There’s a not so delicate term (especially in this day and age) some coaches use to describe getting three defensive stops in a row.
A Kill.
Well, during the Elam, which opened with La Familia up 9, 62-53 (Target: 70), the former Cards fashioned three in a row. Nine stops, maybe even a tenth.
To no effect whatsoever. The Ville missed their first eight shots and gave it away twice.
Eventually the deserving if less than gracious victors steadied.
La Familia 70, The Ville 61.
The most heated rivalry in the sport has another chapter writ.
More coals have been tossed into the rivalry’s already raging fire.
* * * * *
Some observations and curiosities from here:
Tyler Ulis will be helpful on the bench in Fayetteville. He changed from previous games in TBT how his team switched or not while playing man on ball screens. The Ville wasn’t prepared.
Which is not meant as a knock on Reese Gaines, who I thought coached pretty well throughout the tourney, given the flawed squad he had to work with.
Ulis also fashioned a manner to take Montrezl Harrell out of the game.
Chinanu Onuaku is a warrior. 22 rebounds.
That kind of number is rarely seen these days. It harkens back to the Freedom Hall days of Westley Unseld. Or further in the lore to a guy who balled for U of L in their first game ever in the Hall, Charlie Tyra.
The Ville could have used some wings. Omar Prewitt, the one guy who might have done what Nick Sestina did from distance, was hurt in practice and played but a few minutes.
Chane Behanan, for reasons I have not been able to discover, was a DNP, and saw but minimal action in the first three rounds.
Russ’s diculousness is a thing of the past, despite his 22 points.
Peyton Siva simply wore down.
Father Time remains undefeated.
The Elam Ending, which I love, isn’t so beguiling in a blow out. As was proven in the opener won by Carmen’s Crew.
And in the big game, when both teams were fatigued due to age and lack of conditioning and the wear that comes from tense situations.
18/58 (31%) shooting isn’t going to win many games.
The Ville stands 5-2 in their TBT campaigns.
13,509 in the gym proves all fans are ready for the real thing here in the epicenter of college hoops.
— c d kaplan
Living some 950 miles away from The Ville for lo these many years, I haven’t been to a game in Freedom Hall since the ABA days. But the hate filling the air in the stands and on the court brought out me back home and got me excited about this season. Hopefully Pat Kelsey’s crew can get revenge in December.
That was fun till it wasn’t – All your venom wanting to get back at said Harrison thugs was so warranted but just a minor comment in your latest tome- I was repulsed by the sight of them / the only thing worse was any semblance of competent shooting and even worse ball handling and the most simple realization that every possession mattered when La Fam went 9 times straight without scoring – yes and Russ’ diculous act only brought memories of a far more innocent time –
I’m fired up & ready to go for the start of the Pat Kelsey Era ‼️Having 2 daughters who are proud grads of the College of Charleston I am excited for Pat to work his magic. Interesting factoid – when the great Bobby Cremins coached at C of C – our pal Winston’s youngest son William was a coaching assistant ‼️