Post by hoyarooter on Jan 22, 2006 5:28:10 GMT -5
My birthday is January 20. On January 20, UCLA lost to Houston in the Astrodome. On January 19, UCLA's 88 game winning streak was broken by Notre Dame. Those birthday presents sucked. This one, on the other hand, was a dandy.
I could never imagine the Hoyas playing this well offensively. The Princetown offense worked to perfection (thanks in large part to Duke's overplaying pressure defense). I just couldn't believe all the back door cuts I was seeing. I think every single back door worked until near the end of the game, when a Duke player got into the passing lane and intercepted the pass. I give Jeff Green an A+ today (would have been an A++ if he could have made his free throws) and A's to BB, Cook, Owens and Wallace. Everybody had to play great for us to pull this off, and that's what happened. And we needed it, too, because for a while there in the second half, I didn't think we were ever going to get a defensive stop, thanks mostly to Redick. I don't see how anybody on this board can ever criticize this kid again. He has really worked to improve his game. He's no longer just a spot up shooter, but can now shoot off the dribble, and penetrate. He was phenomenal.
But what was also phenomenal was the way we shut down Shelden Williams. I just didn't think that was possible.
Loved the picture of Big Roy dancing in the crowd on the ESPN site.
And finally, just one cautionary note. Please, everyone, don't expect us to play like this every game. It just isn't possible. I expect us to do well (and hopefully we won't come out flat against ND next week), but I also expect we will be seeing lots and lots of zone defenses over the remainder of the year, which will probably mean lots and lots of three point shots. Games where everyone plays great just don't happen that often.
Oh, and isn't that win at MSG looking a lot better now? Kudos to the Johnnies!
I could never imagine the Hoyas playing this well offensively. The Princetown offense worked to perfection (thanks in large part to Duke's overplaying pressure defense). I just couldn't believe all the back door cuts I was seeing. I think every single back door worked until near the end of the game, when a Duke player got into the passing lane and intercepted the pass. I give Jeff Green an A+ today (would have been an A++ if he could have made his free throws) and A's to BB, Cook, Owens and Wallace. Everybody had to play great for us to pull this off, and that's what happened. And we needed it, too, because for a while there in the second half, I didn't think we were ever going to get a defensive stop, thanks mostly to Redick. I don't see how anybody on this board can ever criticize this kid again. He has really worked to improve his game. He's no longer just a spot up shooter, but can now shoot off the dribble, and penetrate. He was phenomenal.
But what was also phenomenal was the way we shut down Shelden Williams. I just didn't think that was possible.
Loved the picture of Big Roy dancing in the crowd on the ESPN site.
And finally, just one cautionary note. Please, everyone, don't expect us to play like this every game. It just isn't possible. I expect us to do well (and hopefully we won't come out flat against ND next week), but I also expect we will be seeing lots and lots of zone defenses over the remainder of the year, which will probably mean lots and lots of three point shots. Games where everyone plays great just don't happen that often.
Oh, and isn't that win at MSG looking a lot better now? Kudos to the Johnnies!
