[81alum]

So we kept them below 50 in one half -- small victory,  ::)

The second half question is how do we build and learn. Obviously, barring an absolute miracle x5, we have no shot at winning this game.

Instead of just trying to get through these last 20 minutes, what can we do to use it as a learning experience heading into the rest of the season?

Yes indeed.  We need our players to get used to playing against that kind of defense since we will face a number of suffocating defenses down the road.  As tough as this defense is, we need patience and we need to take open shots when we get them.  There has been a tendency to force up bad shots and it shows in our 18%.  We also should be doing better than 2/12 from three point range--many of those were open looks.  Many of those shots were long--adrenaline and nervous energy.

We won't be beating UConn later this year.  But a more experienced, less nervous team would be making more of those treys and committing fewer of those turnovers, and forcing up fewer awkward shots.  That would make for a more respectable showing.

Meanwhile, this team is clearly coachable.  I bet rebounding was a major point of emphasis after tOSU, and we are doing better on that count.

[81alum]

So we kept them below 50 in one half -- small victory,  ::)

The second half question is how do we build and learn. Obviously, barring an absolute miracle x5, we have no shot at winning this game.

Instead of just trying to get through these last 20 minutes, what can we do to use it as a learning experience heading into the rest of the season?

Yes indeed.  We need our players to get used to playing against that kind of defense since we will face a number of suffocating defenses down the road.  As tough as this defense is, we need patience and we need to take open shots when we get them.  There has been a tendency to force up bad shots and it shows in our 18%.  We also should be doing better than 2/12 from three point range--many of those were open looks.  Many of those shots were long--adrenaline and nervous energy.

We won't be beating UConn later this year.  But a more experienced, less nervous team would be making more of those treys and committing fewer of those turnovers, and forcing up fewer awkward shots.  That would make for a more respectable showing.

Meanwhile, this team is clearly coachable.  I bet rebounding was a major point of emphasis after tOSU, and we are doing better on that count.