Why Coach Wallace

[seasider]

From this morning Advertiser:

>> Wallace said he did not insert Sottos in the second half until there were around nine minutes remaining because he wanted to establish his low-post players.<<

Sottos was inserted in the 2nd half with 8 minutes, 35 seconds remaining. It took Coach Wallace that long to realize that the Warrior’s big men had no answer to LA Tech’s smaller, quicker big men packing the middle. Only Botez did a creditable job with his 8 rbs, 4 blocks. Without Sottos in the game, LA Tech’s zone defense were able to plug up the middle, preventing any kind of inside game. Watching last week, and last night’s game, it’s a no brainer to use the zone extensively against UH. The 3s keeps a zone defense from packing the middle. The 3s have been called “the zone buster”(even Duke with their 4-5 star recruits utilizes the 3s extensively). In UH case, can’t bust anything with your best 3 point shooter sitting on the pine.

Sottos stats: 25 minutes, made 7 of 14 shots from the field (6 for 12, 3s; team 2 for 13), 20 pts, 5 rbs. Except for Botez, he outrebounded Big Matt, Blackett, and Sensley.

Sottos is raining 3s at a 40% plus clip. If he continues at that clip, I believe, it would bring out the best in little Matt, open up the middle for Botez, Sensley, and big Matt. UH big men is not quick enough against a sagging zone defense. IMHO, Sottos should start alongside little Matt. If Coach Wallace doesn’t realize this, expect more zone defense from opposing coaches…without any perimeter offense from UH, it’s a NO BRAINER. Coach Wallace, Sottos is stepping up to the challenge, he is unafraid to let loose from downtown, he is proving his worth. HE SHOULD START. Another Kuebler, maybe? Give LA Tech an assist from Coach Wallace for keeping Sottos on the bench up to 8 minutes, 35 seconds of the 2nd half. Coach Wallace have big dreams for Botez, Sensley, Blackett, and Big Matt, but they need an assist too...help in stretching the zone so they can be more effective underneath.

However, if Hawaii had made their free throws, UH would’ve have, should’ve won last night,s game. Achilles heel for this team, poor free throw shooting. JMHO.

[seasider]

<<Wallace said the key to countering the zone is to generate more points in the paint and at the free-throw line rather than hoisting jumpers from the perimeter>>

Coach Wallace you still need your best 3-point shooter starting in the game against the zone. Tatum, a top-100 JUCO recruit, is not the answer against the zone. At this point, against fast-twitch athletic big men packing the zone, the Warrior’s big men are getting beat for that offensive rebound or put back. Botez, IMHO, is doing a creditable job rebounding and altering or blocking shoots, but Sensley, Big Matt, and Blackett need to be more aggressive under the boards. Sensley, I feel is the most athletic of the big men, but he needs to be more aggressive. Julian pump fakes a lot, but ends up passing the ball. He is the most athletic big man on the team, he can elevate, has good enough ball handling skills to take it to the basket. Good things happen when he can take it to the hole: 1) make that shot 2) get fouled while attempting that shot 3) dishing off for that easy basket to Big Matt, Blackett, or Botez. Anyone remember the last time Sensley ever fouled out of a game…probably nada. ? His aggressiveness. IMHO Sensley, when playing passive, should be taken out of the game, and substituted with Pecuikas, who brings a boost to the team with his energy. The team is not aggressive enough taking that shot in the paint. More attempts underneath the basket, creates more foul attempts. 29 minutes of play, ZERO points for Big Matt. But, credit Big Matt for shutting down LA Tech’s best big man in the WAC…that LA Tech guy (? Name), only a sophomore will be playing on the next level.

Except for that SMU game where UH made 18 of 19 free throws, shooting from the line has been the teams “Achilles Heel”. Poor free throw shooting lost the games against Fresno and Nevada. Loosing to LA Tech, the zone contributed big time, but again good free throw shooting, would’ve should’ve won the game. Regardless of the Zone, Sensley’s passive play, Sottos on the bench, the BOTTOM LINE, UH should be undefeated at this point.

[BigWave96744]

BOTTOM LINE, UH should be undefeated at this point

TRUE, TRUE, TRUE....
Riley can blame the guys all he wants, but the bottom line is we lost..
- Again Sensley look clueless on the last play of the game...
- Sottos was hot in the first half and hardly played in the second half.
- Sensley again almost played the whole game and he had a LOT of turn overs
- Where was Vaido in the 2nd half?

I like Riley, but I totally blame him and his substitution timing for all the loses... AND the 2 road games we had significant leads late in the game...

The S. Illinois, St Louis and Oral Roberts games could have gone the other way.... Sheez we could have been 7-6....

At this point in the season we look like a bubble NIT Team...