Lots of F's in instant grading from Arkansas Razorbacks coach Eric Musselman after hanging on to get an 86-68 win over Old Dominion on Monday night at Barnhill Arena.
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00:00 Which should be an efficient game offensively, but maybe some struggles in areas you pointed out with rebounding and some things defensively. Just maybe your overall takeaways from what you saw tonight.
00:10 I mean we have to be way more physical defensive rebound in the basketball.
00:17 I mean, defensively, you know 43% you know we'd obviously like our opponents to shoot a lower percentage but it's not the field goal percentage wasn't the issue it was the lack of three point defense, and, and certainly the lack of physicality I mean we're going to be playing against teams that are much bigger, much stronger much more athletic.
00:41 And we're not rebound with any physicality mean.
00:48 Just not happening other than Mitchell mean he's, he's our one guy that that's that's rebounded with physicality I thought we were great against Purdue, doing it, and have been really bad physically rebounders, the last two games.
01:06 You guys have defended the three really well through the preseason years.
01:11 So, yeah, for years same drills. Same everything.
01:18 You know, doing the same drills we did when we were number one in the country defending the three so
01:24 got some new guys that that have to do a better job, even Devo he was he was a 10 out of 10 the first half garden their star player couldn't have guarded him any better I mean it was picture perfect and then second half.
01:36 We just go under to dribble handoffs and he and he hits two threes so why we I don't know. And then our transition defense, matching up to people was was abysmal
01:50 defensively What about his offensive game tonight it seemed phenomenal. Yep, I mean, Divo, taking care of the ball, like there's some, there's some real positives.
02:00 Believe it or not, defending without fouling is something we really worked on we got the towels out they had to hold the towels above their head. Stop touching people.
02:12 Fouling was really good how many foul shots they take five. So, defending without following a plus.
02:21 Taking care of the basketball I don't know if I've ever had a team only have four turnovers against a high steel team against the team that is plays for guards at a time, and has great quickness, so taking care of the ball, a plus defensive rebounding, double
02:36 f
02:39 defense, triple f
02:43 guarding the three, there's no great it was so bad so some good and some very poor
02:53 house where we'll letargy has no great point average, or whatever, I guess.
03:10 I think we're a good offensive team, and we're a team that's got to get better defensively and, you know, some of our teams have been really good on defense, and not very good on offense.
03:22 It's kind of a character, you know that's hard to be great on both sides of the ball but we're, we're going to get back and try to become much better defensively.
03:31 You guys left for just under 36 minutes. So you, you led but I don't know if you really in control, because they just kept making threes and just kind of what it feel like because you have the lead but they, they're hanging around what was that like.
03:47 Yeah, I mean we kept getting it to 10 and then you get back to five or six.
03:52 We didn't we didn't separate, you know, and maybe we'd get up 10, give up a transition basket or give up a three and then they get a little momentum, they play hard.
04:03 They play tough they're, they're probably going to be right there, looking at a conference championship that's why we schedule them.
04:14 You know I watched the whole Baylor
04:17 Gardner web game. And that was a six point game until about the seven and a half minute mark.
04:24 So we're playing some teams that are pretty good.
04:27 Baylor couldn't separate from Gardner web.
04:30 You know like we did. There was no 25 point lead in that game at all.
04:36 The 25 point lead I think was at the end of the game, and Baylor's really good team with a lottery pick, and they're really well coached so I think the state of college basketball right now is, you got to come ready to play that's why there's I mean I haven't
04:51 looked at the score the pride and upset tonight to like it's every night now, just with the way the transfer portal is and I mean this team we just played I mean they got a guy that played at Wichita State they got a guy that played at Oregon like this,
05:03 that's, they just, you know, teams are, they're tough to win
05:11 Miami tonight against Florida International that was a, that was a single digit game to and and Florida International hadn't won their own three and Miami is really good team so just kind of the nature of how it is if, if you don't come in and play
05:25 for 40 minutes.
05:27 He's known for rebound and defending, but he had 15 tonight. I guess his most he scored in two seasons or so what you think his game offensively.
05:37 I thought he was awesome. I mean the one shot he missed was his easiest look.
05:42 It was the cleanest looking at all night and he, he missed it so really happy that that that he went six or seven and could have been seven of 70. He didn't force anything 10 rebounds.
05:54 I mean thank goodness for him and team are defensive rebounding.
06:11 I think so. Neither did anybody else defensive rebounding LLS tonight legend scoring but the aid assist. And it seems like he was your setup got a lot of those three point shots three rebounds.
06:23 No turnovers What did you think about else for game, at least offensively and then maybe both sides of it, you know, L has done a really good job Kevin of asking for feedback on what we're looking for.
06:34 You know I gave him a sheet today of, you know, the coach at women's coach at Duke had some great quotes about being a point guard and, and, you know what Pat summit had kind of taught her and I was on the treadmill and circled some stuff
06:49 and gave it to L and he's like he's a guy that wants to, you know, like he understands, you know, what, what areas people want to see from him which is taking care of the ball, and then quite honestly late game.
07:04 You know, we played three regular season games and in this particular game late game we went to L. It was him in middle pick and roll to try to get to the basket.
07:15 You know we've had another game where we went to team arc late game so you know the good thing is we're finding some strengths for for different people in late game situations or late game packages.
07:30 Follow up on something maybe positive on offense. This was a team that's really stingy last year. So far this year inside the arc. Just even how many makes teams get you guys kind of had your way offensively both halves getting inside the arc and getting to the basket
07:43 and scoring. Yeah, I think we got really good dribble drive penetration guys, you know some guys didn't settle they attacked and got downhill and, you know, really happy to 29 FTAs I thought we did a good job, you know, with our free throw attempt attack attack
07:57 off the bounce. We got to, you know, we got to convert them better to second game in a row we haven't done a good enough job converting free throws.
08:06 Another area that we have to get better at for sure and I mean three steals is that's that's that's not enough activity.
08:16 Eric nine blocks for TV in his last 55 minutes played, what do you see for him defensively, that just maybe allowing for that to happen. Yeah, I mean he's, he's so long he's, he's, you know, got great anticipation on the ball great anticipation off the ball, thought he got
08:33 lost garden the three I thought 15 Blakely got some got some good looks on us and so we got to, you know, we got to guard the perimeter and we got to guard the rim as well.
08:45 But that's hard to have that many blocks.
08:47 You thought of the way Diva was taking care of the ball so far through three games he felt like that's maybe a major area of improvement for him for this year. Yeah, I mean I think just comfortability of what we're what the expectations are how many turnovers
09:00 you got in three games.
09:16 He's got some stuff to his game. He's got a bag that he likes to go into.
09:35 He's got the ball in his hands.
09:59 You know, one when he does it, you know, he's got to really rebound defensively, in order for us to do that if, if he's not rebounding defensively, it's really hard to do that.
10:09 You know if I think if a game calls for us to space the floor out.
10:14 I certainly think that, you know, TV mate was to a four from three tonight and I think it opens up driving angles for sure. For other players when he's at the five.
10:25 You know, so, could be a, you know, if, if we are physical enough, doing that, because I thought about putting it to three tonight too because, you know, Mitchell was playing good and I thought about, you know, letting Chandler roll a little bit more or putting
10:43 him back in and, and, and having TB at the, at the three but we, you know, we just never got to that but that is something maybe we have to look at when, when we play against bigger teams we did it against Purdue for a short stretch for sure.
10:57 Do you think TV has had this UNC Greensboro game circle on the calendar at all just the teaming.
11:03 I mean I hope not I hope you know I hope he just, you know, comes out and plays I think that's always hard for a player you know knowing that there was an injury against a certain team but,
11:16 you know, UNCG is like, they're good.
11:21 We were down five last last year in this game and have to.
11:27 The game was a single digit game.
11:30 They have a potential all league player back at center.
11:33 They have the defensive player of the year in Langley back.
11:37 They have a first team all player in Langley one of the best three point shooters in college basketball.
11:45 And then they have a guy at the small forward spot.
11:49 That's a absolute Roper he had four threes against us.
11:53 So they got some guys backlash from last year that really really hurt us.
11:59 We need to play our best game of the season on Friday.
12:04 That's for sure.
12:07 Coach you preach stamina and kind of conditioning to us in the preseason just first of all where, where are you on that. And secondly, do you think that contributed to any of the defensive problems.
12:19 No, I mean, I don't. I didn't think we look tired I just thought we didn't follow some of the assignments.
12:28 You know maybe some of you guys thought we look tired I didn't, I didn't feel that way at all I, you know, Mark only played 21 minutes, which is, you know, probably, you know his low.
12:40 I certainly think Brazil is in good enough condition where his minutes were fine.
12:49 You know, l plates, some good minutes and Devo never gets tired so I don't I don't you know like if we would have ended the game.
12:57 Poorly, then, then maybe but I didn't. I didn't think the end of the game was any different than this. We stunk to start the game. We stunk to start the game.
13:07 Last game. We stunk to start the half.
13:11 So, something's got to give you know what I mean that certainly coming out of the half and starting the game that didn't have anything to do with conditioning that just had to do with whatever.
13:21 And that's our job as a staff to try to figure out how to get off to better starts we're at home, playing in front of great crowds, and we haven't gotten off to a very good start the last two games.
13:35 61 points tonight. I know Matt painter talked about the interchangeable parts but just how good a quartet or foursome or whatever, or really good offensively and really got to get better in transition defense I mean, look, you know, as happy as we are Bob
13:53 with our, with our, with our offense.
13:58 Number 13 Caesar.
14:00 He played 16 minutes and at 18 points against our guards.
14:06 Me.
14:08 Credit to Caesar like he wasn't on our scouting report really look at what he's done, coming into the game, and he torched us in the backcourt. So we got to get a lot better because, I mean, number 13 productivity, eight of 12, two for three, three defensive rebounds
14:26 plus 12 on the stat sheet and 18 points and then their other guard at 21. So our guards have to defend much much better than what we did tonight.
14:38 11 in the second half, what do you think his game especially in the second yeah I think at halftime we talked about need more from him on in totality, defending rebounding shooting scoring, and I thought, I thought TV was was very very good in the second
14:54 half.
14:56 Obviously tonight's defense was what it was but big picture when you look ahead to when you guys are going to face better competition what are like specific areas that you're like hey this is definitely going to be an issue when we face better competition
15:06 and different types of teams rebounding and physicality and guarding the ball.
15:14 That's a lot. Rebounding physicality and our perimeter players being able to guard their guy.
15:22 That's a lot of stuff to be concerned with.
15:26 On Kai, has anything clicked with him the last two games or just matchups motor. What is it.
15:33 Great question Scottie.
15:36 This was Kai's best game.
15:40 This was Kai's best game in everything.
15:45 This was his best game body language. This was his best game in timeouts and huddles. This was his best game with his teammates. This was his best game with the coaching staff.
15:58 And then he played really well too. So, hopefully, he can keep keep doing that. You know I thought that
16:08 from a maturity standpoint, and, and doing what we needed and doing it with really positive passion he was he was really good tonight. Really good, proud of him.
16:24 Three in that big run y'all took a 14 point lead time yeah.
16:29 And you got him in pretty early I know Mark got in foul trouble but seem like he came in for Brazil the first time what is efficiency hasn't been there yet do you think it's just a matter of time before he strings together some eggs and some things
16:41 are looking for that JD is a great shooter, we see it in practice every day he's got a great release.
16:47 You know I talked to him the other day just get your feet set and and you know kind of take your time. The one thing that he's done a really good job of.
16:55 He's defending better than maybe we thought he's rebounding.
17:00 Although tonight, you know, only one, but, but he's rebounded through the elbows better than any of our guards which we want our guys to rebound through the elbow from a perimeter standpoint.
17:12 So defensively rebounding intangible stuff done a better job, shooting the ball when you got a guy that's a high volume shooter.
17:20 You can't get in his head you got to just let him, let him launch and and hope he gets hot, which we certainly think he will.
17:29 What are the guards have to do specifically to play better defense kind of defense you want, yeah you got to keep the ball in front of you. You can't get hit on screens.
17:37 If you get caught on a screen you got to do a much better job rear view mirror contesting.
17:43 You got to keep your man out of the lane, you can't give up straight line dribble drives.
17:48 If you give up straight line dribble drives you give up layups. You can't always expect our bigs to to be there to help because we're not great at the rim verticality right now.
17:58 So we got to get better at that with our bigs and our guards got to do a better job of, of.
18:04 I mean look we didn't guard three and we didn't guard the dribble drive.
18:08 It's one thing if you're really like a we shut them down from three and we gave up some dribble drives.
18:15 And they did whatever they wanted.
18:19 Guys, you know the wherewithal and the skill set and coach ability to do. Yeah, I mean I.
18:25 I hope I mean but we haven't gotten, you know, we haven't progressed like we want the last two games defensively Devo for sure.
18:32 T mark got foul trouble so T mark not being on the floor hurts us defensively because we need is length and athleticism and defensive intensity.
18:41 Devo was awesome. First half, defending.
18:47 So yeah, I think we'll get better. I mean we're going to keep keep coaching keep pointed out. Keep talking about it, keep drilling it.
18:58 He's coming off the bench and he says he just wants to play and produce and he's getting his minutes but how do you think he's handled coming off the bench after starting most time last year.
19:07 I mean, like I said, I think from a, you know, from an attitude standpoint.
19:13 He's been great. No.
19:17 He really has he's, he's, like I said tonight was I thought tonight was his best like if you just look at everything. It was, it was, it was his best job since he's been here.
19:32 I guess we're not gonna get you like Wednesday or something.
19:36 Okay, okay. I guess you talked about what a tough game it was I mean I think that Nick had a big game or else I think you said you guys probably would have lost if Nick hadn't had a big game obviously lost.
19:47 Trevin, I guess we'll get back to transfer what's the what's how important is it for a guy that he's physically there it looks like he's there too but you know how important is it that he is mentally okay for this game they don't have out of flashbacks
20:02 or whatever.
20:03 I mean I think he'll be ready to play.
20:08 The, I think the thing that you know when you talk to like NBA trainers or if you've been around play like the biggest thing that that he's done a great job is playing fearless like he's dunking the ball trying to dunk on people he took a hard fall at the rim
20:23 tonight.
20:24 Trying to dunk on somebody, you know, if you were, if it was in your head, so to speak, you wouldn't have however many blocks he's had because, you know, leaving your feet, where the fear might come in and he leaves his feet a lot.
20:41 It's not often you play like a mid major, you know, get team like Greensboro, two years in a row is that like a two for O'Deal or how do you guys end up playing them back to back here that was it was to one year deals.
20:57 I mean we feel we feel like they're going to win their league.
21:13 Come with some come a little better than we have.
21:20 I know the Duke game is kind of an outlier but Greensboro Gardner web, uncw Do you have any connections North Carolina, with all these North Carolina teams on the non conference or is it just one of those things this year.
21:32 I don't know what route is got going on.
21:35 You'd have to we'd have to bring him up to the podium.