Brilliant move by Collins putting Lumpkin on Allen the last couple minutes of the gave. Sanjay is a poor man's Scottie Pippen defensively as his length really bothered Allen on the last couple of possessions.
Collins Move of the Night - Sanjay on Allen
- Thread starter wildcatalumn01
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He removed Allen from the equation, which was instrumental in our win. Odd game, you put Lumpkin on their leading scorer and he erases him, but another guy (Allen) steps up with the same production, so then you had to take Sanjay off the leading scorer (who by then, appeared throroughly demoralized, so no harm) to guard Allen. And guard him he did; just watch that OT focusing on Allen and Sanjay. Absolute thing of beauty. If our other starters could plan man half as well as Sanjay, we would certainly be NCAA-bound.
^ And some have been undervaluing Lumpkin all season (not to mention all off-season) just b/c he doesn't take many shots.
Like I stated before, the best D under CC was Crawford, Cobb and Lumpkin on the court at the same time.
Demps isn't Cobb, but could have had a semblance of that w/ Law, Demps and Lumpkin.
W/ Law, CC could have gone w/ a defensive oriented F-rotatation w/ Law and Lumpkin, or mix it up w/ Law and Tap, Lumpkin and Falzon or a combo w/ Skelly.
Have been disappointed in Tap's D in the prior game - it's one thing for him to get beat athletically, but he shouldn't be out of position so many times as this is his 3rd yr in the program.
Didn't follow Tap too much on the defensive end, but I'm assuming he did better tonight - hence getting 20+ mins (most out of the bench).
Lindsey has the length and athleticism to be a shut-down defender at the 2, but haven't seen it yet, esp. against better competition (really haven't seen him light it up on the offensive side against better comp as well, tho did have a pretty good scoring game against UNC).
But Lindsey was always more of a work in progress than someone like BMac; it took 2-3 yrs before Hearn and Demps really blossomed, so still plenty of time.
If Lindsey makes the next step defensively, the 'Cats should be pretty good w/ the 3 L's on the floor next season.
But if Lindsey and Skelly (who I think is ahead of schedule in that dept.) improve over the course of this season defensively - the 'Cats could make things interesting down the stretch.
Like I stated before, the best D under CC was Crawford, Cobb and Lumpkin on the court at the same time.
Demps isn't Cobb, but could have had a semblance of that w/ Law, Demps and Lumpkin.
W/ Law, CC could have gone w/ a defensive oriented F-rotatation w/ Law and Lumpkin, or mix it up w/ Law and Tap, Lumpkin and Falzon or a combo w/ Skelly.
Have been disappointed in Tap's D in the prior game - it's one thing for him to get beat athletically, but he shouldn't be out of position so many times as this is his 3rd yr in the program.
Didn't follow Tap too much on the defensive end, but I'm assuming he did better tonight - hence getting 20+ mins (most out of the bench).
Lindsey has the length and athleticism to be a shut-down defender at the 2, but haven't seen it yet, esp. against better competition (really haven't seen him light it up on the offensive side against better comp as well, tho did have a pretty good scoring game against UNC).
But Lindsey was always more of a work in progress than someone like BMac; it took 2-3 yrs before Hearn and Demps really blossomed, so still plenty of time.
If Lindsey makes the next step defensively, the 'Cats should be pretty good w/ the 3 L's on the floor next season.
But if Lindsey and Skelly (who I think is ahead of schedule in that dept.) improve over the course of this season defensively - the 'Cats could make things interesting down the stretch.
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I was one of the guys who devalued Lumpkin, but I think he is instrumental as a defender, especially with Law out. He needs to play starter minutes, maybe as a sixth man, but you gotta have him out there locking down their best scorer (assuming he's not a big). He's like a Bruce Bowen. OK for him to just get some rebounds and put in occasional 3s and putbacks. But, I'd say he's one of our best 5 on his defense alone.
Plus he had that Damn Sanjay dunk in practice last year. Waiting to see that explosion in a game sometime this year.
Did anyone else see the play when Sanjay was guarding Allen and the off guard tried to rub him off? It didn't work and the off guard clearly winced in pain when he took a Sanjay shoulder to his chest.
I was surprised at Sanjay's ability to stay in front of Allen. He got up tight against him when Allen didn't have the ball and Allen just couldn't get around him.
Last night at halftime Izzo made the statement, "guards who can shoot don't guard." Oh well.
I was surprised at Sanjay's ability to stay in front of Allen. He got up tight against him when Allen didn't have the ball and Allen just couldn't get around him.
Last night at halftime Izzo made the statement, "guards who can shoot don't guard." Oh well.
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