Hello HOB. I'll be following along with the CMP Show once again tonight and sharing the major talking points here for those of you who may not be able to listen. Show starts at 6 ET. Stay tuned...
* On the Auburn autopsy... They're really good. Their separation from the rest of college basketball is impressive. We just have to move on.
* LSU has gone smaller, more athletic. They've been in a lot of close games against good teams. It will be a challenge for us. Damian Collins playing well for them. He's an elite-level rim protector.
* Lamont Butler is feeling better, and Andrew Carr is feeling strong. We're on the uptick in terms of those guys' health.
* The worst part of basketball is watching a guy who has worked so hard like Jaxson Robinson seeing his season cut short. It was recommended a month ago that he have surgery, but he also told Jaxson he could take one more swing at it before he did. Jaxson did everything he could to help his team one more time. He's another assistant coach for us now, demanding a bigger salary.
* Caller asks about what the rotation will look like without Jaxson Robinson and his concerns about the bench not being very productive of late... Pope says the whole team is based on coming at you in waves and having great energy throughout the game. Says that he probably hurt their chances against Auburn because he was being too tight with the rotations. Thinks he played Amari and Lamont too long, led to them turning it over a bit more than they usually do. Koby Brea played 37 minutes, and that's too much for what they're asking him to do. It would be OK if they were playing slow, walk-it-up style. But they've got to have fresh bodies on the floor. Finding the right balance is the challenge.
* Caller wants to know about roster build... Pope says there's really only one team doing it with really young guys as the focus - Duke. Pope thinks you have to have a mix of good young players and veterans. Thinks the winning formula is three groups: talented freshmen, returning players who are growing in your system, and portal guys to give you veteran experience and playmaking.
* Caller says passing looks lax right now, and he's also concerned about watching so many opponents go right to the rim for a layup... Pope says, yes, both things are bothering him as well. Gave up some inexplicable runs to Auburn where they just gave the ball up, totally unforced. Those were mistakes from being unfocused, not dialed into the moment. Have to be more disciplined.
* Listener wants to know how to stop so many unguarded 3s... Pope goes back to saying he needs to play more guys to have the energy to stop those. ... On the flip side, Pope says they need the game to be more open and up-tempo so that they can find more 3s for themselves. Both require energy.
* Caller asks if there are any actions in the offense where they can use their 7-foot, 260-pound center down low on the block instead of trying to dribble back into his man every time... Pope says, yes, there is. But it changes the 5-out offense a bit. It changes gap-penetration space and the lanes that other guys have. They're working Carr in the post a little bit more in the way that the caller is asking about than Williams. Pope says post play is one of the least efficient possession plays you can have.
* Listener wants to know what he thought about the Auburn players' postgame display with the belts... Pope says the bottom line is they beat us, they get to celebrate. If you don't want them celebrating on your court, you gotta beat them. We didn't hold up our end.
* Caller asks if Pope has considered taking any pages from Rick Pitino's defensive book to help his team at UK... Says what Coach P is doing at SJ is incredible. They have some principles in common, some that are different, but everyone would love to steal a page or two out of that book right now.
* On the number of replay reviews hurting the game right now... Pope says it would be really helpful for college basketball if they take the burden off the referees. He thinks there should be a challenge system for coaches where they get one, if he's right, he gets it back. If he's wrong, he doesn't get any more.
******
And from earlier today, Amari Williams and Ansley Almonor talk about bouncing back from Auburn loss, the season-ending surgery for Jaxson Robinson, and the LSU matchup...
* On the Auburn autopsy... They're really good. Their separation from the rest of college basketball is impressive. We just have to move on.
* LSU has gone smaller, more athletic. They've been in a lot of close games against good teams. It will be a challenge for us. Damian Collins playing well for them. He's an elite-level rim protector.
* Lamont Butler is feeling better, and Andrew Carr is feeling strong. We're on the uptick in terms of those guys' health.
* The worst part of basketball is watching a guy who has worked so hard like Jaxson Robinson seeing his season cut short. It was recommended a month ago that he have surgery, but he also told Jaxson he could take one more swing at it before he did. Jaxson did everything he could to help his team one more time. He's another assistant coach for us now, demanding a bigger salary.
* Caller asks about what the rotation will look like without Jaxson Robinson and his concerns about the bench not being very productive of late... Pope says the whole team is based on coming at you in waves and having great energy throughout the game. Says that he probably hurt their chances against Auburn because he was being too tight with the rotations. Thinks he played Amari and Lamont too long, led to them turning it over a bit more than they usually do. Koby Brea played 37 minutes, and that's too much for what they're asking him to do. It would be OK if they were playing slow, walk-it-up style. But they've got to have fresh bodies on the floor. Finding the right balance is the challenge.
* Caller wants to know about roster build... Pope says there's really only one team doing it with really young guys as the focus - Duke. Pope thinks you have to have a mix of good young players and veterans. Thinks the winning formula is three groups: talented freshmen, returning players who are growing in your system, and portal guys to give you veteran experience and playmaking.
* Caller says passing looks lax right now, and he's also concerned about watching so many opponents go right to the rim for a layup... Pope says, yes, both things are bothering him as well. Gave up some inexplicable runs to Auburn where they just gave the ball up, totally unforced. Those were mistakes from being unfocused, not dialed into the moment. Have to be more disciplined.
* Listener wants to know how to stop so many unguarded 3s... Pope goes back to saying he needs to play more guys to have the energy to stop those. ... On the flip side, Pope says they need the game to be more open and up-tempo so that they can find more 3s for themselves. Both require energy.
* Caller asks if there are any actions in the offense where they can use their 7-foot, 260-pound center down low on the block instead of trying to dribble back into his man every time... Pope says, yes, there is. But it changes the 5-out offense a bit. It changes gap-penetration space and the lanes that other guys have. They're working Carr in the post a little bit more in the way that the caller is asking about than Williams. Pope says post play is one of the least efficient possession plays you can have.
* Listener wants to know what he thought about the Auburn players' postgame display with the belts... Pope says the bottom line is they beat us, they get to celebrate. If you don't want them celebrating on your court, you gotta beat them. We didn't hold up our end.
* Caller asks if Pope has considered taking any pages from Rick Pitino's defensive book to help his team at UK... Says what Coach P is doing at SJ is incredible. They have some principles in common, some that are different, but everyone would love to steal a page or two out of that book right now.
* On the number of replay reviews hurting the game right now... Pope says it would be really helpful for college basketball if they take the burden off the referees. He thinks there should be a challenge system for coaches where they get one, if he's right, he gets it back. If he's wrong, he doesn't get any more.
******
And from earlier today, Amari Williams and Ansley Almonor talk about bouncing back from Auburn loss, the season-ending surgery for Jaxson Robinson, and the LSU matchup...
