Kemp had a very nice game tonight and brought many things that have been missing from the UM lineup this season. It seemed to me that he should have been playing more all along, even though he was making mistakes. The mistakes included some defensive mistakes and not getting down the court fast enough. However, it always seemed that his positives far outweighed the negatives, especially given the team's deficiency in the paint.
Kemp is athletic and strong. He can rebound. He is active on the offensive boards. He was the leading rebounder tonight, including about 3 offensive boards, but he also kept several other balls alive for other players to grab and tracked down some lose balls. He can score, both facing the basket and with his back to the basket. He can dunk in close. He was about 5-8 tonight, which included 2 early misses that he probably could or should have made and a 2d half attempt at a reverse dunk. While he has some lapses on defense, he also is strong enough and athletic enough to keep opposing big men from scoring, and he can block or alter shots. He is also quicker than our other posts, which helps defend quicker and more athletic post players.
He reached around his man 4 or 5 times to knock away inlet passes. UM got 2 of 3 in the 1st half, and were unlucky not to get the 3d. In the 2d half, he knocked away 1 or 2. Almost the exact same play. All from the defensive right side of the court.
He was fired up tonight--perhaps even hyped up at times, especially when he started making some plays. That may have caused him to make a few mistakes. He failed to handle a short pass on a fast break and lost it, but I couldn't see exactly what happened. He seems like a very nice and friendly kid too.
Hutch made some plays tonight, but was the 3d post off the bench, in both halves. Martin started both halves and did fine in the early minutes. Was taken out with 1.5 minutes gone in the 2d half.
On the other hand, it didn't seem that the SS posts were especially good.
Kemp is athletic and strong. He can rebound. He is active on the offensive boards. He was the leading rebounder tonight, including about 3 offensive boards, but he also kept several other balls alive for other players to grab and tracked down some lose balls. He can score, both facing the basket and with his back to the basket. He can dunk in close. He was about 5-8 tonight, which included 2 early misses that he probably could or should have made and a 2d half attempt at a reverse dunk. While he has some lapses on defense, he also is strong enough and athletic enough to keep opposing big men from scoring, and he can block or alter shots. He is also quicker than our other posts, which helps defend quicker and more athletic post players.
He reached around his man 4 or 5 times to knock away inlet passes. UM got 2 of 3 in the 1st half, and were unlucky not to get the 3d. In the 2d half, he knocked away 1 or 2. Almost the exact same play. All from the defensive right side of the court.
He was fired up tonight--perhaps even hyped up at times, especially when he started making some plays. That may have caused him to make a few mistakes. He failed to handle a short pass on a fast break and lost it, but I couldn't see exactly what happened. He seems like a very nice and friendly kid too.
Hutch made some plays tonight, but was the 3d post off the bench, in both halves. Martin started both halves and did fine in the early minutes. Was taken out with 1.5 minutes gone in the 2d half.
On the other hand, it didn't seem that the SS posts were especially good.