Tournament Observations

[friarwolf]

Very nice start to the season. Observations:

We ran our offense and defense packages pretty well.

We gameplanned each opponent and made the plan work

We made in game adjustments

We made in game adjustments that worked!!!!!!!!!!!

Total team effort - contributions from everyone

You best be in great shape to play for Doherty because if you start, you are gonna get minutes - at least this year.........................

[The PonyGrad]

Playing FSU the way we did on the third night of a 3-day 3-game tourney, at their place with the limited line-up we have was awesome and a testament to that conditioning you spoke about.

[Stallion]

Question: With the emergence of Ike Ofoegu and the Rack is Bamba seeing his role reduced. Only played 15 minutes-didn't really accomplish anything against a quality opponent with 1 point and 1 rebound.

[Pony_Fan]

Seems like he has a lot more confidence in the Rack. Probably due to offense.

[Big10Ponyfan]

Question: With the emergence of Ike Ofoegu and the Rack is Bamba seeing his role reduced. Only played 15 minutes-didn't really accomplish anything against a quality opponent with 1 point and 1 rebound.

During the broadcast, it sounded like he was making bad decisions with the ball and not working to put himself in good position. That's probably why he was limited because he was playing poorly.

He had 29 minutes and started against Illinois State.
He had 24 minutes coming off the bench against McNeese State.

[carolsmu]

Could have been more the FSU matchup or that it was game #3 in 3 days. Bamba is averaging 23 mpg for the season

http://www.cstv.com/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_ ... tive-stats

[bagice]

From watching the web video replay of the FSU game it sure seemed like Coach D prefers Rack over Bamba. Rack looked pretty good and Bamba looked a bit lost. I am sure he will improve though and will still provide valuable minutes for the team.

One note on Rack's three pointer at the end of the game...from watching it, it was a set play to him out of the timeout so Coach D is showing good confidence in him to design a crucial three point shot play for Donatus.

[friarwolf]

Rack is a senior, stronger, better shooter, better hands. Bamba will get his minutes but it's Rack's team this year - as long as he dodges the injury bug.

[MustangIcon]

With our lack of big men and scholarship players in general, I think there will be plenty of minutes to go around for everyone.

I have talked to Dodo a couple of times since Coach D took over the team and he just seems to have a whole new confidence and excitement about him. He is a skilled player, who last year really started to assert himself on the glass too. I feel he is really primed for a big senior season and expect big contributions from Bamba as well, who will still get plenty of minutes.

[jtstang]

...but it's Rack's team this year ...

Okay, now I'm worried.

[The Falcon]

Question: With the emergence of Ike Ofoegu and the Rack is Bamba seeing his role reduced. Only played 15 minutes-didn't really accomplish anything against a quality opponent with 1 point and 1 rebound.

Maybe you noticed that Doh was substituting to get more offense at times and more defense at times. In the 4th Qtr when he could Doh inserted Bamba when FSU had the ball and The Rack when we had the ball.

Again, that is good decision making by Doh. He is using the strengths of
both players.

He is definitely building the confidence level of his players by putting them in situations where they can have some success. As you have pointed out in the past - Bamba is still a project, especially on offense. He has to learn better footwork, positioning, faking, and how to take advantage of his size. His weight will continue to be a problem as you and JT have pointed out.

In our 3 games both Rack & Bamba have been in foul trouble and Doh has used them wisely to spell each other and keep them in the game.

[ponyboy]

It's a proven fact that coaching doesn't matter.