Before the season tipped off, I said that the opposition was such that I would understand if we lost two or three games. With 2016 12 hours away and our team 11-1, I’m no less impressed by our opponents, but am even more impressed by our guys and the versatility and resolve they’ve shown in winning time and time again.
The Oakland Golden Grizzlies were the last test. Kay Felder was as good as advertised, scoring 30 points on 10-22 shooting (4-9 on threes). He evaded both Malcolm and London with some nifty dribbling moves to free space, and showed that all he needs is a second to can a fadeaway over a bigger defender. I’ll give us some credit — he only took seven free throws, less than 10 for the first time in five games — but it didn’t really matter. The kid can score the basketball. Luckily, he didn’t have much help: Felder’s 30 was 3.4 over his season average entering the game, but his teammates’ 28 points were 33.5 less than their usual output. Felder was alone in double figures. Max Hooper made three threes and scored nine, but big Percy Gibson (2-6, five points) continued his struggles against better competition, and Jalen Hayes went scoreless on four shots. The talent gap was evident.
Our offense took time to steep for the second straight game. We actually trailed this one 29-28 at the half, after a period that saw London play just six minutes after committing two fouls within 45 seconds of one another. Things always get sluggish when London is sitting, and last night was no different: our offense in the first half seemed to rely on Malcolm taking midrange jumpers (he was 2-10 for the half, 3-14 for the game), which is a strategy that isn’t generally reliable and really isn’t working lately (he’s 1-18 on two point shots in our last three games).
The big men saved the day. Mike Tobey led the team in scoring with 16, scoring eight in each half. He scored six of his first half points in a two and a half minute stretch and then all eight of his second half points in another two minutes, turning back the clock to the old days when it felt like he had a plan around the basket area. Anthony Gill (two points on two shots in the first half) and London also keyed our resurgence, getting into the swing of things with six points each during the 13-2 run we posted to open the second half. It was no secret that we had a height and mobility advantage around the rim, but it took us a half, more minutes for the guy who best knows how to find good shots for his teammates, and an increase in defensive intensity around the top of the key (Oakland turned it over eight times to open the half) to get it going.
Once we went up 10, it felt over. The lead swelled from 10 to 22 before a parade of fouls and turnovers (Jarred Reuter committed four in exactly two minutes to foul out) made the final a little closer.
Notes:
- I was impressed by both Isaiah Wilkins and Marial Shayok. Wilkins did his usual box score stuffing act (four points, eight rebounds, three assists, two steals, two blocks) and tacked on his usual great effort on D. Shayok looked more like himself, canning a three, hunting shots off of the dribble, and looking more like the confident third scorer he resembled in Charleston.
- Darius didn’t always have his shot going (he took the first three off the dribble that I’ve seen him try, and it didn’t go well), but he got to the line (4-5, most of his six points), made three steals (including two during our big run to open the second half) and saved this for his lone basket.
- Devon (-15 in eight minutes, 0-1, two turnovers) is trending down around the same time Marial is moving back up. I like his funky and aggressive offensive game, but he is too loose with the ball sometimes.
- I’m glad that Jack Salt is still on the team. I was worried for a little bit there.
Notre Dame is up next, and with it comes ACC play. Can’t wait.
