Free Throws & a few other thoughts

[KnightTerrors]

Made 9 of 10 from the line in the final minute. If you’ve watched this team closely, you’ll understand why I think this deserved its own thread.

Deshawn gets a lot of criticism here, but let’s give credit where credit is due. 7/8 from the line and hit a few big ones to put the game out of reach.

Another guy worth his own thread is Shaq. Kid has really become a high level defender against some of the best bigs in the conference. To see him get a few buckets, including that nice post move, was awesome.

Lastly, it’s obvious geo isn’t fully healthy. It’s funny how some people are starting to turn on him here recently. If he can somehow get back to himself tonight, I hope he can shut those people up!

 

[shields]

The kid had the flu, give the kid a break.

 

[RU-Choppin-Ohio]

Freeman was huge down the stretch with key rebounds and foul shoots.

 

[Mr Magoo]

Freeman gets beaten up too much on here. He works hard, rebounds, and gives us some much needed points. He also makes bad plays, forces it, and can play selfish at times. However, he's been a net postive for this team and I hope he goes out strong.

 

[RU-Choppin-Ohio]

Yes there was a lot of hate for Freeman.

The same people even started with the hate against Baker in that game thread...the guy just had the flu and lost like 10 pounds.

 

[mikefla]

What a great game! Plenty of good things to say. Omoruyis put backs & great work under/near the basket. Doorsons(AKA "the hammer") DUNK! Freeman(11) out-rebounding Murphy. Mike Ws 4 buckets right when you need them. The entire team rebounding like champs! and Cory/Cory/Cory.......

and "the Garden" no less (I am a NY guy ,,,the MSG is my fav venue!)

Hey..Illinois & Minnie can watch US on TV tonight

 

[rudad02]

Huge improvement for Deshawn in his FT shooting this season. Bit of a line drive, but it sure works for him. Shows that he worked on it.

 

[RUJMM78]

Yes there was a lot of hate for Freeman.

The same people even started with the hate against Baker in that game thread...the guy just had the flu and lost like 10 pounds.

When a team only wins 3 league games there will be fan criticism and right fully so.Freeman's performance has been inconsistent just like every player on the team and doesn't need special mention by fans.As to Baker he had terrific out of conference performances but has worn down against B1G competition.The flu symptoms and weight loss at the end of the season has drastically impacted Baker's ability to perform .

 

[RU-Choppin-Ohio]

What a great game! Plenty of good things to say. Omoruyis put backs & great work under/near the basket. Doorsons(AKA "the hammer") DUNK! Freeman(11) out-rebounding Murphy. Mike Ws 4 buckets right when you need them. The entire team rebounding like champs! and Cory/Cory/Cory.......

and "the Garden" no less (I am a NY guy ,,,the MSG is my fav venue!)

Hey..Illinois & Minnie can watch US on TV tonight

Zero turnovers for Corey Sanders.

 

[RU-Choppin-Ohio]

When a team only wins 3 league games there will be fan criticism and right fully so.Freeman's performance has been inconsistent just like every player on the team and doesn't need special mention by fans.As to Baker he had terrific out of conference performances but has worn down against B1G competition.The flu symptoms and weight loss at the end of the season has drastically impacted Baker's ability to perform .

Baker averaged 10.9 overall and 9.4 in B1G Games... Maybe 12.0 OCC. A drop-off, but Not a huge difference. Everyone has a drop-off in conference games. If someone told us in preseason that true freshmen Geo Baker would avg 9 against Big 10 competition we would all be very happy.

He hit the "freshmen wall" late in the season...it happens to a lot of true freshmen that are not used to the grind of P5 college basketball.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Many fans thought Duke should have not been a starter, but I think it was a smart move forcing minutes on Duke. If Duke didn't start i can see them not getting him in to games.

The staff made a terrible mistake with Baker. They had a senior guard who could/should have been a starter and that would have forced bench minutes for Baker. Pikiell killed Baker with too many minutes early in the season. Pikiell is responsible for the wall, but not the flu! Silly that you see so many boxscores early with Baker 36 minutes and williams 21.

Personally I think baker is a nice player, but a guy I envision being a 3rd guard on a competitive B1G team.

 

[RU-Choppin-Ohio]

Many fans thought Duke should have not been a starter, but I think it was a smart move forcing minutes on Duke. If Duke didn't start i can see them not getting him in to games.

The staff made a terrible mistake with Baker. They had a senior guard who could/should have been a starter and that would have forced bench minutes for Baker. Pikiell killed Baker with too many minutes early in the season. Pikiell is responsible for the wall, but not the flu! Silly that you see so many boxscores early with Baker 36 minutes and williams 21.

Personally I think baker is a nice player, but a guy I envision being a 3rd guard on a competitive B1G team.

Williams is a warrior but this is about preparing for the future... Playing Baker in those minutes will make him much more valuable and ready next year. Question.... do we win a few more games with Williams playing 35 mins and Baker playing 21? I don't think so. Plus... Williams was often on the floor down the stretch with Sanders and Baker when his toughness and rebounding was needed.

On a side note. Baker shot 34% on 3's. Williams?

 

[RU-ROCS]

Freeman gets kudos for a great effort on the boards and at the line last night, no doubt. So many of his teammates also brought great effort and intensity in the game, which was key to the win. Poor Geo literally looks like a skeleton out there. I don't think he's put back on any of the 10 pounds he lost with the flu, and he's a kid who did not have the weight to lose. It looked like he was still running on fumes last night, but I'm not worried about him at all for next year. His future is very bright.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

On a side note. Baker shot 34% on 3's. Williams?

Mike shot 33.8% from the floor and geo shot 32.2% from the floor in b1G play. I think it is best we don't discuss either's shooting prowess this year.

 

[RU-Choppin-Ohio]

Mike shot 33.8% from the floor and geo shot 32.2% from the floor in b1G play. I think it is best we don't discuss either's shooting prowess this year.

I was talking about 3 point shooting. Plus, Williams missed about 10 games with the ankle... This is a moot point.

 

[mikefla]

Just an aside...both Minnies Washington(shooter) and MacBrayer(scrapper)are NY kids

These are the kind of "local" kids I hope we get in the future:pray:

:cool2:[jumpingsmile]:cool2:But HEY,,,they can BOTH watch us on TV tonight!:cool2:[jumpingsmile]:cool2: