. He also hit 2 of his 3 shots and a big FT late. For a guy who had been relegated to solely garbage time minutes prior to the Broome injury, he stepped up today to give us another physical defender to prevent UGA from imposing their will with Dylan out of the game. He looked lost at times on D, but he was playing hard and we likely don't win today without his minutes. Great job by Bruce to keep him engaged and positive until his fate paved the way for him to have an opportunity to contribute.
This was one of the best weeks of the Bruce era. After losing the leader for NPOY, we went 2-0 against ranked teams. The first game in an epic blowout at home and today, we won a rock fight against a desperate team in their awful building with its hideous white court. Being able to win games in multiple ways is the mark of a true championship contender. This is exactly the type of game that decides the SEC regular season title. Teams that win the title have to get through multiple games like this one and the game at USCe to end up at the top of the standings. To have a chance to win it all in March, we will likely need to get multiple wins like this where we have to fight tooth and nail through all manner of adversity. Proud of the guys for continuing to prove this team has the intangible traits it will take to put banners in the rafters.
Tahaad came through today when all of our other top scorers were struggling. His solo 12-0 run in the first half allowed us to take control of the game and build a lead that UGA was never able to dig all the way out of even when we were struggling to score for long stretches. 24 points on 5/7 from deep for his best game yet in an Auburn uniform on a day where there is zero doubt he was the MVP and we lose the game without his contribution.
Chad had his worst half of the year in the first half with shots rimming out that he normally drains. He displayed great mental fortitude and never got rattled. His steal and score in the second half and 3 pointers to get to 13 points on the day were the difference between keeping the lead and UGA going ahead. Last year, Chad probably isn't able to stay in it mentally to do that late in the game after struggling. He's come a long way and has earned his status as one of the best players in the country.
Turtle was far from perfect, but with Dylan struggling with cramps, he played crucial minutes for us today. Without him, Asa Newell might have gone off in the second half. Instead, Turtle was able to keep him in check. He had 3 offensive rebounds and 2 steals. He also hit 2 of his 3 shots and a big FT late. For a guy who had been relegated to solely garbage time minutes prior to the Broome injury, he stepped up today to give us another physical defender to prevent UGA from imposing their will with Dylan out of the game. He looked lost at times on D, but he was playing hard and we likely don't win today without his minutes. Great job by Bruce to keep him engaged and positive until his fate paved the way for him to have an opportunity to contribute.
This was one of the best weeks of the Bruce era. After losing the leader for NPOY, we went 2-0 against ranked teams. The first game in an epic blowout at home and today, we won a rock fight against a desperate team in their awful building with its hideous white court. Being able to win games in multiple ways is the mark of a true championship contender. This is exactly the type of game that decides the SEC regular season title. Teams that win the title have to get through multiple games like this one and the game at USCe to end up at the top of the standings. To have a chance to win it all in March, we will likely need to get multiple wins like this where we have to fight tooth and nail through all manner of adversity. Proud of the guys for continuing to prove this team has the intangible traits it will take to put banners in the rafters.
