US Team Staff needs to fall on the sword for this one. The last 2 games were filled with awful decisions and today the announcers were openly critical of them. Earned that L. Your facing a team without it's starting PG, their best player is 17 years old and has to do everything for them, and you do what you should (pressure) and are up 10 early and then take it off? Then down you take it off and just play? That's awful coaching. Anything that helps your opponent and doesn't exploit their weakness is questionable; but especially in a situation where you don't have time to work with a team. Do what's simple. They didn't and got *** handed to them in 4 of the last 8 quarters played and now have to win tomorrow just to medal.
PJ Washington played hard but I've now seen him miss enough FT's to prevent his team from winning a HS National Title and advance to the Gold Medal game. If he doesn't learn that FT shooting matters after the past 5 months, nothing will convince him. Does a lot well and fights/battles but needs to hone that skill since he will get fouled a lot.
Austin Wiley is a "problem"--unless you put him in high ball screens on defense and want to score at rim or try to throw him the ball in the post where he fumbles/loses it about 75% of the time. Wiley plays really hard and that's a talent to commend, but this celebrating him like he's Shaq is getting a bit out of hand. He's a dinosaur with the way the game is played today. He also isn't a good rim protector at all. He's huge, has improved his physique and conditioning 100%, and he's a good FT shooter who looks like Steph Curry with the bricklayers on this team, but he often doesn't finish around rim in traffic, and has shaky hands. Almost too excited. Defensively he's awful. Since you will see him in SEC play, just double down and make him make a decision with the ball, and put him in high ball screen action and you'll either score, get fouled, or at worst have a wide open look for an attempt.
Hamidou Diallo has played like a HS kid the past 4 games. Forcing things, trying to showcase his "skill set" instead of doing what he does well, lacks game situation IQ (down 9 with under a minute and Edwards wide open in corner for look at 3 he attempts/makes a degree of difficulty layup which is wrong in that situation-Need the 3 to make it 2 possession game without timeouts and open teammate staring at you). Missed FT's as well, Was rattled whenever someone bumped him or a call went against him.
Cameron Reddish was great most of week but got his *** handed to him today and let the fouls change how he played in terms of aggression. He's young, so this can happen. Barrett showed everyone who thought Reddish was special just what special is, but that's a compliment to him, not a knock on Reddish.
Immanuel Quickley was good for stretches and is the best defensive player on that team. He or Lou King and it's not close. Stance, tracking ball, helping, deflections, but offensively he is too relegated to staying on perimeter and just shooting jumpers. Needs to work on driving and creating for teammates, but liked what I saw from him overall this week.
Brandon McCoy wasn't active enough or tough enough today. Loose balls going through his hands, and some forced shots, but late in game I'd have put him in when Canada went to high ball screen/pick and roll/pop because he defends rim better and hedges and recovers. Austin Wiley may be physically imposing but he is so slow, he's abused in these sets--which Rana exploited repeatedly.
Payton Pritchard played well and then didn't get into the game until 4 min to go in 3rd Quarter for some reason?? He was keeping Team USA in the game in 1st Half and he and Carsen Edwards should've been in most of game. They are quicker, tougher, and have more game experience. Instead, they were put in, made some shots and did some good things, but Cal got mad when Pritchard didn't relocate off the ball to get a shot from McCoy and it resulted in a turnover and he sat.
Edwards the same--creates/makes shots and makes things happen, but sat. And when these two were in,the pressure was taken off and they were good all week at digging for balls and making tough plays. Oh well, hope they play so the team can medal tomorrow.
Louis King--did a lot of good things early, not so much in 2nd Half. Was kind of non existent and honestly I'd have preferred him on floor then Diallo who was just out of sorts and trying to do far too much. King has a good feel for game and like his passing, but Cal rode with his guys--and that 1st Group sucked for most of the past 3/4 games. Really only magnified the past 2 days because of the increased competition but they have stunk and been selfish.
Kevin Huerter played and was active but didn't hit any big shots this game and lack of shooting from him hurt. He was on team to make shots and didn't but did good things in terms of passing/team defense, but last play to remember him on floor was when Canada was up 6, misses 2 FT's and Huerter gets beat for offensive board with 36 secs left. Game.
Josh Okogie graced the floor for a little bit. Lost a rebound and was more concerned in aligning his headband then hustling back on D--quickly taken out and that was all she wrote for the Josh Pastner product.
Romeo Langford ended up being a waste of a roster spot. No fault if he's truly injured. Nothing you can do about it, but another player may/may not have helped. He got to see Egypt and hopefully come away with a Bronze Medal. In brief time on court he was very immature during this event, forcing shots, and not playing any defense or attempting to.
Mentioned it yesterday and now those of us who enjoy Coach Cal have to hear it as more people then you expect will come out and blast him and lay into him. He is part of a staff that deserves it for their approach the last 2 days in terms of strategy, but in terms of team selection, I raise an eyebrow because some of these guys aren't guys I see as his type of player--but hope for your sake he lands some recruits out of this, because that is only good thing that will come from this trip if you are a UK fan/Cal supporter.
The most ironic part--the camera kept flashing to a kid in stands wearing a Louisville hat when Canada was making shots/plays and made you wonder if it was just going to be their night? Well that is over and I'm not watching or recapping tomorrow because I've got zero interest in watching this group play again. Hope they medal but really not going to be a story at all as it's all going to be about the *** kicking at hand of Canadians, who had the best player and in my opinion were allowed to dominate tempo/flow. Good for Roy Rana and their staff and hopefully this will resonate with Cal/Staff tomorrow and he'll come out and press all over and let the players attack.
