1. This was easily the biggest win in school history, the first over a SEC school, and it was no fluke. The guys took it to a bigger, more physical SEC program, and just (to use Kirk’s words in reverse) slapped them around. We saw the enormous potential this young team has, and we saw them make underclassmen mistakes. They scored the first 13 points of the game, held Auburn scoreless for the first seven (that’s 7!!) minutes of the game, led by as many as 21, and showed resiliency when the lead narrowed to 6 in the first half, and 4 in the second. Auburn never lead.
2. Player of the game – AJ Tall. I have no stats, but he scored in a variety of ways, rebounded, held his own inside, and had one helluva game. This was his coming out game!
3. CK and I had the distinct privilege of sitting with Stan Pietkiewicz, WPHS BB legend, Auburn alumn, former NBA and international pro, and most certainly one of the most influential BB people in Central Florida. Also one of the most unpretentious and nicest guys on the planet. CK asked him who he was rooting for, and Stan smiled and said, “You tell me – I give money to both programs.” BTW, his starting NBA salary was $27K.
4. Normally a tournament like this results in a crowd that resembles a funeral. Not so tonight! There were at least 1K UCF fans in the attendance, and took over the crowd. The students and RKs screamed, cheered and heckled the entire game (strategically sitting behind the Auburn bench), using all of the usual “Left-Right” (3 times!), “Good Coach, Bad Coach”, and “Air Ball” in-the-head techniques. I hear we’ve been voted Rudest Fans of the Tournament in an internet poll.
5. Murray the Troll was there…
6. AU’s Sullivan started on five (that’s 5!!) Alabama HS state championship teams.
7. Game dings – Diakite (lower back, cut over eye), Clanton (ankle), MarJ (wrist). All returned to play.
8. Dave gets all of the attention for his leaping ability, but PJ has some SERIOUS ups as well! If MarJ’s pass was a couple of inches lower, the alley-oop to PJ would have brought the house down!! PJ’s also developed a mean little wrap-around entry bounce pass to AJ Tall that was effective a couple of times tonight.
9. So we’re up by 17 with 8 minutes to go in the first half when AJ Small & Isaac both get their 2nd PF and have to sit. Result – Auburn whittles the lead to 6 (aided in no small part by silly TOs). To everyone’s surprise, Kirk puts AJ Small back in the game with 4:30 to go. Result – a 17-point halftime lead.
10. I had perhaps the worst hamburger of my life in the Ocean Center.
11. I am so happy for MarJ – 5 points, steady ball handling, and good D (1 interior block). He can leap, too!
12. Isaac proved that he can have an off-night scoring and contribute in other ways. Kuba frustrated Auburn’s post players. TY had 2 extremely quick drives to the basket.
13. As you might expect, Auburn came out with a ton of intensity and (aided in no small part by silly TOs) cut the lead to 4. Kirk switches to a zone defense that frustrates Auburn and returns the lead to 21. Until the 3:00 mark, when they hit 5 straight 3’s. Thank God we hit our FTs…
14. DD played a helluva game, and once he gets just a little more under control he’s going to be unstoppable. And I’ve noticed that he shoots with the ball a little low in his hand.
15. [Warning - unsavory mental image follows!!] So I’m in the Men’s Room after the game “minding my own business,” when I hear a familiar voice a few positions to my left – KL: “I guess The Hoops Report™ won’t be the same since there wasn’t a Knight Moves halftime show.” Au contraire! He obviously missed the ever scintillating Ball Boy Shootaround…
16. Keith displayed a versatility that post players of any age aren’t supposed to possess, and he made it look easy. Bringing the ball up the court against a relentless press, hitting a turnaround, fall-away jumper, a high-arc inside push-shot over a defender’s outstretched arms, taking a charge, etc, etc, etc, etc, AND etc. Stanley P wasn’t surprised – he’s seen Keith play like that for years…
17. Even though Kirk was substituting like a mad-mad, I hope the team has something left in the tank for tomorrow. Niagara is a very good team (even though they lost to Auburn by a couple), and the crowd WILL be funeral-esque as most fans will be at the FB game.
18. Kirk is coaching his brains out!
This post was edited on 11/20 9:56 PM by Hoops McKnight*