my $.02

[Mark Estepp <EsteppJM@appstate.edu>]

I fully expected Charlotte to win this game, and I don't think hitting the 
panic button just yet is the thing to do.  Charlotte was playing to work 
their top seven into playing as a unit.  Pitino was looking at all 12 
players.  I guess his starting the 5 he started was supposed to send some 
message to the team about the starting 5 being wide open.  To me that a 
college stunt (maybe even high school) and won't work with these guys.  But 
the point is Charlotte was tuning up, Boston was trying to get the engine 
to turn over!

Some individual observations:

Fortson is a stud, but man he has no hops at all!  He had better learn some 
fakes (maybe E.W. can teach him some) or he is going to be the next Michael 
Cage.  He can't score.  One thing I really like: This guy rebounds, and 
looks for the outlet immediately.  He threw a couple of nice bombs.

Pot looked as lost as I have ever seen him.  On one move, he actually went 
up for a 12 foot shot, panicked, and just came back down with the ball.  On 
another, he turned wildly and just threw it at the rim.   He played with no 
rhythm, and no intensity.

E.W. is fun to watch.  That guys needs padding in his shorts.  He is on his 
butt all the time.

P.P. was kind of just there.  He did hit a couple of nice threes, but he 
never seemed to really be in the flow (such as the "flow" was)

"Toine seemed to be playing low key on purpose.  I don't think he took a 
three all night, and he turned down a couple that he would have let go last 
year.  The problem with him toning down the shuckin & jivin is that he 
seems to lose his intensity.  This guy really should not be the captain, 
for his own sake. It just isn't his style.  Pitino I think saddled him with 
this in an attempt to get him to grow up.  It would have been better to 
have let it be something for him to strive for, instead of being handed to 
him.   Barros should be the captain, and let "Toine be "Toine.

Battie is one of the best moves Pitino has made.

My prediction is that W.Turner will not take a shot over 3 feet from the 
rim all year long, and if he is ever forced to do so, we will understand 
why.  Anyone defending him should back off five feet and trash talk him 
into shooting the ball.

As they work into some sort of starting five, with roles for the subs, it 
will get better.  I'm not sure it will get much better, but it will get 
better.  I know many of you will disagree, but K.A. is not the major 
problem here (although I never though giving up Wesley made any 
sense).  The major problem is that a team that plays helter-skelter P-ball 
has to have a shot blocking center to defend under the rim when the trap is 
defeated.  Maybe Battie can do that, or even Pervis until something breaks, 
but Pot can't and Fortson can't.

Thanks for listening...