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| Adjehi Baru stepped up big without his freshman teammate |
Top Performers: Adjehi Baru 18 points (career high), 12 rebounds (career high)
Trent Wiedeman 10 points, 17 rebounds (career high)
The CofC big men really had a field day tonight. It could have been the need to step up with Anthony Stitt gone, their natural height advantage over the Phoenix or Troutman's early foul trouble. Whatever the reason, Trent and Adjehi both posted career nights in the lopsided victory. Adjehi got it going early with some fast break buckets and Hulk was able to push and smash his way to the basket on offense. Even Wiggins got into the action on the glass; the Cougar's front line pulled down 36 rebounds between the three of them. With Davidson on the horizon, the guys needed a confidence booster to get their swag back and this victory may have helped. We're not back there yet, but we looked better.
Ten more thoughts on the game:
1) Definitely more hustle and energy to start this game. The Cougars were pestering Elon one-on-one and eventually forced an abysmal 18% field goal percentage from the Phoenix in the 1st half. We were getting in transition, cleaning the boards and showing a more consistent commitment to defensive pressure.
2) Dear Adjehi: you are bigger, stronger and can jump higher than anyone on Elon's team. Go up strong a little more often rather than settling for a layup. The steal you had early, Wiedeman's pass to you off his own steal. Jam it home. I know you have it in you.
3) Nori really gambles on defense. Sometimes it works out and he gets the steal. Sometimes he jumps too far and finds himself behind the offense. Sometimes he gets three fouls called against him in a matter of minutes. Gotta watch the hand slaps.
4) Wiggins had a very un-Wiggins play at the beginning of the 2nd half. After getting the steal, he and Baru ran down the court with a 2-on-1 advantage. With a half step lead, Baru was calling for the ball on the break. Antwaine resisted the temptation to force a pass or shoot an uncontested three and took a breath. Adjehi got the dominant position in the post and Wiggins threw a perfect pass for two. Great play by the senior.
5) James Carlton sighting!
6) All too often, our guys don't even look to the big man off the pick. Trent, Adjehi, and Sundberg always come out to the perimeter and Lawrence/Wiggins rarely reward a big if they're open. Let's recreate that Stitt to Baru magic that occurred against Tennessee!
7) I won't crucify Jordan Scott tonight. He gets open (even if he misses), plays hard on D and feeds the post. That's enough for me.
8) Wiggins' floater looked good tonight.
9) Wish Bobby would have thrown in the subs earlier. We were up by more than 20 with eight minutes to go. Put in TD and James Carlton. We're gonna need them down the stretch and Lawrence could use the oxygen. I know absolutely nothing more about Trevonte than I did after the preseason.
10) Antwaine seemed to be the primary ball-handler bringing the ball up court with Lawrence sitting. He didn't make any mistakes, but I really don't think this is a long-term answer to our lack of point guards.
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