I don't get to watch games, and game reports can only tell so much. People who get to watch them regularly - what is the reason for our recent run of good form? Feel like Baskin & Healy, much like today, have stepped up their games offensively - but there's obviously more to it than that.

I hope this isn't just a blip on the radar - and that we end up pleasantly surprised by this team, and Coach Capel. I know most of us had already written this season, and this regime, off.

We are playing better defense, turning the ball over less, and hitting free throws. The little things basically.

Saint3333 wrote:We are playing better defense, turning the ball over less, and hitting free throws. The little things basically.

Imagine that.

I will say - on paper, we've had talent on the roster. So - cleaning up sloppy play was probably all we needed to make us competitive.

Saint3333 wrote:We are playing better defense, turning the ball over less, and hitting free throws. The little things basically.

Plus we have players attacking the basket. Canty's baseline drive and dunk sent a message that we not settle for jacking up 3's on every possession. We were very good from behind the line but it was because of good ball movement and our threat to drive.

Healy and Canty have been solid all year on both sides. The emergence of Baskin and the return of Neal have made a big difference.

Baskin has provided another scoring threat and is a versatile defender. Neal is an excellent on ball defender that forces turnovers and is a steady influence on offense.

We showed flashes of potential against ECU, WCU, Duquesne and VT but those two guys are the biggest reason we've been able to take the next step and finish games, IMO.

Guys more comfortable playing together.
Playing some defense.
Capel finding the right combination of players.
Driving the lane.

We're playing better no doubt about it, but we aren't playing ACC, Big XII, A10, SEC, or CUSA schools anymore either.

Edit: Might be able to pull into 2nd in the SoCon after Samford beat CofC. Hard to figure that bunch.

I knew Neal would make a difference but I don't think anyone could have realistically expected that we'd go 5-1 when he returned after starting 1-7.

He runs the offense well but it all starts with defense and Neal is an excellent on-ball defender. The team is really getting after it defensively and he sets the tone. He guards the other team's best perimeter player and has done a great job.

Isenbarger came in averaging close to 15 per game and Neal shut him down. 9 points, 4-10 FG, 1-7 from three, 1 assist and 4 TO.

On Tuesday, he guarded Karl Cochran who was Wofford's leading scorer at 16 per game. Cochran had 9 points, 4-14 shooting and 1-5 from three-point range. Yesterday, he hung 25 on GA Southern and Wofford put up 71 in an 18-point win.

Mike had a nice offensive game yesterday, only critique is he was a little careless with the ball at times. After only turning the ball over 4 times in the last 2 games combined, he had 6 turnovers yesterday, most of which were unforced. 17 points on only 6 FG attempts is excellent though.

JTApps1 wrote:We're playing better no doubt about it, but we aren't playing ACC, Big XII, A10, SEC, or CUSA schools anymore either. We can be the 3rd best in the SoCon though!!!

That is a valid point. I wouldn't say we are now a better team than VT (although they did lose to GA Southern) and clearly, Missouri was a mismatch.

However, the way we are playing now, I don't think we lose at home to High Point or Duquesne. I also think the road game with Western is one we could hang on and win now. Very glad we get another shot at them!

I make no claims to being a great analyst on basketball performance (or any other for that matter) but just an opinion from a fan who has watched a few games this year: We are definitely playing better defense and Healy was VERY impressive yesterday. The team is playing better D (recently) than I have seen in a good while. When I saw them early this season, they appeared to be like a pick-up squad on both ends of the court. Yesterday, they were moving and working for good shots, playing excellent D and Healy was hitting everything he put up.

Great coaching!

Watauga72 wrote:Great coaching!

Well, you can't point to coaching when things are going sour and discount it when they play better.

Being forced to hire a coach who wasn't ready to be head coach just yet is going to be an exercise in patience.

He may turn the corner here at App and he may not, but I do believe Capel knows what he is doing.

An FBS move, if all sports move to same conference will definitely get us better hoops recruits.

MountainMan wrote:Guys more comfortable playing together.
Playing some defense.
Capel finding the right combination of players.
Driving the lane.

well said.

These guys are playing more like a team rather than a group of individuals. Actually was executing well in our half-court offense. Ran the high post w/Healy and Elon could not stop it. Canty and Baskin's ability to finish on drives was crucial. Foul shooting much improved...needs to get better though. Bench play has greatly improved as well. Baskin off the bench adds scoring punch and rebounding. Obacha has talent but is definitely playing like a true freshman...very inconsistent..but I love his effort and heart! Burgess is getting better every game. Loved having Burgess and Neal on the court together...more speed and great defensive guards! What's happened to Trice? Wish he could find his touch again...need his points coming off the bench.

Neal makes all of the difference. It is hard to run the offense with a 5'8 point gaurd(Burgess). He can hardly see to make passes meaning he does not always make the best passes. He is however a scrappy defender. Neal brings both aspects of the game into play though. He creates open shots for other players with his passing and he is a pretty good defender as well. It seems like even now every time we take neal out of the game, the other team makes a run. I like how we are playing a lot right now. Everyone come out to Holmes tonight to support your Apps! Beat UNCG!

We actually have a half-court offense this year. That is something I have been wanting to see for a long, long time.

hapapp wrote:

Watauga72 wrote:Great coaching!

Well, you can't point to coaching when things are going sour and discount it when they play better.

That was my point, said tongue in cheek.......We are so fast to bash our coaches when we perceive underperformance, yet unwilling to give them credit for success. Not limited to just Caple, there were several on App State fan sites battering Moore for the past two year's and crediting his assistant coaches for the 3Peat, ignoring that Moore was also the head coach then. You can't have it both ways....if you're the coach, you are responsible for success and failures. Having better players does help, however!

Watauga72 wrote:

hapapp wrote:

Watauga72 wrote:Great coaching!

Well, you can't point to coaching when things are going sour and discount it when they play better.

That was my point, said tongue in cheek.......We are so fast to bash our coaches when we perceive underperformance, yet unwilling to give them credit for success. Not limited to just Caple, there were several on App State fan sites battering Moore for the past two year's and crediting his assistant coaches for the 3Peat, ignoring that Moore was also the head coach then. You can't have it both ways....if you're the coach, you are responsible for success and failures. Having better players does help, however!

I watch Capel a lot when he is coaching and here is what I have noticed. Capel used to be a guy that just cheered his team on and got onto them when they made bad plays during games. That is not true coaching. During this streak, Capel has become more of a true coach. When a player makes a mistake, Capel pulls them to the side and shows them what they did wrong and how to correct it and he isn't yelling at them about it. He is being understanding which reaches out to a players mind. They can respect that. Capel is doing a great job right now but he needs to maintain these good coaching habits.