Only listened to the game so I could not see the effort and lack of defense. But in spite of the fact that the game was tied in the final 5 min. of play, I was glad to see what sounded like solid and aggressive play in the clutch at both ends. Kofi had an elite game per stat line. And I love shooters who can hit 50% from the arc in a close game. Plummer was a hero again tonight, but playing him 25+ min. a game comes with a huge risk...especially if you watched the Zags play Duke tonight. They simply have too many big athletic defenders that can shut Plummer down if needed while taking advantage of his small size and avg. quickness on the other end. He needs to play and get shots while he does, but but having him play with Curbelo really puts tremendous pressure on the front-court to defend too many players (assumes we all can see the obvious that neither can defend big, strong guards who can handle, or small quick guards for that matter). Sadly, this team needs his offense as he seems to be their only elite shooter (Kofi is an elite dunker, not shooter). My hope was that this team could shoot as a group better than any team we have seen for awhile....but that is a pipe dream formed by BU's smoke which, as we are learning, is not to be believed. Guys who are willing to take shots from the arc are hardly elite shooters unless they can be counted on to make 40% or over night after night. Plummer is the only one in that category and is a threat BECAUSE HE SHOOTS A QUICK RELEASE JUMPER SHOT. Trent could be that kind of guy but never has been consistent....and I am not sure why. The rest of these guys are simply willing shooters. Grandison can make shots from behind the arc, but needs to be open. Hutch is in his infancy relative to confidence as an aggressive scorer and we need him to be just that....so no comment on his play until we see some consistent results....but sky is the limit as he can be as good as he wants to be....and the team needs him badly to get there quickly.
Bottom line for me is that this team is comprised of role players and lacks an Alpha dog. Kofi can be handicapped as he cannot create shots in a variety of ways and depends on entry passes that the team seems to perform without a great deal of expertise. He sure works at it hard and has shown improvement where he needs to show it...FF, passing, short jumpers. Regardless, this game was far from all bad. It was the type of game we have seen lost in recent years, and yet this make shift lineup pulled it out and found a way to cut the turnovers, share the scoring, and defend in clutch time against a team that was playing their hearts out and shooting the lights out.
Now, Monday night will be a huge test of how quickly these guys can help and rotate, Brey's teams share the ball and make the extra pass famously well and generally shoot well every game. Turn it over in double figures and winning becomes extremely difficult. Fortunately, two ND alums who have been with us since Wed. will leave before the game so I can try to encourage the Illini through my two-way TV...maybe even give BU some advice in the clutch. Never can do enough for the team...right?
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