UTEP v Sul Ross Game Thread

[Lil_Train]

Maybe my goals/expectations for the team are higher than yours. It's year 4 AND we are now headed to the MWC soon. Golding needs to step up his game.

It's too early to decide if our guards are any better than last year...

We'll see what happens or if anything has changed or improved. I agree on the drought issue as that needs to be better as well.

I also agree on the guards. I thought Hardy was solid on both ends. Powell was inconsistent and frustrating, but also provided moments as a difference maker. Essentially, Golding brought in Bynum and Barnes to replace those two. I think some of the returners should be better (ie, Terrell, Horton, and Camper). In my opinion, Horton is a big wildcard. If he can come in and hit ~40% from 3 pt range, that would be huge for the offense. To me, he looks like the best shooter Golding has brought in by far. If he can improve defensively, and make shots like I think he can, he can be an important factor in avoiding some of those droughts.

 

[utep2step]

He's judging them mostly based on what they were last year. The one game this season did provide us with enough info to know the following:

1. Kalu still hasn't developed any offensive skills. If he had, he would have shown them against his smaller, slower opponents last night.
2. Hamilton is still out of shape.
3. Hamilton is still being asked to hedge on defense, something that he is incapable of doing.
4. Jones, the most talented four we have on the team, played only 11 minutes. Only three players played fewer minutes. That's enough to infer that Golding still doesn't want Jones on the floor.

Given the above, yes, I believe that there is enough for us to be concerned about our big men.

Just gotta counter Maniac to poke, but I enjoy your posts!
1- Kalu is strong as a bull, but his own strength gets him in foul trouble. Yes, his footwork has not improved a whole bunch.
2-Big Ham has good footwork, strong as well, but yes, he doesn't "run the floor" on fast breaks and has no mid game.

I watched a big kid named Bilodeau, who plays with UCLA (transfer from Oregon State), against UNM, and he has a the total package; mid, inside, athleticism, nice touch from 3, quick first step. UTEP needs big man like that.
3-Totally agree, Big Ham just can't get that first foot in front on D that is a fundamental taught in elementary school D action. Stunning given Golding is a defense minded coach. Learning "the baseline is your friend/trap" for defense bigs & fowards eludes him. He does give opposing big men fits in the paint at times.
4-Jones, the "missing link" that can dove tail the high-low with his athleticism and inner strength. The mystery player Golding doesn't give a clear answer about. Strange circumstance that can be a difference maker. Jones gives good minutes not accounted in stat books, but yet Golding is holding on to him while others "didn't fit his system" and transfered. Strange.

Not stated:
-Golding's offense doesn't utilize bigs effectively.
-UTEP big men appear in fantastic fashion, especially on D, then can't get a bucket for minutes on end if their life depended on it and/or get beat ugly and have to foul which adds up quickly for opposing bonus time FT's (I.E.- UTEP put UNM at the line early in both halves).
-The "under 5" crunch time is a Golding bugaboo. Don't get wrong, the team can rally back, they can't finish a lot times against above average teams.