Lewis Preview and Game Thread -- 12-05-2020

[ahunte1]

Right.. just catch it and shoot it, baby

[ToledoRambler]

I love Tate Hall. I know it’s just one game. But you’re in an empty gym. You can’t start 0-5 from the line if you’re going to drive to the basket. Better D1 teams will take advantage of our missed free throws. Take some of those cardboard cutouts, set them up on the line, and don’t leave the gym until you hit 20 in a row. I don’t want to panic one game into the season, but with our depth, this is the only glaring issue right now. At this point, if we are in a close game, I don’t want Tate on the floor in the last 4 minutes.

I have no idea how Porter is going to manage lineups! His hardest job is going to be able to find the right combination of the 5 best guys that work the best with each other. The only guy, for sure, that should get the lions share of minutes at his position is Krutwig. Every other position, 1 through 4, is completely up in the air to me. I never thought i would see the day when Loyola had “too much talent” to manage.

This is going to be a fun season to watch who rises to the top.

[goramblers2011]

I liked what they did on offense too. They could have scored almost every position if they just tossed it down low to Krut and let him work. Instead, they worked the ball and got everyone looks throughout the game.

Krut only had 8 points, 3 rebounds and ZERO assists. Crazy.

Braden and Kaifes looked the best out there. Really excited to see them develop this year. Both are absolutely DEADLY from deep.

Thought Welch did some good things out there too. Hit a 3 and a really nice pick and roll.

Williamson/Uguak still tough as nails on D. Can lock down anyone. Good to see Lucas go 2/3 from deep.

Clemons minutes limited with sore ankle (or knee), but he will be fine. Love his game.

Kennedy was quiet out there but did nothing wrong.

Hebb looked like a freshman at times. But you can tell he is quick to the basket--just needs to adapt to better defenders than he faced in high school. Oh and he was 57% at the free throw line so he will fit in just swimmingly with this team.

Tate...ugh. I don't get it. How can he stroke it so well from deep but look so awkward at the line. Like others have said--just get the ball and stroke it. He can get to the hoop well, but you better believe teams are going to start being aggressive defending him knowing he can't shoot free throws.

Looks like Wojcik will be left out of the rotations. Just too much talent at the guard position. Hope he sticks around because the opportunities will come.

We are just so deep.

[MikeH]

Not suggesting Hall shoot free throws underhanded like Wilt Chamberlain or Rick Barry. But, 10 time NBA all-star Hal Greer jump shot all of his and hit 80 percent.

[Blers42]

Hebb gets a pass on FT’s considering it’s his first college basketball game. Tate is a liability with how bad his FT percentage is. He’s a great player and helps us out tremendously but teams already knew they could get away with fouling him whenever he drives. It’s disappointing to see that he’s made zero changes to his form. On the bright side, we’re so deep now that if it’s late in a close game we don’t really need to have him in.

[JCT]

I thought Wojcik was really impressive last year on tough-nosed defensive assignments. I expect him to be an asset in offensive/defensive substitutions this year. Today he had a pretty grim outing with 4 fouls in his first 9 minutes on the court-- don't know if it was just a single bad game, pressing too hard with all the new competition, or what. He's still just a sophomore, and with Williamson gone next year he could be a top defender for us...

[Blers]

Agreed on Wojcik. I really liked his defensive energy last year and he looked a step slow today. That said it’s important to remember with all these teams coming off COVID that you’re never quite sure how everyones body will respond getting back in shape. Might take him a bit longer than some.

Loved what Welch was doing stretching the floor some, and Norris is such a measured point guard.

[natetheskate]

I am sure some kids were more ready to play than others ,,,that covid hit some harder than others....the effects seem to be unique to the individual......but sure was fun to watch the Ramblers today.

[brot4britu]

ABD AWAY WE GO !!!!

[ToledoRambler]

First of all, it’s good to hear from brot!

Second, even though we are only one game in , if you go to the ESPN “matchup projection,” we are favored to win every single game on our schedule. The closest we come to a projected loss still has us winning at game 1 with Bradley at a 50.8% win projection. I don’t know how ESPN does it, but I’m pretty sure that’s never happened before.