USA (UNI) vs. Lithuania

[oldcat]

O.K. Matt..................here goes....................."naughty"...............t ake that!

[Chitown Panther]

What is wrong with saying "OUCH!!!!!"

I didn't think we would get beat by 30+ points.

I thought it would atleast be a game.

Also.....all the talk about UNI being small.....we have a 7 footer, Stout at 6-8, Koch at 6-8 and Coleman at 6-6.

If we lose to Angola....is everyone gonna says we were too slow?

I'm not be harsh, I just didn't anticipate this outcome.

[williebat]

My last post sounded a little harsh at you Trump...I didn't mean it to be an attack on you and I apologize. I just don't understand how the people (many of the previous posts) that obviously care so much about UNI to spend hours commenting on this site are also the ones to cut it down with such vigor at every opportunity. I get frustrated, too, but we need to be cautious with our criticisms.

who is cutting down UNI? this board seems to have mostly very good discussions on it. Did not seem like ultra negative posts to me.

It is not cutting UNI down by asking the question "if our current team would be better served with or without former team members playing beacuse they could jell more as a team?"

Panther Sheik made a very good point as to why brooks and stout should be playing. You probably are right.

Anyway I don't think this board seemed negative ,to me anyway.

For UNI to be playing as team USA against very very good competition makes me a proud UNI Panther fan.

Guys go get em against Angola!!!!!

[UNIAlum95]

Jakes Blog

Jake's take from the game...

http://unipanthers.cstv.com/sports/m...080707aaa.html

Aug. 7, 2007 -- 10:00 pm

Final Score: Lithuania 97, USA 63

We played a very experienced, extremely talented basketball team in Lithuania. They were big and strong, and very versatile. Their size and experience, especially the way the international game is played, gave us a number of problems early in the game. The international game is physical, and very different from the college game. Practicing with international rules is not the same as playing in games and that took us time to get adjusted. Early on, Lithuania took advantage of their experience with the international game.

We found ourselves down 19-4 midway through the first quarter, and 32-10 at the end of the first quarter. From that point on we played much better basketball. We made a couple of adjustments at halftime, and more importantly, our players played with a different mindset in the second half. We were aggressive and adjusted our style of play. We started the second half with a 10-0 run, so I was especially pleased with how we started the second half.

Adam Koch and Carlton Reed both played very well offensively for us. Carlton did a nice job attacking the basket, getting to the rim on a number of occasions. Adam was very aggressive after the first quarter. He made up his mind that he was going to make plays. He drove the ball and rebounded on both ends. We were very pleased with Adam's effort as the game went on.

Although we are disappointed, especially with our play early in the game today, and certainly in the outcome, we saw some real positive signs from our team as the game progressed. My hope is our play in the second half will give us confidence to have a much better start against Angola, and that will lead to a better result.

[Panther-Sheik]

Agree with you both, Chitown and Willie, and my comment(s) may have come off as a blanket when they shouldn't have. But, you have to admit that some of the posts in this thread and others are pretty unforgiving for the Panthers and even more so for Jake. Like I said, I get quite frustrated at times, too, so I am not without blame, but I just think that this game and tournament as a whole need to be kept in proper perspective and we all need to be ambassadors of the accomplishments of UNI and be cautious not to be the gasoline on others' fires.
After reading Jake's comments on the game, I realize that the players aren't the only ones gaining tremendous experience from this trip. Go Panthers!! Let's take down Angola and show them and the rest of the folks back here at home what we can really do!!

[jt45]

Tough first game but you played a very good experienced team. I'm willing to bet the next game will be much different. By the way, is O"Rear not going to be playing at all, what's his status? Go USA/UNI!!!!

[UNIAlum95]

Tough first game but you played a very good experienced team. I'm willing to bet the next game will be much different. By the way, is O"Rear not going to be playing at all, what's his status? Go USA/UNI!!!!

O'Rear will not be playing (I don't believe he even traveled) as he has a partially torn meniscus. Should be back in a few weeks.

[Panthers to the Bone]

O'Rear is traveling (as is Matt Culliver). They are both rehabbing while in Thailand so that they can get back to good.

[Panthers#1]

I can understand the temptation to bring staudt along for the bigger body, but honestly, Brooks?!? After watching the bradley game last year down in St. Louis, I was actually happy the season was over because I didn't now how much more of the torture I could take. Now it looks like a little more torture is in order.

I've been saying that for a long time now

[Panthers to the Bone]

A couple points I would like to touch on....

1.) I wasn't a huge fan of Brooks going to Thailand, however, this is the exact reason why he needed to go. We had ZERO point guard experience once Kwadzo went down. Brooks wasn't going to play much, but he needed to get minutes once Kwadzo got hurt (I think all understand this though). Also, for those that didn't see, Josten did have quite the ankle sprain in practice #1 and it looked UGLY. I heard he practiced the night of the Open House, but I can't imagine he was 100% in this game. He's our quickest, most reliable, and most explosive defender (unless C-Reed has changed that). I'm sure he doesn't have that back yet. So, to lose some of his quickness, in addition to Kwadzo for pressure on the ball, there is no doubt that it hurt in our approach to the game this morning. I admit that it would have been great to see Brian Haak in the stat sheet. However, just b/c he didn't have any stats doesn't mean he didn't play. Brian doesn't usually look to put up shots, and if shots weren't going in...well, he wasn't getting any assists. If he didn't play, that's too bad, b/c it would have been great experience...but I will reserve judgement until I hear otherwise.

2.) Lithuania has some pretty good bloodlines. Anyone heard of Sarunas Jasikevicius? He played for Maryland, but also in the NBA for the Pacers and now for the Golden State Warriors: http://www.nba.com/playerfile/sarunas_jasikevicius/ His brother is a member of this team.

3.) The average age of these guys are 23 years old. UNI's? A little over 21 years old.

4.) Who are these guys?
Michailo ANISIMOV---plays for Neptunas Klaipeda, the 2nd best team in the top league in Lithuania. Led the team in points per game. He's playing against 20 and 30 year olds all year long. Neptunas made it to the Final Four in Lithuania.
Marius PREKEVICIUS---played last season for the BC Siauliai in the top Lithuania league...who made it to the semis. Logged the 4th most minutes on his team and led his team in the assists.
Mantas KALNIETIS---played for Zalgiris-Sabon (again in the top league in Lithuania). Logged the 6th most minutes on his team, but led the team in assists. 3 year pro.
Antanas KAVALIAUSKAS---played for Texas A&M last season averaging 12 points and 6 boards a game. He was a Big 12 All-Newcomer Team member 2 years ago.
Vytenis JASIKEVICIUS---also played for Zalgiris-Sabon. Played in 14 of the team's 16 games.
Valdas VASYLIUS---Played for Old Dominion last year. Averaged 16 pts and 6 board a game. Was a double digit minute per game guy all four year.
Rolandas ALIJEVAS---Played for Polonia, in the top Polish league. He's also played in Switzerland, France, and Lithuania. Was the team's 5th leading PPG producer and top assist man.
Justas SINICA---Played for Sakalai, in the top Lithuania league. Was the 5th leading scorer for his team.
Jonas MACIULIS---Played for Zalgiris (the 3rd player on this team from Zalgiris). Played in every game this year and averaged over 15 minutes per game.

I could go on, but I think we all get the point.

5.) This team is getting great experience being over in Thailand. They are going up against professionals basically. Seriously, how many 24 and 25 year old European kids actually just finished school or are in school? With Stout playing, it should help keep Koch, Eglseder, and Coleman fresher as they play more teams. I expect Big Jordan to have a great game against Angola. Who by the way...also have pros on their team.

Panther fans! Don't get discouraged. We have 3 of our to-be regulars with injuries, and another who is most likely not at 100% (Josten). Thursday should be better.

[Matt Trump]

But if they are using this to prepare for the season, they won't have Brooks if they get injured again come Valley time. I still don't like it.

[Matboz]

Yeah ... but at this point it is what it is ... PTTB thanks for all your research! ... I tried to look up a few of their players and quickly grew tired of non-english pages for basketball teams and pro-leagues they play in ... now if only we knew more about angola ...

[blien]

with only the boxscore to go by- koch was agressive, Reed is attacking from the get go, Coleman must have been outsized,still weak on freethrows,Eglseder needs work, josten same which is good,Haak- he needs a few minutes,c'mon, Stout-where were ya bud, Dunham -stats look promising, Brown, needs more assits and rebounds
Before anyone attack me, this is just looking at stats, would love to see the game, anyone tape it?

[Matboz]

I don't think it has yet been broadcast for anyone to watch or tape, but I think your analysis seems accurate judging from the box score ... now if only fsn or fcs would broadcast a tape delay version so we could watch ...

[Panthers to the Bone]

But if they are using this to prepare for the season, they won't have Brooks if they get injured again come Valley time. I still don't like it.

They don't have Brooks, but they will have Matt Culliver, plus Josten will be 100% healthy to fill in if need be.