Tom Bronco

I look at this team and I want to hope we can surprise some folks but the realist in me says it will be tough sledding. The key at this point is inside scoring, inside defense and rebounding. Three point shooting is not going to win many games for us as we only hit a third of those attempts. Nwoko and Sutton are going to have a lot on their shoulders. Tamba has proven to be a good all around player but he has to take on more of the offense when they are doubling McKinnon and Nwoko.
We can't allow so many offensive rebounds and putbacks and need more of those ourselves. Nwoko is key and has to stay out of foul trouble. Bench has proven to be ineffective and the starters will probably be very tired toward the end of the season. I still think we have the talent to pull some upsets but can't afford to lose any games we are favored in.

not drafted.

I'll stick with 11-7. Should be good enough to get in tournament.

I know you remember this, that when we had Chris and Shaq, we played Georgetown in the Superdome in New Orleans. Attendance was over 68,000 and was the largest crowd for college basketball at the time, maybe still is.

How about when Miller icomes in for Nwoko? Somehow they are playing about the sane number of minutes. I know Nwoko getting into foul trouble has something to so with it but not all. Have you noticed that almost every time Nwoko comes out that Mac has something to say to him but Miller seems to lead a charmed life despite the fact that he does almost nothing. Tonight he was totally non aggressive, missed free throws when he was fouled and added nothing to the offense.

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if gilhool doesn't get in a game soon seems like he should redshirt.

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It is pretty obvious when he hasn't gotten in a game that this is CMac's plan. At this point we have no idea how good Gillhool is. The problem is the portal. When you don't play a kid who has worked hard to become a good basketball player, it will take some of his confidence away. He wants to prove himself so he starts to think he needs to go somewhere else and make a new start.

It was obvious that Les had mental problems while coaching LSU. I just wrote it off to incompetent coaching and that he wasn't the sharpest nail in the barn but it could have been some kind of disease also. His terrible time management could have been caused by some kind of neural problem where he was momentarily confused. Likewise the time he ran to the wrong side of the field coming out of the tunnel to start the game. Not to mention his having problems speaking in complete sentences and abruptly switching to different topics.

I think we are definitely seeing patterns to success for this team.
1. Nwoko has to stay out of foul trouble in the first half. Mac will sit him everytme apparently, after he gets two fouls.
2. Mackinnon and Sutton are the keys. They play well, we play well. Thomas has to have somewhere to pass too other than Nwoko.
3. The team has to quit putting the burden so much on Thomas and produce offense on their own. So many times Thomas passes to a player who makes no move to score or put pressure on the defense and they just quickly pass it back to Thomas, which does nothing except take time off of the shot clock.
4. Tamba has to realize he can be a part of the offense other than on rebounds and fast breaks. He is a great athlete and should be able to drive more and either kick out or shoot.

If we can repeat these patterns for success, it is possible that we can repeat this SMU victory against some SEC teams who are expecting the doormat of the conference.

Yes, once again we are told we have players recruited for their shooting and outside shooting won't be a problem this year. And yet it is? How can we consistently get guys that can't shoot consistently? Last year it was Sears who came in with a career over 50% from three and shot less than 30% with us. Only Carter was over 30% and our only consistent shooter. This year it is McKinnon in a seemingly endless slump and sinking lower ever game. We don't coach players up, we give them a place to come and fail. King doesn't even attempt many shots when he comes in. Why are all our shooters so timid and afraid to shoot? Time and time again we see them pass up relatively good shots, until late in the shot clock we shoot a desperation one. Even our big men under the basket hesitate before going straight up for a shot or dunk?

Way too early to be talking about tourney team. Enjoy the wins if they come.
Considering how few we have had to celebrate in the last few years. Getting Thomas has made this team much better. He is like a coach on the court which is exactly what we need. Reese didn't look too bad but he does like so many and dribbles at the top of the key way too much. Thomas comes down and immediately gets everyone moving and into the offense. They know if they hustle and get in good position Thomas will get them the ball.