Sunday, December 14, 2014

Hoops handles Binghamton

Nothing makes a slump easier to handle than playing and beating bad teams. BC didn't look crisp Sunday, but they did enough to defeat Binghamton. It is the type of cushion win that will help perception. The key for Christian is also using it to help the guys get better. Here are some other thoughts.

-- The team can beat bad teams without Hanlan. Olivier had another sub par game and yet BC won. I am not worried yet. His shots weren't falling and he seemed a bit sluggish. Christian wisely rested him. I still think he can have a huge season and will explode in the coming weeks.
-- Batten's leadership. Batten's got good energy and plays with a confidence that can help when others aren't making their shots. He wasn't particularly efficient, but helped BC control tempo.
-- Finally healthy. Lonnie played. Odio played. Neither got big minutes, but at least it gives Christian more options. If Jackson regains his touch, I think he will become the first guy off the bench.

BC now takes a week off before hosting USC. This game wasn't pretty but it sends them into the break with a little more momentum. USC will be more of a test, but with a week to prepare and regroup, I think the team will be ready for the Trojans. 

5 comments:

BCDoubleEagle said...

BC is 6-3. Last year this time we were 3-6.

Bravesbill said...

Hanlan shot 50% from the field today. Don't know how thst qualifies as a bad game.

Ry said...

Hanlan has to do less this year compared to the past couple of years and as a result, games like this seem like "off" games for him. I am very encouraged by the fact that we have some depth of scoring in the backcourt and all of this with Lonnie just getting into the action. We have four guards who we know can score, which puts us in a much better position than we have been in over the past few years.

Back to Hanlan briefly, he got shaken up a bit towards the end of the Providence game and seemed to be limping a bit. It wouldn't be a stretch to attribute the fact that he got more rest and seemed to be trying to do less on the court to him making sure he is good to go for the meat of our schedule.

mod34b said...

Feels like it is going to be a rough year in the ACC, unless Duke is alot like Binghamton, and UNC is alot like Maine and Syracuse is a lot like last year -- and even then.....

Hoib said...

League play will be tough, but we are much better than last year. The main reson being the addition of Brown & Batton. These guys are smart, gritty players. If this is the type of guy Xtian will typically go after we will eventually get back to where Al had us.