We have struggled on offense all season but we’ve really slumped late in the season. I sure hope we can make a run at them in the second half and give this something to get really excited about.
This game is an example of the Aggie's problems late in the season. The D isn't all that bad (hard to defend a 40% 3 pt. rate from UCSD), but the offense is really poor. Except for DeBruhl, the Ags are 4 for 23 from the floor.
I don't think TY has ever had such a bad shooting night. So far he's 1 for 13 and has yet to get a free throw opportunity. At this point, I'm just hoping the Ags can beat the spread.
Best student section in a decade (that was mostly the football team as I understand it), probably the best turnout in almost a decade, and a good night for a few players but a positively crushing off day for TY.
Hopefully everyone can move past it and hit refresh for the tourney
Announcers said 4,000 attendance? Cooper came up big rebounding. Ty not a scorer like Hawkins or Payne, opponents have him figured out. Seville also off night.
Too bad more of the team did not play as well as Leo. Not only TY and Sevilla had off days, but Niko was almost absent with no blocks, 2 points and only 2 rebounds. Daughtery has not been the offensive threat we had hoped he would be this year and contributed only one trey in this game. It was encouraging to see how well Nils Cooper played. His development has been steady through the season and that bodes well for next year. We need better team play if we're going to get very far in the playoffs.
I thought his absence was strategic so they were able to switch on every screen. He came in when the Tritons would sub in their less mobile center. When they had 5 shooters, he sat - that was much the night. I think you’ll see the same vs Poly
“ Are the Conners brothers on the floor in the student section? Thought I caught a glimpse of them”
I definitely saw Rex amongst a big group on the south bleachers. That was a rowdy group. They had student security pushing them back to their seats. I was assuming that group was a frat. The energy was fun to watch. I have a video, I’ll try to post it later.
that was mostly football players. Plough made a cameo with them.
That was a tough one. Hate to see a great player like TY struggle so badly in his final home game. He even missed a couple (contested) layups that he always knocks down. Niko was on the bench most the game and didn’t get a chance to impact his final home game.
4300 folks, most stayed to at least the 3 minute mark. They wanted to explode but just never got much of a chance. UCSD played good D - they are long and athletic, and contest everything. By far biggest crowd of the year; biggest since 2016 I think.
Based on the two games this week, I think I’d take Irvine to win the tournament. They seem a bit more rounded offensively. Caveat is that they can take advantage if matchups offensively with the Irvine big guy (watch how the Tritons isolated Niko against their two scorers last night on the outside). Irvine looked like they are on a mission. That being said, Turner’s head might explode during a sideline rant and then all bets are off.
again, I wouldn’t bet my life but I think it was defensive strategy. If you go back to the beginning of game, when UCSD made a sub at center, Les rushed Niko in. And rushed him out as soon as the Tritons went back to the starters.
To follow up, if you look at the box score, when UCSD took out Kapic and brought in Milovich, Rocak went in. And, he left when Kapic re-entered. Niko played 7 minutes, Milovich played 6.
Good observation. At the same time, if Niko was injured, it just could have been that Cooper has been coming on so well lately that Coach Les felt they were better with him in there than an injured Rocak.
If you look back, Cooper started in front of Niko in both Poly games and both UCSD games. Last night was the fewest minutes Niko played, but he was limited in the other 3. I bet he’ll sit to start the Poly game and be back starting if we survive to Thursday.
In the post game, Leo mentioned that their ability to switch off on screens at all positions was a key last night and versus Poly. Cooper is more athlete so he’s better equipped to get out on the shooter in a screen. And he was very active in the boards last night.
It was really great to see Leo have a career night in his last home game in front of a big crowd but it was also really unfortunate to see TY have such a tough game. Nils Cooper has made great progress this season and he was a warrior on the boards last night. He's tough as nails but he also takes a physical beating underneath the basket. I think he'll become even stronger and more physical next season after a solid training program in the off season.