You have to believe after a loss the likes of what Stephen F. Austin suffered to Tulsa on Thursday in the Diamond Head Classic opener that nobody is happier to have a chance to put it behind them in just 24-hours.
Besides a few nice stretches in the opening minutes of each half, SFA was thoroughly outclassed in a game that saw regression on offense coupled with uncharacteristically bad shooting. The game was closer than the 74-51 final score in some ways, but that hardly matters - this was most definitely not a step in the right direction. This is a confoundingly frustrating team to follow, simply because they've looked so close to turning a corner for a month now - only to disappoint when given a chance to take a step forward. Entering the Christmas weekend, the Lumberjacks' lone DI victory is still the home-opener versus Longwood.
We did learn a few interesting things about this group today, despite the rough afternoon. Here are a few of them:
Keys to the game seem irrelevant with this team -
We all know each game has a list of 3-4 crucial tasks that lead to a positive result. Stop a particular man, focus on rebound positioning - you know, game plans.
SFA has baffled everyone who follows them by accomplishing nearly all of their "keys" without finding ways to win.
What was the talk before the Rice game? Find a way to slow down Marcus Evans who was single handily beating teams with electric scoring. SFA held him to 6 points on 2-12 shooting.
And lost.
Before UAB? Don't let the size of Chris Cokley beat you. SFA held the typically dominant big man to 4 points and just 21 minutes with foul trouble. Result?
Another loss.
Now Tulsa, a bigger, more athletic team? The key was clear: don't let them pull down rebounds, don't give up second chance points. It was talked about pregame by head coach Kyle Keller and anyone else who covered this game. It was the key. The ticket to winning.
The Lumberjacks out-rebounded the Golden Hurricane 35-32, outscored them 10-7 on second chance points (10-0 until the late minutes) and handled the glass effectively.
Guess what? Meet a 23-point loss. It isn't a mystery that this team is playing well below their capability. What remains astounding is that they continue to find ways to lose despite relatively effective plans.
The offense just flows better with Dallas Cameron -
I want to be careful knocking freshman Aaron Augustin who by all accounts has a really impressive upside. As of now, although Dallas Cameron is not a natural offensive point guard, this team seems far more competent on the scoring end when he runs the show.
To be fair to Aaron, he spent the last week battling a hand injury that potentially slowed his aggression. Still, when the team opened with a rhythm in both halves, it was Dallas running the point. When the first subs came in, although TV announcers were quick to point out Holyfield's absence, the SFA scoring-runs seemed stymied by indecisive point guard play on the part of Augustin.
The freshman is undeniably the more explosive athlete. Even with Cameron Mack expected to upgrade the point guard position in 2017-18, Augustin will be relied on for awhile. For now, it's just coming along slowly. Dallas is a better #2 than #1 - but right now, he's the best #1 on the team.
This is an area where growth is vital through conference play.
Don't expect Ty Charles to play savior -
Don't get me wrong, the Lumberjacks need Ty Charles. The complaining about TJ Holyfield's chronic foul trouble this season isn't unjustified but a lot of that goes north once Ty is on the floor to take some of the burden.
But let's be clear: Ty Charles' absence wasn't the reason for this loss. I'm not even totally sure had he been ready to play today that the score would've been more positive at all for the Lumberjacks.
When he does finally return, SFA will be a better team than without him - AT SOME POINT. You know the chemistry issues this group has fought over the last couple months? Ty Charles, a excellent player but one who hasn't been able to practice in two months, does not improve that. You could argue he makes it temporarily worse.
I stand by my position that this SFA team has a chance to be really good by mid-January. Don't expect Ty to be Jesus when he makes his post-injury debut, though. That level of pressure will not help the inevitable pains he'll have adjusting to the progress this team has made without him.
It isn't something that can be fixed simply by him putting on a jersey again.
This Hawaii trip isn't over -
It was perhaps even the method of the loss, more than the outcome itself, that squandered a real opportunity for this team to build some confidence before league play starts up next week. A televised game against a beatable, young, opponent like Tulsa, was a golden chance to showcase the progress this team has made since opening at Kentucky.
Obviously there was no confidence building on Thursday.
There are two more games to be played and the good thing is there isn't a whole lot of time to think about this one. In just 24-hours, the Lumberjacks will be back in action against the loser of the Southern Mississippi/San Diego State game happening right now as I write.
Now in the loser's bracket, SFA has a shot at winning out - assuming we don't see more play like we did today. At this point, even one win would be a nice gesture heading into the games that count.
RPI is not a factor right now for this group. Confidence is. This team needs lots of it tonight.
