Not looking ahead at the game, Christian Co is definately the only team I am worried about right now, but since the thread is here and I am bored I will speak on it.

 

Same here. Definetly not looking past Christian Co or a potential match up with Lexcath in the quarters. But since the thread was started, might as well speak on it.

There's been as much talk about a Holmes/Elliott matchup as there has been regarding their first round opponents. It needed a thread.

No team in nky has the athletes or depth to run with Holmes which is why they intentionally slow the game down, IMO. Boone has the athletes but for whatever reason chose not to play an uptempo game? I think the reasoning for this is earlier in the year when teams were trying to run against them, it became a turnover and dunk fest. The more offensive possessions you give Holmes, the higher percntage they're going to shoot because their offense is so explosive with Rico, Riley, Pittman, and JJ.

 

As to your question:

 

I think it would be a combination of both. We all know EC is going to try and dictate the tempo by pressing/trapping the whole game which is going to lead to easy baskets for the opposition and for Holmes, several dunks. Often times Holmes lets their opponent dictate the tempo because they're confident they will prevail in the end playing whatever style is presented. This is what gives Holmes an advantage IMO. EC is used to only playing that uptempo style. When teams slow the ball down (Cedar Hill, Shelby Valley), they start getting frustrated and pressing too much offensively which leads to bad shooting games. Using those two games as examples, I'd say Holmes would use a similar game plan and use their height advantage and pound the ball inside to Pittman and Rico. EC's lack of depth would also play a factor in the game. They would have to get atleast 3 Holmes players in foul trouble before it affected them. Housely and Rice are both very capable off the bench. You get ONE EC player in foul trouble and they start struggling.

 

Which is why I asked the question...

 

Knowing Elliott's worst games have typically been when the tempo is slowed, why would Holmes want to play fast if they didn't have to? If you're confident you can win either way, it makes sense to me to play at a pace the opponent would be less effective at.

Which is why I asked the question...

 

Knowing Elliott's worst games have typically been when the tempo is slowed, why would Holmes want to play fast if they didn't have to? If you're confident you can win either way, it makes sense to me to play at a pace the opponent would be less effective at.

 

I totally agree 5wide. I'd expect to see them slow the ball down and work their offensive sets, but like Bigmark said, if the opportunity to get out and run arises, they'd take advantage of it for an easy dunk.

I totally agree 5wide. I'd expect to see them slow the ball down and work their offensive sets, but like Bigmark said, if the opportunity to get out and run arises, they'd take advantage of it for an easy dunk.[/QUOTE]

 

Tezzy, that sounds really dramatic, lets see....... a dunk = 2 points.....huh......same as a lay up ?:idunno:

 

just kidding :thumb:

Homes is just so "long and athletic" that I don't see how a slow, non-athletic, poor ball-handling team like Elliott County could ever give them a good game.

:popcorn::isurrender::popcorn::isurrender:

I totally agree 5wide. I'd expect to see them slow the ball down and work their offensive sets, but like Bigmark said, if the opportunity to get out and run arises, they'd take advantage of it for an easy dunk.[/QUOTE]

 

Tezzy, that sounds really dramatic, lets see....... a dunk = 2 points.....huh......same as a lay up ?:idunno:

 

just kidding :thumb:

 

While a dunk may only put 2 points on the board, it gets the team and the fans pumped. It will also deflate an opponent.

 

I hope these 2 teams advance and play one another. Should be a thriller.

^Just a hunch, but I don't think they will.

I do not think there is anything wrong with a bit of Holmes vs. Eliott County speculation. While you never want to look ahead, some games are such sure things that a fan can reasonably consider the W already in the bag. Take Scott County's first round game against Bowling Green for example... :D

I want to bring attention to the dicussion by saying why hasn't Holmes won by any significant margin when they slow it down. Yes they do average 40 points and yes they do find a way to win but your telling me that beating Boone by three points couldn't have went either way.

If this matchup was to occur (which I don't think it will) Elliott would win by double digits. Holmes has really stuggled offensively lately and Elliott's press would give them fits.

Holmes vs. Elliott County has been the big elephant in the room that nobody wanted to talk about for a long time. As long as the coaches and players don't engage in this admittedly unhealthy behavior, I really don't see the harm. And everyone knows the game may never happen; Elliott County will probably have to beat a Shelby Valley team that completely dominated them when they played to even get to Saturday morning, and Christian County is being picked by many to upset Holmes in the first round. But the fact is, these two teams have generated far more buzz this season than any other teams in the state, good or bad. To not recognize that their fans can look at the bracket and see that the possibillity looms, and to expect them not to comment on it, is naive IMO.

 

And to add a little bit of historical perspective, until the last couple of seasons Holmes teams had always been high scoring, running teams. I think they still have the athletes to do it, and have been it in spurts this year.

 

And there is this - I am sure it has happened other times, but in 1980 a great running Holmes team led by UK star Dicky Beal was in the bottom bracket, where Elliott County is this year, and played a triple overtime against Ashland on Friday night. Got back to the hotel late that night, and had to play an athletic Owensboro team the next morning - had no legs and lost. FWIW.

Holmes vs. Elliott County has been the big elephant in the room that nobody wanted to talk about for a long time. As long as the coaches and players don't engage in this admittedly unhealthy behavior, I really don't see the harm. And everyone knows the game may never happen; Elliott County will probably have to beat a Shelby Valley team that completely dominated them when they played to even get to Saturday morning, and Christian County is being picked by many to upset Holmes in the first round. But the fact is, these two teams have generated far more buzz this season than any other teams in the state, good or bad. To not recognize that their fans can look at the bracket and see that the possibillity looms, and to expect them not to comment on it, is naive IMO.

 

And to add a little bit of historical perspective, until the last couple of seasons Holmes teams had always been high scoring, running teams. I think they still have the athletes to do it, and have been it in spurts this year.

 

And there is this - I am sure it has happened other times, but in 1980 a great running Holmes team led by UK star Dicky Beal was in the bottom bracket, where Elliott County is this year, and played a triple overtime against Ashland on Friday night. Got back to the hotel late that night, and had to play an athletic Owensboro team the next morning - had no legs and lost. FWIW.

 

:thumb:

 

I agree. Fans can talk about what they want. The players and coaches are the ones who need to focus on the task at hand.

 

I do believe the draw could affect whoever comes from the bottom bracket with respect to Saturday's play. Not only do they have less time between games, but they also have tougher opponents.

 

Example: Elliott County - If they make it all the way, this could be their path.

 

Anderson County - Thursday, 8:00 PM

Shelby Valley - Friday, 8:00 PM

Holmes - Saturday, 12:00 PM

Eastern - Saturday, 8:00 PM

 

That is a brutal run.

 

While a dunk may only put 2 points on the board, it gets the team and the fans pumped. It will also deflate an opponent.

 

I hope these 2 teams advance and play one another. Should be a thriller.

 

You may be impressed, but I doubt EC would be impressed or deflated.

I think this thread was started to gain support for your team. Kinda like the one that hollers the loudest is the rightest. You can't win on paper. IF, and that is a big IF, they make it to this game..............:ohbrother:

I keep seeing posts that claim teams intentionally slow the game down vs. Holmes because they can't run with them or they're afraid to run with them. So, my question is this.

 

Would Holmes try to slow the tempo down vs. Elliott County, or would they be confident they could beat the Lions playing their game, which is fast and furious?

Holmes doesn't run with anyone. They play a very deliberate style by spreading the floor and using their athleticism. They actually didn't handle the ball that well in the regional when they did try to run.