I've decided to change the official name of the conference for a few days in Basketball, because leaving the RAC and getting home and watching Virginia Tech's horses racing up and down the court vs Iowa, it struck me on how many athletes this league is now capturing in recruiting.
This is not to say that RU did anything wrong tonight against Florida State or if they played in the ACC, they wouldn't win some games against some of the teams like Pitt, Boston College perhaps Wake Forest or a rebuilding Georgia Tech.....
But the league in general just has too many front court players, athletes and quickness for a team like RU that is not built for this type of track meet type of play.....the length of their arms, eliminated shooting opportunities for players that need space like Williams, Baker and Thiam...... These teams in the middle of the league and towards the bottom that are not going to make the NCAA's have players that can perform and create havoc.
What was striking about the RU/FSU game showed the best "athletes" that RU could throw at FSU on both ends of the court, ironically played or looked most comfortable in the game.........that would be Sanders and Eugene.....That's not to say other players like Mike Williams, Geo Baker and Doucoure (true freshman), Thiam and Freeman aren't capable of matching up with excellent coaching and a game plan....but when you are a step quicker most plays (CJ Walker is not a matchup RU can win in a quickness battle), you are going to have to hope for some missed shots and missed FT's.........but if the players are able to get alley-oop dunks and get to the basket with quickness, it's going to be very tough unless you are clicking on all cylinders.
So while many may be critical of Sanders defense in the 2nd half or wondering why Baker and Mike were a little bit off, the game was sped up a step or two and it showed in spots......and Sanders has the ability, but he is going up against a player that was just quicker, faster and more adept....teams like Iowa, Illinois tonight are able to stick around for a half in the B1G/ACC matchups, but VTech and Wake Forest have better athletes that are just quicker.
The best teams in the B1G right now simulate what the ACC offers most nights in Michigan State and Minnesota...and that's what's up next for RU.....so even if RU looks a little spotty, just keep in mind that's what RU has to shoot for in recruiting.....we ask for shooters, which helps, but if your defenders is quicker and has longer arms, it's tougher to score and find room to score....
Just something that has stuck out on TV and at the RAC tonight.....Florida State is going to create problems for teams lacking the players that can run and jump and create defense with their play....That is my new name .....The ACC..... "Athletic" Coast Conference....
This is not to say that RU did anything wrong tonight against Florida State or if they played in the ACC, they wouldn't win some games against some of the teams like Pitt, Boston College perhaps Wake Forest or a rebuilding Georgia Tech.....
But the league in general just has too many front court players, athletes and quickness for a team like RU that is not built for this type of track meet type of play.....the length of their arms, eliminated shooting opportunities for players that need space like Williams, Baker and Thiam...... These teams in the middle of the league and towards the bottom that are not going to make the NCAA's have players that can perform and create havoc.
What was striking about the RU/FSU game showed the best "athletes" that RU could throw at FSU on both ends of the court, ironically played or looked most comfortable in the game.........that would be Sanders and Eugene.....That's not to say other players like Mike Williams, Geo Baker and Doucoure (true freshman), Thiam and Freeman aren't capable of matching up with excellent coaching and a game plan....but when you are a step quicker most plays (CJ Walker is not a matchup RU can win in a quickness battle), you are going to have to hope for some missed shots and missed FT's.........but if the players are able to get alley-oop dunks and get to the basket with quickness, it's going to be very tough unless you are clicking on all cylinders.
So while many may be critical of Sanders defense in the 2nd half or wondering why Baker and Mike were a little bit off, the game was sped up a step or two and it showed in spots......and Sanders has the ability, but he is going up against a player that was just quicker, faster and more adept....teams like Iowa, Illinois tonight are able to stick around for a half in the B1G/ACC matchups, but VTech and Wake Forest have better athletes that are just quicker.
The best teams in the B1G right now simulate what the ACC offers most nights in Michigan State and Minnesota...and that's what's up next for RU.....so even if RU looks a little spotty, just keep in mind that's what RU has to shoot for in recruiting.....we ask for shooters, which helps, but if your defenders is quicker and has longer arms, it's tougher to score and find room to score....
Just something that has stuck out on TV and at the RAC tonight.....Florida State is going to create problems for teams lacking the players that can run and jump and create defense with their play....That is my new name .....The ACC..... "Athletic" Coast Conference....
