A few stats from today's game that stood out

[Ipartiedwithhopgood]

Spalding's overall line...

8-10 FG, 12 reb, 3 stl, 2 blk, 18 pts

Team shot 50%, had 12 steals, including 5 for Onuaku.

Only 8 turnovers - again under 10 for the game. We didn't face a great defense, but it's good to see we didn't goof around with the ball.

Rebounds, beat them 51-22 - that's pretty amazing really. We had 20! offensive rebounds.

9-12 FTs, 75% for the math majors.... I'll take that.

Chemistry (not a stat) looked real good, even when we were getting buried by the opponent from 3s...

Held opponent to 2-7 from 3s after giving up 9-16 in the 1st half....

Thoughts?

 

[Cue Card]

The pink elephant in the room is the half time adjustment coach made of benching Johnson and starting Spalding. He didn't disappoint either. He took full advantage of his opportunity.

I don't know if Spalding can keep it going but if he does, the front line just got a whole lot better.

 

[Steelers2012]

The team chemistry is what I will comment on. I absolutely love the way this team plays together and supports each other. You can see how happy and excited they are for each other when they are in the game. It's obvious in the amount of time you see the players on the bench standing and cheering for whoever is on the court. I watched Onuaku stand and cheer most of the 2nd half, when Spalding was playing so well, in Onuaku's place, I might add. The same with Mathiang not starting. No bad attitudes; just complete buy-in and support. I mostly credit that to the leadership of Mathiang, Lewis, and Lee.

 

[shadow force]

Excellent stats and great to hear that the chemistry looked good. Spalding sounds like he could turn into a great player in Pitino's system.

 

[Cue Card]

I thought Spalding was playing the power forward spot in Johnson's place to start the second half. I guess that was wrong.

 

[Ipartiedwithhopgood]

Onuaku is a completely different guy from last year. I'm starting to think maybe this is who he was all along, but perhaps a few other personalities on last year's team pushed him to take a back seat. Maybe being a FR he just didn't think it was his place, but he sure looks comfortable leading this team right now!

Loving it.

 

[Ipartiedwithhopgood]

I thought Spalding was playing the power forward spot in Johnson's place to start the second half. I guess that was wrong.

Onuaku started the second half, Johnson didn't. You were right.

 

[Steelers2012]

I thought Spalding was playing the power forward spot in Johnson's place to start the second half. I guess that was wrong.

You could be right. He played along side of Onuaku and Mathiang at times. One thing that stood out to me was Spalding guarding on the perimeter at times, similar to what Cauley-Stein did for UK last year. He moves his feet really well on defense.

 

[cuzimacardfan]

Nanu didn't have a foul today

 

[cuzimacardfan]

The pink elephant in the room is the half time adjustment coach made of benching Johnson and starting Spalding. He didn't disappoint either. He took full advantage of his opportunity.

I don't know if Spalding can keep it going but if he does, the front line just got a whole lot better.

Pitino basically said in the post game on the radio that N. Florida's style of play offensively didn't fit Jaylen Johnson's skillset. He has a harder time guarding quicker guys on the perimeter and you can't have a guy in like that vs a team that drills 3s. Spaulding's skillset was better for this matchup.

 

[cuzimacardfan]

Spaulding had 12 deflections by himself and I think Pitino has a team goal of around 40-45

 

[shamcard]

The pink elephant in the room is the half time adjustment coach made of benching Johnson and starting Spalding. He didn't disappoint either. He took full advantage of his opportunity.

I don't know if Spalding can keep it going but if he does, the front line just got a whole lot better.

Johnson had 5pts 4reb in 6 min. apparently he was already benched before Spalding got in the game. Johnson must have missed a defensive assignment, because his production per minutes played was good.

 

[Ipartiedwithhopgood]

RP stated on his post game he limited J J's minutes because he didn't like the match up of him trying to cover 3pt shooter at the 4 spot for N. FLA.

I am sure Ray Spalding's monster game made it much easier for Rick to stick to the match up based decision.