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Post by PearlsPossum on Dec 5, 2003 13:56:01 GMT -6
After the SIU game I think it's clear the Panthers have 2 weaknesses:
1. They aren't very athletic. McCants and Hill are quick, athletic players, but so many of the players that get a lot of playing time are not (Pancratz, Mielke, Tigert, Kadima). SIU used quickness and jumping ability to beat the Panthers to many balls. Because of the Pearl system and intensity we might be able to do well against many teams, but I think we might be in for trouble against NC State, UIC and other very athletic teams.
2. Outside shooting. Last year we have 5 guys with excellent 3 point ability. When you have the outside guns the defense has difficulty defending the floor. This year we have 2 excellent 3-point threats in McCants and Page. Hill is OK, but at 5'9" he has to be wide open and isn't going to get many looks. Freeman has a great outside shot, but never takes it. I just hold my breath when Pancratz, Sanders, Kadima, Tigert, Tucker, Wright or Mielke takes an outside shot, and just hope they draw iron. There were definitely times in the SIU game when McCants and Hill were forced to take bad outside shots because SIU played out on them but packed in and dared everyone else to shoot.
I think we'll be very good this year, but I'd sure like to see Bruce recruit 2 excellent outside shooters and continue to upgrade with athletes.
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Kingsbury
Junior
Sadly, no longer in the "Fear 42" Fan Club!!!
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Post by Kingsbury on Dec 5, 2003 14:34:06 GMT -6
Unfortunately for the panthers, their best shooter has to sit out this year. Wimmer would have been a tremendous help this year, he could have played the same role that J. Fred did last year. I do agree that we need to find another shooter; hopefully the staff is working with Hawk so that he starts to look for his shot.
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Post by pnthr30 on Dec 5, 2003 14:38:37 GMT -6
hopefully the staff is working with Hawk so that he starts to look for his shot. Having someone tell me to look for a shot is not something that I can relate to.......haha ;D But seriously, you guys are right, there needs to be at least one other person besides Ed and Dylan who is capable of stepping out and being a threat. It is not necessary that they shoot a lot, just that they are capable of making it when they do fire it up. This will force the "D" to step out one step further and open up things in the middle a bit more.
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Post by tuckfinn42 on Dec 5, 2003 15:08:38 GMT -6
I think that atheticism is a problem for us but in a weird way. I think that our starting five is athletic as hell, but once we get to the bench then it takes a steep decline. That's why I really hope that we don't redshirt Davis this year and that the coaches keep encouraging Freeman and McCants to use dribble drive moves because that would help our problem somewhat. As far as the three point shooting, I agree that we only have 2 serious threats, but it's early yet and hopefully Hill can make those types of shots when we need them down the road, along with Freeman. One way or another, Pearl will always find a way to bring the best qualities out of any player and expose them and that is an advantage we usually have over other teams.
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Post by tuckfinn42 on Dec 5, 2003 15:14:49 GMT -6
I forgot to mention that Tucker is deceptively athletic. He has been taking it to the rack early on in games and either getting to the line or making his layups, but he needs to keep doing that throughout the games. It's almost as if he gets too tired and he doesn't look to do it hardly at all in the second half. When he does, he reminds me greatly of Carmelo Anthony in his style of play cause he uses his body to get to the lane and draw contact. His first step is quicker than most are ready for.
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Post by pnthr97 on Dec 5, 2003 15:45:34 GMT -6
I think that not having Boo is really hurting the team. He would be a third outside weapon. Plus, his quickness on defense would be a big help - especially against the 6'3" guy that lit us up from SIU - 9 rebs for a guy that's 6'3" is absurd with the size we have down low.
Great analogy on Tucker to Carmelo. I couldn't agree more with the similarity in how they play the game.
And no, no one ever had to tell Pnthr30 to look for his shot more. He started doing it once he got across midcourt.
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