This ECU team continues to impress. Today it wasn't the quality of the win but the way they won comfortably in this game. Many times over the years when there has been any small level of momentum built in ECU basketball, it seems like those are the exact times the teams lay an egg. After getting a big-time win yesterday where the opponent was favored by 11 points, this is the kind of game I worried about coming out flat and unfocused. When you got a nice record, coming off the high of winning the day before it would be easy to overlook a team like UTA. I'm very impressed with how ready Schwartz has had them to play.
Anyone that knows my opinions know I like tight rotations. I really thought after 6 games even with such an unknown team we'd know start to who the best 7 players are but many guys have had their moments. I do believe he, is creating an ecosystem with these 12-man rotations where everyone has to play hard. If you do dumb stuff or slack off you take a seat and there is accountability where the 11th and 12th man will take your minutes. I can see value in what he is doing but hopefully, by conference, he finds the right mix of 8 or 9 guys that will play hard/ smart and give ECU the best chance to win and they can build a little more chemistry.
The team continues to play the way I think you want to play in 2022 getting up 27 threes again today. I think it's a great sign they will get them up at the rate they do. The percentage is respectable and with every game, they keep hitting them the more real it becomes. I keep expecting a slump to come there but if you string together this many good games you got to start believing that might be just who you are. That especially goes for Javon Small. The more he continues to play like a top 100 player the harder it is to deny that may just be who he is. If he is in fact a top 100 player that changes the expectations as well. Today the 3 ball wasn't going for Small and he still found ways to score and do valuable things on the court which is encouraging.
It was nice to see Tabbs have a vintage game. Today was the first time you could see him being a bigger part of the rotation. Most importantly he played 21 minutes on the third straight day of games with no issues. His health seems to be coming along, and if he's going to be able to play 20 minutes a game that adds another dynamic teams have to prepare for. Another area I still believe there is an upside with this team is the defense. It was solid but not great today. It's encouraging that ECU is winning these games on offense and what Schwarts is known for and what everyone expected to be the strength of this team can probably still improve some.
Going 5-1 with a quality win and a respectable 4-point loss is big. Including 3 games away from Minges playing well doesn't go unnoticed by me. It's not a hostile crowd, but Minges really aids ECU teams and helps winning. The energy in these 3 games was generated by the team itself. The first road game at ODU is next and will have a lot more importance now. If ECU wins that one a lot of people will start to take notice of what Schwartz is doing at ECU I suspect. Big game Saturday.
