End of Illinois game

[JonathanW]

I saw Pope do something I've been wanting him to do much of the season, and that is have Almonor on the floor at the end of a game when the other team has to foul us. He is our best FT shooter (90.9%), I'm not sure (other than his 3 misses) I've seen one of his hit the rim, all net.

Something else I'm surprised I've not seen Pope do is have Williams (or even Garrison or Carr) in bounds vs pressure/press. Their added height is an advantage. They are both good passers. Also, we don't want either of them to catch a pass and then get fouled. And it puts on the floor another guard who shoots FTs 73+% as an option to catch the pass and either advance the ball or get fouled.

 

[mcwildcats04]

I saw Pope do something I've been wanting him to do much of the season, and that is have Almonor on the floor at the end of a game when the other team has to foul us. He is our best FT shooter (90.9%), I'm not sure (other than his 3 misses) I've seen one of his hit the rim, all net.

Something else I'm surprised I've not seen Pope do is have Williams (or even Garrison or Carr) in bounds vs pressure/press. Their added height is an advantage. They are both good passers. Also, we don't want either of them to catch a pass and then get fouled. And it puts on the floor another guard who shoots FTs 73+% as an option to catch the pass and either advance the ball or get fouled.

Almonor executed perfectly in this game. Hit that key 3 towards the end of the first half when Illinois was on a run and cut it to 3. And then nailed those 2 clutch FTs at the end to ice it. Loved his role yesterday!

 

[St.PatterSoN-54-]

It's been so long since we've seen Almanor shoot a free throw, I wasn't sure whether he was any good at them or not

Also, that's the 2nd time this season we've thrown the long court pass on a critical out of bounds play. I love the guts it takes to go for that.

 

[UKSanders]

I know most fans want to purge the Gillespie era from memory. However, I loved his inbounds play at the end of the game after a made FT where he had the inbounder pass the ball to another player OUT of bounds, and then the original inbounder ran onto the court to receive an inbounds pass.

The defense is just never ready for it b/c they don't really it's a legal play.

 

[JRCAT14]

Something else I'm surprised I've not seen Pope do is have Williams (or even Garrison or Carr) in bounds vs pressure/press. Their added height is an advantage. They are both good passers. Also, we don't want either of them to catch a pass and then get fouled. And it puts on the floor another guard who shoots FTs 73+% as an option to catch the pass and either advance the ball or get fouled.

Actually he has had Brea (91%) inbounding the ball. Don't understand that at all unless he has little faith in the others ability to make a good decision and pass.

 

[The_Answer1313]

Actually he has had Brea (91%) inbounding the ball. Don't understand that at all unless he has little faith in the others ability to make a good decision and pass.

Yep that's exactly what I think it was tho. Had more faith with Brea inbounding it.

Also I find a lot of times the guy that inbounds it gets it right back so that might have been the thinking as well.

 

[Fox2monk]

I saw Pope do something I've been wanting him to do much of the season, and that is have Almonor on the floor at the end of a game when the other team has to foul us. He is our best FT shooter (90.9%), I'm not sure (other than his 3 misses) I've seen one of his hit the rim, all net.

Something else I'm surprised I've not seen Pope do is have Williams (or even Garrison or Carr) in bounds vs pressure/press. Their added height is an advantage. They are both good passers. Also, we don't want either of them to catch a pass and then get fouled. And it puts on the floor another guard who shoots FTs 73+% as an option to catch the pass and either advance the ball or get fouled.

Yeah he was switching AA in and out at the end. I thought that was a great move and he drilled 2 FT’s late.

 

[Fox2monk]

Yep that's exactly what I think it was tho. Had more faith with Brea inbounding it.

Also I find a lot of times the guy that inbounds it gets it right back so that might have been the thinking as well.

That was my thought, he could be the target after a quick inbound since he may not be the easiest at creating space to get the ball.

 

[Fox2monk]

It's been so long since we've seen Almanor shoot a free throw, I wasn't sure whether he was any good at them or not

Also, that's the 2nd time this season we've thrown the long court pass on a critical out of bounds play. I love the guts it takes to go for that.

I know and both of the passes have been right on the money. I guess if we need a Laettner type shot to win it we have the inbound capability to make a long pass.