It was a slow Tuesday at the humble abode so a friend and I made the decision to make the hour drive to watch Ole Miss play Kentucky last night (thanks for the tickets @madisonreb83 ), and it turned out to be a great decision as we watched one of the best total performances I have ever witnessed (especially in the 1st half) from an Ole Miss basketball team in a 98-84 win over a very mortal, but very athletic Kentucky team.
Disclaimer: I am not a basketball guy. I have never coached it and did not play it past high school. I am not capable of speaking with any authority or intelligence as to the intricacies of the game. That said, I know what I saw last night. Here are a few observations:
1. I really like the way we play defense. Yes, we had some lapses early in the 2nd half where we got caught watching the paint dry, resulting in some easy layups for UK, but to be fair, we had a 25 point lead by that time and it is next to impossible for a team to maintain its intensity when the game is not contested. Early, when it was still a game, we did a really good job of moving our feet to the ball, maintaining position, anticipating passes, keeping our hands active, etc. This team has really bought into the concept of total team defense. They put on a defensive clinic in the 1st half last night. The fact that Kentucky had multiple 30 second shot clock violations early was a testimony to the team defense that our guys played, especially early on until the issue was no longer in doubt. That's coaching.
2. Turnovers. Actually, lack of turnovers. We really did a great job of taking care of the basketball. I thought that Pedulla was fouled on the turnover he was credited with making. I mean, the guy knocked him down. This team has taken care of the basketball all year long. That's coaching (repetition intended). That is also players buying into the culture and values that the coach is projecting. This team is bought in to what our coaches are selling. That is obvious to the naked eye. It is telling in stat lines like 1 turnover.
3. Several players stepped up and made huge contributions last night. Matthew Murrell, who has been subjected to criticism on this board, was absolutely unconscious last night in the 1st half. He led 5 Ole Miss players in double figures with 24 points. He was in his groove, shooting with a stroke and a confidence that gave even the novice fan like me confidence that when he put it up, it was going in. His play was huge in Ole Miss building the insurmountable lead. Dre Davis played a solid game. He scored 17 points, got several key buckets from mid range as the shot clock was waning, and was scrappy on the defensive end. Jaylen Murray had a double double with 10 assists to go along with 15 points, and Pedulla contributed 8 and 8, giving Ole Miss 18 assists from our starting guards. Malik Dia was a defensive presence, especially early, and made several nice moves to the basket. Brakefield was solid and didn't try to do too much, which I have observed has been present at times this year.
4. The play of the game, at least IMHO, was made by Murray with about 7:15 left. Kentucky, a team with numerous 4/5 star players, had cut the 27 point lead to 11 and had pushed Ole Miss down to less than 5 seconds in the shot clock. Murray, being guarded by a much longer UK player, stepped back and hit a huge 3 point jumper to prevent UK from gaining ball possession with an opportunity to cut the lead to single digits. A miss there and a subsequent UK bucket would have definitely increased the pucker factor for players, coaches, and fans alike. As a side note, but still important, Pedulla made a couple of big drives to the bucket to prevent UK runs in addition to the previously mentioned daggers Davis had where we were deep in the shot clock.
5. The atmosphere at SJB was loud and intimidating at times. Kentucky, both players and their coach, seemed rattled on multiple occasions. That said, there were lots of empty seats, both up top and in the lower bowl. This team deserves support. They played their butts off last night. The crowd that was there was appreciative of their efforts. I know I was impressed. I know that it is a big ask for folks outside of a 1 hour radius of Oxford to come to a midweek game, especially when it tips at 8. We got home after 10 last night and it was a 6 pm tip. I am not sure what the point is that I am trying to make here, but this team is deserving of support. I would not have went last night unless I had seen the post by @madisonreb83 on the board yesterday. I am glad he posted them on our board at a great price. I am glad we went. I guess my point is, go if you can. If you can't go, sell to Rebs if you can, even if it is for less money than you might could make off the open market. There were lots of UK fans there last night, even in the lower bowl. Just saying. Ok, stepping off the soapbox. We had a very enjoyable time last night. Let's support this team and coach. That is all.
Disclaimer: I am not a basketball guy. I have never coached it and did not play it past high school. I am not capable of speaking with any authority or intelligence as to the intricacies of the game. That said, I know what I saw last night. Here are a few observations:
1. I really like the way we play defense. Yes, we had some lapses early in the 2nd half where we got caught watching the paint dry, resulting in some easy layups for UK, but to be fair, we had a 25 point lead by that time and it is next to impossible for a team to maintain its intensity when the game is not contested. Early, when it was still a game, we did a really good job of moving our feet to the ball, maintaining position, anticipating passes, keeping our hands active, etc. This team has really bought into the concept of total team defense. They put on a defensive clinic in the 1st half last night. The fact that Kentucky had multiple 30 second shot clock violations early was a testimony to the team defense that our guys played, especially early on until the issue was no longer in doubt. That's coaching.
2. Turnovers. Actually, lack of turnovers. We really did a great job of taking care of the basketball. I thought that Pedulla was fouled on the turnover he was credited with making. I mean, the guy knocked him down. This team has taken care of the basketball all year long. That's coaching (repetition intended). That is also players buying into the culture and values that the coach is projecting. This team is bought in to what our coaches are selling. That is obvious to the naked eye. It is telling in stat lines like 1 turnover.
3. Several players stepped up and made huge contributions last night. Matthew Murrell, who has been subjected to criticism on this board, was absolutely unconscious last night in the 1st half. He led 5 Ole Miss players in double figures with 24 points. He was in his groove, shooting with a stroke and a confidence that gave even the novice fan like me confidence that when he put it up, it was going in. His play was huge in Ole Miss building the insurmountable lead. Dre Davis played a solid game. He scored 17 points, got several key buckets from mid range as the shot clock was waning, and was scrappy on the defensive end. Jaylen Murray had a double double with 10 assists to go along with 15 points, and Pedulla contributed 8 and 8, giving Ole Miss 18 assists from our starting guards. Malik Dia was a defensive presence, especially early, and made several nice moves to the basket. Brakefield was solid and didn't try to do too much, which I have observed has been present at times this year.
4. The play of the game, at least IMHO, was made by Murray with about 7:15 left. Kentucky, a team with numerous 4/5 star players, had cut the 27 point lead to 11 and had pushed Ole Miss down to less than 5 seconds in the shot clock. Murray, being guarded by a much longer UK player, stepped back and hit a huge 3 point jumper to prevent UK from gaining ball possession with an opportunity to cut the lead to single digits. A miss there and a subsequent UK bucket would have definitely increased the pucker factor for players, coaches, and fans alike. As a side note, but still important, Pedulla made a couple of big drives to the bucket to prevent UK runs in addition to the previously mentioned daggers Davis had where we were deep in the shot clock.
5. The atmosphere at SJB was loud and intimidating at times. Kentucky, both players and their coach, seemed rattled on multiple occasions. That said, there were lots of empty seats, both up top and in the lower bowl. This team deserves support. They played their butts off last night. The crowd that was there was appreciative of their efforts. I know I was impressed. I know that it is a big ask for folks outside of a 1 hour radius of Oxford to come to a midweek game, especially when it tips at 8. We got home after 10 last night and it was a 6 pm tip. I am not sure what the point is that I am trying to make here, but this team is deserving of support. I would not have went last night unless I had seen the post by @madisonreb83 on the board yesterday. I am glad he posted them on our board at a great price. I am glad we went. I guess my point is, go if you can. If you can't go, sell to Rebs if you can, even if it is for less money than you might could make off the open market. There were lots of UK fans there last night, even in the lower bowl. Just saying. Ok, stepping off the soapbox. We had a very enjoyable time last night. Let's support this team and coach. That is all.
