Where to begin when reviewing yesterday's game? What were you thinking when they announced Cadougan would not play? When Derrick Wilson was named to start? When Crowder picked up his third foul at the start of the second half? When our lead went to one? Put all those thoughts far back in your memory, this team is for real!!!!!! On the other hand, what did you think when Vander Blue scored on the first second half position or what did you think when Todd Mayo made one of his crucial buckets? Buzz out coached Bo? That was not a fluke; Buzz continues to grow as a coach. Take this Wisconsin, if we can't get a fast break bucket we are going to play deliberate offensive ball too. Bo Ryan has lost six non-conference home games in his ten years at UW....two to us.
As a team, I think we played them better than North Carolina earlier this week. UNC won primarily because of Harrison Barnes. We won because ten players, every player who suited up, played at least seven minutes. Juan Anderson in in the first half and ending up with five rebounds in seven minutes? Jamail Jones selected to shoot free throws and making one of them...and making a big three? And Ray Gajan getting seven boards in fourteen minutes? Oh...I mean Gardner. How about Vander Blue leading the team in rebounds for the second game in a row?
I can't even fault our under 40% shooting from the field. In a tough defensive game that is not terrible especially when UW's was 32%.
When is the last time the entire freshman recruiting class made significant contributions in a big game? I guess it goes back to the days of Wesley Mathew, James and McNeal. Fifty-one minutes played by the freshmen and they only had one turnover and against a team like UW who usually forces you into turnovers?
What are we witnessing? A high octane offense. A team that can play deliberate ball very well. A team that truly has depth. A team producing another first round draft pick in Johnson-Odom? A team with a freshman who could contend for freshman of the year honors? We won't go undefeated through the season like the Packers appear to be doing but we are not going be travelling to UCONN or Syracuse fearing a blowout and we are going to expect, not pray for, victories when Pittsburgh and Louisville visit the Bradley center.
How many times in the last decade have we been knocking on the door of a top ten ranking and fallen short? I don't see us getting there this week but I don't see us choking against Washington at the Garden on Tuesday either. Let's end with this real possibility. When we play Syracuse and Louisville in January both games could be battles between two top five teams. May your favorite football team win this afternoon unless you are a Giants fan.
Go WARRIORS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As a Giant fan, I can't share your sentiments about the game.
ReplyDeleteYour report on the MU game was great - much like the game.