On the game, it was a clear indication of 3's making the difference. Every time Fordham was down and potentially about to be out, including in overtime, someone hit a big 3. Naturally, being open was a good part of it, but also just hitting the big shots, whether aided by us or not. Mayhem has interesting stats about us and 3s.
Interestingly, in a point also made on this thread, Garrett only took three 3's (believe just 2 in regulation0 and one was a stunningly long and seemingly critical one after shaking off a defender. Was wondering during the game why we didn't try to get him free at all, even acknowledging Darren's great inside game?
At the very least, Garrett needs several heat checks a game. Could open up the inside even more, in normal conditions when Darren isn't scoring hugely inside.
If Fordham lost, their fans would be asking why they didn't contain Darren having his way with them inside.
Alas, he may not be able to carve up other A-10 teams like that. Great if it continues. He was a great presence last night.
The good news is that at least one game into the league season, Darren and Garett can have impact in the A-10 and Jacoi and Trey seem good enough to be valuable when really needed next year and beyond. Stretch also is an important part of this year's team, since we need his defensive capabilities. We already know what Max and JB can bring.
At one point, may have been the second overtime, CC made a wise decision to sub-out Stretch with 4-fouls (and someone else) in the middle of 2 free throws for offense-defense. But we lost the rebound on the second missed FT, which was a bit long but might have been corralled and no Stretch.
CC and our players deserve great praise for the inbounds pass play that left Darren totally alone for a dunk. I was wondering why JB was lining up on the other side from the inbounder. Found out. A thing of beauty. Too bad it was unveiled in a loss.
Obviously didn't know if the game was going to go to overtime, though knew it would likely be close. So, while the late John Chaney would have a different approach, playing a 7-man rotation in a 45-minute game does not seem ideal. I mentioned the lack of any real playing time for Smith, Zamoku, and Keegan (if up to it) during OOC. So they could get their feet wet a bit as they might be needed. Even if only for a bit last night, that would have helped. Benny could have been used just a bit for energy, if OK.
Fordham beating us in bench points, 43-2, as noted above is a telling statistic. On the reffing, it seemed bizarrely inconsistent. CC is not a complainer, but he made it clear how he felt without actually saying how bad it was. In overtime, especially 3rd overtime, there were several calls in a row for a real foul shot disparity. While Darren and others on our side were fouled with no calls.
Darren, I believe, also drove right near the baseline and was knocked out by the defensive player. It ma
not have been a foul on the defensive player, but it was what used to be a force-out. Since they don't
call force-out any more, it's pretty much always called a foul on the defensive player.
.But Darren was called for an offensive foul Also, the play at the start of overtime, I think, Garrett and a Fordham player were going for the jump ball. The Fordham play hip checks or pushes Garrett, but goes into the scorer's table. Foul is on Garrett when both were going after the ball.
No. 12 (Gray) stiff-armed and pushed all the time with the ball and was never called. It also spread to No. 0 a few times. Similar no calls. It sure seemed like we got the opposite of home cooking at home. Maybe they were VCU's refs.
Gwmayhem wrote: