Day-after Alberta
I was going to make one long post, but we’ll break it up. First up is the day-after post from Monday’s exhibition win over
Read on.
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“We had to adjust and get out on their shooters,” freshman forward Sam Dower said.
--Talked briefly with Bol Kong and he said he expects to be on the court again by today or Wednesday. He’s been sidelined by an ankle injury.
--Robert Sacre is wearing No. 00 this year after two seasons with No. 21.
“21 is done. Double-zero is for a double dose of this hero,” he said, cracking a big grin. “I wanted it to be like a
--Sacre, held without a field goal in the Kraziness in the Kennel scrimmage, was 4 of 5 against Alberta and also got to the foul line six times.
“My thing wasn’t about points,” Sacre said. “We needed to get the ball inside and I needed to do what the coach wanted me to do – be a banger and go inside and get the shots up. If I’m close to the basket, that ball needs to be up in the hoop.”
Sacre is a tad thinner than last season. He weighs 247 pounds, same as his listed weight of a year ago, but he acknowledged that he was up to 265 or so when his foot was in a walking boot and he kept up his weight-training program.
“I just lifted, even if I couldn’t walk,” he said. “I feel a lot stronger and more agile now.”
--Several memorable plays off the top of my head: Will Foster’s reverse layup. G.J. Vilarino’s tip-in, which dropped in after touching the top of the backboard, in the closing seconds of the half. Sacre’s steal and three-quarter court drive for a two-handed dunk. Kelly Olynyk’s pump fake, drive and one-hand jam. Sam Dower’s put-back dunk of Elias Harris’ miss. Sacre retrieving two offensive rebounds, which led to a Olynyk layup. Matt Bouldin’s layup on an Olynyk pass threaded between two defenders.
--Stats of concern: GU was 17 of 29 at the foul line, 3 of 19 on 3-pointers.
--As mentioned, every available body saw playing time. Foster was the first sub less than 3 minutes in. He was followed by Manny Arop and Kelly Olynyk at the 13:54 mark. Andy Poling didn’t enter until 2:09 remained in the first half. David Stockton came on with 1:44 left.
--One of the coolest sights of the night was from the
QUOTEBOOK
Mark Few: “We have enough bodies that everybody who steps out there has to play with great energy and effort. We can get you a blow. Hopefully that was evident tonight.”
Arop: “I probably knew about 10 (Alberta players), guys I grew up with. It was special being on the same court, playing at the university level. It’s rare for Canadians to come (to the
Arop on