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Really fun entertaining game. What may have been if we had Kabongo for the entire season. I knew it would take him 4-5 games to fully get into game shape and integrate into this team. He hit a wall against OSU; but he excellent tonight. I'm going to dream for a while that he's going to come back. No one wake me up from that dream.

But there were other story lines from this game. The two biggest. Rick pulled his head out of his ass and let McClellan play. We were probably plus fifteen when he was on the court. Clearly our best scorer. Come on Rick, get over yourself and learn to emotionally connect with the kid and let him play. There is a small brain who wants to run him off. Run off someone who can give you 23 points when Rick lets him play. Screw that.

Second. Papi. The kid played a great game. Put the ball on the floor and went to the rim. Picked up some slop baskets around the rim. Hit the mid-range jumper and had a couple of big three balls. Money at the line in crunch time. Give him a year in the gym under Wright. He is going to make very good money playing pro ball.

I actually have a couple of other asides. Ridley played his ass off tonight. I thought he was excellent defensively. His offensive rebound and dunk sealed the win. He's just so raw. He simply has to understand when he can completely over-power the man who guarding him and go straight up. My second aside is my only negative comment. When is Rick going to pull his head out and play our best rotation. I love Holland's hustle and defense; but he is a complete liability offensively; and this is a team that is hugely limited offensively. The same goes for Holmes. Fortunately he figured out that Bond can't play at this level. Tonight clearly showed that our best rotation is Kabongo, Lewis, McClellan, Papi and Ridley. When Ridley goes to the bench, insert Ibeh. When Papi goes to the bench, bring in Lammert. It really isn't that hard Rick.

I can see what he's doing, and if you want to reward Holland's work ethic then start him. He should not be getting more minutes than Lewis or McClellan as long as those 2 are doing what they did tonight.

Felix has hit the wall mentally and physically. He should be relegated to 7-10 minutes a game.

Here is hoping he is doing more than dreaming of an NIT berth

Finally got home from the game. We certainly play better when Sheldon has his head in the offense. Coach said in the post game radio show that he played Sheldon in spurts taking him out when he begins to drift and when he doesn't shoot. Said he told him that the reason he was in there was to shoot, so he could shoot or sit.

Coach also said that they had the shortest meetings meetings this week and pre-game. Coach said he told them that the time for meetings was over, and it was time to see what they could do and where they could go from here. Maybe the short meeting strategy worked. As coach commented, they really played as a team tonight, talking to each other and helping each other. They certainly seemed looser and more cohesive as a team to me. Of course, maybe that is the way it looks when you make some threes, your big centers play well, and you have balanced scoring amongst Kabongo, Sheldon and Papi.

Ridley even made some free throws. I think that helped to keep him on the floor for longer, more productive stretches. Gotta wonder what could happen with him if he dedicates himself to strength and conditioning and good nutrition between now and next year. He certainly has the resources here if he chooses to take advantage of them.

Sheldon sometimes seems to lose it with his form on some of his jump shots. Even my wife noticed him leaning to the side on a long two pointer jump shot that was basically uncontested - luckily it went in.

Papi is just nails. He is so damn smart, it hurts my neuron to think about it. On his drives to the basket on Austin and the other posts, but Austin mainly, he adjusted his drive so that his last step or two would be quick to the left side instead of contesting them directly, leaning way back in toward the basket for the shot. He did that at least twice. Once when he was fouled he was attempting a running hook shot back toward the right - made it but he was fouled before hand. I am going to look forward to watching Papi over the time he is here.

Best all around game for Kabongo that I have seen this season. This win had to be very satisfying for the team as a whole and hopefully whets Myck's appetite for what maybe could be if he were to come back. Though, I know that that seems unlikely, I would not mind being pleasantly surprised.

I hope Croaker liked what he saw tonight, and hope against hope that this win also impresses Randle. Now, it is on to Tech. Let's hope that the Horns can maintain the little bit of momentum that can be had from this game.