Post by MarriedToOne on Jan 3, 2009 22:01:12 GMT -5
Just some observations after making the trip to see the Bonnies beat UCA:
This team is confident and doesn't doubt itself. The players listen to the coaches and don't mouth off or look away or act bored when they are being talked to.
There were only 10 players dressed and only nine played. Cook never took his warmup shirt off. he didn't look flu-struck but could have been, i guess.
Nicholson was in trouble early, battling a behemoth underneath and just made some freshman mistakes that got him in foul trouble. he has nice moves and nifty footwork and when he grows, the next couple of years will be good ones for Bona fans. His fifth came on a clean and noisy block that sounded like all ball to us at the otheer end of the court. when asked for an explanation, Coach was told that Andrew was holding the player with his other hand. it was a VERY marginal call, and when Andrew got teed up, Coach was VERY clear to all that they should keeep their mouths under control. Ray's T from just before also came from comments made about a foul. In both circumstances, the fouls were marginal and the whole game had been one of many pushes and shoves on the part of the Bears that eventually worked on the psyches of the Bona players. I certainly wouldn't say it was the best officiated game I have ever seen either.
Others have already talked about the facts that the win eclipsed last year's total before we even get to conference play and that the team is now 5-0 on the road. What may be of equal importance is the fact that this team actually can shoot and make free throws -- unlike other recent teams, and that this team also plays very aggressive defense (other than on the perimeter where it needs work.) It also is unafraid to battle to the end and is learning to step on throats. Let's hope that continues.
I thought that Carter's play was a key to the victory and he came in and worked very hard to bottle up the middle, block shots and rebound. He did it all with a smile on his face. A good workmanlike job when needed due to Nicholson's fouls.
The crowd was sparse. The 750 is probably about about 300 more than for real, maybe they count the season ticket holders whether they come or not. There were about 25-30 Bona backers there and when the game was over, Coach came out to do his interview and came over toward our seats (right behind the Bona bench) and thanked us all for coming and for supporting the team. A far cry from the Soloman treatment. the folks at UCA were very hospitable and gracious to all of us.
In all, a great way to spend a gorgeous afternoon (temp in the 70s) in Arkansas. It's not all Jethros here.
This team is confident and doesn't doubt itself. The players listen to the coaches and don't mouth off or look away or act bored when they are being talked to.
There were only 10 players dressed and only nine played. Cook never took his warmup shirt off. he didn't look flu-struck but could have been, i guess.
Nicholson was in trouble early, battling a behemoth underneath and just made some freshman mistakes that got him in foul trouble. he has nice moves and nifty footwork and when he grows, the next couple of years will be good ones for Bona fans. His fifth came on a clean and noisy block that sounded like all ball to us at the otheer end of the court. when asked for an explanation, Coach was told that Andrew was holding the player with his other hand. it was a VERY marginal call, and when Andrew got teed up, Coach was VERY clear to all that they should keeep their mouths under control. Ray's T from just before also came from comments made about a foul. In both circumstances, the fouls were marginal and the whole game had been one of many pushes and shoves on the part of the Bears that eventually worked on the psyches of the Bona players. I certainly wouldn't say it was the best officiated game I have ever seen either.
Others have already talked about the facts that the win eclipsed last year's total before we even get to conference play and that the team is now 5-0 on the road. What may be of equal importance is the fact that this team actually can shoot and make free throws -- unlike other recent teams, and that this team also plays very aggressive defense (other than on the perimeter where it needs work.) It also is unafraid to battle to the end and is learning to step on throats. Let's hope that continues.
I thought that Carter's play was a key to the victory and he came in and worked very hard to bottle up the middle, block shots and rebound. He did it all with a smile on his face. A good workmanlike job when needed due to Nicholson's fouls.
The crowd was sparse. The 750 is probably about about 300 more than for real, maybe they count the season ticket holders whether they come or not. There were about 25-30 Bona backers there and when the game was over, Coach came out to do his interview and came over toward our seats (right behind the Bona bench) and thanked us all for coming and for supporting the team. A far cry from the Soloman treatment. the folks at UCA were very hospitable and gracious to all of us.
In all, a great way to spend a gorgeous afternoon (temp in the 70s) in Arkansas. It's not all Jethros here.
