jimotis4heisman
Banned
another season of buckeye basketball has come to a close. before i really lay out my thoughts i went back to my first actual impressions of the team. from the walsh game/exhb
i really havent even looked at the game thread from florida. or gtown either.
a few thoughts from my trip to atlanta.
pollen. man was that stuff sick. everything had a wierd neon green tint/film on it as it was covered in pollen.
the games. a nice win over gtown. personally i was really impressed with hibbert. his improvement over the last year has been incredible. big time size. and has some real nice moves. not overly athletic but good fundamental ball. the officiating dictated away, or the players failure to adjust to the 4 fouls those boys got in about 3 1/2 mins left me wanting something more. a great big man show down.
the florida game. its probably been anaylzed to shit.
few thoughts.
1. i witnessed something special. a repeat. bball, fball, bball titles. they are right "its great to be a florida gator"
2. odens play. im sure its been said. it wasnt too bad
3. my seats. once upon a time i did a guy a favor and i joked next time the buckeyes are in teh final four hed have to give me a ticket (joking as his postion allows for him to automatically get tickets every year)
4. the florida four. glad i got to see them play. historically it will take years to see where they stack up. but it will be among one of the better groups since woodens dynasties.
5. theosu ad. putting the kids on the floor. nice move. im sure it pissed others off but thats great. having the florida kids up 2398239 miles high made them loud as the sound "rainned down" but putting the kids on the floor was great move by the ad.
6. im sure i have more but who really cares im sure its been covered.
7. the game came down to two things rebounding and getting stops. rebounding is self explaintory. getting stops is something that is interesting. the way i see it one of two things happened. either we couldnt get stops (couldnt make the play) or florida made the plays. likely a combination of both, but teams win back to back titles for reasons. the ability to get big baskets was huge. i can go into key trips down the floor and when the score was cut to 2 trips and when it was a 7/8 point game. but all is for none. florida deserved to win. and honestly had the better team in my view. congrads gator fans.
the season.
a few things.
it was a great season. i cant think of a major negative. last year at this time had i promised you a trip to the final four most people would have nawwed off their arms for the chance to watch it on tv.
class. in a wierd sort of way i sat and watched the aftermath of the game i couldnt helpe but smile. no not cuz florida won. or the bucks lost. but, the class which this team displayed. as i watched that i tried to think of chest pounding, taunting, over done gestures and i came up blank. i couldnt think of an trashy stuff this team had done all year on the floor. that made me smile. it really brought joy to me in an odd sense. a bunch of kids "acting like they had been there"
improvement. no doubt this team improved. thats another thing that stuck out to me. comparing tis team from nov to march its nearly unreal. the way these players grew and improved is something i love to watch. even matta and staff. you coudl see growth, improvement and a change in those guys also.
the srs. harris and lewis. ron got to come home and will forever be remembered for his role in the tourney run with his two big games and big shoots. harris played hard and was a very important part of this team. some will say harris never reached his potential as a mcds aa, you wont find me in that group. ivan was nothing but class and improved each and every year and pushed through coaching changes and was a part of two conference title teams and a final four team. sure he had weaknesses, but what player doesnt.
realities.
this team won the conf tourney, conf title, final four, national finals. something to be proud of. alll those will hang from the rafters of the schott.
what went wrong. i think its worth addressing. i see a few issues.
rebounding. simple.
lack of a scorer. we heard so many times that this team had so many options. the reality was they had lots of great options but not so much of a go to gaurd/wing. nothing negative towards anyone but the role was missing.
shooting. if you live by the 3 you die by the 3. likewise this team didnt have the lethal set shooter of a perm player that is needed for the style of play.
luck. sometimes it goes your way sometimes it doesnt. some days you are on fire other days ice cold. credit florida for its defense, but good looks were there and needed to be knocked down and they didnt fall. the ball was on the iron and didnt go down. it happens.
the future.
looks bright.
hard to really comment until after the last day to declare/when if certain people declare. at that point i will likely review and go over what i see for next year.
i really havent even looked at the game thread from florida. or gtown either.
a few thoughts from my trip to atlanta.
pollen. man was that stuff sick. everything had a wierd neon green tint/film on it as it was covered in pollen.
the games. a nice win over gtown. personally i was really impressed with hibbert. his improvement over the last year has been incredible. big time size. and has some real nice moves. not overly athletic but good fundamental ball. the officiating dictated away, or the players failure to adjust to the 4 fouls those boys got in about 3 1/2 mins left me wanting something more. a great big man show down.
the florida game. its probably been anaylzed to shit.
few thoughts.
1. i witnessed something special. a repeat. bball, fball, bball titles. they are right "its great to be a florida gator"
2. odens play. im sure its been said. it wasnt too bad
3. my seats. once upon a time i did a guy a favor and i joked next time the buckeyes are in teh final four hed have to give me a ticket (joking as his postion allows for him to automatically get tickets every year)
4. the florida four. glad i got to see them play. historically it will take years to see where they stack up. but it will be among one of the better groups since woodens dynasties.
5. theosu ad. putting the kids on the floor. nice move. im sure it pissed others off but thats great. having the florida kids up 2398239 miles high made them loud as the sound "rainned down" but putting the kids on the floor was great move by the ad.
6. im sure i have more but who really cares im sure its been covered.
7. the game came down to two things rebounding and getting stops. rebounding is self explaintory. getting stops is something that is interesting. the way i see it one of two things happened. either we couldnt get stops (couldnt make the play) or florida made the plays. likely a combination of both, but teams win back to back titles for reasons. the ability to get big baskets was huge. i can go into key trips down the floor and when the score was cut to 2 trips and when it was a 7/8 point game. but all is for none. florida deserved to win. and honestly had the better team in my view. congrads gator fans.
the season.
a few things.
it was a great season. i cant think of a major negative. last year at this time had i promised you a trip to the final four most people would have nawwed off their arms for the chance to watch it on tv.
class. in a wierd sort of way i sat and watched the aftermath of the game i couldnt helpe but smile. no not cuz florida won. or the bucks lost. but, the class which this team displayed. as i watched that i tried to think of chest pounding, taunting, over done gestures and i came up blank. i couldnt think of an trashy stuff this team had done all year on the floor. that made me smile. it really brought joy to me in an odd sense. a bunch of kids "acting like they had been there"
improvement. no doubt this team improved. thats another thing that stuck out to me. comparing tis team from nov to march its nearly unreal. the way these players grew and improved is something i love to watch. even matta and staff. you coudl see growth, improvement and a change in those guys also.
the srs. harris and lewis. ron got to come home and will forever be remembered for his role in the tourney run with his two big games and big shoots. harris played hard and was a very important part of this team. some will say harris never reached his potential as a mcds aa, you wont find me in that group. ivan was nothing but class and improved each and every year and pushed through coaching changes and was a part of two conference title teams and a final four team. sure he had weaknesses, but what player doesnt.
realities.
this team won the conf tourney, conf title, final four, national finals. something to be proud of. alll those will hang from the rafters of the schott.
what went wrong. i think its worth addressing. i see a few issues.
rebounding. simple.
lack of a scorer. we heard so many times that this team had so many options. the reality was they had lots of great options but not so much of a go to gaurd/wing. nothing negative towards anyone but the role was missing.
shooting. if you live by the 3 you die by the 3. likewise this team didnt have the lethal set shooter of a perm player that is needed for the style of play.
luck. sometimes it goes your way sometimes it doesnt. some days you are on fire other days ice cold. credit florida for its defense, but good looks were there and needed to be knocked down and they didnt fall. the ball was on the iron and didnt go down. it happens.
the future.
looks bright.
hard to really comment until after the last day to declare/when if certain people declare. at that point i will likely review and go over what i see for next year.
