March Madness

[Box and one]

Florida -28.5 over Norfolk St ***
Think Gators can score vs Norfolks D. This team has so much more talent and will run up the score if given a chance . Think backcourt and front court are at huge advantages in matchups.

Kentucky -11.5 over Troy ***
Saw Troy from row 2 when they played Tex St . Former UTA coach Cross is now the head coach at Troy. These are my notes of the game .I am given a roster that Tex St provides for the game. I need to write fast like I'm scouting a game so I use abbreviations Nick names etc so later on I can understand or remember I thought I would try to copy my notes from the Tex St game 12-Dowd 6'8 white skinny kid, Inside scorer .Conerway 6'3 gd football build very fast can dribble and shoot Best player for Troy . Great passer and has a nice cross over dribble. also Fields 15 has dreds and is 6'8 and solid rebounder. White 3 red head gd always goes right . Valdez lite skin 6'7 fd who can score. Troy has 7 coaches and in their huddle everyone's is arguing and pointing the fingers at each other .Conner their best player has a black head band on and is cursing out one of his teammates. The huddle is arguing with players and asst coaches. Cross has zero control of their huddle. He had no control a few years ago when I saw him with his UTA team. But he wins so he must be doing something right. All I know is if you put your best def player on Conerway and shut him down Troy is in trouble. I'm sure Kentucky has scouted them and also knows this . I do know one of the asst coaches at Troy who played at North Texas Brandon Gilbert. Anyway I haven't watched Kentucky this year and think they should blow out Troy . No stats etc on my part Just a feeling . Tex St was up 3 30-27 at the half . They beat Tx St 74-69 and were lucky at the end . I'm sure all the in fighting from the Troy players is gone by now since they are at the big dance No numbers or Ats records for this game. Just a " hunch " on my part. Stop Conerway and you win this by 25 points. I am sure Kentucky has a scouting report on Troy and they know a lot more them me.
Like Uconn -5 over Oklahoma ***
As long as Pop Hurley is sitting behind his son during the game.

 

[Box and one]

just found an old post
just got back from the game Troy led most of the way and was comfortable but then Tex St put on a full court pressure and made it a 2-4 pt game at the end. The big difference was Tayton Conerey the 6'3 gd for Troy One He cannot play defense but did get 4 or 5 steals The problem is when he doesn't get the steal is is out of position He . Think he has to be one of the best gds in the Sun Conf . But he is a head case . During one of the timeouts he isn't even in the huddle Can shoot pass and has a great handle of the ball He made some key baskets when Texas caught up with Troy Made a huge offensive rebound put back But cannot play D. Coach has to hide him out there on D. Troy won and covered . Small crowd for Tex St but the dance,drill and strutters performed I made the big TV screen monitor as they played some songs . Nice win and cover for the visiting team

 

[Box and one]

Lost Norfolk cover Final score 95-69

 

[BUD-MAN]

Great stuff Box, they stopped Conerway 12pts, 1-7 from 3… your notes solidified my confidence to pound Kentucky… thanks!

 

[Box and one]

Thanks bud-man sometimes I write these posts and wonder if anybody reads them . Watching on TV is so much different then seeing it from court side. I remember the whole team 7 asst coaches 7-8 players on the bench the 5 starters and the coach is trying to say something. I sit about 3-4 rows behind the visiting bench . Love watching the dynamics of the huddle. Troy was one of the worst teams out of control at a time out. I remember when I called a timeout when I coached no one talked but me I was 100% in control . I have seen players walk over to the water cooler and not even hear what the coaches are saying. But again I'm coaching at another level. Conerway was held in check by Kentucky defense . Anyway thanks for the comment. Norfolk covered vs Florida and not sure was it a backdoor cover,did Florida subbed . Didn't see any of the game but when you give teams that many points when capping teams can dominate and then coaches can take their foot off the pedal and play there reserves. As a coach I always subbed and never ran up a score. But coaching HS is a lot different the college.
Troy scares me. I saw them beat North Texas in football at the Alomodome in a bowl game a few years ago. Talking to some of their fans in the stands I realized that many of these Troy football players were good enough to play at Alabama but didn't have the grades or what ever to get in. I saw them when they came on the field and I Knew I was going to lose my bet as the team walked by me. Of course I bet North Texas and lost . This is the 1st time in 4-5 years I'm not in Vegas. My daughter who teaches here in Austin has 4 tickets to tonight's Texas woman's home game. The Ath Dir of her school said " your father is a basketball fan you can have the 4 tickets that I got. So tonight going to see the 1st round of the girls NCAA tourney at Moody col in Austin .. Need to handicapp a few games for today Good luck to everyone

 

[Tommy Shelby]

Box….I watched Arkansas beat Troy here in Fayetteville earlier this year. My biggest take away was how much of a thug #12 is for Troy. Our seats are low behind visitor bench. The only thing worse than him was his Mom who stood the whole game and yelled dumb stuff that show basketball low IQ. She would also get down low during time outs and try and talk to son while team was in huddle. Ironically saw a post on social media from a friend at Arkansas State talking about these same things when Troy played at ASU. After game 12 went to other teams huddle and talked major trash…..you can’t fix stupid and obviously the apple does not fall far from the tree. And yes I always read your stories and thoroughly enjoy them.

 

[Box and one]

Thanks Shelby He is a head case. I'm only 20 feet from him and at one time out he isn't even in the huddle listening. Then he is screaming out two of his teammates in the huddle. He was mad because no one was setting screens for him. There were two many coaches in the huddle . And everyone was pointing there fingers at someone else. I blame the head coach though. The time out is his turn to speak and have the players attention. I forgot but at one time out he was near the water at the other end of the bench. He didn't hear one thing Cross had said to his team. Again I know HS is different then college but Troy struggled vs Texas. St.. Again I hadn't seen Kentucky at all this year but I'm sure they have scouted Troy and knew about Conorway. He is really talented and probably will make 1st team all Sun Conf but is a head case.