Fullbacksympathy

We’re a real PITA to play. This particular roster is exotic. Very long, deceptively athletic, and smart. It’s likely the best FT shooting team we’ve ever had. Just wanted to shout out Morgan who was a friggin dude this game. He and Sam were awesome. Brice didn’t shoot well against UCLA’s elite defense but he got to the line 12 times and made 11. That’s what pros do. Also, I’m not sure anyone could watch Connor’s play and not see an enormous improvement defensively. Being able to hold his own makes us almost unbeatable if he’s shooting well. Hell of a win. We should be ranked.

Yes. Our length on the perimeter is insane when Rollie and Brice are guarding the 1-2 at 6’5 (with weight) and 6’7”. Add Juwan who can also guard 1-5 and is a bully with 1-2 physical trees helping and cleaning up the glass and they are really tough. Rollie also rebounds well and puts a ton of pressure on defenses in transition as a result. He hasn’t had elite TO:A but it’s still decent. Having kids like him is sort of like having a power running game in FB. It doesn’t show up in the stats but it tends to wear down opponents. Our team has been elite at getting to the line and making FTs. Their defense is as good as any NU team I’ve ever seen to this point in a season. MSU is a very similar team to us with a little more in the front court. Terrible matchup. But we’re definitely going to be a team no one wants to play because it will be ugly so often. Fine by me.

Turns out Brice’s calm demeanor has just been a mature, hard working, all around quiet winner this entire time. Ho hum 32. Kid is special. My favorite play was near the end when Gary got switched on their quick little guard. The kid drew JG into (what he thought were) deep waters, JG stayed with him step for step and sent his shit into the stands. This was after his tip in over the trees and his clutch 3. He ended the game about three times. Meah is really figuring it out. Berke didn’t score much but had 9rbs and 3 steals. Defense was an absolute clinic despite the terrible officiating. Morgan needs to wake up defensively. Essegian needs to get on Sam’s S&C program. Good defensive team win overall though.

Yep. My favorite coach outside of Fred is Izzo by a mile. He has an even grittier team than normal this season. We learned a lot from them in that asswhooping. Love how they’ve responded.

Refs were clearly out to get us, yes. Always happens in the tournament. We stayed focused defensively. The refs couldn’t keep Hawaii in the game.

Phenomenal defense for the win. Don’t really care how ugly it looked offensively. We kicked their ass by 12 in the second half because they couldn’t score. Hawaii had 5 assists and 15 TOs. 41% from 3 to their 25% 90% from FT to their 67% 38 points in the paint to their 26 10 assists to their 5 8 steals to their 4 4 blocks to their 1 12 TOs to their 15 Lunch pail, Nate Loesner win. Let’s go.

That was a textbook blockout.

Another friggin 30 piece for Brice. Anyone remember when we would get our asses kicked by Hawaii every single time we went out there?

I get it. But I’d add: He’s smart and mature, 3 level scorer, elite ft shooter, and luxury perimeter defender at 6’7”. If he can keep putting clutch closer on tape, he’s getting drafted 2nd round.

Brice is going to the league.

truth.

This too.

Essegian is killing us tonight.

Absolutely elite defense thus far in the second half.

They both guard like hell though.