|
College basketball this early has always been tough to watch, but with the new fouling rules in place, it's really some awful stuff. I know what the NCAA was intending to do, but it's completely backfired on their sport. They ****ed up and everyone is worse for it.
As for the actual game, KU played pretty terribly. It didn't help that the constant stoppages hurt their home advantage, but there was no defensive intensity at all, they didn't even force many bad shots from ULM, and they didn't get out running on the fast break more than a few times (which is partially a product of their defense being so poor). It turns out life is tougher when you don't have a 7 footer with great timing bailing you out on every possession. The team's offense should look better when Tharpe returns, but defense is going to be the real problem for this team over the next few months.
Wiggins is a special talent with the ball in his hands, but he's got to be more assertive on the court (on both ends) and Self has to find a way to better utilize his abilities as the season goes on. Embiid showed his flashes of talent in the few minutes he played, but the intensity also wasn't there with him tonight.
As for the returning guys, it was good to see that Ellis and White were solid. They will be important players on this team if they keep contributing like that.
|