Out of the loop all day yesterday--Wow what a debate!! Nothing more to be said just read all the posts!! But, trying to be as objective as possible, even though I am an EC fan here is my analysis/facts of a possible matchup. Note I have seen Holmes twice this year:

 

1) Holmes is more athletic, tall, and more length at each position. Pittman and the Johnson Brothers play more above the rim more than probably any three on any one team in the state. They are also good outside shooters.

2) Key for Elliott against any team like Cedar Hills, Scott Co., Holmes, etc. is shooting %. Length and athleticism does degrade shooting % somewhat. To what degree you have that length degrading shooting and/or how bad EC shoots will determine the outcome. Must shoot better than Cedar Hills game at 31.8% field and 13.3% from trey land. How much better depends on a lot of factors. EC did out-rebound the taller Cedar Hills team 36-32 which helped negate some of the %. Only EC warming up (actually only Ethan Faulkner warming up) and them shooting 4-10 from trey land in the final 8 minutes allowed them to cut a 16 pt. lead to 2 inside 2 minutes. They won't shoot a high % against a quality opponent like they would a Rowan, Fleming, etc. But, they don't have to shoot that high % to compete against a quality team, just much better than the Cedar Hills %. IMO, they must shoot over25% and maybe as high as 30% from the arc and at least 40% from the field.3) Although much smaller, EC's pesky defense will keep them close when shooting is degraded and/or poor.

4) T. Knipp although one of the best sophomore's in the state will have real big problems with Pittman on the inside. He must stay out of foul trouble despite how well Pittman is doing on the inside. If he has to sit over half the game that poses serious problems for EC on the inside. I have said all along that T. Knipp is the X factor for EC and will determine how far they go.

5) Finally, they are both great teams with different styles. EC starts 4 guards and T. Knipp. Holmes has more of a true front line with 6'7", 6'5", and 6'5". It would be an entertaining game if it becomes a reality. But, let us not forget that there are probably 5-10 other teams, including a talented bunch in Georgetown, that will all factor into the March equation. Good luck to both teams!!!

And Holmes doesn't know how to play the game the right way? and they are not fun to watch either? they just average 8 dunks a game and have good enough knowledge on how to play the game to be able to beat 3 top ten teams in the first month of the year.

 

This is no disrespect to Holmes. They have a very fine team. However, there is much more to basketball than Sports Center dunks. My only point was that EC does a lot of little things (i.e. fundamentals) very well.

No, Elliott County wasn't their first loss since the football players returned ... they lost their first-round game at the Beach Ball Classic. That's why they were in the consolation bracket. They're 3-2 since the football players returned.

 

And in their last game at the Beach Ball, they had a two-point win over another South Carolina team with a losing record.

 

So what does that tell me? Their football players are less than a month out of football and they barely beat an under-.500 team in their most recent game. It also tells me that they're probably not a great team right now, either.

 

Your right about it being their second loss but wrong about what kind of team they are. They are better than what you think they are.

This is no disrespect to Holmes. They have a very fine team. However, there is much more to basketball than Sports Center dunks. My only point was that EC does a lot of little things (i.e. fundamentals) very well.

 

I'm going to assume you haven't seen Holmes very much if you think they aren't a fundamentally sound team. They are one of the best defensive teams in the state, which takes discipline and teamwork. (Getting through screens, calling out screens, switching, etc...FUNDAMENTALS)

 

Offensively, they get a lot of open looks which leads to the dunks. Why? Because they have good ball movement, set good screens, and stay in motion at all times...again..FUNDAMENTALS.

Out of the loop all day yesterday--Wow what a debate!! Nothing more to be said just read all the posts!! But, trying to be as objective as possible, even though I am an EC fan here is my analysis/facts of a possible matchup. Note I have seen Holmes twice this year:

 

1) Holmes is more athletic, tall, and more length at each position. Pittman and the Johnson Brothers play more above the rim more than probably any three on any one team in the state. They are also good outside shooters.

2) Key for Elliott against any team like Cedar Hills, Scott Co., Holmes, etc. is shooting %. Length and athleticism does degrade shooting % somewhat. To what degree you have that length degrading shooting and/or how bad EC shoots will determine the outcome. Must shoot better than Cedar Hills game at 31.8% field and 13.3% from trey land. How much better depends on a lot of factors. EC did out-rebound the taller Cedar Hills team 36-32 which helped negate some of the %. Only EC warming up (actually only Ethan Faulkner warming up) and them shooting 4-10 from trey land in the final 8 minutes allowed them to cut a 16 pt. lead to 2 inside 2 minutes. They won't shoot a high % against a quality opponent like they would a Rowan, Fleming, etc. But, they don't have to shoot that high % to compete against a quality team, just much better than the Cedar Hills %. IMO, they must shoot over25% and maybe as high as 30% from the arc and at least 40% from the field.3) Although much smaller, EC's pesky defense will keep them close when shooting is degraded and/or poor.

4) T. Knipp although one of the best sophomore's in the state will have real big problems with Pittman on the inside. He must stay out of foul trouble despite how well Pittman is doing on the inside. If he has to sit over half the game that poses serious problems for EC on the inside. I have said all along that T. Knipp is the X factor for EC and will determine how far they go.

5) Finally, they are both great teams with different styles. EC starts 4 guards and T. Knipp. Holmes has more of a true front line with 6'7", 6'5", and 6'5". It would be an entertaining game if it becomes a reality. But, let us not forget that there are probably 5-10 other teams, including a talented bunch in Georgetown, that will all factor into the March equation. Good luck to both teams!!!

 

Well said LM. Probably the best post I've seen in this thread. I agree with ALL points. :thumb:

I think this is a good place to end this one.