Observations from Auburn

[Sheltiedave]

While we aren’t happy that we did not surmount the slope re beating a top twenty team, we have markedly improved in defensive understanding and attacking an aggressive, athletic and rugged mtm defense.

A few observations regarding strategy and Ford’s 2 to 1 variance coaching include...

1) Ford definitely picked out who he wanted to beat us. It was McLemore, which proved to be a very sound strategy. McLemore was attacked while defending, he was challenged in transition, and then he was challenged on O by being excluded from settling into his comfort zone on Auburn’s half court sets. He beat us, but this was the identical strategy Majerus used in the MSU NCAA game. Pick your poison and shut down everyone else.

2) I noted Bell was going to get 25 minutes in this game, and he did. He did well on defense, forcing Wiley to play 3 to 5 feet further out from the basket than he liked. He held Wiley to very low numbers, and Ford really has dialed him in on how to play a power center well.

3) Ford has now mentioned that he partly uses a variance system to set playtime, ie two good plays to one bad play ratio. I’m not on staff, but tape review will see the following variances that popped and will need correcting...

Bell was last man down on a transition early on. Could not tell if he was down low, or near the key, but he made it back on D after Auburn made two passes in their half court set.

Bell missed a good give and go, where both the guard and center tracked Collins, leaving Bell wide open - but he didn’t roll left and go cut to the basket hard.

Goodwin gave up three offensive boards in the paint where he had perfect position. Hard to fault these in the Anthony Jones deja vu, but Paul Silas would do a tip trick, nudging the ball forward and grabbing the rebound on the second try because he could get down and back up faster.

Bell lost a high elbow pass where he didn’t present and step to the pass again. French lost a high pass because he only used one hand to control, and the help guard circled and stole it.

Bell received a pass on a wheel play at the top of the key, with both shooters rolling to the corners, the over and under defenders filling the guard, and he had a wide open lane to the basket and didn’t drive. He has to go with the ball.

Goodwin had a great step fake 3 that got his man in the air on the right, and rather than dribble past him for a 15-18 ft jumper, he jumped into the man and missed a wild 3.

On the Auburn 3 at the end of the half, Jimerson went under the screen rather than over. You go under to guard a drive, but you have to go over to defend the three. He didn’t, and the shooter was 3 ft open.

4) The really good takes from the first half...

Bell is starting to set some crushing screens.

Twice Bell ripped down offensive rebounds and went straight back up. No dribble, no bunny hop, no weak fake or bringing the ball down, just straight up. He is implementing his coaching well.

Jimerson had two great step in dribbles from the 3 pt line, and made elbow twos. Great plays.

5) Ford wanted to lessen taking threes in this game to minimize Auburn’s transition game, and run single high screens. They were fairly effective, as Auburn was 17 pts below average, and They had to play a half court scheme more often than they liked. Our coaching and defensive play made this a game we could have stolen, but our shooting deserted us.

We are well set up for entering conference play. We got Bell to a line of 8/6/25 minutes against Auburn, we have Jimerson, Perkins, and Jacobs competing hard, Collins is healing up and starting to again play to both sides, and French and Goodwin are both dominant.

At some point, Thatch and Hankton May be back and available, and we can push even harder. We are hitting our stride ten games earlier than I had projected, and playing both hard and smart.

 

[moytoy12]

I was so dang proud of Jimmy Bell Jr. Just imagine this kid 1-2 years down the road. We’ve got a good one.  

Bell, Jimerson, Collins and hopefully a developing TJ and Diarra.  Man, this class could be really special. 

Disappointed in the loss, but we’re ahead of schedule. Kudos to Ford and his staff (even if I may gripe about isolated issues). 

Excited for conference play and the big dance (because we’re going dancing this year!).

[RiseAndGrind]

Dang. Good analysis. 

[Sheltiedave]

This game was a good example of why Ford predicates his coaching style on defense. While many want a team of high flying offensive flash with raining threes, defense will keep you in those ugly games where you shout 15% from three, and again lead the nation in free throw futility.

[billikenbill]

Jimmy played well but when the seas parted and he had as open a lane to the hoop as you’ll ever see, it showed that he had no confidence in putting it on the floor and driving for the layup or dunk.

I’m guessing the coaches will cue that clip up for him a few times because, at some point, he has to add moving with the ball to his game.

[Cowboy]

-either he didn't see the opening (which was huge), he wasn't comfortable driving from that range or has been told not to drive from that range, if that's the biggest issue with our frosh big at this point I;ll take it 

[slusam]

10 hours ago, Cowboy said:

-either he didn't see the opening (which was huge), he wasn't comfortable driving from that range or has been told not to drive from that range, if that's the biggest issue with our frosh big at this point I;ll take it 

Bell actually seems to handle the ball pretty well. In a drill in warmups he went behind his back with both hands numerous times.