The first 6-8 minutes of the game State played really good. I'm not just talking about good offense, even the defense was good. However, towards the end of the first half things were changing quickly and it never stopped in the second half.

This is the third straight game in which we blew double digit leads which is alarming. The reason for this is still unknown to me. I can't write this team off and say they suck as teams that suck don't hold double digit leads over decent competition like Missouri and Pittsburgh. The only guess I can make is that the team becomes fatigued and loses focus.

I can understand why Warren tires as he does a lot on offense and defense. I can give Anya an excuse this season as he's a freshman and there were rumors that he wouldn't even be playable this year. However, I noticed that Barber not been as effective the past two games and I think the reason for this is he wastes too much energy on offense.

On fast breaks he rarely finds anyone open and he also dribbles the ball too much which leads to petty turnovers. I think he needs to slow down and pace himself better. Lewis is actually a better point guard as he sees the court better and is a more efficient passer while Barber is a way better shooting guard.

I think Tyler should start at PG and Barber at SG while Lee rotates in. I also like Anya and Vandy in the paint while Freeman and Washington rotates in. I would also like Vandy and Anya to be more aggressive shooting while they're in the paint so this team will become more elusive as we know Warren will be Warren but he can't win us every game.

1/4/2014 6:38:39 PM

^
That last paragraph sounds like a good idea. Always wanted Barber and Lewis on the floor at the same time

1/4/2014 6:41:15 PM

after Anya has been in for more than two minutes of continuous play he's basically hyperventilating. dude is just not in shape enough for us to play him like that.

Cat loses control of the ball a lot but he can score. Lewis just doesn't have the scoring power so when he's in the defense can focus more on containing Warren.

I'd like to see us try it, but it could end up limiting Warren and taking another shooter off the floor entirely.

[Edited on January 4, 2014 at 7:15 PM. Reason : ibtl]

1/4/2014 7:15:20 PM

We have only one guy who can shoot from outside, and he's almost unplayable due to his poor ball-handling and decision-making. That's a problem.

1/4/2014 7:36:22 PM

Im glad someone made this thread because we dont currently have a game thread

1/4/2014 7:40:33 PM

^ And there is never any analysis after a game either

1/4/2014 7:49:13 PM

Pretty simple explanation if you ask me. Pitt switched to a zone defense after the hot start and the team just couldn't handle it.

1/4/2014 7:49:54 PM

i have no problem with this thread

1/4/2014 8:00:06 PM

Quote :

"Cat loses control of the ball a lot but he can score"

He went 2/10 from the field this game, after going 4/14 against UNCG and 2/11 against Missouri

I'll bet Lewis could shoot 23% from the field

1/4/2014 8:05:27 PM

Welcome to the ACC Cat

1/4/2014 8:07:00 PM

No legit 3 point shooter is going to be a killer all season. Turner is really the only guy that can shoot and he looks completely lost 90% of the time.

As far as Lewis goes, yea Cat has struggled lately but I can't see based on what Lewis has done this year how you can play him much at all right now. He looks completely lost this year. Turning it over like crazy and panicking. Maybe game time could solve the problem. But I'm not so sure.

We just aren't that good this year. It happens.

1/4/2014 8:17:28 PM

It happens. Like always.

1/4/2014 8:18:13 PM

Why isn't this just in the Pitt thread? Are you going to breakdown all our ACC losses this year for us in an additional analysis thread?

1/4/2014 9:36:25 PM

Quote :

"Turning it over like crazy and panicking"

He has an almost 4:1 turnover to assist ratio (44:13). He's not exactly a ball control nightmare.

I'm all for being unhappy with Lewis' production this year, but "turning it over like crazy" is a pretty unfair assessment of the situation.

in our losses he's 6:5 (even counting the 4 minutes he played against pitt and 18 against mizzou)

1/4/2014 9:45:07 PM

Quote :

"No legit 3 point shooter is going to be a killer all season. Turner is really the only guy that can shoot and he looks completely lost 90% of the time. As far as Lewis goes, yea Cat has struggled lately but I can't see based on what Lewis has done this year how you can play him much at all right now. He looks completely lost this year. Turning it over like crazy and panicking. Maybe game time could solve the problem. But I'm not so sure. We just aren't that good this year. It happens."

I personally don't think Turner is the only one that can shoot the 3, he's just the only guy we setup screens for. Lee, Barber, and Warren have all nailed several three's this year. I don't think we need Turner to play as its not like we can't score 3's without him in.

Quote :

" I can't see based on what Lewis has done this year how you can play him much at all right now "

Lewis hasn't done much this year but he is a proven commodity in competitive ACC play and i would rather go with the guy who has the track record. I don't see nothing wrong with experimenting with Lewis and Barber on the court a little bit longer.

Quote :

" Why isn't this just in the Pitt thread? Are you going to breakdown all our ACC losses this year for us in an additional analysis thread?"

Hello no dude, i wont have time for that starting next week.

1/4/2014 10:20:20 PM

Quote :

"That last paragraph sounds like a good idea. Always wanted Barber and Lewis on the floor at the same time"

It is like all of you just started watching the team over the past 2 weeks. Gott experimented with that quite a bit at the beginning of the season and it didn't work. Lee is a better SG than Barber due to his size and strength and if we did a 3 guard lineup that would take turner off the floor who at least sort of makes the defense honor the perimeter. The rules emphasis absolutely kills Lewis on the defensive end. If you have a smaller player there is literally nothing you can do to defend.

1/5/2014 10:13:07 AM

You can drive yourself crazy attempting to micro-analyze every decision in every game. Bottom line is that this team is super young and there are going to be up and downs. All the young guys have shown flashes of promise at some point this season, but they have all yet to put it together and do it consistently.

Just sit back and watch them learn and develop and hopefully in another season or so this core group will be ready to really challenge for something big.

1/5/2014 11:27:36 AM

maybe its just me, but i feel like when lewis is in the game the score doesn't move..like at all.

1/5/2014 12:24:42 PM

Gonna be plenty of downs next year after we lose Warren's 20+ ppg, Vandenberg, and probably Lewis off the bench

[Edited on January 5, 2014 at 12:33 PM. Reason : Vandy]

1/5/2014 12:25:49 PM

http://thewolfweb.com/message_topic.aspx?topic=640381

1/5/2014 1:39:04 PM

This would have been a useful and active thread if the Steelers were in the playoffs

1/5/2014 1:45:17 PM

Am I the only one who wants us to go small?

Lewis
Cat
Dez
Warren
Vandy/Freeman/whoever

We'd struggle rebounding the ball and possibly defending, but we really need more playmakers on the court. Rotate Turner in for some shooting and BJ for some post defense. Couldn't hurt IMO.

By playing two "bigs" now, we're really limited in the half court. Our spacing generally sucks too.

1/5/2014 4:27:47 PM

You lose the only credible 3pt shot on the team with that lineup a packed 2-3 zone would shut that lineup down.

1/8/2014 7:55:19 AM