Cleveland State isn’t a bad basketball team. That much was on display at times last night, like when they held us to 8-20 shooting in the first half, or scored 36 points in the second. Unfortunately for them, each of these outbursts on one end were accompanied by slumps (making two of their first 17 shots, allowing 39 to us) on the other. Malcolm Brogdon and Justin Anderson scored 16 each and Anthony Gill added 13 for the ‘Hoos, who committed just six turnovers (10.9% of their possessions) against a team that had been forcing them on more than a quarter of opposing possessions (26.1%) for the season and took advantage of an expected disparity in foul calls (CSU has fouled much more than they’ve been fouled all year) by hitting 21 of 28.
Brogdon and Gill owned the first half (24 of our 31 points, as no one else had anything going), and then Justin Anderson grabbed the game by the throat to open the second half, going for 11 of our first 15 points (including a ridiculous four point play on his patented exaggerated flop) as we extended the lead to 20 and effectively ended matters.
The defensive intensity came and went throughout the second half of this one after a pretty great first. Guys were lagging on rotations and seemed a step slow. Maybe it was rust, maybe it was letting up a bit on the gas, and maybe it was Trey Lewis being good: the 6’2” guard hit three threes and scored 13 of his 18 points in the frame, not really changing the outcome so much as proving that he belonged and muddying our defensive stats some.
Notes:
- London Perrantes and Devon Hall took a total of two shots (missing both) and went scoreless in 48 minutes on the court. I know that there are bigger dogs to feed and all that, but I’ve also seen what a CTB offense looks like when no one is scared of the point guard. I want to see more out of these two.
- Evan Nolte did not make a flying steal, but he did nail two of three threes. He’s now made threes in three straight appearances (four of 10 in those games) after going one of 12 to start the season. I’m ready to start counting on him again.
- It was a little weird seeing Malcolm throw down twice. He’s usually more understated than that.
- Justin seems to have completely bought in to what CTB is selling. There aren’t many of the facepalms from the sideline that marked Anderson’s first two seasons. It’s fun to watch him take what the defense allows and not force things.
- AG’s love of shots at the rim (more than 2/3 of his looks this season, 67.2%) is great and gets him to the line, but he has a soft touch and some range that it would behoove him to use (both to open up the drive and for his own development as a professional prospect).
Harvard on Sunday. They’re real. There will be a preview.
