Lucas without a doubt relieved some of that pressure on the team and the fan base. His defense looked just as good as his offense, if not better. His presence is definitely felt on both sides of the court. I miss Custer being more aggressive with driving then hitting that fade away mid range shot he use to take more often last year. I’ll give it to him that he hasn’t given up taken wide threes but his mid range game never fell off, he just stopped looking for it. I’ve been sensing some timidness or lack of confidence to look for a shot when he’s driving. We’ve seen him doing it plenty times before so I know he’s got it in the bag. I think his low 3pt shooting is just mentally killing his aggressiveness with looking for his mid range jumpers. So now when he drives unless there’s an open layup everyone can pretty much predict that he’s going to force a pass, which has been leading to turnovers and few assists. I mean I doubt he’s going to miss 7 threes against Bradley but I want some more agressive drives and looks instead of only taking wide open threes. He’s got more potential than only settling for those.

The whole thing this year has been lack of confidence. Custer's shooting woes, Aher's inability to hit away from the basket, being without Williamson for more than half the conference season, the road losses that looked like total implosions (Evansville and then Missouri State), the lack of confidence in Negron and Bujdoso, etc.

Lack of confidence was also the problem last year. We were up by 10 points on Michigan midway in the second half of the National Semifinal. And then we fell apart like a wet cardboard suitcase.

Agreed, except for the Michigan game. Andre tearing a muscle his knee did not help us hold that lead. His role on our team last year was greatly underrated. Yes we fell apart in multiple areas but that alone is going to make a big difference, plus Mo Wagner is a freak.

I had to watch the game late, so this is not the timeliest comment, but I think the clock stopped right at the end of the 1st half after UNI got the rebound and before the Kaifes foul. Did anyone else notice that? That could've cost us with how close the game ended if UNI scored as a result.

Overall, I'm happy with the win, and that we just need to win this weekend for the 1 seed! I honestly thought that we couldn't win this game against UNI if it turned into a slugfest at the end, so I was happy we pulled out the close win! Hopefully Lucas coming back really helps our rhythm. This is a completely different team with him out there both offensively and defensively. Glad he'll have these 2 games under his belt before Arch Madness.

Aw I think this is a bit extreme. This year i completely agree, but last year? It was the Final 4, Aundre tore his meniscus and it didn't start to go bad until Townes cramped up late. Confidence is what won so many close games before hand. Michigan was a great team. I still see that Moe Wagner corner 3 in my nightmares.

As for the game. Williamson is just different. So many intangibles. Loved the first half and how we spread the ball, but we need to spread it in the second half too! Kaifes midrange jumper was so smooth. Would love to see it more, he's going to be a real good one.

Kaifes is obviously the best outside shooter on the team. Why can't there be screens or plays to get him more than 3 or 4 shots a game?

Do not think you can ever over rate the grit a win in the Valley against a good team on the road takes. Teams have adapted to us, seems like defenders no longer take Krutwigs head fake and make em go over them....tg he can do this almost as well....but sometimes it ends up with him having no dribble and looking for someone to pass to. Also Custer used to use that hard drive, stop , spin opposite and hit that little fade away...seems like they have his number on this as well and challenge him to just keep going to the basket.Now it seems they just keep funneling him to the basket where he ends up putting up some interesting shots or tossing the ball away. When you have less players that are real offensive threats (Ughauk, Skokna,) it lets you put more pressure else where....both Custer and Ughauk had some interesting looking drives in which they just kind of threw themselves into the defenders...really awkward, and did not get calls. Teams are just better at defending us this year.
Thought the team looked tired last night.....was surprised that Kaives played a good game defensively.....and WIlliamson just makes this team soooo much better offensively and defensively....who would have thought we would win a road game when we had 8 assists and 13 turnovers...
The Valley has just been fun to watch this year...