Hawaii Recap

Final 54-53 Hawaii.

 

Make that four WAC games that Tech has managed to lose in the last fifteen seconds. Tonight it was a one point lead lost on a tip in with 0.2 left on the clock. And the second time Hawaii beats the Bulldogs with less than five seconds left. Third time the charm maybe? See you in the conference tourney play-in game.

 

Thoughts on losing to the United Nations (again):

 

Starters
Rolle
Rogers

Guyton
Gibson
Loe

 

*Hawaii played a majority of the game in a zone. Two fold reasons. One slow down Rolle. Two dare Tech to hit enough threes to get them out of it. Seemed to backfire early as Tech hit a handful early and built a huge lead.  But percentages don’t lie and the Bulldogs missed six straight during a corresponding Hawaii run.

 

*Way too many turnovers (20) and a bad second half shooting (31%). An eight minute span without a FG. Shades of November.

 

*After shooting over 10 shots in his last three game hot streak Rolle only attempted seven from the field. Started 4 for 4 but missed his last three. His last shot was a horrible decision to take an 18 footer with just over 2 minutes left. He was open but was about two steps beyond the range he has shown he can consistently hit. He did have his customary late game help side block. Final numbers – 4/7, 10 points, 7 rebounds in 38 minutes.

 

*Rogers got the start but only played three minutes before Rupp brought in Ashalou. So in his four starts Rogers combined numbers – 60 minutes. 2 points, 4 rebounds.

 

*Guyton started off red hot. Three first half strikes from deep. He was the zone buster. Eleven first half points. Then he cooled. But he showed he is clutch again late by nailing the three from the corner to give Tech the lead. Final numbers – 5/12, 4/10 from 3, 14 points, 6 rebounds.

 

*It’s tough coming off a slump for Kyle Gibson. Slow first half with only four points. Still missing from outside the arc (0 for 4) but then Gibson started driving the ball to the hoop with success. Perfect 5 for 5 inside the arc. Need him to break out Saturday. Numbers – 5/9 13 points, 3 rebs, 3 steals.

 

*Apparently the bonehead decision Loe made at the end of the Boise game time warped him back into the liability he was early in the season. He took bad shots (unnecessary) shots against the zone. He made bad passes – at least three should have been turnovers the defense knocked the ball out of bounds and Tech kept possession. This makes the second straight game that the color analyst (different guy) noted that the defense is not even guarding him anymore. It’s 4 on 5. Rupp sat him large parts of the second half due to his play. Problem is he’s the best option and he had to bring him back in for the finish. Numbers – 0/3, 0 assists, 3 turnovers in 21 minutes.

 

* Hell of a first half for the Tech bench. 14 points. They brought energy and Tech built a big lead without Gibson or Rolle scoring a large amount. Then of course the second half where they scored a grand total of two.

 

*Big Shawn Oliverson had his best performance of his young career. Right now he is so limited offensively his role is to rebound and defend and he did admirably in his short time in the game. Two offensive rebounds and dunks and a steal (took the ball away from a Hawaii player after a rebound ) off pure hustle. That’s three extra possessions he created for the team. He would have played more but he caught a nasty elbow to the cheek late in the first half and spent most of the second watching the game thorough an ice bag. He played well enough Rupp brought him back in late in the ball game when the Hawaii bigs were purely outmuscling the smaller Tech defenders. Oliverson did have a turnover when he received the ball on the block extended and no one cut for him to pass it too. Stuck on an island (and after waiting and waiting for help to come) he tried to dribble to the rim one on one (which is not in his game at this point) and stepped out of bounds (or dribbled it off his foot – purely academic – turnover either way). Long story short good game for the young big man.  He should get a confidence boost from tonight. Career highs in points – 4 and minutes played – 11.

 

*David Jackson the jump shot assassin was back. Two triples in three attempts. He had some issues when he had to play the four in the second half. He was giving up about 50 lbs to the Hawaii post players and just couldn’t move them. Numbers – 8 points, 2 rebs in 17 minutes.

 

*Another play who struggled with Hawaii’s size inside was Olu Ashalou. Tried to attack the rim off the dribble a couple of times and was denied. Numbers – 4 points, only 1 reb in 17 minutes. Disappointing (continued) FT shooting – 2/6.

 

*Brandon Gibson played seven minutes and took one shot. I thought he had a block that didn’t show up in the box score.

 

*Yonas Behre came in after Loe’s struggles and played four minutes. Committed two turnovers. Promptly sat back down.

 

*Roderick Fleming is a nice player for Hawaii. He disappears for stretches of games as they seem to forget that he is on the floor. If he’s on my team he touches the ball every offensive possession.

 

*Hawaii’s Petras  Balocka at 6’8 260 looks like a defensive end. He is the enforcer with his strength. However he wines and flops like Manu Ginobli every time he takes contact. My favorite of his antics were when the 195 lb. David Jackson put his shoulder into him on a screen and Balocka acted like his family honor had been wronged. Grow a pair big boy.

 

 

*This season five of the eight (WAC) games have come down to the final seconds. This team is just right there to winning these games. Add a good junior college point guard (think Daevon Haskins) and put him on this squad {or maybe two new points – I’m not sold that Behre is a long term solution}, add a juco big (replace Cooper) to go with the two good high school signees from the fall and you are there.  A quality point will solve a good numbers of the offensive issues. Every one else except the seniors (Loe and Rogers) are back. This spring recruiting class will probably determine Rupp’s ability to succeed at Louisiana Tech.

 

*Got to get this one Saturday against a team you’ve already beaten on the road.