On the offensive side of the ball we struggled in about every aspect of the game. Our spacing the entire night was not very good, we didn't give ourselves driving lanes or passing angles that would have made passing the ball and going to the basket easier. We were not aggressive going to the basket as they would bump us off our path and instead of continuing to the basket we would pick up the ball or stop our drive. Our screening was not good, we did not set many screens and the ones we did were not in the best areas where we could get a good look at the basket. Our ball movement from side to side was not good as we would dribble too much in place instead of moving the ball and finally our shot selection was not the best either. We did have some open looks that we missed but too many times we took shots quickly when we could have worked the clock to get a better look. The only thing we did well was we did shoot a good percentage from the free throw line but of the free throws that were missed at least 2 were front end of one and one's which we missed giving us an empty possession. It really was not a good night for us even though we had 81 points in the game as I think our guys just couldn't get in any rhythm or comfort with the ball. So while we struggled on offense we have to be positive that we could play so bad but still put 81 points up on the board.
On the defensive side of the ball we were not very good either as we gave up 100 points, which is way too much. We again were not moving with the quickness or speed needed to keep up with them the entire night. We lost shooters way to often, did not rotate on help defense correctly, didn't communicate on screens and we took some chances that we did not need to take. What we needed to do was contain our man one on one and make them take a difficult shot but we were just a step slow the entire night with everything. But give them credit as they did make a high percentage of outside shots and really attacked us the entire night. On a positive note though I felt as the game went on we became better on defense and did start to make them take tough shots when they were not at the free throw line.
Overall the game was a total downer but we cannot worry about the game and it's outcome. We have to bounce back with all of our focus on Concordia St. Paul as they are a tough team that has beaten us once all ready this year. In the next couple of days we will really be looking for us to get back into good offensive rhythm and work on continually containing our man one on one. But in the end we have nothing to hang our heads about after the season we have had. We finished 2nd place in one of the toughest conferences in Division II in a year that many people did not think we would be close to the top. We have shown flashes of brilliance during the season and I think we have not played a great game of basketball in a while so we are due to go on another run of great basketball. It will be another fun week of basketball and as a fan I look forward to all the games being played this week and preview of a great regional tournament next week.
Until next time, Go Warriors!!!!!!
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".... we start to make them take tough shots when they were not at the free throw line" That's putting it diplomatically; the NSIC is a pretty physical conference, and you'd think our refs would have let the game progress a little more naturally. Too much action on the charity stripe to really feel like we got to watch a fair defeat, but all we can hope for is a big WIN on Saturday in the Semis in front of thousands of screaming Warriors!
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