Really fast thoughts on tonight, because someone just turned the lights out at Hinkle Fieldhouse and although they immediately turned them back on, that was a spooky fifteen seconds:
- I’m glad America is getting to know Trey Bonham and Myles Huff. Partly as players, but mostly as co-parents of a dog. I’m going to be saying “Shoutout Myles Che tho” until the day I die.
- Collin Mulholland looked more confident physically tonight than at least I saw him look the last few games. He’s looked confident on the perimeter, but he was standing there and taking shots tonight inside.
- Unsung hero: Sean Cusano.
- It was fun to watch Chattanooga communicate defensively in the zone.
- I don’t know if they covered this on the broadcast, but Kymany Houinsou spent a decent amount of time after halftime riding the stationary bike. Tried so hard to give it a go. Says a lot about him and a lot about the Loyola program.
- Jalen Quinn made a lot of things happen in the first half. Tougher time after halftime, but he kept the ball where it was supposed to be during his first-half stints, and that was something it seems like Loyola missed a lot this year.
- Loyola traveled decently. Would guess they had more than a thousand people? Chattanooga probably brought half as many, but that’s saying something, coming from further on a Tuesday night.
- The first game was just testy enough. Mutual combat. Didn’t cross over into forcing anyone to take a side.
- Myles Che completed assists on two airballs tonight. Also hit a bunch of big shots. A very Myles Che evening was had.
- Russ Turner gave me a little bit of a look on Free Hoops when I called Bent Leuchten their best player. Devin Tillis was good tonight and is good most nights and would be a good alternative choice.
- Justin Hohn might be that dude. Hope he’s shot-making Justin Hohn on Thursday.
- Leuchten’s fall was as perfect large human fall. Especially because it happened due to stepping on someone. It wasn’t his fault, but it was like watching your grandpa take a tumble. Really mad he didn’t take that three from the top of the key when he finally got to the other end.
- Kyle Evans looked good. I don’t know if he is good. Leuchten is good. I don’t think he looks like he’s good when you only watch a few possessions.
- Atin Wright was fun to watch in person. Smiled a lot, but usually after bad things happened. Was always ready for the next shot. Especially after Hohn hit the fadeaway. Wright wanted that next one, and he got it, and he only got free throws for it and that was too bad.
- Rondel Walker was nearly a cult hero. At one point he stole two or three rebounds from Leuchten on the same possession. Then he hit that big three late.
- I’m sad for North Texas, and the thing that made me most sad was seeing the fans—a lot of the same ones we saw in Vegas two years ago—applaud their players as they left the court. There aren’t as many Mean Green basketball fans as there should be, but I’d imagine that made this era even more special for those who were here. Daniyal Robinson had a good presence from what I saw of him hanging around. Hopefully good things will continue even as real turnover happens for the first time in eight years. From another “testament to the player and the program” angle, I thought it was cool that Matthew Stone—whose UNT career didn’t really pan out as he probably hoped, his minutes decreasing year over year—was so engaged, and that what appeared to be family members of his in the crowd were so engaged. UNT’s players applauded the fans back as they left the court. Stone was the one who started that.
- The Che/Chattanooga connection (Che played there last year before transferring back to the Golden State) is perfect. Can’t imagine the offensive scheme a Che/Huff/Bonham backcourt could get up to. Not that they would fit on the court together. But that makes it even better.
