- March 12th, 2023, 7:48 am
#652419
Yeah, Racenut. Our length should’ve been an asset, but our longer-but-slower players were so scared of the drive they closed out short a lot and gave up the three’s.
The other issue was rebounding. Several of FGCU’s made 3 came off O-boards and kickouts to open shooters. Another thing the size should’ve solved, but FGCU was quicker and more aggressive to every rebound.
The one thing I didn’t understand was why Kennedi Williams wasn’t on the floor more, and more plays weren’t called for her. (LU is a quick-hit team.) Every time in the first half CG called a play for Kennedi in the middle 1/3, Kennedi drove to the bucket and finished. FGCU couldn’t guard her. #12 got to the bucket a few times and couldn’t finish, until late when the game was out of reach.
Most quick-hitters were designed for post touches. Which SHOULD have been an advantage. But FHCU was doubling from the backside guard, and out posts couldn’t adjust fast enough it seemed. I haven’t watched LU WBB a lot this year, admittedly. (When you’re so much better than every team but one in the league, it doesn’t matter as much.) But it seems every time an LU post caught the ball and couldn’t immediately pivot to finish, they drop-dribbled but more critically they dropped their eyes to do it. So they couldn’t see the doubles coming. And it stung us, because by the time they realized they were surrounded it was too late and they couldn’t get the ball out.
Everything about FGCU’s pace wore LU down. LU was right there at that pace early on, but it seemed FGCU stayed more comfortable at that pace for longer. And LU just couldn’t keep up.